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Friday 29 December 2017
NFL protests named top sports story of 2017
last year to bring attention the NFL is the runaway win- NBA title and MMA star
to racial inequality and ner for the top sports story
police brutality against mi- of 2017 in balloting by AP Conor McGregor stepped
norities. Kaepernick is cur- members and editors, eas-
rently out of football, and ily outdistancing the cor- into the boxing ring to face
relatively few players were ruption scandal engulfing
demonstrating this season college basketball and undefeated champ Floyd
before the president stoked the Houston Astros winning
his feud with the NFL. their first World Series and Mayweather Jr.
During a speech at a po- lifting the spirits of a city
litical rally in Huntsville, Ala- devastated by Hurricane All of that was overshad-
bama, in late September, Harvey.
Trump said, “Wouldn’t you The year was marked by sex owed by the NFL protesters
love to see one of these scandals, Russian doping
NFL owners when some- and the U.S. failing to qual- and the president’s dive
body disrespects our flag to ify for soccer’s World Cup
say get that son of a bitch . Tom Brady engineered into the debate.
off the field right now, out, a record-breaking come-
he’s fired, he’s fired.” back as the New England Some allied groups were
Criticism from players, own- Patriots rallied from a 28-3
ers and fans — and some deficit to beat the Atlanta quick to call for an NFL boy-
praise — greeted Trump’s Falcons in the first Super
remarks, which sparked a Bowl to go into overtime cott following Trump’s re-
massive show of defiance and Clemson mounted a
that weekend, with more last-second comeback to marks about the protesters.
than 200 players protesting beat Alabama for the na-
by choosing not to stand tional championship. The president’s attack on
for the national anthem. Kevin Durant led the Gold-
The president’s feud with en State Warriors to the athletes turned the an-
thems — usually sung dur-
In this Dec. 10, 2017, file photo, San Francisco 49ers San ing commercials — into
Francisco 49ers’ Eli Harold (57), Eric Reid (35) and Marquise
Goodwin (11) kneel during the national anthem before an must-watch television
NFL football game against the Houston Texans, in Houston.
shown live by the networks
Associated Press
and streamed on devices.
In addition to the protests,
By ARNIE STAPLETON didn’t stand for the nation- some players and coaches
AP Pro Football Writer al anthem rekindled both
DENVER (AP) — President the national debate over locked arms in a show of
Donald Trump couldn’t the issue and the move-
stand NFL players kneeling ment itself. unity, which Trump said was
in protest during “The Star- Former San Francisco 49ers
Spangled Banner.” His an- quarterback Colin Kaepe- a display of “solidarity” of
gry call to fire players who rnick initiated the protests
which he approved.
Continued on Page 22
