The conservative website Heat Street decided it might be a little fun to troll San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick by posting a video montage on Thursday of him being sacked over a musical background of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“If this whole controversy has you thinking, ’I’d really like to see a patriotic montage of Colin Kaepernick getting pummeled on the field to the tune of ’The Star-Spangled Banner,’ you’re in luck. Enjoy!” quipped Heat Street, introducing the video.
The News Corp.-owned website unveiled the YouTube video hours before the 49ers took on the San Diego Chargers in their final preseason matchup before the regular season, in a game which saw the outspoken quarterback being booed every time he broke a huddle, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In an interview last week with NFL Media, Mr. Kaepernick explained his choice to sit down during the national anthem’s playing, saying he was “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” For Thursday’s game, however, Mr. Kaepernick, joined by one teammate in solidarity, opted to kneel, rather than sit.
Well before this controversy erupted, the Chargers had already planned a “Salute to the Military Day” for Thursday night’s game. Among other honors given to military personnel and veterans, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Powell, who happens to be African-American, sang the national anthem.
San Diego is home to seven major military installations including Naval Base Coronado, where U.S. Navy SEALs are trained, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, where all male enlistees in the Corps from west of the Mississippi River go through boot camp.
(Viewer warning: Expletive used at the end of the video.)
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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