Posted on 09/25/2017 12:18:54 PM PDT by Hojczyk
RUSH: I want to share with you first the way all of this affected me, because in many ways I think that I am fairly typical. I am smack-dab in the middle of the targeted marketing the NFL does to acquire and hold an audience, right smack-dab in the middle of it. And I have to tell you, I was so sad Sunday morning when all of this started falling out.
But if you’ll permit me first, I was personally saddened. I did not watch the National Football League yesterday, and it was the first time in 45 years that I made an active decision not to watch, including my team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was not a decision made in anger. It was genuine sadness. I realized that I can no longer look at this game and watch this game and study this game and pretend, you know, fantasize, everything a fan does. This whole thing has removed for me the ingredients that are in the recipe that make up a fan.
You can’t watch ESPN anymore and just learn about what happened during the day in football games. You can’t. You are going to be deluged with other things that are irrelevant to why you care and why you want to watch. You can’t open the internet in the morning — newspaper, whatever. You can’t. You just can’t watch and absorb and learn about the NFL the way I used to be able to. You have to be willing to accept all the other things now that people are using it for — and it is being used.
I’ve evolved a whole bunch of theories as to what happened, what is happening, who’s gonna win in this, who’s gonna lose in this, who is doing the right thing, who’s doing the wrong thing. I’ve been running all these different scenarios. I’ve got some input from some friends I want to share with you as well. Some of them have some quite fascinating takes. The upshot of it is, though, the sad realization that something I loved — and, look, this is not old man “get off my yard” stuff.
I watched my Eagles and Giants. It’s usually high drama and pride. The game was a classic. After all of this protest BS,I began to feel empty and sad. Even though I watched,it very well be the end because I hate the NFL and want them to lose even if that means I walk away from my team. I can’t wait for NHL.
We don’t pay for any extra TV, either. Wish we had better radio reception, though!
It’s really, really, really, ... important to recognize the fact that ESPN is Disney.
Neither have I, and I am all the better for it.
Kudos to Rush for being open about his personal reaction and decision. 1st time in 45 years, he said.
Agreed, there is still great football out there, but no longer NFL!
“No bucks, no Buck Roger.”
Former fans do not breed future fans.
This only compares, if you are an EMPLOYEE of the bakery. If the owner tells you to make a gay cake, you do it, or quit.
If you OWN the bakery, you should be able to decide who you do business with.
NFL players are employees of the NFL.
“What hurts me more, are those who demand that the protestors be fired, or hurt in any way, or forced to do something they do not believe in. It is tantamount to being made to bake a cake.
“I hope my fellow Americans see the forest through all the trees.”
The government forced the baker’s to bake with the threat of imprisonment and bankruptcy level fines. These idiots can only be fired if they breech a written contract with a private entity and even then they loose their contract and that is it. Not their freedom or their wealth. Do you realize that you do not have “freedom of speech” when it comes to private contracts and employment?
Can you even see the trees?
If people are so upset with players taking a knee during the national anthem, including the NFL commissioner, then why are these some of the same people who will buy concessions still being sold in the concourse, come through the gate as admissions to get to their seats while there si still time before the first snap, not get upset that radio and TV stations often do not air it in its entirety if at all and watch as people in the stands show various level of respect fidgeting around, talking, not removing head cover or looking at the flag as its being played?
Yes sir. NHL with the Kings on my GF’s birthday.
Then you find another job.......that's pretty simple.
As an NFL franchise owner who employs YOU as a player, your contract to play for me contains language that says you will not conduct yourself either on the field or in private life in a manner that violates existing law or brings embarrassment upon MY TEAM or the NFL. Failure to abide by this contract will result in your immediate termination........
Virtually every NFL player has such language in their league contracts but it's not being enforced. So who is at fault? The NFL!
Need I remind you of the Dallas Cowboys last year who wanted to place emblems on their helmets honoring the Dallas policemen who lost their lives enforcing the law but were denied by the NFL?
It’s a damn shame and it is also going to widen the gap between people and demographic groups. Heretofore the game was an arena where people of differing points of view, races, ages, political affiliations ad nauseum, came together and put all other things aside in deference to the sport. We’re losing another cultural ‘binding agent’ that brought us together despite adversities.
You haven't been reading the other NFL post apocalypse threads have you?
Rush is absolutely right and contrary to what all the left wing MSM are trying to spin, not only are the Trump supporters in line with his Friday comment but so are many, many democrat and fence sitting sports fans who are fed up with this protest crap.
I believe that professional football players are paid to play football, not insult a captive audience with disgusting and unpatriotic activism.
People turn to sports to get away from politics and activists, not to be distracted by being forced to experience treasonous behavior by millionaire players and thugs.
I do not think that it is appropriate to give the people the middle finger when they are supposed to be playing football. Activism does NOT belong in sports. I an done with watching football for the year.
Yes it does! Penguins three-peat...
I think he’s wrong to be SAD about it. He should be MAD about it!
From “Rollerball” starring James Caan (1975).
NYC Coach: “I don’t want another man on that track. Houston, what are you trying to do? Nobody’s gonna win this game?”
Rusty, Team Executive: “Game? This wasn’t meant to be a game.”
The can posture and go chimp on their own time.
When they go chimp or sullen on company time, they can be canned.
I “watch” ESPN ... but I MUTE it and have Pandora playing my favorite music. There is no need to “hear” ESPN. I read my Kindle During the commercials. A pleasent way to spend the afternoon.
Liberalism ruins everything. One of my old tag lines was “Liberalism is the art of taking what works, breaking it, and blaming Republicans”. I may have to start using it again.
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