What I want to know is how the professional football games got taken over by the military...all those flyovers, and the theme repeated during half time events.

advertisements on TV heavily starting in the Fall. I think this is because when school starts and they are trying to attract high school seniors and junior and senior college students.

These flyovers and everything else are paid for by the military, the NFL doesn't give anything for free.

So that we could have a life where you can relax and watch a sporting contest.

That you aren't holding a gun waiting to be shot at, that you have rights, that you are free, that you can speak your mind, that you can celebrate the fact that others that you will never know made this possible.

That's the idea, celebrating why we can do the things we can due to others, that's why we put out hands over our hearts, the Flag and Anthem are the symbols that take the place of the millions that we can't pay tribute to individually.

And that's why players are taking a knee, because for many the promise of our constitution has been broken, they are not being treated as equals, they are kneeling to show that something is wrong and it's time to change, that we can no longer accept the lie.

They are in mourning for the loss of the promise of our Country.

I can think of no better way to get this point across and get people to think and start talking about it, non-violent and seen by millions.

Great post.

1931. It began to be played before sporting events during WWII, in order to instill patriotism. It's time for it to no longer being played.
As for the pledge of allegiance, the words "under God" was inserted in the 1950's, to show that the US was different than the godless communists.

precision marching band played it and we all sang, standing with hand over heart...

Just curious as fox found a few retired NFL African American players that support trump.

rather than taking a stand.

I agree with the Rooneys and Tomlin. Maybe this will start a new trend with all the teams.
That would be smart & savvy, in my book.

Saying that there are a lot of different income backgrounds, religions, creeds, etc and saying that's football. He seemed to do it to signify they are united as a team.

think of himself as resilient, especially in the face of criticism. Hopefully, this morning fucks with his head enough that he has a massive myocardial infarction.

Sorry if that offends anyone -- but I can't help myself. I've had enough. It's either him, or its all of us. I'm for all of us.

Have you seen the % of African Americans in the NFL?

Black men comprise 57-70 percent of college football players and 70 percent of
NFL players (and the vast majority are between the ages of 15 and 34).


The spotlight on quarterbacks apparently hasn’t had the same effect on the center position, another up-the-middle spot traditionally reserved for those perceived as the most astute players. Despite a nearly 50-50 split along the offensive line, at center more than 81 percent of the players are white. Conversely, cornerback is the blackest position on the field: 99.4 percent of players are African-American. On defense overall, roughly 80 percent of the players are black. Switching back to offense, among running backs, the numbers are also heavily tilted toward blacks.

According to the annual racial and gender report card published by TIDES, the NFL is almost 70 percent black, and only 12.5 percent of running backs are white in the most recent year for statistics, 2014, while the inverse was true for special teams positions of kicker and punter, where 97.8 percent of players were white.

https://theundefeated.com/features/the-nfls-racial-divide/

They used to be in the locker room during the anthem before the military paid the NFL to have the players come out first. Seems like staying in the locker room prevents protest (and any public displays of team disunity), absent a statement saying the team won't participate as an act of protest.

Under 5 yrs of age this country didn't mind exposing me to radiation (Hanford) as an adult lost most of my thyroid and always had problems with the thyroid. I resent being used as an experimental animal...and you want me to honor this country? Honor this country as being possibly injured/killed by my own country? Who is crazy here? I know it isn't me.

My older daughter died from a condition that could have been take care of the RX and medical care, but we were too poor to pay the doctor bills...so she died when she didn't have to...honor a nation that is willing to kill my children for lack of money? and you want me to honor this nation?

You expect me to honor this country? I am not an idiot

Good guy

He hosted a Hillary fundraiser at his house last year:

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/steelers-coach-mike-tomlin-to-host-expensive-hillary-clinton-fundraiser/

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to host expensive Hillary Clinton fundraiser
Not everyone in the Steelers' organization is staying out of politics
John Breech
mugshot by John Breech
@johnbreech
Jun 13, 2016 • 1 min read

Although Ben Roethlisberger has decided to keep his distance from Donald Trump, not everyone in the Steelers' organization plans to stay out of politics during the upcoming election season.
As a matter of fact, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will be putting himself in the thick of things on Tuesday, when he's expected to host a luncheon that will serve as a fundraiser for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.