What are we arguing over? And he didn't kneel. He sat quietly in Protest and the media blew it up. They asked him questions and he answered them articulately with an informed mind. If he didn't create discussion why is this happening:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...ins-seahawks-column-0912-20160911-column.html
After they stood by kneeling, after they spoke loudly saying nothing, long after four
Miami Dolphins players became a national story by their protest during the national anthem, they were joined by a fifth Dolphin.
Steve Ross, the team owner, went up to safety
Michael Thomas in the locker room and shook his hand. "Let's get ready to do something about this," he said, even in the emotionally crushing aftermath of the Dolphins' season-opening loss to Seattle, 12-10.
"We're ready," Thomas said. And so this national sports protest for change and more racial awareness got its biggest recruit to date. Ross isn't some disposable player. He didn't have to back off from joining the protest because he's a small-name reserve who feared for his job, as Thomas initially did. Ross is in the elite club of NFL owners. He's a multi-billionaire. He's a game-changer, too. And if players face some fans' wrath for kneeling down – as they know they do – Ross presents a bigger name and bigger target for those to grow angry about.
"I don't think there was any lack of respect," Ross said. "Everyone in this team and whole organization respects the flag and what it stands for. These guys are making a conversation about something that's very important topic in this country. I'm 100 percent in support of them."
Good for him. Good for this cause for social awareness. Good that someone rich and powerful wants to make a stand in a sports era where everyone thinks more of image or its potential effect on business.
Ross' stand will, no doubt, offend some paying customers. That just puts Ross on the same footing as Thomas, running back
Arian Foster, linebacker Jelani Jenkins and receiver Kenny Stills. They stood during a ceremony for the 9/11 victims on the 15th anniversary, then knelt during the anthem.
"Very nervous," Thomas said of how he felt. "But I know where my heart is in it. It's not to be disrespectful, anti-blue, anti-partriotic. It's to raise awareness and equality for all."
"It was pulling on my heart to stand up and not act like everything is OK, not act like I haven't seen [problems]," Jenkins said. "I chose to get involved to see if I could create change. Raise awareness."
"I want it be clear that there's no disrespect to the military or the police officers. It's not about that. I love everyone. To me love is progress, hate is expensive."
Foster spoke to the team about organizing something for the national anthem in the way that began with San Francisco quarterback
Colin Kaepernick kneeling down in protest. He initially said he supported Kaepernick, but probably wouldn't do it.
"I felt the need to speak out," he said Sunday.
So what now? Where does it go? This is where Ross helps. Because let's be honest: This is not a protest with great clarity. It started with Kaepernick, who criticized America's oppressive side while wearing a T-shirt of Fidel Castro, one of the world's most oppressive leaders. Huh?
Ross, though, can help to organize all this. He started a non-profit organization a few years ago exactly with this premise. The mission statement of the Ross Initiative for Sports for Equality (RISE) is to, "advance race relations and drive social progress."
The right to free speech works both ways, of course. And those upset with these players and Ross for taking this stance have an equal and opposite right to be heard.
"Too worried about kneeling during the anthem #karma," Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich tweeted out with a video of Stills dropping a sure touchdown pass.
This is what a democracy sounds like - loud and combative and even sloppy as ideas get discussed. Some will like this protest. Some won't at all. That's America. Everyone gets heard.
"I don't think there's anyone in the organization, all the players included, that want to create any disrespect for this country, for this flag, for the soldiers or anything else. I think they know we're 100 percent behind them," Ross said.
"I think today, what has been brought up, is a conversation that needs to be had. I think they're doing, in their way. I applaud them.
Ross stood there in the post-game locker room, dozens of media around him, airing his thoughts. There was some attempt later by Dolphins officials to control his message, to say he was just talking about the players' "right" to protest rather than agreeing with their stance. But there was no doubt what he was saying.
"This is a country you're allowed to indicate say where your preferences are and your feelings are," he said. "That's what makes it so great. And I think it's great [what the players did] I applaud them for doing it."
Seattle players stood together Sunday by all locking arms during the national anthem. They wanted to show a unified front in a call for social change. As receiver
Doug Baldwinsaid, "There is a message that needs to be heard. You heard us, now listen to us."
All these players pushing for progress is newsworthy. But Ross has the ability to make it happen. He has the money and means and direction. Four Dolphins knelt on Sunday. It's the fifth one who joined them afterward that is Sunday's biggest news.
