Jamie Nye: Players showcase freedom and bravery in anthem protests

I’m amazed how quickly the conversation about national anthems at sporting events has shifted in the past 10 years.

We’ve had this debate a few times and early on, there was no question that you wanted the national anthem at sporting events. Those who didn’t want them just felt it was a waste of time.

Then Colin Kaepernick took a knee and the anthem became a moment of protest. The anthem was all of a sudden no longer the time to be polite, stand up, take off your hat and be quiet for two minutes.

It was very different. It was uncomfortable. It was contentious. However, it was a moment that, for Americans, should resonate with a lyric in their anthem: “The land of the free and the home of the brave.”

With those words ringing through the empty stadiums, you’d think that is what players have been doing, showcasing freedom and bravery; doing something against the standard and highlighting areas where their country can improve.

In fact, I’d argue these protests have made pre-game anthems more meaningful and shouldn’t fall victim to cancel culture.