Colin Kaepernick praises anthem protesters as Trump renews NFL attacks
Source: The Guardian
President says protests likely to be affecting TV ratings
League still struggling to find policy that appeases all parties
Sun 9 Sep 2018 15.03 EDT
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Kaepernick started kneeling for the anthem in 2016 to highlight racial injustice in the United States. The protest soon spread around the league with critics including the US president saying it disrespected the flag and the military. The NFL and players union have yet to announce an anthem policy after the league initially ruled that teams could be fined if players knelt during the Star-Spangled Banner. On Sunday, ESPN reported that too many people have stances too strong to figure out a compromise.
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On Sunday, Trump noted that television ratings for the leagues opening game on Thursday were down on last year. Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison, Trump tweeted. Viewership declined 13%, the lowest in over a decade. If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!
The NFLs television ratings have been in decline for some years, although that is in line with a broader trend in audiences across America. The number of players protesting during the anthem has also fallen. Just two of the 2,880 players on the sidelines this preseason knelt during the anthem, while one chose to sit. The same two players the Stills and Wilson also knelt before Sundays regular season game. Their teammate Robert Quinn stood for the anthem but raised his fist. ...................................
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/09/donald-trump-renews-attack-on-nfl-as-reports-say-anthem-policy-is-far-off
And the vile from the Trumpswamp begins for another season.
Link to tweet
EricMaundry
(1,619 posts)Fuck Trump.
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,780 posts)...and remained standing for God Bless America. Then all the players should have knelt while everyone in the crowd joined hands and said the Lord's Prayer. At the end of each quarter, the crowd and players should all recite the Pledge. At the end of each game, each team should each announce that one underperforming player is leaving the NFL to join the United States military.
We should all be grateful that, despite painful and debilitating bone spurs, Donald J. Trump - in defiance of Obama's orders - singlehandedly flew to Mexico and beat Osama Bin Laden to death with a 1 Wood. It gives me chills to be an American just thinking about it.
Oh yes - and Ted Nugent and Kid Rock should be singing the MNF theme song.
And in the trade negotiations, England has to give up God Save the Queen as part of Brexit. We should have gotten free title to "America" after the war.