abcnews.go.com photo: A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell takes a knee during the national anthem before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum in concern for the country’s current racial divide

By London Marq

OAKLAND–You can expect more players to join Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell Sunday to take a knee at the Oakland Coliseum during the national anthem after Maxwell took a knee the first MLB player to do so on Saturday. After President Trump called NFL players SOBs on Saturday during a townhall in Alabama saying about players who protest the anthem “get that son of a bitch off the field right now he’s fired.”

For many athletes that was a signal a fire across the sports community’s bow, everyone weighed in from the Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James, to even the NFL owners like the Jacksonville Jaguars Shahid Khan who locked arms with his players during the anthem before Saturday’s game. Khan was one of seven owners during Trump’s campaign to donate $1 million. But it took his statement about calling NFL players SOBs to finally realize that Trump has now crossed the line.

Also another campaign contributor New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he “was deeply disappointed by the tone” of Trump’s comments and that even a Trump supporter the staunchest Kraft had to side with his players and employees. The pressure is on the NFL owners to side with it’s players. During the Ravens-Jaguars game players took a knee or were locked arm and arm during the anthem. The Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry said, “this is not what leaders do” regarding Trump’s comments. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell even said that what Trump said caused “divisiveness.”

Maxwell before Saturday’s game at the Coliseum told his teammates that this was something he was going to do and he had the support of A’s manager Bob Melvin and later the A’s organization and his teammates. “This goes beyond the black community” said Maxwell to the media after Saturday’s contest against the Texas Rangers “it goes beyond the Hispanic community right now were having a  racial divide in all types of people, it’s being practiced from the highest power we have in government basically saying it’s OK to treat people differently. I’m kneeling to symbolize the fact that I’m kneeling for a cause. But I’m no way disrespecting my country or my flag.”

Oakland A’s Spanish broadcaster Amaury Pi Gonzalez didn’t quite see things Maxwell’s way a veteran in the US Army and a Cuban immigrant he feels that Maxwell’s kneeling or any other professional athlete is disrespectful to the flag and the military, “Tonight at Oakland, Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell took a knee during the National Anthem prior to the Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s game. I respect his right as a free American, but I do not respect his action, as many have died for that Anthem and that Flag to keep him/us free. That is my honest opinion as a US Army veteran (during the Vietnam conflict) and as an American. There are many forums to show you discontent and express yourself about anything you feel you should, but disrespecting the National Anthem, should not be one of those forums. And I did mentioned on my broadcast on Spanish radio.”

Davis’ homer the difference in pitchers duel: A’s starting pitcher Raul Alcantara set the tone on Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum in going five innings walking two and surrendering two hits as it took five pitchers Ryan Dull, Daniel Coulumbe, Chris Hatcher and closer Blake Treinen to shutout the visiting Texas Rangers 1-0.

The Rangers for their part got good starting pitching from Miguel Gonzalez whose only mistake was giving up a solo shot to A’s left fielder Kris Davis in the second inning a 392 foot blast to deep right centerfield. Gonzalez who dropped his record to 8-12 went six innings, gave up four hits and Davis’ earned run in the second. Gonzalez was followed up by relievers Matt Bush and Alex Claudio who did not give up any runs to the A’s.