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Saints Criticize Navy Veteran Who Supports Anthem
Townhall.com ^ | November 4, 2017 | Jeff Crouere

Posted on 11/04/2017 2:38:00 AM PDT by Kaslin

The New Orleans Saints have a wonderful 50 year relationship with long suffering fans that have supported the team through mostly losing seasons. Unfortunately, the team is putting that relationship in jeopardy with their asinine position on the National Anthem controversy.

For some unknown reason, the team’s management and coaching staff have decided to support the right of disgruntled players to protest alleged social injustice during the National Anthem. In week 3 of the season, ten players sat for the Star-Spangled Banner and since that time multiple players have been kneeling prior to the anthem being played.

These stunts have been greeted by well deserved boos by upset fans in the Louisiana Superdome. Sadly, the team has not gotten the message that their actions are insulting to patriots who believe this type of protest is disrespectful to not only our veterans, but also to all Americans who love their country.

By kneeling, the team is showing solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers Quarterback, who started the National Anthem protest last year. At that time, Kaepernick claimed that he was protesting police brutality and racial injustice. The problem is that Kaepernick wore a t-shirt in support of communist Cuban dictator and mass murderer Fidel Castro. He also wore socks depicting police officers as pigs. Thus, it is mind boggling that any team would allow players to be associated with such an idiot.

This week, the controversy was brought to the forefront once again when Retired U.S. Navy Commander John Wells, Executive Director of the Military Veterans Advocacy organization, decided to reject a People’s Health Champion award that was supposed to be presented to him at this Sunday’s home game. The award is given during each game in the Louisiana Superdome to a senior citizen who demonstrates “exceptional achievements.”

Although Wells said he was “honored” to be selected for the award, “since this award is tainted with the dishonorable actions of the NFL and its players, I cannot accept it. To do so would be hypocritical.” Instead of privately meeting with Mr. Wells to discuss the issue, the Saints issued a lengthy public statement blasting the retired Navy Commander. According to the Saints organization, Wells chose to “distract from awareness we hoped to build throughout our community.” Really, the team is criticizing a disabled veteran with over 20 years of service to his country for having the audacity to “distract” from their great “awareness” building. Instead of awareness, the team is building community resentment by their disrespectful protests.

The Saints also called Wells’ actions “unfortunate and disappointing,” and “sad and divisive.” In reality, the Saints players are disappointing many of their fans and being divisive by allowing these protests to continue. The team is coddling spoiled stars who are paid millions of dollars to play a game. These stars are not the victims of discrimination and most of them are clueless as to why they are even protesting. According to Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro, the players are bringing “awareness to a cause.” What cause is that Kenny, communism or police hatred?

The protests have no place during the Saints pregame ceremonies. This is a time for both players and fans to show respect for America, sing the National Anthem, honor our military and first responders, and not engage in political statements. If players want to protest alleged social injustice, they should do it during their free time, not during games that hard working fans pay big money to attend.

The NFL owners should have taken a firm stand against these protests at their last meeting. Instead, they took no action and Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a weak statement expressing his desire that players stand for the National Anthem. Unfortunately, it was not backed by any threats of disciplinary action so it was meaningless. According to Commander Wells, “Their (NFL) failure to act is a slap in the face to all of those who have served in uniform. Men and women have fought and died for the flag that the players are disrespecting.”

Bravo Commander Wells, you are speaking for millions of Americans who are offended by these demonstrations. Until the NFL gets the message and stops the player protests, the once popular league will continue to self-destruct.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: anthem; football; nationalanthem; neworleans; nfl; nflprotests; sports
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To: MarvinStinson

Yes, I read that.

It is NOT the nfl and their stance that’s ‘divisive’ in their opinions. For them, standing WITH BLM thugs is unifying our country.

For that, the organization deserve to ‘die’.


21 posted on 11/04/2017 5:56:19 AM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = USSR; Journ0List + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey)
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To: MarvinStinson
The Saints also called Wells’ actions “unfortunate and disappointing,” and “sad and divisive.”

That's the passive-aggressive way Obama and his pajama boys talk.

22 posted on 11/04/2017 6:00:35 AM PDT by dennisw (Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it is enemy action.)
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To: Kaslin

Just stupid.


23 posted on 11/04/2017 6:01:10 AM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life's tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: FamiliarFace

They obviously thought their ‘retort’ was quite impressive and covered all bases.

Just like Kevin Spacey thought his response did.


24 posted on 11/04/2017 6:03:31 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
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To: dennisw

Tom Daschle always said he was either “disappointed” or “saddened” by anything anyone opposing his him said or did.


25 posted on 11/04/2017 6:05:28 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
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To: Kaslin; 100American; 3D-JOY; abner; Abundy; AGreatPer; Albion Wilde; AliVeritas; alisasny; ...

Well, if the team thinks that way about a veteran who stands up to their behavior, then I have a suggestion for them.

All the players should get together and draw straws. There will be two short straws. The players who draw the short straws will have a coin toss. The winner will marry Bowe Bergdahl, and the loser will marry Ms. Bradley Manning. In for a penny, in for a pound!

#BoycottTheNFL #BoycottHollywood

Combined PING! and DANG!


26 posted on 11/04/2017 6:10:07 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Environ-MENTAL-ism is MENTAL)
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To: Kaslin

Never take a Knee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOm9QuTIXF0&app=desktop


27 posted on 11/04/2017 6:10:16 AM PDT by GailA (Ret. SCPO wife: suck it up buttercups it's President Donald Trump!)
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To: Kaslin

Wow!

The NFL management is as stupid as their players.

Dummies!


28 posted on 11/04/2017 6:11:03 AM PDT by Chgogal (Sessions recused himself for shaking an Ambassador's hand. Shameful!)
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To: Kaslin

The NFL only respects veterans and the military when they are paid to do so. The league’s patriotism is as weak as the Pro Bowl.


29 posted on 11/04/2017 6:21:56 AM PDT by caltaxed
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To: MarvinStinson

Tom Daschle was one of the first with a pajama boy shtick. Harry Reid did it too.


30 posted on 11/04/2017 6:42:10 AM PDT by dennisw (Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it is enemy action.)
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To: Kaslin

Do whatever you have to do get the NFL off your cable package. Don’t pay these bums.


31 posted on 11/04/2017 6:43:52 AM PDT by dennisw (Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it is enemy action.)
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To: Kaslin

The Saints can go back to being the Ain’ts. As in I ain’t going to watch them.


32 posted on 11/04/2017 6:52:51 AM PDT by D Rider
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To: Kaslin
I just returned from Slidell, LA just outside New Orleans, visiting an old high classmate of mine.

He's a retired Marine colonel. Ex-director of the WW II Museum in New Orleans. His next-door neighbor is a retired Navy vet. Currently in the top 8 of the sheriff's office in the parish.

Both are season ticket holders for the Saints. So are many of their neighbors. Key word here is "are".

Because next season, they are dropping their season ticket packages and telling the Saints and the NFL to go stick it where the sun don't shine.

Their season ticket packages ranged from $4000+ for one of them and $5,000+ for the other. They will drop them next season.

Next season's ticket package holders will cause a huge dent in the NFL revenue as disgruntled fans decide it's not worth that kind of money to get their flag, National Anthem and country "kneeled on".

33 posted on 11/04/2017 7:17:49 AM PDT by HotHunt
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To: Kaslin

Disney shares on track for worst day since May 2016 amid ESPN issues

By Thomas Barrabi Published August 09, 2017 Media & Advertising FOXBusiness

Disney releases third-quarter earnings
FBN’s Nicole Petallides on Disney’s 3rd quarter earnings.
Disney (DIS) shares are on track for their largest single-day drop in more than a year on Wednesday, hours after the company said struggles at ESPN contributed to a major decline in operating income at its cable networks.

Operating income at Disney’s cable networks dropped to $1.5 billion in the third quarter, down 23% from the same period one year earlier. The company attributed the downturn to higher programming costs associated with ESPN’s new NBA contract and lower advertising revenue amid decreased viewership.

Disney’s stock fell more than 4% in early trading. If shares close below that threshold when trading ends on Wednesday, it will mark Disney’s first single-day drop of 4% since May 2016, according to Dow Jones.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/08/09/disney-shares-on-track-for-worst-day-since-may-2016-amid-espn-issues.html


34 posted on 11/04/2017 8:45:19 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (What, we have here, is a failure to communicate!)
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To: Pollster1
The major underpinning of the NFL was ever increasing ratings and revenues. NFL ownership and its players have severely damaged their economic model by their protests, which essentially gave the finger to their most loyal fans.

The NFL is now a dead man walking, they just don't know it.

35 posted on 11/04/2017 9:04:30 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: MarvinStinson

Wells was the divisive one??

Puh-leeze.


36 posted on 11/04/2017 9:10:07 AM PDT by Let's Roll ("You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality" -- Ayn Rand)
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To: Night Hides Not

This crisis is unexpected. Who would have guessed that insulting our flag, our Anthem, our country, our military, and our ancestors would matter to the patriotic Americans who used to be football fans?


37 posted on 11/04/2017 11:02:22 AM PDT by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
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To: Pollster1

Fodder for case studies at MBA programs.


38 posted on 11/04/2017 1:27:25 PM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It!)
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To: FamiliarFace

Disrespect the flag, disrespect America, disrespect the vets.


39 posted on 11/04/2017 1:40:26 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: Kaslin

Bump


40 posted on 11/04/2017 5:20:54 PM PDT by foreverfree
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