Jim Harbaugh didn’t always wear glasses, but Michigan’s coach is permanently bespectacled now, as of earlier this week. It’s hard to miss his glasses on the sidelines.
Jim Harbaugh says his glasses are partly a nod to Malcolm X. About that.
Remember what Harbaugh had to say about Colin Kaepernick’s protest?
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
After Michigan’s 41-8 win against Illinois on Saturday, Harbaugh’s glasses came up in his press conference. Why’s he wearing them? Harbaugh nodded to previous wearers of strongly rimmed glasses: former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, actor Michael Douglas, and civil rights activist Malcolm X.
Harbaugh on his new glasses -- tip of the hat to 3 individuals he said pic.twitter.com/eWZZknDs7k
— angelique (@chengelis) October 22, 2016
Harbaugh’s explanation:
“This style particularly is a tip of the cap, a nod, to Woody Hayes, to Michael Douglas in the movie Falling Down, also a tip of the cap to Malcolm X.”
Sounds good. Just one thing about mentioning Malcolm X, though.
A few months ago, when Colin Kaepernick first started protesting against mistreatment of people of color by not standing for the national anthem, Harbaugh said he didn’t agree with the “motivation” behind Kaepernick’s activism.
Harbaugh later apologized and said he misspoke.
The backtracking looked awkward. Depending on one’s personal level of cynicism, Harbaugh either genuinely felt bad or realized he was taking on an emotional protest that his players — many of whom are black and all of whom are unpaid while he makes millions — might not like. Either way, it was uncomfortable.
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