John Tortorella Says He'll Bench Any Player Who Doesn't Stand For The National Anthem
Photo: Jay LaPrete/ [object Object] John Tortorella, the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach who’s in charge of Team USA for the World Cup of Hockey, was asked about 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick’s decision to protest during the national anthem. Take a stab at guessing the response from the biggest hardass in an extremely white sport.
“If any of my players sit on the bench for the national anthem, they will sit there the rest of the game,” Torts told ESPN’s Linda Cohn.
Tortorella’s response presumably launched a thousand right-wing memes which will flood Facebook feeds everywhere. Wait, one second:
Latest
How the Pittsburgh Steelers Can Survive Without T.J. Watt
Sat Dec 13 2025
UFC Vegas 112 Picks: Best Bets for the Final ESPN-Era Card
Sat Dec 13 2025
Why a Joe Burrow Trade to the Vikings Actually Makes Sense
Fri Dec 12 2025
Latest Betting
- Why the Blackhawks and Bruins Are Playoff Longshots Worth Betting
- Falcons vs Buccaneers Thursday Night Football Week 15 Betting Picks
- NBA Picks December 10th: Thunder vs. Suns and Spurs vs. Lakers Best Bets
- NHL Futures Picks: Best Value Bets for Teams to Miss the Playoffs
- Tuesday NBA Cup Best Bets: Picks for Heat vs. Magic and Knicks vs. Raptors
- NHL Picks for Tuesday: Best Bets for Lightning vs. Canadiens and Ducks vs. Penguins
- College Basketball 2025-26 National Title Contenders Best Future Bets

