The Former Green Beret Behind Kaepernick's Protests
*By Max Godnick*
The man behind Colin Kaepernick's controversial decision to kneel during the National Anthem understands why some might take offense to Nike's 30th anniversary "Just Do It" ad campaign. But former NFL player and Army Special Forces vet Nate Boyer sees the gesture as a compromise that gives weight to Kaepernick's views and still honors service members.
"We came to this idea of taking a knee alongside his teammates instead of sitting on the bench isolated," Boyer said Thursday in an interview on Cheddar. "He thought that was very powerful, and he would do that for the men and women who fought and died for what that flag represents."
Nike's decision to tap Kaepernick as the face of its campaign has sparked passionate reactions across the political spectrum. [LeBron James](https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1037425215653982209) and [Serena Williams] (https://twitter.com/serenawilliams/status/1036769320196616198) led a chorus of supporters who praised the move, while critics threatened a boycott, trashing the athletic giant's apparel and posting the evidence on social media.
Boyer said he doesn't take issue with Kaepernick's inclusion in the campaign, but he understands why some veterans are offended by the tagline, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."
"That can be hurtful to some people who truly believe that their brothers and sisters in arms who they laid to rest paid that ultimate sacrifice," he said.
Boyer and Kaepernick first met in 2016 after the quarterback began protesting racial injustice by sitting during the National Anthem. The former Green Beret published an [open letter](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000693173/article/nate-boyer-writes-open-letter-to-colin-kaepernick) in response to the football star, and the two eventually met in-person.
When Kaepernick [knelt for the first time](https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/11/09/nate-boyer-colin-kaepernick-you-can-do-more), Boyer stood alongside him and continues to support his mission.
And the movement the two started is still deeply relevant. A [clip](https://nowthisnews.com/videos/politics/beto-orourke-on-nfl-players-kneeling-during-the-national-anthem) of Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) voicing his support of the protests went viral with over 50 million views across all social platforms. In it, the Senate candidate said he "can think of nothing more American" than taking a knee to protest police brutality.
Boyer doesn't have trouble coming up with an alternative.
"I think there's nothing more American than serving your country," he said. "But that's my opinion."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/veteran-who-suggested-kaepernick-kneel-weighs-in-on-nike).
Dr. Brian Moore, CEO & Co-founder of sports performance and technology company Orrecco, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how the @thlete platform is helping pro athletes and Olympians improve their performance, and what the future of tech in the world of sports may look like.
A six-year battle over equal pay has finally come to an end-- as U.S. Soccer and The United States Women's Soccer Team have agreed to settle their lawsuit. Under the terms of the deal, the athletes will receive $24 million from U.S. Soccer, and a pledge from the federation to equalize pay for the men's and women's national teams. Lily Roberts, Managing Director of the Poverty to Prosperity Team at the Center for American Progress joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
In a thrilling overtime finish, 23-year old NASCAR driver Austin Cindric clinched the 64th annual Daytona 500 win. Narrowly beating out legendary race car driver Bubba Wallace, Cindric earned his very first NASCAR cup series victory, and became the second youngest driver to win The Great American Race. Daytona 500 Champ Austin Cindric joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss his historic victory.
As we celebrate Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent Black Americans who are carving their own historic paths and trailblazing in their fields. Today we feature athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.
The NBA's Golden State Warriors recently announced a relaunch of their SuiteXchange platform, which allows owners to resell luxury suites or rent them out for individual games. Brandon Schneider, team president and COO, joined Cheddar to relay the details of the renewed program and what buyers and sellers can expect. "The Warriors don't determine the price. The seller and the buyer really do. And that's actually one of the unique features on SuiteXChange," he said. "So, if the seller wants to set the price at $10,000, making up a number, the buyer can buy it for $10,000 or they can make an offer for something less than that."
The horse known as Medina Spirit has been stripped of its first-place title at the 2021 Kentucky Derby after testing positive for a banned substance with trainer Bob Baffert receiving a 90-day suspension. Second place finisher Mandaloun has been named the winner instead.
Jamaican Olympic alpine skier Benjamin Alexander joins Cheddar News to discuss his first Olympic appearance and creating more opportunities for diversity in the sport.
While the United States were once again among the top nations in 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to medal, with the games just ended, the focus turns to the athletes coming home and the mental toll the competition take on them. Lauren Gibbs, the 2018 Team USA silver medalist in bobsledding, joined Cheddar News to give her perspective on this year's games and what the competitors have gone through. “Its definitely a mixed bag, you know? It's like I just had the most incredible athletic experience of my life, but then its like its over in a flash," Gibbs said about the feelings an athlete can go through after finishing. She noted that it's important for them to be vocal and reach out to support networks after the rush of competition ends.
