'The Main Thing We Can Do Is Learn From This:' Art Rooney Ii Posts Letter to Steelers Fans (Tr.)

WTAE Pittsburgh ^ | 9/26/2017

[SargeK]

"I want to reach out to you, the members of the Steelers Nation based on what I believe is a misinterpretation about our players' intention in not taking the field for the National Anthem in Chicago."

[Sideshow Bob]

Without revealing any specifics, Aaron Rodgers has said the Packers players are unified and will be asking Green Bay fans to participate in the players' demonstration.

Cheeseheads will be booing.

[Ticonderoga34]

Flipping around the radio dial while coming and going from work, I sure noticed a lot of local sportscasters minimizing what the football players did. A lot of them are blaming Trump’s “divisiveness”, a lot of them are saying that the fans are overreacting. The local sportscasters are a lot closer to the people, they see how pissed people are, and they’re scared for their jobs—as they should be. My message to them is, “Waggling your finger at me isn’t helping your stance, bud.”

The jig is up.

People are starting to realize that sports is just entertainment like movies and TV shows and they don't need it.

This isn't just going to affect the actual games and the leagues but all the ancillary business dependent on pro sports. Business like sports talk programs and fantasy leagues. Oh, and cities and states that spent millions of tax payer dollars on stadiums? They are going to take a big hit too.

[uncbob]

Yeah they want the fans to hold arms and sing KUMBAYA

They still don’t get it
Shows how out of touch they are

[Alberta's Child]

Great post!

[democratsaremyenemy]

There is no pillar of American society that liberals do not seek to sully and destroy.

[Vendome]

WTF ever...2 x loser...

[WVMnteer]

I’m still not clear on why he is trying to hurt the pocketbooks of supporters like Kraft, Johnson, and Snyder.

Like, what is the end game in this specific brand of 4D chess? Destroying the NFL as a warning to the NBA?

Part of me thinks this is his finally getting revenge over the $3 in damages in the USFL case.

[Alberta's Child]

You might be right about that last point. I think he just found an issue that’s a no-brainer that would play well with a huge swath of Americans right now. He’s always been a consummate showman.

[Vendome]

We overreacted for that amazing Super Bowl win this year.

They don’t like this over-reaction?

Outcomes versus consequences

[ConservaTeen]

The Packers are in a conservative part of Wisconsin... Aaron, want to alienate your fanbase? Really?

[WVMnteer]

I think it’s an issue that’s good for him personally.

I’m not exactly thrilled to be arguing with people in a sports bar about this though.

I mean, six or seven guys were protesting. Who cares?

Now, it’s a life or death struggle where someone must win.

[Newbomb Turk]

Past time to take away their taxpayer bought stadiums, tax exemptions, ect.

[OrangeHoof]

Damn! I thought it was something from Andy Rooney and so I wasted my time.

Funniest satire I ever saw was "A few minutes in Hell with...Andy Rooney" soon after he passed on.

"Do you know what I don't like about this place? It's hot. I mean it's really hot. I sat in the stands watching the Giants for decades and it was hot there too but nothing like this. Do you know what would taste really good right now? (Oh, hello Morley!) What would taste good right now would be one of those ice cream things in the cup they sold at the ballparks. I wish Satan would invest in an air conditioner..."

[TnTnTn]

Yeah, we the fans learned a hell of a lot about the blmfl on Sunday. I choose not to support that bunch of rich racist USA haters.

[cherry]

I learned that the rich are just different than regular and NORMAL people...

immoral,condesending, backhanded, arrogant..

[cherry]

the "fire" that the players union has started and let to fester by the owners is that NO rules can in reality apply to actions before, after and during games, since they allowed the teams to stay in for the national anthem and did not discipline the disrespect of the players from last year....

the players have every right to demonstrate all they want, but not on company time and not in stadiums built for the most part by taxpayers...

[V K Lee]

The dyke is leaking and they use their finger on US. Really bright guys? Eh?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

No doubt! There are sports talk stations all over the dial. When they start changing their format in droves, then you’ll know how much of a local effect this NFL SNAFU is having. Another big indication: NFL jerseys going at fire-sale prices. Bye-bye $100 merchandise. The NFL can live under the glow of the Superbowl 2016, that was the last one my house will ever see. On Thanksgiving, I’ll rent movies and the digital antenna will go into the closet (I don’t have cable or satellite, just Roku and a digital antenna for local channels).

[Becki]

So they wanted to avoid a political statement. How is it political to stand for the national anthem?

He is digging a deeper hole.

[petitfour]

Because if you stand for the national anthem, you must be a Trump supporter. Lol. And white. Unless a black communist is president. Then it is ok to stand if you are black.