GQ names two athletes as part of their men of the year awards
Photo from GQ
GQ magazine named Colin Kaepernick and Kevin Durant as part of their men of the year edition. Kaepernick was named the Citizen of the Year and Durant was named the Champion of the Year.
Kaepernick was named Citizen of the Year following his activism regarding police brutality and treatment of African Americans in the country. Kaepernick first made national attention by controversially kneeling during the national anthem at the beginning of the 2016-2017 NFL season.
His actions were met by both strong backlash and support. Many fans felt that him kneeling disrespected the military and violating a sacred moment in American sports. However just as many people supported his actions to bring to attention the plight of African Americans and police brutality.
GQ calls Kaepernick a man who became a movement. They compared his efforts to Muhammed Ali's Vietnam stance in that he stood for what he believed in even if it costed him career. Kaepernick has been off an NFL for a year and it does not look like he will be joining one anytime soon. However, it does not phase Kaepernick who takes more pride in being a social activist than an NFL quarterback.
For Durant's effort in the Golden State Warriors championship run this past June, GQ named him their Champion of the Year.
Durant was a part of the Warriors team that won the championship in convincing and dominant fashion with a 15-1 record during the NBA playoffs. He was named NBA Finals MVP for his dominant performance in the NBA Finals itself.
According to Bleacher Report, all the backlash he received all last season and still to this day, Durant felt hurt and upset by the anger directed at him. Instead of dwelling on the hate, he embraced it and used it as motivation in each game he played last season. His focus and him ignoring of the backlash enabled him to help the Warriors exact their revenge against the Cleveland Cavalier who defeated the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
