Team sports are rituals to mimic our instinct for tribal war. Our boys are defending us against those bastards in the other city. Or going over to the other cit

Team sports are rituals to mimic our instinct for tribal war. Our boys are defending us against those bastards in the other city. Or going over to the other city and teaching them not to mess with us in the future. The NFL amps up the imagery with militaristic starting lines and ultra patriotic imagery. Fans think of the players as local heroes defending the city. Kaepernick's protests shattered that illusion and revealed the contempt many players have for the fans and cities. That's why there was so much blow back.