On Thursday the new 2018 NFL season began. It began the same way it ended, with players making personal statements by kneeling and holding their fists in the air. This of course caused the President to weigh-in and well, like I said. “Here we go again.”
This has gone on for so long now that I am not sure if anyone even knows what the player’s beef is anymore. If you ask, most people would say that the players have a beef with the police. They claim that the black community is treated poorly. Others will tell you that it’s about Colin Kaepernick not getting hired; because he started all of this. Translation, the NFL Owners are being racist for not hiring a player who has caused so much loss and bad press for the NFL. Having said that, what most people will say is that they don’t like or appreciate the players kneeling for the anthem and feel it is un-American and dishonors our service men and women.
As with most political topics, the Left and MSM back the players and their right to protest. The Right do not back the players. The Right’s position is America first, honor the country and the flag and protest on your own time. Guess which side I fall into?
Having run a company for most of my working life, I can tell you that this wouldn’t happen more than one time. The very first time one of my team members decided to make a personal political statement on my dime, they would be looking for another company to earn their dime.
Why the NFL and the Owners allow this bad negative press to continue is puzzling to me. They know it is hurting their pocket books. They know their viewership has dropped off for the past two years. They know it takes away from the game, yet they continue to struggle as to how to stop it. More than likely, it is the player’s union that stands in their way. Good ole unions.
Never the less, union or no union, the NFL and the Owners should come out with a united message and put a stop to the nonsense. Tell the union and the players that they will no longer allow this to continue. Put the players on notice, that anyone breaking policy will be suspended without pay and fired if they repeat the behavior.
I realize that talk is cheap. The owners have to be willing to back up their ultimatum. If they do that, the problem will go away after the first Sunday and the owners who follow through will enjoy hearing from millions of Americans who show their gratitude, not to mention a likely boost in ticket sales.
The union will threaten law suits and the players will scream racism which is nothing different than what they are doing right now.
Once the dust settles, I would be interested to see exactly what the players do to continue what they would have us believe is the very important message that they are attempting to send to the country. I have no reason to believe we will hear any more about it. Did you hear anything about their plight during the off season? Me either, but if you put a camera in front of them and give them an audience (on someone else’s dime), look out!
Now before you accuse me of being against free speech let me be clear. I am all for free speech. Just exercise it on your own time, not mine.