Upset With Some Fans

[Dwight Schrute]

When Mark Stoops and the football team were marching in the streets this summer, they were told to stick to sports. Keion Brooks and another player spoke up this summer and got criticized. Any time Lebron James or another athlete speaks up, they're told to shut up and stick to sports.

You can say that you don't care if they protest, just don't do it during the national anthem, and you may be honest in that statement, but many in society are not. Many actually think these guys should just pipe down and be quiet.

So, these kids should continue to protest how they see fit because they're gonna get criticized either way. I dare say the 'I'm never watching again!' crowd will be tuned in the rest of the season unless the team starts sucking again.

[George]

I see no better time to protest than during the National Anthem. The flag and the anthem are currently and too often used as cover for bad actors to do as they please under the guise of patriotism. Protesting during the anthem illustrates one's refusal to abide by the perversion of those proud symbols.

[Joneslab]

In a perfect world we would all understand both the reason for their protest and why it bothers people that they protest that way.

But the world isn’t perfect of course and we’re imperfect people, so most of us “feel” one side way more than the other. As long as there’s that imbalance there will be bitter argument about this.

On the floor of the Kentucky Senate yesterday the president got up and gave a long, impassioned talk about the military, his son who’s a soldier, and the importance of the flag. He broke into tears as he spoke, and in all my years of watching the Kentucky legislature I’ve never seen anyone weep like that. He didn’t mention UK basketball much, but it was obvious what he was responding to.

I have to be honest that as heartfelt and genuine as he was, I didn’t get it. I just wasn’t on his wavelength. I didn’t get mad or roll my eyes. I just couldn’t see the issue from his perspective whatsoever.

[Matt Dillon]

I have to be honest that as heartfelt and genuine as he was, I didn’t get it. I just wasn’t on his wavelength. I didn’t get mad or roll my eyes. I just couldn’t see the issue from his perspective whatsoever.

Probably one reason is because (I'm assuming) you didn't serve in the military. Also, you're long removed from your roots. It seems, to me, people from rural areas and older people (60's and older) tend to be more into respecting the flag and the anthem.

[SCBlu]

I see no better time to protest than during the National Anthem. The flag and the anthem are currently and too often used as cover for bad actors to do as they please under the guise of patriotism. Protesting during the anthem illustrates one's refusal to abide by the perversion of those proud symbols.

Got it all wrong. The "perversion" is denigrating the anthem by kneeling.

[40bill]

There a lot of contradictions in people. There are people on this board with pretty extreme differences of opinion on many things. You name it. It's really pretty neat when you find things that bring those together..like a favorite team. Even in that, you can have Calipari fans, those ready for him to go...you name it.
the neat thing is everyone wanting their team to succeed.

It takes some effort to realize that. Could be we could try to extend that to other areas.

[40bill]

And to Dwight's thought....truth is folks quit being fans all the time for once again all kinds of reasons. I'm willing to bet the folk that are ending it over kneeling were already worn out with the changes in the game and one and done.
just life.

[Catatonic]

On the floor of the Kentucky Senate yesterday the president got up and gave a long, impassioned talk about the military, his son who’s a soldier, and the importance of the flag. He broke into tears as he spoke, and in all my years of watching the Kentucky legislature I’ve never seen anyone weep like that. He didn’t mention UK basketball much, but it was obvious what he was responding to.

I have to be honest that as heartfelt and genuine as he was, I didn’t get it. I just wasn’t on his wavelength. I didn’t get mad or roll my eyes. I just couldn’t see the issue from his perspective whatsoever.

After whats transpired in this country the last week, a basketball protest is what he decided to be upset about?

[Catatonic]

To me burning the flag or sticking a middle finger at it would be truly disrespectful. Kneeling silently at least seems to respect the gravity of the moment and the inherent provocation of doing it at that time. Millions of black Americans have served in the military. It isn't about that.

Go to any sports game and you'll see dudes talking and eating their corndog right through the national anthem. Total double standard.

[Joneslab]

Probably one reason is because (I'm assuming) you didn't serve in the military. Also, you're long removed from your roots. It seems, to me, people from rural areas and older people (60's and older) tend to be more into respecting the flag and the anthem.

Probably true. But there’s another person who didn’t serve: the Senate President.

I do have two veterans in my family. One is my grandfather, who was in the Navy in WWII. Another is Wilburn K. Ross, my namesake, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

[Lighthouse]

Probably true. But there’s another person who didn’t serve: the Senate President.

I do have two veterans in my family. One is my grandfather, who was in the Navy in WWII. Another is Wilburn K. Ross, my namesake, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I know you're proud, as you should be.

[lilproUK98]

In a perfect world we would all understand both the reason for their protest and why it bothers people that they protest that way.

But the world isn’t perfect of course and we’re imperfect people, so most of us “feel” one side way more than the other. As long as there’s that imbalance there will be bitter argument about this.

On the floor of the Kentucky Senate yesterday the president got up and gave a long, impassioned talk about the military, his son who’s a soldier, and the importance of the flag. He broke into tears as he spoke, and in all my years of watching the Kentucky legislature I’ve never seen anyone weep like that. He didn’t mention UK basketball much, but it was obvious what he was responding to.

I have to be honest that as heartfelt and genuine as he was, I didn’t get it. I just wasn’t on his wavelength. I didn’t get mad or roll my eyes. I just couldn’t see the issue from his perspective whatsoever.

People just don't want to understand both.

[surveyor]

I see no better time to protest than during the National Anthem. The flag and the anthem are currently and too often used as cover for bad actors to do as they please under the guise of patriotism. Protesting during the anthem illustrates one's refusal to abide by the perversion of those proud symbols.

Certainly. That it's objectionable to some that someone would protest how others are abusing it somewhat flies in the face of the freedoms revered by the anthem.

[Matt Dillon]

Probably true. But there’s another person who didn’t serve: the Senate President.

I do have two veterans in my family. One is my grandfather, who was in the Navy in WWII. Another is Wilburn K. Ross, my namesake, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I wasn't implying that there was anything negative about your not having served. Only that, based on my small sample, vets, especially those who fought in wars, seem to have a bigger problem with the kneeling thing.

[Matt Dillon]

Whether it be college or professional sports, music or movies there is a common thread of protests, peaceful of otherwise, being disapproved of by a segment of the population and labeled inappropriate or unpatriotic. My opinion is, that no matter which of the above is your source of entertainment, all most people want from it is to be entertained, to have a diversion from the worries and cares of life for a few brief moments. Protests are a reminder that we live in a less than perfect world and people don't like being reminded of that.