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The Glass House of the NFL
Townhall.com ^ | October 5, 2017 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 10/05/2017 4:12:20 AM PDT by Kaslin

The National Football League is a glass house that was cracking well before Donald Trump's criticism of players who refuse to stand during the national anthem.

The NFL earned an estimated $14 billion last year. But 500-channel television, internet live streaming, video games and all sorts of other televised sports have combined to threaten the league's monopoly on weekend entertainment -- even before recent controversies.

It has become a fad for many players not to stand for the anthem. But it is also becoming a trend for irate fans not to watch the NFL at all.

Multimillionaire young players, mostly in their 20s, often cannot quite explain why they have become so furious at emblems of the country in which they are doing so well.

Their gripes at best seem episodic and are often without supporting data. Are they mad at supposedly inordinate police brutality toward black citizens, or racial disparity caused by bias, or the perceived vulgarity of President Donald Trump?

The result, fairly or not, is that a lot of viewers do not understand why so many young, rich players show such disrespect for their country -- and, by extension, insult their far poorer fans, whose loyal support has helped pay their salaries.

ESPN talking heads and network TV analysts do not help. They often pose as social justice warriors, but they are ill-equipped to offer sermons to fans on their ethical shortcomings that have nothing to do with football.

In truth, the NFL's hard-core fan base is not comprised of bicoastal hipsters. Rather, the league's fan base is formed mostly by red-state Americans -- and many of them are becoming increasingly turned off by the culture of professional football.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: americanflag; anthem; business; football; nationalanthem; nfl; nflprotest; nflprotests; ratings; sports; vdh
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1 posted on 10/05/2017 4:12:20 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: aposiopetic; bestintxas; Bodega; BroJoeK; carolinablonde; COBOL2Java; DuncanWaring; EXCH54FE; ...

Victor Davis Hanson Column


Please Freepmail me, if you want to be added, or removed from the ping list

2 posted on 10/05/2017 4:13:39 AM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
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To: Kaslin
a lot of viewers do not understand why so many young, rich players show such disrespect for their country

Let's reword that.

A lot of viewers don't give a flying f___ why so many young rich players show such disrespect for their country.
3 posted on 10/05/2017 4:22:43 AM PDT by cgbg (Hidden behind the social justice warrior mask is corruption and sexual deviance.)
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To: Kaslin

NHL season started last night, ladies and gentlemen. You’re all welcome to come watch a real sport.


4 posted on 10/05/2017 4:28:28 AM PDT by Catholic Canadian
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To: Kaslin

Comment #s NFL 212450 2225 Anheuser Bush 800 342 5283 White House 202 456 1111 Tell friends & family 2 call


5 posted on 10/05/2017 4:28:54 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
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To: cgbg

I like your version better...


6 posted on 10/05/2017 4:29:48 AM PDT by Common Sense 101
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Kaslin

Think of what this will do to the futures of young men. College football will be the end, no more young millionaires. These guys will have killed and eaten the golden goose.

If I was one of the guys who didn’t kneel I would be pissed


8 posted on 10/05/2017 4:45:36 AM PDT by McGavin999 ("The press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood."Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Kaslin

At this point, is there any way the NFL can save itself? Using the language of the left: We are offended by their micro, really macro, aggression.
Perhaps they could give billions to conservative groups, air Public Service announcements showing why America is great, fund college departments in real American History, and educate their players about the greatness of the USA.

Oh, and fire Roger Goodell and some of the offending players. I still think it is too late.


9 posted on 10/05/2017 5:18:05 AM PDT by Betty Jane
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To: Kaslin

Any person who loves our country should not under any conditions watch any NFL games. ZERO


10 posted on 10/05/2017 5:26:36 AM PDT by stockpirate (SETH RICH gave the emails to wikikileaks via murdered ex-UK Amb, murdered he was, cover up it is)
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To: Kaslin

Good article.


11 posted on 10/05/2017 5:27:27 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
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To: Kaslin

The NFL is dead to me. And I WAS a lifelong Cowboys fan. They blew it & were exposed just like the rest of the BLM supporting teams.

I think thw NFL will look much different and much less popular in two the next years.

Perhaps Almighty God is using this to being down a big idol in this country.


12 posted on 10/05/2017 5:36:04 AM PDT by Lions Gate
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To: Neoliberalnot

F*** NFL football....bunch of thugs who can’t read, write or speak properly....send them all back to where they came from...thats what Lincoln wanted to do anyway.


13 posted on 10/05/2017 5:56:24 AM PDT by Dont tread and Live
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To: Kaslin
BOYCOTT THE NF!!!

I have nothing further to say!

14 posted on 10/05/2017 6:02:52 AM PDT by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
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To: McGavin999

I don’t understand why players with smaller contracts hoping to sign bigger ones in free agency aren’t up in the faces of these kneeling morons that have already had big contracts. I would be mighty pissed off if these spoiled brats were potentially costing me millions down the road. Surely their agents are putting a bug in their ears about this - the agents stand to lose a great deal of money in the future themselves.


15 posted on 10/05/2017 6:03:38 AM PDT by Codeflier (Thank you for speaking truth to power President Trump)
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To: McGavin999

With (Hopefully) the vanishing of the NFL, what makes you think that COLLEGE football will survive? College football is the “minor leagues” of the NFL, and without a potential future of NFL riches, how many illiterate athletes will risk life and limb with no potential wealthy future as a pro?
As football is also a cash cow for the college/university, what will be the result there? Will be fun to watch.


16 posted on 10/05/2017 6:14:30 AM PDT by CaptainAmiigaf (.)
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To: Kaslin
... many of them are becoming increasingly turned off by the culture of professional football.

Took 'em long enough, but I guess being patient is a good thing in general.

17 posted on 10/05/2017 6:37:32 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("The tears of a clown outweigh the sobriety of facts." ~Michelle Malkin)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: cgbg
The Glass House of the NFL

More than LeeLee in a bikini will be needed to fix this 'Glass House'.

19 posted on 10/05/2017 7:04:41 AM PDT by Don Corleone (.leave the gun, take the canolis, take it to the mattress.)
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To: Catholic Canadian

I’ve never been a fan of the NHL (lived in Texas most of my life) but will tune in and check out some games.


20 posted on 10/05/2017 7:13:01 AM PDT by cweese (Hook 'em Horns!!!)
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