The Fire Last Time: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

Edge of Sports

Dave Zirin / The Nation

Sports, History, Sports News, News, Politics

4.8 • 619 Ratings

🗓️ 7 September 2016

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Before Colin Kaepernick, there was Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. In 1996, the Denver Nuggets guard said that on principle he could not stand for the national anthem because the flag in many countries represents "oppression and tyranny." He was fined, suspended, attacked, and yet we will hear on this week's podcast why he has no regrets. We will also hear what advice Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf has for Kaepernick and why he holds the words of Arundhati Roy and Malcolm X close to his heart. Abdul-Rauf also answers listeners questions including what it felt like to drop 51 points on John Stockton. This is - in my humble opinion - the best interview we've done in the history of the show.We also have some Choice Words about Megan Rapinoe's decision to stand - or kneel - in solidarity with Kaepernick. We also answer a listener call from Patrick, who left a message on our hotline: 401-436-EDGE (3343.) Our question for next week is: what athlete do you want to hear from on the issues that Colin Kapernick has raised. Lastly we have our "just stand up" award for someone who has yet to become visible.The Nation: This Is What Solidarity Looks Like: Why Soccer-Star Megan Rapinoe Stands With Colin Kaepernick https://www.thenation.com/article/this-is-what-solidarity-looks-like-why-soccer-star-megan-rapinoe-stands-with-colin-kaepernick//?nc=1By The Dawn's Early Light: Chris Jackson's Journey to Islam https://youtu.be/-ISc8DJFOMgArundhati Roy’s new book, The End of Imagination http://www.haymarketbooks.org/pb/The-End-of-Imagination—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: edgeofsports@slate.com—instrumentals: Kanye West: Saint Pablo, Wolves (http://kanyewest.com) remakes by JEHF SLAPS & XVBarbar Beats http://jehfslaps.net, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcp3LNlpt-At_jXhFiQ8Zcg | Missy Elliott: Sock It 2 Me (Timbaland production, Kaytranada remix) https://twitter.com/MissyElliott http://timbalandmusic.com http://kaytranada.com http://soundcloud.com/kaytranada | Drake: Hotline Bling, JDP remake http://www.drakeofficial.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrNo14wVl-WSVqZzGyyXRxA Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to The Edge of Sports podcast. I'm Dave Ziron. As we continue to analyze Colin Kaepernick's
0:05.6	national anthem stance against racism and police violence, we speak to former NBA player and college
0:11.8	hoops legend, Mahmoud Abdul Raouf. There were things I wanted to say, things that I saw that
0:17.9	was unjust, but why am I afraid? Why am I a coward? Why can't I say this?
0:23.6	And I had to slowly begin a process of doing that, which eventually led to the flag.
0:29.4	When I listened to the words of Kaepernick, and he said, this is bigger than football, that hit me,
0:35.5	because that's how change happens. And I'm not saying that you don't think about yourself
0:39.6	and you don't think about your family. Of course we do. But if we really want to make a change,
0:44.0	it has to go beyond our individual cells. The politics of silence is a negative one. We're still
0:50.1	accountable. And I say, I don't want to be on that side of history. You know, I want to stand up
0:53.8	for principles and I want to live and die with a free conscience and a free soul, whether anybody
0:57.8	likes it or not. For those that don't understand it now, eventually, if God wills, they will.
1:03.0	You never know the impact that something like this is going to have on someone. But stick to your
1:07.3	principles. And more people are supporting him than maybe he knows.
1:13.3	Raouf did not stand for the anthem in 1996 as a member of the Denver Nuggets.
1:18.2	He was suspended.
1:19.4	He was fined.
1:20.5	And he was eventually drummed out of the league.
1:25.4	He is also the person whose actions inspired me when I was in college to first look at this intersection and history of sports and politics.
1:34.4	And this is the first time I've ever interviewed this man.
1:37.4	I'm excited.
1:38.5	I hope you are too.
	...

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