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Michael Casagrande |
Sports and politics had a volatile weekend.
Sports and politics danced in an emotionally-charged weekend across the country.
It started on Friday in Alabama with President Donald Trump's comments about NFL players protesting injustice during the national anthem. He said they should be fired for their actions. It escalated Sunday with players, coaches and owners responding with increased pregame demonstrations.
By Monday, Alabama coach Nick Saban and a few Crimson Tide players weighed in when asked about the rocky marriage between sports and politics.
"I'm just a football coach," Saban said. "I don't keep up with all that stuff as much as maybe everybody else does, especially during the season, especially when we're playing games."
Both defensive back Anthony Averett and running back Damien Harris said this wasn't the time to get into this discussion entering the fifth week of the season.
Linebacker Anfernee Jennings noted Alabama players aren't on the field during the national anthem when most player protests have taken place. He has a view on the matter, though.
"I support what they're doing because I understand and everything," Jennings said. "I support everything they're doing and what they're standing for."
NFL players responded Sunday to Trump's comments that criticized national anthem protests against injustice in the country.
"To me, some of the things that we do in our country when I grew up, they were unifying events and it's a little painful to see that those things are not so right now," Saban said. "But I also respect everyone's rights not to censored in terms of the way they express their beliefs. I'm just a coach. I don't have the answers to all the questions.
"I know that most good things come out of love and respect and compassion and unifying people. Most bad things come out of hate and dislike and deceit. Hopefully we can focus on the above and not the below."
Both Jennings and Harris said there isn't very much political talk in the locker room.
"I think everybody has some thoughts on it, whether you're for or against of whatever your stance may be," Harris said. "But I don't really think now is the time to discuss that."
The unity of a team unit was noted by both Saban and his players.
"People respect and trust the principles and values of the organization but they also respect and trust each other and I think that because everybody has bought into the same thing, you have the same goal," Saban said. "You have the same spirit in terms of what you're trying to accomplish and what you're trying to do. I think it's a very unifying factor when everybody respects -- and because you respect the people, you respect the individual differences as well."
Jennings agrees with that.
"At the end of the day, you have one goal," Jennings said. "It doesn't matter what background, it doesn't matter where you come from. We're trying to accomplish one goal. That's where brotherhood comes in."
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Sports and politics danced in an emotionally-charged weekend across the country.
It started on Friday in Alabama with President Donald Trump's comments about NFL players protesting injustice during the national anthem. He said they should be fired for their actions. It escalated Sunday with players, coaches and owners responding with increased pregame demonstrations.
By Monday, Alabama coach Nick Saban and a few Crimson Tide players weighed in when asked about the rocky marriage between sports and politics.
"I'm just a football coach," Saban said. "I don't keep up with all that stuff as much as maybe everybody else does, especially during the season, especially when we're playing games."
Both defensive back Anthony Averett and running back Damien Harris said this wasn't the time to get into this discussion entering the fifth week of the season.
Linebacker Anfernee Jennings noted Alabama players aren't on the field during the national anthem when most player protests have taken place. He has a view on the matter, though.
"I support what they're doing because I understand and everything," Jennings said. "I support everything they're doing and what they're standing for."
NFL players responded Sunday to Trump's comments that criticized national anthem protests against injustice in the country.
"To me, some of the things that we do in our country when I grew up, they were unifying events and it's a little painful to see that those things are not so right now," Saban said. "But I also respect everyone's rights not to censored in terms of the way they express their beliefs. I'm just a coach. I don't have the answers to all the questions.
"I know that most good things come out of love and respect and compassion and unifying people. Most bad things come out of hate and dislike and deceit. Hopefully we can focus on the above and not the below."
Both Jennings and Harris said there isn't very much political talk in the locker room.
"I think everybody has some thoughts on it, whether you're for or against of whatever your stance may be," Harris said. "But I don't really think now is the time to discuss that."
The unity of a team unit was noted by both Saban and his players.
"People respect and trust the principles and values of the organization but they also respect and trust each other and I think that because everybody has bought into the same thing, you have the same goal," Saban said. "You have the same spirit in terms of what you're trying to accomplish and what you're trying to do. I think it's a very unifying factor when everybody respects -- and because you respect the people, you respect the individual differences as well."
Jennings agrees with that.
"At the end of the day, you have one goal," Jennings said. "It doesn't matter what background, it doesn't matter where you come from. We're trying to accomplish one goal. That's where brotherhood comes in."
Continue reading...
