Posted on 06/14/2020 8:54:59 AM PDT by Stravinsky
Donald Trump has long had two cherished American institutions standing beside him as he railed against athletes taking a knee during the national anthem: NASCAR and the NFL.
This week, they both started to walk away.
Bending to the cultural moment, NASCAR and the NFL in recent days reversed course on their approach to athletes protesting racial injustice. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had been wrong for not listening to protesting players earlier and encouraged all to speak out and peacefully protest. Meanwhile, NASCAR relaxed rules barring kneeling during the national anthem and banned Confederate flags from its events. Within days, a NASCAR driver was circling a track in a race car emblazoned with #BlackLivesMatter and a NASCAR official was taking a knee during pre-race ceremonies.
The moves came in response to the protests that have erupted across the country in response to the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died at the hands of the Minneapolis police. And they reflected shifting cultural attitudes polls show an increasing percentage of the population view racism as a big problem in the country and the protests as a justified response.
Yet Trump stood his ground. He attacked Goodell, wondering whether the commissioner was telling players that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the national anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag? And he separately lashed out about a blossoming discussion about renaming military bases named after Confederate leaders.
The changing tenor from the two leagues could be pivotal for Trump, though. The president has long leaned on the front offices of each organization as he has publicly attacked athletes who took a knee during the national anthem, and privately pressured some team owners to change anthem rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
The NFL lost us about five years ago.
As for NASCAR we’ll see how this plays out, with empty seats.
OTOH,I've flown Egypt Air and Air Malawi...two entirely different kettles of fish!
“As for NASCAR well see how this plays out, with empty seats.”
FNFL. FNASCAR.
NASCAR lost a major part of THEIR fan base....Trump’s NASCAR fans are STILL his fans and voters. NASCAR chewed off their own nose-— to no possible PROFITABLE end. A huge mistake, the will regret, as they retard to electric car races. There will be another organization formed for REAL stock cars... not green fueled and commie sponsored vehicles.
Their lawyers tell them this— and they have the clout, (had) the clout to tell the media to stuff it— but did not.
All over trivial “symbolism” which denying was actually denying the roots of the entire organization. The Southern roots and history-— namely moonshine, unbonded hooch and the challenges made between rival drivers/runners and their mechanics. They were not pussies— NASCAR is full of loudmouth pussies.
I’d still want a long tour of their hangars.
MLB, and the NHL, and the NBA...and College sports teams are going to see what happens...
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
You mean NASCAR & NFL lost MAGA! Soccer also lost MAGA!
Deplorables, freedom HO!
The rest of the story: NASCAR and NFL see masses of empty seats, wonder where everyone went.
Minnesota Vikings need to have no fans in the stands.
“Polls show an increasing percentage of the population view ...the protests as a justified response.”
WHOSE “polls”?
George Soros’?
Saul Alinsky’s?
Bill Ayers’?
NY TIMES?
Antifa?
Black Lies Matter?
sports.yahoo.com
This passes for “sports” coverage?
The good part about all this is now I have more reasons to get outside on the weekends get away from the TV!
I get slapped daily by Google, Amazon, Disney, Apple, Microsoft, Coca Cola, Facebook, Nike, Youtube, the NFL, the NBA, essentially all of Hollywood and the MSM, nearly every major University in this country and hundreds of other people and organizations.
We all do. The NFL and NBA have players and management who are against us. They have, IMHO, negligible influence on public opinion. Yes, they are stupid, but they are not worth worrying about. Save your energy for the Big Guys. Start by giving up Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon.
Theyre the ones on the kneeling crusade. Trump is simply continuing the tradition of standing for the national anthem and our American flag.
Trump has very strong principles. They are almost universally aligned with my own. He is unparalleled as both a leader and a policy maker.
But he does make predictions that will never come to pass. Sending in the Army to settle things in Seattle is just the latest example. Its not a deal killer but it is an avoidable error. Trump is too smart to make a mistake like that and actually do it.
Side note I have a relative who was a life long NASCAR fan. He said he will never watch it again.
It's that simple.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.