Missouri Football Players Protest Over Racial Injustice

Athletes and activism don’t always go together.

Those who take controversial positions may be punished in the court of public opinion, or the court of the land. Muhammad Ali refused to serve in the United States military because of what he called an unjust war and paid with nearly four years of his boxing career.

Those who take no positions also face criticism. A week ago, basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ripped Michael Jordan because, he said, Jordan chose “commerce over conscience.” Jordan had supposedly said in the past he would not endorse a Democratic candidate for office because “Republicans buy sneakers too.” Said Abdul-Jabbar: “You can’t be afraid of losing shoe sales if you’re worried about your civil and human rights.”

The University of Missouri football team took a stand, and, with its coach, stood as one. The players, outraged by administrative inaction in the face of several racial incidents on campus, effectively went on strike. They declared they would not take part in campus activities until university President Tim Wolfe resigned.

The coach, Gary Pinkel, backed the players. Demonstrations began. Faculty got involved and also threatened to walk out.

There will be football practice on Tuesday and a game on Saturday. Wolfe and chancellor R. Bowen Loftin resigned on Monday. “The frustration and anger I see is real, and I don’t doubt it for a second,” a tearful Wolfe said as he announced his decision.

Oddly, Saturday’s home game is against Brigham Young University. In 1969, 14 black players at the University of Wyoming were suspended for wearing black armbands to protest what they saw as discriminatory aspects of BYU’s affiliation with the Church of Latter Day Saints, which did not permit the ordination of black men as priests at the time (the church amended its rules in 1978).

No matter what happens on the field on Saturday, the Missouri football team has already won a victory.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .