The cover text of Sports Illustrated’s latest issue reads: “A Nation Divided, Sports United.” The photo illustration, all red, white, black and blue, depicts athletes, team owners and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell linked together in apparent defiance of President Trump’s comments that football players who protest police brutality during the national anthem are “sons of b-tches” who should be “fired.”
But the reaction to what some have denounced as an “anti-Trump” cover has been largely negative, even for those who support player protests. Multiple users noted that Colin Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback who launched anthem kneeling into the national consciousness, is notably missing from the cover. Others, including SB Nation, note that the cover misses the point of why the protests exist in the first place. Finally, the WNBA, members of which have been protesting throughout the last year, is represented by only one woman athlete on the cover.
What do you think? Take a look at some of the online reactions below, and add your own on our Facebook page.
The Sports Illustrated “protest” cover includes a man who gave a $1,000,000 to Trump but not Colin Kaepernick who lost his career over it. pic.twitter.com/TyQ6eD4cuP
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) September 26, 2017
Eric Reid and the WNBA players who protested last summer are also missing or underrepresented. https://t.co/ImfbCdx39I via @thinkprogress
— Melanie Schmitz (@MelsLien) September 26, 2017
Uhhhh what is this sports illustrated cover??? ?
— Chelsea (@ChelseaLDiamond) September 26, 2017
Time and Sports Illustrated covers are like a hallmark of American history. That cover paints an inaccurate portrayal of these protests.
— Catch Boyardi (@Catchbundy) September 26, 2017
“A nation divided.” Why not put Alejandro Villanueva standing for anthem as cover photo?! No, create more division & photoshop Roger Goodell https://t.co/45sZ3CXm7L
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) September 26, 2017
Roger Goodell is somehow on a cover about sports activism that Colin Kaepernick isn’t. That’s some shady nonsense.
— Josh Eberley ?? (@JoshEberley) September 26, 2017
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