Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green took exception to Houston Texans owner Bob McNair and his insensitive comments regarding NFL players and their season-long protest of the national anthem, drawing a direct comparison to one of the most obscurely abhorred owners in NBA history — Donald Sterling, former owner of the L.A. Clippers.
McNair was quoted saying “we can't have inmates running the prison” — referring to the way NFL athletes have now taken control of their platform to voice their discontent with racial and social injustice throughout the country.
Green took to Instagram, noting right out of the gate that McNair's comments were in line with Sterling's in nature.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bawj5JOHLcu/?hl=en&taken-by=money23green
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year also dissected the use of the word “owner” for setting the wrong tone when it comes to a league of working athletes.
“For starters, let's stop using the word owner and maybe use the word Chairman,” said Green in his social media post. “To be owned by someone just sets a bad precedent to start. It's sets the wrong tone. It gives one the wrong mindset.”
“Webster [Dictionary] states that an inmate is a person confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital. Not sure these tax paying men should be referred to as inmates — but what do I know?”
Green's self-deprecating tone at the end just encapsulates his point through this Instagram post, as McNair has been critical not only of players protesting, but them using their voice altogether to affect any sort of social change.
It's not news that owners have often looked at their players as the moving parts of a business — but this avenue goes both ways, with players now able to retaliate and speak their mind through the many platforms available to them.
Green had more to say after Friday's morning shootaround, stemming from his Instagram comments earlier in the day.
“I don't think it should be up to (McNair) to change his behavior,” said Green of McNair, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “They got a commissioner just like any other league. First they were sons of bitches and now inmates? I know some inmates. They don't pay taxes. They're not community leaders. They're not (Malcolm) Jenkins, flying to the White House, flying to DC, doing all these things to make a difference. They're not (Colin) Kaepernick, donating $1 million. That's like, c'mon man — inmates? That's unacceptable.”
“Will (Roger Goodell) react to it is the question? I mean, I wouldn't personally want to play for somebody who view me as an inmate. Because I haven't done nothing in my life to be an inmate. To be an inmate, you're either in hospital or in prison. I'm not in a hospital and I'm for damn sure not in a prison. Then you say, some people commented on my post that, ‘Hey, it's a figure of speech.' Agree or disagree, figure of speeches aren't OK in 2017.”
“If I come out and give a figure of speech that's not socially OK, I'm going to get fined. I'm going to get ridiculed. If I come out and give a figure of speech on anything — whether that's race, whether that's sexual orientation–whatever that is, if I give a figure of speech in 2017, I'm going to get ridiculed by any group that's formed to protect one's group. I'm going to be fined by the NBA. I'm going to be looked at ridiculously by the community. So why is that OK? I disagree with that. If you're an inmate, you're not playing. They pay taxes just like he pay taxes and, if I've learned a bit about business, maybe more. So it's a strong word to use about someone else's kids again. It's crazy.”
NFL players like Reggie Bush, Damon Harrison, Rishard Matthews, and Richard Sherman have voiced their opinions about McNair's foul comments, with the Seattle Seahawks cornerback making perhaps the most poignant one.
I can appreciate ppl being candid. Don’t apologize! You meant what you said. Showing true colors allows ppl to see you for who you are.
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) October 27, 2017
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