San Francisco Giants Manager says he won't stand on the field for the national anthem until he 'feels better about the direction of the country' after Texas school shooting

• SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler says he's concerned about the direction of the country after Texas shooting.
• Kapler said he won't be going on to the field for the national anthem.

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he won't be going out onto the field for the national anthem after a Texas elementary school shooting left 21 people dead including 19 children.

"I don't plan on coming out for the anthem going forward until I feel better about the direction of our country," Kapler said on Friday.

—SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 27, 2022

In a statement on his website, Kapler said he felt like a 'coward' when he didn't take a knee during the anthem on Wednesday, the day after an 18 year-old gunman shot his grandmother and then drove to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, to fatally shoot 21 people.

"On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem. Metallica riffed on City Connect guitars," Kapler wrote. "My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn't listen. I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward."

He said he didn't want to draw attention away from the victims or their families and call attention to himself.

Kapler added that he was disappointed that he didn't take a stand, despite the concern that some might not understand his kneeling.

"But I am not okay with the state of this country. I wish I hadn't let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you're dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. The home of the brave should encourage this," he said.