The NFL

Which fans are you talking about? The ones in St. Louis, Oakland or San Diego? It's all about the money.

Actually St. Louis Fans! The Rams are the second team to hose the city. Of course the politicians were complicit in the hosing of the taxpayers also.

Colin Kaepernick, my favorite NFL player, now nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

SJG

So was this guy--actually he won it........winning a Nobel Prize in the last 20 years is like the old gray mare......."it ain't what it use to be"

nobelprize.org

Anyone can nominate anyone for the Nobel Peace Prize. Beyond that, it is considered a qualified nomination if submitted by a qualified person, including any university professor. There are over 300 qualified nominations this year.

The guy who nominated him I believe is a university professor, as well as a long time civil rights activist himself, going back to the 1968 Olympics. Emeritus UC Berkeley.

Harry Edwards

democracynow.org

en.wikipedia.org

How many remember that Joe Robbie built Joe Robbie Stadium with PRIVATE funds? I wonder how many other pro sports venues can say that?

NFL is a closed system, like all US pro sports. Promotion/relegation is the only HONEST way to run things. The Browns, Jets (or any other failing franchise) can't be punished for incompetence and a second-tier team can't be rewarded. Stifles innovation. XFL and USFL tried, and we're squashed.

@groundball said, "The Browns ... can't be punished."

:'-(

It's getting old here in-town since we'll really a blue collar town. And this type of protest against the anthem and flag is not popular here. So, we're not sure continuing this protest is a good idea nor does it seem to accomplish anything.

Speaking of accomplishing goals. I gave them the benefit of the doubt; Kaepernick et al wanted to start a conversation; so when is the dialog starting? Taking a knee is that it? I realize the latest uptick was due to President Trump baiting the NFL players, which is a little different that Kaepernick & Boyer's compromise.

Well I bought into an gave them an open mind. Except I don't think anyone wants to to start a dialog. Pity.

I starting to think it's not about BLM or police shootings. I'm starting to wonder if it's really a black [working class] culture vs white [working class] culture. And maybe the flag and anthem symbolizes culture that they are protesting.

I know sometimes looking at video recordings of police encounters with blacks that go sideways. Prior to President Trump's reset on political correctness, this was hard to discuss openly. But sometimes it seems that some of black culture is it's own worst enemy. Maybe that is too charged to say. But since the players won't start the dialog, maybe I should.

Sadly, I think the machismo in black culture doesn't let them question or confront this, lest one look weak or acting white.

Anyone comment? Am I off base? Wrong hypothesis? What do you think they're protesting? No rong answers.

Here’s the real problem with the NFL. It stopped listening to its core customers. Instead, it got arrogant and took them for granted. They tried to expand without securing their base. Doing things to draw in female fans. Supporting politically correct causes. Expanding to Europe. Raising prices to nose bleed levels. Adding TV commercials and replays that make the game too long. Changing rules to protect the QB to the point that any contact is a penalty.

The NFL got rich off the support of the ( mostly white ) working class fan. They may have lost much of this base and they don’t know how to get it back.

Yeah you're comparing a 9-5 to a non 9-5. The valuble you become, the more leeway you get. Sports is especially true in that regards. Also, employers are not allowed to stop a Muslim to "break out the Mecca rug". That's religious discrimination and grounds for a lawsuit. Stop comparing apples and oranges and listen to the message these players are peacefully trying to tell you.

The message the players are "peacefully" telling us is simply a fucking lie. Not sure when the law was passed that says that every time a black person claims racism, it is in fact racism. Amazing that there exists a community in this day and age that is 100% unwilling to accept any responsibility for what happens in their community. Social justice lol. Stupid, meaningless phrase.

Esta,

It isn't the message that offends, it's the timing!

@Colin Karpernick said: "I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in he street and people are getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

This is not something that I am going to run by anybody. I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people who are oppressed. If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know hat I will have store up for what is right." --> END QUOTE

@Steve Wyche, NFL media reporter, wrote: "[Colin Kaepernick] said that he had discussed his feelings with his family and, after months of witnessing some civil unrest in the U.S., decided to be more active and involved in civil rights for black people. Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white patents and siblings."

^^^ Since the dialog seemed to stop there, I'm not sure the they're protesting what they're saying they are either. Seems to be a black culture thing, I think maybe I'm wrong. I am fairly certain they don't know exactly why they're protesting either.

I do agree the league has been trying to be more inclusive, like @Mark94 writes. It started with trying to court women as viewers and women as apparel shoppers at the NFL Shop. So it would make sense that social justice warrior culture would be possible extension of that.

RE: SJWs: Good luck with that.

@Clubber, I agree with the timing being the problem.

That got me thinking. What if they see the anthem and flag as white culture and they want to replace it? Maybe. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

The said hit it is not like these pro athletes can't use the rest of the day or the rest of the week for their philanthropy, outreach, awareness, and protest. It's not like they don't have. Thousands or millions of Twitter followers or millions of dollars to make an impact.

@clubber. I remember. It was sad when they sold the naming rights.

I think Jerry Jones built the Cowboys' stadium with his own funds too.

I certainly consider Colin Karpernick worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize, and a role model for everyone to follow. Of course there may be other nominees equally deserving.

San Jose State, 1968 Olympics Monument blogs.mercurynews.com

SJG

You do like to prove how dumb you are

flag,

Close, but no banana!

"To aid Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in paying the construction costs of the new stadium, Arlington voters approved the increase of the city's sales tax by 0.5%, the hotel occupancy tax by 2%, and car rental tax by 5%. The City of Arlington provided over $325 million (including interest) in bonds as funding,[21][22] and Jones covered any cost overruns. Also, the NFL provided the Cowboys with an additional $150 million loan, following its policy for facilitating financing for the construction of new stadiums." wikipedia

Dominic,

I think it would be interesting to find out how many of the MILLIONS those protesters are paid they use to fight against their "issues"? Or even their time. I'm quite sure many of the players do, but those guys are usually "doers", not protesters.

Clubber,

I learned that dividing line when volunteering with the food trucks / food charities. Many elites won't roll up their sleeves because it means actually working with disadvantaged and having to go to their homes and do hard work and mentoring.

Some elites would rather do "glorious tasks" where their seen for very little effort or because they actually have thinly veiled contempt for the underclass. Other normal people like me don't mind will actually do the thankless grunt work that gets no recognition. The elite volunteers would rather pass out food and snap photos to send to social media avoid the shoulder-to-should work.

I wonder into which camp these millionaire athletes fall? Time and actions will tell.

"Amazing that there exists a community in this day and age that is 100% unwilling to accept any responsibility for what happens in their community. "

And yet, there exists another community 100% unwilling to accept any responsibility. Lets just call it 50/50. :)

77,

Most, I would venture a guess, the latter.

"I wonder into which camp these millionaire athletes fall?"

I think kapernick(and others) has donated money but thats not saying much. Even still, they do more than the fucking politicians!!!(republican and democrat)

@clubber explain to me how the timing is bad

Esta,

If I need to explain it to you, then you likely wouldn't understand!