Football HOF Jim Brown calls Kaepernick a Moron (independent, millionaire, Sacramento)

[LiaLia]

Originally Posted by Independentthinking

No one needs to. Are you saying he doesn't have the right to express an opinion? If so, then what about his Freedom of Speech rights? Again (just so we can get back on topic)....how has the NFL prevented Kaepernick (or any other player) from exercising their 1st amendment rights?
I'm sure you and the others will continue to dodge that question.

I'm not dodging that question. I was responding to the title of the thread. There was no "how has the NFL prevented Kaepernick.." in the topic title.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Greg10556

People are quick to say the reason he isn't getting signed is because of this. While that may have something to do with it, another part could be the simple fact that he sucks now.

Good for him that he feels this is stand up worthy, applause all around. (Not being sarcastic)
A lot of teams positions are "why sign a middle of the line backup qb, that will bring a major distraction with him". He's past his prime, had a couple good years and still failed to bring home the bling bling. End of story

The problem is, while he is not in his prime, some people with horrific numbers have been signed as backup. Much worse than Kaep last year and in their careers.

Jim Brown also has a very different world view than Kaep and many other current players. Brown grew up in an era and in a place where you never ruffle feathers. You keep your head down, fit in, and don't draw attention to yourself because that was the way to minimize mistreatment. Brown was never going to be an activist. He had no need to. He started off with a relatively privileged (for the time and his race) upbringing and kept piling on to that. When you grow up where he did you do not do anything controversial.

[bmw335xi]

I dont know if kap is a full time activist / part time football player or vice versa, what a moron

[LiaLia]

Originally Posted by jade408

The problem is, while he is not in his prime, some people with horrific numbers have been signed as backup. Much worse than Kaep last year and in their careers.

Jim Brown also has a very different world view than Kaep and many other current players. Brown grew up in an era and in a place where you never ruffle feathers. You keep your head down, fit in, and don't draw attention to yourself because that was the way to minimize mistreatment. Brown was never going to be an activist. He had no need to. He started off with a relatively privileged (for the time and his race) upbringing and kept piling on to that. When you grow up where he did you do not do anything controversial.

Ok. But many famous, prominent, people of his time were activists. They had a lot to lose too yet they followed their convictions. That doesn't mean Jim Brown had to be like them. But if he had it would not have been as if he were a pathfinder.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by LiaLia

Ok. But many famous, prominent, people of his time were activists. They had a lot to lose too yet they followed their convictions. That doesn't mean Jim Brown had to be like them. But if he had it would not have been as if he were a pathfinder.

While it super off topic for this thread, Jim Brown comes from a northern Virginia where most people "passed" as white and that is how they were able to accumulate wealth. These are the people who were allowed to go to college, join the sororities / fraternities and so on. They have debutante balls and all the trappings of upper middle class life in an exclusively black community. The way to maintain that position was to not ruffle feathers and the lessons from his community would have been keep your head down and be twice as good. And that is what Jim Brown aspired to.

So he wasn't going to have an Afro, black power fist or any of that. The people who did that did not usually have that background unless they were already the black sheep of their families.

We like to assume all black people wanted to and were willing to be at the front lines of the civil rights movement. It was dangerous and potentially disregarded your long held family values.

**An acquaintance's mom grew up with Jim Brown so this perspective is shaped by what I have learned from them

[Independentthinking]

Originally Posted by jade408

While it super off topic for this thread, Jim Brown comes from a northern Virginia where most people "passed" as white and that is how they were able to accumulate wealth. These are the people who were allowed to go to college, join the sororities / fraternities and so on. They have debutante balls and all the trappings of upper middle class life in an exclusively black community. The way to maintain that position was to not ruffle feathers and the lessons from his community would have been keep your head down and be twice as good. And that is what Jim Brown aspired to.

So he wasn't going to have an Afro, black power fist or any of that. The people who did that did not usually have that background unless they were already the black sheep of their families.

We like to assume all black people wanted to and were willing to be at the front lines of the civil rights movement. It was dangerous and potentially disregarded your long held family values.

**An acquaintance's mom grew up with Jim Brown so this perspective is shaped by what I have learned from them

It's easier to go into character assassination of Brown than to focus on Kaepernick. Her deflection is intentional.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by jade408

While it super off topic for this thread, Jim Brown comes from a northern Virginia where most people "passed" as white and that is how they were able to accumulate wealth. These are the people who were allowed to go to college, join the sororities / fraternities and so on. They have debutante balls and all the trappings of upper middle class life in an exclusively black community. The way to maintain that position was to not ruffle feathers and the lessons from his community would have been keep your head down and be twice as good. And that is what Jim Brown aspired to.

So he wasn't going to have an Afro, black power fist or any of that. The people who did that did not usually have that background unless they were already the black sheep of their families.

We like to assume all black people wanted to and were willing to be at the front lines of the civil rights movement. It was dangerous and potentially disregarded your long held family values.

**An acquaintance's mom grew up with Jim Brown so this perspective is shaped by what I have learned from them

Actually, Jim Brown was born in GA and grew up in Manhasset NY on Long Island, which has a visible black community that is somewhat separated from the rest of the affluent community. His time at Syracuse University was somewhat difficult as well. With this said, I agree that he is speaking from a different time and approach.

Just to bring back on topic, here is some statistical info: A look at Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 stats may make your head spin | Touchdown Wire

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Independentthinking

It's easier to go into character assassination of Brown than to focus on Kaepernick. Her deflection is intentional.

That is not a character assasination. Kaep is a good player and should be played big this year. But at Jim Brown's time, black athletes are supposed to be "humble" and "grateful" they got invited. And the owners feel the same way (and are mostly the same age).

The owners are sending a message - sit down, shut up and be grateful we are giving you a big paycheck. You do not get to be a nuanced human.

This book is an excellent read on activism / politics of black athletes

https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Million.../dp/0307353141

[jade408]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Actually, Jim Brown was born in GA and grew up in Manhasset NY on Long Island, which has a visible black community that is somewhat separated from the rest of the affluent community. His time at Syracuse University was somewhat difficult as well. With this said, I agree that he is speaking from a different time and approach.

Just to bring back on topic, here is some statistical info: A look at Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 stats may make your head spin | Touchdown Wire

Thank you for correcting me. That friend's mom knew him a little later (college/post college) and I am forgetting the details.

[RcHydro]

Originally Posted by jade408

That is not a character assasination. Kaep is a good player and should be played big this year. But at Jim Brown's time, black athletes are supposed to be "humble" and "grateful" they got invited. And the owners feel the same way (and are mostly the same age).

The owners are sending a message - sit down, shut up and be grateful we are giving you a big paycheck. You do not get to be a nuanced human.

This book is an excellent read on activism / politics of black athletes

https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Million.../dp/0307353141

The NFL in not some club you belong to, and act as you like. Its a business. There are rules just like at the job you have, if you have one. When you think you are bigger than the company, and your antics are a distraction to the team, the owners WILL set you straight. He's not that great to make a fuss over.