Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Wants To Buy Carolina Panthers So That He Can Sign Colin Kaepernick

Hip hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs said he hopes to buy the Carolina Panthers so he can sign Colin Kaepernick after the team’s current owner announced he will sell the franchise amid sexual misconduct allegations.

"I would like to buy the @Panthers. Spread the word. Retweet!" Combs wrote on Twitter Sunday evening, noting that he could become the NFL’s first majority African-American owner. "There are no majority African-American NFL owners. Let's make history.”

There are no majority African American NFL owners. Let’s make history.— Diddy (@Diddy) December 18, 2017

Combs repeated his interest later on Instagram and pledged to sign Kaepernick. He said he would let the former 49ers quarterback compete with Cam Newton for the starting position.

“I will immediately address the Colin Kaepernick situation and put him in the running for next year’s starting quarterback,” Diddy said in a video. "It’s just competition, baby. It’s just competition"

Kaepernick has been unable to sign with a club following the controversy of him kneeling during the national anthem in protest. His activism inspired other athletes after President Trump suggested in September that those who kneel should be fired.

The artist also said he would want to improve the halftime shows. “I will have the best halftime show, the best selection of music," he said. “And we will win Super Bowl after Super Bowl."

Diddy’s interest in buying the Panthers comes after its current owner, Jerry Richardson, decided to sell the team following sexual and racist misconduct accusations.

Richardson wrote in the open letter: “I believe it is time to turn the franchise over to new ownership. Therefore, I will put the team up for sale at the conclusion of the NFL season.” The letter did not address the allegations.

But despite Diddy’s desires, he might come into problems buying the team. According to The New York Daily News, the Panthers team is worth $120 million more than the mogul’s total net value. NFL teams also normally sell for more than their reported value.

Controversial NBA star, Colin Kaepernick named the recipient of Sports Illustrated's legacy award

Colin Kaepernick is carrying on the legacy of Muhammed Ali, according to the Ali family and Sports Illustrated.

The controversial NBA quarterback has received the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, an honor awarded annually to athletes who demonstrate "the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership and philanthropy" and who use "sports as a platform for changing the world."

Sports Illustrated Executive Editor Stephen Cannella says "there will never be another Ali, but few athletes have followed his example as fully as Colin Kaepernick".

Kaepernick, who hasn't played in 2017, famously kneeled during the singing of the National Anthem before a 2016 pre-season game as a form of protest for the treatment of black Americans, particularly by police. While his decision to protest has brought more awareness to racial inequality in the U.S. and gained support from many NFL players, he's received a heavy dose of criticism from people who believe he's disrespecting the flag, military and police.

Giants owner Reveals That Colin Kaepernick will be on NFL roster for this season

Fans of Colin Kaepernick should be comforted by the words of New York Giants co-owner John Mara.

Mara was a guest on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN New York’s 98.7 Tuesday and was asked about Kaepernick, who is a free agent. Mara said he thinks Kaepernick will end up on an NFL roster this season.

“I think he still has some good football left in him. I agree with that,” Mara said on The Michael Kay Show. “But obviously there are other issues that go along with him. Is he willing to sit as a backup behind a starter? What’s that going to do with your locker room, your quarterback room, with your offensive room?”

Those are all questions many people have been asking when it comes to Kaepernick. Another question some have been wondering is whether the free agent QB is being blackballed by the league. Mara says that’s not the case.




“Absolutely not. Anybody who thinks there has been any conversations going on among teams about Colin Kaepernick is crazy,” Mara said. “That just is not the case. I saw a quote, I think it was [Dolphins owner] Steve Ross in Miami said recently: ‘Teams want to win so badly that if they believe a player can help them win, they are going to bring them on.’

“And I think there are certain issues that go along with Colin Kaepernick, and that may have scared some teams away. But there is absolutely no blackball going on here. I just don’t see that at all.”

The Baltimore Ravens were the most recent team to seriously discuss adding Kaepernick. They acknowledged they were checking fan and sponsor reaction before making such a drastic move.

Perhaps the best chance Kaepernick will have of joining an NFL team will come when a team loses its starter and has to turn to an ill-equipped backup. At that point they may decide that Kaepernick is worth signing. Until then, teams are showing that they’d rather have a QB who provides fewer distractions.

Snoop Dogg Blasts Colin Kaepernick's Comment on Castro, Asking Him To Choose Between Revolution or Football

Snoop Dogg just put Colin Kaepernick in his dog house, calling the San Francisco 49ers quarterback a hypocrite for protesting social injustice while praising late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and advising he choose between football and his ongoing National Anthem protest.

"He's sort of kind of hypocritical in so many words because he's pushing this, but at the same time he’s giving credit for this and this is the same abuse that [Cubans] been taking" the rapper said 

Snoop Dogg added, "So it makes you hypocritical to be able to speak on this topic and that topic."

The "Lay Low" singer was referring to Kaepernick's recent comments about Castro at a media event ahead of the 49ers game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

"One thing that Fidel Castro did do is they have the highest literacy rate because they invest more in their education system than they do in their prison system, which we do not do here, even though we’re fully capable of doing that," the quarterback shared.

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The football player clarified his comments on the Cuban dictator after Sunday's game telling the press, "What I said was I agree with the investment in education. I also agree with the investment in free universal health care, as well as the involvement in helping end apartheid in South Africa. Trying to push the false narrative that I was a supporter of the oppressive things he [Castro] did is just not true. I said I support the investment in education, I never said I support the oppressive things he [Castro] did."

Snoop Dogg also commented on Kaepernick's national anthem protests saying that while he understands where the football player is coming from, he believes Kaepernick must choose between football and "being a revolutionary."

"In the beginning, I understood it thoroughly because I’m one who’s had situations with police and I deal with it and I understand where he was coming from,” the rapper said. “But at the same time, it’s like you have to really stand for it and I don’t believe he can do that and play football at the same time because there’s too many rules and regulations and things that he has to deal with as opposed to being a revolutionary."

Restaurant is Under Fire For Using Colin Kaepernick jersey as Doormat.

A restaurant located in Virginia Beach has come under strong critizism for using a Colin Kaepernick jersey as a doormat to their Bar.

This was on Saturday, as a customer known as James Perry, who lives in that neighbourhood went to Krossroads Rock and Country Bar in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center Thursday and saw the jersey taped to the ground at the front entrance of the Bar.

According to FoxNews.com he was shocked and “thought it was a joke.”

Meanwhile, the general manager of the restaurant reveal to FOX 8 that using the jersey as a doormat was a proper reaction to the football player’s alleged disrespect of the flag and “sportsmanship”—not the man himself or a comment on his race.

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has sparked a national debate on free speech by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem before games. Kaepernick says he is kneeling in protest of police and systemic oppression against African Americans and minorities in the United States.

Perry, however, called the act of using the jersey as a stomping mat “racist” and is calling for a boycott of the bar. He posted a picture of taped-down jersey which has since been shared over 5,800 times on the social media platform. He says Krossroads has now lost a loyal customer.

Kate Upton Berates NFL Players For Kneeling To Protest Anthem on 9/11: 'Horrific'

In a lengthy post on Instagram, model and actress Kate Upton called out NFL players who protested during the national anthem on Sunday, the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

“Sitting or kneeling down during the national anthem is a disgrace to those people who have served and currently serve our country,” Upton wrote. “Sitting down during the national anthem on September 11th is even more horrific. Protest all you want and use social media all you want. However, during the nearly two minutes when that song is playing, I believe everyone should put their hands on their heart and be proud of our country for we are all truly blessed.”

Players for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle Seahawks engaged in various acts of objection on Sunday in support of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has been protesting during “The Star-Spangled Banner” since the pre-season. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said last month. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Posting a photo of four Dolphins players kneeling during the anthem, Upton wrote that the national anthem “represents honoring the many brave men and women who sacrifice and have sacrificed their lives each and every single day to protect our freedom.” She also cited the election of Barack Obama in 2008 as showing that America “is a place where anyone no matter what race or gender has the potential to become President of the United States.”

Upton added that discourse should happen after the song is over. “I would encourage everyone to please use the podium they have, stand up for their beliefs, and make America a better place,” she said, before citing the rebuilding in Lower Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks as a demonstration of what happens “in this country when we work together towards a common goal.”

“It is a shame how quickly we have forgotten this as a society,” she wrote. “Today we are more divided then ever before. I could never imagine multiple people sitting down during the national anthem on the September 11th anniversary. The lessons of 9/11 should teach us that if we come together, the world can be a better and more peaceful place.”

After posting the note, Upton was criticized by journalists Soledad O’Brien and Roland Martin for her comments.

“Maybe you can be proud to be an American and also protest those things that you think aren’t so great about America,” O’Brien wrote on Twitter.

“They have every right and SHOULD protest just not during those two minutes on 9/11,” Upton replied.

Martin noted that Upton’s comments were why Kaepernick was protesting in the first place. Upton countered by writing people “have every right to protest [and] should stand up for beliefs.Justice system IS corrupt. Not the time during anthem on 9/11.” She later added that protests should not be held during the national anthem on any day, and “especially on 9/11.”

Upton wasn’t the only star to comment on the NFL protests. Rob Lowe also implored players and the NFL to keep protesting players in the locker room during the national anthem. “Dear @NFL Any player wants to boycott the anthem on 9/11 should be asked to remain in the locker room until kick off. It’s not their moment,” Lowe wrote.

Read Upton’s Instagram remarks below.

In my opinion, the national anthem is a symbolic song about our country. It represents honoring the many brave men and women who sacrifice and have sacrificed their lives each and every single day to protect our freedom. Sitting or kneeling down during the national anthem is a disgrace to those people who have served and currently serve our country. Sitting down during the national anthem on September 11th is even more horrific. Protest all you want and use social media all you want. However, during the nearly two minutes when that song is playing, I believe everyone should put their hands on their heart and be proud of our country for we are all truly blessed. Recent history has shown that it is a place where anyone no matter what race or gender has the potential to become President of the United States. We live in the most special place in the world and should be thankful. After the song is over, I would encourage everyone to please use the podium they have, stand up for their beliefs, and make America a better place. The rebuilding of battery park and the freedom tower demonstrates that amazing things can be done in this country when we work together towards a common goal. It is a shame how quickly we have forgotten this as a society. Today we are more divided then ever before. I could never imagine multiple people sitting down during the national anthem on the September 11th anniversary. The lessons of 911 should teach us that if we come together, the world can be a better and more peaceful place #neverforget.

A photo posted by Kate Upton (@kateupton) on Sep 11, 2016 at 4:12pm PDT

Shaquille O’Neal Calls Out Colin Kaepernick's On National Anthem Protest: 'I Would Never Do That'

Shaquille O’Neal will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this week.

The four-time NBA champion, 15-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist and supremely outsized personality joined the "Fox and Friends" co-hosts this morning to sound off on his enshrinement and some other sports stories making waves, including Colin Kaepernick's National Anthem protest.

"To each his own," Shaq said, adding, "It's something I wouldn't do."

He explained that his father was a military man and he has uncles who are in law enforcement, so sitting during the National Anthem is something he would "never" do.

Shaq said that his question for Kaepernick is: "What happened last year?"

"How come you didn't decide to do this last year or the year before that or the year before that?" 

US Female Soccer Star Joins Colin Kaepernick in National Anthem Protest

U.S. Women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe joined San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in protest on Sunday night, kneeling in solidarity during the national anthem and saying being a "gay american," helped her empathize with the struggle for minority rights.

Rapinoe to me on taking a knee for anthem: I'm disgusted w way Colin has been treated & the fans & hatred he has received in all of this.

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) September 5, 2016

"Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties," Rapinoe told American Soccer Now. "It's important to have white people stand in support of people of color on this."

Rapinoe, who currently plays for the Seattle Reign in the National Women's Soccer League, become the first nonblack professional athlete join in the recent protest of the national, ESPN reported. Referred to as "one of the USA’s most skillful attackers and goal scorers," in her official U.S. Soccer bio, Rapinoe won gold with the national team in the 2012 Olympics and helped lead the U.S. women to their 2015 World Cup victory.

Rapinoe: It is overtly racist. Stay in ur place black man. Just didn’t feel right to me. And quite honestly being gay, I have stood with...

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) September 5, 2016

"I am disgusted with way he has been treated and the fans and hatred he has received in all of this," Rapione wrote to espnW's Julie Foudy, who posted the comments in a series of tweets. "It is overtly racist. 'Stay in your place black man.' Just didn't feel right to me. Need a more substantive conversation around race relations, & the way people of color treated."

More from Rapinoe from my convo w her 2night: Need a more substantive conversation around race relations, & the way people of color treated.

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) September 5, 2016

"We are not saying we are not one the greatest countries in world," she added. "Just need to accept that not perfect, things are broken. And quite honestly being gay, I have stood with my hand over my heart during the national anthem and felt like I haven't had my liberties protected, so I can absolutely sympathize with that feeling."

Rapinoe said she would continue her protest at games going forward. Her next game will be this Wednesday in Maryland against the WashingtonSpirit, according to the team's online schedule.

It's the least I can do. Keep the conversation going. https://t.co/qwfHcqgV6J

— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) September 5, 2016

Sales of Colin Kaepernick Jerseys Soar Rapidly in The Wake Of His Controversial Stand Against The National Anthem.

Sales of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick jerseys have skyrocketed in the wake of his refusal to stand for the national anthem, which he says is protest against America's treatment of "black people and people of color."

Kaepernick's decision not to stand during the playing of the anthem, which was first noticed by the media in a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on August 26, has added to the debate in America over the subjects of race, patriotism, sports protest and violence by and against police.

News of Kaepernick's growing marketability, at least in terms of jersey sales, adds an additional layer of complexity to the story of his protest. San Jose Mercury News reporter Mike Rosenberg firstnoted on Twitter that sales of Kaepernick jerseys had jumped from 20th among 49ers players to first.

Even though he is only a backup quarterback, Kaepernick has now moved to fifth overall amongNFL jersey sales, according to NFL.com, jumping from eighth a day ago.

Some fans reacted by burning his jersey and other memorabilia on social media in the wake of news breaking about his protest.

Among the quarterback's most vocal critics have been police officers. Kaepernick drew additional criticism after photos surfaced of him wearing socks that depicted police officers as cartoon pigs.

"I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and work to protect and serve ALL people," Kaepernick said on Instagram in defense of the pictures.

The union for Santa Clara, California, Police Department officers -- the police who work San Francisco home games -- said that its members would consider boycotting their duty to police the stadium if the 49ers don't discipline Kaepernick for his actions.

Santa Clara Police Chief Michael Sellers offered a rebuke of that position on Saturday, saying that "officers are here to protect the rights of every person, even if we disagree with their position," but also expressed sympathy for the union's sentiment.

Kaepernick was scheduled to speak at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco today in front of a largely black congregation that included members of the NAACP, but he cancelled, citing scheduling concerns.

The other speakers at Third Baptist church today addressed Kaepernick's stance with words of support, and voiced criticism over the police, andDonald Trump and his supporters, who one woman called "bigots."

49ers coach Chip Kelly announced this weekend that Kaepernick would be the team's backup quarterback, ahead of third-stringer Christian Ponder, and behind starter Blaine Gabbert. Kaepernick is guaranteed $11.9 million in salary for this season and can earn another $2 million in roster bonuses depending on playing time, according to NFL.com.

Some analysts thought that Kaepernick could be cut by the team because of the attention he was receiving, but that has not turned out to be the case so far.

Dave Zirin, a sports editor for The Nation and a historian on sports protests, told ABC News in an interview last week that Kaepernick’s precarious spot on the 49ers roster only served to strengthen the power of his protest.

"He's really risking something by doing this," Zirin said. "It’s all the more admirable that he could be cut by the 49ers."

The 49ers are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Rams in a game on Monday, September 12. He is expected to continue to protest the anthem at that game.

"When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent in this country, I’ll stand,” Kaepernick told reporters one week ago.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Colin Kaepernick Vows To Keep Sitting During The National Anthem Until Meaningful Changes Occur

On Friday evening, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stayed seated during the singing of the national anthem prior to his team's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. It became a national story on Saturday after someone tweeted a photo of Kaepernick seated during the anthem.
It became arguably the biggest NFL story of the preseason when Kaepernick explained that he refuses to stand during the anthem because, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
On Sunday, Kaepernick conducted an 18-plus minute question and answer session with Bay Area reporters in which he addressed the reasons behind his protest, whether or not it will continue, what he hopes to accomplish, and more.
Kaepernick's goals

"I mean, ultimately it's to bring awareness and make people realize what's really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust, people aren't being held accountable for, and that's something that needs to change.
That's something that-this country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all. And it's not happening for all right now."

Will he continue to sit?

"Yes. I'll continue to sit. I'm going to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change and when there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent in this country-is representing the way that it's supposed to-I'll stand."

Does he plan to do anything beyond sitting during the anthem?

"Yeah, most definitely. There are things I have in the works right now, that I'm working on to put together in the future and have come to fruition soon.




Those are things I'll talk about as we get closer to those days."

What does he say to people who view his stance as disrespectful to the military?

"I have great respect for men and women that have fought for this country. I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country.
They fight for freedom. They fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice for everyone. And that's not happening.
People are dying in vain because this country isn't holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody. It's something that's not happening.
I've seen videos. I've seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought for and have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That's not right."

Does Kaepernick feel personally oppressed?

"There have been situations where I feel like I've been ill-treated, yes. But this stand wasn't for me. This stand wasn't because I feel like I'm being put down in any kind of way.
This is because I'm seeing things happen to people that don't have a voice, people that don't have a platform to talk and have their voices heard and affect change.
So I'm in a position where I can do that and I'm going to do that for people that can't."

More:

"I mean, I've had times where one of my roommates was moving out of a house in college and because we were the only black people in that neighborhood, the cops got called and all of us had guns drawn on us. I mean, came in the house without knocking, guns drawn, on one of my teammates and roommates.
So I have experienced this. People close to me have experienced this. This isn't something that's a one-off case here, a one-off case there.
This has become habitual, it's become a habit. It's something that needs to be addressed."

How did teammates respond?

"The support I've got from my teammates has been great. I think a lot of my teammates come from areas where this might be a situation-their families might be put in this situation.
It's something that I've had a lot of people come up to me and say I really respect you for what you're doing and what you're standing for.
So to me that's something that I know when I'm doing what's right and I know other people see what I'm doing is right... is something that we have come together, we have to unite, we have to unify and make a change."

Why does he think he's the only player to take this stand?

"I think there's a lot of consequences that come along with this. There's a lot of people that don't want to have this conversation, they're scared they might lose their job or they might not get the endorsements, they might not be treated the same way.
And those are things I'm prepared to handle and those are things that, you know, other people might not be ready for.
It's just a matter of where you're at in your life, where your mind's at.
At this point, I've been blessed to be able to get this far and have the privilege of being in the NFL and making the kind of money I make and enjoy luxuries like that...
But I can't look in the mirror and see other people dying in the street that should have the same opportunities that I've had and say, you know what, I can live with myself. Because I can't if I just watch."

Does the election have anything to do with his stance?

"Once again, it wasn't a timing thing. It wasn't something that was planned.
But I think the two presidential candidates that we currently have also represent the issue that we have in this country right now."

More:

"I mean, you have Hillary who's called black teens or black kids super-predators.
You have Donald Trump who's openly racist.
I mean, we have a presidential candidate who's deleted emails and done things illegally and is a presidential candidate. That doesn't make sense to me, because if that was any other person, you'd be in prison.
So what is this country really standing for?"

More, when asked why people question outrage when the United States has twice elected a black president:

"It has elected a black president. But there are also things-a lot of things-that haven't changed. There are a lot of issues that still haven't been addressed.
And that's something over an eight-year term, there's a lot of those things that are hard to change and there's a lot of those things that he doesn't necessarily have complete control over."

The entire Q&A is well worth reading. (Here's the link again.) This is something Kaepernick has obviously put a lot of thought into and believes in deeply. He stood in front of reporters and took questions for a whole lot longer than most players normally do, and eloquently addressed all the pertinent issues about why he's chosen to take this stand and what he hopes to accomplish with it. It's just a shame that, at least so far, more has been said about his decision not to stand during the anthem than the reasons he has chosen to make that decision.