Connect with us

Kansas

Kansas City Chiefs kicker defends controversial commencement speech

Published

on

Kansas City Chiefs kicker defends controversial commencement speech


In his first public comments following a controversial speech at a recent college commencement, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker defended his address and emphasized his Catholic faith.

“If it wasn’t clear that the timeless Catholic values are hated by many, it is now,” Butker said during a speech at the “Courage Under Fire” gala in Nashville on Friday night.

The Nashville speech was posted to X by right-wing media outlet The Daily Wire.

This is the first time the three-time Super Bowl champion has spoken publicly about his commencement address at Benedictine College, a small Catholic college in Kansas, on May 11. During his address, Butker made comments interpreted by many as homophobic and sexist, including calling Pride Month a “deadly sin” and saying that a woman’s accomplishments in the home are more valuable than any academic or professional goals, among other things.

Advertisement

Friday night’s gala was hosted by Regina Caeli Academy – a hybrid campus/homeschool Catholic school group with several locations across the country. The gala boasted several other speakers including right-wing media personality and host at the Daily Wire, Matt Walsh.

“Over the past few days, my beliefs, or what people think I believe, have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,” Butker, who is on the school’s board of directors, said.

Regina Caeli Academy did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

“At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion,” Butker said Friday.

Butker reaffirmed his commitment to his Catholic faith, saying, “Our love for Jesus and thus our desire to speak out should never be outweighed by the longing of our fallen nature to be loved by the world.”

Advertisement

During his speech, Butker referred to Saint Daniel, the biblical prophet who was thrown into a lion’s den for committing to prayer to God, despite a law that condemned worshipers to death.

“I can’t help but tremble at the thought of the courage many saints have shown in their lives,” Butker said.

Daniel was spared by God due to his commitment to faith, according to the Old Testament.

“Would I be so bold if the repercussion was what Daniel faced in being fed to lions? In reality, any courage I’ve shown will lead to some small suffering. And it will lead to some people maybe never liking me, but that could be God’s will,” the Chiefs kicker said.

The NFL issued a statement earlier this month, saying Butker’s comments don’t reflect the views of the league.

Advertisement

Butker’s May 11 speech sparked criticism from LGBT advocacy organization GLAAD, which called his comments “a clear miss” and “woefully out of step with Americans about Pride, LGBTQ people and women.”

The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica monastery, a founding institution and sponsor of Benedictine College, also distanced themselves from Butker’s message. “The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedictine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested,” they said in a statement. “Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division.”

Fellow Chiefs star, Travis Kelce, recently responded to the commencement address, saying he does not agree with “just about any” of Butker’s views but values him as a teammate.

“I cherish him as a teammate. I think Pat (Mahomes) said it best where he is every bit of a great person and a great teammate,” Kelce said on the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast he hosts with his brother, Jason.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

Advertisement



Source link

Kansas

KC police shooting follows NE Kansas City domestic assault call

Published

on

KC police shooting follows NE Kansas City domestic assault call


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A domestic assault call in Northeast Kansas City turned into a police shooting.

Kansas City officers responded to 41st and North Wheeling Avenue just north of the river just before 9 p.m. on March 23.

When a man inside the home grabbed a knife, an officer opened fire.

The suspect was not hit and is now in custody. The woman is being treated for injuries.

Advertisement

Missouri State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation, which is standard procedure when a KC officer fires their weapon while in the line of duty.

Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith recalls his 2021 NFL Draft experience

Published

on

Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith recalls his 2021 NFL Draft experience


Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith has emerged as one of the best guards in the league with his consistent and intimidating play.

The two-time Pro Bowler appeared on former Chiefs center Mitch Morse’s live podcast, In Good Company with Mitch Morse, last Thursday. He responded to a special guest question from Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. regarding his 2021 NFL Draft night memory. 

“What I remember about my draft night was terrible, to be honest. You know, night one, I knew I wasn’t going. Day two, I thought I was gonna get picked, but I didn’t, and I remember being a little emotional with my dad, just upset,” said Smith, “Just like, Dang man. You know it’s gonna happen. You came back to college for another year, but you had blood clots. Still, you’re not getting drafted where you thought you would. On that third day, you’re legit. It was just like, Okay, I’m being drafted, but I have one opportunity, and I don’t care. It could be anywhere. It’d be the worst team in the league, as long as I get one opportunity to prove myself, and when I’m working, that’s all I want. That’s all I needed.”

Smith was selected in the 6th round, 226th overall, due to concerns about his health history. The Chiefs looked past that as he described the emotional phone call moment.

Advertisement

“I remember getting that phone call from Kansas City. Was one of the doctors just like, “Hey, Trey, I told you I’ll call. I remember telling, blunt, straight up. Like, yeah, what’s up? He chuckles. He’s just like, well, we’re gonna make you the newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s our owner, Clark Hunt, Mr. Hunt, popped on the phone. I snapped out of the funk, right? Oh, it’s real. Is this happening? Like, oh, it’s happening,” said Smith. “So I remember just being so excited, like, no one was in my house except for my sister, so I’m celebrating with her in the living room. I call my dad. He’s like, Man, I’m so proud of you. It’s unbelievable, Kansas City, man. He’s like, “Hey, I’ll be home in 10 minutes. I got chicken tenders on. I’m bringing home lunch. So it was like a calamity, but it was amazing. At the same time, I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”

Smith continues to be an impactful part of the team’s success, becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion and ranking among the NFL’s elite interior offensive linemen.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

St. John’s beats Kansas at buzzer in March Madness thriller to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999

Published

on

St. John’s beats Kansas at buzzer in March Madness thriller to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999


SAN DIEGO — Church Bells arrived at the perfect time.

Dylan Darling, the Idaho State transfer in the midst of a massive shooting slump, sent St. John’s to the Sweet 16 with a buzzer-beating, right-handed layup at the horn after the Johnnies had blown a 14-point lead.

Darling strutted after it dropped and was immediately mobbed by his teammates after clinching this dramatic 67-65, second-round victory over Kansas at Viejas Arena.

Darryn Peterson had pulled the Jayhawks even with 14.1 seconds left, and they were able to use four fouls to stall St. John’s because it was under the limit.

Advertisement

With 3.8 seconds left, St. John’s inbounded the ball to Darling, and he drove in for the game-winning basket. They were his only points of the game.

Dylan Darling drives to the basket for the game-winning shot during the St. John’s win over Kansas on March 21. Getty Images

In mid-February, after Darling hit a game-winning 3-pointer at Xavier, Pitino joked that he had “balls the size of church bells.”

Boy, was he right.

St. John’s will meet Duke in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Washington, D.C., its first trip to that round since 1999.

Dylan Darling celebrates after hitting the game-winning basket March 22. Charles Wenzelberg

Zuby Ejiofor led St. John’s with 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and Bryce Hopkins also had 18 points.

Advertisement

Ian Jackson had 10 off the bench.

Peterson scored 21 for Kansas.

The Red Storm have won 21 of their past 22 games.

For the first time in five games, St. John’s didn’t start on a big run.

Dylan Darling celebrates after hitting the game-winning shot March 22. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Red Storm reeled off an 11-0 run to take an early eight-point advantage.

Advertisement

They made three of their first four 3-point attempts, but then went ice-cold.

Dylan Darling is pictured during the St. John’s game March 21. Getty Images

St. John’s went 5:45 without a point, and Kansas tied the game on the strength of a 9-0 burst.

Hopkins ended the drought with a 3-pointer that hit off the back rim and fell through.

Joson Sanon and Ruben Prey added 3s to help the Red Storm take an eight-point lead into halftime.


CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS

Advertisement

Against bigger Kansas, St. John’s let it fly from deep, making 7 of 23 in the opening half.

They average 21 per game this season.

A major factor in the opening half was Bidunga being limited to 12 minutes due to two early fouls.

Zuby Ejiofor dunks the ball during the St. John’s game against Kansas on March 22. Charles Wenzelberg

Defense carried the Johnnies over the first 20 minutes.

They held Kansas to 34.5 percent shooting and forced nine turnovers, which led to 12 points.

Advertisement

Peterson hit his first two 3-point attempts but scored only nine points in the first half on 2-for-6 shooting.

St. John’s methodically pushed the lead to 10 by the under-12 timeout as it continued to handcuff Kansas.

The Jayhawks had as many turnovers (four) as made field goals over the first 8:21 of the second half.

When Mitchell scored on back-to-back possessions, St. John’s lead had ballooned to 14.

Only 8:51 remained between the Johnnies and a Sweet 16 berth.

Advertisement

They didn’t know at the time how dramatic those final minutes would be.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending