In my part of the country, many Seahawk fans tuned out when it was revealed owner Paul Allen gave a sizable donation to a superpac working to maintain GOP control of the house. Freed up a lot of hours to pursue other things.
5
How do I detest Trump? Let me count the ways.
Trump poisons everything. After 22 years in the Air Force, I am starting to disparage my native country. I can’t uderstand why anyone would dive into the gutter to support him. He is destroying our country, and with his contempt for Nature, threatens our entire planet.
21
I'm not a fan of either the NFL or Nike, but I would support both just to oppose Trump.
NFL owners are not a likable lot, and they have no principles. At least Nike has principles and stands up for them and behind them.
10
The team owners are portrayed as victims. Many of them are the Presidents greatest fans. Owners are part of the problem, trying to impose their views over those of their workers.
6
As the trump administration lies to and robs the American people, we find another article about personal vendetta. Children languish in tents and cages, Puerto Rico is in a shambles, water in Flint is undrinkable, bridges crumble, people die horrible deaths because of lack of healthcare, Ivanka and Jared, Don Jr. and Eric fly the world in luxury on our dime doing personal business as the National Parks ready themselves to be raped by mining and the cutting of old forests. trump can go to you know where in a hand basket. He ruins everything he touches in a revolting display of self involvement. The NFL should turn their backs on him and support it's players who have made them outrageous sums and let them kneel if it stops another innocent black man from being tased to death.
43
"professional football, like so many other American cultural institutions previously safe from partisan politics".....
What I believe you mean is that NFL was previously safe for conservative politics...fighter-bomber flyovers, color guards parading, and the national anthem opening every game. Marketing the brain-splattering national pastime as somehow patriotic served the league well until it didn't. Players taking a knee in protest became a problem for the NFL and Trump but it was certainly not the first introduction of politics to Sunday afternoons. In fact, the already politicized rituals preceding the kickoff provided the perfect environment for peaceful, legitimate protests by concerned players.
12
Kaepernick, class act , Trump , conduct unbecoming to a President ! Spiteful because he can't own a team, that eventually he'd have to sell as anything else he's owned ; Trump Air , Yacht , the failing casinos . For all his braggadocio about his worth one wonders how much he owes those who have loaned money for his businesses . Those playing for the teams must be grateful not to have Trump as their owner.
19
You'll never see another player kneel during the National Anthem on TV unless its on MSNBC or other commentariat. NFL owners and those they pay to broadcast the games have learned that this issue is a loser for them. The owners may decide the cost of forcing their employees/players to stand during the National Anthem is too high, but killing their platform by agreeing with those that broadcast the games not to cover or show the protests is an easy fix. Those that love football can watch the game, those that love protest can watch MSNBC. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
3
What is a team owner to do under pressure from the president of the United States?
The answer is simple....they will continue to get even richer than they were just five minutes ago. The hand-wringing concern over what will the "league" do in light of Trumps attention is much ado about nothing. Money will continue to flow to the owners. Trump supporters will think they are boycotting a Nike product they already bought by defacing he logo (missing he point of a boycott being to withhold money form the offending entity). .
6
Trump claims to be for workers, but he has no problems badmouthing U.S. businesses that employ them like the NFL and Harley Davidson. The NFL is not just rich owners and athletes, for example. Trump is also hurting the NFL vendors, ushers, parking lot attendants, food suppliers, hotel employees, etc.
11
Outstanding! One of the best articles I've read in a long time.
3
I'd like to see our political leaders in Washington dedicate themselves to making the U.S. a country that inspires all to want to honor it with a public show of respect. If people stand for the anthem because they must, that gesture is meaningless. And then there's that little issue about the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech.
6
@Kathy Chenault There is no Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech in the USA. You are simply mistaken. What the constitution says is that the government cannot pass a law that restricts your free speech. It also cannot usually compel you to say something you don't want to (little do we remember, there is freedom of speech and also freedom of not speaking).
1
Trump has tried to get 'in' wih a lot of subgroups of the elite, but the only subgroup that accepted him was the political class and that was by accident. And boy is he ticked!
3
@James F Traynor:
"Political class" is an oxymoron.
2
Never could understand why the NA is played at any sporting event with the exception of winning a gold medal at the olympics and hearing it played while athletes are receiving their medals on the reviewing stand.
12
The truth was Trump did not have enough liquid assets to buy the Bills. The Bills are one of the cheaper teams in the league.
8
The Whitehouse needs to stay in its lane. On the other hand, I suspect many football spectators just don't like to be reminded of any "unpleasantness" when they tune in and that is the crux of the issue.
3
Now even the sports section is turning toward all Trump coverage all the time? No offense to this reporter - he did a great and honest job with this story -- but the media does seem to have a fixation on Trump that the rest of us, honestly, do not. During the Obama administration Obama's name was not on the front page as a regular matter, though I'm sure Obama had twitter thoughts and there were stories that could have been done about Obama's friendships, failed relationships, his thoughts about baseball or hotdogs, or you name it. Somehow those stories were not deemed newsworthy. But this never-ending Trump coverage is killing my interest in newspapers once and for all. He's a one-dimensional character in a three dimensional world, and just not that interesting. I can tell you without a Tweet how he will react to any issue you may raise - he's very predictable and boring. I'd love to read about the whole world again, just not the world according to Trump all the time. Please.
16
@LibertyNY
I absolutely agree, starve this beast, ignore his tweets, empty threats, rallies, and his random incoherent thoughts. He has no coherent policies only drama. Cover Congress, they make laws, cover the government agencies and their policies and do not even mention the T word. We know who and what he is.
7
it's all way too much politics and business. Want football at its best stick to high school ball
4
To have our lowlife traitor of a president inserting his views on the sanctity of the flag is beyond preposterous.The truth will out that trump has been bailed out repeatedly for 30 years by $$ being laundered to him thru his cheesy real estate.Talk about compromised..yikes.He has no respect for our country, our constitution, our laws, our FBI and our democracy and he goes after athletes for taking a knee and exercising their 1st amendment rights??trump's performance is absolutely galling.Bravo Nike.
18
If the NFL was a for-profit organization, as it should be, this wouldn't even be a discussion.
As it is, I figure they're worried that if they tell Trump to bug off, he'll try to get their non-profit status revoked.
It's a shame that these ethical issues seem always to come down to money.
7
@Panthiest - I agree with you and had heard they're classified as a nonprofit.
I googled to learn more. According to this Time Magazine article, they gave up the nonprofit status: http://time.com/3839164/nfl-tax-exempt-status/
3
This much space to discuss americas version of football and a bully. SAD, sad indeed!
1
Trump is always desperately seeking attention. He's irrelevant. He sounds like the old white cranks who didn't get it when Muhammad Ali declared his conscientious objector status during the Vietnam War. History proved him right. Kaepernick and the other NFL demonstrators likewise will be too. There is no question about unequal policing and justice in America. It's not even close.
27
@Solar Power....well said!! Just another example of Trump’s brand of idiocracy...!!
1
What is an NFL team owner to do? How about joining hands and taking a knee?
13
don't anybody remember the USFL, which was doing OK until Trump, advised by Roy Cohn, decided to take on the NFL head to head and then sue them. he collected $1 in damages, and his New Jersey Generals sank like a stone.
11
These people kneel for equality i.e. making America great. POTUS should get behind this, you would think.
8
ignore him and do the right thing.
6
The people screaming that they'll boycott the NFL because of "unpatriotic" players won't. What else are they going to do on Sundays? Read? That said, it would be nice to see the NFL taken down a peg or two. I'm fed up with grown men getting paid millions to play a game while teachers can't make ends meet. If the NFL put some of its profits into the education system, I might buy season tickets--for a team other than Dallas, and I'd donate them to a charity.
20
Can't tell whether I dislike Trump or the NFL more.
9
Everyone should kneel.
9
@dudie katani: neither.
1
1. After all we've learned about the practices of the NFL, the NCAA, and no doubt straight down to Pop Warner, why in the world is football still a thing?
2. Why does playing or watching a sport require one to "honor the flag?"
16
@jacq: may i attempt to answer your 2nd question?
"bread and circuses!" comes with gladiators.
and with a little stretch of the imagination,
sports, along with politics and economic competition,
is where [non-military] "wars" are fought out.
that may be why some think: flags must be involved.
3
It's often hard to realize from the steps of the plantation that your stock of pre-CTE labor is on the morally correct and ultimately the lucrative position.
So funny, were there actual leadership in the NFL it would be an easy sale to say the USA is large enough of an idea to contain Freedom, Pride, Dissent, Brotherhood and Justice as CORE principles.
Why let the criminally craven POTUS divide your audience for his petty gain? Market that football UNIFIES the champion of equal justice with the Blue Lives matter activist for one day a week. Market that those willing to sacrifice their careers and safety for the betterment of their fellow citizens are (small h) heroic and embody what it means to care.
Show a white guy in Bear's gear and a black man in Packers' clothes both celebrating America and demanding that we live up to our highest ideas. Show that soccer mom in her pink Chief's jersey celebrating Sunday football right beside your non-binary Raiders fan. Its not very hard. If the NFL expects to lead into the next generation of fans they had better realize that they're way behind the generational curve on these notions.
29
@sb. Bravo.
1
"What is a team owner to do under [Twitter whining] from the [occupant of the White House]?"
Ignore them like any other troll.
Since bigoted Twitter helps "newsworthy" racists incite hate and blocks those who report them, reporting or flagging them there along with the Ignore (like in actually-reputable websites) is not a meaningful option.
He'll be out in 2020, if not much sooner. Right, 11/6 voters?
23
Jerry Jones: Trump's rise is one of the great stories in America. Yeah, Jerry, right. One of the greatest HORROR stories in America's history. You are so far removed from the daily reality of REAL America. Rich buffoons are nothing but well-heeled circus clowns -- including your buddy Donald.
32
@REV VINCENT Exactly how is it a "great story
when Trump was born rich, has gamed the system to avoid paying creditors and workers, lied continually to everyone, and is on his way to destroying America?
12
Wow, the latest in a line of NYT hatchet jobs, this one by an aggrieved and deeply resentful spectator at the circus that is the NFL. Of course the NFL enjoys certain "understandings" that prevent it from being sued as a monopoly, and as such it is beholden to some extent to the Feds and the White House. Mr. Trump would no doubt like the owners to come and pay their respects as they would to Don Corleone, but he's not getting that.
1
Virtue signaling by overpaid narcissists. Protest on your own time.
3
@M
If that comment is directed to Trump, I agree whole heartedly.
7
Football was well on its way to my barrel's bottom long before infestation of the White House. Their racism, denial of concussion and ignoring of violence against women finally did it. The NFL is not alone in their duplicitous attitudes; churches, universities, law enforcement and others have negative aspects exceeding football. If water can be delivered free of sewage and bovine Tb can be eradicated, if Smallpox can be a thing of the past then surely the NFL product may be made palatable.
17
@Francis Cardinals quarterback said it best years ago, "... it's kind of a stupid game."
NFL is a circus for violent people who like to see their idols wreck their minds and bodies.
4
Maybe five minutes of action interrupted by commercial after commercial spread out over three hours is the real reason viewership is down. The game has gotten BORING! Toss in CTE and the NFL's cover-up, and that's about all you need to know. It is nothing but greed run rampant. Sick of Trump and sick of football.
17
"The media throng at Minute Maid Park in Houston did not play along."
Sorry, but Minute Maid Park in Houston is the home of the Astros. NRG Stadium is the town's NFL stadium.
5
I keep hearing how I shouldn't categorize all Trump supporters as ignorant racists. However, when the people I know on social media post American flag emblazoned "Boycott the NFL, share if you agree" memes, and I know for a fact that they are both racist and voted for Trump, what else am I supposed to think?
The NFL will survive without the support of these hateful people. Intelligent and civil people have more money. Don't these equally ignorant owners know that?
5
I'll stand for the Anthem when I Trump supporter can tell me how, when, why, and where it was written, and where did we get that awful tune to go along with it.
As for the NFL, they boarded the faux patriot train en mass when they Pat Tillman as a catalyst for patriotic fandom. Tillman saw the truth before he died and despised faux patriots one and all for the liars and cowards they are.
Now the meat.....I still love my Bills but despise the league management.
12
hypocrite is an adjective to add to the long description of the presidential baby. He rails against the NFL yet refuses to lower the flag for a fallen war hero ( Trump has yet to brag about his military history, but give him time).
11
Tell Trump He needs to buy his way in if he wants a say in what they do. Otherwise ignore him.
4
This article reminds me why I don’t read the NYT. All the hyperventilating in the comments below reassures my decision not to be a Dem. There are so many factually inaccurate accusations below that all run along the same vien that it is clear that all are getting their misinformation from the same sources.
For Pete’s sake, though, in the interest of demonstrating at least a superficial understanding of the first Amendment to our Constitution, will all the brainwashed posters stop saying that criticizing someone’s actions or speech is somehow violating their Rights?
Reading all the hyperbolic nonsense in the comments is testimony to the failure of our public education system to provide even the tiniest amount of critical analysis skills to its attendants.
The knee-jerk opposition to Trump is absolutely comical. Watching members of the House and Senate espouse the virtues of MS-13 and advocate for criminal prosecution of ICE agents for following the laws that THEY PASSED is priceless.
Oh, and why is it “disgusting” that Trump defended himself against a direct and public attack by Khizer Khan, but attacks on John Kelly are fair game?
2
@Bud S. The article "reminds" you why do don't read this paper? Then what are you doing here commenting?
11
@Bud S. Your comment reminds me why I'm happy that people like you are on Trump's side and not on the side of liberals like me.
3
Ignore Trump.He has long lost any moral authority. Don't give it to him.
10
"Richard Spencer dubbed Brady an 'Aryan Avatar' and said the Patriots’ winning the Super Bowl would be 'a victory for the #AltRight'.”
This article gives us another heavy dose of the media's favorite shading tactic in the Trump era. We know what you are by who cheers for you. Richard Spencer praises the New England Patriots, therefore football is "a proxy war for our national divisions".
We could call it the Peanut Butter Diagnosis. "You like peanut butter. White Nationalists like peanut butter. Therefore you are a White Nationalist."
Tom Brady can't control who cheers for him and I can't say who likes peanut butter. The media's chronic use of these characterizations is both frivolous and mischievous.
6
The creature in the White House is a disease that needs to be quarantined. How? Ignore the tweets and rallies. We need a more responsible media - alas, the media is led by businessmen selling an audience and therefore willing to display acts of sheer idiocy. But the NFL owners can easily ignore the creature - their audience is guaranteed. Simply refuse to entertain any questions about the idiot.
14
I would never invite anyone associated with pro football to the White House.
For what, to celebrate and laud an activity that inflicts deadly brain injury, CTE?
5
Trump is irrelevant. Stop feeding his insatiable desire for attention. Ignore him. He does nothing of interest by himself.
12
Notice how the NBA ignores Trump and his baiting? The NFL can take a lesson from them.
www.newyorkgritty.net
26
The NFL exists primarily to make money. The "Defense" Department pays the NFL millions of taxpayer dollars every year to promote militarism. It's not hard to see why the NFL is reluctant to defy Trump.
10
Little Don hates football now because it attracts more attention than he does when it's being played. He neither loved it or hated it when he wanted to buy a team either. What he wanted was to be associated with something that drew that much attention. He would have made Jerry Jones look bashful as a team owner. He would have made personnel decisions (the very BEST people) and it would have been a horrible team. But the point is we'd be looking and talking about trump every Sunday. The media whether political or sporting loves a "personality." He would have failed at being an NFL owner just as he's failing at being president however both would and are making him much wealthier. The tangerine nightmare loves 2 things above all others and in this order: trump and money.
16
“What is a team owner to do under pressure from the president of the United States?”
There is the first and only problem! And there is the only Solution:
Why do we continue to normalize this monstrous President? His actions are exactly what the NFL should be calling out! They could have had the moral high ground by upholding the civil rights and legitimate racial issues behind athletes “taking a knee.” Instead, they handed a point to Trump by imposing sanctions on any player who makes a public showing of such discontent- which of course gained them nothing from our “loyalty only cuts one way” president.
The NFL would be much better off reversing course, which would allow them to take back the moral high ground, and stand on the right side of history for a change.
A good rule of thumb: whatever Trump stands for, do the opposite. You are almost certainly going to be taking the right action...
50
The players injected politics into the game not Trump.
4
@James. WRONG on many levels. I am a Navy veteran of 21 years and I don't stand for the anthem either. I am exercising my right to do so. Serve and get back to me when you get your DD214 that says "honorable" discharge (RE-1) on it. These players are heroes, not trump.
23
No, life injected politics into the game. It's about time....
7
@Scott Franklin
I joined the reserve 9 years ago and volunteered for to be mobilzed for active duty. So I've served. Thank you.
I support the NFL players and their right to express themselves as they wish.
trump only cares because NFL Owners are an extremely exclusive club that refused to allow trump to join. So trump whines about it any time he gets a chance. What a surprise -
25
Great article! And, yes, as a Jets fan, I can confidently say that the best thing the guy in the White House has done is send Woody Johnson out of the country to serve as ambassador to the UK. Sad!
7
"What is a team owner to do under pressure from the president of the United States?"
Pressure? What pressure? Ignore him, like the rest of us do. The man has no subject matter expertise the league or owners need to consider: TBI, 1st Amendment, patriotism, respect for the US flag, public service, how to run a successful business, etc.
Our president has never done 1 minute of public service before inauguration day. He can't actually recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the words to our national anthem, or even draw a picture of our flag. He doesn't understand the constitutional rights of every American to publicly express their opinions, whether he wishes to hear them or not.
Patriotism? The man dodged military service, insulted Sen. McCain and the grieving parents of deceased soldiers, consorts with Russian money launderers, bad-mouths NATO and treats Canada like one of his many ex-wives.
Trump's ignorance is as comprehensive as his personal and professional behavior is despicable. It used to be a point of pride to find one's name on President Nixon's "enemies list." Having Trump direct his puerile rage against you is a strong indicator that you must be doing something right.
74
The implied respect that goes with the office of the president is gone. This means people are free to ignore his weird Mr Dealmaker game.
28
If DJT was an owner of an NFL team It is doubtful he would say to those on his team who take a knee, "You're fired ! That would surely cost him something he values far more than patriotism, MONEY !
21
Trump has no right to ever denounce anyone for disrespecting the flag after his behavior following the death of Senator John McCain. He has shown the ultimate disrespect to a paragon of military service and patriotism. The flag above the White House flies high, while the flag above the senate rests in deference at half-mast. A childish man uses the flag to purposefully show disrespect to a fallen statesman. Kneeling football players, none of whom have ever claimed to want to disrespect to the country or to veterans, only seek its power to call attention to social issues that they believe can be redressed by the U.S. Government. Any time they receive any guff, all they need to do is point back to Trump's purposeful use of the flag to show his antipathy to a senator who has passed away.
45
It is not the role of the United States Executive Branch to manage professional sports etiquette. This is none of Donald's business.
34
Players should stop taking a knee, as message was not getting out, and start protesting President Trump. Trump is a bigger threat to minorities than the police.
7
Billionaires too intimidated to defend 1st Amendment Free Speech rights of players earning them more billions and too scared to exercise it themselves.
35
Employees are not slaves to be deprived of their rights, or placed in toxic environments that cause brain hemorrhages or cancer risks that their employers are aware of. Nor do employers have the right to require that their employees place themselves at legal risk or acting against the safety of our fellow citizens or this nation.
Trump has a slave owner's confusion regarding the rights of an employer. What he calls loyalty is actually a form of lifetime fealty and slavery. The N.D.A.'s and all the other overbearing bullying is all part of his general psychopathic narcissism that all human beings exist to serve Donald.
He needs to be in a straight-jacket under high security confinement without access to Twitter for the rest of his years after impeachment, trial and sentencing.
30
@jwp-nyc. You are apparently unaware that the Obama administration made every investigator in the Hillary Clinton email ”matter” sign an NDA.
1
@Bud S. To what effect? The first loyalty of any public servant is to the people. NDA schmenDA.
1
@Bud S.
I wondered when someone would haul out the SAD "Obama/Hillary" reference. FAIL!
1
Videos tell the story. First Amendment rights, for a profession that averages 3 years.
7
So....
Is this driving more or fewer watchers to televised NFL events? That is the the only currency that really matters in The Holy Mother Church of the NFL.
The holy trinity of this our state (NFL) religion...earnings, exposure (celebrity) and male dominated competition...is probably being well served by this injection or so called politics. In a culture where exposure is the gold standard Trump is the gift that keeps on giving and for that we Americans can all thank that person who greets us every morning when we look in the mirror.
Cheers for ny giants owner John Mara for saying he would pay any fines incurred by his players for protest. On Trump, "He doesn't know what they are protesting about."
28
Before this important saga of demonstration had begun I considered how odd this worshiping of a flag and the standing/singing of the national anthem at schools and domestic sports events is. Does it not mirror the sort of communism and/or nationalism displayed in (relatively few) other countries the so called 'patriotic right' despise and fear in the first place? Is there a more hypocritical, self serving, un-American and delusional populace than those criticizing these brave young men?
21
When Teddy ROOSEVELT referred to the 'bully pulpit' he was using the 'bully' in its meaning of 'bully (good) for you'. His belief was that the 'bully pulpit' was an opportunity for the President to appeal to what was best in the United States.
The Obama Administration like that of ROOSEVELT is in the past and as we know, 'The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.'
12
All the pressure, tweets and threats from Trump have nothing to do with football, patriotism or anything else. It is just yet another piece of fake news with which to get his supporters riled up and pay attention to him.
13
Trump lives to avenge any slight he receives from someone else. The NFL owners kept him out (and rightly so), and he's been looking for revenge ever since. Now he has an issue that he can use to bully them to do his bidding, and he's loving every minute of it. This isn't about the anthem (which Trump has shown he doesn't even know the words to), or the military (which Trump used his daddy's money to buy his way out of 4 times) or anything but Trump's revenge on NFL owners. Just like the owners told him to take a hike before, they need to do the same again.
24
Trump is a temporary nuisance to the nfl nothing more.
11
Taking a knee, isn’t that a kind of lobby, which The Constitution permits ?
11
Trump seems to not understand that he’s not on the Apprentice any longer. The NFL doesn’t work for Trump. He doesn’t pay any of their salaries. So, where does he come off ordering them to do anything?
22
Trump's complaints about the NFL concussion protocol in addition to the anthem prove that he only likes to whine and that he only wants attention. Like what Lyndon Johnson said about Gerald Ford, Donald Trump clearly played too much football with his helmet off.
22
I don't have cable and don't want it, but the news that ESPN will not broadcast the national anthem is welcome and long overdue. Patriotism has nothing to do with the NFL, unless you believe American football is good enough only for the USA. After the World Cup, I'm inclined to agree.
38
Oh please, at the World Cup they play the National anthem for both team. It’s ridiculous that TV doesn’t broadcast the national anthem of each game to remind us that being an American citizen comes with the responsibility of participating in its democracy and voting not just watching football.
1
@Letter G
If you need to be reminded of your responsibility to participate in our democracy by a song at the beginning of a game, then your citizenship is not worth the paper it's documented on.
6
@Letter G No amount of anthem singing, if he would know how to do it, could ever remind Donald Trump that being president comes with the responsibility of governing in the people’s interest, not his own. Anyway, among the silliest and meaningless thoughts are those expressed in national anthems. And what is truly ridiculous is the seemingly patriotic emotion of those singing them.
6
This is the only thing I would somewhat agree with Trump on. At the end of the day these football players are just employees. Can you imagine what would happen if an employee at Mcdonalds punched in at work and then told their boss they are going to take a knee for 2 minutes to support whatever cause they had ? The employee wouldn't be working there much longer. So by letting the football players do as they please when they are "on the clock" is a weakness on the owners part. The owners have every right to establish their own rules of conduct and expectations that their players/employees must adhere to. If a player gets an endorsement from Captain Crunch are they allowed to hold up a Captain Crunch sign as they walk on the field? Of course not. So don't blame the players, blame the owners.
3
@nb
Cannot agree with either or the two points:
1. If a McDonalds employee takes a knee for 2 minutes they are avoidably depriving the employer of their time for those 2 minutes, justifying penalties. All the football player are present and in effect working during the anthem whether they take a knee are not, so penalties for knee-taking are not justified based on the McDonalds case. Players are not knee-taking during the game and not interfering with the game.
2. Agreed that players do not have the right do anything they please; neither does the employer have the right to make the players do anything the employer pleases. Rules of conduct have to be reasonable, respect civil rights, and be understood and agreed to.
Owners who don't let the football players take a knee are not showing weakness. They are showing strength by resisting the pressure to be politically correct as defined by Trump.
32
@Frank Norman
Oops I blew it. The last paragraph had a "don't" that shoudl not have been there. It should have read
Owners who let the football players take a knee are not showing weakness. They are showing strength by resisting the pressure to be politically correct as defined by Trump.
11
@nb
So much cheaper wrong with this comparison. To quote the great Aretha Franklin: think.
2
American football is none of the president's business. It is likely that he will pick a fight with someone else tomorrow, anyway.
Just keep doing what you're doing, and you'll be fine.
29
Imagine the impact if instead of just kneeling during the anthem each player also held a large photo of one of the victims of police shooting. The message would be clear and unambiguous, 'we are protesting on behalf of these people and their communities'.
42
What a surprise?!? Trump's use of his bully pulpit to attack the NFL is part spite due to the NFL rejecting his attempts at being an NFL owner and part positioning statements for the XFL. Vince McMahon is reviving the XFL for a 2020 season launch. Trump has been friends with the McMahon family of WWE fame for some time. It wouldn't surprise me if Trump ends up being an owner in the XFL after he abdicates his presidency.
13
Never one to forget a grudge or slight, the President was dead set on humbling the NFL any way he could. If the players weren't kneeling he would have found another reason to bully them. Trump has never forgotten that the NFL owners blackballed him from owning a team. They thwarted his lawsuit in a failed attempt to force a merger with the USFL, where he owned a team. He kicked and screamed and forced the USFL to switch from a Spring to a Fall season. In so doing, he virtually ensured its demise when it might have survived as a "niche" sport. As in so many things, what Trump touched turned to dust.
76
Here's a thought. This boils down to a simple question. Do you owe allegiance to a racist who hides behind the flag at every turn or to the preponderance of your employees who are exercising one of the their constitutional rights?
111
Why, stand up and be counted. That's what. I thought NFL guys were "tough" and "courageous". Well, maybe the players are, but it's turning out that the owners are gutless.
40
I wonder if those upset at protesting during the anthem, if for example white players held up signs with "Maga" or "Trump forever", or chanted "Trump, Trump,Trump" during the anthem, would be upset? The real basis isn't they think the players are not respecting the flag or military, it is they don't like the belief behind it, they in their own minds claim the US is colorblind, or in many cases, look at the issues in their own lives and resent someone else "once again" bringing up racism when they have it so bad and they are white, who is protesting for them? (Trump nation, if they are anything, are extremely selfish). Like those with seeing the protests in the 60's and 70's as "unpatriotic" or denying the MLK holiday calling him a 'communist agitator' and the like, it is really about them resenting something they themselves believe in, or at the very least, think isn't important compared to their problems, and "no one is protesting for me".
19
Pro football is not a sport. It is a business that generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the owners and players. I would care less about the whole thing. If the players do not want to stand for the national anthem so be it. But I do not want to see the games much anymore. The players can all be replaced and with less viewership they will not be as grossly overpaid as they are now.
5
"What is a team owner to do under pressure from the president of the United States?" How about doing what you tell the team members: Fight!
27
The problem isn't the knee. It's the knee *on teevee.*
Remember, telecasts are the property of the N.F.L., not the broadcaster. There's a copyright notice inserted in every game.
Seeing the anthem in the game window is a recent development. As I recall, it was a post-9/11 thing.
Commissioner Goodell could have moved the anthem out of the broadcast window, and that would have fixed 90% of the problem. At minimum.
Too late now, Roger.
16
"Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Perhaps the Players Association should petition the government for a redress of this particular grievance.
23
@Lostin24 Since Congress did not make a law prohibiting free speech, I don't get your point here. Seems like a labor issue.
1
How about this:
We respect our athletes, and understand that everyone has an opinion. As an Organization, we cannot dictate political beliefs any more than religion or opinion. We, as a League, will bow out of this. People may, and will, discuss what our players do, but we will not dictate their political opinions any more than General Motors or Apple can their employees.
The NFL has always supported the Troops, as if it even needed mention.
Signed, the NFL
Don't rise to the bait. The fight is what Trump wants, he doesn't care one whit about the actual result.
49
It’s a simple calculation of whether a phony patriotism ploy by team owners is a better league advertisement than constitutional rights. Maybe it would be better if the NFL refused the US military funding that has turned a traditional beginning to each competition into a service recruiting exercise.
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@Sam Song Their taking a knee has nothing to do with the military. That's a false narrative promoted by FOX/GOP/Trump.
33
The concussion-coveruppers at the NFL would never dare nix that! The fighter flyovers, flag waves and "Homeland" in'Security gropage at the Super Bowl help fans think the tax-funded private monopoly is actually a government-run sports organization—and ending the jingoism would shut the corporate-welfare spigot. It also helps the racist coaches ostracize Colin Kae, as a dubious added bonus.
Kneeling on the AstroTurf? TRAITOR!
Punching your wife and militarizing the cops? Ok.
7
Imagine going to a restaurant and before getting your food the server harangued you with their political opinion. You are not there for that! They can freely state their views outside of their work place and NFL players will still gets lots of attention. But not when they are on the job!
3
@Donna Gray - really?? I express my political views at my job every day - as I I have the right to and as you have the right to do as well. When - in your mind - did free expression become a crime? Oh my! How did we all un-learn the lessons of fourth grade???
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@Donna Gray
Oh, please, spare me. Football is not a typical workplace, it has an exemption from anti trust laws so for example, a player who doesn't like Jerry Jones banning protests cannot just simply quit and work for another team, and that exemption makes the NFL quasi-governmental (otherwise, how come they have an exemption?). At that point the first amendment comes in, because with the NFL protests and Trump threatening the NFL if they allow protests, it can be considered they were bowing to political pressure to suppress speach.
More importantly, the NFL isn't political? Really? So all those "salute to the military, rah rah things" are not political? Especially since the "patriotic" owners were paid to do them, they charged the DOD for them? How come you aren't telling them "I go for a football game, not a cheerleading rally for the government" then? How come you aren't outraged that the NFL owners "patriotism" was all about $$$$?
41
@Donna Gray
How about we look at it the other way around. If you don't want football players to express themselves regarding their private opinions while they are on the field, it would be fair for me to say, I don't want the Trump to express his private opinions while using his public office.
But to the extent the president sees fit to tell me which brands to boycott, what news programs to watch, whether or not to believe what I see and hear, etc., etc., a kneeling football player is pretty insignificant in terms of annoyance.
49
Why is it the most unpatriotic, unconcerned for his country, self-centered, and destructive President ever can call out a group of men protesting obviously flawed police practices?
Trump blathers on and on about 'disrespect" for the anthem, the flag, "our wonderful military" out of one side of his ample pie hole while he tears down every aspect of government, displays his abysmal ignorance of American history, and mocks and demeans soldiers and their families with the other.
We all know, or can surmise, the flawed deviance that is Trump; it seems the reaction he produces with this shuck and patriotic jive speaks volumes about his damaged base.
Concerns for the future...
72
Mr. Trump was outbid by a billionaire, and he's still sore over it.
(It's not burying the lede, it's preserving the punchline!)
26
@John If only he'd gotten an NFL franchise, or USFL worked....but the football royalty treated him the same way NYC real estate royalty treats him.
12
@Casey
But Casey, both bunches of competent, hard-working and intelligent entrepreneurs are showing nothing but good sense. Trump has none of those qualities, has never made a penny in business, and would have been a loud, annoying pest, a waste of their time and a drag on their business.
6
@Casey
They accepted a higher bid from someone else?
2
The NFL is scapegoating the player for the things that are really hurting the ratings: 1) the concussion issue, and 2) the rise of fantasy football - which - BTW - the NFL is a big investor in. The players have the right to express their views at any time - including during the national anthem. That freedom of expression is what makes America truly great!!
66
Owners and players alike should all kneel to show their complete contempt for our unpatriotic president.
Get Trump OUT of the game and off the field.
Do not listen to a word Trump says about patriotism. Look
at how he tried to use the flag against Senator John McCain.
He's a liar, a money launderer, a deliberate divider, a promoter of violence and hatred, a kleptocrat who owes Putin something BIGLY, not to mention a racist, an adulterer and sexual assaulter on a huge scale. Kneel and tell Trump to stay out of the NFL.
197
Trump's battle with the NFL is rooted in envy. The league makes billions and the owners are all worth a fortune. Now name two things that Trump can't tolerate in other people. My two: success and money. Real money.
56
@Liberty Apples
Maybe the NFL will allow for an expansion team in New Jersey, and maybe they can call it the Generals. All he has to do is pay the expansion fee and demonstrate that he is solvent. They could look at his tax returns or something like that. I'm sure that your president is up for that.
28
The NFL’s ratings are down, Trump is 100% correct. Much the decline can be attributed to these players kneeling, which offends a majority of viewers. If these players want to bring attention to a more serious matter, how about kneel for the 50-60 victims of gun violence every weekend in Chicago? Black on black crime doesn’t make their list? Odd..
4
@Midwest Josh Football is "down" in the "ratings", because of CTE. THAT'S the reason many families have rethought their support of sending their children onto the field. The VERY few that make it to the NFL may have good fortune. But playing those odds and losing to a non-correctable brain condition, caused by the sport, makes little to no sense. I grew up playing and loving the game, and I watch (although more college than pro), but I did NOT allow my son to play, and CTE is the reason.
The NFL tried for years to hide that fact, and that's the kind of unscrupulous, greed-oriented behavior that has turned off so many former fans.
44
I guess we know who's starting at left tackle for the Washington Whatabouts.
18
@Midwest Josh Maybe ratings are down because big market teams in NY and LA are struggling? Or maybe they are down as are all TV ratings because people have far more entertainment options and prefer to time shift rather than have appointment viewing?
11
That's easy. Tell him to mind his own business. Tell him to look over his shoulders for indictments. Tell him to stop trying to wreck American enterprises because he has dyspepsia.
23
If the NFL owners had a spine they would respond to Trump by saying " When we want your opinion, we'll ask for it."
156
A petty vindictive man always wanting to be included in places where they know better than to include his peevish petty personality.
In ways that he can get even he is currently using a public bully pulpit to denigrate the organization that rejected him just to get even. In the four years this vapid personality will occupy the WH we will run out of expressive words in the English language to continue describing this unpleasant wicked immoral deviant.
28
It might serve the NFL well to remember at this moment that in virtually every McCain eulogy I've thus far heard, EVERY one of them dramatically and unintentionally drew the inevitable horrific contrast between the honorable Senator we mourn and the undignified Useful Idiot who chose to yet again disgrace himself by purposefully disrespecting McCain's passing. He continues targeting the NFL. Don't give him a pass on this bullying attempt! He's a LOSER.
50
Frankly I don't want to hear another word from trump about the NFL until he learns the color of the stripes on our flag and what they stand for
81
Is it possible to simply ignore that oaf in the White House? After a long week working, I love our Sunday football. I wait all year for the season to begin. Perhaps if the owners, players and sports commentators can minimize responding to the blather and insults coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, or whichever trump property is being hawked that weekend, sports fans can go back to enjoying the season. Let the players kneel; it is their right to do so if they wish, and I support them. It has zero to do with the military, veterans or the president. Let him blather to no audience. Lordy, that would be a welcome respite.
77
Trying to work up a smidge of concern for the NFL owners.
Nope.
Can't find any.
Trying to work up a smidge of respect for Trump.
Nope.
Can't find any of that either.
214
After the president's snub of John McCain and his petulance about not wanting to lower the flag in honor of the late Senator, he took his brand of political incorrectness to an all time low, using the American flag to air his petty grievances.
80
A president that had difficulty honoring a warrior like McCain with a flag tribute should simply be ignored in this case.
64
The NFL should ignore the so called president miscreant unindicted co conspirator. Whenever questioned about the clown they should say:
1) he wasn’t even elected by a majority of the people
2) we don’t want to be associated with a xo-conspirator, a felon or a future impeachee - let’s alone all 3
3) Isn’t he the guy playing golf all the time instead of working
34
Trump's entire act is heckling. Roger Goodell should read the story of the scorpion and the frog.
36
The owners, players and fans need to tell Donald Trump to go play golf, mind his own business, and shut his mouth.
97
I would like to see the NFL players continue to kneel. They are peacefully showing their protests of the unfairness in this country with prejudices of race . I would rather see this than riots in the cities. What is really upsetting is knowing Trump got a draft excuse to avoid Vietnam from having a bone spur in the foot . But at college he was able to play tackle football for 4 years. He took up the wrong cause this time.
123
Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh has expressed the opinion that a siting President cannot face any criminal charges since it would seriously interfere with the discharge of the important responsibilities and duties of that high office. Of course, as in everything our Fake President often does without any self-restraint he is the exception to any "rule", including Kavanaugh's, be it his devotion to "heckling the N.F.L.", endless rounds of golf, picking fights with numerous citizens, attacking American businesses, jetting about the country for ego-boosting campaign rallies, etc., etc. There certainly is a compelling logic to the fact that this part time/no time President does not get receive any paychecks from U.S. taxpayers.
14
Well those veterans among us know that we fought for the right, as Americans, to sit, stand, kneel or do whatever we want to do regardless of what big government in Washington wants us to. Tell the president to mind his own business. (He's already demonstrated that he can't run a football club.)
96
Everything Donald Trump touches turns to excrement.
Too bad these NFL-owner-snowflakes don't do the reasonable thing and tell Donald Trump to keep the hell out of sports and focus on his day job and good government.
They all seem like a bunch of big babies.
162
“What is a team owner to do under pressure from the president of the United States?“
Answer: Tell him to get to work on the problems that the players are protesting.
266
@Steve Collins Exactly!
9
Only pressure I see is how to spend the extra money he gave them through those toploaded tax cuts. More money = more problems; am I right?
5
Here's a thought: it is impossible to simply ignore Trump, so long as he holds the office of President. However, perhaps we can and should ignore Trump when it comes to matters not related to his duties as president or his potentially criminal behavior, such as when he tries to get involved with issues of the NFL, popular performers and actors, and generally non-politicians who say nice or mean things about him. While he wants to dominate our thoughts all the time about everything, the media can, by what it reports, force him to stay in his lane (government) and let us have some things that are uncontaminated by his opinions.
110
Right. You've very politely suggested Trump do what most others would simply sum up in two words.
16
Great piece Mr. Leibovich!
As an immigrant and a US citizen, when I root for my Patriots, I’m well aware that there are Alt-Rightist and racists and trump supporters that are also cheering for the same Patriots. The irony!
It is indeed too bad that the Pegulas outbid Trump for the Buffalo Bills. The country would have been better off and Patriots would have continued to trounce Trump’s team.
16
The NFL? Trump? FEH!!!!
17
"...the infant presidency of Donald J. Trump."
Funny, whether intentional or not. But let's be clear that Trump is not attacking "the league," just one group within that league.
40
I think that's a typo. it should read:
"...the infantile presidency of Donald J. Trump."
147
@Pat. So many words come to mind..... inept, intolerable, insane, incorrigible, indescribable.
3