Former New York Yankees legend, David Wells, voiced his concerns about athlete and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his actions in the context of contemporary sports activism. During a recent appearance on the “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich” show, the two-time World Series champion discussed a range of topics, including issues within the Yankees and the impact of prominent athletes engaging in protests.

What’s going on?

Wells has been an outspoken critic of what he sees as “woke” companies taking political stances. He had previously expressed his discontent with companies like Bud Light and Nike during a public conversation with former Yankees players in September.

During his interview with Dakich, Wells expanded on his critique, specifically targeting Nike as a company he considers hypocritical for endorsing progressive politics while benefiting from sweatshop labor in China.

Wells took aim at Colin Kaepernick, asserting that the current climate of heightened social awareness in corporations has allowed athletes like him to use their platform for protests that, in Wells’ opinion, are disrespectful to patriotic values:

“When [Colin] Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem, I felt it was a sign of disrespect because I am a patriot, and I strongly support our military. I hail from San Diego, a city with deep military roots. While I respect people’s beliefs, I think there are more appropriate ways to express them. Publicly taking a knee during the national anthem doesn’t prove anything in my view. It only shows that you are taking a stand for a cause. When the national anthem is playing, you are in America. You stand for the anthem and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. This is what we were taught in elementary school – to place your hand over your heart and pledge allegiance.”

David Wells highlights concerns over youthful

Wells contended that such forms of protest are unjust to younger generations who may not fully grasp the underlying values and reasons for these actions. He expressed concern that young fans might uncritically emulate Kaepernick’s actions without truly understanding the context, urging them to seek their own path and engage in thorough research.

Wells did not explicitly outline how he believed Kaepernick or other athletes should express their beliefs, other than expressing his disapproval of kneeling during the national anthem. It is worth noting that Wells framed Kaepernick’s gesture as a slight against the military, omitting the fact that Kaepernick’s protest was primarily in response to police brutality, not a commentary on the military. Additionally, Wells emphasized the importance of adhering to traditional practices taught in elementary school, rather than advocating for a deeper understanding of the issues at hand.

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