A good indication that the summer is nearly over and football is close to returning is the rise is absurd takes from talking heads that desperately want you to pay attention to them.
In a ridiculously unfunny segment, FS1’s Jason Whitlock touted a fake channel called “Anthem Zone,” which showcases the actions of athletes during the national anthem.
If you support Colin Kaepernick, you'll love the NFL's newest channel… Anthem Zone! pic.twitter.com/dylo74jyIq
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) August 15, 2017
Yeah, that was quite painful to watch, but it’s about par for the course.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith took offense to the notion athletes aren’t educated enough on issues facing communities.
https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/897856069405376512
Whitlock responded by suggesting he wasn’t insinuating anything and that athletes “don’t know what they don’t know”.
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/897856815311986692
Smith further challenged Whitlock, accurately noting you don’t need a political science degree to learn about problems in America.
https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/897862791184486401
Whitlock responded by saying “learning” and “executing” are two different things, adding he disagreed with the “well-intentioned” methods of athletes.
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/897883245676593152
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/897883551718227968
Then, Sports Illustrated’s Robert Klemko jumped into the discussion and called out Whitlock’s nonsense.
Here's @WhitlockJason in the sunken place, suggesting black NFL players are unequipped to carry a dialogue about anything other than sports. https://t.co/mcKdnPtSpZ
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) August 16, 2017
Whitlock then went straight for an ad hominem attack, suggesting it was “sad” Klemko used quotes from Whitlock in his Twitter bio.
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/897893960768602112
Klemko responded by saying Whitlock wasn’t on his mind all the time unless the latter tweeted something ridiculous, in which Whitlock told him to seek help.
https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/897894863630327808
Klemko finished the disagreement by suggesting Whitlock book “more black athletes who can help you do your jig.”
Jason, just worry about booking more black athletes who can help you do your jig, then apologize later. https://t.co/LpF0BZNIUs
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) August 16, 2017
It’s hard to wrap my head around Whitlock’s thought process here, but I’ll try.
He’s suggesting that athletes have good intentions, but what they’re doing isn’t working to help black communities. While not offering a solution, Whitlock claims not enough is being done.
Perhaps he doesn’t remember P.K. Subban’s $10 million donation to the Montreal Children’s Hospital? Or the time LeBron James and his foundation spent $41 million to help send Akron kids with challenging backgrounds to college? Or James’ $2.5 million donations to the National Museum of African American History and Culture?
Of course he doesn’t, because those examples don’t fit his close-minded narrative. Athletes could always do more to help their communities, but suggesting their methods are flawed or that they are making political statements for no reason is ridiculous.
It all comes back to Whitlock’s borderline obsession with Colin Kaepernick. As soon as the former San Francisco 49ers QB sat on the bench (before later kneeling) in protest during the national anthem (which is his right), Whitlock has been on the warpath.
