Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Kaepernick, Nike, and What the Future Holds for Flag Kneeling Movement

Kaepernick, Nike, and What the Future Holds for Flag Kneeling Movement

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Sep 05, 2018

No Comments

This past weekend Nike made a big announcement with the unveiling of their new relationship with Colin Kaepernick.  Before going any deeper, if you’re reading this blog you likely already have a strong position about how you feel about Kaepernick and flag kneeling, as this has easily been the most controversial sport sociological issues in recent years.  My experience has shown that few people are indifferent about this issue (or Kaepernick), but instead take either a pro-Kaepernick position (agreeing that peaceful protest is a First Amendment right) or anti-Kaepernick (First Amendment aside, flag kneeling is unconditionally wrong).  For supporters of Kaepernick, the Nike decision is looked at as another helpful and important step to raise awareness toward social injustices; conversely, folks who oppose Kaepernick see the Nike deal as a slap in the face, and many have responded by trashing their Nike gear in protest.

They have a reason for their position as you do for yours…

Now that the kneeling movement has endured for a couple years, it seems like it’s time to see the next stage unfold.  What does the movement mean today?  Does it mean the same thing(s) as it did when it originally began?  Is progress being made?  And speaking of, have we ever specifically defined the exact issue(s) that we want to see improved?

When I listen to people on both sides of the issue speak, I continually come back to my same response: Wouldn’t people come together, at least a little, if both sides were to truly listen to the other?  Do the anti-Kaepernick folks really understand what the protest is about?  Similarly, do the folks kneeling really understand how this specific form of protest (flag kneeling) strikes a cord unlike no other, and prevents some people from seeing past the perceived disrespect to the flag so that they might truly understand the issues that prompted the movement in the first place?

Often I use this approach therapeutically with clients when we sort through their stress and the people and things in life that upset them.  Have you looked at the situation how someone else might see it?  Only when we do that do we begin to see the world in different and healthier ways.

Listen, learn, and understand

Perhaps the most difficult thing for people to do when engaged in discussions of opposing views is to stop, actively listen, and truly consider the other person’s point of view.  To set aside our own thoughts, feelings, and impressions of the flag kneeling movement is not easy to do for most people, and that’s understandable.  For some, the kneeling movement is exclusively seen through the lens of disrespect and anti-patriotism, preventing any real growth opportunities from ever occurring.  If you feel this way — and you have every right to feel this way — is it possible to set those feelings aside for just a moment and wonder what it must be like for protesters to take a knee knowing that they will be viewed as traitors to this country?

It’s also important for flag kneelers to tune in to why so many Americans are bothered by the current protest, and why some are now burning their Nike gear in their own protest.  Stop, listen, and understand why this is occurring — flag kneeling will be exclusively tied to previous Americans (some family members) who have lost their life for America, and even with disclaimers that the protest isn’t disrespecting that fact, it may be a message that simply can’t be sold.  Protesters would also help their cause if they better spelled out specific changes that need to occur for America to be a better place, and owned up to instances where individual victims simply made poor choices rather than hold police officers completely accountable for every unfortunate shooting.

If both sides made better efforts, I think reasonable people would agree that we could all take steps together to remedy the current divide that exists.

Final thoughts

The Nike-Kaepernick deal is the latest nuance in the flag kneeling protest movement, and as expected, has generated strong feelings on both sides of the issue.  Regardless of the steps the NFL takes to eliminate flag kneeling for the future, the prediction here is that the protests will continue — even if it leads to future player suspensions.  My hope, however, is that we all try to see both sides of the protest and continue to engage in healthy dialogue so that better future outcomes can occur.

drstankovich.com

 

athletes, Coaching, flag, kaepernick, marketing, NFL, nike, protest, sponsorship

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • July 6, 2022 Kids Want to Play Sports, But Adults Can Sometimes Make this Difficult
  • June 29, 2022 Don’t Discount the Value of Fun, Unstructured Play for Kids Mental Health
  • June 20, 2022 Sports Parents & Coaches Can Use Youth Sports as a Mental Health Boost for Kids
  • June 15, 2022 Show Kids How Much You Care Before You Teach Them What You Know
  • June 14, 2022 Study Finds Team Sports May be Best for Kids & their Mental Health

PREVIOUS POST

How Long Can Football Hang On and Withstand Issues Impacting the Sport?

NEXT POST

Damage Control: Examining the Ohio State – Urban Meyer Saga

Category

Athletes , Athletic Department , Coaching , Fan Behavior , Leadership , Off Field Issues , Pro , Pro and College Sports , Social Responsibility , Sport Diversity , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Sports Culture and Society , Sports Leadership , Uncategorized

Tags

athletes, Coaching, flag, kaepernick, marketing, NFL, nike, protest, sponsorship

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Kids Want to Play Sports, But Adults Can Sometimes Make this Difficult
  • Don't Discount the Value of Fun, Unstructured Play for Kids Mental Health
  • Sports Parents & Coaches Can Use Youth Sports as a Mental Health Boost for Kids
  • Show Kids How Much You Care Before You Teach Them What You Know
  • Study Finds Team Sports May be Best for Kids & their Mental Health
  • Overcome the Fear of Failure, Improve Mental Toughness, & Experience Success
  • How Much Impact Does a Coach Have on Sports Team Success?
  • Avoid the Dangers of "Whataboutism" for Better Relationships & Improved Mental Health
  • Help Kids Maximize Youth Sports by Using Athletic Transferable Skills
  • Improve Mental Health by Means of Catharsis & Purging Negative Thoughts
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2022 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓