NFL protests grow after Trump’s remarks
September 25, 2017 by admin
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http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Significant-day-off-the-field-12225194.php
Updated 8:22 pm, Sunday, September 24, 2017
President Donald Trump says his objection to NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality “has nothing to do with race.” Trump made the comments shortly before boarding his return flight to Washington on Sunday. (Sept. 24)
Media: Associated Press
President Trump’s comments Friday about owners firing players who kneel during the national anthem sparked a mass increase in such protests around the NFL on Sunday, as about 200 players sat, knelt or raised their fists in defiance during the day’s games.
A week ago, just six players protested.
As he prepared to board Air Force One to return to Washington from New Jersey on Sunday, Trump said the players protesting the anthem were “very disrespectful to our country” and called again on owners to stop what he considers unpatriotic displays in America’s most popular sport.
“This has nothing to do with race,” Trump said. “This has to do with respect for our country.”
The NFL and its players, often at odds, have been united in condemning the president’s criticisms. One of Trump’s biggest supporters in the NFL, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, joined the chorus of criticism of the president when he expressed “deep disappointment” with Trump.
“I like Bob very much. He’s my friend. He gave me a Super Bowl ring a month ago. So he’s a good friend of mine and I want him to do what he wants to do,” Trump said. “We have a great country. We have great people representing our country, especially our soldiers, our first responders and they should be treated with respect.
“And when you get on your knee, you don’t respect the American flag or the anthem.”
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Linebacker Von Miller was among the majority of Denver Broncos who took a knee in Buffalo on Sunday, where Bills running back LeSean McCoy stretched during the “Star Spangled Banner.”
“I felt like it was an attack on us,” Miller, who normally steers clear of politics and social issues, said of Trump’s comments.
In Chicago, the Pittsburgh Steelers stayed in the tunnel except for one player, Army veteran Alejandro Villanueva, who stood outside with a hand over his heart. Both the Seahawks and Titans stayed inside until after the national anthem was over in Nashville, a throwback to the pre-2009 NFL when teams, not the league, set pregame policy regarding players standing on the sideline for the anthem.
A handful of NFL players have refused to stand during the anthem to protest several issues, including police brutality. That number ballooned following Trump’s two-day weekend rant that began with the president calling for NFL protesters to be fired and continued Saturday with the president rescinding a White House invitation for the NBA champion Warriors over guard Stephen Curry’s criticism of Trump.
NFL players, coaches, owners and executives used the anthems to show solidarity in their defiance to Trump’s criticism.
In Detroit, anthem singer Rico Lavelle took a knee at the word “brave,” lowering his head and raising his right fist into the air. In Nashville, anthem singer Meghan Linsey, took a knee as she finished singing.
Jets Chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson, whose brother, Woody, is the ambassador to England and one of Trump’s most ardent supporters, called it “an honor and a privilege to stand arm-in-arm unified with our players during today’s national anthem” in East Rutherford, N.J.
“Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!” Trump tweeted Sunday.
The issue reverberated across the Atlantic, where about two dozen players took a knee during the playing of the U.S. anthem before the Baltimore-Jacksonville game at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“We stand with our brothers,” Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “They have the right and we knelt with them today. To protest, nonviolent protest, is as American as it gets, so we knelt with them today to let them know that we’re a unified front.”
Jaguars owner Shad Khan and players on both teams who were not kneeling remained locked arm in arm throughout the playing of the anthem and “God Save the Queen.”
“Me taking a knee doesn’t change the fact that I support our military, I’m a patriot and I love my country,” said Buffalo linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, a Cal alum. “But I also recognize there are some social injustices in this country and today I wanted to take a knee in support of my brothers who have been doing it.”
The movement started more than a year ago when former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem as a protest of police treatment of racial minorities. This season, no team has signed him, and some supporters believe NFL owners are avoiding him because of the controversy.
Among the strongest criticisms of Trump was this from New Orleans head coach Sean Payton: “I’m disappointed in the comments that were made,” he said. “I think we need a little bit more wisdom in that office.
“I want that guy to be one of the smarter guys in the room, and it seems like every time he’s opening up his mouth, it’s something that is dividing our country and not pulling us together.”
Good news for White House
Though much of the sports world has expressed its displeasure with President Trump over his criticism of athlete protests during the national anthem, the White House got a bit of good news Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins say they’ve accepted an invitation to the White House after winning the Stanley Cup in June.
The Penguins released a statement saying they respect the office of the president and “the long tradition of championship teams visiting the White House.” The Penguins were honored by Barack Obama after winning the Stanley Cup in 2016 and by George H.W. Bush after titles in 1991 and ’92.
“Any agreement or disagreement with a president’s politics, policies or agenda can be expressed in other ways,” the Penguins’ statement said. “However, we very much respect the rights of other individuals and groups to express themselves as they see fit.”
Trump revoked the White House invitation to the NBA champion Warriors on Saturday, after the team had said it might not accept.
NASCAR team owner Richard Childress said he is among those who object to kneeling during the national anthem, saying he would fire protesters who work for him because “anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America.”
Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty’s sentiments took it a step further, saying: “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.”
When asked if a protester at Richard Petty Motorsports would be fired, he said, “You’re right.”
Associated Press
