Las Vegas tragedy gets teams out of Kaepernick Conundrum
NFL teams like the Baltimore Ravens aren't winning many fans with their pregame protests. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)
The Orlando Magic decided to stand for the national anthem before Monday night's preseason opener at Memphis.
Thank God.
Given what has transpired in Las Vegas, disrespecting any symbol of American unity would be the dumbest move in the protest history.
In fact, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history might just put an end to the protest fever that has inflamed sports.
I realize the athletes who've taken a knee say they just want to bring attention to social ills. That message has been hopelessly lost in the volcano that's erupted around this issue.
Don't take my word for it. Just listen to the boos that greeted the Baltimore Ravens when they took a knee before Sunday's game.
NFL fans are getting fed up with jocks turning the pregame ritual into a political platform. The NBA audience is largely a different demographic, but there's a reason the league office sent out a memo last week encouraging players to stand for the anthem.
It's bad for business.
Management knows that, but a lot of pro sports labor doesn't seem to care.
"And the fans that don't want to come to the game? I mean, OK. Bye," Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker said. "I mean, if you feel that's something, we're disrespecting you, don't come to the game. You don't have to. No one's telling you to come to the game."
Spoken like someone who doesn't realize who is ultimately paying his $4.2 million salary. Bills running back LeSean McCoy didn't just kneel during the anthem on Sept. 24, he used the time to stretch.
So much for the NFL policy requiring players to stand at attention.
Teams don't want to alienate their players, who aren't used to being told no. They were hoping Colin Kaepernick's 15 minutes of social justice fame would quietly flame out.
Then Donald Trump poured jet fuel on it with his "Son of a Bitch" speech. The war was on, and reports from the front indicate Trump is winning.
A poll of 5,000 adults last week showed the NFL's net favorability dropped from 30 percent on Sept. 21 to 17 percent on Sept. 28. If it goes much lower, players might as well become members of Congress.
The pregame kneeling wasn't as widespread this past Sunday, but the anger on both sides hasn't abated. That's put leagues and owners in a Kaepernick Conundrum.
From left, San Francisco 49ers' Eli Harold (58), quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and Eric Reid (35) kneel during the national anthem before their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/TNS) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, TCN - OUTS ** (Nhat V. Meyer / TNS)
How do they keep their protesting players and fed-up fans happy?
They can't.
Then along came Las Vegas.
There can be no silver lining to something as horrific as the Mandalay Bay massacre, but it could take the heat off management.
Teams could actually enforce their policies and require players to stand for the national anthem. The difference is owners could tell players they are wholly sympathetic to their causes, but the dynamic has changed.
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There will be moments of silence before every sporting even in the next week. People will remember the victims of the massacre and the heroism shown by first responders and regular citizens alike.
The flag will be a big part of that. The last thing people want to see is some guy taking a knee for any cause other than sympathy and solidarity for Las Vegas.
Even LeSean McCoy should be able to figure that one out.
David Whitley can be reached at dwhitley@orlandosentinel.com
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