The country’s ‘Black Mecca’ is hosting the Super Bowl. With the NFL’s national anthem controversy still lingering, this creates an undeniable paradox.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is on the cusp of becoming the player with the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history. Tens of millions of viewers around the the world will be watching.
Larry W. Smith/EPA
Many Americans seem to like seeing communist ideas in action, but have a visceral reaction to the word ‘communism.’ Might it be time to refresh an old ideology with a new set of terms?
NFL player Colin Kaepernick, centre, started a protest against police violence by kneeling during the US National Anthem in 2016.
JOHN G MABANGLO
NFL players, historically losers in power struggles with team owners, can retake control of the kneeling-protest issue if they use social media to connect with the public.
The NFL is attempting to shut down protests like this one by members of the Cleveland Browns.
AP Photo/David Richard
Where to draw the line between loyalty to the nation and the struggle for equal rights? A scholar sees parallels between NFL protests and a call for African-Americans to ‘close ranks’ during WWI.
Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana jumps into the arms of Alex Ovechkin (8) after scoring the go-ahead goal during Game 5 in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs. Cheer for the Caps this Stanley Cup final if you’re hoping the stock market performs well.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
What happened after Brandin Cooks took a massive blow during Super Bowl LII helps explain why NFL’s concussion crisis isn’t killing the sport’s popularity.
The Eagles won on the pitch, but who won online?
EPA/Craig Lassig
Bots, brand jackers, big shots, as well as traditional businesses all bossed the Super Bowl social media space.
Colin Kaepernick, centre, and his San Francisco teammates kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game in 2016.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Much of the discussion about “Take a Knee” has overlooked the issues of justice and social exclusion, and especially environmental matters. That’s something to think about during the Super Bowl.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks to players during a game against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 17, 2017.
AP Photo/Butch Dill
Mark Otten, California State University, Northridge
Does the Eagles’ vaunted defense give them an edge? Cal State Northridge’s sport psychology lab ran a regression analysis to test the popular adage.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Konrad Reuland sat on the sidelines of a preseason game in September 2015 against the Atlanta Falcons.
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Konrad Reuland’s death shocked sports fans and, famously, gave new life to baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew. But how is it that a young athlete in top shape could suddenly develop a deadly condition?
In this Dec. 18, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and two of his teammates kneel during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL game.
(AP/John Bazemore)
The main reason owners and athletes stay away from mixing politics and sport is that it allows them to sell their product more easily. In doing so, pro sports conforms to classic capitalist ideology.
New Orleans Saints fans cheer from the stands during a game against the Denver Broncos in 2016.
Jeff Haynes/AP Photo
Team owners’ defense of their players ‘taking a knee’ during the national anthem shows the vital role business leaders play in political discourse – one championed by Citizens United.
NFL players from many teams have knelt or linked arms in protest during the playing of the national anthem.
Reuters/Paul Childs
Donald Trump’s ill-timed comments on protests by America’s elite athletes have given legitimacy to claims of his racial animus.
Youngsters leave a football field in 2015 after playing at halftime at a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Carolina Panthers.
AP Photo/Bill Wippert
A recent study that showed that 110 of 111 brains of deceased NFL players had a serious brain disease raised concerns once again about concussions. But there’s a lot we still need to know.