A message from Art Rooney II, CEO of the Pittsburgh Steelers

[FakeNoose]

(Emailed to Steelers fans on 9-26-17)

To Steelers Nation:

I want to reach out to you, the members of Steelers Nation, based on what I believe is a misperception about our players' intentions in not taking the field for the National Anthem in Chicago. The intentions of Steelers players were to stay out of the business of making political statements by not taking the field. Unfortunately, that was interpreted as a boycott of the anthem – which was never our players' intention.

Our players come from many different backgrounds and are united by what it means to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are active in their communities and participate regularly in events designed to give back to those communities. And they appreciate the support they get from Steelers fans around the country and here at home.

I also know that our players have tremendous respect for the members of our military services, including their teammate Alejandro Villanueva. There was never any desire on the part of our players to show disrespect for our service members.

Yesterday, I received an email from a Steelers fan who said tell the players to just play football. That is exactly what they wanted to do. They wanted their sole focus to be on playing the game, while also coming together as a unified team.

The main thing we can do is learn from this and strive to come together remaining unified as a football team. I believe we are capable of accomplishing this with the support of our fans.

Steelers Nation is made up of the best fans in the National Football League. We appreciate your continued support of our players, coaches and staff.

Sincerely,
Art Rooney
Art Rooney, II
Pittsburgh Steelers

--

To my fellow DUers I believe there should be no politics in football. Any players who wants to make a political statement should do it on their own time, not while they're being paid to play football. Thanks

[underpants]

1. They made it fully clear that they were just staying out of it

That was widely reported WELL BEFORE the game started.

[cyclonefence]

2. Weasely

It doesn't matter whether you believe there should or should not be politics in football. The men who take the knee are protesting the fact that cops all over this country kill black people and do not suffer any consequences. Off the field, they have no more clout than anyone else. It is entirely appropriate that they should use their fame and the support of their teammates to protest this very serious matter in a way that will gain the most attention possible.

This isn't politics, btw. It's a matter of justice, not of right v. left.

People of color have been patient and cooperative long enough. I don't know what else they/we are supposed to do at this point. Innocent people are being shot in the back as they walk away from cops, and the cops don't even lose their jobs over what is clearly racially-motivated murder.

I think Donald Trump and the CEO of the Steelers and maybe you, too, should be respectful of this protest and grateful that it is taking a peaceful approach to what is a matter of life and death.

[bluepen]

5. What is the alternative?

People should be “grateful that it [protests by NFL players] is taking a peaceful approach”?

[FakeNoose]

7. I think the alternative is to discontinue singing the national anthem

There's no law that says the national anthem must be performed before sporting events.
Why do they do that?

[bluepen]

8. Not sure thats what the poster means.

But to address your question: I don’t know why they have the anthem at sporting events, nor do I really care one way or the other if they do it or why. Doubt anyone is under the impression that the law is a factor.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. It means Trump can politicize politics and we can't.

[cyclonefence]

10. The alternative to peaceful protests?

Really?

[bluepen]

20. So NFL players, what, taking up violence?

[cyclonefence]

34. One alternative to peaceful protests

is violent protests, yes. And since I don't think the issue is NFL players but African American people in general, yes. The football players who take a knee are drawing attention to a problem in our society. Their protest is silent and peaceful. People in general, perhaps including NFL players, can be expected to suffer "nicely" only so long, thus leading to violent protests. Maybe. Maybe not. But those criticizing the players who take a knee should be grateful that the protests they're observing--and objecting to--are peaceful protests.
It has not always been thus.

[bluepen]

36. Ah, okay.

Well, I for one will never be “grateful” that someone doesn’t resort to violence. No reason for anyone to be “grateful” that someone isn’t breaking the law. No one gets credit for that. Just ridiculous.

Anyone who does so deserves whatever happens to them in the course of others defending life and/or property.

[cyclonefence]

39. You've never said "well thank god it wasn't worse?"

[bluepen]

44. When people are harming people and destroying property?

Nope.

[cyclonefence]

46. Y'know, when I said they should be grateful

that the protests were peaceful, I didn't mean they should be grateful to the protesters. I meant they should be grateful to glob, or heavens (thank heavens!)--just general gratitude. As in, "I'm just grateful it wasn't worse" that Hurricane Jose didn't kill even more people.

On the other hand, you may be right.

[pangaia]

26. I am with you on that 100%.

[Aristus]

3. When did being a celebrity in whatever field take away one's rights

To speak out, to publish a declaration, to act upon one's religious beliefs, or to petition the government for a redress of grievances?

More money and more public recognition, fewer rights?

I don't think so.

I don't ever want to see a DU-er post "Shut up and sing/act/play/suffer traumatic brain injuries" again...

[livetohike]

4. Stop the military display at football games and the

giant flag the size of the stadium. Play football. Screw the singing of the national anthem. It's usually butchered.

[FakeNoose]

6. Yes it should be discontinued

There's really no purpose for it, only causing trouble.

[mountain grammy]

14. Best solution of all.

[PJMcK]

31. It's a terrible and terribly difficult tune

The lyrics are patriotic, I guess. They glorify war but that's so much of our country's history that it makes some sense.

The melody, however, sucks! It has an extreme range and the poetry is awkward with weak prosody.

It also says something that it begins with "Uh, oh."

[billh58]

9. Protesting the murder of

unarmed black men and women is not politics. The Orange Anus-mouth introduced politics into the situation -- not the players or owners who support them.

[cyclonefence]

11. Thank you

You put it much better than I did.

[FakeNoose]

15. I'm quite sure the Rooneys do not support Trump

...however I don't pay attention to the other NFL owners. (Probably some do support him.)

The issues of racism and how to stop it have been addressed repeatedly and effectively in the sports teams for a long time. Yes there used to be racism, we can't change our history. But we can change our present and our future. I believe the Steelers and the Rooney family have done a lot to erase racism and set a good example for other team owners in the way they hire and manage their coaches and players.

The fact that many retired and former Steeler players remain loyal to the team when their playing days are over, that says a lot. Many former Steeler players have remained in Pittsburgh, they set down roots and raise their families here. If they hated it or if they'd been mistreated while playing, they wouldn't want to stay here.

If other NFL team owners are not as pro-active then they should be told to get their heads out of the sand.

[obamanut2012]

23. "Yes there used to be racism, we can't change our history"

You should be ashamed of yourself, for this and other statements, and for saying the players should be quiet and just play ball.

Actually, the statement in my header proves everything I need to know about you.

[billh58]

24. Well said and

thanks for pointing out the right-wing stance of the OP.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. + 1

[obamanut2012]

35. ......

[leftstreet]

17. +1

[pangaia]

27. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

and another +

[mountain grammy]

12. Jessie Owens, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Mohammed Ali, etc, etc, etc.

the Olympics went on, boxing went on, and football will go on. It takes courage to raise a fist, take a stand, or a knee, and put yourself out there. Imagine the courage of Jackie Robinson in 1947 when his mere presence on the field was a political statement. Politics have always invaded sports and usually brings about change for the good.
Like it or not, sports figures have brought about change in America by expressing themselves through their professions, on and off the field. In America, it's often the only voice that's heard.

[obamanut2012]

13. Well, most of us diagree with you

Thank God.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. I am in shock.

[obamanut2012]

22. That the poster thinks the protesters should STFU?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. Exactly

[GeorgeGist]

16. I believe in the Bill of Rights. eom

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. Trump called out black athletes and dared them to take a knee.

He's not their massa and many of them did.

Fuck Donald Trump.

[The_Casual_Observer]

28. Flag wavers are pretty weak if their sensibilities are so fragile that this very mild

show of "protest" can rattle them. It's like, "my whole football experience is being spoiled by this, I can hardly digest my hot wings!"

Fuck that.

[Kaleva]

29. Trump has made this political and the Steelers want no part of it.

[FakeNoose]

42. Yes that's what I keep saying

Nobody's listening because they're too busy jumping down my throat.

The Steelers are not supporting Trump in anyway. They just want to play football and keep politics out of it.
Trump has very few fans here in Pittsburgh, and it's got nothing to do with football.

Thanks

[billh58]

43. No, you keep saying that

the player's protests are "politics," when politics is the game you and Trump are playing. There are no politics involved in protesting the murder of black men and women by racist police vigilantes. It is a moral issue, not a political one.

[pangaia]

30. Art Rooney, "strive to come together remaining unified as a football team."

Well, Artie, there are a few things more important than a freakin' football team.

Cross burners
Nazis
Rabid cops (who take the limelight away from all the good cops)
Lying the USA into wars
ignoring a disaster in Puerto Rico
following a big black guy around a store, just because, ya know...and not because he's wearing shorts...

And at the other end of the spectrum-
Beethoven
Shostakovich
Monet
Dufy

I could go on and on

[A HERETIC I AM]

32. Here, this might help...

https://www.facebook.com/TheOther98/photos/a.115969958413991.17486.114517875225866/2034005173277117/?type=3

[Initech]

37. If the GOP's predatory news network had left it alone last year, this wouldn't be an issue.

But nope. Fox News has to make a federal fucking case out of everything that doesn't kiss their ass 100%. I said yesterday that there's two Americas - those who watch Fox News and those who don't. Those who don't let this go last year as it was a non issue then. Those that do made a federal case out of it, which got Trump's attention since he's the Fox News president, and it got blown way out of proportion. I guess what I'm saying is fuck Fox News.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

38. Trump is the one who exploited the protests.

[FakeNoose]

40. Yep 100% agreed

People are so angry here on DU, they're not even thinking straight.
Fox News knows how to yank everybody's chain, even here on DU.

I didn't know that Trump is the president of Fox News though. Are you saying it to be sarcastic, or is really true?
If it is true it's quite surprising that they would allow that.

[Initech]

41. I call Trump the "Fox News President".

Because he spends at least 6 hours a day watching Fox News and is convinced they're right on everything. You know - what their typical viewer thinks.

[Demonaut]

45. I agree comrade, the politburo agrees too