Standing for the National Anthem is not a part-time job

The most noteworthy part of a national anthem before a sporting event used to be a great singing performance or a riveting flyover. Colin Kaepernick changed that.

Josh Kastzowitz, TheDailyDot:

Though many NFL fans have burned his jersey in protest, many others have bought it, making Kaepernick’s jersey number the best-selling apparel in the entire league. As other players have stood with Kaepernick by kneeling, the San Francisco 49ers' backup quarterback promised to donate $1 million to community organizations.

Immediately after the anthem, Kaepernick and Eric Reid, who was kneeling next to him, hugged each other.

Ebenezer Samuel, NYDailyNews:

Just in time to chase one more big NFL paycheck, Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest is done.

So much for the cause he once called "bigger than football," and so much for the anger he once had toward a flag that "oppresses black people and people of color." Kaepernick, who spent an entire season either sitting or kneeling during the national anthem, no longer planned to protest, and was done being a polarizing figure in the ongoing national struggle against police brutality and racial injustice.

"Kaepernick no longer wants the past method of protest to detract from the positive change that he believes has been created.

"I don't want to kneel forever," said Kaepernick. "I want these things to change. I do know it'll be a process and it's not something that's going to change overnight. But I think there are some major changes that we can make that are very reasonable."

Kaepernick never voted in a pivotal election, a scary example for the next generation, and he briefly defended the totalitarian legacy of the late Fidel Castro. He was always a privileged child playing at protest, and now, that child wants his allowance. Now, the child realizes the battle against racial injustice isn't easy, so he's done.

The operative word is "DONE."

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy

Dwayne Wade joins Hanoi Jane on All-Hate team

In basketball, a flagrant foul is a serious personal foul. A foul is considered flagrant when it involves excessive or violent contact that could injure the fouled player. A flagrant foul may be unintentional or purposeful.

Flagrant Foul Rules. There are three types of Flagrant Fouls, as follows: Flagrant "1" (FFP1) - unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent. The opposing team is awarded two (2) free throws and possession. Flagrant "2" (FFP2) - unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent. It is an unsportsmanlike act and the offender is ejected immediately. The offender will be subject to a fine not exceeding $35,000 and/or suspension by the Commissioner. Flagrant 3 (FFP3) - disrespectful behavior toward a national anthem (known as the Jane Fonda rule).



Plenty of people, particularly Toronto Raptors fans, took offense to footage that found its way to social media of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade casually going about his pregame shooting routine while a young girl sang Canada's national anthem "O Canada" at midcourt of American Airlines Arena prior to Game 3.

It's customary to silently reflect during the national anthems for both teams involved in an NBA playoff game, especially since their countries allow Wade to make a $20 million annual salary for playing the game he loves, but because the league's rules actually require him to do so:

"Players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem."

Hey @DwyaneWade a Canadian invented the game. Respect the anthem. #WeTheNorth #RTZ

— John Tory (@JohnTory) May 8, 2016

James Naismith was a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, chaplain, sports coach and innovator. He invented the sport of basketball in 1891.

Wade disrespected Canada's national anthem. Dwayne cited the earlier start time for singing two national anthems, and a superstitious pregame routine that "requires" him to convert a layup or dunk and a 15-foot bank shot before the game,

"I’m thinking about what I need to do before every game that I prepare for and have been doing my whole career. I understand whatever’s said from that standpoint, but I’m not a disrespectful person. If anybody thinks I’m being disrespectful to their country, then they have no idea who Dwayne Wade is."

Yes, we do.

Paul Murphy

Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy