A prominent sports agent criticized NFL legend Mike Ditka on social media on Sunday after the former Chicago Bears coach said players who do not represent the national anthem should leave the United States.
Ditka told TMZ Sports: “If you cannot respect our national anthem, leave the country. This is how I feel. Of course, I’m old-fashioned, so I’m just going to say what I feel. “
MIKE DITKA: ‘IF YOU CAN’T RESPECT OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, LEAVE THE HE – OF THE COUNTRY’
David Mulugheta, president of Athletes First, representing Aaron Rodgers, Derwin James and Earl Thomas, among others, disagreed with Ditka’s comments.
“This doesn’t surprise me at all. Mike Ditka traded his helmet for a white hood as soon as he retired from football. The racism behind false patriotism is still racism, ”he tweeted in response to a separate tweet from former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy.
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Mulugheta later added that he agreed that respecting the flag was not racism.
“I totally agree … and the sun is hot. They also have nothing to do with people kneeling during the hymn. “
Ditka’s comments came after New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees initially said he would never agree with anyone who didn’t respect the flag, but after he received a huge reaction from fans and players. From across the league, Brees changed his stance on the issue. Other athletes have voiced their opinions on the matter in light of recent events, sparked largely by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this year.
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Since then, players across the sports spectrum have knelt during the national anthem or issued a message of social justice before the leagues restarted amid a pandemic.
Fox News’ Dan Canova contributed to this report.
