My initial reaction when I saw the bodycam footage of Tyreek Hill’s detainment by Miami-Dade Police was simple: here we go again. There are certain players who can’t get out of their own way. They are always in trouble. And it’s always someone else’s fault.
Let’s be clear: this whole incident was brought on by Tyreek. If you break the law, if you do something dumb, have a little bit of respect and humility.
If you screw up, if you drive recklessly without your seatbelt on, then – at a bare minimum – approach the officer with courtesy and roll your window down. If you don’t do that? If you resist? Problems happen.
But that’s Tyreek Hill. Not enough humility, too much arrogance. That’s what got him into this position in the first place. He should have acted completely differently. Thankfully, he has admitted that now.
The Dolphins star has been on a charm offensive ever since the incident. Of course he is going to do everything to sensationalize this story. But what is really interesting? The Miami Dolphins and NFL players have said they stand with Hill.
The very people that blackballed Colin Kaepernick. He took a knee in protest against police brutality.
We are hearing that same message after Hill was handcuffed. Apparently it’s now okay to protect the players. But still not Colin Kaepernick.
I support the fight to end police brutality against the African-American community.
I like good cops and I hate bad cops. Some of my childhood friends ended up being in the police – and ended up being corrupt. I don’t like them, they’re bad people.
I like good cops, though. And the fact of the matter is: they are in a position of authority. Sure they abuse that position at times. But I do respect good police and good law enforcement.
I have never been a victim of brutality myself. But I am a parent of a wonderful young man who’s a free thinker and who questions a lot of things in our society – authority, his mom, his teachers, anybody.
That’s what teenagers do. I like that about him I think it will serve him well. But not when a police officer pulls you over.
I tell him all the time: If you get pulled over, the most important thing is to come home alive. You are mixed race, you wear your hair natural. So keep your hands at 10 and two, roll all the windows down, put the interior lights on, don’t make any sudden movements.
Why? Because I can’t trust that, on any given night, the good cop will show up. I have to make sure that my son shows respect. This is America and – as the father of a newly-adult young man – this is my reality.
I have never had the chance to meet Kaepernick but I would love to. There are not many people who would have the courage to take a stand like he did.
Kaepernick is a very strong-willed character and he will have his day. But the former 49ers quarterback has been exiled from the NFL since 2016. Tyreek Hill will return to the field on Thursday night. I hope he has learnt some important lessons.
Mauricio Pochettino is officially the new manager of the USMNT and the last few days will have taught him everything about what needs to change ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The USA was beaten by Canada and then held by New Zealand. What was obvious? These players need more fight, more arrogance, more grit and more earthy determination.
When we fell 2-0 down to Canada, my expectations were simple: at least we’ll start kicking people and letting them know that this won’t be easy. Instead? It was a stroll for Jesse Marsch’s side.
That doesn’t mean the USMNT can’t play expansive soccer. But the foundation of any team must be fight. It doesn’t matter who’s injured. It doesn’t matter if we have a coach or not.
Pochettino must demand that as a basic requirement. And if players don’t answer the call? Identify someone who will – and then he becomes an example.
I’ve had managers in the past whose message was: if you want to get in this team, play like him.
The problem for Pochettino is time. You would hope that within four games, his mark on this team is obvious.
By then, we should have some clear indications of how the manager wants to play and how he wants to use certain players.
But look at the calendar – four games is a big chunk of the time between now and 2026. He must get to work straight away.
