Tag: NFL

THE FALLOUT CONTINUES: College removes Nike logo from uniforms in response to Kaepernick ad

by Breck Worsham, posted in news, politics

Point Lookout, MO (CBS Local) — The endorsement deal between Nike and Colin Kaepernick prompted a flood of debate Tuesday. It was a trending topic on Twitter and other social networks, with some fans urging a boycott of the company’s clothes and sneakers — even burning and cutting out the signature swoosh logos on their gear.

“I stand for anybody that believes in change. I stand for anybody that believes in a positive attitude,” LeBron James said Tuesday night at a Nike fashion show and awards ceremony in New York. “I stand with Nike, every day, all day.”

Nike also provides all NFL teams with game day uniforms and sideline apparel, a partnership that was extended in March to run through 2028.

President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of protesting NFL players, tweeted Wednesday that Nike is getting “killed” over the endorsement deal.

“Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts,” Trump tweeted. “I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way? As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!”

The College of the Ozarks, a private Christian school in Point Lookout, Missouri, that competes in sports at the NAIA level, said it will remove all uniforms purchased from Nike that contain the brand’s logo.

Last year, the college added a stipulation to competition contracts, saying it would walk away from any game where the opposing team takes a knee, sits or turns its back on the flag or anthem.

“If Nike is ashamed of America, we are ashamed of them,” College of the Ozarks President Jerry C. Davis said in a statement. “We also believe that those who know what sacrifice is all about are more likely to be wearing a military uniform than an athletic uniform.”

The Associated Press and CBS Local contributed to the content of this article.

nikeboycott

Advertisement

TRUMPED! NFL mandates players must now stand for national anthem after multiple scoldings from POTUS

by Breck Worsham, posted in entertainment, news, politics

Atlanta, Ga. (USA Today) — Amid repeated protests during the playing of the national anthem over the past two seasons, the NFL on Wednesday passed a revised policy that mandates players and team personnel present on the sideline “shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.”

The revision allows players who would not wish to stand to remain in the locker room. Also under the revision, each franchise will have the power to issue their own policies, which could include fines for players protesting the anthem, under the conduct detrimental provision of the league’s personal conduct policy.

The league also now has the power to fine any franchise that has representatives who do not stand or “show respect” while present on the sideline for the anthem.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the agreement was reached unanimously by owners at the league meeting in Atlanta, but Jed York of the 49ers said his team abstained.

“We want people to be respectful to the national anthem,” Goodell said in a news conference. “We want people to stand. That’s all personnel, and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That’s something we think we owe. We have been very sensitive in making sure we give players choices, but we do believe that that moment is important and one we are going to focus on.”

Several players last season followed in the footsteps of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who in the previous year chose to kneel during the national anthem as a form of protest against police brutality and racial inequality. By the start of the 2017 season, there were only a handful of protests during the anthem. Then, in a September rally, President Trump referred to a player who protested social injustice by kneeling during the national anthem as “son of a (expletive).” Many teams and players responded by participating in demonstrations that featured kneeling or standing with arms locked.

“It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic,” Goodell said in a written statement that announced the revision. “This is not and was never the case.”

The NFL Players Association has already taken issue with the policy, which was reached without the union present.

“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new ‘policy,’ ” the NFLPA said in a statement. “NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.

“The vote by NFL club CEOs today contradicts the statements made to our player leadership by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Chairman of the NFL’s Management Council John Mara about the principles, values and patriotism of our League.

“Our union will review the new ‘policy’ and challenge any aspect of it that is inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement.”

The new policy reads in full below:

POLICY STATEMENT

The 32 member clubs of the National Football League have reaffirmed their strong commitment to work alongside our players to strengthen our communities and advance social justice. The unique platform that we have created is unprecedented in its scope, and will provide extraordinary resources in support of programs to promote positive social change in our communities.

The membership also strongly believes that:

1. All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

2. The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the Anthem.

3. Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the Anthem has been performed.

4. A club will be fined by the League if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

5. Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

6. The Commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

Lorenzo Reyes of USA Today contributed to this report. 

trumpnationalanthem

NFL sparks new outrage after rejecting veteran group’s #PleaseStand ad during Super Bowl

by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized

NEW YORK, NY — The National Football League found itself embroiled in a new controversy Tuesday after rejecting a veteran group’s ad request that their ad be run during the Super Bowl.

American Veterans, the nation’s largest veterans service organization, had requested that a photo ad with the hashtag #PleaseStand, be placed in the Super Bowl LII program. Representatives for the NFL, however, would have no part of it and refused the request, calling the ad “too political”.

“The Super Bowl program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams, and the Super Bowl. It has never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement,” NFL Vice President of Communications Brian McCarthy said in the statement.

The ad request came after months of controversy sparked by the refusal of dozens of NFL players to stand for the National Anthem, protesting alleged “police brutality” toward minority groups.

Outraged by the NFL’s rejection, Fox News correspondent Rachel Compos- Duffy was quick to blast the organization over their lack of respect for the flag and toward America’s veterans.

“This is what the NFL has done: They’ve actually made standing for our flag, honoring our heroes and veterans, something political,” Campos-Duffy said on “America’s Newsroom.”

“I think this is the final straw for a lot of football fans,” Campos-Duffy said. “I think that the NFL’s going to pay a price for this.”

In a letter sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, AMVETS National Commander Marion Polk wrote that “freedom of speech works both ways.”

“We respect the rights of those who choose to protest,” wrote Polk, but “imposing corporate censorship to deny those same rights to those veterans who have secured it for all is reprehensible.”

“Veterans are good for more than just military aircraft flyovers, photo opportunities during halftime,” Polk continued, “or props to sell camouflage-style NFL apparel.”

“In closing, freedom of speech works both ways,” Polk added. “We respect the rights of those who choose to protest, as these rights are precisely what our members have fought – and in many cases died – for.”

pleasestand

FARMER’S FIELD MESSAGE TO NFL GOES VIRAL: ‘We stand for the national anthem’

by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized

EDGELY, N.D.– A North Dakota farmer has found sudden fame after a message he carved into a field on his property went viral.

Gene Hanson, 77, of Edgeley, North Dakota plowed “We stand for the National Anthem” in response to the decision of several NFL teams to kneel during the playing of the national anthem in protest to what they claim is mistreatment by police toward minorities.

Hanson’s message, which spans the length of two football fields, caught the attention of the local news and quickly went viral.

“I go with [President[ Trump on this one,” Hanson told Fox News on Tuesday (https://tinyurl.com/yblt9ala). “If you want to protest, that’s not the place to do it.”

“A lot of people died over our flag. We’re able to voice our opinion because of it,” he added. “If you’re going to show respect for anything, do it for the national anthem.”

When asked what type of technology was used to create the message, Handon said all he relies on is his trusty Massey tractor. “No need for GPS,” he said.

Hanson, an admitted fan of President Trump, says he believes the president is doing his best to bring about change, but faces a “continuous battle” in Washington, D.C. so he does what he can to send messages of support from his rural farm.

In addition to his message about the national anthem, Hanson says he’s also carved “Drain the Swamp,” “Blue Lives Matter,” “Feel the Bern,” “GOP, get your act together,” and “Vote Trump” into his land. His writings have made him somewhat of a local celebrity

Despite the support he’s received, Hanson admits he did catch a little flack from local Democrats after “Never Hillary” appeared in his beanfield during the 2016 election. “Most responses have been positive, though,” he said.

For his next work of art, the farmer says he plans to pay tribute to Jesus Christ.

“We kneel at the cross,” says Hanson, will soon grace his field.

westand

CONSERVATIVES PUSH BACK: DirectTV offers NFL refunds in response to anthem controversy

by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized

EL SEGUNDO, CA — DirectTV is offering refunds to angry viewers, outraged over NFL teams who refused to stand for the national anthem.

According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy-1506453159), the satallite TV giant has been bombarded with calls from subscribers to its Sunday Ticket package of NFL games.

Under typical DirectTVcorporate policy, refunds are not issued to subscribers of Sunday Ticket once the season is underway. But the company has decided to make exceptions this season due to the controversy that has risen over players’ decisions to kneel or link arms during the national anthem.

Mark Hoffman, a longtime subscriber to Sunday Ticket, which gives sports fans the ability to watch every Sunday game, told Fox Business News (http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/09/26/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy.html) that he canceled his subscription, for which he had paid $280, because he wanted to stand up for what’s right.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d get a refund,” Mr. Hoffman said. “I know their guidelines, I just wanted to make a point.”

The protests, which started last season when quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem to protest what he referred to as “police brutality” against minorities, became a center point of this past weekend’s games after President Trump said that all players in the National Football League should be required to stand during the national anthem.

While many Americans agreed with the president, high ranking members of the NFL were quick to utilize the controversy, reportedly seeing it as a means of drumming up some extra publicity after a multi-season drop in ratings. Owners of several teams ordered their players to either stand down during the national anthem, lock arms or stay behind in the locker room in “protest” until the anthem was over.

That decision quickly seemed to backfire on the NFL as hashtags such as #NFLBoycott and #BoycottNFLSponsors began trending on social media.

Charles Plavk, a veteran from Wisconsin, told Fox Business that he, too, canceled his subscription to the channel from Charter Communications’ Spectrum Cable in response to the controversy. Plavk said when he called to do so, the customer service representative said, “everybody’s calling about that today.”

According to an opinion piece by USA Today called “NFL commits suicide by Trump with politically correct protests” (https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/09/26/fl-stop-self-destructive-grandstanding-and-just-play-football-james-robbins-column/701472001/), the NFL has only themselves to blame for choosing the path of political correctness over patriotism.

“The NFL is on a politically-correct suicide course, alienating fans and wrecking ratings. It can thank former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who last year started the fad of refusing to stand for the pre-game national anthem because he did not want to “stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” writes columnist James Robbins.

“Sports are supposed to be fun, but these protests are divisive, distracting and pointless,” he continued. “They are a public relations nightmare that the NFL shows no sign of stopping. Goodell and others want to preach about free expression, but most fans probably prefer their football free of guilt-tripping toxic politics.”

Perhaps the NFL failed to get the memo that was sent out by Conservatives upon Trump’s election. The days of political correctness are clearly over.

nflboycott

 

 

 

 

 

‘GREAT ANGER’: Trump calls on NFL to order players to stand during national anthem

by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A fed up President Trump took to Twitter on Tuesday to unleash his rage against NFL players who refuse to stand for the national anthem.

In a barrage of tweets, the outspoken president called for NFL owners to mandate that all players stand for the national anthem or risk being fired.

“The booing at the NFL football game last night, when the entire Dallas team dropped to its knees, was loudest I have ever heard. Great anger,” Trump wrote in one tweet.

“The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations. The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can’t kneel during our National Anthem!” he wrote in another.

The president’s latest round of comments come after his speech in Alabama on Saturday during which he called out Colin Kaepernick, who sparked controversy last year when he refused to stand for the national anthem in “protest” of police brutality.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired,’” Trump said to the cheering Alabama crowd.

The NFL, less than thrilled with Trump’s comments, pushed back, with several teams vowing to kneel during the anthem or stay in the locker room in protest of the president’s comments.

The decision to do so was met with tremendous backlash from the right, particularly from pro-veterans groups who saw the decision to kneel as a show of disrespect for the flag.

“Anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period. What got ’em where they’re at? The United States,” Nascar legend and team owner Richard Petty said of the controversy (https://apnews.com/dc7ba43160d049eca3a0460d093ad8e1/The-Latest:-NASCAR-owners-discourage-anthem-protests).

Several of Petty’s fellow team owners echoed his comments, adding that any driver who refuses to stand for the anthem will soon be finding themselves a new job.

“Anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America,” said Richard Childress team owner of drivers Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon and Paul Menard and longtime car owner of Dale Earnhardt, who added that kneeling on his team would “get you a ride on a Greyhound bus.”

Responding to critics who called his comments racially motivated, Trump said race played no issue in his demand for respect for the national anthem. His motivation, said the president, was about patriotism.

The president denied those charges on Monday, arguing that his comments were simply about defending the American flag and the country against disrespect.

“The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!” he tweeted.

trumpnfl

 

STANDING FOR WHAT’S RIGHT: Alejandro Villanueva merch flies off shelves after Steelers player stands alone for national anthem

by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized

PITTSBURGH, PA — Patriots across America flocked to sports stores on Monday, clamoring for merchandise bearing the name of Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva.

The rush for fan gear comes one day after the former Army Ranger defied his coach’s order to sit out the national anthem, choosing instead to come out of the locker room and stand in support of the flag and, according to the NFL’s official online merchandise site, Villanueva jerseys are far outselling those of his fellow NFL players (http://www.nflshop.com/Jerseys/pg/1/ps/84/so/top_sellers).

Villanueva’s defiance followed calls by President Trump for NFL players to show support for the flag.

In a barrage of Sunday morning tweets, Trump criticized players who bent a knee in protest instead of standing for the national anthem and called out the NFL for their ever dropping ratings, claiming patriotic Americans were “fed up” with player tactics.

The tweets came just one day after the President told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Alabama that NFL team owners should fire any “son of a bitch” who “disrespects our flag.”

However, despite almost instantaneous social media praise for Villanueva from NFL fans on Sunday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear he was less than pleased with his player’s decision to ingore a direct order.

“Many of them felt like something needed to be done. I asked those guys to discuss it and whatever they discussed that we have 100 percent participation or we do nothing,” Tomlin said in a post game news conference. “They discussed it for an appropriate length of time and they couldn’t come to an understanding, so they chose to remove themselves from it. They were not going to be disrespectful in the anthem so they chose not to participate, but at the same time many of them were not going to accept the words of the president.”

When asked about Villanueva ignoring the order and coming out for the anthem, Tomlin replied: “Like I said, I was looking for 100 percent participation, we were gonna be respectful of our football team.”

Many of Villanueva’s fellow teammates also took a swipe at his decision to stand for the pledge.

“Some guys wanted to take a knee, guys wanted to stand,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said after the game. “We said whatever we do, we need to make sure we’re unified as one group because that’s what we’re about, and that’s what this should be about is staying together as one unit and one group and one brotherhood, things like that.

“So rather than have some guys kneel and some guys stand, the conclusion was made kind of by everybody that the best thing to do was just to stay in the locker room or in the tunnel, if you will.”

Steelers linebacker James Harrison echoed Roethlisberger’s comments, telling Penn Live (http://www.pennlive.com/steelers/index.ssf/2017/09/steelers_national_anthem_vote.html), “We thought we were all in attention with the same agreement, obviously. But, I guess we weren’t.”

However, not all of Villanueva’s teammates disapproved.

One fellow teammate, Cam Heyward, said he stands by the bronze star veteran’s decision. “We support our guy Al,” Heyward told ESPN (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20810701/pittsburgh-steelers-surprised-alejandro-villanueva-move). “He feels he had to do it. This guy served our country, and we thank him for it.”

patriot

 

ROCK SOUNDS OFF; Senate candidate defends use of Confederate flag in show; blasts those who refuse to stand for national anthem

by Breck Worsham, posted in Uncategorized

DETROIT, MI — Rocker and possible Michigan senatorial candidate Kid Rock shot back at critics on Monday who ridiculed him for his use of Confederate flags in his shows and blasted professional athletes who refuse to stand for the national anthem during games.

Responding to a planned protest by the National Action Network’s Detroit chapter of his six upcoming Detroit concerts, Rock, who’s real name is Robert Ritchie, said his critics, who are mainly on the left, are simply “wasting Time.”

“Pay NO attention to the garbage the extreme left is trying to create! (and by the way, f–k the extreme left and the extreme right!),” the singer wrote Monday on his official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kidrock/posts/10155502465850049). “They are trying to use the old confederate flag BS, etc. to stir the pot, when we all know none of this would be going on if I were not thinking of running for office.”

Rock, 46, who announced last month that he was considering running for Michigan Senate on a Republican ticket, said his detractors were throwing accusations around that he was a racist because they fear his possible run.

“Pretty funny how scared I have them all and their only agenda is to try and label people / me racist who do not agree or cower to them,” he wrote. “My track record in Detroit and Michigan speaks for itself, and I would dare anyone talking trash to put theirs up against mine. I am also a homeowner and taxpayer in the city of Detroit, so suck on that too!”

“I am the bona fide KING OF DETROIT LOVE and it makes me smile down deep that you haters know that! Your jealousy is merely a reflection of disgust for your own failures and lack of positive ideas for our city,” Rock continued.

“I am however very disappointed that none of the people, businesses or charities I have so diligently supported in Detroit have had anything to say about all these unfounded attacks from these handful of jackasses and The Detroit Free Press. So for the unforeseen future I will focus my philanthropy efforts on other organizations besides the ones I have supported in the past,” Rock went on before turning his sights on black rights activist Al Sharpton’s highly publicized issue with back taxes . “I would however employ that NAN go ahead and make up these losses since they claim to be so good for Detroit and do not want me opening the arena and generating tons of jobs and tax dollars for the city and people I LOVE… IDIOTS! ….. (Has Al Sharpton even paid his back taxes yet?)”

Lashing back at the National Action Network’s targeting of his upcoming performances in response to his criticism of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem last year, Rock didn’t mince words.

“To be clear – F–k ANYONE who takes a knee or sits during our national anthem! Pretty sure if Russell Wilson or Tom Brady were doing it they would have no problem finding a job playing for any team they wanted in the NFL! So cut the bulls**t!”

“I know I should probably not even have posted anything about these bottom feeders but I will always stand up for myself, my family, my friends, my fans, my city, my state, my country and the good in human nature,” Rock wrote before ending his online rant, “P.P.P.P.P.S. I LOVE BLACK PEOPLE!!”

The rocker signed his online tirade, “God bless”.

Calls for comment to Al Sharpton’s spokesperson have not yet been returned.

kidrocksenate