Category: Sports

USA – The nation where we care more about NFL players than anything else

In a nation where we care more about what overpaid NFL players do than a United States Territory who was literally destroyed.   The territory I am talking about is Puerto Rico.

First, there is a nation in trouble from the Hurricane Maria; we need to all keep them in our thoughts and prayers.  You can donate to the cause here for the Red Cross.

Back on the topic of the National Anthem…

I am sure everyone has noticed that all the media is talking about is the NFL players protest and what President Donald Trump is saying about said topic.

First, I must add that I in no way agree with this form of protest and am not promoting it. I do find it disrespectful towards the United States flag and am not trying to start any arguements.  But, the way the players are protesting, in reality, does not affect any of us in any shape or form.

After speaking to a Co-Worker of mine who is originally from Vietnam, I have changed my perspective, slightly, on this whole NFL protesting issue.  If you don’t know, or missed that class in History, Vietnam is a communist nation.  Think something close to what North Korea is today.  He told me growing up if you did not stand for their national anthem and sing it, not just lip sing, you would get beat harshly.  I am sure if you did in Vietnam what the NFL players are doing here, they would be publically executed. At 18 he left Vietnam and came to the United States of America.  That was 20+ years ago and he is now a U.S. citizen.

Everyone that lives in America should feel lucky that we have Freedom of Speech. We have the First Amendment that reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This same co-worker was at the New England Patriots game on Sunday and was in the area that started the boos for the players knelling.  First of all, booing during the National Anthem is more disrespectful that knelling and second he told me some of the guys that were booing still had hats on which are also disrespectful.

Heck, everyone that complains that there needs to be a peaceful protest and not destruction, but when that peaceful protest happens, in this case during the National Anthem at a NFL game, people get up in arms.  I mean that might not be the best time and place for a protest but it is peaceful.  I am cool with the kneeling of the national anthem by pro players under one condition. They are working, they are in their UNIFORMS and as professionals they are expected to do a job, as professionals….remember that, as professionals. If these professionals want to protest the USA because they consider it bad, or wrong, then Professionals who make wedding cakes, wedding photos, wedding planning can protest gay marriage by not proving services to the LGBT community, and take a knee on the issue. Then hospital Professionals have the right to protest not proving insurance for abortions, or performing abortions as well. They can take a knee on the issue. Police and Firefighters can protest Antifa by not showing up when Antifa members are attacked by regular citizens who fight back. They can take a knee. Trump can protest the press for their unfair coverage of his presidency by taking a knee and not allowing any press (except for fox) in the press briefing room, or on Air Force One, or allow any of his team to interview with anyone (except for Fox). He can take a knee. So I say if the NFL Professionals can take a knee and not perform their duties then other Professionals can do the same thing.

To everyone that is protesting the NFL over the NFL players protesting the National Anthem, are you really protesting the NFL or are you still checking the scores, your fantasy teams, and the news?  If you really want to protest the NFL, cancel your cable because the NFL is still getting money from you even though you’re not watching it.

Most of the players that have commented on the protests have their reasons, and most, if not all, have said that they support our Military and our Country.  I did not agree with everything Obama said and did, but I respected him and prayed for him daily because he was the President of the United States of America.

So to get to my long ranted point, just imagine what we could accomplish as a nation if everyone that Protests and is upset at the Protests if we all work together.

Just remember, the United States flag does not represent Donald Trump. The flag is not a skin color, not a cop, religion, an ideology, Trump, Obama, Lincoln, Washington, and every other President. The flag represents Freedom and all Americans.

End rant.

Is it time to turn off the NFL?

Ret. Marine Col. Jeffery Powers wrote to the NFL commissioners the following:

 

Commissioners,

I’ve been a season pass holder at Yankee Stadium, Yale Bowl and the Giants Stadium.

 

I missed the ’90-’91 season because I was with a battalion of Marines in Desert Storm. 14 of my wonderful Marines returned home with the American Flag draped across their lifeless bodies. My last conversation with one of them, Sgt. Garrett Mongrella, was about how our Giants were going to the Super Bowl. He never got to see it.

 

Many friends, Marines, and Special Forces Soldiers who worked with or for me through the years returned home with the American Flag draped over their coffins.

 

Now I watch multi-millionaire athletes who never did anything in their lives but play a game, disrespect what brave Americans fought and died for. They are essentially spitting in the faces and on the graves of real men, men who have actually done something for this country beside playing with a ball and believing they’re something special! They’re not! My Marines and Soldiers were!

 

You are complicit in this! You’ll fine players for large and small infractions but you lack the moral courage and respect for our nation and the fallen to put an immediate stop to this. Yes, I know, it’s their 1st Amendment right to behave in such a despicable manner.

What would happen if they came out and disrespected you or the refs publicly?

 

I observed a player getting a personal foul for twerking in the end zone after scoring. I guess that’s much worse than disrespecting the flag and our National Anthem. Hmmmmm, isn’t it his 1st Amendment right to express himself like an idiot in the end zone?

 

Why is taunting not allowed yet taunting America is OK? You fine players for wearing 9-11 commemorative shoes yet you allow scum on the sidelines to sit, kneel or pump their pathetic fist in the air. They are so deprived with their multi-million dollar contracts for playing a freaking game!

 

You condone it all by your refusal to act. You’re just as bad and disgusting as they are. I hope Americans boycott any sponsor who supports that rabble you call the NFL. I hope they turn off the TV when any team that allowed this disrespect to occur, without consequence, on the sidelines. I applaud those who have not.

 

Legends and heroes do NOT wear shoulder pads. They wear body armor and carry rifles.

They make minimum wage and spend months and years away from their families. They don’t do it for an hour on Sunday. They do it 24/7 often with lead, not footballs, coming in their direction. They watch their brothers carted off in pieces not on a gurney to get their knee iced. They don’t even have ice! Many don’t have legs or arms.

 

Some wear blue and risk their lives daily on the streets of America. They wear fire helmets and go upstairs into the fire rather than down to safety. On 9-11, hundreds vanished. They are the heroes.

 

I hope that your high paid protesting pretty boys and you look in that mirror when you shave tomorrow and see what you really are, legends in your own minds. You need to hit the road and take those worms with you!

 

Time to change the channel.

 

Powers originally sent his letter to former Florida congressman Allen West. West then posted the letter to his news website.

  

GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY!!!!!