season less than a week away, the players find themselves in deep preparation for what had been the least taxing part of the game: the playing of the national anthem. When Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers chose not to stand during the national anthem before his N.F.L. and the W.N.B.A., to make similar statements amid a series of recent fatal shootings of black men by the police. requires players, coaches and trainers “to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line” during the national anthem. It’s about what Colin and other guys — what the message is, and whether we’re all going to stand for it.”

Source: New York Times September 27, 2016 00:22 UTC