In the NFL, tomorrow will be interesting

[PJMcK]

Here's an interesting analysis of the war of words between professional athletes and Trump:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-attack-on-black-athletes-may-bring-a-league-to-its-feet

The penultimate paragraph is especially intriguing:

The true test comes Sunday at 1pm. Any NFL player still standing—regardless of race or ethnicity—is letting the world know that they are offering implicit support for a man who questions Americans’ basic right to free expression, and leans all the way into America's deep-seated racial animus. Beyond the NFL, their brethren in the NBA, Major League Baseball, and the NFL, should realize this is a moment for solidarity and go full Spartacus, in whatever manner they can. Maybe follow the example set by the national champion University of North Carolina men’s basketball team, which won’t be shaking hands with Trump.

It would be amazing if a majority of players and coaches in the NFL took a knee during the performance of the national anthem.

Trump is a repulsive idiot.

[NobodyHere]

1. Standing for the anthem questions free speech?

That's a profoundly stupid statement.

[PJMcK]

3. Given the statements by Trump, I respectfully disagree

In the excerpt I quoted, the second sentence makes two points:

- There exists a Constitutional right of free expression without interference from the government, (Trump, of course, is the government)
- Trump is stoking the racial divides already cleaving the United States

The NFL, like many professional organizations, has many tightly-knit communities making up its whole. Similarly, many professions have organizations or trade groups or the like wherein the members of the broader group make up a commonality. There are many occasions when a group must stand in solidarity particularly when threats are leveled against them.

In any event, it will be interesting to read about how many players and perhaps coaches protest what Trump has said. I don't watch football anymore so I'll have to read about it on Monday morning!

[tenderfoot]

9. So you stand with Trump...

point taken.

[NobodyHere]

21. Nice strawman there

[billh58]

10. After Trump's anti-American

tweets? Yes, it does.

[bearsfootball516]

2. I do think there will be a record number of players kneeling

[DinahMoeHum]

4. For that matter, NO self-respecting athlete, pro or otherwise. . .

. . .should go to the White House for the foreseeable future, unless they're outside the grounds
carrying a picket sign.

[PJMcK]

5. Agreed but let me add this

NO self-respecting person should go to the White House until Trump is gone!

[PatrickforO]

14. And then, only after it's been fumigated.

Seriously.

[jcmaine72]

6. This is the first time in my life in which I have supported football players on anything.

As I stated in another thread, I find the culture of violence, sexism, malignant hyper-masculinity and privilege that practically defines football absolutely repugnant in every way imaginable. However, as utterly repulsive as I find football and everything associated with it, Trump is by far and away the more repellent and disgusting of the two. I too hope all the players and coaches take a knee in solidarity against this egregious man.

I would sooner gouge out one of my eyes than ever watch a football game, so I won't be tuning in, but they have my full moral support.

[PJMcK]

7. Sunday night's 11:00 pm news

Like you, jcmaine72, I won't be watching any football. The late news is where we'll find out what happened in the NFL.

Stay tuned. This is going to intensify.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

8. K & R Agree 100%. n/t

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Perhaps the more fundamental question that needs asking

is why in hell is the playing of the National Anthem mandatory at the beginning of games?

[PatrickforO]

15. Because football is a substituted for war. Or perhaps a war-surrogate, since

we are currently at war.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. It's not just football.

I know professional baseball games start with the anthem, and I suppose all the other pro sports do also.

It's the enforced patriotism that has always bugged me.

[druidity33]

18. a reasonable guess would be

because it's called the National Football League (expanded from the American Football League). Also keep in mind when the National Hockey League plays in Canada they also do the Canadian National Anthem. Course that doesn't explain the other Major Leagues and their penchant for anthems.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. Baseball has been doing the Anthem forever.

Probably football and all other sports the same length of time. The name of the league would have nothing to do with it.

Do they do the same thing in other countries? Not during the various championships where teams from different countries play each other, but at matches within the same country.

Give it time, and each city will have its own anthem and they'll be played also.

[onecent]

12. Trump is a repulsive idiot.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LonePirate]

13. Sadly, MLB should be interesting and supportive today but they seem to be ignoring current events.

[gristy]

17. not 1pm. 9:30am (eastern) Ravens vs Jaguars

They will set the tone for the afternoon games.

[randr]

19. America can not move forward on this until

the fans take a knee.