Cuban-American Kiko Alonso: 'There was some bad blood' between me and Colin Kaepernick
Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso, whose father is a Cuban exile, said after Sunday’s win over the 49ers that he and quarterback Colin Kaepernick had “some bad blood” in light of his recent comments about Fidel Castro.
Kaepernick came under fire this week for defending Castro, the Cuban dictator who died Friday. He was probed about a t-shirt he wore back in August which featured Castro and Malcom X, and while he said he was “not talking about Fidel Castro and his oppression,” he said that Castro put emphasis on education and healthcare, which he appreciated.
Alonso recorded 12 tackles on Sunday, including one of Kaepernick on the final play of the game, which sealed the Dolphins’ win.
“There were some feelings on my part,” Alonso told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. “I didn’t [see what happened in Cuba first-hand]. But I do have feelings about it. So there was some bad blood there for me with Kaepernick.”
He added that he didn’t say anything to Kaepernick regarding the comments while the two shared the field.
Following the loss, Kaeperick was again asked to address the shirt he wore of Castro, and the comments he made during the week.
“I agree with the investment in education,” Kaepernick said. “I also agree with the investment in free universal health care, as well as the involvement with him in helping end apartheid in South Africa. I would hope that everyone believes those things are good things. Trying to push the false narrative that I was a supporter of the oppressive things that he did is just not true.”
The quarterback has emerged as one of the most outspoken athletes in sports after he decided to take a knee during the national anthem before NFL games to voice concerns over racial inequality and police violence in America. He has recently been criticized for not voting in the 2016 Presidential Election.