Colin Kaepernick is now a former NFL quarterback. Not just the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, but of the entire NFL now that the owners have collectively decided not employ him. Teams in search of backup quarterbacks have hired several in the past week, some of whom threw fewer NFL passes in the past four years, than Kaepernick has thrown in single games this past season.
Deadspin: The NFL Machine Has Finally Beaten Colin Kaepernick
Remember November 2009 when Tiger Woods was exposed as a scumbag and serial philanderer? Within 24 hours, all the major sports media and regular news broadcasts aired detailed exposés on his actions, proclivities and whereabouts.
Question: How did the corporate media collect all that information on Woods so quickly?
Answer: They already had it. They knew, and they kept their mouths shut. They were more concerned about “access” and their careers than the truth.
The corporate media kissed the PGA’s posterior by not reporting what they already knew to be true. They did it because they didn’t want to become another Lisa Olson, the sportswriter who was harassed, blacklisted, tried in the media and forced out of the US for twenty years after speaking out about sexual harassment in the New England Patriots’ locker room.
Remember April 2014 when Donald Sterling’s racism and ignorance were exposed to the world? Within 24 hours, all the major sports media and regular news broadcasts aired detailed exposés on his actions and words.
Question: How did the corporate media collect all that information on Sterling so quickly?
Answer: They already had it. They knew, and they kept their mouths shut. They were more concerned about “access” and their careers than the truth.
The corporate media kissed the NBA owners’ posteriors by not reporting what the media and the owners already knew to be true. The media did it because they didn’t want to be shut out of locker rooms and denied pass credentials. Instead, they began questioning black NBA players, current and former, asking what they thought about it instead of explaining their silence, their failure to report what they knew. The corporate media were blaming the black NBA players for Donald Sterling’s actions, and black Americans in general for being offended instead of “being grateful” as the subtle implication was made.
And now we have Colin Kaepernick, who protested the way powerful white people said black people should protest: quietly, dignified, not “a distraction” and not be “angry black people”.
Question: How is the corporate media framing the story about Kaepernick?
Answer: They are engaging in character assassination on the NFL’s behalf. They are more concerned about “access” and their careers than the truth.
The corporate media are serving the NFL’s interests by calling Kaepernick “washed up”, “not a starter”, “not good enough to be a backup”, “doesn’t stay in the pocket” (read: doesn’t play the position like the white players do, while Russell Wilson and Cam Newton don’t either), “asking for too much money”, “too much for the salary cap”, among other fictions and excuses.
Kaepernick did what the white power said to do and has now been blacklisted by the NFL, his career effectively over. This goes far beyond mere collusion and reeks of overt racism. It would make a very good case for a civil rights lawsuit, and I hope he files one against the NFL and wins. I would love to see them have to pay millions in a settlement. It might not affect their undeserved tax free status, but it certainly would be a blow to the business.
In related news, here’s another reason I haven’t watched football in six years:
Body Found In River Identified As Former NFL Receiver James Hardy
James Hardy was a second-round pick out of Indiana who spent two seasons with the Bills before leaving the NFL in 2011. Hardy was reported missing a week ago, and yesterday afternoon, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department announced that they had found a dead body lodged against a dam in the Maumee River. The Allen County coroner’s office confirmed shortly after that it was Hardy, although a cause of death has not yet been determined. He was 31 years old.
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In 2014, Hardy was arrested and charged with felony resisting arrest after allegedly injuring two LAPD officers. TMZ reported later that year that a judge had ruled Hardy unfit to stand trial and committed him to a state mental institution.
Gee, you don’t think CTE could explain this, do you?