Look, whether we fully agree or not, we can all recognize that blacks in our nation feel uneasy with the largely white police force. Maybe they are dead wrong, but I like to think that some of the sins of our past have been transmitted, generation to generation, almost via the DNA, you would think.I don’t mind athletes taking a knee. In fact, I don’t particularly get upset if they do it during the National Anthem. But when they do it then, one thing is for sure, it is NOT at all winning the hearts of the people. It’s almost as if their intention is to get as many people peeved at their cause as possible…which then turns into a sad cycle of inflicting increasing pain on each other.However, the Dallas Cowboys hit the right note, I think. While acknowledging there was something to take a knee about, they also did it BEFORE the Anthem played. I like that. It shows respect to the nation, while at the same time pointing out that there are some problems in our nation. Jerry Jones taking part made it even more effective.
These athletes really put themselves out to protest.They go to their place of work – take a knee for 3 minutes before work starts – and pat themselves on the back for making a difference.Change is a coming________________
All owners are in no win positions.If they don’t support the players – no free agents will ever sign with them again – at least not the good ones – then their team is no good – and fans will leave anyway.I think the Jones, Kahns, etc… that gave Trump 1,000,000 or more – had to go overboard to show they are down for the struggle. The problem is: the players may not give them credit for it as time goes by.This is all anti Trump now – and they will all be forced to donate to Bernie Sanders – or face the consequences. And Trump is once again shrewder than he is given credit for.Go look up the USFL lawsuit against the NFL. The NFL was a monopoly, and that did cause damage to the USFL – but they were only awarded one dollar in damages. One of the two teams that sued the NFL and got shafted (Generals) were owned by…Donald J Trump.Who believes Trump has thick skin – and lets bygones be bygones? Anyone? I believe he stirs the pot more – inflicting any damage he can on the NFL as if they were Rosie O’Donnell.I don’t believe anyone is altruistic in this debacle. No one________________
I have no problem with players exercising their right to free speech and freedom of expression, even publicly protesting if they wish. It does seem quite odd (and really unAmerican, if you think about it) to try to force someone to be patriotic. I don’t think the intent is to necessarily disrespect the flag or the anthem as such, but it obviously comes across that way to a lot of NFL fans. I do think they should by all means demonstrate and protest what they feel is unjust treatment of Afro-Americans by Euro-American police officers. I do not think protesting during the national anthem is helpful in any way to their cause. People watch professional sports to be entertained, not to be preached at.
The NFL is facing a number of issues, including a looming number of lawsuits from players who feel they have suffered brain damage and disabilities. Parents are redirecting their children to other none impact sports like soccer and volleyball. The players union wants more of the profits and the citizens want less of a tax burden when it comes to building stadiums. There is racial disparage in the front office, with more whites than blacks, and racial disparage on the field with more blacks than whites (white kids need sports heroes too and the NFL should address this issue for the white fans). As NBF mentioned, the NFL’s biggest advertisers are makers of intoxicants that lead to the death of millions of Americans every year. Now they want to be social activist and tell the fans how bad this nation (and we) are in regards to race and police issues. I guess they can if they want to, but as I said in another post, why even have the national anthem before a ball game (any sport). When you go to a concert or a play or a movie they do not start with the nation anthem, why would they. The NFL is there to entertain us, not to lecture us. I say no anthem, no color guard, no military show at the taxpayers expense, as well as no taxpayer stadiums and special policing. The NFL has enough money to pay everything they want.The game is so sanitized now, more like basketball than football. Bring back the cut-block, the fore-arm to the head, the leading with the headgear both in blocking and tackling, and stop calling all those handsie penalties on defensive backs that slow down the game. Man-up NFL, you are becoming the NBA, and we already have one of those. You don’t even wear elbow or knee pads anymore because you know you’re not going to use them. If the players, coaches, owners and league have the right to protest, then the fans who pay to get in the stadium have more of a right. The way the fans are policed in the stands you would think they were the enemy. What are you millionaires afraid of to the point that you have police (the ones you’re protesting) protect you. At least in Rugby they don’t wear pads.
that burns me up. Tebow did the exact same kneel but it wasn’t allowed. The Cowboys wanted to wear a sticker for one game to support the Dallas PD after BLM lunatic killed 5 cops, wasn’t allowed, etc…. BUT, they can break their own rules about not being on the field, toes on the line at attention during the anthem (right out of their rule book), to humiliate their own country? They all need a much deserved break from their salaries and sport. Every one of them could be let go tomorrow and guess what, 5 players who would LOVE to stand at attention and respect our country would pop up to take each one’s place.
A better protest may be to…
What did they do________________