Friday night in Alabama, President Douchecanoe delivered a tirade that united athletes and citizens across many platforms.
MLB player and catcher for the Athletics Bruce Maxwell became the first baseball player to take a knee. A whole lot of NFL players knelt during the anthem or stayed in the locker room in protest of Trump. The Golden State Warriors decided that they didn’t have a need to stop by the White House.
Statement from the Golden State Warriors: pic.twitter.com/6kk6ofdu9X
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) September 23, 2017
So where does the NHL fit into all of this? Well, probably where you think they would.
First, on Friday night, Blake Wheeler, Captain America of the Winnipeg Jets, spoke out on Twitter, like for reals.
Regardless of how it makes you feel individually, these are literally the principles the US was founded on. Come on, Mr. President
— Blake Wheeler (@BiggieFunke) September 23, 2017
It's the First Amendment to our Constitution. The First one!!
— Blake Wheeler (@BiggieFunke) September 23, 2017
That’s right, it is. This protest falls under that. Of course, it being Twitter, and of the subset Hockey Twitter, he was told to stick to sports, pampered athlete.
Then Sunday while NFL fans were either embracing or deriding the possible protests, and after word that the Warriors weren’t visiting the White House in the future, the Pittsburgh Penguins came out with their own tepid take.
Alexa, show me the worst-timed statement in sports history https://t.co/pjBCrhGvOC
— Dave Lozo (@davelozo) September 24, 2017
Yep, they’re going. Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy expresses everything that is wrong with this so well, that I’d rather you read the article than have me try to rehash it.
Why does one person taking a stand (or a knee) just send people through the roof? I just don’t get it. Why is it a First Amendment issue for some and a crime against humanity for others? I’m glad that athletes are expressing themselves through peaceful protest, I wish more NHL players would have the temerity to do so.