NFL
 

I am a lifelong Steelers fan. This takes care of that.

Are there any limits to what fans will tolerate? An interesting question, because the NFL fan base, unlike Broadway plays, I assume is made up of a majority of conservative patriots. But people are addicted to sports in a way that I can't quite understand.

I'm done for the year. I typically make it to a Steelers game a little more than every other year, no more...done.

The protests are just so stupid. What are the words in the national anthem, exactly, that allow one to connect the dots between that song, and police brutality? It's like protesting the price of Big Macs by throwing a brick through a window at Burger King, one has nothing to do with the other.

This is why Trump got elected, it's exactly why he got elected. He didn't talk above middle America, or around Middle America, nor did he pretend that he is Middle America. That's his unique strength as a politician. It's lost among his many flaws most of the time, but no one else has learned that lesson.

Stanza #3:
"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Of course, we only sing the first stanza. There are (were) 4. The connection to slavery (not police brutality) is explained in this short article: http://themoderatevoice.com/star-spa...ed-indentured/

Seeing as how we don't sing the last three stanzas (not many of us today know about them--I sure didn't) we have apparently already scrubbed the offending words out. But, I guess that's not good enough. We just gotta eliminate any trace of American history that offends someone.

That doesn't leave much of it left.

Same here, I'm done watching.
Screw the NFL.
You ask me they are digging their own graves.
Let the tv & radio ratings keep dropping !
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Conservatives one loves throwing the Freedom word around and speaking on the constitution and and about their 2nd amendments rights .. and how Nazis should be allowed to protest its their right

But take a Knee during the national anthem Ohh the outrage ..

this has everything to do about race and nothing to do with the National Anthem Trump played that card at his rally to his base

Not sure how this is disrespect toward the Military another argument i see getting tossed around

My oath said I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic

Says nothing about defending the National anthem

Stop it legally put a clause in all of their contracts when on the field they are on the clock . do it and get fired make it a condition of employment For all the players .. for my Job I cant smoke on or off the job I am subject to termination if i do

i dont hear that argument any place

Sounds like the peaceful protest is making Jim uncomfortable.
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We don't sing the offensive words, and I promise you that the vast majority of players protesting, are unaware that they ever existed.
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Freedom of speech, means the.government cannot imprison you for speaking against it. It doesn't come close to meaning that your employer has to tolerate it, especially if it hurts your employers bottom line.

I work for an insurance company. I have the right to write a letter to the paper explaining why the company stinks. I am breaking no laws, the government cannot punish me. My employer has the right to fire me in the next second, for hurting their brand, and that's not a violation of my civil rights. Try making that wrong..
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Offended, not uncomfortable. Spence explain this to us...the league refused to let the cowboys wear a patch honoring slain Dallas cops, but it is ok with these protests. You go read Chairman Maos Little Red Book again, and see if there's anything in there that explains that logic. It's not just me, we know ratings are dropping. Let's see if this helps, let's see if the sociology department at Harvard buys season tickets now.
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Why does it offend you if someone peacefully raises awareness for something they believe in?

The patch thing was a simple uniform issue I believe.
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I bet the NFL is getting paid off to create this drama.
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yup...probably by the Kochs

Yesterday's kneeling had nothing to do with protesting police brutality, it had everything to do with giving Trump a big FU.

Kind of funny how it was just a small handful doing it before yesterday. Then Trump comes out and says Boycott the NFL and pretty much every team and team owner, and even the commissioner, all come out in favor of letting it happen.

So when it was about an ethical issue.....pretty much crickets. But when it was about affecting the bottom line and pay checks....everybody is for it

#^&#^&#^&#^& the NFL

I remember all the outrage over Tebow doing it.

Hypocrites.

yup...once again...Trump does/says something stupid and the reaction is ever stupider :uhuh:

We get hammered for cold weather naturally deflating some footballs and when players ignore their own NFL rules and regs, why isn't Roger laying down the law and handing out the fines?

I agree as American's we all have the right to peacefully protest, but to disrespect the flag that represents the country that gave you those rights is IMHO just wrong. These same guys are making millions, go put that money to good work elsewhere, put your face behind a mic in your community to make a difference, there are so many more productive ways to get your message across.

To do it in front of the flag and while our national anthem is being sung, just pisses off the same people you are complaining about; how is that making that group of people want to change their opinions about you?

My dear departed Dad and big sports fan, would have turned off the TV in horror yesterday.

bingo.....just like protesters blocking a busy intersection.....you aren't going to change many minds with your message when you are just pissing people off

Despite the fact that you dodged my question completely (because you know there is no possible liberal answer to that, which makes any sense whatsoever), I will pay you the courtesy of answering your question directly.

First, I disagree that the thing they are protesting (widespread racial assassinations by white cops) exists. They might as well be protesting Bigfoot. Second, their method of protest makes zero logical sense. The national anthem has no connection to white cops. If you have a problem with white cops, make a sign that says "White cops need to be nicer to blacks", or join Black Lives Matter, do something that is somehow connected to the issue you are advocating. Their method of protest, is hurtful to people who don't deserve it. And they know this, and they don't care.

If the NFL wants to turn their backs on everyone who voted for Trump, and try to widen their appeal among liberal bed-wetting snowflakes, they have every right to make that business decision. Some decisions work out, some do not. Consumers can choose whether or not to support them, because despite what the Trump resistance believes, there's nothing remotely fascist about our country. If there's one thing we are learning during this presidency, it's that you can say anything you want about this man, and the government will take no action against you (unlike El Deuce Obama, who used the IRS as a club against conservatives), which is actually the opposite of fascism.

Teams have always been allowed to put patches, armbands or markings on their uniforms to represent different thing.

When Myra Kraft passed away the Pats had her initials on their uniforms. The Cowboys and Jags had red circles on their uniforms in honor for remembrance day back in 2011 when they played in London.

There's been pink shoes and gloves for Breast cancer awareness. And Camouflage uniforms to honor the military

But the Dallas cowboys want to wear a patch to honor 4 slain officers from Dallas, and they get taken to the wood shed.

[QUOTE=Jim in CT;1128736]Despite the fact that you dodged my question completely /QUOTE]

I'm just glad he's back...I missed him terribly:love:.....must'uv finally connected the internets way up north

it would have been controversial and offensive apparently

You mean by the liberals, you know, because of the whole religion thing.

Because he didn't take a knee during the anthem, he took a knee when he scored a touchdown.

I suppose it would have been better if he just got on all fours, lifted his leg, and pretended to take a piss....

No by the people who thought he was disrespecting the game.

I have no problem w/either player(s). I wouldn't do it but understand why they are. I think the linking arms or placing your hand on the pads was a more respectful way of doing it.

Should have been a minor issue (as it was the weeks bf) until our uniter in chief had to tweet about it. Instead of of keeping his mouth shut he had to call them SOBs (a few weeks after saying some of the people protesting w/Nazis where "fine people").

What did he do, exactly? You mean taking a knee and praying after a score? Only a bunch of lefty, bigoted, thoughtless idiots could find that "offensive".

You are comparing Tebow praying after a score, to what these guys did?



Yeesh, you're having an off day. Giving thanks for success, isn't exactly the same thing as boycotting the national anthem.

No one will accuse Trump of being a unifier. But that comment is exactly why he got elected, and no one on the left, including you apparently, has figured that out. Which is good for my side.

"Instead of of keeping his mouth shut "

I loved what he said. I despise much of what he says, but I loved that SOB comment. So did tens of millions of others. He resonates with Middle America. The left sees no value in that. Hilary's book could all be boiled down to that. Trump understands the people who live between the coasts. He may not genuinely care about them, I have no way of knowing. But he resonates with them.

Sure, because of tolerance.

I agree he resonates w/them. "fine people"

I love the outrage. I was taught to stand, hand over heart, hat off. I look around at events and half the crowd is holding a beer, hat on, scratching their balls, talking etc.. o bet half of that crowd is now outraged... I agree this was a minor issue Trump stirred up into a major fu by the players..
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Yes, when you have embarrassed yourself and cannot admit that the other side has a point, play the racism card. How very original.

Most conservatives want blacks to be successful and thriving. Democrats, instead of using chains and German shepherds to cripple blacks like they did in the past, now use welfare and the soft bigotry of low expectations. But I am the somewhat racist. Got it.
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Ratings were down last year and so far this year. Surveys show that these protests are a reason why. True the players did this as an fu to trump, but what you don't get, is that's exactly what he wants. You can't do anything more to stroke his ego than to get all foamy at the mouth over his statement. I think trump comes out of this way more popular than the NFL. Maybe not in Hollywood or in the upper west side of manhattan, but there is more to America than that. As Hilary found out too late
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Yup, the Dems keep blacks down by using welfare. Too bad they aren't smart enough to realize that - only Jim is. You should try telling them that someday.

I actually was a fb game yesterday and I noticed more people were being quiet, hand over heart than other games. Prob. bc they were conscious of the controversy.

"Are you denying that his campaign had no undercurrents dealing w/race? "

No, I cannot deny that, because anytime a prominent liberal gets involved with a political issue (or an election), you can be assured that race will be a major topic for them. You couldn't get more than a couple of comments about this NFL issue without bringing charges of racism, so thanks for proving my point.

"Maybe you can post something up about Berkley - you haven't done that it what 2 weeks?"

Oh I'm obsessed with Berkley. I've made, what, 2 or 3 posts in the past year about the riots and damage done there? Yeah that's me, always getting worked up about silly little things like violent mobs who destroy neighborhoods to keep people from speaking. All in the name of anti-fascism. You can't make that up.

"the Dems keep blacks down by using welfare. "

You pay people to have kids out of wedlock, guess what happens?

"Too bad they aren't smart enough to realize that "

Paul, I often wonder, are liberals too blind to see the damage they are doing to the cities, or is that their intended plan? I don't know the answer, I can't see in people's hearts. All I know, is that urban liberalism has been a disaster for blacks. Do you disagree? Can you answer that question, Paul? Has liberalism worked in our urban cities for the last generation, yes or no?

"only Jim is"

Not remotely true. Tens of millions of people see it. We call them "conservatives". And at least one truly great, brave liberal, the late great Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of the state of NY, who warned 40 years ago that liberal welfare was going to destroy the black nuclear family, therefore destroy the entire black culture. He was crucified for what he said. And he was 100% correct.

We got off topic. Which is the intent of lobbing nonsensical charges of racism...

Not off topic bc to many players it was an issue of race - (unless you're blind to it).

N F L
No Fans Left

League is digging their own grave.
F*** them.
Watch as the ratings continue to drop and eventually sponsors pull out.
I know I'm done watching !
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"And conservatism has been a great thing for the poor '

So you couldn't bring yourself to answer one, simple, direct yes/no question. What does it say about your agenda, that I can render you unable to defend it, with an obvious yes/no question?

"whiney college students that you think are liberal" Oh so the rioters at Berkley aren't really liberal, I am just painting them with that brush? I am literally wiping tears away from my eyes, from laughter...

Liberalism has taken many people out of poverty. There I answered it. You should move to one of the big cities you hate and run for Mayor on your position that blacks are too stupid to understand that liberals keep them under their thump and that you are smart enough to know that.

Did you figure out the word meant by your bringing up Ben Shapiro? I'm wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes bc as I've said to you repeatedly - you are what you hate.

"Liberalism has taken many people out of poverty. There I answered it"

Not even close to answering the question I asked. You had two tries, you aren't going to do it, let's drop it, I will let you off the hook.

"You should move to one of the big cities you hate"
Yes, I will run out and move my young boys from the suburbs to Hartford.

"run for Mayor on your position that blacks are too stupid to understand that liberals keep them under their thump and that you are smart enough to know that. "

No, no, I aid liberals are too stupid to see when their policies don't work. You live in CT, right? Well our state government, every 2 years, thinks that the way to prosperity is to borrow more, tax more, and spend more. It never, ever works. Yet two years later, all the liberals say that THIS time, by golly, tax hikes are sure to work.

If that's not stupidity, I don't know what is. Kind of like protesting police brutality (which doesn't exist in any institutional level to begin with) by kneeling during our national anthem, in a time of war.

Common sense problem solving, Paul. You solve a problem by addressing the cause of the problem. The cause of most black murders, the huge majority of them, is violence at the hands of other blacks. Liberals can't say that out loud God knows, so they focus on white cops, which as a group, obviously save more lives than they take (though, of course, 1 murderous cop is too many). The cause of black poverty isn't a lack of money (that's a symptom, not a cause), the cause is poor life choices made by blacks, often life choices that blacks are incentivized to make, thanks to liberalism (more babies = more welfare, no father around = more welfare).. But liberals can't say that out loud either, so they blame the evils of capitalism. See the pattern?

You solve a problem by attacking the cause, and that's whether or not the cause happens to serve one's political agenda. Conservatives get that, liberals don't. I have seen the wonders that liberalism has brought to Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport for 40 years, and I'm not impressed. If you can look at those cities, and conclude "what we need here, is more of the same policies that got us here", then you are either not that bright, or you are a serious racist.

.....on National Gold Star Mother's Day.

It's so stupid, and so thoughtless, I'm not sure where to begin. If you don't like Trump, make a sign, or work on the Democrat campaign for whatever Mao-ist totalitarian nutjob they decide to run in 2020. Kneeling during the anthem?

Every sane person knows these jerks have the legal right to this kind of protest. But if they choose to do it at work, the Bill Of Rights doesn't mean the employer is precluded from taking action.

I have the right to walk around in a speedo. If I am a lawyer, and I dress like that in court, it is not a violation of my civil rights if my employer cans me.

110% agree. I was all set to watch the Pats yesterday and after the anthem I shut the tv off tossed the remote on the floor and walked outside to split firewood and then painted the back deck. Actually texted my friend that I hoped "lobster claw" hit Brady extra hard and that the Pats would lose for their kneeling crap.

This is the GD Patriots! This team represents America, the Minutemen and the founding of our great country and they go out and disrespect the anthem and flag! I hope the Cowboys do as the owner says and stand together. If the Patriots can't be freaking patriots, then I hope the Cowboys can be America's Team.