A question that is often asked, in sports and in life, is how will we be remembered? Fighters look to fight the toughest opponents so that they’re remembered for never backing down from a challenge. NFL players can pad the stat-sheet week after week and still be forgotten if they can’t capture a Super Bowl win. NBA players compete year after year hoping to win an NBA Finals and be remembered as a champion. We all search for ways to make a lasting mark on the world, whether it’s big or small. For many, leaving a lasting impact means sacrificing an unimaginable amount. For me, the biggest thing that I want to be remembered for is having the strength to stand up for what I believe in. With this in mind, I’m going to talk about some athletes who had the strength to use their elevated platform and stand up for what they believe in, no matter the cost.
When talking about athletes making a stand, it’s impossible not to discuss Colin Kaepernick and his peaceful protests against police brutality in 2016. As a refresher, Kaepernick is the former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. A talented player, in 2013 he led the 49ers to Super Bowl 47 where they would eventually lose by three points to the Baltimore Ravens. As much fame as he accrued for his on-the-field antics, it wasn’t until 2016 that he became truly famous (or maybe infamous). As a public protest against police brutality, Kaepernick began to kneel during the National Anthem before every NFL game. This ignited a massive and controversial argument across the country and the league as more and more players followed suit, silently and peacefully voicing their opinion. While he was praised by many, many higher-ups including President Trump didn’t like his actions and the attention that he garnered as a result. When the season ended Kaepernick was left without a team and he has not been on an NFL roster since 2016. Although still hoping to make an NFL comeback, in the meantime Kaepernick is very influential in advocating for minority rights in the US. He sacrificed his career and reputation for what he believes in, and he will always be remembered as so much more than a professional athlete.
While not as extreme as Colin Kaepernick, another athlete who always stood up for what he believed was Tim Tebow. A known Christian, Tebow was a Heisman trophy winner during college before being drafted 25th overall by the Denver Broncos in 2010. Especially when he got to the NFL, Tebow became famous for kneeling in prayer (tebowing) on the sideline before, during and after games. Becoming the starter 5 games into the 2011 season, Tebow led the Broncos to 7 wins in his first 8 games as a starter. He also led Denver to their first playoff win since 2005, but was unceremoniously traded to the Jets in the offseason. He never saw the field again. While he was never directly persecuted for his faith, the buzz that surrounded him and his faith became known as ‘Tebow-Mania,’ and while he was talented, he never had another chance to play as no team wanted to deal with the drama that surrounded him. While he was successful on the football field, most people remember Tim Tebow for famously praying during every single game that he was a part of. He used his platform to preach what he believes in, not caring that it likely cost him his career.
Now it’s time for me to talk about my view on legacy. Obviously I’m not a famous athlete and I very likely will never be. I gave up that dream when I stopped growing at five feet, nine inches. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be someone who uses my platform, no matter how small, to stand up for what I believe in. I may not have the influence to send ripples across the entire country, but I can still have an impact on family, friends and the people I come in contact with. In terms of money and fame, the only way that it could have an affect on my legacy is the fact that if I was rich and famous, I would have a bigger platform to be able to hopefully be a role model to more people. At the end of the day, I just hope that I have the strength to stand up for what’s right and be remembered as someone who wasn’t willing to back down and please the majority.
More than Athletes 