Cuban-American Linebacker Admits Emotions Influenced Monster Game Against Colin Kaepernick

A Cuban-American Miami Dolphins player admits that Colin Kaepernick’s “ignorant” statements about Fidel Castro infused his play with emotion on Sunday.

Linebacker Kiko Alonso made twelve tackles, recovered a fumble, and intercepted a Colin Kaepernick pass in the 31-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick also played well in accounting for more than 400 total yards with his arm and legs but came up short for the sixth time this season. He failed to deliver in part because on the last play of the game Alonso, aiding Ndamukong Suh, stopped Kaepernick from finding the end zone.

“Yeah, it matters,” Alonso told Miami Herald reporter Armando Salguero about Kaepernick’s pro-Castro comments during a weekend when emotions ran high due to the dictator’s death. “I didn’t read your article, to be honest. But I did see what happened. So, yeah, there were some feelings on my part.”

The reporter had earlier questioned Kaepernick on his pro-Castro statements describing Cuba as a place with near-universal literacy and little racism.

“I’m not talking about Fidel Castro and his oppression,” the quarterback told the reporter last week. “I’m talking about Malcolm X and what he’s done for people.”

Kaepernick continues to wear a t-shirt with the late dictator alongside Malcolm X on it. The South Florida crowd booed Kaepernick lustily on Sunday. The quarterback knelt for the national anthem again on Sunday.