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Kaepernick and Christian Athletes
Townhall.com ^ | October 27, 2017 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 10/27/2017 5:34:34 AM PDT by Kaslin

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick recently filed a grievance against the National Football League, accusing all teams of colluding to deny him a place on a team because he kneeled during the national anthem. As was true with Michael Sam, the openly gay player and activist who claimed after he was drafted and released that owners didn't want him, Kaepernick isn't playing because he's not worth signing. Period.

So what is it that keeps Kaepernick in the media spotlight? They like him. Multimillionaire celebrities who wear Che Guevara T-shirts and socks that depict the police as racist pigs are celebrated by reporters. They feel your pain about racist America.

But what if you're an athlete with passionate beliefs about Jesus Christ? That, folks, is a bridge too far. Jesus Christ is a name that should probably be avoided in mixed company.

They made it almost toxic with Tim Tebow. Liberal radio host Bill Press told him to "STFU," or "shut the f--- up," about his "Lord and savior." He called Tebow a "disgrace." Undeniably, he was voicing the opinion of many journalists -- but not all.

Usually, reporters are just uncomfortable with the subject. Take a new ESPN profile of The Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and his remarkable decision to pass up a long-term contract for a year-by-year "franchise tag." In Kevin Van Valkenburg's article, faith didn't bubble up until paragraph 17. Cousins said he told Redskins President Bruce Allen, "I prayed about it and said, 'Lord, what do you want to do?'"

Faith is central to Cousins. In a speech at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, Cousins explained: "I just didn't feel a peace about signing a long-term contract. I think the Lord communicates with us in many ways, and one of those ways is through his peace. And I just didn't feel at peace. And in addition, I do believe that the Lord, at least in my life, he likes to use one-year contracts, not long-term contracts, if you will."

Cousins' ascent to a starting job in pro football is a dramatic story. ESPN also noted that when he couldn't get a spot on a college football team, his pastor father asked him, "Are you going to try and control your future, or are you ready to surrender your future to the Lord and let him do as he pleases?"

ESPN can't really handle the spin on this ball. The website GetReligion, which often notices clumsy reporting on religion, pointed out that this long article never included the words "church" or "Christian."

Superstar Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who won the first World Series game for the team, has also spurred this awkwardness. An August story ran in the Los Angeles Times about his marriage to his wife, Ellen Kershaw. The writer wrote that their wedding was soon followed by a trip to Zambia to work with orphans. Why? "It was always on her heart," he said. "It wasn't on my radar and I knew when I married her that it was going to involve me, so we went over there the first time three weeks after we got married. And it does. It changes you."

"It was on her heart" is Christian lingo. The Kershaws then co-authored a book with Ann Higginbottom titled "Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself." They wrote, "The battle to maintain a Christ-centered identity is the most worthy fight we will face." But you wouldn't know that from the newspaper account, which just avoided the entire religion angle.

In the last year, journalists have lamented a lack of role models for youth, and rightly so. Why not then spotlight the athletes whose Christianity is their inspiration? There are many stories out there waiting to be told.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: ac; mediabias; persecution

1 posted on 10/27/2017 5:34:34 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

The left hates Christianity, period. They’ve aligned themselves and their souls with Satan.


2 posted on 10/27/2017 5:37:20 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Je Suis Pepe)
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To: Kaslin

Since Kaepernick is allowed use of his one IQ point only once a week, what does he do for the rest of the time?


3 posted on 10/27/2017 5:39:07 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: Kaslin

Carson Wentz is a dedicated Christian. If there is one good story in the NFL this year it is Wentz.


4 posted on 10/27/2017 5:41:43 AM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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To: Da Coyote

Provide a mobil platform for an alimentary canal to process food.


5 posted on 10/27/2017 5:51:02 AM PDT by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: Kaslin
Kaepernick isn't playing because he's not worth signing. Period.

The very same reason why Tim Tebow isn't playing.

6 posted on 10/27/2017 5:52:01 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Kid Shelleen
Carson Wentz is a dedicated Christian. If there is one good story in the NFL this year it is Wentz.

Oh yeah! Like Tebow, he is unashamed of The Gospel!

7 posted on 10/27/2017 6:46:04 AM PDT by Prov1322 (Enjoy my wife's incredible artwork at www.watercolorARTwork.com! (This space no longer for rent))
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Correct and it’s blatant now as you can see.


8 posted on 10/27/2017 6:58:24 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (Americans are modern day Amorites ripe for destruction)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

“The left hates Christianity, period. They’ve aligned themselves and their souls with Satan.”

This reality is so hard for many good Christians like my wife, sister, nieces and SILs to grasp.

The NFL felons, the democrats and the mediots hating Christians has become evident to even them in the past 2 years.

Being good Christians, they pray for these Godless ones to wake up and to walk away from their evil actions.


9 posted on 10/27/2017 7:42:30 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Trump is kicking their a$$es, they, ______________, want to quit. (Fill in the blank!))
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To: Grampa Dave

And that Colin Kaepernick is being influenced by his SJW/Mohammadan sympathizer girlfriend who is close to the lunatic Islamicist Linda Sarsour, and they ARE Ground Zero for all the NFL protest madness.


10 posted on 10/27/2017 7:55:58 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Je Suis Pepe)
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To: DoodleDawg
The very same reason why Tim Tebow isn't playing.

Ye, but look at the difference between those two responses.

Colin throws a tantrum, and Tim goes on and finds another career.

Which one is more at peace, is a better role model, and is more successful?

11 posted on 10/27/2017 8:07:02 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux - The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
Amen, with just a minor alteration.

Colin Kaepernick is being influenced controlled by his SJW/Mohammadan sympathizer girlfriend, who is close to the lunatic Islamicist Linda Sarsour, and they ARE Ground Zero for all the NFL protest madness.

12 posted on 10/27/2017 8:12:30 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Trump is kicking their a$$es, they, ______________, want to quit. (Fill in the blank!))
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To: Grampa Dave

Yup yup.


13 posted on 10/27/2017 8:53:32 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Je Suis Pepe)
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To: Kaslin
Noticed they ate not messing with Carson Wentz right now. They would do well to leave that Dakota boy alone. He is loved by the public,
14 posted on 10/27/2017 8:58:13 AM PDT by mware (RETIRED)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I was surprised how much the announcers on Monday night’s game were talking about his faith. It seemed after every play they spoke how he relies on “his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” to help him make plays. The reason I put that in quotes was because that’s how the announcers said it, instead of just saying “his faith”.


15 posted on 10/27/2017 9:02:48 AM PDT by shotgun
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To: ShadowAce

I in no way meant to compare Tebow and Kaepernick where character is concerned. Merely talent.


16 posted on 10/27/2017 9:27:26 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Kaslin

Kirk Cousins is a good Christian and a good guy, but he has embraced crazy and I am done with him and the NFL.

Sorry, Kirk, just because you’re white, you’ve got nothing to prove to the race pimps. You owe them nothing. Oh well:

Kirk Cousins Attends NFL NFLP Meeting on Activism
https://247sports.com/nfl/washington-redskins/Bolt/Report-Kirk-Cousins-attends-NFL-NFLPA-meeting-on-activism-108386399


17 posted on 10/27/2017 4:51:06 PM PDT by nicollo (I said no!)
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To: ShadowAce
Which one is more at peace, is a better role model, and is more successful?

One is forever a victim and will never find peace, one is "more than a conqueror" believing in a God who has promised to do, "exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ask or think".

18 posted on 10/28/2017 12:19:12 PM PDT by thirst4truth (America, What difference does it make?)
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