When President Donald Trump spoke in Alabama on Friday against NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he also appeared to come out in favor of concussions.
During his speech, Trump argued that rules designed to minimize concussions and CTE, a neurodegenerative disease, are ruining the game:
“Today if you hit too hard ―15 yards! Throw him out of the game! They had that last week. I watched for a couple of minutes. Two guys, just really, beautiful tackle. Boom, 15 yards! The referee gets on television ― his wife is sitting at home, she’s so proud of him. They’re ruining the game! They’re ruining the game. That’s what they want to do. They want to hit. They want to hit! It is hurting the game.”
ESPN analyst Kevin Blackistone was interviewed by MSNBC’s Nicholle Wallace on Monday to argue a shocking point: The reason the president prefers violent football games is because it ensures more black men get hurt.
Blackistone first reminded viewers that black males make up the majority of NFL players ― and the majority of concussions.
“You look at stacking by position and those positions that suffer the greatest from CTE, they’re the positions that black males are more often likely to play,” Blackistone said.
Blackistone said the fact that Trump dismissed details like that as well as suggesting CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, does not exist shows a callousness toward the athletes, adding: ”And, particularly, the black athletes who play this game.”
″[Trump] did not have to say explicitly anything about black players, but it came across loud and clear. When you put that with his background, it paints a really ugly picture in terms of the way this president happens to see black America and the black males that play these sports in particular.”
SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: The Blue Angels perform a fly-over prior to Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Green Bay Packers Dezman Moses runs under a U.S. flag held by military personnel before their NFL NFC Divisional playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, California January 12, 2013. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)
SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Military singers sing 'God Bless America' prior to the Denver Broncos taking on the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Nov 17, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; members of the US military lead the Philadelphia Eagles onto the field prior to the game against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Redskins 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 15: Members of the Military hold an American Flag as the National Anthem is performed before the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field on November 15, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
U.S. military servicemen hold a large American flag during ceremonies before the NFL NFC Divisional playoff football game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, California, January 14, 2012. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)
Military members hold a large U.S. flag on the field before the start of the Green Bay Packers versus the Philadelphia Eagles NFL football game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL MILITARY)
Three F-16 fighter jets conduct a fly-over before the start of the NFL football game between Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL MILITARY)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Military members hold flags before the 2014 AFC Divisional Playoffs game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Members of the United States Armed Forces spend a moment on the field at Heinz Field before the start of the 'Salute to Service' game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders on November 8, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 15: The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders pose for a photo with soldiers from the US Army as they honor Military Appreciation Day as the Denver Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on November 15, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 29-13. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Military personnel run out with U.S. flags for player introductions during an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 30, 2014 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Giants 25-24. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 07: Charles Woodson #24 of the Oakland Raiders signs an autograph for a member of the U.S. Army prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers at O.co Coliseum on December 7, 2014 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 14, 2014: Staff Sargent Anthony Wagner embraces his children after surprising them during a timeout of game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns on December 14, 2014 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cincinnati won 30-0. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
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