Listening to comments by Islanders and other Canadians on the uproar in major league sporting circles over President Donald Trump's remarks about NFL football players that knelt during the playing of the U.S. national anthem and the unfurling of the Stars and Stripes is surprising.
Almost all say the only reason Trump got elected was because of the intense dislike of the Clintons and furthermore the actions by the police in the southern states regarding minorities, which triggered the protest, is appalling. Now that I think of it, the biggest single factor in Justin Trudeau's election win came as a result of an intense dislike of Stephen Harper. Furthermore, the treatment of minorities in this country during the past 60 years in places like Halifax, Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg is hardly something we should be proud about.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the Kaepernick protest, let me refresh your memory.
Last year, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel and not stand for the national anthem and the flag in his protest of the treatment of minorities in America. This season more NFL players have joined the protest, which riled President Trump and triggered his infamous SOB remark.
Trump's comment was an outrageous statement for a president and his more recent outbursts are divisive in the country and hurtful to the NFL. This is a fight that has gotten way out of hand and it's getting uglier, certainly not the intention of either side at the outset.
Kaepernick earned a reported $10 million last year for playing a game so I would say his country and his flag has been very kind to him. I wonder how the families of those that died for the U.S. flag, some from right here in Charlottetown, in the world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc., feel about this issue?
If Kaepernick wants to protest, which is his right to do so, how about in front of the government building or at rallies, but let's keep politics out of the sports arenas. Public opinion in the U.S. will always favour Stars and Stripes and the national anthem defenders and, like it or not, it may be the only time the majority can agree with any statement from Trump, of course, minus the SOB comment.
To compare Kaepernick with great humanitarians like Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali is laughable, if it wasn't so sad. Such rubbish.
During the past number of years, championship sports teams at the major league level have been invited to the White House to be recognized for their championship season. Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins visited the White House Tuesday, which is an honour for the young star from Cole Harbour, N.S. Crosby took some unfounded heat about going to the White House but insisted, “there is absolutely no politics involved.”
I applaud Sidney Crosby and the entire Penguins organization for their full attendance at the White House. As usual Sidney Crosby gets it right both on and off the ice.
Baseball
I have often written about inept field managers in baseball and right at the top of the heap are John Farrell in Boston, John Gibbons in Toronto and Buck Showalter in Baltimore.
The BoSox fired Farrell Wednesday and Showalter will be the next to walk the plank. The Jays media love Gibby so management granted him a year extension, which should tell you how shallow the Jays front office really is.
Rugby
The Hunter’s Ale House P.E.I. Mudmen travel to Fredericton, N.B., to meet the Loyalists at 1 p.m. today for the Caledonia Cup, emblematic of Maritime division 1 rugby supremacy. The last P.E.I. team to win was the Charlottetown Nomads in 1955.
Harness racing
Local harness racing continues tonight at 6 p.m. at the city track with a 14-dash card, including the Maritime Breeders eliminations for two- and three-year-old trotters plus a $2,400 top class, which includes late season standouts like Elm Grove Kaboom, Rose Run Quest, Adkins Hanover, Mick Dundee, Carracchi Hanover, Forever Paradise and Ultimatelyhandsome.
The Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale broke all Maritime record with a gross of almost $1 million and an average of $10,659. If Nova Scotia and New Brunswick governments could just realize this is a green industry that could grow enormously with a little financial help, it would be a bright day for Maritime horsemen.
The recent Lexington sale produced record numbers with consignors and breeders enjoying banner results, which is great for the industry. The Stable.Ca purchased 16 head and shelled out more than $400,000 for yearlings.
Charlottetown’s Harry Poulton will train many of the U.S.-bred colts, getting them ready for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania stakes. I believe Kevin MacMaster has also joined the Stable team.
At Mohawk tonight, the $250,000 super finals are in the spotlight and trainer Dr. Ian Moore sends out Shadow Moon and Percy Blue Ship for owners Serge Savard, Ron MacLellan of R G McGroup and Gord McCoombs.
The $1 million international trot goes at Yonkers tonight and North American star Resolve will have his hands full with this field over an extended distance.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
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Pigskin picks
The NFL heads into Week 6 after another upset-punctuated week where key injuries knocked many people from the elimination pools.
Defensive star J.J. Watt is out for the season with Houston, Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall are finished for the season with the 0-5 New York Giants.
Let's take a look at a few of Sunday’s games:
New York Giants (0-5) at Denver Broncos (3-1) – The Giants have no weapons, Eli is fair and Denver is a legit Super Bowl contender. I hate giving up points, but this is a Denver rout.
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) – The Steelers have been hot and cold, the Chiefs hot. Ben Roethlisberger has played poorly and I don't like the team chemistry with Antonio Brown calling him out. The Chiefs at Arrowhead easily cover the four-point spread.
Green Bay Packers (4-1) at Minnesota Vikings (3-2) – The Vikings beat the Bears 20-17 in the Monday night game on a late field goal. The Vikes have a rugged defence but the short week against a QB like Aaron Rodgers tells me to bet the Packers.
L.A. Rams (3-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) – Two up-and-coming teams each with a great running back in Ted Gurley for the Rams and Leonard Fournette for the Jags. Rams QB Jared Goff is much better than Blake Bortles so take the three points and bet the road Rams.
