A brief NFL reminder

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Tim Tebow kneeling before God in 2011. Tebow bad. Kaepernick good. End of story.

Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers states that there is “systemic oppression” in the United States and the NFL. He stated this because Vice President Mike Pence, whilst attending the Colts and 49ers game last Sunday the 8th, left the stadium when 23 San Francisco players took a knee during the national anthem. Eric Reid said:

“This is what systemic oppression looks like,” he said. “A man with power comes to the game, tweets a couple of things out and leaves the game with an attempt to thwart our efforts. Based on the information I have, that’s the assumption I’ve made.”

In response, Vice President Pence said:

“I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.”

How quickly people forget some of these aspects.

2011: Tim Tebow “took a knee” for God whilst quarterbacking for the Denver Broncos and it was heresy, heresy I tell you. Tebow is a Caucasoid.

2013: Football coach Joseph Kennedy lost his job for kneeling at the 50-yard line after games. Perhaps he should have knelt during the national anthem. Is the difference simply a matter of timing?

Kennedy, an assistant high school coach in Bremerton, Washington, used to lead his team and staff in prayer in the locker room, and then prayed at the 50-yard line after games. Students would join him and the school district squashed that because Kennedy was endorsing a religion.

The district would allow Kennedy to pray at the 50-yard line after everyone had left the stadium.

Kennedy agreed to this, but eventually began praying before all the parents and students exited. He was suspended, and eventually fired.

Kennedy unsuccessfully sued the school district and was himself sued.

2013: The NFL fined Brandon Marshall $10,500 for daring to wear green cleats to raise awareness for people with mental health disorders. Marshall is black.

2014: Robert Griffin III entered a post-game press conference wearing a shirt that said “Know Jesus Know Peace” but was forced to turn it inside out by an NFL uniform inspector before speaking at the podium. Griffin is black.

2015: DeAngelo Williams was fined $5,787 for wearing “Find The Cure” eye black for breast cancer awareness. Williams is black.

2015: William Gay was fined $5,787 for wearing purple cleats to raise awareness for domestic violence. Gay is black.

2016: The NFL prevented the Dallas Cowboys from wearing a small decal on their helmet in honor of the five Dallas Police Department officers killed in the line of duty that year.

2016: The NFL prevented and threatened to fine players, like Avery Williamson, who wanted to wear cleats to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Williamson is black.

So, Eric Reid, just who is oppressive and for what reasons?

I wrap with this quite telling quote from Colin Kaepernick, the instigator of the whole “sitting down” and “taking a knee” thingie. He’ll stand if he gets an NFL job.

Looks like Kaepernick doesn’t truly mind performing a bit of corporate fellatio when he benefits. Eh wot? Now that it got out, he’s walking it back of course. Too late, my callow friend.

Knowing that, I wonder how the rest of you football wonks feel about having been abandoned by your stone idol?

BZ

 

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5 thoughts on “A brief NFL reminder”

  1. People kneel before God as a sign of obeyance.

    People kneel before a king as a sign of obeyance to that king, who they believe is ordained by God to be superior to them and rule them in His stead.

    A king sits while others kneel or present themselves to him because he is superior to them and is not obligated to provide any sign of respect.

    We are Americans. We kneel before God, and to no one else. We acknowledge no king, and we do not kneel, bow, or prostate ourselves before any political leader or body. We stand during the Anthem as peers, as equals, as a sign of respect to our fellows.

    • Precisely as you write.

      The players are fully cognizant that to kneel is a sign of disrespect during the national anthem. They could kneel at any other portion of the game. They are not stupid. To kneel as a sign of disrespect is the whole point.

      BZ

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