Alright, a lot to cover here, but you have to let me rant for a minute.  As many of you know, I am a West Virginia Mountaineers fan.  I know this team wasn’t good enough to even make it to the Sweet Sixteen, I do.  But man, did they get screwed over by some of the most corrupt decisions in college sports history, as well as Indiana getting the short straw as well.  West Virginia was left out of March Madness, yet North Carolina, Xavier, and Texas somehow found their way in.  Baffling right?  Let’s take a look into the numbers for each of these schools and you tell me if Bubba Cunningham (Athletic Director of North Carolina/Chairman of the Committee) had anything to do with this-he did. He secured a $104,000 bonus for getting the Tarheels in the dance on top of it.  Maybe we should let Peebles High School Athletic Director be the chairman of OHSAA and get Peebles the easiest route in the dance every year, while giving him a bonus for doing so.  Works for Bubba, right?

West Virginia –  111/111 bracketologists had WVU in the dance, Wins over Gonzaga (Neutral court), Arizona (Neutral court), Kansas (at Kansas), and Iowa State, 6 Quad 1 wins, 0 Quad 3 or 4 losses, .500 in the Big 12, Defeated 4 ranked teams, 4 Big 12 road victories, 3 wins against AP Top 10 teams (most in the Big 12), 1 of only 30 teams to have 6 quad 1 victories.  And don’t give me the injury excuse.  Tucker DeVries hasn’t played since December 6^th before conference play.  Give me a break!

North Carolina – 27/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 1-12 in Quad 1 games (Atrocious), Quad 3 loss, Beat UCLA (Only ranked team they beat), 13-7 in a very poor ACC, 13 losses…But hey, they almost beat Duke

Xavier – 30/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 1-9 in Quad 1 games, ranked wins over Marquette and Uconn, 13-7 in the Big East. 

Texas – 50/111 bracketologists had them in the dance, 15 losses, 6-12 in conference play (WOOF), Wins over ranked opponent Mississippi State, Texas A&M, UK, Missouri.

Which resume would you want if you wanted to get in the tournament?  Do you think the Athletic Director of North Carolina should be a chair on the selection committee?  I didn’t think so.  Shame on the NCAA. 

Bags Secured for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

At last, our beloved duo finally has reached an agreement with Chase and Higgins including: 4 year extension for Chase, $161 million, $112 million guaranteed (Highest paid non-QB in NFL history).  Higgins signed a four year extension for $115 million and becomes the highest WR2 in NFL history.  Never say the Bengals are cheap ever again, as they just forked up the cash and added tax!  However, this shows that they waited too long.  Nail the draft Cincinnati and start paying your stars early, while reaping the benefits later.  Prices don’t go down, Brown Family!  Be happy though Bengals fans, as this is huge.  Hendrickson, you’re next if at all possible.  Defense has some major holes that need filled and I expect the draft to be majorly focused on pass rush and secondary help. 

One Week until Reds Opening Day

With just a week and some change until Reds Opening Day, the excitement is building around Cincinnati.  This city is ready for some baseball and the city desperately needs a contender this year-and I think they will get just that.  However, there are some areas of concern as of late:

• Tyler Stephenson will miss some time with an oblique strain-Massive blow to the lineup
• Jose Trevino is day to day with a thumb injury, leaving us with Wynns should Trevino also miss time
• Spencer Steer will likely miss Opening Day, but Francona is giving him every chance to try and be ready come next week

Outside of this though, the Reds are relatively healthy and look to bounce back from these injuries fast.  Cincinnati is in a much better spot than last season regarding health.  Some notable players that will not be making the Opening Day roster this year include Noelvi Marte and Will Benson.  Both have struggled, although I can see Benson joining the team within a month or so of playing time in AAA, as I think he is a true Major League batter.  If Stephenson and Steer both miss time, I expect Blake Dunn to be given a chance to make an impact quick, with Hurtubise ready to get some major league time as well.  They both have been highly impressive this Spring. 

Reds baseball is nearly here and it is the most magical time of the year!  Well unless you ask my wife, as we visited Dollywood this weekend and she got to see Dolly Parton in the parade.  I guess I owed her for the years of dragging her to RedsFest, Reds Games, and Bengals games! Seeing her happy to see Dolly was worth it and I owed her for the amount of time she has spent in line with me to talk to players season after season!

The post NCAA committee’s controversial decisions: Rant from a WVU fan appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Contributed

McDonald’s of Greater Ohio and Purcell Marian High School hosted a special jersey presentation ceremony honoring Darianna “Dee” Alexander, who was recently named a 2025 McDonald’s All American.    Before she embarks on her college career as a Cincinnati Bearcat, Alexander was celebrated alongside her teammates and coaches during the jersey presentation on March 4 at Purcell Marian High School, at 2935 Hackberry Street, Cincinnati. The ceremony was during a school-wide assembly in the gymnasium.

Alexander, the No. 8 ranked girls’ basketball player in the nation according to ESPN and the first Purcell Marian Cavalier to earn this honor, will compete alongside the country’s top high school basketball players in the 2025 McDonald’s All American Games on April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Being named a McDonald’s All American adds to a growing list of accolades for Alexander. Her high school career includes back-to-back Ohio Ms. Basketball awards as a sophomore and junior, along with being named the 2024 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year. She has led Purcell Marian to three OHSAA State Championships and was named to the 2025 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Midseason Team. Alexander will also represent the U.S. in the USA Basketball Nike Hoop Summit in April in Portland, Oregon.

The ceremony also featured remarks from McDonald’s Owner/Operator Brian Kilroy, who owns several restaurants in the greater Cincinnati area.

For nearly five decades, the McDonald’s All American Games have been a premier platform for some of basketball’s most elite players. The final group of 24 girls and 24 boys are selected by top analysts, prep scouts, media, and coaches from hundreds of high school athletes. Get in the Game,

The Main Event: Tickets to the 2025 McDonald’s All American Games at Barclays Center on Tuesday, April 1, are now available through ticketmaster.com or by visiting mcdaag.com.

Tune In: Fans can tune in on ESPN and ESPN2. The Sprite Jam Fest will air Monday, March 31 at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The 2025 McDonald’s All American Games will start with the Girls Game on Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. 

The post McDonald’s awards Dee Alexander an All American jersey appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Ozie Davis III MS, JD Sports Editor

Heading into the first Trotwood game, Aiken was 21-0, having easily swept through the Cincinnati Metropolitan Athletic Conference (CMAC) winning its second championship in successive years! With Player of the Year, Jaiden Arnold and Coach of the Year, Derrell Black both posting repeat performances! To say it was a historic season, win, lose, or draw is an understatement!

Yet, Trotwood 20-1 was on a historic run of their own and this game was built as the biggest in the state in OHSAA Division III, Dayton’s best versus Cincinnati’s best, particularly its Black schools. The game was pure rumble, Trotwood would win, Aiken would not be undefeated. Immediately Cincinnati and Dayton contingents went mad in good ole competitive banter in calling for, hoping for, a rematch in the upcoming State tournament. Aiken would thrash Talawanda and Ross, before being challenged by Bellbrook. Aiken fell behind, but showed their resilience in beating Bellbrook, then it was a LaSalle game in which Aiken was losing for the majority of the game until Jaiden Arnold decided it wouldn’t be so as Aiken turned 19 LaSalle turnovers into 33 points to send the game Lancers home.  The rematch was now a reality, and “Spirit of Sports TV” was with Aiken all the way. Aiken legend, Paul McMillan covered the game for the Herald and his in-game reports can be found on Spirt of Sports TV on Facebook. McMillan also made an appearance on Fox19 Sports as the Falcons pulled away from Trotwood and punched their ticket to the State Final Four. Aiken returns to the Final Four for the first time since 2016.

Athletic Director Paul Brownfield states it best, “so incredibly proud of this team. Great group of young men who have checked their egos for something far greater than themselves. This team knows they’re going out there each game representing not only the Aiken basketball team, but also Aiken High School, College Hill, and Cincinnati Public Schools. Making it back to the Final Four is something we all should celebrate.”

This Aiken team definitely deserves celebrating. Head Coach Derrell Black started this mission at Hughes several years ago prior to taking a detour as a Princeton Assistant before becoming Aiken’s Head Coach three years ago. He brung his junior high coach from Hughes, Orlando Gentry, to join him at Aiken and they put the band back together. See, Jaiden Arnold and James Burnett Jr highlighted that Hughes Jr High team so many years ago. Coach Gentry has been a guiding light to their development.” It’s been a pleasure and an honor to see the growth I have seen out of these two guys has been amazing from 7th grade to now. With ups and downs, hard conversations and through frustrations we stayed family, and they stayed brothers to guards that chose to play together as brothers when the whole city wanted them to be rivals. We need more James and Jaiden’s. They showed we can accomplish more together.

Coach Black has done an exceptional job leading the rebuild at Aiken. “It feels good! We have a great battle tested group who have been through a tough schedule this year. Every night we go into these games knowing that we have a group that can get the job done and as a coach that’s a phenomenal feeling.”  He shows great humility as the leader of this squad.  Brownfield speaks very highly of his character which overflows to his team night in night out. Brownfield said, “we knew during the hiring process that Derrell Black was a special basketball coach but over the last three years it’s been who he is as a man that has had the greatest impact on the program. His character is what has elevated the program back to where we all knew it could be. Great basketball coach, but even better person.”

Burnett, who is my family, thus we’ll call him “Baby J” says the team is focused on the state championship.  “It feels real good man just building up a program that fell off for a couple of years back to its winning ways feel great just want to keep leading my teammates to victory and winning a state championship!

The Falcons will play Sandusky at 3pm on Sunday 3/16 at Wright State. They will then face the winner of the Garfield Heights v Louisville game (played at Canton Memorial 6p Sunday) in the State Championship game 1p Friday 3/21 at UD Arena.

The post Aiken hunts state title appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

I didn’t want to have to rant about this and it is sad that it has gotten to this point, but the mismanagement from Bengals ownership has truly sent this organization on a downward spiral.  I’d like to stand outside of Paycor Stadium and yell “The Price will only increase” until one of them understands.  If Cincinnati would’ve acted when they should have, Bates would be playing for 12 million per year, Higgins would’ve signed for 23 million per year, Chase for 35 million per year, and Hendrickson for 25 million per year.  Prices aren’t going down and after the Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby signings, these players will want even more.  Now that Duke Tobin has agreed to make Ja’Marr the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history (never ever say that before a signing), we now are looking at 40+ million for Chase. 

It’s time to get the deals done, eat the losses that are a direct result of incompetence, and change the way this organization operates.  I love the Bengals, I really do.  Paul Brown was known as one of the biggest influencers to the game of football, but his family has failed to understand how to properly handle contracts and forming a roster.  As JJ Watt stated, “Reward your players earlier and reap the benefits in the long run.”  Never allow yourself to get in these standoffs year after year with your franchise players.  With that being said, I expect a deal done with Higgins today.  If not and if this team goes into camp with multiple players unhappy with contract situations, you can nearly bank on another slow start.  Now, there has been some good news as of recent, as Cincinnati locked up Gesicki and Ford, but it’s time to take care of our star players.  Easy for me to say though when it’s not my money, right?

17 Days Away from Reds Opening Day

With just over two weeks away from meaningful baseball, the Reds are in a relatively healthy position and I truly believe this team has a chance at surprising a lot of people around the baseball world.  Hats off to Meador, Krall, and ownership for everything they’ve done to get this roster to a point of truly being able to compete.  Francona is ready to make some noise and the city needs a quality year of Reds baseball.  This truly feels like the year that it happens. 

• The Reds announced the first 4 in the rotation to begin the year: Greene, Lodolo, Martinez, and Singer.  The 5^th spot is up for grabs between Abbott (injury), Lowder (injury), Spiers, and Ashcraft.  I’d feel a whole lot better if Lowder or Abbott filled this 5^th spot in the rotation. 
• If Steer is out, I think it comes down to Hurtubise or Dunn for that final spot.  I think they’ve both played well, but Blake Dunn deserves that final spot. 
• We have a true professional that will likely debut this year or next for the Reds in Sal Stewart.  His approach is just different than our other prospects.  He gets a lot of praise around the league. He looks major league ready.
• Chase Petty could find himself on the big league roster after a stint in AAA.  He’s finally coming around and is posting some impressive numbers. 
• I want to see Chase Burns on the fast track to the big leagues.  The 22 year old could find himself in a Skenes situation this season and I hope he pitches well enough to force the hand of calling him up early on this season.  He has major league stuff already. 
• Chris Sabo is the 2025 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal.  This is awesome and I am hopeful for a Votto appearance in the future. 

The post Bengals’ mismanagement sends organization on downward spiral appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

The best sports month of the year has just begun, as we have finally reached March.  March Madness, Reds baseball beginning, and Winter coming to a close always makes for an entertaining month.  The Reds open the regular season on March 27^th against the Giants at 4:10 and I can’t wait to be in right field watching Tito lead this team.  For now though, the Reds still have some kinks to work out, along with deciding the roles of each player and filling out this roster. 

Noelvi Marte

With roughly three weeks until the season begins, it’s safe to say that the Reds have a decision to make on Noelvi Marte.  He was 0-3 on the 2^nd, has 7 strikeouts in 15 plate appearances, and is batting .067.  In 2023, he looked like a star in the making in 35 games, but has been on a downward spiral ever since.  I’m rooting for Marte, but he simply cannot be on the roster as it stands right now.  I’m not giving up on Noelvi by any means, but I truly hope we aren’t running into a “Jose Barrero 2.0” situation. 

So Much to be Excited for

This Spring Training has been exciting to watch and I truly think this Reds team could have a breakout season under new leadership.  My main takeaways thus far include:

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand is hitting the ball HARD.  His power is needed and if healthy, he looks good enough to have a 30 home run year. 
• Elly De La Cruz is batting .500 with a team leading 3 home runs.  Protect him for the next three weeks, he is ready to go.  His swing looks like it has come changes and he has only struck out 3 times.  MVP season incoming?
• Matt McLain is 7/14 and is back to looking like his normal self.  Stay healthy Matt, this team needs you!
• Jacob Hurtubise is batting very well in his 10 at-bats, including 6 hits, 2 doubles, and a triple.  He is fighting for one of the last roster spots. 
• In 4 innings pitched, Chase Petty has yet to give up a run, along with only giving up 1 hit.  He really looks comfortable on the mound to begin the season.  The 21 year old might just find himself in a big league role this season. 
• Jake Fraley crushed a home run on Sunday.  If he could get back to hitting for power, I’d feel a lot better about our outfield. 
• Blake Dunn might be the most impressive player thus far.  He is batting .385, including1 home run, 1 double, and only a single strikeout.  He might be the fastest player on the roster outside of Elly and is making his case to be on the roster come March 27^th. 
• Spencer Steer is dealing with a right shoulder issue and he might begin the season on the injured list.  While this is a major bummer, injuries are expected, and this is why depth is so important. 

The post Cincinnati Reds’ March Madness is here: Regular season starts March 27 appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

At last, I can finally write about actual results and not just speculations or predictions, as Spring Training games have officially started.  As I do each season, it’s always a good reminder to ignore win-loss records during this time, focus on the “wins” for each player, and to keep in mind that this is a time for players to dial-in before the season begins in a month.  Younger players are competing for spots, pitchers are perfecting their craft, and batters are attempting to get their feel back at the plate.  Add in the new manager and the new additions, and you really have to take a step back and look at the positives individually. 

Impressive Beginning

• Elly De La Cruz hasn’t missed a step and is looking for a breakout season.  In his first two at-bats in the Cactus League, he smoked two home runs including one from each side.  If he stays healthy, we might just have an MVP on our favorite team in 2025.
• Santiago Espinal was highly impressive in his 5 at-bats, including a triple and a home run.  His depth should be talked about more. 
• Rece Hinds smoked a triple off the wall and I think we all know his ceiling.  If he could just be more consistent, he could certainly play a lot of major league ball this year.
• The new Red, Gavin Lux, had a great game, including 3 RBIs and a double. 
• 25-year-old catcher, Will Banfield smoked an impressive home run.  Banfield, Wynns, Trevino, and Stephenson will be fun to watch this season. 
• Chase Petty, Connor Phillips, Nick Martinez, and Graham Ashcraft all had impressive outings, including 2 scoreless innings from each of them.
• Cam Collier had a big double in his first at bat.  Collier and Stewart are some Reds on the Rise that are trying to get to the big league level. 

Quotes from the Weekend

• Terry Francona on Nick Martinez: “I know there’s some versatility there and he’s willing to do it, but bouncing guys around unless you have to is not what we’re shooting for.” Welcome to the rotation, Nick. 
• Bent Suter: “I want to see us having a parade in Fountain Square at the end of the year.”
• Terry Francona on the Pete Rose Patch: “I will wear that as proudly as you can.”
• Terry Francona on Elly: “Don’t quote me, but he’s got a pretty good chance of sticking on our club.” (LOL)
• Terry Francona on Elly: “I want you to be the best player in baseball on the best team in baseball.”
• Terry Francona on playing the Guardians: “It’s just not the right time to have a hug fest.  I want these guys to know how important they are.  I’m a (explicative) Red.”

Upcoming Schedule

• Dodgers 2/24
• Angels 2/26
• Diamondbacks 2/27
• Athletics 2/28
• Padres 3/1
• Cubs 3/2

The post Reds Spring Training: De La Cruz impresses with home runs appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Spencer Wheelock, wheelock@seyferthpr.com

The McDonald’s All American Games is headed to the basketball mecca of Brooklyn for the first time ever, descending on Barclays Center for a showdown featuring basketball’s future all-stars. McDonald’s announced the final rosters for the game, which includes Purcell Marian High School standout and University of Cincinnati commitment Darianna Alexander who will represent the Girls West Team in this year’s game. University of Cincinnati commit Shon Abaev of Calvary Christian Academy in Florida will join the Boys East Team.

For almost five decades, the McDonald’s All American Games have been a red thread connecting some of the game’s most elite players. The Selection Committee has revealed the next group of 48 athletes to hold the most prestigious honor in high school basketball.

The final group of 24 girls and 24 boys were hand selected by a collection of the game’s top analysts, prep scouts, media and coaches, from hundreds of potential high school players. This next generation of players represent communities from across the nation, each looking to make their own unique mark on the Games’ rich history, continuing a 48-year legacy of impact both on and off the court.

Community has remained a key fixture in the Games’ mission since its founding and this year is no different.       At the 2025 Games, McDonald’s is taking its commitment to community a step further with new and continued investments in neighborhood networks and local organizations, such as Ronald McDonald House. The Games will once again benefit RMHC through its network of local Chapters. There many ways to be part of the action:

Pre-Games Warm-Up: The Sprite Jam Fest, featuring a 3-Point Contest, dunk competition and a knockout game, will be held on Monday, March 31. Ticket information will be provided at a later date.

The Main Event: Tickets to the 2025 McDonald’s All American Games at Barclays Center on Tuesday, April 1 are now available through ticketmaster.com or by visiting mcdaag.com.

Tune In: Fans can tune in on ESPN and ESPN2. The Sprite Jam Fest will air Monday, March 31 at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The 2025 McDonald’s All American Games will start with the Girls Game on Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and the Boys Game will immediately follow on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET.

The post Purcell Marian’s Darianna Alexander to play in McDonald’s All American Games appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Baseball season is officially back!  Well, Spring Training at least and I’ll take anything at this point, as it has been the longest Winter stretch that I can recall in my lifetime.  The snow, wet grounds, brutal weather, and boring Bengals season is going to put even more pressure on the Reds to have a good start to the season.

Early News out of Spring Training

• Gavin Lux will play 2^nd base and 3^rd base to begin Spring Training and will not be working on outfield rotations.
• Rhett Lowder is ramping up throwing this week.  He added roughly 20 pounds this offseason.
• Andrew Abbott lost 20 pounds this offseason.
• Terry Francona has continuously stated to Elly that he wants him to be the best player in baseball on the best team in baseball.  He’s been a frequent visitor to Francona’s office.
• Jeimer Candelario came into Spring Training healthy and ready to redeem himself and his contract in 2025.

Who to Keep an Eye on?

As the Reds begin Spring Training this week, there are a few key players to keep an eye on as they compete for positions.  Injuries will occur, as with any team, and after last season’s disaster, complaining about too many infielders should never be a complaint ever again. 

• Jeimer Candelario – Can he be versatile enough to play third base?  Or will Christian Encarnacion-Strand play well enough to play this position?  Perhaps, Spencer Steer will even find himself in the infield again.
• Santiago Espinal isn’t being talked about enough.  His defense is immaculate, and his .246 average last season was solid for this team in just 357 at bats.  If his WAR can get back to his 2021 or 2022 levels (2.2-2.5), he could compete for a lot of playing time. 
• Gavin Lux and how he fits into this roster if fully healthy will be quite interesting. 
• Can Noelvi Marte or Will Benson play well enough to make the roster on Opening Day or will their droughts from last season continue?
• Nick Martinez’ role should be seen early into Spring Training and it’ll be interesting to see if they initially use him as a starter.  Same for Graham Ashcraft and his role going forward for this team.
• Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand or Elly De La Cruz will have to become the power bat that this team desperately needs.  A 30 homerun guy on this roster shouldn’t be too much to ask for. 

The post Reds Spring Training begins, pressure mounts appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Now that the Super Bowl is officially over, we can finally declare it baseball season, although I’ve personally declared that ever since the Bengals didn’t make the playoffs. The sun is shining, warmer days are ahead, and Pitchers & Catchers have officially reported.  “Hey Alexa, play ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ by Thin Lizzy on high volume.”  I am excited to see some sessions from the pitching staff and it’s a massive relief to know we have Trevino over Maile this time around as a backup catcher. 

Approaching Important Dates

• February 12 – Pitchers and Catchers first workout
• February 15 – Position players report
• February 17 – Full squad workout
• February 22 – First Spring Training Game
• March 27 – Reds Opening Day

Injuries

While the Reds are currently healthy overall, injuries from last year and the offseason will have an impact on this season.  Having a relatively healthy Spring is key to beginning the season on a high note.  Injuries to Julian Aguiar, Tejay Antone, and Brandon Williamson are notable for now and that list will hopefully remain small, as I don’t see any of those players pitching in 2025.  Antone possibly could find himself on the mound, but that would require coming back from a third Tommy John surgery. 

MLB Pipeline

As we all know, smaller market teams require an influx of young talent year in and year out to remain successful and to compete with billionaire team owners.  Included in the Top 100 Prospects this season on the Reds are Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Sal Stewart, Cam Collier, and Edwin Arroyo.  I believe all of those listed have a chance to make it to the big leagues at some point this season, while we already witnessed what Lowder could do in the majors last season.  Fans might just see the Wake Forest duo earlier than expected if Burns is as good as many expect him to be. 

Baseball Memories

Everyone who loves the game of baseball in this area has favorite baseball memories, whether that is playing, going to see the Reds, or simply watching them on television with friends or relatives.  As baseball season approaches, many of my favorite memories from the past continue to come to my mind.  What are some of your favorite baseball memories?  Here are a few of mine:

• Chris Reed and Michael Cheesbro took me to my first Reds game, where I recall slipping a note down to Pokey Reese in the dugout, only for him to throw the ball to a fan nearby.
• Attending Opening Day every year with my wife, Jenna.  We’ve created some awesome memories and there is nothing I love more than waking her up at the crack of dawn on the last Thursday of March each year.
• Knothole baseball matchups year after year against Manchester and the battle growing up as a kid.  Those were some of the best times.
• Wiffle ball games at Coach Arey’s house where a home run was anything hitting the gutter on the house or above, or the tree out in right field.  Being a “town kid” resulted in memories that I will cherish forever roaming from Hopping Avenue and Vine Street to High Street in Peebles. 

The post Pitchers and catchers report; baseball is here! appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Betina Cutaia Wilkinson, Wake Forest University

Back in 2012, quarterback Colin Kaepernick was one of the NFL’s most popular stars. He led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl and was just a few plays away from winning the title and lifting the Lombardi Trophy.

But America’s focus on Kaepernick’s athletic success waned in 2016. That’s when he began to kneel before games during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest the deaths of young Black men at the hands of white police officers.

They included Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two unarmed Black men killed by police in the summer of 2016.

“To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Kaepernick said in The Guardian newspaper. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Kaepernick’s activism, coinciding with the reemergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, received varied responses.

Some NFL players, like Kaepernick’s then-teammate Eric Reid, imitated Kaepernick’s actions, generating a wave of anti-racist activism – not just in football but in other sports, too, like women’s basketball. Others, including several NFL executives, responded with vitriol and hate.

A recent study I conducted with colleagues Lisa Kiang and Elizabeth Seagroves examines American attitudes toward sports activism, providing insight into the stark responses to Kaepernick’s advocacy and those of other athletes.

Making sense of the varied responses

We surveyed 207 college students and 33 residents in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where I teach, to examine their views on racial justice activism among professional athletes.

We found there were three general perspectives.

One group supported the sports activism and tied it to changing the status quo. People in this group back athletes’ ability to serve as activists and role models, and they hope the protests generate meaningful sociopolitical change.

“I thought it was very necessary and good,” said one participant in the study, referring to athletes’ activism. “I think that if they can use their platform for something good, they should.”

When we asked about Kaepernick’s activism in 2016, these participants lauded him for his courage.

They felt Kaepernick’s protests, along with the Black Lives Matter movement, helped raise awareness of racial injustices in the United States.

Participants reject racial justice advocacy

Other participants in our study expressed support for athletes’ right to protest, but they rejected their racial justice advocacy.

They said athletes have the freedom to say what they think. And they tied the protests to the United States’ commitment to freedom of speech. But they disapproved of kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, labeling it as disrespectful.

“I think most of it is good. If you have a platform, you should use it,” one participant told us. “However, when misinformation is spread, it becomes bad.”

Several participants felt the conflation of the national anthem with protesting racial injustices was misleading and wrong, and this participant considered Kaepernick’s protest “misinformation.”

Kaepernick’s activism elicited similarly mixed feelings at the time. A majority of the public viewed Kaepernick’s refusal to stand as unpatriotic. Most, however, also supported his right to free speech.

In May 2018, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell barred athletes from protesting on the sidelines during the national anthem, but he gave them the option to remain in the locker room during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” if they preferred. The move came after players had protested racial inequality and police brutality for two seasons.

“We want people to be respectful of the national anthem,” Goodell said, according to ESPN. “We want people to stand – that’s all personnel – and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That’s something we think we owe. But we were also very sensitive to give players choices.”

In June 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s death and years into Kaepernick’s activism, Goodell apologized to players and reversed the policy, saying, “We were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier.”

But team protests varied throughout the league.

Some teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars, at least on one occasion, remained in their locker rooms during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Some teams acted uniformly with the exception of one or two players. Dallas Cowboys player Dontari Poe was the only person on his team to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.

The fact that not all players protested, and that teams had distinct approaches to protesting, is not surprising given the public’s varied responses to athlete activism.

Complete disapproval

A third group of participants in our study disapproved of sports activism entirely. And these participants often accompanied their criticism by saying that athletes strayed from their role as entertainers.

“I don’t think it’s good because it’s giving people a reason not to like a professional athlete when their job is to play a sport. They are not politicians and haven’t been able to prove they can make a change,” said one participant.

For example, when responding to WNBA player Skylar Diggins-Smith’s call for the imprisonment of the police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, involved in the 2020 shooting death of Breonna Taylor during a nighttime apartment raid, one participant said: “It’s not for the average citizen to call for police officers to be investigated. It’s just not OK for a professional athlete to push their agenda like that.”

Our study, much like other studies, found that people who are white, older and politically conservative are more opposed to racial justice activism in sports than their counterparts.

What does this mean?

As seen in our study, U.S. views toward sports protests are tied to the role people believe athletes should play in society.

For some, athletes can and should be role models; that includes by raising awareness of racial injustices. For others, athletes should only express their perspectives under certain conditions.

And yet other Americans believe athletes are performers whose only role should be to entertain.

Still, there’s no doubt Kaepernick’s activism changed the playing field, even if his NFL career suffered. After the 2016 season, he was never picked up by another team.

Kaepernick’s activism inspired people to attend protests and donate to political causes.

The NAACP has asked college athletes to avoid attending schools that are dismantling their diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives.

Coach Steve Kerr and All- Star Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors regularly voice their political views and draw attention to injustices.

Several sports associations – the NFL, NBA, WNBA and NWSL – have implemented social justice initiatives and councils that strive to mobilize voters and educate the electorate on political issues.

Colin Kaepernick’s activism may have ended his Super Bowl dreams, but his legacy extends far beyond the game of football.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Betina Cutaia Wilkinson, Wake Forest University

Read more:

• It’s the most American of sports, so why is the NFL looking to Melbourne for international games?
• Sports gambling creates a windfall, but raises questions of integrity – here are three lessons from historic sports-betting scandals
• Super Bowl ads: It’s getting harder for commercials to score with consumers

Betina Cutaia Wilkinson previously received funding from the Latino Center for Leadership Development.
Lisa Kiang works with Betina Wilkinson at Wake Forest University. Elizabeth Seagroves was Betina Wilkinson’s student during her time at Wake Forest University 

Feature Image: San Francisco 49ers players Eric Reid, left, and Colin Kaepernick take a knee during the national anthem before a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 12, 2016. Daniel Gluskoter/AP Images for Panini

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