Sports and the White House

[bill25]

4. Taking a knee accomplishes nothing on any of this. Seriously, I'd love to know what the expectation is.

I think the original reason was awareness.

[Adam]

I like this take on it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czq2jyh-zzs

[dochielomn]

4. Taking a knee accomplishes nothing on any of this. Seriously, I'd love to know what the expectation is.

I think the original reason was awareness.

Yeah, the initial intent I believe was more to bring more awareness and an attempt to say "why are we still allowing this to occur and not doing something to prevent it". And to this, I think the message was about cops using excessive/deadly force against people (or specifically white cops shooting African Americans/kids).

However, I think that message has been lost or diluted down where it's just more of athletes/people against Trump. It would be curious to see if in some parallel universe where the only difference was Trump was not president (but everything else was basically the same), would all of these athletes be "protesting" during the anthem?

[Adam]

... would all of these athletes be "protesting" during the anthem?

Kaepernick has been "protesting" since August 2016, so yes.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_an ... trump.html

[dochielomn]

... would all of these athletes be "protesting" during the anthem?

Kaepernick has been "protesting" since August 2016, so yes.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_an ... trump.html

Kaepernick and a few others were protesting as of last season. The amount of players that are protesting now is really what I was referring to. It seems like they jumped on the bandwagon once Trump decided to attack the NFL with protesting. But I think the players who are now protesting are doing it moreso because of Trump and not necessarily because of the reasons Kaepernick chose to do it over.

[Adam]

Ah. I would agree with that sentiment. Although perhaps in your parallel universe protesting police violence might be getting more traction.

[Bob]

This has now reached a new level of ridiculousness with Pence flying across the country to a Colts game just so he could walk out in protest of the players who were protesting. Anyone else feel like this is all just a big distraction?

[Adam]

This has now reached a new level of ridiculousness with Pence flying across the country to a Colts game just so he could walk out in protest of the players who were protesting. Anyone else feel like this is all just a big distraction?

Will the VP clash with the protesters at the upcoming football game? We weigh in with a celebrity all star panel, but first, a word from our sponsors.

[dochielomn]

This has now reached a new level of ridiculousness with Pence flying across the country to a Colts game just so he could walk out in protest of the players who were protesting. Anyone else feel like this is all just a big distraction?

The irony is just funny. Pence was protesting the protestors but he probably didn't see it that way.

But yes, it does seem ridiculous to go to a football game only to leave before it starts because of the players protesting during the anthem. Although, what's kind of being lost is the players aren't exactly protesting the anthem, they're protesting while the anthem is playing.

[kevm14]

Although, what's kind of being lost is the players aren't exactly protesting the anthem, they're protesting while the anthem is playing.

In other words, they deliberately picked the most obnoxious time.