Posted on 02/14/2021 9:37:17 AM PST by The Houston Courant
Personally, I like the idea that a professional sports franchise owner, like Mark Cuban, will stop exploiting the Star Spangled Banner to sell his product. For decades, professional sports teams have used patriotism for profit. The owners and players wrapped themselves in the flag they now burn.
Let us be honest, corporations - especially multinational corporations - do not do anything that does not benefit the corporation. This practice of playing the national anthem, parading the flag in front of the crowd, “honoring” our uniformed services personnel, flyovers - it was all done to evoke the emotions of the audience. It stoked our good feelings towards our great nation with the expectation that these good feelings would be associated with their product i.e - the game itself. They exploited our patriotism to keep us patronizing their product.
Indeed, watching the NFL became a religious ritual. Families would gather around the television on Sunday, often in lieu of religious services, so that they did not miss the kickoff. The Catholic Church changed mass times from noon to 11 a.m. and added a Saturday vigil mass to make it more convenient for NFL fans because it recognized it was losing the competition for souls.
(Excerpt) Read more at houstoncourant.com ...
What a dopey article. The NFL never “wrapped itself in the flag.” This drumbeat of leftists coming out with “We should ditch the anthem at sporting events” is calculated to undermine America.
I dunno ... this scribes screed seems rather cynical to me
I thought Cuban’s “No National Anthem played at any of our games!” decision had been overruled and reversed by other authorities. Has it flipped back again?
In other words, about average for 'The Houston Courant'.
Who is watching anyway. Nothing but a bunch of overpaid unpatriotic slobs throwing a ball around and smiling all the way to the bank. Role models for youth? Not.
Setting aside for a moment this controversial article, I will say this: a fairly stringent law should be passed forbidding any sports team that benefits from a federal-authorized monopoly from playing the national anthem or flying the American flag if any team owner voted for a Democrat in the last 20 years.
They've proven themselves anything but "heroes". They're grown adults playing games the games of children and the only "records" that matter are dollars in their bank accounts and amount of ego stroking they get. At least the WWF is honest about wrestling being staged.
These aren't stadiums built for legends, they're taxpayer subsidized testimony to the egos of owners and performers.
Professional sports are a vehicle that multimedia moguls also use to fill their bank accounts, stroke their egos, and also push propaganda out to the "bread and circus" viewers.
Why not have them show their true color - GREEN? They can have the stadium organist play along while the fans, players, coaches, and owners sing a song to MONEY.
...a la Dr. Teeth on 'The Muppet Show' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nrSfC76lLI
...Don't want my name in the Hall of Fame,
Just want a big fat pile of money.
...Give me that almighty dollar,
for that lettuce hear me holler.
...I wanna get me a suit that's made out of loot
And whistle the wearing of the green.
... Wanna live in regal splendor, with that lovin' legal tender,
Give me money, money, money, money, money.
The last I read the NFL authorities over-ruled Cuban’s dictate, and now require all owners, managers, players and staff to stand at attention. No more kneeling.
Trump should have yanked all of their anti-trust protections and tax breaks when he had the chance!
Let’s look at the last time this sort of thing caught on. It was called the Vietnam War Era. I was a proud Vet back then when it was definitely not cool.
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