Posted on 01/05/2023 6:31:56 AM PST by Fiji Hill
Fox News' Laura Ingraham quickly ended an interview on her show with activist and author Steve Almond after he raised a sensitive issue for the presenter.
Almond, who wrote the book Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto, said that the NFL must feel economic pressure from its fans before it will take the steps needed to improve safety for players.
Speaking to Ingraham on her Wednesday show, the pair got into a spat that resulted in the Fox News host abruptly terminating the interview.
Ingraham did this after Almond compared the pressure he felt needed to be placed on the NFL to that felt by Fox News after Ingraham was criticized for a tweet mocking a survivor of the 2018 Parkland Stoneman Douglas High school shooting.
Almond said: "I am focused on the fans, and what I essentially believe, not any government ban is going to make football safer, certainly not some mythic woke mob that you mentioned to try and scare your viewers."
Graham interrupted to say: "I'm not trying to scare my viewers, football is not about politics."
Almond replied: "I think that is your entire economic model. Your entire economic model is to scare your viewers, that is your whole gig."
Ingraham then began to speak over her guest and insisted that he wanted football to be banned.
She argued that there were probably many ways to make many sports safer, including baseball and lacrosse. "Underneath it all you seem to have the belief that football has a history based in racism, and a celebration of the fans, of violence," she said.
"What I am saying to you is, I don't know what kind of fan base you are going to, but they don't celebrate violence, they are there to enjoy the game."
Almond answered: "I agree with you Laura, I don't think the fans are there to celebrate violence.
"I think they tolerate the violence and they see when someone like Damar Hamlin is almost killed in front of them and I remember watching Darryl Stingley get paralyzed, as an 11-year-old.
"I didn't stop watching football and lots of fans don't stop watching football because they enjoy it so much because it is so thrilling.
"The reason people change their behavior is because there is an economic incentive. Couple of years ago when you taunted the survivor of the Parkland mass shooting, you apologized only because advertisers withdrew from your show."
Almond was then cut off and Ingraham continued: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, nice try little buddy. I appreciate it. This is what they always do." ,p> Following a backlash after her tweet on the Parkland mass shooting survivor, Ingraham apologized on her Twitter page, although some advertisers continued to abandon her show.
Newsweek has contacted Fox News for comment.
Newsweek: the news publication that sold for a dollar and was overpriced.
She is a witch. I remember her saying something like Donald just has to admit to defeat and move on.
If it’s not her way it won’t be anyway.
He unknowingly taught me so much.....
Some guys just can’t be replaced.
Unfortunately he is in that category.
Ditto that!!
WE hate him.
Correct. He openly contradicted himself and Laura apologized when she should have doubled down.
Economics. Players are so strong, and quick, that physical injury is going to happen. No one wants to pay someone millions to be in recovery. And to attract fans who like to see scoring the rules are adjusted to foster that aspect of the game.
Agree, it has become like watching a coin toss...the Georgia/OSU game, a perfect example. Like almost 3 scores in the last few minutes? No defense at all. Just have the offense on the field and give a prescribed play sequence, and give them style points for accuracy and quickness, and celebration dance.
“Gun laws save lives”?
No. Gun laws save governments.
Several years ago I started watching English Premiership Rugby, which, after getting some idea of the rules, I find more exciting to watch than football. Very much like tackle football being played in soccer uniforms. No pads, no helmets.
Like football was years ago, players play both offense and defense—no special teams. You can’t block for a runner, he is on his own to advance the ball. When a player is tackled, he has to release the ball, usually to a teammate, but the ball can be contested.
Also like football, pro rugby is concerned with injuries, especially concussions. The biggest thing they’ve done is a required head-injury assessment if there is even a hint of a player’s head receiving a strong blow, from either another player or the ground.
As I said, it’s a fun game to watch. The pro season is broken up by international contests and tournaments of the best teams from rugby-playing nations.
“Only show I watch on Fox is Tucker. The rest is dead to me.”
You are missing out by not listening to Maria Bartiromo on Sunday morning and Mark Levin.
OMG!! FAKE survivor!
Tucker is Glenn Beck Jr. and will go down the same path.
If the author is talking about Hogg, then he's as much a "survivor" of the shooting as he is the sinking of the Titanic.
Watters, Gutfeld and Hegseth are solid, and I like Jones too. Hannity has become unbearable for anyone who is advanced beyond Conservatism 101. Does anyone believe that the FBI and law enforcement consist of “99% GOOD ONES”! Sean does! Leo 2.0 is the only reason I ever watch at all.
👍👍👍
Probably that little anti-gun prick who wasn’t even at the school. Forgot his name.
Doesn't have to be. I play softball and this past summer a pitcher in our league collapsed when his heart just stopped beating.......He survived thanks to a couple fireman who were playing on the opposing team started chest compressions until the EMS arrived....
FWIW, in 1971 Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes died on the field from a blood clot in one of his arteries. And no, he was not vaxxed.......
I was referring to the fact that the left is using this to promote the idea of football being violent. This hit was average at best.
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