Abdul-Jabbar: The NFLs plan to protect America from witches

[dogknob]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/06/the-nfls-plan-to-protect-america-from-witches

(N.F.L.) insist on being the self-appointed guardians of America’s mythological vision of itself. Malt shops on every corner, Pat Boone crooning on the jukebox, and modestly dressed virgins sitting around with knees clamped together waiting to be asked to prom. This 1950s, Father Knows Best soundstage fantasy doesn’t stop with paternalistic and puritanical gender stereotypes, but also promotes simplistic notions about race and patriotism. The NFL’s anachronistic fancies aren’t just a misguided attempt to pander to what they think their traditionalist fans want, but also projects the hard-core conservative values of the mostly rich, white one-percenters who own the teams. We must live in their Disneyland – or else.

The country would be outraged if a team’s rules stated that if a black player was eating at a restaurant and a white player walked in, the black player would have to leave the restaurant. Yet, those are the rules for Saints’ cheerleaders, who must leave a restaurant they are eating at if a Saints player arrives. We would be equally outraged if a company demanded that office personnel address top executives only with “hello” and “you’re wonderful”. Yet the Saints’ cheerleaders are restricted to saying only “hello” and “great game” to players. Other restrictions about weight, makeup, body hair, tampon use and forbidding sweatpants in public make it seem as if the Saints watched The Handmaid’s Tale and thought, “They just don’t go far enough.” In other words, shut up and jiggle.

[Angry Dragon]

1. More witches the better

[DinahMoeHum]

2. Six (6) NFL teams do NOT employ cheerleaders.

The New York Giants,
Buffalo Bills,
Chicago Bears,
Green Bay Packers,
Pittsburgh Steelers
and the Cleveland Browns

do NOT have cheerleaders on their payrolls;
though their cities may have cheerleader organizations that operate independently and participate in the city's sporting events, commercial expos, etc . upon request or contract
ie. The Gotham City Cheerleaders (NY)

[druidity33]

3. The Buffalo Jills situation is complicated...

though they did form the first Cheerleaders Union in the NFL in 1995.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Jills

currently there is this (from the wiki link)...

"As of May 18, 2017, the plaintiffs scored a major victory in their lawsuit as a New York State Court has ruled the Jills to be non-exempt employees, not independent contractors. However, the court denied partial summary judgement as to whether the Bills themselves were their direct employers, and a jury will decide who the employers were unless a settlement is reached. In November 2017, Cumulus Media, who purchased Citadel Broadcasting (one of the primary sponsors of the Jills), entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and in January 2018, the company sought to terminate any remaining Bills-related debts it owed"

[BobTheSubgenius]

4. No Kidding!??!?

Not that I doubt what you're saying, but I'm surprised to hear it.

[milestogo]

5. The Green Bay Packers have fans.

And lots of them are women. And since the fans actually own the team, they can decide not to waste money on something as frivolous as cheerleaders.