George Foreman was proud to represent America during the 1968 Olympic Games.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Although thousands rallied in support of Colin Kaepernick at NFL headquarters Wednesday, George Foreman doesn’t seem to be throwing his support behind the star.
“There are a lot of guys [that are like], ‘I got all this money, but nobody knows me,'” Foreman said on the Offended America podcast Monday, Aug. 21. ‘So, let me say something like Muhammad Ali and I’ll be different.’ That’s all that is. And I don’t pay much attention to what kids do.”
Kaepernick has drawn comparisons to the late boxer and political activist since he began his protest of the national anthem during NFL games last season. He reportedly decided to end his demonstration this season and opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March. However, the quarterback has since remained unsigned.
Addressing Kaepernick, Foreman said many of the people who served in the military died to protect his right to refuse to stand for the national anthem. Foreman noted he loved the United States and touted the 1968 Olympic Games, where he donned red, white and blue, as one of his proudest moments.
Sorry, George, Colin Kaepernick Has Lots of Folks In His Corner
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- In ‘Time 100’ Tribute, Colin Kaepernick’s Ex-Coach Says We’re ‘Lucky’ to Have Him Among American Citizens
“They haven’t been brought up with people who were patriotic to even point them in the right direction,” Foreman said. “And then, some of them are trying to make a point. It’s like, ‘Look at me, I’m trying to say something. You gotta respect that, too.”
However, the philanthropic QB wasn’t the only athlete Foreman unleashed on. Foreman also took issue with Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant’s refusal to visit the White House during the Trump administration.
The grill seller said he halted his tradition of taking photos with presidents during Richard Nixon’s tenure because he, being “ignorant,” wouldn’t support Nixon’s plans to end the Job Corps.
“A lot of that sore loser [stuff] goes a long [way] in politics,” Foreman said. “Your guy doesn’t win… [and you think,] ‘I’m not going to like the guy [who won]. I’m against him and everything.’ But that’s all there is, [you’re just a] sore loser. Sore loser. I was one.”
But he’s not a sore loser any longer, especially since Trump, whose entrepreneurialism Foreman praised, put on the 1991 pay-per-view showdown between Foreman and Evander Holyfield.
“I was broke, too,” Foreman said. “Bankrupt. [Trump] put me back, he was part of writing those checks, so I could be on the wealthy side again. So, I’ll always be grateful to the entrepreneur Donald — and now President Donald — Trump.”
