#TakeTheKnee: Trump picking fights & injecting politics into sports

I don't like LeBron James. I think Lebron thinks too highly of himself & I like it when his team (Heat, Cavs, Knicks? Lakers?) loses. 
During the past two NBA Finals, even though I'm a Suns fan, I've rooted for Curry (who I do like) & the Warriors against Lebron & the Cavs.

Which is why I was surprised when I first heard LeBron had a "Twitter beef" with Trump. I thought to myself: "Hey! I may actually have something in common with Trump in a mutual dislike of Lebron James".
But no, it turns out Lebron James was actually standing up for Curry:

So now I respect Lebron James. Trump's name is so toxic, it's actually uniting sports stars from rival franchises & making unlikable athletes likable.

For instance, today there are black NFL athletes from different teams taking a knee before game-time while the star-spangled banner plays. Mostly, because Trump asked NFL owners to fire the players if they were to do that exact thing:
"Trump: NFL owners should fire players who protest the national anthem"

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/politics/donald-trump-alabama-nfl/index.html

I gotta be honest: I don't give a shit what Trump says, but I, myself, wouldn't take a knee while the star-spangled banner played (not that it matters since I'm not a high-paid athlete). Mainly, because of nostalgia from my childhood. I saw how hard my dad (mechanic with minimal education) studied & worked to become a U.S. citizen. & I was very proud when our whole family went to the ceremony downtown when he officially became a citizen. Then afterwards, he proudly waved the little U.S. flag that was given to him while a patriotic song played. 

But also, because in public I tend to keep a low profile (I post in this blog anonymously so that should give you a clue). My friend told me she saw me on the local news during the recent protests against Trump & I was bummed ("I hope nobody else recognized me" I thought).

That being said, I respect somebody's right to peaceful protest, because we're far from perfect. No country in the World can ever be perfect & people have a right to protest what they see as inequality or discrimination as we strive for a "more perfect Union" (Obama's phrase). 

I also respect what the NFL athletes are doing because they're not disrespecting America, they're protesting racism, the killing of unarmed Black men by police, & Trump's statement. & most importantly, no "low profile" from these NFL athletes, they are risking a major backlash which could cost them financially: thus their actions are admirable. 

This morning, I heard a member of Trump's cabinet say the NFL athletes are disrespecting the U.S. Military & first responders. That's bullshit. U.S. soldiers & first responders are from all races & backgrounds & I'm sure many support the NFL athletes's actions.  

Trump doesn't get to decide who is Patriotic & who is not. Or what action is Patriotic & what action is not. His administration is under investigation for having colluded with Russia to steal the election: why would we listen to him?
Not to mention the Donald lost the election by three million votes! The majority of Americans don't like him or his administration. And many downright detest him like I've never seen before (not even in the W. Bush years).