Steve Kerr: NFL Is Using The Anthem As Fake Patriotism, Nationalism, Scaring People

[Maxheader]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: S.I.


Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called the NFL's new national anthem policy "idiotic" while talking with reporters ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

Under the new NFL policy, NFL owners voted to allow NFL comissioner Roger Goodell to discipline any league personnel who does not stand and show respect for the flag and national anthem before games. Players are given the option to remain in the locker room if they prefer not to be on the field for the anthem. Teams will have the option to fine any team personnel or players that attempt to sit, kneel or protest during the anthem.

Kerr is no stranger to speaking out against President Donald Trump and has supported NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem. In October 2017, Kerr told the Pod Save America podcast that he believes Kaepernick is being blackballed by NFL teams.

"It's just typical of the NFL," Kerr said, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. "They're just playing to their fanbase. Basically just trying to use the anthem as fake patriotism, nationalism, scaring people. It's idiotic. But thats how the NFL has conducted their business. I'm proud to be in a league that understands patriotism in America is about free speech and peacfully protesting. Our leadership in the NBA understands when the NFL players were kneeling, they were kneeling to protest police brutality, to protest racial inequality. They weren't disrespecting the flag or military. But our president decided to make it about that and the NFL followed suit, pandered to their fanbase, created this hysteria. It's kind of what's wrong with our country right now – people in high places are trying to divide us, divide loyalties, make this about the flag as if the flag is something other than it really is – which is a representation of what we're about, which is diversity, peaceful protests, right to free speech. It's ironic actually."

Read more: https://www.si.com/nba/2018/05/24/steve-kerr-nfl-national-anthem-policy-idiotic

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We have a low rent, adulterer, liar and supporter of racism playing his nfl rich buddies like the puppets they
are. The pros should threaten a strike if these sophmoric actions continue..hit them in the pocketbook.

[Botany]

1. Trump and the right are using the kneeling NFL players as a wedge issue to get their base fired up.

BTW the web sites stand for the flag, stand for the troops, and stand for the anthem
are all "Russia specials." Trump even promoted one of them too.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/lawmaker-russian-trolls-trying-to-sow-discord-in-nfl-kneeling-debate/2017/09/27/5f46dce0-a3b0-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html?utm_term=.b20574ff7cf6

Lawmaker: Russian trolls trying to sow discord in NFL kneeling debate

[Maxheader]

5. Don't subscribe to the post..

But our gop govt seems to take the interference...lightly. And
I don't know that the democrats are pursuing action against
the russky bots. Maybe putin thinks americun bots influence
polotics in the motherland and so..tit for tat?

[Botany]

8. pure gibberish

[Maxheader]

11. Re analyzing your post?

Ever hear of tactful responses?

[paleotn]

18. Seems tactful to me....

By the way, how's St. Pete these days? I hear the Summer Garden is fabulous this time of year.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. The wobbly middle and the deplorables do not really understand patriotism.

It will be controversial to say but, along with many liberals and progressives, there are many real conservatives who understand real patriotism. They understand that it is not symbols but real service and sacrifice.

It is, for example, the grandmother who takes a bus each day to serve lunch at a church basement for poor people.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Football team banned for 12 months for failing to make patriotic guesture

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11727902

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210655247

[dhol82]

6. Wow!

Good find.

[mountain grammy]

9. This is a find..

saw it on twitter this morning.

[HockeyMom]

4. Kick the fans out of the Stadiums

for sitting, talking, going to Concession Stands. and Restrooms while Anthem is being played? And while this is being done, Papers, Citizen? Would Country do we live in? What year is this?

[SCVDem]

7. Waste time playing the anthem and God Bless America,?

OR as TV has been doing, run more commercials.

All anyone wants to see is a flyover and they recorded that.

Except for special events, keep the bullcrap patriotism home.

I am only interested in the game!

[inwiththenew]

10. Doesn't the NBA have basically the same policy for the National Anthem?

I thought they were all required to stand and don't have the option of waiting in the locker room.

[Dr. Strange]

12. That appears to be the case, yes.

https://deadspin.com/the-nba-shouldnt-get-credit-just-for-not-being-the-nfl-1826313089

[DemoHack]

13. They're playing to a SMALL PART of their fanbase.

Lots of NFL fans side with the players. In fact several years ago a poll came out that Democrats were more likely to be football fans; Republicans baseball fans.

Irregardless, I love Steve Kerr. A strong part of my '90's Bulls.

[mpcamb]

14. Steve Kerr is a lot more than an outstanding coach and player.

Kerr was born in Beirut, Lebanon to Malcolm H. Kerr, an American academic who specialized in the Middle East, and his wife, Ann (Zwicker). He has three siblings. His grandfather, Stanley Kerr, volunteered with the Near East Relief after the Armenian Genocide and rescued women and orphans in Aleppo and Marash before eventually settling in Beirut.
Kerr has been critical of Donald Trump and his election victory. In an interview following the election, Kerr voiced the opinion that Trump's rise to power was based on insults against women and minorities. He compared Trump's campaign performances and the crude responses of his supporters to The Jerry Springer Show.

[KPN]

20. Interesting stuff. I didn't know that. I now have a new admiration of Steve Kerr.

Thanks for posting.

[Eyeball_Kid]

15. The NFL tied its fortunes to a fascist monster.

They’ll lose money. They’ll disgust millions.

Everything Trumpy touches turns to shit. A stench is rising from the NFL.

[spike91nz]

16. Religions die

Religions die when they become compulsory and formulaic. Patriotism becomes a sham when it is compulsory. You would think that a country that is committed to individualism and free speech would see the idiocy of transforming patriotism into an imposition of ritual pretense. It becomes a sign of how far from a respect for reality the politically dogmatic have come in their zealous elevation of preferred delusions. Then again, it has increasingly become a country valuing form over content.

[KPN]

21. "You would think that a country that is committed to individualism and free speech

would see the idiocy of transforming patriotism into an imposition of ritual pretense." Right!?

But not so when they pander to idiots apparently.

[Volaris]

17. Or, the teams as a community, should just decide to all stay in the locker rooms until it's done.

Let people see the distinction between the players, and the NFL. The NFL can play the anthem all they want and they DONT need ANY players on the field to do it.

[KPN]

22. Keep dreaming. THe players are as divided as we (the public) are.

[paleotn]

19. This Nuremberg Moment...brought to you by the National Football League.

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. Locking - the hosts feel this is opinion, rather than a breaking news story

Please repost in GD. Thanks.