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Going too far?

Halldan1

Halldan1

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What's your take?

Trump doubles down on call to ‘fire’ NFL anthem protesters
By Dean Balsamini

September 23, 2017 | 2:58pm


President Trump ratcheted up his war of words with the NFL Saturday, insisting again that the league should boot players who refuse to stand during the national anthem.

“If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect….our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!”

The salvo comes after the NFL and its players’ union on Saturday slammed Trump for suggesting that owners fire players who kneel during the national anthem and that fans consider walking out in protest “when somebody disrespects our flag.”

“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players,” the league commissioner, Roger Goodell, said in a statement.

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, tweeted: “We will never back down. We no longer can afford to stick to sports.”

Trump on Friday said at a Alabama rally that he’s hoping team owners take a hard line stance against players who take a knee during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
 
Personally, I would like all the players to respect the Anthem and protest in a different fashion. But saying that they have every right to do what they're doing.

I have no doubt what Trump did will have the opposite effect of what he wanted and exacerbate the situation.
 
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The obvious result

Whole NFL team to skip national anthem altogether
By David K. Li

September 24, 2017 | 11:54am the Pittsburgh Steelers will stay in their locker room and not take the field in Chicago on Sunday until after the national anthem is played.

Coach Mike Tomlin told CBS Sports that his team will remain out of sight while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played just before their 1 p.m. kickoff against the Bears at Soldier Field.

“We’re not going to play politics,” Tomlin said. “We’re football players, we’re football coaches. We’re not participating in the anthem today — not to be disrespectful to the anthem [but] to remove ourselves from this circumstance.”

Tomlin didn’t mention President Trump by name but said there is a divisive atmosphere forcing teammates to pick political sides.

“People shouldn’t have to choose,” the veteran Steelers coach said.

“If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn’t be separated from his teammate who chose not to.”

He added: “So we’re not participating today. That’s our decision. We’re going to be 100 percent. We came here to play a football game.”
 
‘Pissed off’ Rex Ryan has some Donald Trump regrets
By Mark W. Sanchez

September 24, 2017 | 12:43pm

The former Jets coach and Bills coach now sounds like a former Donald Trump supporter, too.

Rex Ryan is “pissed off” about the president’s sharp criticism of protesting NFL players — not just because Trump has gone too far in his mind, but because what the president says reflects on those who put him in power.

“I’m pissed off, I’ll be honest with you,” Ryan said Sunday on ESPN. “I supported Donald Trump, I sat back when he asked me to introduce him at a rally in Buffalo, I did that. But I’m reading these comments, and it’s appalling to me. And I’m sure it’s appalling to almost any citizen in our country. And it should be. Calling our players SOBs, and that kind of stuff, that’s not the men that I know. The men that I know in the locker room I’m proud of, I’m proud to be associated with those people.

“I apologize for being pissed off, but guess what, that’s it. Right away I’m associated with what Donald Trump stands for and all that because I introduced him. I never signed up for that, I never wanted that. That doesn’t mean I support 100 percent of the things he says.”



“I’m pissed off I’ll be honest. I supported Trump, and I’m appalled at these comments. SOB’s? Not the men that I know.” - Rex Ryan just now

Trump took aim at the players who take a knee for the anthem to protest the U.S.’ treatment of minorities, saying the team owners should fire that “son of a bitch.”

Ryan had been a Trump backer, introducing him at a rally in April 2016.
 
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I actually wouldn't have minded if he said he personally would walk out as opposed to telling people to walk out.
 
The people who were for the protest are still for the protest. What the steelers did today changed the minds of a lot of people who were indifferent. There are a lot of disappointed steelers fans today.
 
It's sad that we have such a useless President. The only thing he can wrap his little mind around this morning is tweeting about the NFL, instead of maybe focusing his tweets on a US territory that is an island 100% without power and has 3.5 million US citizens in desperation.

Who exactly is disgracing the US?

I'm not saying the US government isn't taking action, I'm saying show some respect for the country yourself and focus your god damn priorities.
 
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Section112 said:
Trump should shut up. He's giving the protesters press which is what they want.
Click to expand...

I agree he should shut up. But I think the guy has a better read on the American people than we all give him credit for. I don't know what his end game is, but I do believe there's a good number of people who will follow him regardless. That means some on the right will stop watching football. Many on the left aren't watching because of Kaepernick. Is he trying to destroy the NFL? I don't know. But it may kill the ratings completely.
 
If I had the ability to make millions of dollars playing a game I loved to play.....I would take a knee and thank God, my family and my nation....then I would stand up and be a proud American as I place my hand over my heart. If I wanted to protest social injustice, I would do it any way as not to disgrace my family or my country!
 
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Pro athletes have a platform and many alternative ways to protest. This is not the best way to do it.
 
They are using a platform we pay attn to. And I don't think kneeling for the anthem disgraces anything. The country and anthem survived the 68 olympics, the vietnam protests. It makes a statement that they think the police shootings are not ok. There are two sides to that argument and the hardest decision I can think of is a cop wondering if the guy he is chasing is gonna shoot him. But what has happened in the past few yrs is disturbing, at least to me it is. And if young black athletes want to say they are concerned in a public and controversial manner, that is their right.
 
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Seton75 said:
They are using a platform we pay attn to. And I don't think kneeling for the anthem disgraces anything. The country and anthem survived the 68 olympics, the vietnam protests. It makes a statement that they think the police shootings are not ok. There are two sides to that argument and the hardest decision I can think of is a cop wondering if the guy he is chasing is gonna shoot him. But what has happened in the past few yrs is disturbing, at least to me it is. And if young black athletes want to say they are concerned in a public and controversial manner, that is their right.
Click to expand...

Police shootings are definitely not ok. But there are too many daily shootings that go on this country. Why focus on such a small percentage of shootings?

They're focusing on the splinter and not the plank. And it appears to be more a protest vs authority than a protest against the problem.
 
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It never ceases to amaze me how some folks think the symbols of our freedom are more important than our actual freedoms.

As for the question whether Trump has gone too far, I think he will continue to say ridiculous things like this and will probably get even more ridiculous. He's an attention whore and always has been. He's basically an Internet troll. And of course he'll always have a core group of people who buy his BS and relish his outrageousness. Probably not enough to get him reelected, though, imho.
 
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It is sad when players feel the need to state their political views when they have opportunity
To be on TV.Not standing for the anthem is a disgrace and I don't need them to tell me how to be politically correct and have all the mainstream media lavish them with praise for their courage,what a joke.
 
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Does anyone else think that Trump might be looking at all of this as a chance to be vindictive toward the NFL as a payback for what went down with the USFL lawsuit? I'm sure he's had it in for the league for the past 30 years, but never had the opportunity for any sort of vengeance.
 
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I am a Steeler fan and for first time in 40 years, I could care less they lost today. Not very upset at all. Not happy with the way they protested.
 
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Halldan1 said:
Personally, I would like all the players to respect the Anthem and protest in a different fashion. But saying that they have every right to do what they're doing.

I have no doubt what Trump did will have the opposite effect of what he wanted and exacerbate the situation.
Click to expand...

Trump is playing to his base. The basket of deplorables that Hillary and company dismiss. The NFL is at an inflection point. Fewer kids playing football. A fan base that is largely offended by the protests.

I agree trump will stoke the players to act out more but many view them as over paid elites. We shall see what comes of it. Honestly do we need them calling him an a’hole And worse?
 
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lloyde dobler said:
Does anyone else think that Trump might be looking at all of this as a chance to be vindictive toward the NFL as a payback for what went down with the USFL lawsuit? I'm sure he's had it in for the league for the past 30 years, but never had the opportunity for any sort of vengeance.
Click to expand...

Imagine the guy has a long memeiry.
 
It always has been and it will continue to be a mistake to ever allow political views , commentary or demonstrations to take place in the workplace . There are appropriate forums to allow that to take place but the workplace is not one of them.
 
This is a heated topic but it crosses the sports world so I have no issue with this thread continuing. I just ask that every poster, regardless of his or her opinion, respect the 'other point of view' when replying and under no circumstances revert to name calling.
 
Halldan1 said:
This is a heated topic but it crosses the sports world so I have no issue with this thread continuing. I just ask that every poster, regardless of his or her opinion, respect the 'other point of view' when replying and under no circumstances revert to name calling.
Click to expand...

Dan, did I cross some line?
 
lloyde dobler said:
Does anyone else think that Trump might be looking at all of this as a chance to be vindictive toward the NFL as a payback for what went down with the USFL lawsuit? I'm sure he's had it in for the league for the past 30 years, but never had the opportunity for any sort of vengeance.
Click to expand...
100%. Trump never forgets and hates to lose. The USFL was a neat thing the first couple years playing in the Spring. I was a Generals fan as a kid. But he and some other owners tried to parlay their success and challenge the NFL into accepting the Generals and other successful teams into the NFL. He sued the NFL and won.....$1 dollar. That lawsuit was the end of the USFL and Trump would be happy to see the league suffer a little.
 
Here is how I see it. The players have a first amendment right to protest, but they don't have the right to protest in their workplace. If you work for an oil company, you can, outside of the workplace say what a terrible environmental company it is, but try calling that from the roof of your corporate headquarters. You wouldn't have your job by sundown.

MANY Americans of color have fought and died for our flag. To disrespect them by disrespecting our flag, is the ultimate stupidity.
 
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Halldan1 said:
Personally, I would like all the players to respect the Anthem and protest in a different fashion. But saying that they have every right to do what they're doing.

I have no doubt what Trump did will have the opposite effect of what he wanted and exacerbate the situation.
Click to expand...
What he wanted was to exacerbate the situation.
 
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Between this and the other thread, it's a wonderful reminder about the hilarity of the situation. People are commending the players as much as they are disgusted by them. And there seems to be 1 thing that I always ask and no one has a good answer:

If you don't like their protesting, what do you suggest they do otherwise?

No one upset by the players nonviolent decisions to do this on a platform of their choice has an alternative suggestion. The way I see it: if no one is getting harmed what's the foul?

I have nothing more to add that others haven't touched upon already.
 
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Oh good, I was worried I wouldn't have the opportunity to hear about this somewhere. Thanks for posting.
 
JRSlim2284 said:
Between this and the other thread, it's a wonderful reminder about the hilarity of the situation. People are commending the players as much as they are disgusted by them. And there seems to be 1 thing that I always ask and no one has a good answer:

If you don't like their protesting, what do you suggest they do otherwise?

No one upset by the players nonviolent decisions to do this on a platform of their choice has an alternative suggestion. The way I see it: if no one is getting harmed what's the foul?

I have nothing more to add that others haven't touched upon already.
Click to expand...
The NY Giants forbade their players to do it, but facilitated their ability to discuss their concerns with police officials in nyc.

So dialogue with important law enforcement and political figures is the answer.
Press conferences, non-profit foundations, victim advocacy etc are better ways to address the problem
 
catholicman said:
The NY Giants forbade their players to do it, but facilitated their ability to discuss their concerns with police officials in nyc.

So dialogue with important law enforcement and political figures is the answer.
Press conferences, non-profit foundations, victim advocacy etc are better ways to address the problem
Click to expand...

Three New York Giants kneeled today. The rest of the team held their arms together.
 
SHUHoopsFan said:
The people who were for the protest are still for the protest. What the steelers did today changed the minds of a lot of people who were indifferent. There are a lot of disappointed steelers fans today.
Click to expand...
I am a Steelers fan and I have zero issues with what they did today. (Besides for their play on the field)
 
hinson32 said:
I am a Steelers fan and I have zero issues with what they did today. (Besides for their play on the field)
Click to expand...

Thats why I didn't say it changed everyone's mind. I knew there was that 1 guy out there somewhere who it didn't effect. What are the odds it was you. LOL You can find a few people burning steelers jerseys. You can find a lot of people on social media pissed off about it.
 
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