If you really want to effectively stop the NFL continuing their racism

[lunatica]

Stop buying their sports paraphernalia.

They’ll change their tune very quickly.

[Wednesdays]

1. I agree, but you're mostly preaching to the choir

Die-hard fans will be unfazed, and continue to shop as though nothing ever happened.

[Aristus]

2. Preaching to the choir...

is how you get them to sing...

[Lamonte]

3. NFL racism?

thought the protest was against racism in our country, not NFL racism. How is the NFL racist?

[PoorMonger]

4. You mean...

Other than the ownership and thus the cooperate entity bowing down to Trump’s whim and effectively curtailing the player’s right to free speech?

The NFL most def did that. They are looking at market share and how their most important demographic of consumers ( aging white guys ) is upset and siding with Trump so they did what they could to shut down lawful and peaceful protest.

In response to the OP I did decide not to buy anything from them. No apparel , tickets, tv package etc. sadly though I don’t know that it will matter. I have had this stance for a while after I saw how many of the owners gave to Trump shitty little parade

[NCTraveler]

6. You contradict yourself. I agree with one of your assertions.

"bowing down to Trump’s whim and effectively curtailing the player’s right to free speech?"

Not a free speech issue and it had to do with their fan base.

"They are looking at market share and how their most important demographic of consumers ( aging white guys ) is upset and siding with Trump so they did what they could to shut down lawful and peaceful protest."

That I agree with.

[PoorMonger]

7. Nope.

Just because I understand they did it for money doesn’t mean it isn’t also a move they understand is fundamentally racist. And they are just fine with it.

[PoorMonger]

8. Also, I do think of it as a free speech issue.

While it’s true that the NFL can’t stop its players from speaking out they are attempting to do that by making it a rule.

The thing is , if the NFL gave one shit about the heart of the issue ( unfairness in policing and criminal justice ) they could so easy throw a fraction of their gobs and gobs of cash at orgs and charities that work on those problems in communities. But they fear what Trump would say if they did that and how the white fans would react.

The NBA has a similar shit rule about the anthem. But their players don’t feel ignored because they ask teams how they can help and then do it.

[lunatica]

17. The fact is they don't really have any reason for creating this rule

We must ask ourselves why they did this. What is their real motive? Did they really need to do this?

My view is that there was no need for this rule.

But I’m happy it has caused more discussion because it was intended to stop discussion.

[MichMan]

23. The NFL is planning on spending $89 million on social justince awareness

They have proposed a joint fund with the league, owners and players all contributing

Are you saying that doesn't count or it's not nearly enough?


http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21606390/nfl-offers-100-million-plan-social-justice-organizations-partnership-players

[PoorMonger]

29. Hadn't heard that

It’s welcome news though. Still don’t see myself giving the team my dollar as yet. My favorite team is the Broncos, and unfortunately John Elway who I loved as a QB is steering the ship and still saying pretty terrible things.

His statement midseason last year felt like it was ok’d by Fox News.

[MichMan]

34. I would like to see the top draft choices all shun the NFL for the CFL

Wouldn't that make all the hoopla over draft day really meaningful while the TV cameras are all broadcasting ?

[lunatica]

5. The New rule regarding athletes kneeling or standing is based on racism

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2777519-report-nfl-likely-to-pass-rule-fining-teams-for-flag-anthem-disrespect

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/nfl-protest-rules-w520646

https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/wjbnym/the-nfl-will-begin-fining-teams-whose-players-dont-stand-for-the-national-anthem

[Squinch]

27. Are you kidding?

[Captain Stern]

9. I get your sentiment, but that's just silly.

The NFL has historically treated their players like crap. The players (guys who actually do all the hard work) have had to fight for every inch of progress they've gotten the years.

I don't think the NFL is racist. But if you think the NFL is racist, surely you can find a better way to fight it, than by not buying a jersey. How about by not going to a game?

And, if the NFL players (I mean the actual guys that play in the NFL...not just people on message boards like us) want to put a stop to NFL 'racism' they can do it immediately.....they can walk away, and refuse to play.

[lunatica]

11. It sounds like you just don't want to sacrifice a football jersey

the NFL is racist if it supports racist ideas. Period.

[Captain Stern]

35. Does it really sound like that?

Of course, it doesn't.

First of all, there's no way I can 'sacrifice' something that I don't have.

Secondly, I'm actually proposing something that's harsher in the way of protest....the NFL would lose a lot more money if nobody went to the games than if people stopped buying jerseys.

Thirdly, the NFL doesn't support racist ideas. They think that the sideline protests during the anthem are hurting their bottom line. They really don't give a shit about what the protests are about. If they thought they'd make a few more bucks by demanding that all of the players kneel during the anthem, they'd do it.

[Squinch]

26. How is punishing a protest against the random killing of black men not racist?

The NFL is racist.

[Captain Stern]

36. How is the protest being punished?

It's not.

As I understand it, players are still allowed to not come out on the field for the anthem.

The NFL really doesn't give a shit about what the protests are about. If they thought that players kneeling during the anthem would make their ratings go up, they'd make it mandatory.

[Squinch]

37. The players are being prevented from their respectful protest. If they do not comply

with the demand to hide their respectful protest, they will be fined.

[Captain Stern]

38. They can still respectfully protest by not coming on the field till the anthem is over.

They can even make a bolder statement by resigning, and refusing to play at all.

I just have a hard time commiserating with millionaires that aren't allowed to do whatever they want to do while they are working.

And yeah....most NFL players are in 'millionaire' territory. The LOWEST amount of money they are allowed to make is almost 500,000/season.(Thanks to a strong union)

[Squinch]

39. You seem to think this has something to do with their salaries. It doesn't. It has to do with

the random, rampant killing of black men by law enforcement.

[Captain Stern]

46. Nope. I know what the protest is about.

And I think it's a cause worth protesting about.

However, I also know that when you're at work, you don't get to make the rules.

The NFL hasn't mandated that everyone must come on the field and stand for the anthem. Unless I'm mistaken, they've said that anyone that doesn't wish to stand, is free to protest by staying in the locker room until the anthem is over.

[Anon-C]

10. +10000

[dawg day]

12. But the NFL has to KNOW--

We need to email and call--

"We're boycotting because of your suppression of the players' right to kneel during the national anthem, which is their constitutional right."

[lunatica]

14. Agreed.

We, the consumers have much more power than we think, and they know it.

[ananda]

13. A complete boycott would work..

.. both products and games.

[lunatica]

15. Good point

but not going to the games while still buying their products won’t phase them much. It’s possible the reason they put on games is so people will buy their products and not the other way around.

[runtel]

16. My opinion

I hope every player stays in the locker room and every fan takes a knee. Well every fan that goes to the game and I hope that number is very small.

[lunatica]

18. I like the way you think

and it might just happen.

[bornfree17]

19. The fans are the

ones who were/are pissed over the kneeling. They are loving the outcome.

[lunatica]

20. The fans who are Deplorables love all things racist

Trump supporters aren’t exactly known as human rights advocates are they? Or being experts on our Constitution.

But they’re well known for their racism.

[bornfree17]

22. right

either you misread my post or I didn't post well but we are on the same page

[lunatica]

31. I apologize for misreading your post

You were obviously pointing out the racists themselves. Thanks for correcting me!

[Eliot Rosewater]

45. Most fans support the kneeling players,to the fans that dont

FUCK YOU ALL TO HELL

[Blue_true]

21. I think the idea of an adult wearing a player's number is ludicrous.

I have never done that. But I have watched games every chance that I got, I won't be doing that until the anthem policy is changed and the league and teams respects players' First Amendment rights.

[MichMan]

24. Aren't the salaries of the players dependant on total revenues?

Seems like a total boycott would ultimately reduce player salaries wouldn't it?

[lunatica]

25. It would never get that far

All the NFL has to do is rescind a rule. Do you think they’re willing to sacrifice their own lifestyles over a rule? I don’t unless they’re really aching to cut off their noses to spite their faces.

[spin]

28. Lots of NFL fans stopped buying NFL paraphernalia because of the ...

protests. Many and some I know stopped attending NFL games or watching them on TV. I didn’t but then I am a Steelers fan. Still I mainly watch NFL football to escape all the political hatred that seems to have inflected our society.

In my opinion there are better and more effective ways for athletes to protest inequality and inequalities in our society than kneeling during the National Anthem. Few people know what exactly is being protested. Is it Trump? Is it police brutality? Is it the racism that still permeates our culture?

It seems to me that a more effective approach would be to appear on a news program and explain their concerns. Many NFL players attended college and should have the ability to express their views effectively and convince viewers and even NFL fans that they have actual grievances that should be addressed.

[lunatica]

30. The players have been all over the place

Explaining their views and their reasons. You must not watch the same news I do

[spin]

33. If so I have missed them. ...

I fully support such actions and hope it leads to change.

[lunatica]

32. Kick

[loyalsister]

40. Should probably include college football

Significant numbers of black men receive scholarships with no additional support. They bring in millions to universities from doners and fans. Meanwhile, media outlets, hotels, restaurants, the alcohol industry, and sports paraphernalia, are making millions on their backs.

Black players are often steered towards degree programs that barely contribute to a resume. After multiple injuries, physical damage limits the possibility for physically demanding work. All while the NFL is dangled as a possibility when few player go pro, in which players are oppressed and exploited in new ways.
The bodies, futures, and quality of life of black men are routinely exploited in the interest of the entertainment and greed of the white men who dominate the corporate US.

[BannonsLiver]

42. Academics

While it’s true there are more black athletes on college football teams the dynamic of having football players steered toward crappy, pointless majors has been going on since before college football was integrated. It’s not new or unique to any one race. All they care about is keeping them academically eligible to play.

[loyalsister]

43. White football players have greater access to support

Are more likely to have had the academic preparation that increases the chance that they will succeed.
Football is a force driving systemic racism. Without the large numbers of black players whose bodies and futures are disproportionally exploited, football would face the same fate as plantations without slave labor.

[HAB911]

41. Drug addicts can't stop their addictions

sorry

[Kirk Lover]

44. Now the NFL has done gone and pissed off everybody so they will truly lose. nt