Colin Kaepernick’s recent foray into political expression was predictably met with outrage, ostensibly premised upon the suspect belief that professional athletes should compartmentalize their platforms from civic opining. For players to speak out on social topics — even in response to unsolicited media questions — is to overstep the boundaries of entertainment.
And sadly, when the substance of their rhetoric differs from the majority view, or when their actions appear to impugn the integrity of American values, freedom of speech is usually dismissed.
Such is the groupthink mentality of fans which promotes the idea that sports exist in a cocoon that is isolated from the rest of the world.