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posted by janrinok on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:38AM   Printer-friendly
from the free-speech dept.

Al Jazeera reports

The National Football League (NFL) announced a new policy that will fine teams an undetermined amount if players on the field fail to stand during the national anthem.

[...] The new policy does not require players be present during the anthem, allowing those who wish to protest and not attend the ceremonial act to remain in the locker room.

Players said they were not consulted and threatened to challenge the policy in the courts. A statement by the NFL Players Association said its athletes had shown ample patriotism by way of their social activism and community support initiatives.

[...] New York Jets chairman Christopher Johnson said he supported the measure out of obligation to the membership, but said players can take a knee or perform another type of protest without fear of repercussion from the team. He will pay their fines.

"If somebody [on the Jets] takes a knee, that fine will be borne by the organisation, by me, not the players. I never want to put restrictions on the speech of our players," Johnson said.

New York Magazine notes

The monetary risk to Johnson isn't huge, since no Jets players took a knee last season. [...] Johnson is currently acting as owner of the team while his brother, Woody Johnson, serves as Trump's ambassador to Britain.


Original Submission

Related Stories

Plaintiff's Lawyer: Trump Violated Federal Law by Urging NFL Owners Not to Sign Kaepernick 137 comments

The Center for American Progress reports

Last month, the NFL announced a new policy for its players during the national anthem: Players are permitted to stay in the locker room during the anthem, but if they go out onto the field during it, they must stand. If any of the players takes a knee, the team will be fined.

Soon afterwards, a Wall Street Journal report confirmed what most have long suspected: That President Donald Trump's public outrage about NFL players protesting police brutality and systemic racism during the national anthem at football games heavily influenced NFL owners to change the rule, and discouraged them from signing players who would protest.

It's all terrible news for those in favor of free speech and peaceful protest, and for those against white nationalism and police brutality.

However, Mark Geragos, the lawyer representing Kaepernick in his collusion lawsuit against the NFL, [...] believes [...] that Trump's direct influence over NFL owners on this issue violates federal law. U.S. Code 227 [which] says that members of Congress or the executive branch cannot "wrongfully influence a private entity's employment decision ... solely on the basis of partisan political affiliation".

A few revelations from the last couple of weeks strongly support Geragos' case here, and it's important to remember that Geragos knows much more about the case than we do--he has taken the depositions of more than a dozen NFL owners, while the public only knows about the depositions that have leaked.

[...] Of course, influencing the private hiring decisions of a company isn't the only part of U.S. Code [227] that needs to be proved; it would also have to be shown that Trump did it for partisan political purposes.

That sounds trickier to prove, but in this case, that's not necessarily true. First of all, Trump's comments were made at a political rally supporting an Alabama Republican candidate for US Senate--an expressly partisan environment. And according to the WSJ, Trump told Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in private conversations that the issue was a "winning" one for him.

Previous: NFL: New National Anthem Rule; NY Jets CEO: Break the Rule and I'll Pay the Fine


Original Submission

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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by crafoo on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:52AM (16 children)

    by crafoo (6639) on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:52AM (#684443)

    Playing the anthem at football games is strange. I get it with baseball. Our American Football is a bit of an embarrassment in my opinion and I'd rather not have it associated with our country and our flag. Given what I've heard about the history of the inclusion of the anthem with the sport, it makes me even more uncomfortable.

    Hopefully this head trauma thing leads to them taking off the helmets and the pads and playing a real sport. Even better though if it tanks it all along the way.

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:52AM (8 children)

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:52AM (#684477) Journal

      The connection between American football, traumatic brain injuries and suicides is pretty well known and the sport just keeps on going, without many rule changes (that would make it more boring).

      You know what we should do? Officially replace the national anthem with Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A. And have it playing on the drones we use to bomb the next country on the list.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
      • (Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:41PM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:41PM (#684509)

        The connection between American football, traumatic brain injuries and suicides is pretty well known and the sport just keeps on going, without many rule changes (that would make it more boring).

        It's a political problem. Sports' rules and organization represent the social structure of the societies that play them. Reducing the requirement of defensive gear will lower the entry bar for lower-income cities thus making the game more "democratic". You see a similar effect regarding game play length: Cricket is practiced in countries with a rigid class system that only the richest and most powerful can truly enjoy and practice. Soccer is found in parliamentary democracies where it's enough to devote a couple of hours a week to the game to be considered a loyal fan. Baseball and Football are in-between as they require working in an industry that lets you drop everything once a week for half a day and compete with Church attendance. Basketball is, time wise, the least committing sport perfect for lower-classes. Of course, this also works with what kind and what degree of physical talent / skill training the sport requires, the ownership and management model of the teams, the judicial hierarchy and referees, etc...

        Once you put it altogether you'll start realizing a lot of the oddities about why sports are played the way they are in the places they are played. Of course, you might start hating certain sports when you realize how they brainwash people into accepting certain not-so-democratic rules and refereeing...

        • (Score: 2) by bobthecimmerian on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:14PM (2 children)

          by bobthecimmerian (6834) on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:14PM (#684542)

          I'd argue the time commitment for soccer is equal to or even less than the one for basketball.

          • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @06:41PM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @06:41PM (#684623)

            Basketball games are typically scheduled after working hours throughout the week with 2-3 matches a week per team. Soccer games are typically restricted to the weekends and are almost entirely limited to one match a week per team.

            So, basketball demographics is people who work 7 days a week while soccer is people who work 5 days a week. That's to say, factory workers versus office workers. Which, I would argue, is a class divide in most countries.

            Oh, and doctors and engineers are the exception that proves the rule as not being the target demographics or a numerically significant part of society. Or as the comedian shouted upon witnessing the solemn faces at the 3rd congress on otorhinolaryngology: "You're not my audience!".

      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:51PM (1 child)

        by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:51PM (#684579) Homepage

        Yes, and boxing is still a thing as well. Funny that, people would be willing to be paid tens of millions of dollars a year to play a rough sport.

        But now something more informative - ten or so years ago, hanging in the locker room or otherwise doing whatever during the anthem was the norm. Then the NFL entered into a multimillion dollar advertising deal with the National Guard and all players were then required to stand for the anthem. Funny that, this whole spectacle was enabled by an advertising deal much more than it was Colin Kapernick.

        The NBA, arguable the most "Black" sport in the U.S., has even stricter rules than the new football rules. I guess they understand well that people who are making tens of millions of dollars a year for tossing a goddamn ball don't have much moral standing bitching about the country that made that all possible.

        • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:38PM

          by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:38PM (#684642) Homepage Journal

          As President, I've issued an executive grant of clemency, a full pardon, posthumously, to John Arthur "Jack" Johnson -- he was known as "Jack Johnson" -- the first African American heavyweight champion of the world. A truly great fighter. Had a tough life.

          They say he violated the Mann Act, and he had a conviction that occurred during a period of tremendous racial tension in the United States, more than a century ago. Johnson served 10 months in federal prison for what many view as a racially motivated injustice. He was treated very rough, very tough.

          Born in 1878, in Galveston, Texas, to former slaves, Johnson overcame difficult circumstances to reach the heights of boxing. One of the greatest that ever lived. Tuly one of the greatest that ever lived. And he overcame these difficult circumstances to reach the heights of boxing in the boxing world, and inspired generations with his tenacity and a very independent spirit.

          Congress has supported numerous resolutions calling for Johnson's pardon. Went through Congress numerous times. No President ever signed it, surprisingly. They thought it was going to be signed in the last administration and that didn't happen. So that was very disappointing for a lot of people.

          These resolutions enjoyed widespread bipartisan support, including from the Congressional Black Caucus. The Black Caucus supported it very, very powerfully, very strongly, but they couldn't get the President to sign it. One of these resolutions passed Congress as recently as 2015.

          Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion. And he was the heavyweight champion for many years. He was pretty much unbeatable.

          In light of these facts, and in recognition of his historical athletic achievements and the contributions to society -- he really represented something that was both very beautiful and very terrible at the same time -- I believe that Jack Johnson is a very worthy person to receive a full pardon and, in this case, a posthumous pardon.

      • (Score: 2) by driverless on Sunday May 27 2018, @10:52AM (1 child)

        by driverless (4770) on Sunday May 27 2018, @10:52AM (#684806)

        Naah, just take it all the way and replace the Superbowl with Blood Bowl. The rules already exist, you'd make a fortune from the streaming rights, and could show those namby pamby American "footballers" how it's done.

        Also, most players wouldn't live long enough for brain trauma to be an issue.

        • (Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday May 27 2018, @05:08PM

          by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Sunday May 27 2018, @05:08PM (#684847) Journal

          I think there is a bright future for blood sport. Gladiatorial combat or MMA-on-steroids (literally?). Fighters not necessarily dying each fight, but with a decent possibility of doing so (maybe they get a payout for their families). Held in a clandestine location in a foreign country, streamed online, betting handled with cryptocurrency. We can make this happen. #YesWeCan

          --
          [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:49PM (6 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:49PM (#684558)

      this isn't about the anthem, it's about keep the minds of people/consumers off the thoughts of NFL teams making huge profits out of black people bashing their heads at each other and dying because of that, with a media circus fitted to their numb brains

      • (Score: 0, Flamebait) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:49PM (5 children)

        by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:49PM (#684658) Homepage

        It's about a refuge where Americans can ignore vicious governmental and political bullshit and be distracted, where the only politics should be between the players and their coaches. And thanks to one kinda-talented quarterback on the chopping-block desperate to save his own ass, the NFL has allowed itself to create its own monster. Even more infuriating is that Kapernick was adopted by White parents into a life more privileged than many of his Black compatriots and he has the goddamn nerve to bitch about social injustice. What a petulant little shit.

        " Waaahhh! You're not my real mommy! You're not my real country! *kicks feet* *throws spoon*

        Now, thanks to Kapernick opening the door, even the NFL isn't safe from the Jews' grasp and their useful idiots the homos. I hear Keith Olbermann is going to go to ESPN, and no, I'm not joking about that.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:08PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:08PM (#684678)

          ...says the empty shell of a human who has zero empathy.

          One doubts that you have ever once stood on principle.
          ...because you have no principles.
          ...though you are very accomplished at the slimy practice of scapegoating.

          -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

        • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday May 27 2018, @12:28AM (2 children)

          by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Sunday May 27 2018, @12:28AM (#684704) Homepage Journal

          I don't think you've run a cash business. And I think you'd have a hard time running a cash business. Like a casino. Let me tell you, the only kind of people I want counting my money are little short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @02:57AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @02:57AM (#684734)

          > a refuge where Americans can ignore vicious governmental and political bullshit and be distracted

          That was invented a long time ago and perhaps the best practitioners were the Grateful Dead...who sold out big arenas for years and years.

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by SparkyGSX on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:54AM (29 children)

    by SparkyGSX (4041) on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:54AM (#684445)

    The players can just find another way to protest while standing up. They could stand at the edge of the field instead of the middle, they could make a peace sign with the hand on their chest, or something similar, while still standing upright and thus confirming to this rule.

    --
    If you do what you did, you'll get what you got
    • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday May 26 2018, @12:21PM (26 children)

      It'd have the side effect of pissing pretty much nobody off as well.

      --
      My rights don't end where your fear begins.
      • (Score: 5, Informative) by pe1rxq on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:55PM (25 children)

        by pe1rxq (844) on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:55PM (#684514) Homepage

        It shouldn't, but it probably will.
        The difference between paying respect while on a knee or standing is pretty arbitrary as well.

        I am from a country were 'patriotism' is not brainwashed in at an early age, and to me the obsession Americans have for their flag and anthem just looks silly. It is all subjective.

        • (Score: 3, Disagree) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:14PM (24 children)

          Well, yeah, some people just enjoy bitching. The official standard is to stand, remove your hat if applicable, and put your right hand over your heart unless you're military. They cover those bases and anyone bitching can go piss up a flagpole as far as most of the nation will be concerned.

          As for brainwashed, well a lot of blood, sweat, and tears has gone into creating the best nation we can manage. I personally think we've done better than anyone else, though there's still plenty of room for improvement. Those efforts and sacrifices deserve respect.

          --
          My rights don't end where your fear begins.
          • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:39PM (14 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:39PM (#684553)

            Nah the brainwashing patriotism is a more recent phenomenon and it is harmfully stupid. It speaks to how far we have sunk as a country that a football player taking a knee for a good cause is a massive scandal drawing calls for blood.

            • (Score: 0, Flamebait) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:54PM

              by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:54PM (#684580) Homepage

              Colin Kapernick sucked and knew his time was about to be up, so his kneeling thing was a hail-Mary. He unwittingly created a monster and had to double-down on the movement he started.

              Where is he now? Offering to suck dick for another shot at playing ball. He's basically another Michael Sam at this point, a player begging to be hired for his gimmick rather than his skill.

            • (Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:17PM (12 children)

              Dude, if you can't understand how what appears to be disrespecting symbols of your nation could be taken in a negative light by some people, you're not bright enough to have anything useful to say.

              --
              My rights don't end where your fear begins.
              • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:58PM (11 children)

                by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:58PM (#684686)

                Funny how you bitch about authoritarian snowflake college kids with blue hair but now appear to be defending a different kind of snowflake. The reality is that this 'protest' should have amounted to nothing because they didn't really do anything. Kneeling during the anthem does nothing and harms no one; it's all purely symbolic nonsense which offends only snowflakes of the highest caliber. The people offended are fake patriots who believe that it is sufficient to mindlessly worship symbols to be patriotic, when in reality they are merely jingoists. The real patriots are people like Edward Snowden who actually try to improve their country.

                • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:27PM (1 child)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:27PM (#684692)

                  And once again you miss the point. NFL is a business. NFL players are employees. When the employee begins affecting the business by his antics while on the clock, you cannot be surprised when the employer decides it's time to ask that employee to follow acceptable policies of the business which attract its customers. See Starbucks if you have questions. Same shit, different core customer base.

                  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:46PM

                    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:46PM (#684696)

                    And once again you miss the point.

                    No, you miss the point. What you said is merely a straw man, since no one is saying they don't have the legal right to do this. The point is that people constantly talk about the principle of freedom of speech, which is much more broad than the legal implementation of it, but then stop caring about it when someone whose speech they don't like is being censored/shut down for their speech. I support the principle of freedom of speech and am opposed to censorship whether it affects people on the left or people on the right.

                    The other point is that people like TMB constantly complain about snowflake SJWs on the left and then ignore the snowflakes on the right, such as the fake patriots offended by people kneeling during the anthem. He pretends that the latter being oversensitive has merit whereas the former does not. In reality, both groups are composed of oversensitive authoritarian cretins who have no principles to speak of.

                    But continue with your straw men, by all means.

                • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday May 27 2018, @12:05AM (8 children)

                  Take your strawman and go back to HuffPo. I'm not defending shit. I'm saying if you can't comprehend how something could offend quite a lot of people, you're a fucking idiot. I mean, that's the entire fucking point of doing it during the anthem, to show disrespect and piss people off. It was never an earnest attempt at resolving any issue.

                  --
                  My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:55AM (1 child)

                    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:55AM (#684723)

                    Oh it is easily understandable. Big giant babies being big giant babies. The anthem deserves disrespect when the country had such severe systemic issues, and it becomes very hard to not apply "racist dirtbags" to the whole lot of offended babies. I wonder how few of your comrades really understand their own prejudices and basic personality makeup.

                  • (Score: 3, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @03:03AM (3 children)

                    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @03:03AM (#684736)

                    Take your strawman and go back to HuffPo.

                    I don't like HuffPo. I'm a libertarian and very anti-authoritarian in nature. I hate jingoism and this fake bullshit patriotism where people worship symbols and either actively harm their country (by supporting things such as mass surveillance or the unjust wars overseas) or remain apathetic as authoritarians destroy our liberty.

                    I'm saying if you can't comprehend how something could offend quite a lot of people, you're a fucking idiot.

                    Strange that you don't say these things when it comes to the SJWs. If this were SJWs getting offended, you'd be talking about how whiny they are or something like that; you certainly would not be calling anyone criticizing the SJWs a fucking idiot for apparently not comprehending why people are offended by whatever was said.

                    The reality is that anyone could be offended by anything, and this observation is not special or even worth mentioning.

                    I mean, that's the entire fucking point of doing it during the anthem, to show disrespect and piss people off.

                    And even assuming that is the case, it shouldn't work. It works because people are oversensitive snowflakes.

                    • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday May 27 2018, @05:09PM (2 children)

                      There aren't enough SJWs to matter and they're so astoundingly destructive and violent that they should never be appeased. There are a fuckload of perfectly ordinary, boring people who are partial to the flag and anthem though.

                      It works because people are oversensitive snowflakes.

                      I agree, to a point. They are overly sensitive but their sensitivity, unlike the sensitivity of SJWs, is utterly harmless unless intentionally provoked. They don't go around looking for people to be offended at, they just get offended easily when someone tries to offend them.

                      --
                      My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @07:37PM (1 child)

                        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @07:37PM (#684898)

                        I agree, to a point. They are overly sensitive but their sensitivity, unlike the sensitivity of SJWs, is utterly harmless unless intentionally provoked.

                        Jingoism and symbol worship are not utterly harmless. They encourage apathy and even support towards violations of our liberty. Not to mention, as seen here, they threaten the principle of freedom of speech, which many people get upset about when SJWs try to get people shut down.

                        they just get offended easily when someone tries to offend them.

                        Then the problem is still with them.

                        • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday May 28 2018, @04:18AM

                          I think you need to take a step back and realize that most people who are angry over this nonsense are not engaging in anything remotely approaching jingoism or symbol worship. They're just people who don't think America is wrong in everything it has ever done. At worst it's simple tribalism, which is a quality inherent to every last member of the human race.

                          Then the problem is still with them.

                          No, it is not. There is no problem. One group set out to piss all over something they knew damned good and well another much larger group does not like seeing disrespected. They trolled successfully; nothing more, nothing less.

                          --
                          My rights don't end where your fear begins.
                  • (Score: 2) by edIII on Tuesday May 29 2018, @06:55PM (1 child)

                    by edIII (791) on Tuesday May 29 2018, @06:55PM (#685798)

                    I agree with you on comprehending how some people can be offended. I'm offended due to my patriotism as well. The anthem and flag I consider sacrosanct, and representative of ideals that we've fallen pretty far from. Nonetheless, our founding principles of Freedom are, and have, been worth dying for. The patriots that gave their lives with such passion will always have my deepest respect. I'm one of the few in my family that was never in the military, and that's because I don't qualify medically. Otherwise, I would be a former Marine (is that the way to say it?).

                    That's why I will always salute the flag and give respect to the anthem; It's not me that has betrayed the principles of a real American, and the principles themselves are still noble and righteous, so it's the fucking politicians, the avaricious billionaires, the c-suites that have truly betrayed the American principles of Freedom I hold so dear. It's like that scene from Office Space where Michael refuses to change his name just because people confuse him with Michael Bolton :) I AM AN AMERICAN, and I'm proud of the principles my country stands for. I feel like utter shit because of what has become of us, which is truly deplorable. We're not living up to the hype.

                    That being said, I wholly disagree with you on the motives of the players. I don't believe it is to show disrespect and piss people off. Yes, it was most certainly an earnest attempt at resolving issues by bringing the conversation forward. If you consider it a protest, it was a protest against police brutality and how our militarized police are not providing the service we've asked of them. Protesting, peacefully, is a very American thing to do with a long history going back *before* the founding fathers were discussing revolution. To protest peacefully, in the ways promulgated by Dr. Martin Luther King and Gandhi, is something worthy of respect in of itself. I think you would be well served to put your feelings of offense on the back burner, and consider what these players are bringing up.

                    Personally, I would tell the players to honor the anthem and respect the flag, then double down on their protest movements elsewhere. With the money they have, you can certainly create a grass roots organization quickly. Something better and more sane than the BLM preferably.

                    --
                    Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
                    • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday May 30 2018, @12:54PM

                      I'm offended due to my patriotism as well.

                      The thing is, I'm not offended due to patriotism. I'm annoyed that one guy trolled a good chunk of the nation and an entire political party refuses to even admit that him being seen as an asshole by perfectly decent people is even possible.

                      --
                      My rights don't end where your fear begins.
          • (Score: 2) by ilPapa on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:37PM (8 children)

            by ilPapa (2366) on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:37PM (#684641) Journal

            The official standard is to stand, remove your hat if applicable, and put your right hand over your heart unless you're military.

            Here is the gold standard of how patriotism is done.

            https://youtu.be/uyrfbQ6Tkdw [youtu.be]

            --
            You are still welcome on my lawn.
            • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:26PM (3 children)

              Dude, Trump has nothing to do with this and everyone already knows he's a clown; it's not a very good retort.

              --
              My rights don't end where your fear begins.
              • (Score: 2) by ilPapa on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:07AM (1 child)

                by ilPapa (2366) on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:07AM (#684712) Journal

                Why do you hate freedom? You libs are all alike.

                --
                You are still welcome on my lawn.
              • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:30AM

                by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:30AM (#684721) Homepage Journal

                People don't know this, I have many many followers on Social Media. Over 100 million. And I went on Twitter and said, if NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. #BoycottNFL [twitter.com] #BoycottTheNFL [twitter.com] #NFLBoycott [twitter.com] And I said, why not take in some baseball? ⚾️ We have the incredible #WorldSeries [twitter.com]. Which in 2016, unfortunately that one was rigged by the Crooked Chicago .@Cubs [twitter.com]. Just like our elections were rigged by Crooked Dem politicians.

                People are laughing at me. They're calling me a clown, that's a very foolish thing to say. Because I have a guy on the Supreme Court. Many judges. I have guys in Congress. And I have the great, great American people backing me on this one. And the NFL tried to ignore us, they couldn't ignore us. They lost. They caved completely. And America won. Tremendous victory for our Flag, Anthem & Country. Because of me. And there will be many more, trust me!! 🇺🇸

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:38PM

              by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:38PM (#684684)

              https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uyrfbQ6Tkdw/maxresdefault.jpg [ytimg.com]

              ...and people who wear USAian flag pins[1] just make want to barf.
              It's the symbol of White Imperalism and oppression from coast to coast here and colonialism and murder worldwide.

              [1] ...unless those are are obviously purposely turned upside-down.
              ...and if you're going to wear one, I'd rather see one like this. [shutterstock.com]

              -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

            • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:08AM (2 children)

              by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:08AM (#684713) Homepage Journal

              I'm not a singer, I'm an actor. A businessman. And a politician. So when I sing the anthem, maybe, probably, it's not 100% PERFECTO. But let me tell you, it's not an easy song. And when singers do it, a lot of times it's not 100%. Many people are saying, let's change to an easier song. But one that has all the greatness of our Country. Like Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.

              Important thing is, I show the RESPECT. For our Flag & Anthem. 100%. Because so many of our brave soldiers died for those. And so many didn't die but they got horrible wounds. A guy steps on a mine, on a landmine, it blows off his whatever. The part that makes him a man, you know? Or a guy is around a lot of explosions, he looks OK, he looks fantastic. Fantastic body. But mentally, big problems. He lost his mind, they call it PTSD. Very similar to what happens to our football players. But the players aren't respecting the Anthem. And they aren't respecting our Country.

              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @05:53PM (1 child)

                by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @05:53PM (#684861)

                Nothing more pathetic than a five time draft dodger wrapping himself in the flag.

    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by UncleSlacky on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:36PM

      by UncleSlacky (2859) on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:36PM (#684526)
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @08:44AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @08:44AM (#684799)

      Sounds like a suitable method of protest to me if they have to 'show respect to the anthem.'

      What a country you have become.

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:56AM (8 children)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:56AM (#684479) Journal
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:37PM (5 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:37PM (#684508)

      Not enough Americans have their brain damaged, eh?
      I hear lobotomy is cheaper and faster.

      • (Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:01PM (4 children)

        by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:01PM (#684516) Journal

        It's plausible that rule and equipment changes in these new leagues could reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury. Basically, players are hitting each other much harder today than they did decades ago simply because they can.

        The whole matter could be solved with the introduction of advanced regenerative medicine that can repair any brain damage sustained before it accumulates or becomes permanent. But it could take decades before that hits the scene, decades of more player suicides and erratic behavior [soylentnews.org]. Another possibility is that the sport simply loses viewership as millennials tune out, but waning interest hasn't killed other pro sports (yet?).

        --
        [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
        • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:19PM (3 children)

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:19PM (#684520) Journal

          The whole matter could be solved with the introduction of advanced regenerative medicine that can repair any brain damage sustained before it accumulates or becomes permanent. But it could take decades before that hits the scene

          "Research translation" site:xkcd.com

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:29PM (2 children)

            by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:29PM (#684523) Journal

            Are scientists and engineers done producing new advancements and technologies?

            --
            [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
            • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:42PM (1 child)

              by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:42PM (#684529) Journal

              I don't know. I'm still waiting for my flying car I was promised as a kid.
              Meanwhile, they got busy working in quantum teleportation.

              point: what warranty do you have the "advanced regenerative medicine" is actually on the list they are going to deliver?
              The referenced xkcd translates "it could take decades" as "it wasn't conclusively proven impossible"

              --
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @05:24PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @05:24PM (#684595)

      I'm honestly looking forward to the XFL reboot. I watched them when they first tried, and was surprised that it was as good as it was. Of course, this is from someone who had season tickets for an Arena football team (before they folded, like most of them did).

      The Alliance league looks interesting, although their promo video on their site was so over-the-top patriotic treacle that it kind of made me gag.

      I stopped watching NFL games years before all the kneeing controversy. Too many commercials and long waits for decisions from the replay booth. Make a call and keep playing, no replays -- if it's a wrong call then all the sports radio guys will have something to scream about for weeks afterwards.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:28PM

      by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:28PM (#684654) Homepage Journal

      Let me tell you, the NFL is like Amazon. It's a NO-TAX MONOPOLY.

      1984, the USFL, the United States Football League, had just started playing the year before. And I bought the New Jersey Generals, the winningest team in the USFL. Unfortunately the original owners had decided the games would be in the spring & summer, when guys have something else on their minds besides football. Reason being, they didn't want to compete with the NFL. But I said, let's play in the fall & winter. We'll sue the NFL for being a monopoly. And the NFL will have to come to the table, they'll have to make a deal with us. Buy us out or settle. And you'll all be very very rich. I was already very very rich. As everybody knows. Well, the other owners saw that this was a very smart plan. So we moved to the spring & summer and we did the lawsuit. But the NFL didn't want to make a deal. So our lawsuit went to trial and of course we won. But unfortunately the very dumb court said the damages were only $3. It wasn't enough, folks. And our beautiful American dream -- our U.S. dream -- died. Crushed by monopolism. Very sad!

      It didn't die, believe me, it's alive in these new leagues. I went to court and proved the NFL is a monopoly. As I said. And as President I can tell my DOJ, my Department of Justice, to move very strongly against the NFL. And maybe Attorney General Jeff Sessions -- I don't call him Mr. Magoo, that's fake news -- will listen. And eventually we'll get something done. Possibly. But we have to have football. If we repeal the NFL and don't replace it, we'll have big problems. So my thoughts & prayers are with these new leagues. And I'll give them a shout out on my Social Media -- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat and SoylentNews. I have over 100 million followers!!

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:09PM (17 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:09PM (#684499)

    The country is all about free speech and equal opportunity.
    Taking a knee celebrates the first and begs for the second.
    This from a group of folks who have used the opportunity to do quite well.
    What could be wrong with this?

    Well, to have a country we have to have unity, which the anthem is all about.
    As in an amazingly diverse group of folks setting their differences aside and standing together.
    If this is not the place to do this necessary thing where is?

    The players certainly have the right to take a knee, but in doing so diminish the thing which makes that right possible.
    A little too much me over we for my taste.

    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by sjames on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:30PM (1 child)

      by sjames (2882) on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:30PM (#684506) Journal

      The thing has been diminishing itself. They are just putting that diminishment on display. The only reason it has so many up in arms about it is that it makes them uncomfortable.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:31PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:31PM (#684639)

        Meh... They should just be escorted off the field into a one-way airplane ride to their home country called gofuckyourselfland.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by c0lo on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:56PM (6 children)

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @01:56PM (#684515) Journal

      Well, to have a country we have to have unity, which the anthem is all about.

      If all you are left to define yourself as a country is standing for anthem, I deplore you.

      But here's a crazy idea: how about actually offering the promised equality of opportunity, maybe the players won't need to beg for it?

      The players certainly have the right to take a knee, but in doing so diminish the thing which makes that right possible.

      You really believe that equal opportunity can't be achieved if the players aren't standing for anthem? 'I can't understand this twisted logic, I suspect this is more related with some sort of beliefs close to the religious in nature.

      Isn't the "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" a bit worn out by hollow repetition over ages to use it again as an argument? Look, it has been over 50 years of "doing for the country" and too many are still to see something about the country doing something for them; it starts sounding like a sham.

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 1) by EEMac on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:45PM (1 child)

        by EEMac (6423) on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:45PM (#684532)

        "But here's a crazy idea: how about actually offering the promised equality of opportunity, maybe the players won't need to beg for it?"

        Football players make MILLIONS of dollars a year doing something they were recruited for starting at a young age. If they complain about "equality of opportunity", it is hypocritical and offensive.

        • (Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:00PM

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:00PM (#684538) Journal

          Because the equal opportunity is meant to be only for the footballs players, right?
          They aren't suppose to say a word about the others who don't have even the remote opportunity to be heard?
          Maybe even "social activism and community support initiatives" are offensive for the National Football League and need to be fined?

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:36PM (3 children)

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @03:36PM (#684551) Journal

        Isn't the "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country" a bit worn out

        No, never. Hollow repetition? Maybe, by cynical SOB's who have nothing to give, themselves. IMO, anyone who has nothing to give, deserves to take nothing. That goes for all those politicians in Washington, and the state capitals, as well as corporate officers.

        • (Score: 4, Informative) by c0lo on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:04PM (2 children)

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:04PM (#684565) Journal

          IMO, anyone who has nothing to give, deserves to take nothing.

          There are thousands of persons** who almost do a shit for their country and move the rest overseas in tax heavens and yet are rewarded with tax breaks which don't expire after 7 years. Those tax breaks drive the country deeper in the deficit and you only need one guess for the money of whom will be used to balance the deficit.

          If the country shits on those who give and rewards those who don't, where's the reason to continue giving?

          ---

          ** Hint: those persons aren't allowed to vote but are allowed to use their money as political speech. And by God, their whispered speech in certain lobbies weight a lot more than the voice of the citizens with voting rights

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:27PM (1 child)

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:27PM (#684576) Journal

            where's the reason to continue giving?

            I'm better than that. Millions of other people are better than that. A cop makes headlines now and then, because he is better. Teachers sometimes are cited for going above and beyond. In general, I have little use for social workers, because they can be so blind, and uncaring. But, the good ones - they are better than gold. A few rare politicians, who stick to their principals, instead of whoring themselves to every lobbyist who knocks on his door. And, I haven't even mentioned the little people who are never recognized.

            You don't need a "reason" - giving is who and what you are. Unless, of course, you aren't.

            • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday May 26 2018, @05:04PM

              by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @05:04PM (#684587) Journal

              You don't need a "reason" - giving is who and what you are. Unless, of course, you aren't.

              1. At least you admit is not rational and don't delude yourself trying to rationalize it. Raising my hat to you.

              2. note that you are presenting people are justification for your giving. Not country. The difference is important: you'll find such people everywhere, no matter the country. And all of them worth your or my giving.

              3. speaking of non-rational motives - I stopped playing the fool and loving a girl that loved another (and used my love to obtain benefits) at about 21 years of age Comes with growing up, I guess.

              --
              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:28PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:28PM (#684521)

      The players certainly have the right to take a knee, but in doing so diminish the thing which makes that right possible.

      You've got it completely backwards. The jingoist have the right to not like some players protesting during the anthem, but in trying to stop it, they diminish the ideals the anthem is supposed to celebrate.

      • (Score: 3, Insightful) by VLM on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:05PM

        by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:05PM (#684566)

        they diminish the ideals the anthem is supposed to celebrate

        To provide the opposing point of view, pro sports players are tax sucking welfare queens and the world is full of dirtballs who don't like our country that no one cares about, so its more an annoyance that we're paying tax money to the dirtballs to be dirtballs, than the fact that they're dirtballs to begin with.

        Sorta like opposition to the US Military, specifically the Army; nobody gives a F if there's some terrorist on the other side of the planet who hates the US Army; but it takes a special kind of dirtball to accept a salary from the US Army while opposing everything the USA stands for at the same time.

      • (Score: 3, Funny) by TheRaven on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:09PM

        by TheRaven (270) on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:09PM (#684632) Journal

        The jingoist have the right to not like some players protesting during the anthem, but in trying to stop it, they diminish the ideals the anthem is supposed to celebrate.

        You almost make it sound like doing what you're told or facing a fine isn't what the anthem stands for.

        --
        sudo mod me up
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:15PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:15PM (#684690)

        Where did the jingoists, or anyone else, try to stop it? No one tried to have the kneeling players arrested. No one burned down the stadiums. No one kidnapped their children to force them to stand.

        What they did do was stop watching on TV and stop going to the games. You have the right to freely speak, but you don't have the right to make anyone listen to you.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:00PM

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:00PM (#684563)

      I'd rather have my plumber lecture me on how his beliefs about neurosurgery are holier than thou, than listen to a adult who plays a kids game as a day job lecture me on morals ethics and political philosophy.

    • (Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:59PM (2 children)

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:59PM (#684584) Homepage

      I don't believe that the players should not be legally allowed to take a knee. Let them if they want to.

      I do believe, as do many other handegg fans, that kneeling is a stupid-ass move considering the country they're protesting is the only one that allows them to be paid millions of dollars a year to throw around a damn ball, and that protests such as that one coming from a privileged class will infuriate the fans rather than rally them to the players' cause.

      I also believe that the protests are idiotic because Americans watch football as a distraction, in other words, they want to get away from all that political bullshit.

      This is just another example of leftist appeasement causing the left to eat itself, like the Starbucks bathroom decision. Wimpy management is afraid to put the smack down on this bullshit, and now it's done irreverable damage to their bottom-line. Look, the NFL is a business.

      • (Score: 2) by ilPapa on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:11AM

        by ilPapa (2366) on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:11AM (#684715) Journal

        I do believe, as do many other handegg fans, that kneeling is a stupid-ass move considering the country they're protesting is the only one that allows them to be paid millions of dollars a year to throw around a damn ball

        And also the country that allows them to be tased by police and arrested for a parking violation.

        https://deadspin.com/milwaukee-police-release-video-of-bucks-sterling-brown-1826275081 [deadspin.com]

        --
        You are still welcome on my lawn.
      • (Score: 2) by vux984 on Sunday May 27 2018, @08:11PM

        by vux984 (5045) on Sunday May 27 2018, @08:11PM (#684909)

        "I do believe, as do many other handegg fans, that kneeling is a stupid-ass move considering the country they're protesting is the only one that allows them to be paid millions of dollars a year to throw around a damn ball"

        In other words you are saying that the only people who are allowed to protest are those who are personally affected. If someone who is successful and privileged and visible takes up the cause of those who are not as fortunate, it's a stupid-ass move, because they're doing fine. I'd argue that people who have succeeded so completely in America have a moral obligation to take up the causes of those who are not successful.

        I wonder sometimes if Colin had protested the anthem because of the abysmal problems with the veteran's health-care administration whether the reaction would have been different? Or would it be a stupid-ass move, because he's got a good doctor and a good health insurance plan?

        "I also believe that the protests are idiotic because Americans watch football as a distraction, in other words, they want to get away from all that political bullshit."

        Then don't play the anthem. When I'm looking for a distraction I don't play the national anthem, and wave a flag around. In fact I never play the national anthem or wave flags around because that's not real patriotism. That's why this whole fiasco is so amusing to me. Standing for the anthem isn't about paying respect, what does the anthem care? Its a song for fucks sake. No, it's about being seen standing for the anthem. These days that's called "virtue signalling'.

        Defending the country is patriotic, exercising your rights is patriotic; standing when a shitty song is playing is not "patriotic" except that you are exercising your freedom to stand. But likewise taking a knee is equally patriotic as you are exercising your freedom NOT to stand. Veterans fought to defend this freedom of speech and expression, including the right to protest. They fought for a country where you can stand for the anthem or not stand. It isn't disrespectful to the veterans to protest; if anything its a celebration of what they fought for: a country where the civilians can freely protest the symbols of government.

        Any veteran who gets butthurt over anthem standing has forgotten what he fought for.

        Meanwhile, vet's have lots very real problems facing them; and frankly the whole country getting into a tizzy about how important it is to stand for an anthem at a football game as if that was somehow 'honoring the veterans' is a joke. What about the real issues facing vets -- health care, jobs, PTSD, they need real solutions to real problems. But instead of solving those, we've got a bunch of redneck fuckwit's carrying on about "the troops", but they won't do fuck all for the troops, its just virtue signalling -- you gotta stand! if your seen standing, and seen to be making a scene if someone else isn't standing... then your good. And you don't have to actually do a damned thing for "the troops".

        "Look, the NFL is a business."

        Not a terribly smart one. :)

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:46PM (1 child)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:46PM (#684533) Journal

    Select a day and designate it as National Fentanyl Day (eg, NFL).

    Maybe they could make it easier to tell which game is being played when flipping channels on a TV. Basketball is easy to distinguish because it is played indoors on a wooden floor. But football and baseball are more difficult to tell apart. Uniformed guys outdoors on grass surrounded by spectators.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 2) by SomeGuy on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:07PM

      by SomeGuy (5632) on Saturday May 26 2018, @04:07PM (#684568)

      Nah, baseball, basketball, football, it's all just a bunch of guys playing with their balls. :P

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:53PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @02:53PM (#684537)

    This is like how in north korea there are huge passive aggressive struggles over every dimension of every flag pole... Who cares.

  • (Score: 2, Funny) by jmorris on Saturday May 26 2018, @06:20PM (7 children)

    by jmorris (4844) on Saturday May 26 2018, @06:20PM (#684617)

    The NFL is entirely SJW Converged so it needs to die. So let these protests go on and on, as they are the fastest way to kill it. Let ESPN breathlessly cover it and add their own pontification in place of the sports coverage their viewers wanted because they need to die too. Then build anew and hopefully build in safeguards to prevent it too being infected and consumed.

    These protests are not about the "freedom of speech" of the players. They are contracted performers on stage. It is exactly the same as telling the cast of a play they may NOT interrupt the performance for an impromptu political demonstration that is not in the script.

    Then there is the absurdity of privileged, rich, pampered athletes with almost uniformly spotty criminal records thinking they have any sort of moral standing to lecture their fans. The fact they are apparently oblivious to this only reinforces the idea they are disconnected from reality and likely being used as political pawns because they are too dumb to come up with such a thing on their own.

    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:14PM (5 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:14PM (#684650)

      They are paid to play a particular sort of game.
      This anthem shit happens before the game starts.
      Before WWII (before all the goddamned flagwaving^W penis wagging bullshit started), the anthem shit didn't even happen.
      More recently, as mentioned up in the (meta)thread, it's been a paid advertising thing with USA.mil.

      I don't follow sports but I seriously doubt that the stuff that happens before the game is written into any of the players' contracts.

      ...and Jesus Fucking Christ, professional sports teams are the last bastion of slavery in the USA.
      They don't even try to mask it.
      There are "owners" who can "sell" a player.

      ...and the owners' cronyism is so blatant.
      The billionaire Capitalists plead poverty and demand that the city (actually, Joe Average taxpayer) pay to build a big expensive stadium where a tiny number of people can get a (typically meager) paycheck for working 1 day per week.

      -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

      • (Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:54PM (3 children)

        by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Saturday May 26 2018, @08:54PM (#684661) Homepage

        " The black is a better athlete to begin with because he's been bred to be that way, because of his high thighs and big thighs that goes up into his back, and they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs and he's bred to be the better athlete because this goes back all the way to the Civil War when during the slave trade … the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid … "

        -- Legendary Sports Commentator Jimmy the Greek

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:01PM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @10:01PM (#684677)

          Legendary

          ...in his own mind.

          Sports Commentator

          The next day, it was revealed that he had been fired.

          -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:45PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 26 2018, @11:45PM (#684694)

            The next day, it was revealed that he [Jimmy the Greek] had been fired

            And Galileo was convicted of heresy for promoting heliocentric teachings.

        • (Score: 2) by edIII on Tuesday May 29 2018, @06:40PM

          by edIII (791) on Tuesday May 29 2018, @06:40PM (#685788)

          Me thinks that Jimmy has put a lot of thought into black men's thighs.....

          --
          Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
      • (Score: 2) by jmorris on Tuesday May 29 2018, @04:06AM

        by jmorris (4844) on Tuesday May 29 2018, @04:06AM (#685439)

        Do you even read the shit you spew before hitting submit?

        Please reconcile:

        This anthem shit happens before the game starts.

        it's been a paid advertising thing with USA.mil

        So you assert they aren't just being seditious, they are SCREWING OVER A PRIME LEAGUE SPONSOR, and it is still a non-job related thing? The morons might as well show up in Nike footwear! (Reebok is the official equipment sponsor.)

        But your argument fails on a more basic level of the premise being defective. Every sports league writes in rules governing public behavior of players no matter where they are and control is pretty much absolute if they are suited up in the official team uniform. From the time they go into the locker room (because select sports press are often allowed access) to the time they come back out in their off duty cloths they are "on the clock" and must consider themselves "on camera" where their actions have maximum ability to reflect poorly upon the reputation of both the team and the league in general.

        Pretty much the same as anyone else in show business. Let an actor on a press junket misbehave and the same fire and brimstone will fall upon them, and for the same reason. Being cast in a major motion picture, where thousands of people will profit or lose money on the project, is not a green light to use the spotlight provided by studio PR shop to flog a personal political hobbyhorse. Anyone who isn't a team player enough to understand and obey these common sense rules should pick a different profession.

        These "protests" have only went on this long because the league either quietly approves or fears attempting to enforce the usual contract terms for fear of what the Democrats would do to them. Said fear apparently being, for now, greater than their fear of losing viewers after a 10% drop in ratings already, a number certain to grow.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 28 2018, @08:34AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 28 2018, @08:34AM (#685058)

      Would more female kickers make you feel better?

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by shortscreen on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:06PM (1 child)

    by shortscreen (2252) on Saturday May 26 2018, @07:06PM (#684630) Journal

    I don't care about football, but I find it funny that this issue is considered a controversial one. I'd fully expect people to not give a shit about the issue and just brush it off while paying lip service if they're generous. But instead they're turning red and getting ready to faint at the mere suggestion that cops maybe shouldn't be allowed to murder people for no reason.

    And then we have people complaining that their entertainment is being interrupted by politics. OK, why are they including the national anthem in the first place? The anthem is 100% political, whereas saying that murder is a political issue seems like a bit of a stretch. It's not like players were dredging up some decades-old history and saying "whoa is me, the oppresed" they just pointed to current events and said "there is a problem in this country."

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by bzipitidoo on Sunday May 27 2018, @04:28AM

      by bzipitidoo (4388) on Sunday May 27 2018, @04:28AM (#684753) Journal

      This whole controversy about kneeling during the national anthem is so ridiculous. I had no idea it would be such a masterful trolling that would rile up a bunch of fake patriots into demanding harsh punishment, oppression, and suppression-- the very things this country was created to oppose. Their behavior is a national embarrassment. No one got hurt or even threatened, no guns were waved around, no shots fired, no property damaged, no flag was burned or soiled. No one was so much as delayed 5 seconds or otherwise even slightly inconvenienced. But they're screaming for blood anyway.

      What's so fake about this supposedly nationalistic outburst is that their real agenda is racism, not nationalism. They're just trying to hide their racism behind fake concern for respect for the flag, a far more demeaning misuse of it than anything the players did.

      As for the NFL owners, as a group they're a bunch of cowardly scum who don't give a crap about nationalism or racism. They're only interested in money, happy to pander to the public on a trivial matter such as this. You may be sure the sole purpose of this new "rule" is to suck up to their racist football fans. Good on the Jets for bucking the rest of the NFL on this, but it's a modest and small move. Now, if the Jets CEO would kneel during the anthem at the next game, that would be more impressive.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:46PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @01:46PM (#684813)

    A fine is not enough if people like this are going to get around the intent of the rules. The owners should be honoring the decisions made by the league, not flipping them the bird.

    How about just ban the team from the rest of the season? Continued violation, perhaps shut the team down totally.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 28 2018, @07:59PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 28 2018, @07:59PM (#685287)

      You seem to be very supportive of Authoritarianism.
      (This edict was handed down without consulting the Players Union.)

      You are also clearly heavily into "collective punishment" (a concept that is outlawed by numerous international treaties).

      Here is an alternative (but one that may please the Nazi spirit in you even more):
      Everyone who pays to be a spectator at that team's game gets paddled 10 strokes before he is allowed through the turnstile.

      In case it isn't clear yet, here's what I'm saying:
      You are a Reactionary fool. (Redundant. Yeah, I know.)
      Maybe one day you'll grow up and leave behind your infantile "thinking".

      -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday May 30 2018, @01:01PM

        Bullshit redefinition of authoritarianism, gewg_. "Owners" is not a job title for a government agency. It is a description of their relationship to the team. The team does not belong to the players. It belongs to the owner because the owner paid a fuckton of money for it. If they had paid a fuckton of money for it, they could call the shots. Since they did not, they're free to bitch but shot calling is not something they're entitled to do.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @02:42PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 27 2018, @02:42PM (#684821)

    Bet more of these offended "patriots" are sitting with a beer in hand and pizza in other when the anthem is played. Safely at home of course. Where none can see just how funny this all is.

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