The View from the Middle
The first NFL game was finally played in Kansas City between the Chiefs and the Texans on Sept. 10th. Before the game even started, the 17,000 fans that were allowed to attend the game booed a moment of silence as the two teams joined arms across the field in what they suggested was a moment of unity. JJ Watt, all-pro defensive end of the Texans, and many other players just couldn’t understand this demonstration of rejection. What they obviously don’t understand is that the NFL and the NBA are sending out many messages to their fan bases as they try to politicize the games that I love. What the players and owners can’t seem to grasp is that it isn’t messages like “It Takes All of Us” or “End Racism” or even the locking of arms that the fans are rejecting. It is all the other racist (yes racist), Marxist and anti-police messages that the fans hate. And the fans are forced to accept and support all of these messages or reject them all. If a person buys a ticket to a game, or watches it on TV, they can’t separate which messages they support and which they reject. It’s all or none. And, as I suggested, there are a lot of unacceptable messages that these teams are spewing.
You may ask, what could be wrong about putting the names of young black men whose lives were ended during a police arrests on the helmets of NFL players? Weren’t their deaths tragic? Certainly. But as Candace Owens points out, many of these men are not exactly role models for the black community. Michael Brown was a thug who had just robbed a drug store and roughed up its frail, aged owner. George Floyd was a repeat felon with a long criminal history. He was a drug addict and dealer who had methamphetamine, cannabinoids and fentanyl in his system at the time of his arrest. In addition, the trial of officer Derek Chauvin, who held Mr. Floyd down with his knee, hasn’t even started yet. What if the courts find that Mr. Floyd died of fentanyl poisoning? The NFL must accept that some people might object to these names being glorified and these men being canonized while other names are forgotten.
For example, for every George Floyd there are five David Dorns, the retired, black police captain who was murdered as he protected private businesses during the riots in Saint Louis. For every Michael Brown, there are (unfortunately) many Secoriea Turners, the eight-year-old girl who was killed by a rioter in Atlanta. Why isn’t the NFL or the NBA honoring their names on their helmets and jerseys? If the players and owners can’t understand the disappointment that many of their fans might experience from this misplaced focus, then their support will continue to shrink.
Another message that the NFL and NBA are sending to their audiences is that white people are inherently racists and bigots, just because of the color of their skin. They also suggest that we (white people) should be ashamed of ourselves for sins committed by other people 150+ years ago. They also suggest that we don’t deserve anything we have or have accomplished because it is only a result of “white privilege”. By the way, JJ, that includes you. Isn’t that the absolute definition of racism? Isn’t that what we have been fighting to abolish for the last 200 years?
While 70% of your players may be black, 87% of your audience is not, and 60% of your potential viewers are white, according to the Census Bureau. Does it make any sense to spit in the fact of 60% of our audience and then to ask them to support you?
And just for the record, I and many white Americans are not only NOT ashamed of our skin color or our country, but we are proud of both.
Get your history straight. The establishment of The United States of America was not the beginning of slavery in North America. It was the beginning of the end. As the 1619 project points out, slavery in North America began more than 150 years before The United States existed.
I’m proud of Thomas Jefferson who knowingly inserted the phase, “all men are created equal” into the Declaration of Independence. He and all 56 signers of that document, all white, knew exactly where that would lead. That phrase was included intentionally and I’m proud of them for injecting it.
I’m proud of the many white Americans who risked their lives and acted as conductors on the Underground Railroad. I’m proud of Abraham Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. I’m proud of the entirely white congress who passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution with mostly Republican support. I’m proud of the 350,000 Northern soldiers who died in the Civil War to eradicate slavery. I’m proud of the virtually all white Congress that passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and I’m even proud of the 23 million white people (45% of the white vote) who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, although, to be truthful, I was not one of them. If professional sports owners and players are looking for me to be ashamed of my race or my country, that is not going to happen. Consequently, you risk losing me as a customer. If Pete Carroll is ashamed of his race and his accomplishments, he can step down as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks and give that job to a black man (or woman) and he can give ALL of his money to Al Sharpton. Maybe then Al will be able to pay his taxes.
And finally, there is the support for Black Lives Matter. Or is it black lives matter? I’ve already written an entire article about the confusion between the organization and the concept. Do black lives matter? Of course they do, and virtually all of America agrees with that. However, the BLM organization is a Marxist, anti-police, anti-nuclear family, anti-America coalition. They'll never put this in writing, but I suspect they are also anti-God (as Karl Marx was) and racist (again, as Marx was). No one in the NFL or the NBA has ever clarified their position on this. Do they support the idea that black lives matter, or the organization that is called Black Lives Matter? If they are supporting the anti-family, anti-America, Marxist group called BLM, then they should expect even more fan desertions. And the abandonment will only get worse as fans discover just who this group is and as BLM approval ratings continues to plummet.
How can these players and owners be so oblivious to their own mixed messaging? Actually, that’s easy. They are all multi-millionaires who live in a bubble of pampered narcissism. If they don’t wake up, they could permanently damage two brands that I have long enjoyed (the NFL and the NBA) and will destroy two sports that I have forever loved. To all of them, I have but one message. Take two smart pills and call me in the morning. Seriously! Wake up, you idiots!
Well done Kevin! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAs always, You the man, Crete!!
DeleteGreat post! Agree 100%! Thank you for stepping up, and speaking out. The Fans seem to be the only ones listening. Hopefully, some of the Owners, Players, and Sponsors will listen as well. Otherwise, Pro Sports will be irrepairably tarniahed and diminished to many of us. Be Blessed, my Brother!
ReplyDeleteExceptionally well put. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI find the concepts of this article to be interesting. The tone of the article seems to suggest divide vs. collectiveness. The center of the article could suggest you pitting whites against the world.
ReplyDeleteAll things considered, I will speak cordially in response to the article.
Here is an infamous quote "To whom much is given, much is expected". while many may not realize this is also biblical. Because of the importance you and world place on the NFL and NBA players, they have a responsibility to lead. I would suggest this is what they are doing, setting an example. As people they have a right to express themselves, much like everyone else. If fans have the right to boo, players have the right to express solidarity. Would you attest that our constitution doesn't suggest this? or even more would you suggest that they forego their constitutional right because they are athletes?
Those are questions to consider.
I would suggest, their point of view is they have worked hard like everyone else and achieved success in their chosen field, so like many other corporation - commitments have been made to improve the state of the country.
Players are simply expressing theirs in there way. They are people living their lives - and making a living playing a sport. Not gladiators in an arena for your enjoyment. You(many) just happen to enjoy what they do as entertainment.
I would also encourage that they aren't promoting becoming anti police, but yet, anti police brutality. Is this not something you would agree with? or are you suggesting that if some have done something wrong than police brutality is okay?
The suggestion is one that borders on the lines of hypocrisy, suggesting that any of us are better than them (George and others). Yet we've all sinned and as a result are the same.
I'll avoid replying to the rhetoric found in paragraph 4
as for BLM vs blm - I would suggest the majority isn't aware of the organization. The social media tag is what has caught fire, not the organization. A statement and an organization is easily separated if one desires to do so.
Later you suggested being proud of the "white" men that supported the improvements in the country as if they did it alone. Never-mind the "black" men that they aided and subsequently aided the white men as they worked together to accomplish the things that we're accomplished. - Are you also proud of the white men who deconstructed the EP post the reconstruction era, developed the Jim Crow era, and built systemic racism that put adversity in the face of black people soley because they are black - destroyed the black family through the justice system and continue to do it today?
Slavery in the country involved blacks and white, slavery didn't happen to blacks as it's often suggested, it was inflicted on them but because I assume like you the fear of being considered racist is so large, then wall goes up and you only consider one side.
The progress in this country has taken both black and whites. Isn't that what the players are suggesting - be together. Maybe you excluded black people by accident. Or are you solely focused on white people since the players are 70% black? Does it really matter that most of the player are black and the viewers are white?
Seems to suggest a barrier of commonality - which would suggest they need to do what they are doing because otherwise you don't care what's taking place in the country, you just want them to entertain you. That slop is slippery.
What I want you to take is. If you have a right to write this article, and fans have a right to boo, players have a right to say and express themselves as well. Although you see them as entertainment they see themselves are individuals doing the thing they love. It fortunately gives them the platform to influence - as they should.
The focus here should be on "why" they doing what they are doing and correcting it together.
There's a lot to unpack here, Promoting Humanity, but let me give it a shot.
DeleteYour first example has it backwards. It should say, "if the players have a right to denigrate the police, support Marxism and suggest that all white people are racists (and I guess no black people are) then the fans have a right to NOT watch the games. Procter & Gamble (the company for which I worked for 37 years) has a right to put a picture of Karl Marx on their Tide and Crest packages, but if they do, many people may choose not to buy them. So they don't do that!
Second, the Bible also talks often about personal responsibility. "Look to the ant..." and the parable of the talents. That applies to everyone, not just the rich.
Third, I'm not the one being divisive. I have defended the black community in the past and I will continue to in the future. Is it OK if I defend the white community in this article. It is the white community that is currently under attack. It is now politically correct. I'm just pointing out that prejudging white people (particularly men) as racists and bigots is as bad as prejudging black men, or any other race.
Finally, you don't speak for me. You have no idea why I watch and love the games of basketball and football. One reason I love them is because they are a classic example of a pure meritocracy, and I love that. There is no prejudice in today's sports. If you can help a team win, you will play. If you can't, you won't.
There is a beauty and elegance in sports and that is another reason why many watch, but when you mix political opinion like Marxism or anti-police messages (don't forget Colin Keapernick's "pig" socks), then you risk diluting your brand or product and losing your customers' support.
Really finally, every country has a mixed history, as does our country, but there is much to be proud of also. I have often mentioned our warts, but this article was making the point that there are good things in our history that are currently being ignored or even distorted. We all need to recognize that. In fact, with all of our flaws, I believe this is the greatest country on earth and I'm glad I live here. That's just my opinion.
Really, really finally, yes these men have a right to express their opinion. I would suggest that they educate themselves on that opinion first. Do they understand that BLM is a Marxist organization. And if they are NOT supporting the organization but just the idea that black lives matter, which I do, then they need to tell us. I have not heard a single current player or owner denounce that Marxist, racist, violent organization although I have heard a few X-players like Herschel Walker, Jack Brewer and Marcellus Wiley speak out against BLM. They probably also should not mix their political beliefs with their product. They still have a powerful platform and they should use it before or after the game.
I would suggest that these players stand for our national anthem and flag and honor our military that sacrificed their lives for their right to play the game they love and make millions and even billions of dollars as they do so. If they truly want Marxism, there are plenty of places they can find it - Russia, China, Venezuela, Cuba to name a few.
If you want a solution to racial harmony you can read my article entitled "EFFE". We have made much progress and I even think the future looks even brighter, but if you think the answer is just to reverse racism and belittle, blame and prejudge white people, I disagree.
Perfecting Humanity - you say that players have a right to express themselves. I absolutely agree, but they do not have a right to do it work. 99% of Americans would be fired for protesting on company time.
DeleteGood point, arkansascpa!!
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