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Sports persons taking the knee

Mudball

Mudball

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well it started in the NFL, but now we see it every where. Some Millwall supporters did not like it. Twitter was divided - with some calling it ‘forcing a woke onto others’ while others supporting.

IMHO it is a good thing. There are anti-racism days at grassroots footy too and it is good to see a symbolic gesture that calls it out. It can also take different forms - anyone seen the Aussie cricket kit at the moment
 
It's a strange one. I don't think it really does anything. Doing it the first time is a message, doing it before every single game is just reducing it to a meaningless pre-match ritual like the hand-shaking that they used to do, or national anthems at international games. Are they going to do it forever now? Since there doesn't really seem a logical point to stop now that they've kept it up this long. None of this means it's acceptable to boo it though of course - ridiculous behaviour. They might as well have turned up with a massive banner that says "we're all racists and proud".
 
Orikoru said:
It's a strange one. I don't think it really does anything. Doing it the first time is a message, doing it before every single game is just reducing it to a meaningless pre-match ritual like the hand-shaking that they used to do, or national anthems at international games. Are they going to do it forever now? Since there doesn't really seem a logical point to stop now that they've kept it up this long. None of this means it's acceptable to boo it though of course - ridiculous behaviour. They might as well have turned up with a massive banner that says "we're all racists and proud".
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What a load of rubbish, they were not booing the Black Players, they were booing BLM movement and I think Colin Kazim-Richards standing up whilst other knelt doing a “Black Power” salute.

33651393-601B-4E48-9178-99286307DDCB.jpeg
 
Fade and Die said:
What a load of rubbish, they were not booing the Black Players, they were booing BLM movement and I think Colin Kazim-Richards standing up whilst other knelt doing a “Black Power” salute.

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I mean the perception it gave, obviously. They don't even say it's for BLM when they do it now, commentators always say they're taking the knee 'against racism' or some general term as they're careful not to ally themselves with BLM anymore. Probably why also wear the multicolour badge thing instead of BLM ones. Most people can see the knee as being against racism rather than being a support of a political movement can't they?
 
Orikoru said:
I mean the perception it gave, obviously. They don't even say it's for BLM when they do it now, commentators always say they're taking the knee 'against racism' or some general term as they're careful not to ally themselves with BLM anymore. Probably why also wear the multicolour badge thing instead of BLM ones. Most people can see the knee as being against racism rather than being a support of a political movement can't they?
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No I think the taking a knee will always be associated with the BLM movement, and the foolish clenched fist Black Power salute by the Derby player only serves to antagonise.
Some well meaning things take on a life of their own at times...the original sentiment gets lost.and the stirrers use it to their advantage.........the whole BLM and taking a Knee thing are prime examples.
 
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Fade and Die said:
No I think the taking a knee will always be associated with the BLM movement, and the foolish clenched fist Black Power salute by the Derby player only serves to antagonise.
Some well meaning things take on a life of their own at times...the original sentiment gets lost.and the stirrers use it to their advantage.........the whole BLM and taking a Knee thing are prime examples.
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The idea was full of good intentions at the start, but as usual people jump on the band wagon for their own agenda.
 
Fade and Die said:
No I think the taking a knee will always be associated with the BLM movement, and the foolish clenched fist Black Power salute by the Derby player only serves to antagonise.
Some well meaning things take on a life of their own at times...the original sentiment gets lost.and the stirrers use it to their advantage.........the whole BLM and taking a Knee thing are prime examples.
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The fact that players taking the knee is still upsetting some people shows they still need to be doing it.

If anyone believes that Millwall fans were booing for political reasons needs to give their head a wobble.
 
I Personally don't like it. As an act it doesn't really make sense as we play no national anthem. And for some it's indistinguishable from BLM, which as a group have no formal place in football.

Tho i'm not sure how else to raise awareness. The NFL lets players make a statement as they see fit (finally). Even after treating Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid abhorrently. Many players have statements or even the names of those killed by police on the back of their helmets. I don't think a one size fits all approach works. It feels like it's a cop our from those involved and then idiots always hijack it.
 
Stating high political or societal principle can, I suspect, be a smokescreen put up to justify an action that seems unacceptable, unbecoming, inappropriate or damaging, but which is in fact just that.
 
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Personally I would rather football take some positive action rather than ‘gestures’. A top flight black manager for example or someone in the FA/Premier League. After all, they have been doing the rainbow laces for years and still there are no openly gay male footballers. Actions need to speak louder
 
Fade and Die said:
What a load of rubbish, they were not booing the Black Players, they were booing BLM movement and I think Colin Kazim-Richards standing up whilst other knelt doing a “Black Power” salute.

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interesting take and extension of the idea. Tbh, I thought taking the knee is now a more generic form of anti-discrimination symbol than a BLM specific one. We always have had a ‘kick it out’ movement but the knee has given it a visual cue. Thinking of the knee as irrelevant because it’s anti-police, antifa, no national anthem/flag, political etc is taking a narrow literal view

Those who think discrimination does not exists are either blind, ignorant or have not experienced it. It is not just a race thing - white folks can also be at the receiving end, but being different in any form amplifies it.
 
Fade and Die said:
What a load of rubbish, they were not booing the Black Players, they were booing BLM movement and I think Colin Kazim-Richards standing up whilst other knelt doing a “Black Power” salute.

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Quoting some pea-brained football hooligan hardly helps your argument. Care to tell us what the word you scribbled out says?
 
Fade and Die said:
What a load of rubbish, they were not booing the Black Players, they were booing BLM movement and I think Colin Kazim-Richards standing up whilst other knelt doing a “Black Power” salute.

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Is that why some of the West Ham fans booed as well

The Millwall excuse was a cop out and the response above was exactly the response we saw from the likes of the EDL , and that’s where Millwall fans fit in perfectly

Their reaction on social media with posting pictures of black players that they voted in their player of the year etc etc - trying very hard to show they aren’t racist

The kneeling by the players is in support against racism and persecution, BLM has a very small radical bunch that went over the top but the message is very clear - it’s time people were stopped being judged and treated differently based on their colour

Millwall came out with loads of lovely little statements saying they won’t tolerate it yet they now brush the issue away but the players no longer kneeling , those racist fans win , they get what they what - it’s disgusting and just another chapter in the life of Millwall football club and the racist element still alive and well within football and within the UK

The actions at the weekend of fans at Millwall , Colchester and West Ham show exactly why these symbols need to continue

They can hide behind any excuse they want but everyone knows why they booed
 
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