A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

(Image from Today show)

Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Harrison Butker gave the commencement address at Benedictine College, a private Catholic college in Atchison, Kansas, on May 11th. He espoused traditional Catholic values in a way that offended America's dominant secular culture. For example, [bold added]

For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.

Thousands called for his firing by the Chiefs from other statements:

Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values in media, all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder.

Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough to make the Sign of the Cross during a pro-abortion rally. He has been so vocal in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I'm sure to many people it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice.

Some commentators cited the NFL's apparent hypocrisy in not firing Harrison Butker while it blackballed Colin Kaepernick for kneeling when the National Anthem was being played. For the record, I supported the former 49ers quarterback then, but there is a clear difference between the two: CK expressed his views in full uniform while millions had to watch, but HB was speaking as a private citizen on his own time to a Catholic audience. Most Americans agree that employers have the right to fire employees for workplace behavior that could damage customer relationships.

(To be fair, there were liberal celebrities, like Bill Maher and Whoopi Goldberg, who came to HB's defense while disagreeing with the content of his speech.)

To this humble blogger, what was most interesting about the speech was the importance he placed on the traditional Latin mass:

I've been very vocal in my love and devotion to the TLM and its necessity for our lives. But what I think gets misunderstood is that people who attend the TLM do so out of pride or preference. I can speak to my own experience, but for most people I have come across within these communities this simply is not true. I do not attend the TLM because I think I am better than others, or for the smells and bells, or even for the love of Latin. I attend the TLM because I believe, just as the God of the Old Testament was pretty particular in how he wanted to be worshipped, the same holds true for us today. It is through the TLM that I encountered order, and began to pursue it in my own life. Aside from the TLM itself, too many of our sacred traditions have been relegated to things of the past, when in my parish, things such as ember days, days when we fast and pray for vocations and for our priests, are still adhered to. The TLM is so essential that I would challenge each of you to pick a place to move where it is readily available.

Three years ago Pope Francis gave local bishops the authority to ban the Latin mass. Even this non-Catholic sees the benefit of a tradition that has great meaning to some, so why not keep it optional? Is Pope Francis on "the other side" in the culture wars?

After the break is the text of Harrison Butker's speech from the National Catholic Register:

Stop Spoiling Our Lives

(Image from Today)

Re the American Revolution, who is the first woman you think of? Right, it's Betsy Ross, who created the American flag.

A few weeks ago Nike pulled its 13-star July 4th sneakers because Colin Kaepernick complained that white nationalists were co-opting the Betsy Ross flag as one of their symbols.

Hallmark movie: lovers come together over the original flag.
Hallmark doesn't know right-thinking people are outraged.

Frankly, I'm tired of fringe groups few have ever heard of seizing upon cherished symbols and phrases to further their causes. But I'm even more tired of opponents being offended by these groups---thereby giving the latter free publicity--and making these symbols and phrases off limits to all.

Give it a rest, 21st-century Puritans, stop spoiling our lives by being offended at everything.

Don't Take It Personally

To Americans offended by Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem: he doesn't mean it as an insult to you personally; he's hoping that you will be inspired to make changes to improve your country.

To immigrants offended by President Trump calling your native land a "shithole": he doesn't mean it as an insult to you personally; he's hoping that you will be inspired to make changes to improve your country.

To Trump voters offended by liberals calling you "trailer trash" and where you live as "flyover states": they don't mean it as an insult to you personally....wait a minute, they do.

Best Wishes to a November Baby

Colin Kaepernick turned 30 today. Other than our shared birthdate we have nothing in common. He's rich, tattooed, an outstanding physical specimen, angers a lot of people---hey, maybe there is something to this horoscope stuff after all.

Actually, I do wish him the best. He offended many good and decent people with controversial actions that I totally disagree with, yet in the end did not really harm anyone (IMHO, offending is not harming). He put everything on the line and likely destroyed his career, despite wishful thinking from his lawyer. I can respect his choice.

I hope he has many more---and happier---birthdays.

Irreversible Injury

I often wonder whether President Trump tweets and/or speaks impulsively or with a grand plan in mind. His latest tweetstorm concerns the well-publicized but ultimately insignificant issue of NFL players kneeling when the National Anthem is played at the beginning of the game. There are many aspects to the story---free speech, the politicization of sports, the meaning of the national anthem and the flag, and the reported disproportionate killing of unarmed black men by police--all against the backdrop of football CTE injuries, criminal behavior by NFL players, and multi-billions of dollars spent each year on America's most popular sport.

I've been a fan of the local teams, the 49ers and Raiders, for most of my adult life, but there's very little of that world (athletics, big money, fame) that I can identify with. To the extent that I can relate to anyone in this sorry mess, it would be President Trump.

When he said that players who kneel during the National Anthem should be "fired" and that owners should "get that son of a bitch off that field", I think he went way over the top; however he was right about a basic business principle that politics should have been kept off the field.

I have worked for large companies most of my life. Political speech is verboten for good reason: no matter how righteous I may think my cause, my espousal of those views would antagonize some customers and some co-workers. (The First Amendment applies to government control of speech; workplace speech is another matter entirely--if I dissed my employer out loud, he would be justified in getting rid of me.)

If I wore a "Black Lives Matter" shirt or a "Make America Great Again" hat, my employer would give me a warning, then fire me if I didn't remove the offending garment. And if the cameras had been rolling, I wouldn't even get a warning.

The vast majority of Americans have worked in such circumscribed environments where speech and behavior are limited while on the job.

Colin Kaepernick, whom I believe is sincere and do respect, should have been warned, then banned from the field if he continued to kneel for the Anthem. (At the same time the NFL could also have put money and time into addressing the issue that concerned Mr. Kaepernick.)

Now it's too late, and the injury to football is probably irreversible.

Great Speeches, Colin, Now Let's See What You Can Do

Colin Kaepernick press conference (AP/Chronicle photo)
...but did he have to wear a Fidel Castro T-shirt?

Three and a half years ago, quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the toast of the Bay Area. Through spectacular performances he led the 49ers to the brink of a Super Bowl championship but couldn't close the deal when his team was less than 10 yards away with a minute to go. Despite the loss, a Super Bowl championship in the near future seemed assured.

However, injuries began to slow him down. Worse, opponents figured out his weaknesses. Defenses bunched up to stop his running and dared him to pass. He couldn't read defenses quickly enough, and the team foundered. The 49ers missed the playoffs for the last two years, and his starting position was in jeopardy. Colin Kaepernick was close to being washed up at the age of 28.

Last week he refused to stand for the National Anthem at a preseason game because of the highly publicized deaths of innocent black men at the hands of police. Already a contentious issue with many facets--"black lives matter," "blue lives matter," "all lives matter," racism, classism, colonialism, and other -isms being flung about for good measure--Colin Kaepernick's action triggered a firestorm (literally, as some burned his jersey). Also, his words didn't exactly have a calming effect:

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color."

The good sense of the American people and the entire NFL seems to be prevailing, however, with substantial majorities defending his right to speak his beliefs while disagreeing with the way he went about doing it. Count me in the majority in both cases.

Now, can we just get back to football? In the NFL winning is everything, and it's an unfortunate reality that Colin Kaepernick will be listened to more attentively if he's a winner, not a whiner. As Chris Ault, his college coach in Nevada wrote:

“Guys like him can make a difference....but it’s just a lot easier to make that point when you’re excelling on the field. I’m hoping that the vicious competitor I know steps up and becomes a difference-maker for all his endeavors — on and off the field.”

Reversals of Fortune

From the penthouse to the outhouse:

Friday was the almost-certain end of Colin Kaepernick’s career as a 49er.

On Saturday, the 49ers placed Kaepernick on injured reserve. He reportedly has a torn labrum on his non-throwing shoulder, suffered in Week 4 against Green Bay.

His season is over.

His 49ers career is likely over.

It’s shocking because just three years ago, Kaepernick was considered the prototype for the quarterback of the future. The 49ers locked him up in what appeared to be a long-term deal to give the team stability at the game’s most important position.

Chipotle: the Centers for Disease Control named the restaurant chain as the probable source for a spate of E.coli.

Chipotle's reputation for clean food is in tatters. Restaurant owners, you never want to see your name and E.coli in the same sentence.

From worst to first:

Microsoft and security:

Microsoft was once the epitome of everything wrong with security in technology...“They’ve changed themselves from worst in class to the best in class,” [Finnish researcher Mikko] Hypponen said. “The change is complete. They started taking security very seriously.”

Clichés that may apply to these reversals of fortune:

What have you done for us lately?

Anything's possible.

People have short memories.

History is bunk.

Silver Linings in the 49ers Loss

Richard Sherman enjoys his win

Today's NFC Championship was an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams. The outcome was in doubt until the final minute, when Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman tipped a potentially winning 49er touchdown pass away from Michael Crabtree into the hands of Seahawk linebacker Malcolm Smith, effectively ending the game.

Pundits will attribute the 49ers' 23-17 loss to all of the following: poor play-calling, three turnovers in the fourth quarter, failure to tackle Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, Colin Kaepernick's inability to spot the open receiver, and blown calls by the refs. Despite all those problems the Niners still had a chance to win the game in the final minute; a few inches higher on the throw and Seattle would be the team poring over its mistakes.

IMHO, the most-often mentioned factor before the game, the deafening Seattle crowd noise when the opponent's offense is on the field, was still the decider. If the Niners' final drive had occurred at Candlestick Park, the offense would have been able to communicate more effectively and would probably have scored. But we'll never know, of course, and anyway, the Niners have only themselves to blame for not securing home-field advantage during the regular season.

Jim Harbaugh: not so bad a guy

What solace may the 49ers take in this defeat?

Another Super Bowl loss would have been far more galling than the Conference Championship loss to the Seahawks. The 49ers' prospects for beating Denver were poor; two of their star players, guard Mike Iupati and linebacker NaVorro Bowman, suffered season-ending injuries in the bruising loss to the Seahawks.

The 49ers now wear the white hat in the burgeoning Seattle-San Francisco rivalry. Last year some observers had declared the 49ers, with their mercurial coach and tattooed quarterback, hard to like. But they're easier to warm up to than Richard Sherman, whose postgame rant dissed Michael Crabtree and proclaimed himself to be the best cornerback in football. When endorsement deals come their way, 49er players and coaches may have the Seahawks and their voluble cornerback to thank.

© 2014 Stephen Yuen

An Exciting Winter

A few months ago we noted how Bay Area fans are lucky to have contending teams in all major professional sports. We're doubly lucky in that the teams have exciting young players whose talents have attracted national attention: Giants catcher Buster Posey, Warriors shooting guard Stephen Curry, and 49ers running quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

From seemingly nowhere (actually, the Czech Republic) now comes 19-year-old rookie forward Tomas Hertl to lead not only the undefeated San Jose Sharks but also the entire National Hockey League in scoring in the young season. But what got everyone talking was his four-goal night, the last being a spectacular between-the-legs shot that flummoxed the Rangers goalie.



It's going to be an exciting winter.

So He Does Have a Sense of Humor

Jim Harbaugh, comparing his own playing skills to those of his quarterback:

"the way Colin runs, the gracefulness of his stride, the ground he covers, it reminds me of me when I run - and then I wake up."

Posey:Giants = Kaepernick:49ers (?)

Buster Posey

In 2010, his second year in the major leagues, Buster Posey took over the starting catcher position from an experienced veteran in the middle of the season and led the San Francisco Giants to a World Series title. He made the cover of Sports Illustrated and was the toast of San Francisco.

In 2012, his second year in the NFL, Colin Kaepernick took over the starting quarterback position from an experienced veteran in the middle of the season and led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl against the Baltimore Ravens.

Colin Kaepernick

 © 2013 Stephen Yuen
He made the cover of Sports Illustrated and was the toast of San Francisco.

Will the parallel play out all the way to a Super Bowl title?

Who knows...for some of us it will require extra effort to focus on work during the next two weeks.

Sorry, Alex, Your Time Has Passed

Greg Cosell bears resemblance to Uncle Howard.

Football analyst and NFL Films producer Greg Cosell said on KNBR this morning that there is no question that the San Francisco 49ers think Colin Kaepernick today is a better quarterback than Alex Smith:

My guess is for people in the business this is not even a controversy. One guy is a significantly better passer than the other guy. To me there is not really an issue here. Kaepernick could obviously have a bad game anytime, because he's only played two games and he's inexperienced and there are things he hasn't seen.

Could he have a poor game? Sure. But you're talking about dimensions in a pass game. One guy has every dimension you want throwing the football, the other guy is limited. This is really not news.

Jim Harbaugh gets the job as the 49ers head coach. I guarantee that one of the first things he did in his preparation was he probably watched almost every throw Alex Smith has made in his career. That's what coaches do---they're nuts. This is the kind of stuff they do. So after doing that they draft Colin Kaepernick in the second round. That's step one.

Step two is they play a season. They play a season in which Alex Smith throws the fewest passes of any 16-game starter.

Step three: they try to get Peyton Manning in the off-season. Everything tells you that they believe Colin Kaepernick ultimately---and they didn't know if he could play until he played, but they know what his skill-set is, they know what his quarterback attributes are in relation to Alex Smith's quarterback attributes---Colin Kaepernick has the better quarterback attributes.

Nearly everyone feels bad for Alex Smith, who has finally become a good NFL quarterback who had a decent shot at winning the Super Bowl. Barring injury or a series of horrendous performances by Colin Kaepernick he won't get that chance with the 49ers.  © 2012 Stephen Yuen

Body language says it all: Alex and Colin (AP photo via SFGate)