In March 1996, when Colin Kaepernick was still in elementary school, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did something before a basketball game that would change his life. Up until that moment, he was on his way to a long and successful career.
Then Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the national anthem. He had been doing so for the entire season, for months, but it wasn’t until mid-March when reporters noticed.
On Monday, Louisiana State University announced it would retire jersey No. 35 in honor of Abdul-Rauf, who played there for two seasons in the late 1980s before going pro.
The announcement was met with applause by LSU basketball legends.