The NFL has been struggling with this whole anthem protest for some time. Today, they issued a change in the rules which just makes everything so much worse. Here's what you need to know.
1. Certain leftist NFL players chose to protest by kneeling during the national anthem and insulting average Americans. This infuriated audiences.
2. The NFL had no way to punish these guys because their rules did not include a requirement that players stand.
3. With players kneeling and the NFL trying to get them to stop without actually making them stop, this became a national issue with millions of fans expressing extreme outrage with the disloyal players and the hapless, weak-kneed NFL response.
4. The leftist media and the players tried damage control by claiming they weren't really protesting the military or the anthem, just the racist country and the murderous cops we employ to keep these poor millionaire bastards in their place. No sale with the public.
5. The NFL dithered all off-season on what to do about this. They gavebribes money to the leftist causes of these leftist players. They paid for ads proclaiming their supposed heroism. They begged these guys not to keep kneeling. Surprise, none of that worked. Then they decided to get tough, so they refused to hire Colin Kapernick or Eric Reid, two leaders of whom they made an example. That actually seemed to be working.
6. Now they've created a new rule that forbids "disrespect" for the anthem. Good grief. This new rule is a mess. What exactly is "disrespect"? It's not defined. Hence, this rule will have two effects.
First, it will require the referees to decide what is or isn't disrespect every time something happens. The NFL has been trying to avoid the politics of this since it began. They refused to take sides and punish either the players or go against the public. They refused to pass rules forbidding the protests to continue -- indeed, they tried to join and sanitize the protests. And yet, with this rule, they will now be in the business of deciding what is and what is not disrespect week after week, incident after incident. Oh joy. Imagine week after week of referees making contradictory, nonsense decision. That will keep this issue alive for ever, and will give the leftist media something to debate and opine about every week... the exact opposite of what the NFL wants. And when its decisions support the protestors, the NFL will reopen the wound it's trying to close with the public.
Secondly, this rule will encourage the players to keep testing the limits of what constitutes disrespect. It's practically an invitation for the protests to continue forever. Stupid.
This is really the worst possible rule for what the NFL wants. This will keep this issue alive forever. It will put the NFL on the wrong side of its audience repeatedly. It will make the NFL look hapless and afraid and will let them be used by these leftist trolls week after week.
Very stupid.
1. Certain leftist NFL players chose to protest by kneeling during the national anthem and insulting average Americans. This infuriated audiences.
2. The NFL had no way to punish these guys because their rules did not include a requirement that players stand.
3. With players kneeling and the NFL trying to get them to stop without actually making them stop, this became a national issue with millions of fans expressing extreme outrage with the disloyal players and the hapless, weak-kneed NFL response.
4. The leftist media and the players tried damage control by claiming they weren't really protesting the military or the anthem, just the racist country and the murderous cops we employ to keep these poor millionaire bastards in their place. No sale with the public.
5. The NFL dithered all off-season on what to do about this. They gave
6. Now they've created a new rule that forbids "disrespect" for the anthem. Good grief. This new rule is a mess. What exactly is "disrespect"? It's not defined. Hence, this rule will have two effects.
First, it will require the referees to decide what is or isn't disrespect every time something happens. The NFL has been trying to avoid the politics of this since it began. They refused to take sides and punish either the players or go against the public. They refused to pass rules forbidding the protests to continue -- indeed, they tried to join and sanitize the protests. And yet, with this rule, they will now be in the business of deciding what is and what is not disrespect week after week, incident after incident. Oh joy. Imagine week after week of referees making contradictory, nonsense decision. That will keep this issue alive for ever, and will give the leftist media something to debate and opine about every week... the exact opposite of what the NFL wants. And when its decisions support the protestors, the NFL will reopen the wound it's trying to close with the public.
Secondly, this rule will encourage the players to keep testing the limits of what constitutes disrespect. It's practically an invitation for the protests to continue forever. Stupid.
This is really the worst possible rule for what the NFL wants. This will keep this issue alive forever. It will put the NFL on the wrong side of its audience repeatedly. It will make the NFL look hapless and afraid and will let them be used by these leftist trolls week after week.
Very stupid.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5762577/Bodycam-reveals-activist-lied-raped-cop-pulled-DUI.html
ReplyDeleteFront page of dailymail has a story about a woman who accused a cop of groping and assaulting her. Body cam shows otherwise. Even her lawyer is personally apologizing to the cop.
Anon. We are seeing more and more of that. I really think this will eventually put an end to these claims.
ReplyDeleteI honestly can't figure out how the dunderheads running the NFL ever got to the top of an elite organization. They don't seem to have the decision-making skills necessary to run a Dairy Queen.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Not knocking on DQ. Just sayin' that the average DQ owner is probably more qualified to run a professional sports league than the folks currently doing it.
ReplyDeletetryanmax, I think they got lucky in the past with a couple of visionary owners and some quality commissioners.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, they are entirely on the defensive on almost all issues and they aren't handling them well.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933962/article/roger-goodells-statement-on-national-anthem-policy
ReplyDeleteLooks like Gooddell just clarified the NFL policy to say players MUST stand for the anthem or go inside the locker room until the anthem is over
Anon, Standing was required. And if they don't want to, then they need to stay in the locker room. But what "respect" means isn't defined. One owner says raising a fist or holding hands is disrespect. Others disagree. What if they guy puts tape over his mouth? Or his helmet logo. Stands on one leg? Jumps up and down? Carries a sign?
ReplyDeleteThat's where the problem will come from. The players who are doing this are political and will push this as far as possible, and the media will indulge them and keep this in the news all season.
Andrew, totally get that, players will try to get around the ban on kneeling however they can. Just saw that news that seemed like Gooddell was being a little strict-er than the owners.
ReplyDeleteAnd in other news, you mentioned that #metoo is essentially dead. Just now, Moses Farrow, who is/was Woody Allen and Mia Farrow's adopted korean son is claiming woody never molested Dylan Farrow and that Mia was the abusive parent in the relationship.
I did think it interesting that while Cosby and Polanski were booted from the academy, Woody Allen seems to have "gotten away with it" in the sense that he was not given the bum's rush regardless of what happened to others in the industry, possibly given Mia Farrow's reputation (deserved or otherwise) among hollywood insiders.
https://people.com/movies/woody-allen-mia-farrow-son-moses-shocking-new-claims/
Anon, If Goodell isn't more strict, then I think the NFL is in real trouble. They can't let this go on.
ReplyDeleteOn the #metoo stuff, I see more and more evidence every day. Bad guys being forgiven, no allegations being downplayed or ignored. That's a great point about Allen. It never occurred to me that they left him in the academy, but they did, didn't they? Interesting.
Tebow should have taught all involved that audiences will turn on players (and teams/owners) who want to champion their causes before the game.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree the policy as written is muddy what the NFL expects of its players is clear. Guys who get creative will cost their teams money and maybe cost themselves jobs. That is a price few will be willing to pay.
Still, Trump goaded the players into a second round of protests after the first was ended (in large part by Colin K's exit from the league) so I wouldn't completely rule out a third round of career suicides.
Anon, Here's another good example. Jeffrey Tambor was kicked off his own show for sexual harassment. He denied the sexual part, but admitted that he did harass people and admitted he crossed the line.
ReplyDeleteA month or so ago, he was re-hired.
Today, they've announced that he's been submitted for Emmy consideration. So much for the power of #metoo.
Anthony, Several of them have no plans to stop. And a couple owners are actually encouraging them.
ReplyDeleteTrump is actually a bit player in this. He's like a heckler who got under everyone's skin as they were already fighting.
Philadelphia Eagle Malcolm Jenkins:
ReplyDelete“What NFL owners did today was thwart the players’ constitutional rights to express themselves and use our platform to draw attention to social injustices like racial inequality in our country.”
Wrong! Your Constitutional right to free speech is against the government, not an employer dumbass. Moreover, your work place is not your "platform."
“Everyone loses when voices get stifled.”
Like when people punish KKK-types, ISIS and child molesters and try to silence them... right?
“While I disagree with this decision, I will not let it silence or stop me from fighting.”
So you weren't actually "thwarted"?
“The national conversation around race in America that NFL players forced over the past 2 years will persist as we continue to use our voices..."
Actually, the only conversation you got was what for assholes you are for insulting soldiers, cops, the national anthem, and the American public. We never really got to the part you wanted to talk about.
"...our time and our money to create a more fair and just criminal justice system, and police brutality and foster better educational and economic opportunities for communities of color and those struggling in this country."
You mean the police brutality claim that is currently being debunked in record speed by Cop-Cam?
"For me, this has never been about taking a knee, raising a fist or anyone’s patriotism but doing what we can to effect real change for real people.”
Which is why you will keep taking a knee or raising a fist, huh? Yep, and this was never about me calling you an asshole, asshole, and if you are offended then you have misconstrued my protest... asshole.
Also, it was your patriotism being called into question, not 'anyone's'.
A lot of idiots think freedom of speech protects you from criticism or retaliation from the private sector.
ReplyDeleteLike I've said before police departments are good about handling clear abuse. Both incidents below involve cops running on adrenalin who roughed up criminals in ways that would have gotten a pass once upon a time.
ReplyDeletehttps://abcnews.go.com/US/mississippi-police-officers-fired-alleged-police-brutality-incident/story?id=55355629
Two Mississippi police officers could be facing additional charges after they were terminated by the Laurel Police Department (LPD) for allegedly beating 36-year-old James Barnett last week.
Barnett was pursued by officers after reaching a vehicle checkpoint and turning around in Jasper County. Following a short chase, Barnett was pulled over and the officers approached his car with their guns drawn, according to Barnett.
Police told Barnett to get down on the ground and when he did, they began kicking him, Barnett said to ABC News.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/05/04/miami-police-officer-caught-on-camera-kicking-handcuffed-suspect-in-head.html
Witnesses said once he was cornered by police inside the complex, Suazo cooperated and did not resist arrest.
“He stopped, put his hand on his back, got on this knees, and then the guy told him: ‘Lay down. Lay down,’” the woman who recorded the video told WSVN. “He laid down. Once he laid down, that’s when he handcuffed him and the other person just comes and runs right at him and kicks him. That man should get fired. That police [officer] should get fired.”
It's unclear when the incident happened.
The officer, identified as Mario Figueroa, has been stripped of his badge and relieved from duty amid an internal investigation, WSVN reported.
Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said in a statement that the video “depicts a clear violation of policy,” while the Miami-Dade County State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, said she was “shocked and appalled” by what she saw in the video.
I have to laugh. Today, all our liberal sports journalist friends are whining like babies about how unfair this NFL policy is.
ReplyDeleteOne guy is whining that NFL now will be forced to apply the same standard to you redneck fans and they need to close the concessions stands during the anthem.
Another is claiming that Trump set a "standard" and people "need to stop buying, selling, walking, wearing hats, or drinking" during the anthem or they need to be deported. Ha!
What a whiny bunch of losers.
I'm not a big sports person in general so my interest in this is limited to the problem of things that shouldn't be political getting politicized, which is one of the biggest things that aggravates me about modern culture. I can definitely see where the potential issues you bring up can happen, Andrew, but it sounds like Goodell offered a decent clarification. If the NFL continues to refine the policy in response to players pushing their luck things should work out.
ReplyDeleteAnd for whatever it's worth, I've also seen leftists go into full meltdown over the policy even before the clarification as well. One particularly unhinged one compared the whole playing of and standing for the anthem to something out of North Korea (while fully buying into the BLM narrative and saying the protests are justified, of course)! Naturally said leftist got hit hard over his hysterics then proceeded to whine about how uncivil people are. And people wonder why I've got less and less patience fore this foolishness these days...
Finally, going back to the body cams exonerating more and more cops from false accusations I'm expecting the protestors to fail even harder whenever they try this crap this year. I'll never understand how people can be so blatantly out of touch with reality.
If you must stay glued to your couch, there're several better ways to spend your Sundays, folks. Replaying a DVR'ed game from the day before highly recommended, and even though this is the first May in three years where Lord Stanley's Cup isn't on my mind as we approach June, NHL > NFL or the SJW malcontents in the NBA.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, Make no mistake. These are leftists who think that their issues are justified, whereas no one else has the right to object or complain about their own issues.
ReplyDeleteEric, If the announcers keep talking about it, I will stop watching. We often turned off games last year when the announcers wouldn't shut up with the politics.
ReplyDeleteCome, come to the ice-side ...
ReplyDelete