[PugMom]

Originally Posted by George Page

The NFL could be making a big mistake!
What happens when some fans refuse to stand for the Black National Anthem?

In any case. HAPPY 4th!
Enjoy your independence....while we still have it.

or KNEEL during the new anthem

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by rustyp

Francis Scott Key author of the star spangled banner was a well know slave owner. There is controversy over verse three with perhaps some reference to slavery but difficult to translate. FYI the melody is from an old British drinking song.

The 3rd stanza refers to being slaves of the British. It's an ironic twist on the verse in Rule Britannia that says Britons never never ever will be slaves.

It has nothing to do with blacks.

[PugMom]

thank you

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

It is beyond sad when sports go down the tube. If they play some contrived garbage instead of the Star Spangled Banner I am through with them.

To each his own; personally, I don't watch sports and haven't since I was a much younger man. I consider it a waste of time and, even worse, "bread & circus" to keep the "great unwashed" (us) distracted from the things that really matter - just as the Caesars did in the Roman empire. It wouldn't bother me a bit if they played "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands" at these events - waste of time and money being used to underwrite this nonsense.

Fred

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by PJackpot

My guess is the players will stand for the black national anthem and then kneel for America's national anthem.

And then millions of viewers will turn off their TV’s, hurting ratings, reducing advertising revenues, and ultimately reducing players salaries. Only then will players stop kneeling for the national anthem.

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by Vonjor@gmail.com

That is a hard song to sing. But, so is the Star Bangled Banner, which by the way has only been our national anthem since1931.
I vote for America the Beautiful!

It had been our de facto National Anthem since the 1890's. It was codified as such in 1931.

[Scorpyo]

Originally Posted by alwann

My opinion for a long time has been the National Anthem is played inappropriately. It should be reserved for patriotic and official events, not commercial money-making productions. Stop playing it before NFL games. Instead, play Talking Heads' “Psycho Killer."

I disagree with your choice. They should play something that brings people together and promotes conversation like Pillow Talk. Or maybe one that promotes some diversity in language like Voulez - Vous.

[Aloha1]

And all this time, I thought NFL players were from America. Where exactly is this black nation that this Anthem is from?

[sipops]

I stopped watching football when the first knee was taken. Basketball when Le Bron started his political crap. Baseball when players refused to stand for the anthem and soccer when the knee was taken. Best part I no longer miss any of it. Maybe we should see how well sports would survive if only blacks attended.

[Aqtlow]

I Stoped watching football when the kneeler was not fined or thrown off the team after the first game. If only my fourth grade teacher were here. Wow she is probably rolling in her grave. So sad that no one remembers the truth that a lot or people came willingly or released from prison or were sold by there families, including Africans to America for a chance for a better life , no guarantee or entitlement, just a Opportunity for a better life. What one does with that Opportunity is not someone Else’s burden.
If we shut the door to the past then we are Damned to repeat it.

[walt21]

Now this is TRULY racism!!!

[Buckeye Boy]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I used to be addicted to watching sports. But after Covid and no sports, I have realized that I was wasting a lot of time. Another Covid silver lining I guess? When sports finally come back, I was planning to watch again but much more selectively. If sports become nothing more than a platform for social justice issues, I am totally done. I watch sports to see sports. If I want to see social justice as the main point, I will watch the news channels that jam that stuff down the viewers throats.

You get my vote. Exactly how I felt after the kneeling stuff started. No more pro sports for me.

[ffresh]

Originally Posted by davem4616

well at least now we know why the NFL refs make so many stupid calls and get so many of the calls wrong...they're just following the commissioner's mode of operation

Roger, call a time out and take advantage of the replay booth and reverse the call on this one

dumb, stupid, confused, misguided are among the adjectives that I'll use in mixed company on this call

so what's going to happen when the cameras pan the stadium and show everyone that bought a ticket sitting in their seats when this "BNA" is played....yeah, that's gonna help bring us together...you can bet they won't show that on the tube

Roger, you're part of the problem...go away

Roger Goodell is merely (in the immortal words of Mel Brooks - Blazing Saddles) trying to protect his "phony-baloney" job:

The max compensation on the commissioner's new deal is $200M over five years if all incentives are hit

Roger Goodell's base salary would be roughly in the range of $20M per year - CBSSports.com

There are no principles involved here

Fred

[Gerryk12]

Amen!

[DeanFL]

.
.
.
...wait 'till the NBA starts...
.
.
.