Time to get on the TRUMP train

[SrslySirius]

As a former rabid NFL fan, I can attest that just one season off really breaks the spell. I now give zero shits about football, and it seems that an increasing number of people around my age feel similarly. This ratings slump is nothing new, it has been stagnating for a few years now.

If Trump does manage to encourage boycotts, the league may have a hard time winning those fans back. This could hasten the decline that was already underway.

Meanwhile, live sports is the sole reason many consumers continue giving shitty cable companies their business. A hit to NFL viewership could seriously damage subscriber numbers as well. Americans are already cord-cutting by the millions each year.

I think protesting the national anthem is childish and counterproductive to the goals of social justice, but I'm fascinated to see how this all plays out.

[lol wow]

couple two things first off nfl sunday is beyond tradition and now with fantasy gambling and real gambling it will never go away 2nd these cable companies you hate pay for the fucking shows that have only gotten better and better its pathetic that people think stealing that shit is ok

[lol wow]

also thomas edward patrick brady jr just saved my suicide pool and lol the 13 people that had pitt

[adamantium]

god bless nfl red zone

[SrslySirius]

lol serious gare posts

couple two things first off nfl sunday is beyond tradition and now with fantasy gambling and real gambling it will never go away

Nobody's saying it's doomed, but it's definitely moving in the wrong direction.

2nd these cable companies you hate pay for the fucking shows that have only gotten better and better its pathetic that people think stealing that shit is ok

I still pay for my entertainment. I even subbed to HBO Go solely for GoT. I'm just not willing to pay for a service in which I watch 1% of what's on offer, subsidize the remaining garbage, and waste hours of my life watching ads for my troubles.

The only thing I've DLed this year is Nathan For You because it's actually unavailable on any streaming platform, but I would give CC my money if they'd take it.

[ThreeBet]

also thomas edward patrick brady jr just saved my suicide pool and lol the 13 people that had pitt

god bless nfl red zone

[Dan Druff]

It's amazing how most on both sides of the NFL "kneeling during the anthem" debate don't understand why their argument is wrong.

Liberals: "Silent protest is very American, and these players should have every right to do this!"



These players are not kneeling during the national anthem in a public park. They are doing this during an NFL game, representing an NFL team, which pays them millions per year to do so. Part of representing ANY company involves conducting yourself professionally and avoiding controversy while on the job. Even while NOT on the job, you are expected to adhere to certain standards in many companies, especially if you hold a high profile position with them (as all NFL players do).

Therefore, if the team wants you to stand during the national anthem, you stand during the national anthem. If the team wants you to STFU about politics, you STFU about politics. If you find that this infringes upon your right to "free speech", you can always quit and go take a $10/hr job bagging groceries, where nobody is going to care how often you knee during the anthem on your off time

When the NFL is paying you millions to play for them, it's because your team has determined you're worth millions to their income and brand. Therefore, you need to represent them the way they want you to represent them. Free speech rights end when you walk in the door at work.



On the other side:

Conservatives: "Kneeling during the anthem is dreadful, un-American, and unpatriotic. These people should leave the US if they aren't proud of their country."



This country was founded upon protest and changing the status quo. You can love your country while hating the current government and its policies. Even if you hate your country, you have the right to (legally) attempt to make it better.

These guys SHOULD have the right to kneel during the national anthem, but not during an NFL game, and not anywhere while being paid millions to represent the mainstream appeal of an NFL team. Again, if kneeling during the national anthem is important to them, they should quit the NFL and kneel during the anthem everywhere they want.



Finally, I agree that this situation might harm the NFL long-term. The average NFL fan cannot identify with this, for various reasons. First off, sports fans as a whole tend to be a patriotic group. It makes sense, because people who like rooting for their home team are often the types who also like rooting for their country. There's definitely a big overlap regarding sports fandom and patriotism.

Additionally, it is difficult to identify with multi-millionaire athletes kneeling due to "oppression". I get that they are doing this in solidarity, blah blah blah, but it comes off to the average person as a bunch of really rich guys with great lives who are attempting to protest the conditions in this country. The guy struggling to pay rent, using NFL as a temporary escape from his problems, doesn't want to see rich, famous athletes trying to tell him that they feel the need to protest. When you make millions of dollars for playing a game of football once a week, you kind of lose your protest cred.

Kinda reminds me of an incident with Joe Hachem in 2008. Three years after winning the Main Event for $7.5 million, and about 18 months after winning a $2.2 million WPT event, he took a bad beat to get knocked out of a WSOP event. Hachem angrily stormed out, remarking, "Story of my life!"

[The_Lurker]

IMO if you feel strongly about either side of the kneeling debate, you need to check your bias.

[GambleBotsChafedPenis]

Additionally, it is difficult to identify with multi-millionaire athletes kneeling due to "oppression". I get that they are doing this in solidarity, blah blah blah, but it comes off to the average person as a bunch of really rich guys with great lives who are attempting to protest the conditions in this country. The guy struggling to pay rent, using NFL as a temporary escape from his problems, doesn't want to see rich, famous athletes trying to tell him that they feel the need to protest. When you make millions of dollars for playing a game of football once a week, you kind of lose your protest cred.

So much

[FPS_Russia]

Where are blacks getting this victim complex?

Here's the view fr the alt right (ftr I'm as Bernie supporter)
I feel the inevitable impeachment of Trump may be a "catalyzing event".

[Tellafriend]

These players are not kneeling during the national anthem in a public park. They are doing this during an NFL game, representing an NFL team, which pays them millions per year to do so. Part of representing ANY company involves conducting yourself professionally and avoiding controversy while on the job. Even while NOT on the job, you are expected to adhere to certain standards in many companies, especially if you hold a high profile position with them (as all NFL players do).

Therefore, if the team wants you to stand during the national anthem, you stand during the national anthem. If the team wants you to STFU about politics, you STFU about politics. If you find that this infringes upon your right to "free speech", you can always quit and go take a $10/hr job bagging groceries, where nobody is going to care how often you knee during the anthem on your off time

When the NFL is paying you millions to play for them, it's because your team has determined you're worth millions to their income and brand. Therefore, you need to represent them the way they want you to represent them. Free speech rights end when you walk in the door at work.

Just about everyone else in the Country has a code of conduct they have to conduct themselves under, both on and off of work hours, especially the more professional jobs, so these baboons should have to as well.

The people who support Trump, and there are a lot of them in the fly-over portion of the Country, are patriotic, they don't think this is cute, and will hopefully let the league know.

Either way, they have no 1st Amendment right to do any of this. So Bradshaw should really just STFU and get back to hocking whatever product he can find to endorse.

[MumblesBadly]

These players are not kneeling during the national anthem in a public park. They are doing this during an NFL game, representing an NFL team, which pays them millions per year to do so. Part of representing ANY company involves conducting yourself professionally and avoiding controversy while on the job. Even while NOT on the job, you are expected to adhere to certain standards in many companies, especially if you hold a high profile position with them (as all NFL players do).

Therefore, if the team wants you to stand during the national anthem, you stand during the national anthem. If the team wants you to STFU about politics, you STFU about politics. If you find that this infringes upon your right to "free speech", you can always quit and go take a $10/hr job bagging groceries, where nobody is going to care how often you knee during the anthem on your off time

When the NFL is paying you millions to play for them, it's because your team has determined you're worth millions to their income and brand. Therefore, you need to represent them the way they want you to represent them. Free speech rights end when you walk in the door at work.

Just about everyone else in the Country has a code of conduct they have to conduct themselves under, both on and off of work hours, especially the more professional jobs, so these baboons should have to as well.

The people who support Trump, and there are a lot of them in the fly-over portion of the Country, are patriotic, they don't think this is cute, and will hopefully let the league know.

Either way, they have no 1st Amendment right to do any of this. So Bradshaw should really just STFU and get back to hocking whatever product he can find to endorse.

The NFL owners are probably doing the financial calculus re which approach to the matter is best in the long term. The march of history is on the side of the folks sympathetic to the kneelers.

[Tellafriend]

Just about everyone else in the Country has a code of conduct they have to conduct themselves under, both on and off of work hours, especially the more professional jobs, so these baboons should have to as well.

The people who support Trump, and there are a lot of them in the fly-over portion of the Country, are patriotic, they don't think this is cute, and will hopefully let the league know.

Either way, they have no 1st Amendment right to do any of this. So Bradshaw should really just STFU and get back to hocking whatever product he can find to endorse.

The NFL owners are probably doing the financial calculus re which approach to the matter is best in the long term. The march of history is on the side of the folks sympathetic to the kneelers.

NFL owners will do what is in their best financial interest. That is all.

[varys]

I think protesting the national anthem is childish and counterproductive to the goals of social justice, but I'm fascinated to see how this all plays out.

Well all the black people getting killed by cops didnt get enough attention, what more peaceful, reasonable way to call attention to this issue have you come up with?

Despite you thinking its childish, you have to admit that they have at least succeeded in some way by making it national news and exposed some real dumbfucks, one that runs the country even.

[varys]

The NFL owners are probably doing the financial calculus re which approach to the matter is best in the long term. The march of history is on the side of the folks sympathetic to the kneelers.

NFL owners will do what is in their best financial interest. That is all.

Jerry Jones threatened to cut any kneelers i think.

[Tellafriend]

Exhibit A



RIP America.

[lol wow]

relax shell get raped by 3 guys at once TRIPLE OPTION GEORGIA TECH JOKE

[lol wow]

but seriously if were gonna get mad at 19 to 27 year old black guys for not understanding shit we should have done that a long time ago

[SrslySirius]

Well all the black people getting killed by cops didnt get enough attention, what more peaceful, reasonable way to call attention to this issue have you come up with?

Despite you thinking its childish, you have to admit that they have at least succeeded in some way by making it national news and exposed some real dumbfucks, one that runs the country even.

I would go with something that isn't blatantly antagonistic. Gestures like this and blocking highways are childish because they have zero value in attracting allies (just the opposite) and only serve to make oneself feel good about being rebellious. Like a child throwing a tantrum.

There's lots of shitty things you can do for attention, but the vague goal of "spreading awareness" doesn't really accomplish much.

I say this as someone predisposed to being very anti-police.

[lol wow]

sorry bro reporting that post to daniel negreanu