Gabe Kapler, The manager of Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise San Francisco Giants, will not come out for the US national anthem before games for the foreseeable future. He will boycott the traditional pre-game playing of the Star Spangled Banner until such time as he fees “better” about the country.
Kapler, 46, has taken the decision after 19 children and two adults were shot by a teenage gunman in Uvalde, Texas earlier this week. The 2021 National League Manager of the Year does not expect his actions necessarily to have an impact, but feels strongly enough about the issue to take a stand. He believe that people need to reflect on whether they are actually free and brave – referring to the anthem’s lyrics – after such a horrendous incident.
Kapler has also criticised the gun industry, politicians and lobbyists for powerful groups like the NRA (National Rifle Association), who are always quick to defend the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms.
There is precedent of Kapler's act in American football. San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick took the knee to protest racial inequality during the anthem before a match in 2016. He was dropped from the team and remained unsigned, which numerous observers of the sport attributed to political reasons. He was singled out for criticism by the then US President, Donald Trump. Kaepernick later reached a confidential settlement with the NFL, but his career has never recovered. It will be hoped that Kapler does not suffer a similar backlash.
He is not the only US sports’ coach to deviate from the party line in the last few days. Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors, refused to discuss basketball during a news conference. Instead, he delivered an emotional speech, condemning the prevalence of gun violence in the USA.
Sadly, there are 19 young people who might have grown up to be baseball or basketball fans but never got the chance because of the misguided belief that a right enshrined in a constitution drawn up at the end of the 18th century is still apposite in 2022.