Time and time again, it has been proven that sports can rally a group of people almost like no other, and in turbulent and political times such as the ones we are currently living in, this ability is the most essential it has ever been.
Last Saturday, the Wildcats, University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, decided to kneel during the national anthem an hour before their game at the University of Florida against the Gators. Along with the players, the staff of the team, including Hall of Fame head coach John Calipari, kneeled in unison during the anthem. This is the first time the University of Kentucky had players kneel for the anthem.
It is to no one’s surprise that this form of peaceful protest has caused extreme backlash from fans across the state. However, last Tuesday, when asked about the criticism toward the team’s protest, Calipari’s views began wavering stating, “This political time, probably not a real good time to do it.”
This statement by Calipari is disappointing in all sense of the word. For the head coach to boldly take a stance with his players on a movement that clearly means a great deal to them to all of a sudden turn around and say that the protest was not a good thing to do after facing some backlash seems cowardly. It would be one thing for Calipari to make this statement if he did not join the team in kneeling during the anthem for that game, but he did. Calipari made a choice to stand, or rather kneel, with his team, and morally, he should stick with his decision.
Additionally, I would argue that this is the perfect point in time to take a part in this movement. Their form of protest incited no harm on anyone, so why not take a stance, especially when this topic is on people’s mind? Additionally, players went on to mention that the protest was not solely aimed at the events occurring specifically at the Capitol, but as a part of the greater gesture that kneeling during the anthem is — a statement of support for social justice.
Most of the backlash the team faced in of itself was a form of peaceful protest, so it is really confusing as to why Calipari went back on his word. Fans started burning t-shirts of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, which the coach and team may find disrespectful, but I have a feeling that the team does not want fans like this supporting them either way.
Whether Calipari agreed with what his players were trying to display or not, he chose to kneel alongside them and he should have stayed by their side despite whatever backlash the team faced. Calipari is the team’s head coach. He should be a leader, and as a leader, you stand with your team instead of running when the going gets tough.
