Arguments Against Professional Athletes

When American people see professional sport players refusing to stand for the national anthem or not setting a good example of their country, they end up hurt and in disbelief. In the minds of some people, it is all right for athletes to express their opposal publicly using their state of position. Professional athletes should not use their status to protest the events taking place.

Knowing professional athletes refusing to do what’s right, hurts the hearts of the nation’s people. For example, professional athletes are setting extremely poor examples for others around the world. Tim Wendel, the writer of Article #1, wrote “Gibson, who is black, got into a heated conversation about racial equality with his catcher, Tim McCarver, who is white.”
Wendel also said “In 1967, professional boxer Muhammad Ali took a stand against the Vietnam War,” and “In August, National Football League (NFL) quarterback Colin Kaepernick began refusing to stand for the national anthem.” All three of these examples being acted out by players is outrageous, rude, and uncalled for. Young, and even older, children look up to athletes and want to be relatable to them. The example players are putting on is showing the world their true colors, not only setting a horrible role model for kids. Professional athletes are disrespecting the flag and America, as well as offending the American people. “By protesting the national anthem, they are protesting America,” Merrill Matthews exclaimed. The people who live or are from America need to be civil with everything that is done. Athletes from other countries were not asked to come to the United States to do anything, other than play sports. It is unmannerly for them to come to The Land Of The Free and disrespect the nation. It does not matter the color of your skin, where you originate from, or how you got to the place you are today, people are people, and all lives matter. Matthew wrote “In July, Minnesota Lynx players, part of the Women’s National Basketball Association, wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts before a game.” It seems like there is always someone wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ T-shirts, especially at sports events. Of course, they do matter, but every life matters. All people are equal no matter what you look like. Every single person bleeds warm, red blood. It is not only disappointing when athletes act in a way that no normal person would act, but it is impolite and bad-mannered to America.

On the other hand, many people acknowledge and support athletes who show how they feel and what they believe.
Chip Kelly and Gregg Popovich both feel that Colin Kaepernick did nothing wrong by refusing to stand for the national anthem according to Tim Wendel. Article #1 also states that “Many in the sports world supported Kaepernick and his right to protest. Many did so even as they continued to stand, with their hands over their hearts, for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However, it is absurd and impolite of players to do what they are doing, and to keep creating unneeded talk throughout the lives of people. “If some athletes continue to kneel during the national anthem, those of us who still take pride in America should stand a little taller. Playing the national anthem is a time for patriotism, not politics,” says the writer of Article #2, Merrill Matthew. Protesters need to know when they have gone too far. There is a big line between doing what’s right and doing what you believe, but it is possible to both at the same time. There are plenty of other, less distracting ways to show it, athletes just need to find the right timing and the correct way to do it.

It is unacceptable for athletes playing professionally to use their position to object to the events taking place today. Players need to change their actions and do what is courteous. One day professional athletes will see what they are doing is wrong and change their
ways.