Long Monday. Got hit late with a project to redo, so I stayed an extra 30 minutes. Ceil had gone out with her friends, so I made a couple of stops on the way. It was almost eight when I got home. Warmed up some leftovers and checked what was on TV. I didn’t want to watch the ESPN MNF pregame, but a few minutes later I realized the national anthem might be newsworthy. Both the Cardinals and Cowboys handled it admirably (compared to some other teams).
The Cards had invited the Cowboys to join them locking arms with military veterans, but Dallas wanted to stick together as a team: players, coaches, front office personnel, and owner Jerry Jones. They all locked arms. Just before the anthem was played, all the Cowboys took a knee – Jones included. The crowd booed. Some of the players still had on their helmets, which I thought odd. Perhaps they didn't want to show their faces. Then after a couple of seconds, with arms still locked, they all stood up again. Helmets were removed, and the anthem was played. Then they played football.
Soon pictures of the Cowboys kneeling started popping up on the internet. As expected, they were taken out of context. “Jones and Cowboys kneel for anthem!” People were outraged – at fake news. I saw a headline earlier in the day saying head coach Mike Tomlin had bashed his offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva for being the only Steeler to come out for the national anthem – but nowhere in the article was the assertation justified (or even discussed). Just the media stirring up more strife. Now Villanueva has the top selling jersey. Good for him.
Yes, NFL owners could fire protesting players, but they won’t. The owners know that would only make things worse. A couple of weeks ago only one NFL player protested during the anthem. But after Trump’s comments the owners had no choice but to stand with their employees.
Like so many newsworthy topics these days: politics, terrorism, etc., protests by NFL players are creating division, rage, confusion, disunity, division, and strife. There’s an entire portion of the population (older whites) that have no idea what the protests are about. Others trying to correct the ignorant aren’t getting it right. I’m not so sure myself. Since these protests sprang from the race riots and protests, it’s not entirely farfetched to say these NFL protests trace back to billionaire George Soros’ plan to bring down the United States – a step toward the organization of a one world government.
Laugh if you will, but look around. White privilege has turned into white supremacy. History is being torn down. The goal? Tossing out the US Constitution. Hey, it was written by slaveowners. We can't have that!
There has never been so much division and strife in our country. While our taxes are used in relief around the globe, like so many Americans the rest of the world is growing ever more dependent on US dollars to stay afloat. Yet these same people hate everything the United States stands for, figuratively biting the hand that feeds them. The division and strife just grows and grows.
Maybe this what it was like back in the 60’s. Generations at odds with each other, not listening or understanding what the other has to say. Sure, the American flag and the national anthem deserve respect. So does the right to protest. So many war veterans understand that. Older fans have a right to boycott. Someone suggested the fans shouldn’t pay attention, and instead walk around the stadium. That happens already! Fans would have to quit watching and buying tickets, though season tickets and long-term TV contracts will make any immediate impact hard to feel. With paperless tickets, fantasy sports, and online wagering, the NFL has already moved on to the younger generation. And not just the NFL – there are 8-year old peewee teams protesting as well (wonder where they got the idea?).
Where does it end? Will the anthem stop being played before games? If so, the protesters win. Last year Sports Illustrated ran an article about when and why the anthem was played to begin with (to energize the crowd and stir patriotism).
In a related note, there was a good non-judgmental article in Sports Illustrated about the status of the read option in the NFL, the play that launched the NFL careers of Tim Tebow, Vince Young, Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton, and Colin Kaepernick. All five came into the league after running more than passing in college. Four had won the Heisman, but none came with arms ready to be a drop back passer in the NFL. Their pro teams had to develop special plays to use the skills they had will the QB’s worked to become drop back passers. Tebow’s delivery was too slow. Young refused to run the option, but couldn’t pass. RGIII suffered injuries, so he could no longer run. Newton was big enough to take the pounding, and had the arm to become a serviceable NFL QB – but he still has his limits.
At first Kaepernick was surrounded by a strong O line, good running backs, and a stellar defense to hold leads so passing wouldn’t become necessary. His transcendent game came in the playoffs, vaulting the Niners into the Super Bowl. The next season he played ok, but the team was falling apart. Relying on his legs, Kaepernick never made the leap with his arm. Seventy yard runs became seven yard gains. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left, and the defenses were able to shut down Kaepernick and the weaker Niners. Of the five QB’s, only Newton remains in the league.
Russell Wilson came into the league with a pro arm. He was a passer first, running the read option just enough to keep the defense on its toes. Last year he played hurt, and only ran the option about once per game.
No comments:
Post a Comment