Kaepernick Caught In A Blender

The Media and False Narratives

San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, made headlines once again for comments on Fidel Castro.

On August 30 2016, Kaepernick arrived to a press conference wearing a shirt that showed pictures of Fidel Castro and Malcolm X. These pictures were captured during Castro’s visit to Harlem in 1960. In which Malcolm and Castro met and spoke about the oppression of Afro-Cubans.

In a conference call with the South Florida media Wednesday, Kaepernick praised Castro’s ideals on education. “One thing that Fidel Castro did do is they have the highest literacy rate because they invest more in their education system than they do in their prison system, which we do not do here, even though we’re fully capable of doing that,” "I agree with the investment in education. I also agree with the investment in free universal health care as well as the involvement in helping end apartheid in South Africa," said Kaepernick.

He then stated, “I’m not talking about Fidel Castro and his oppression. I’m talking about Malcolm X and what he’s done for people.” By saying these things, he thought that the media would portray his comments in the right fashion but that did the complete opposite.

Kaepernick this Sunday choose to clarify his comments and talk briefly about the misconception of his words. "Trying to push the false narrative that I was a supporter of the oppressive things he [Castro] did is just not true," Kaepernick said. "I said I support the investment in education, I never said I support the oppressive things he [Castro] did."

Kaepernick truly showed the world once again that the media is responsible for false narratives. His choice to stand for educational advances over prison investments is something that is getting over looked. The focus has become idealizing an oppressor in Fidel Castro, which was never his intentions, as he as previously stated.

Starting Statements

Starting Statements

A change has come, at the quarterback position that is. Colin Kaepernick will start at quarterback for the first time last season in November. This start is very meaningful to Kaepernick as he lost his position at starter before the season started to Blaine Gabbert. This start also comes after recent scrutiny due to his national-anthem protest. 

On game day, outside the the stadium, many people arrived early to get a glimpse of Kaepernick and the 49ers. As the 49ers took the field, Kaepernick was blustered by loud boos and offensive gear. Vendors were selling shirts with Kaepernick's face in a gun's crosshairs, and outside the stadium, there was a tackling dummy with an Afro wig. Bills fans would scream "tackle the Muslim", then would tackle the figure. 

The Bills have recently been ranked the most intoxicated in NFL based on analysis of smartphone-linked Breathalyzers by the website VinePair. According to Buffalo News, The Bills scored "a .076 percent BAC," which is just under the threshold of the legal limit of .08. 

In turn, this makes sense of their senseless acts performed at yesterday's game. Also, it is senseless for the fans to ridicule  someone who is trying to make positive strides in light of recent social injustices. These fans, along with America should celebrate Colin Kaepernick because he his doing the right thing for his race and the human race.

Tragedy Strikes Miami Marlins

This past Sunday, Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident in South Florida.

The night before, Fernandez had an argument with his girlfriend Maria Arias and later went out with two friends,Eddy Rivero and Emilio Macias on a boating expedition that ended in the death of all three men. 

Authorities say that the accident happened around 3 a.m. Sunday morning as it was traveling southbound toward Miami Beach. Rivero and Macias joined him only after Marlins teammates were reluctant to go.

Marcell Ozuna told the Miami Herald,"That night I told him, ‘Don’t go out,’“Everybody knew he was crazy about that boat and loved being out on the water. I told him I couldn’t go out that night because I had the kids and my wife waiting for me.

“He told me if I didn’t hear from him by 10 a.m. (Sunday) to call him and wake him up so he could get back to the ballpark on time for the game. I told him, ‘yeah no problem, I’ll call you.’ I woke up Sunday and that’s when I found out. I cried and cried."

Authorities said there were no signs of alcohol or drugs at the crash site but toxicology reports are still pending. 

Fernandez was going through a lot with his girlfriend, who's expecting to have the couples child soon and wanted to have a good night to unwind. 

Fernandez's friend, Eddy Rivero, told their mutual friend Will Rivero, "Trust me it's not my time yet" and bared a tattoo that said "Life is short Heaven is Forever".

In light of his passing, The Miami Marlins will honor him at their next game wearing jerseys with the number sixteen with "Fernandez" on the back.

 

The G.O.A.T

The Greatest Athlete of All Time

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson

Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson was born November 30th,1962. Jackson or "Bo" as he is affectionately referred as, was an outstanding NFL football and MLB baseball player. Bo was practically born an athlete, as a child he did a back flip in waist deep water! Not the easiest thing to do as a child if you didn't know.

In high school, he began to be versatile as an athlete. He played football, baseball and also track and field. He was so good at all these sports that he contemplated going pro in them all. But he wanted to attend college first because of a promise between him and his mother. 

In 1982, Jackson was selected by New York Yankees in the 1982 MLB draft in the second round. But he opted to attend Auburn University. He accepted a football scholarship and also played baseball. He won the Heisman and also set records for the school which led to them retiring his number #34.

After his tenure at Auburn, Jackson went on to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals. Bo choose baseball first after he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He refused to play with them because of the infraction it caused him in college.

After a couple great years as a Royal, Al Davis scouted him at a spring training and make Bo an offer he couldn't refuse! He offered to pay him the going wage for a starting halfback at the time and he accepted.

He went on the be a dominant back and became the started for the Los Angeles Raiders. He had great years but his career came to a tragic end after a hip surgery. After the surgery he was unable to return to football but he still managed to play baseball with an artificial hip!

After his career was over Bo was thought to be the Greatest Athlete Ever because of his

mastery of two sports, football and baseball. In his four seasons in the NFL, Jackson rushed for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns with an average yards per carry of 5.4. He also caught 40 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns. He also, was an AL All-Star (1989),1989 All-Star Game MVP,1993 AL Comeback Player of the Year Award, 20-Home Run Seasons: 4 (1987–1990), 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1989) and 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1989). Completing the best seasons for a dual athlete. 

ESPN voted Bo Jackson as The Greatest Athlete of All Time. They based it on a comparison of a range of sport science metrics and compared athletes against each other to see who would be the last athlete standing. The public  vote also had him #1 - after 27,397 votes Jackson was well ahead with 79.5% of the votes. Even "Bo Knows" he's the best

 

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Colin's Conversation Starter

What a way to start a conversation right?

Aug. 26 Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers remained seated during the singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner".  Kaepernick stated "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," to the NFL media after the preseason game.

Kaepernick's act led to other NFL players doing their own version of a protest during the national anthem. His teammate,safety Eric Reid, was the first to support Kaepernick by kneeling during the National Anthem with Colin.

The following week the two protested again but with another supporter. Seattle Seahawks cornerback, Jeremy Lane became the first non-teammate to protest against the national anthem. He remained seated prior to the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders. After the game, Lane told the NFL media that, "I wasn't trying to say anything. Just standing behind Kaepernick."

On September 9th, Brandon Marshall joined the trio in support by kneeling during the regular season opener. He claimed that "I'm not against the military. I'm not against the police or America," But he then subsequently was terminated by both Colorado and CenturyLink because of his stance against social injustice by way of a kneeling protest.

Sunday September 11th marked the 15th anniversary of terrorist attacks in 2001. It was also football Sunday which led to four Miami Dolphins protesting the national anthem. It was more of the same behavior but many viewers were more outraged because of the 15th anniversary. Which led the Dolphins to release a statement. Shortly stating ""We encourage all members of our organization to stand at attention during the national anthem out of respect and appreciation for the freedoms we are afforded as Americans. We also recognize that it’s an individual’s right to reflect during the anthem in different ways. We respect these liberties and appreciate the sacrifices that everyone has made for our country, especially on this day of remembrance. We hope today's events will continue a respectful and thoughtful dialogue in our community on unity, inclusiveness and togetherness."

Moreover, Colin Kaepernick definitely started a conversation for all, and moving forward we should focus more on the message and not the method.