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RockRaven

(14,783 posts)
1. The NFL owners and media were convinced their ratings were being hurt by the kneeling
Wed May 23, 2018, 08:55 PM
May 2018

and they never bothered to ask if maybe their ratings were being hurt by the owners'/media's response to the kneeling. Or maybe hurt by people wanting to avoid the loud faction of fans who had a problem with it.

I know I was turned off, not by the kneeling, but by the loudmouth reactionary fans' response to it. It makes you ask yourself "Is this who I want to spend time with, associate with, commiserate with?" Nope.

And now they've doubled- and tripled-down on pushing this jingoistic faux-patriotism bullsh*t which was offensive enough by itself before they tried forcing employee participation. Nope, nope, nope. Not interested.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
3. I am a football fan. After the NFL ploy this week, I won't be watching next season.
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:05 PM
May 2018

I will treat football like I treat Major League Baseball. Check the standings occasionally, but watch only some playoff games. I will sit out the NFL regular season this coming season.

BannonsLiver

(16,162 posts)
2. The owners are dopes
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:05 PM
May 2018

Proof money doesn’t buy intelligence. By the end of last season this issue had basically died down to nothing. I can’t remwmber by week 17 anyone really talking about it. And I watch a lot of football.

A tired, played out issue for most Americans is probably where it would have stayed, but What these dildos have managed to do is resurrect that dead horse and ensure it will be shitting all over their product yet again.

Well played, twits.

dawg day

(7,947 posts)
4. The NFL thinks kneeling is 'disrespect"?
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:05 PM
May 2018

When I was young, a local college (in the south) had "Dixie" as its fight song. This took place within just a few years of the (forced) integration of the state university system (late 60s). The half-dozen or so black football players threatened to walk off the team if the band didn't stop playing Dixie at half-time. It was quite a brave thing for them to do, as there were very few black students on campus to support them, and it was the late 60s (soon after MLK's assassination- a violent time), and they could have been expelled (or-- this was a former-confederate state-- assaulted). Also, a few players boycotting would have less effect on football (where there would be 40-50 players on the team) than on, say, basketball.

But the players stuck together, and some white players joined them, and the administration caved quite quickly.

It is disspiriting to think that FIFTY YEARS LATER, African American football players are still having to face punishment for drawing attention-- respectfully!-- to discrimination-- and that discrimination is still a major problem.

I hope fans quickly organize a boycott. I just watch on TV, but I would join a TV boycott. Kneeling during the anthem is a quite respectful way to make a political point--

And the NFL kowtowing to Trump's cynical appeal to racism-- well, maybe they need to be reminded how very important African American players and their fans are to their teams.

 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
5. It's not a free speech issue
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:12 PM
May 2018

I could go into work tomorrow wearing a shirt that said "my boss is an idiot" get fired and it wouldn't be a free speech issue. Now if Congress made a law that banned such a shirt that would be a free speech issue.

milestogo

(16,829 posts)
6. If a player is penalized with a fine and a game penalty for expressing himself,
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:18 PM
May 2018

that is discouraging free speech.

 

bitterross

(4,066 posts)
12. Actually, 45 has made it a 1st Amendment issue.
Wed May 23, 2018, 10:28 PM
May 2018

Just like the dildos that are the owners, 45 does not know when to shut his trap.

Legally speaking, the players can take it up as a 1st Amendment issue on the basis that the President of the US is directing the actions of the NFL owners. By doing so, the President is stifling free speech.

I'm not saying that's an easy case to win, but it is one that has some legs. They have standing because they are harmed if fined. They have the very public statements of direction by the President and the very public statements by several owners who agree to do the President's bidding in this.

 

EffieBlack

(14,249 posts)
13. The fact that the NFL is following 45's explicit instructions - combined with other entanglements
Wed May 23, 2018, 11:54 PM
May 2018

between the league and government makes this state action that makes them subject to First Amendment.

Government officials can’t go around crowing “WINNING!” after pressuring a private entity to engage in specific behavior and then claim that they are not involved in that behavior.

RainCaster

(10,682 posts)
8. We need some "F the NFL" swag to replace what they are selling
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:29 PM
May 2018

I'm done buying any Seahawks paraphernalia until this is over. Of course I'm done watching the games as well. I will get my Sunday mornings back this fall.

healthnut7

(249 posts)
9. Agree!
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:34 PM
May 2018

The only thing that would make the owners pay attention is if the stadiums were half empty!!! It seems unless you touch their pockets they could care less and will go on following what ever little whim Drumpf wants!!! Since when should a guy in charge that lives at the White House put his nose in every one's business except that with which he was put in charge and swore an oath for?? Sorry I don't use the word that starts with P when talking about him!!!!

milestogo

(16,829 posts)
10. The stadiums may still fill, but if the television audience
Wed May 23, 2018, 09:51 PM
May 2018

keeps shrinking, that hits them in the wallet.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
15. Let them have all the rope they want
Wed May 23, 2018, 11:58 PM
May 2018

They’ll just continue to hang themselves.

I usually don’t realize how stupid so many Americans are until Presidential elections, but now I get reminded of it daily.

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