When is the last time he was in a negative spotlight? Tagging around with our douche of a former QB? Ol Johnny was a very foreseeable and avoidable blunder.
If Gordon is in compliance, and served his suspension, then it's time to forgive and let him get back to work
I am with Bum on this. The Flag stands for America, and America stands for equality, and it stands for protesting, even revolting against government that is not representative of it's people. That's why we have freedom of expression. To allow citizens to express their displeasure with how "their" government conducts itself. I am a member of the privileged. I am white, but to fail to recognize that Black people specifically are subjected to over zealous, even abusive policing is to turn a blind eye to it, and thus accept it. Anyone who has the courage to make an example of themselves in an attempt to bring focus to this, is exercising their right as an American. It is not about "the troops". How each of us interprets this act is personal, and driven by our view of our world, but is not "absolute". As for doing it at the opening of a football game...... well it isn't up to me to define for another American, when and where they choose to make their statement. I don't think the NFL or any employer should have the right to impose that either. I kinda like having that freedom, and I don't see it as anything to do with "the troops". Now if you were attending a Veterans Day or Memorial Day event and chose to do that, I would still defend your right to do it, but I would view that as a direct sign of disrespect to "the troops". In that venue, it would be disrespectful, and purposefully so. I would like to think that the "Issue" would take center stage, rather than the stage, or the staging, but that is our society, and our media, once again taking the issue out of the moment, and placing the celebrity out front of the issue. Hmmmmmm I wonder why. The story isn't a story in America today, if we can't attach some name recognition to it for click bait. Sad. With lives being lost, we can't pay it any mind unless we can attach it to something large enough to it, to garner the ratings. Hey maybe that's why they did it.
For the record, I opted to attend a gathering of friends for the PPV viewing of the Mayweather / McGregor fight on Saturday night rather than tune in for free for the Browns / Bucs pre-season game. I was, however, pleasantly surprised to find out that the Browns' players found a way to voice their very real objections to what is going on in this country WITHOUT dis-respecting the very country that affords them the right to openly voice their objections. This display of standing with their arms locked during the National Anthem just goes to show that players can exercise their rights without offending other people. They truely found a way. It also reaffirmed my belief that my beef was not with the players, rather it was (and is) with the NFL. I find it hard to believe that the NFL can't offer up a league-wide solution to this issue. For example; why can't (or won't) the NFL offer a moment of silence either before or after the National Anthem to allow for a moment of prayer or reflection that existing social inenquitys be peacefully solved in our nation? They have done it in the past for natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Why not for an ongoing situation that also is costing precious lives?
That actually sounds like a GREAT idea!! I don't know who is in charge of such things, but sending off an email might go further than you think..Sincerely, I love that idea Lym!
Tying up some loose ends . . . Considering "this country" for you means Canada . . . It stands for maple syrup and curling. It used to stand for hockey, but now all the really good teams are in the U.S.
I really like that idea Lym. It would allow the NFL to take a side, doing so in a more inclusive way, as you suggested, reflecting on the many inequities rather than singling out one polarizing issue, would open up the doors for players and fans to bring a lot of injustices to the fore. A good place to start, and a palatable way for the NFL to take a stand without taking a side. They ought to like that, look good, and not assume any risk.
If he were dodging the question, he'd be in Canada.........err, ummm......wait.....never mind. That would be draft dodging.
It's not just that officers are killing black men. White men are killed too. It's that there are almost never any consequences. This guy was caught on his dash cam saying he was going to kill this guy when they caught him. A minute later he put 5 bullets in him. He's seen going to his bag for something, returning to the vehicle and the gun that he claims the victim possessed had only his DNA on it - none from the victim. It's insane that this guy wasn't convicted...
DUH! I get that. I also support their right to do so. One last time . . . My problem is not with the players. It's with the league! Prior to the week 1 game, the Browns gave the league a blueprint for providing a platform to elevate the social issues without alienating a portion of the fanbase. They showed about a two minute presentation concerning this very subject on the stadium jumbotron prior to the game. The result was that Browns players, first responders and military personnel all stood arm in arm during the playing of the national anthem.
Now for the rest of the story, known Anthony Smith (with past drug and weapons convictions) Backed into the police vehicle Twice, then tried to run over the two officers, before forcing them into a 100+ mph car chase....When they finally got him stopped, he refused to do what the officers told him to do, instead reaching across the vehicle. 5 shots are excessive, by most anyone's "opinion" including mine, but you cannot deduce that he murdered the man for certainty based only on the article. I hate when they allow a judge to try a case instead of a jury though. The DNA on the weapon inside the car should have turned this towards conviction, but again, we don't have ALL of the evidence presented in the case. If there is ANY reasonable doubt, acquittal is certain, especially when only one person is going through that evidence presented and he knows the law inside and out. I wish there were some magic way of knowing everything in every case, but there just isn't. I can't say for certainty, but if you had someone back into your car twice, then try to run you over, you might in the heat of the moment murmur that you wanted to kill them. You are human after all. Too many of these cases are pieced together by the media as black and white, as in print, not racial..There are days worth of evidence that no one ever gets to see or understand before trying to make a decision. The highlights are available to incite a reaction which helps with their news feed and it in turn incites more hatred and in many cases more violence. The reason the conviction rate is low in these cases is because a large amount of the cases involve criminals that are caught in the act of committing crimes. If they are not committing crimes, most of them would still be alive...Sit your ass in the car, put your hands in the air, do as the police ask and you end up like Michael Bennett...alive!
That was a great solution for those who prioritize the anthem. But outside of this forum I haven't read anything about it. Right or wrong, the anthem protests move the needle and advance the conversation.
Yet, none of the participants of the anthem protests are talking. Why not use your celebrity to hold intelligent conversations? They aren't using that to it's full potential, just causing controversy.
