Posted on 11/10/2016 7:59:53 AM PST by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
"One of the greatest days of my life," a white offensive lineman from the AFC told B/R.
"Easily one of the worst days of my life," said a black offensive lineman, also from the AFC. "It's like my dog died. Worse." The reaction from NFL players to me in the wake of Donald Trump's election as the nation's 45th president was swift and long-lasting. It carried through election night, into the next morning, and throughout Wednesday. Over two dozen players expressed themselves in numerous complex thoughts, simple outbursts and heated arguments with me.
The general feeling among the six white players with whom B/R communicated was that the Trump election was good for the country and happened because Americans wanted change and a fixing of economic issues. In sharp contrast, eight black players I spoke with expressed the sentiment that the Trump election was one of the ugliest moments in American history and was about white America wanting to keep blacks, and other people of color, as one black player said, "in our place."
The comments from both groups of players were at times raw, angry, introspective and dizzying, even more so than for a similar Trump story I wrote before the election. In all my conversations, the most striking aspect was the difference in how black players and white players viewed Trump. It was as if they were talking about two different people, a phenomenon that likely mirrors the American electorate. Take, for example, how two white players felt the election of Trump would help bring players closer to fans and maybe even reverse the recent ratings decline.
"Trump is creating a more blue-collar America," said a special teams player, "and at its core, our sport is a blue-collar sport." Meanwhile, several black players expressed a different view of some fans. They felt those who voted for Trump would root for them on Sundays, but once the games ended, those fans wouldn't, as one player stated, "give them a bucket to piss in." Perhaps most importantly, players on both sides of the Trump aisle insist that NFL locker rooms remain divided over Trump and have seen that chasm grow in the wake of the election.
It's impossible to tell how accurate this view is, but it continues to be something mentioned to me. What's certain is I have never seen NFL players both so happy and infuriated at the same time. I've never seen players this fired up over anything that wasn't related to a work stoppage or Roger Goodell. There was definitely some locker room polarization when Barack Obama was first elected president in 2008, but the dynamics were different. The player base is approximately 70 percent black, and most of the black electorate backed Obama.
Exit polling by NBC this year showed that 89 percent of black voters were either concerned or scared if Trump were to win. My guess is those percentages would hold up, or be close, in NFL locker rooms. "If you voted for Trump," said one AFC offensive starter, "I don't trust you." "Black players are constantly playing the race card [when it comes to Trump]," a white NFC player said. "This election had nothing to do with race."
He wasn't alone in his views.
"Hillary Clinton was a terrible candidate," another white player said. "That's why she lost, not because of race." Other white players said Trump won because of the increase in Obamacare premiums and Supreme Court appointments. All of the white players, in fact, said Trump's election had nothing to do with race. White players who voted for Trump, or knew people who did, in fact, were furious with the notion they or Trump supporters were racist.
All of the black players, on the other hand, said Trump's election was mostly, if not all, about race. Several black players with whom B/R spoke saved some of their anger for Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who wrote a letter of support to Trump, who then read the letter at a rally on the eve of the election. Belichick defended writing the note, saying it wasn't politically motivated and was penned because Trump was a friend. But some of the black players I spoke with said they didn't understand how black players on the Patriots weren't enraged with Belichick. Or with Tom Brady, who Trump said supported his candidacy.
"Very disappointed in [Belichick]," one player said. "I thought he was better than that." (One aside: In my time covering the league, Belichick has been one of the most open-minded men I've ever known. Yet in various front offices around the league, there was surprise he so publicly endorsed Trump.) In the end, maybe everyone should heed the words of former NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody, who tweeted some pretty good advice this week: "Onward and upward America. Let's figure this thing called life out together for the betterment of our country."
A year from now a lot of these people will be like, “What were we thinking? This Trump guy isn’t all that bad.”
You’re overlooking one thing (and my whole point): His handlers will just find another dopey token who is still eligible to run (and from whom they can buy favors).
His strength was not in drawing 1,095% of the black vote (they are the smallest demographic now besides Asians, and that will change); it was in acceding to the demands of the wealthy white liberals who bought him and paid him to do their bidding (gay marriage, etc.). Why didn’t his slaves do his bidding and re-elect Hillary? He knows his “legacy” is about to be whitewashed (pardon the pun) from the books; he needed Hillary to win regardless of her disdain for him (and vice versa).
If Obama was really so popular, why couldn’t he deliver the House or Senate after 2008? Trump won because there are a LOT more white people still in this country than blacks; that will never change as we morph into a Hispanic/Asian country in the coming decades. He is not a big player; what he REPRESENTS is important (the Welfarian rabble). In January he’ll just be an unemployed golfer receiving a government check; his magic veto/executive order pen stays behind in the White House.
Sure thing. Base salary for an NFL rookie is $450,000 a year. How many of those fans earn $450,000 a year? In ten years? Kaepernik pulls in $12 million a year. How many of those fans earn that in a working lifetime?
Cry me a river, you racist jackass.
BECAUSE Bigfoot is poised to run in 2020. Zero didn't actually want Hitlery to become President.
His so-called "legacy"? That was in FUBARing the USA and dividing it enough so that it sows the seeds of dissent and a future anarchy. Zero's long-standing "Legacy" is in creating a Revolution; THE Revolution.
0bama's popularity has never been high; He is a figment and mirage created by the Media, the Elites and New World Order globalists. The 53% "Favorablity" poll numbers are bullsh*t.
In a nutshell, as an Alinsky disciple (as was Hitlery), 0bama has ALWAYS been a catalyst and Tool of a totalitarian Globalist One World Government.
The Wookie won’t run; by 2020 blacks will probably be an even smaller portion of the electorate, and I’ve never met a non-black who had any favorable view of her. Without white women, she’d have no chance.
On that we mostly agree. Except 0bama was exceptionally successful at his mission. AND, working for the SAME totalitarian NWO goal to destroy American sovereignty were the minions of the Bush Regime.
Soul-less minions are a dime a dozen; Obama had no special magic that lifted him past McCain & Romney - just a mass media push.
The Left, MSM, and the NWO Elites WORSHIP Bigfoot. They will turn her into Joan of Arc and Cleopatra by the time 2019 rolls round.
I’ve never met a non-black who had any favorable view of her.
That's because your world, our world is in a whole different universe that the 50 million insane jackwagons who hallucinated that Hitlery was a "brilliant, qualified, moral leaders" who was superior to Trump. yes, that's right; We're dealing with a nation that half-insane. It's shocking but true.
But working for an obviously subversive, racist, anti-America 0bama (whose "credentials" were still never divulged) were the world's greatest propaganda organ in the history of mankind, the MSM; But then add on the weight of the world's globalist billionaire elites; layer in the Academe; The vast machination of the Pop Culture; major industrial and corporate interests; the Democrat Part and HALF the GOP; The legal tentacles of the SJW's machination like the ACLU and SPLC; and importantly, all governmental alphabet intel agencies, covert and overt.
It's a miracle American held together under that kind of dominance of the PTB...Even MORE miraculous was that Donald Trump overcame those forces and beat Hitlery!
Um, weren’t both candidates white?
“the 50 million insane jackwagons who hallucinated that Hitlery was a “brilliant, qualified, moral leaders” who was superior to Trump”
I think very few people believed that; she got the 47% Romney spoke about, plus hard-core feminists - and lost. That 47% believes in nothing; they are paid (directly or indirectly) to vote Democrat. As I understand it, both candidates got less votes than their respective parties in the last two presidential elections.
I wasn’t sure he could win, but I definitely knew the polls were BS - especially when Hillary had to campaign late in the game in PHILADELPHIA. While it is wonderful that she lost, it wasn’t miraculous; this economy has never recovered from 2007 and the media can’t hide it anymore.
bump
Yup. That 47% (and then some) ARE paid whores. They believe in nothing that could be considered honorable, honest, or compassionate.
0bama-Hitlery voters are compensated like any other whore. Except they declare some kind of warped upside-down morality and ethic that demands the REST of us also sell out our principles, lest they ostracism, blackmail and threaten the other 50% of their God-given freedom and livelihood.
At heart, Democrats are fascist hypocrites and authoritarians who are intolerant of dissent, honesty, accountability. They would spit in the face of the Founders and The Almighty Himself.
As we witness the news of mayhem and tantrums on a daily basis, Democrats represent INTOLERANCE, IGNORANCE, and PURE ANARCHY. Donald Trump represents ORDER. ACCOUNTABILITY. HONOR.
Yes, it was a tell-tale sign that her campaign knew they were in BIG trouble -- especially in PA. But Philly's blacks were NEVER going to turn out as they did for 0bama at 110% ;-)
While it is wonderful that she lost, it wasn’t miraculous; this economy has never recovered from 2007 and the media can’t hide it anymore.
I disagree on the characterization of "miraculous" -- considering Trump had to overcome the RNC-GOPe leadership NEVER supported him, instead undermining him; The muscle of entire global-elites lined up against Trump, along with their entire global propaganda organ, the MSM 24/7...
...Considering the lies, sabotage and high-profile support from a culture that worships at the altar of Pop Culture; and ESPECIALLY from a Democrat-Global machination (led by the fascist-Marxist-Muzzie) that controlled the COUNTING of the votes -- even gone as far as allowing voter tabulation by 16 Soros-owned machines....
So Kearny -- with all due respect, an absolute miracle :-)
As to an economy that has tanked since 2007, we can thank Dubya Bush and his sub-prime mortgage scam that buried the Middle Class, but enriched the bi-partisan Frank-Dodd rich who got richer on OUR backs.
Trump will straighten out this mess. But give him a year or two ;-)
So true.
Look at the media talking heads now saying Trump has to make peace with those who voted (and are now demonstrating) against him; do you recall any of this when the Kenyan Pirate won?
I’m thrilled that he won, and still high as a kite, but the mood in this country reflected the “Brexit” mood (at least among “American-Americans”). It was a great win, but Hillary’s campaigning in PHILLY indicated that she knew she was in trouble (and that was probably the reason she canceled her fireworks show).
When he outmaneuvered the Republican machine it was impressive, but Republicans (the voters) aren’t Democrat drones; they expect accountability, and many were disappointed in Bush II’s reign (and the failure of Republicans in Congress to stop Obama’s Bolshevik agenda). I suspect many knew (as I certainly did) that whoever won the Republican nomination was going to get “Trumped” (like “Borked”) by the enemedia. The media will now be fighting for the votes of the 47%; they’ve lost nearly 1/2 of the American public - probably forever.
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