In a move that\u2019s sure to spark controversy, former United States Women\u2019s National Team (USWNT) captain Megan Rapinoe has thrown her support behind none other than Colin Kaepernick for a spot on Team USA\u2019s flag football team at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Yes, you read that right\u2014the same Kaepernick who made headlines by kneeling during the national anthem in protest and subsequently turned his back on the NFL, the flag, and, arguably, the country itself.<\/p>\n
During a recent episode of her podcast, \u201cA Touch More,\u201d Rapinoe gushed over the idea of Kaepernick representing the very nation he\u2019s so famously protested against. \u201cOh God, he would be so good in flag football,\u201d she said, seemingly ignoring the irony of having him represent the United States on the world stage. \u201cHe is still being blackballed from the NFL right now. I think it would be awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rapinoe didn\u2019t stop there. She went on to suggest that Kaepernick should be America\u2019s flag bearer, a symbolic role that traditionally honors someone who embodies the best of the nation\u2019s values. \u201cI think it would be really incredible to have that representation of America also be front and center at an Olympics. That would be really cool,\u201d Rapinoe said, without a hint of irony.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear that Rapinoe\u2019s vision for America\u2019s future on the global stage is steeped in woke activism rather than athletic achievement. The idea of Kaepernick\u2014a man who chose to disrespect the very symbol of American freedom\u2014carrying the U.S. flag at the Olympics is a slap in the face to every athlete who has trained and sacrificed for the honor of representing this country.<\/p>\n
Kaepernick, who hasn\u2019t played in the NFL since 2016, continues to paint himself as a victim of \u201cblackballing\u201d by the league. \u201cWe\u2019re still training, still pushing,\u201d he said in a recent interview, clinging to the hope that a team owner might one day give him another shot. While he dreams of making a comeback, Kaepernick\u2019s most notable accomplishment in recent years has been his transformation from a quarterback into a full-time activist, leveraging his controversial stance to maintain relevance.<\/p>\n
Rapinoe, who has never shied away from her own activism, has previously praised Kaepernick\u2019s efforts. Last year, she likened her own protests to his, stating, \u201cWhen I\u2019m talking about LGBTQ rights, when I\u2019m taking a knee in support of Colin Kaepernick, when I\u2019m talking about police brutality or pay equity, it\u2019s all the same exact thing to me.\u201d To Rapinoe, it seems, activism trumps athleticism, and standing for something (or kneeling, as the case may be) is more important than standing for the nation.<\/p>\n
Rapinoe\u2019s activism, of course, is nothing new. She\u2019s made headlines for years, not just for her soccer skills but for her relentless promotion of left-wing causes. In fact, she once described playing for the United States as \u201cthe worst job in the world,\u201d a statement that highlights just how disconnected she is from the privilege and honor that comes with representing one\u2019s country.<\/p>\n
The idea of Kaepernick leading Team USA into the 2028 Olympics is just another example of how far some are willing to go in the name of \u201csocial justice.\u201d But for many Americans, the thought of Kaepernick in the red, white, and blue is less about justice and more about a continued disrespect for the values that make this country great. If Rapinoe and Kaepernick get their way, the 2028 Olympics could be a sad day for those who still believe in American exceptionalism.<\/p>\n
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