I lulz'd

(sarcasm)

...then watch and see how fast they them turn on him...

My sources tell me that Villanueva is being avoided like the racist plague that he demonstrated in defiance of his team and in extension, in support of oppression of African Americans. Hopefully, the team will drop him like a lead balloon, and be blacklisted just like they are blacklisting Colin K.

He has a right to stand for his beliefs, just like they have a right to kneel for theirs.

It is becoming more and more apparent that the Star Spangled Banner was based upon racism, and it is high time that it be demonstrated as such.

perhaps he sees it as support for all his friends still in the military?

When a Hispanic military veteran is accused of racism because they stand for the national anthem, it's not even worth a response.

not if you associate the term with people of Latin American heritage. His parents are both Spanish - his father was Spanish military officer assigned to the US on a NATO assignment. From his pictures he looks like a white European.

I thought people from Spain were Hispanic.

when he was born. His mother was also Spanish. He was raised in Europe.

Hispanic was typically the term used for mestizos or people from the Spanish colonies, not direct Spanish lineage. To make things more confusing the term Hispano is often used in Spanish language to describe all or most people who speak Spanish and have Spanish heritage (except Filipinos).

... without broad brush attacks that don't have anything to back them up.

I think the only issue with what he did is that they decided as a team to skip the anthem and he decided to do his own thing.

Staying in the locker room didn't mean that you agreed with the protest, it was a way for them not to feel like they had to take a stand one way or the other. He broke with the rest of the team.

Smh.

I just don't respect him because he's part of a team that plays a team sport, and he split from the team and did his thing, but at least he gets to be the hero now.

If I were as his team mates, I'd be pissed too. But no, it's not a reason to screw a guy.

But I was taught to think for myself.

How about those Steubenville football players who raped a girl? The Vanderbilt players who did the same?

I guess the whole team should have joined in huh? To be team players?

You have a curious way of looking at things. Wow.

I have a different way of looking at things than you do. I guess that deserves a "wow", and a "huh?".

I guess it isn't possible to disagree without someone making you feel bad about having a different view point. No wonder I never post.

You must be impressed with those frat brothers who let their pledge die.

Hey they stayed as a team all the way.

Too bad it'll be all the way to jail.

People who behave like judgmental asses don't impress me.

How in the hell do you get from me thinking he wasn't being a team player to me thinking it's okay for people to cause somebody to die? That's a pretty big stretch.

I'm a 49 year old woman who made the conscious decision not to have kids, and who at age 17 decided that our God was as ridiculous as the Greeks gods and goddesses. In my early 30's, I went to college at night, got my degree, and then started a career in a male dominated field. My parents are extremely right wing, and I don't have a relationship with them.

Does that sound like a follower? You don't even know me, and because I've shared one opinion that you don't agree with, you've decided that I'm okay with what amounts to murder. Talk about wow...

He did NOT break!

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-steelers-national-anthem-protest/stories/201709250175

Seems like he feels bad that his actions made it look like he was going against his team and that wasn't his intention, and he wanted to clarify that. I respect him for that.

The guy is allowed to stand for the anthem. So far it looks to me like his standing is being used by others.

While other teams players may have pledged, Villanueva made the conscious choice to dishonor his teammates, his coach, and most importantly, the people who remain oppressed by American society.

EDIT: In addition, he is now being portrayed as a "great American patriot" by the Drumpfsters. That alone should be enough to be shunned by the NFL.

iteration of the liberal they can think to portray?

Hope that's what it is, anyway.

Would be scary to think anyone actually thinks like this.

Villaneuva has as much a right to stand as any other player has the right to kneel. He wasn't wearing a Trump hat, he was standing for the national anthem.

No one except a Freeper is that stupid.

I think you are on to something. He is trying to stir the pot.

As for Mr. Villaneuva opting out of the "team" decision. I wonder how much opportunity he really had to express his opinion to the coaches. Anyone who has been with a group when someone in authority decides what is going to happen would understand.

I would like for the stadium announcer to state at the beginning. Please rise in honor of our veterans. Veterans please hold your hands up for recognition if you wish. Let's show our veterans appreciation for their service.

Thank you. Now we present the National Anthem sung by .....

The purpose is to draw out the minority of DU members who are angry enough and naive enough to jump on the bandwagon, thus making the site as a whole look more like a bunch of unreasonable extremists and hypocrites."

People can stand for the national anthem without being labeled racist.

You have backed up your assertion in no way.

Which I learned recently.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9634170

He's a Ranger and lives by an ethos most will never understand. First DU praises men for standing alone then vilifies them for not toeing the line.

The "story" is quite different than what I've read in previous posts!
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-steelers-national-anthem-protest/stories/201709250175

His statement was that he understood why Colin was doing what he did and that there was no place for racism and cop brutality toward citizens in society.

On Sunday, hooefully he talked to his teammates first.

He's a Ranger, and no one should have expected him to do otherwise.

are not good ones.
He is NOT being avoided and will NOT be "dropped like a lead balloon."

You need better sources!

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/09/25/alejandro-villanueva-steelers-national-anthem-protest/stories/201709250175

Praise for doing something every player has done for decades?

I actually have no problem with him standing. I do have a problem with it being used for other means. That is what they are doing and it should be clear that they are highlighting him as a great white hope.

doing this for "decades."
2008/2009 is when the NFL mandated the teams to be on the field for the National Anthem.

It's a time honored tradition. That is no secret and is well known. This is absolute praise for the status quo. Players were also welcome to stand on the field for it before '09.

Anybody expect him not to do what he did, but all the wingnuts are chanting that all NFL players work for the organization and absoultely should follow the company line, but not him! I can't fault the guy, he's a true believer but I would avoid him too.

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2017/09/25/ben-roethlisberger-steelers-national-anthem-protest-al-villanueva/stories/201709250153

IMHO, Roethlisberger's facebook posting is entirely self-serving, as things always are with him.

female "how do ya like this". Oh yah, love this dirt bag. Ugh......

They aren't doing anything important to get fame, just playing a game.

No player Colin to Alejandro is a hero or a villain.

If it wasn't for the media covering whatever silly thing they do, no one would notice. Of course, the media has spent more time on football players than Russia & the election.

It's pathetic.

"No player Colin to Alejandro is a hero or a villain..."

Reducing anyone to an inconsequential quotient is irrational, as we all of us contain both the best and thw worst of what any one human can be.

Pathetic, indeed. But I get the desire for trivializing all as only noteworthy through the lens of sports...

The guy has a powerful case for having the right reasons to stand for the national anthem, possibly feeling required to do it, and he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt. Of course, that benefit doesn't extend to some of the people who have a real problem with the protest.

People are citing Villanueva's military service as an excuse for him to act in defiance of the team.

Does that mean that anyone with a military record can act in defiance of their current employer?


If not, then what exactly does it mean?

I'm not really sure I'd care to build much on the argument that his employer explicitly required that he not do what people are generally expected to do in response to the national anthem, but only when played by the employer. They may as well change the company response to "Good morning" to "Screw you" and then try to see how much employment law supports disciplinary measures. Seriously, no "reasonable man" is going to be surprised if somebody stands up when the national anthem is played, and then support punishment of an employee standing up at such a time as not to interfere with job duties. Ultimately, if his employer doesn't like people standing for the national anthem, then his employer can darn well stop playing it.

To the specifics, he has since apologized and said he made a mistake. Tomlin kept the team in the locker room to protect them and keep them from getting into exactly this situation, rather than as a condition of employment like wearing pants. It wasn't defiance of an employer at any point as his employer didn't demand he not stand during the anthem.

Honestly, I really don't think it means much beyond a photographic Rorschach test.

Or was he an "anchor baby"?

Irony at its finest.

Multiple sources are reporting that he was really torn and decided to do it but feels it gave a wrong impression of how he felt about what the team was doing. I'm good with that.

He basically said that Villanueva went behind the team's back to paint himself as a hero while making his teammates look like heels.

His military service notwithstanding, he is a member of a different team now, and that team decided to vote on how to proceed. The team voted to remain in the locker room, yet Villanueva took it upon himself to jump into the spotlight.


Madden, who is brash, very polarizing, utterly destroyed several Trump voters who called in to cry about patriotism and the sacred military blah blah blah.

I don't know that I'd like to have Madden--a proudly outspoken Libertarian--over for dinner, but he has little tolerance for bullshit, and he called it out repeatedly during yesterday's show.