A Few Heroes During the NFL’s unAmerican Anthem Protests (Updated)

Update: Alejandro Villanueva Is the Only Real Man on the Pittsburgh Steelers   "Earlier [Sunday], the entire Pittsburgh Steelers team showed their disrespect to the American flag, the American people, and those serving in the military by boycotting the national anthem before their game against the Chicago Bears. It was a sickening display of misplaced arrogance by multimillionaires who have forgotten that they owe everything they have -- those marvelous mansions, those awesome cars, those millions in their bank accounts -- to their country.
"Farewell to the National Football League
"Thankfully, however, there was one Steeler who didn't submit to peer pressure but who stood tall for his anthem and flag. . . ." 

By the way....Alejandro Villanueva has the Steelers’ No. 1-selling jersey after going out for anthem without teammates  . . . "That decision is already having a major impact — on his jersey sales. Overnight the obscure offensive lineman went from the depths of Steelers’ jersey sales to its No. 1 seller in the men’s and women’s categories on both Fanatics.com and NFLShop.com. " . . .

Alejandro Villanueva's courageous – and lonely – stand for the flag
. . . "And it's worth noting that he was pressured into doing just that.  The Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach, Mike Tomlin, said he was looking for "100% participation" in that locker room, and he was specifically asked about Villanueva. It suggests that internal peer pressure is a significant part of all the kneeling and locker room hiding that's been driving audiences away from the NFL – a great unreported story." . . .

. . . "Now Villanueva is a hero to NFL fans, a standout, a man of courage, and the reason fans like to watch football and cheer it on.

No @Steelers had wherewithal to join Villanueva-teammate who served 3 tours in Afghanistan-for the national anthem
His jersey may sell out pic.twitter.com/uPJDW1owEi

— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) September 24, 2017

"They're going hog-wild buying his jersey" . . .

While Villanueva became a hero to patriotic Americans, the feeling isn’t the same with many of his teammates and the man who is supposed to be their leader.

"The entire Pittsburgh Steelers team showed a lack of class and an abundance of cowardice by refusing to even come out of the locker room for the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

"Except for offensive lineman Alejandro Villanueva, a man who actually wore a uniform in service of his country instead of for millions of dollars like his teammates who never had any skin in the game when it came to defending America. He stood at the end of the tunnel with his hand over his heart and became the only Steeler with dignity on a day where it was lacking elsewhere.

"Villanueva was a former U.S. Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan and had too much honor to hunker down with the cheese eaters in the locker room, the chief rat being head coach Mike Tomlin."

Photosnark below from Amber in comments to the above article:

President Trump and the NFL: who has been damaged the most?

First, for some perspective: NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” analyst Cris Collinsworth called on President Donald Trump to apologize for calling players protesting the national anthem “SOBs.”
I'm sure an apology would be too late; many of these guys disliked President Trump before all this. 
The damage may be more far-reaching than we think; if the US goes to war over North Korea's threats of a nuclear attack, Mr. Trump will need the nation behind him, and this is damaging. In World War 2, Hollywood was a great force behind the US war effort; these days, not a chance.
Many times I declared Obama to be a petulant, vindictive man-child (as I still consider him to be), but President Trump's rants do not place him on a higher plane than many Democrats. TD

Legal Insurrection: NFL picked sides in the culture war, now it has to live with the consequences

"I can’t tell you how many times readers and potential/actual authors have told me they fear loss of job and career damage if they express non-liberal opinions at work or in a way that people at work could find out. There is a reign of terror ongoing in this country, but it’s not from the government, it’s from social-media-empowered leftists who seek to impose the most intrusive political litmus tests in every aspect of our lives.
The most revealing aspect of the culture war is not that the professional entertainment industries are uniformly and aggressively liberal, but that they have pushed politics into every aspect of our lives. You will be made to care in the classroom and now, on the sports field.
The result, for me, is a withdrawal from much of professional culture."

Beyoncé Talks 'Formation' Video as Critics Call Her Super Bowl 50 Performance Anti-Police    Was Trump President then?

"Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani criticized the performance Monday on Fox News, calling the singer’s display an attack on police.

“ 'This is football, not Hollywood, and I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us and keep us alive,” he said, and added that the performance should have been “decent” and “wholesome.' ” . . .

The Day the NFL Jumped the Shark

Nine pieces of proof that the NFL has disdain for America

1. NFL Threatens Fines Against Players Who Wanted to Commemorate 9/11 . . .

2. NFL Fines Player over Headband . . . 

3. NFL Fines Player over Breast Cancer Advocacy . . .

4. NFL Orders Players Not to honor Fallen Police Officers . . .

5. NFL Fines Player for “Thrusting” . . .

6. NFL Fines Player for “Hopping” . . .

7. NFL Players Fined for Mimicking the Taking of a Photograph . . .

8. NFL Fines Player for Marching in Place . . .

9. NFL Fines Player Over Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence . . .

Believe me: I could go on and on and on. The fines threatened and levied by the NFL against players who commit various acts of self-expression are nearly endless.
But in summation, here are the incontrovertible facts…
The NFL will not allow its players self-expression that commemorates slain police officers or 9/11.
The NFL will not allow its players to raise awareness for breast cancer or domestic abuse.
The NFL will not allow its players to hop, thrust, march in place, or mimic the taking of a photograph.
From what we can tell, the only act of self-expression the NFL allows is the protesting the American flag and anthem.
Therefore, the values of the NFL are clear.

 

NFL Rundown: Empty Seat Alert

Kevin Jackson; The Blacksphere  

32 NFL teams with 1600 active man rosters.

Of the 1600, 100 decided to “take a knee”. For those doing the math, that’s just over 6 percent.

"Consider that the NFL is roughly 68 percent black, you get an idea of how blacks feel about Colin Kaepernick’s cause, the ruse of Black Lives Matter, and the political-correctness of what used to be a sport for gladiators.

"Another quick note: Almost the entire Pittsburgh Steelers roster was part of that 100-man protest team.

"I suspect the 1500 other “real men” would like to see Kaepernick and the 100 who join him in solidarity go play in the European Football League.

"For those who know my work, I explain why black unemployment is so high. It’s because of idiots like this. Even when black Leftists make MILLIONS of dollars, they still complain. Think any of these sorry a-holes care that the NFL owners will suffer? Most have their contracts, so why worry about a few very wealthy white men?

"If these black multi-millionaires whiners told the truth, they would love to see the white owners suffer, as long as the players get to keep their jobs.

"But will they get to keep their jobs long-term? 

"Let’s begin with the president’s claim of lower ratings." . . .

(Emphases in the original)

• QB Brady turns on Trump as well
• 
  
• Coach Tomlin Wanted War Hero Villanueva to Hide in the Locker Room

Some Wounded Warriors Can't Take a Knee, NFL

Liberals tend to be selective in defending free speech. Protests against the flag or the national anthem are to be praised, but public affirmation of faith and traditional values are to be mocked, such as former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow’s slightly different taking of the knee and giving of thanks to the Creator from which all our inalienable rights come. As Investor’s Business Dailyeditorialized in 2012 . . .

"It’s official: **** THE NFL"

Bloviating Zeppelin

What’s acceptable and unacceptable in the NFL. The bottom are shoes of Tennessee Titans player Avery Williamson who was threatened by the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell when he wanted to wear them in honor of 9/11.

"Also, remember when NFL Commissioner Goodell refused to allow the Dallas Cowboys to wear a sticker honoring five murdered Dallas Police officers in 2016? I certainly do, as I wrote about it in August last year."

"Here is the heinously-offensive sticker that had to be removed and never further applied. A five-pointed star, with each point to represent one murdered officer.

From the NYDailyNews.com:

"NFL rejects Cowboys petition to wear helmet decal memorializing Dallas officers that were killed

by Daniel O’Leary

The NFL has gone from the No Fun League to the No Feelings League.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Dallas Cowboys filed a petition for permission to wear a helmet decal memorializing the five officers killed in a tragic shooting in Dallas back in July.

The decal featured a star – similar to the one featured prominently in the Dallas PD logo – with a black circle around it and the phrase “Arm In Arm,” to signify support for the police and the Dallas community after the tragedy. The Cowboys opened up training camp while walking with their arms interlocked with members of the Dallas police department.

The Worst Republican Senator

Let that sink in a minute. The person who played a role in re-establishing diplomatic relations with the North Vietnamese regime that tortured him for seven years refused to shake the hand of a fellow American citizen—a presidential appointee!—who merely dared to disagree with McCain on substantive grounds.

Donkey Hotey

Power Line  "There really ought to be a statute of limitations on how long John McCain can play the tortured war hero card. His war hero status was exhausted with me a decade ago over a single instance.

"Brad Smith, who as chairman of the Federal Election Commission and law professor dared to criticize the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law on constitutional grounds (later vindicated in several Supreme Court cases culminating in the glorious Citizens Uniteddecision), came before a Senate committee one day to testify about campaign finance laws. He had recently had surgery, and had to appear in a wheelchair.

"Smith wheeled himself up to McCain, whom he had never met, to introduce himself. He put out his hand, and McCain started to put out his hand as politicians naturally do, but then stopped when he heard Smith announce his name. McCain pulled his hand back and said: “I know who you are. I’m not going to shake your hand!” (This episode never got any press. I know several first-hand witnesses to this appalling, churlish behavior. Repulsive.)

"Let that sink in a minute. The person who played a role in re-establishing diplomatic relations with the North Vietnamese regime that tortured him for seven years refused to shake the hand of a fellow American citizen—a presidential appointee!—who merely dared to disagree with McCain on substantive grounds."
. . . 

Tennessee Church Shooter Suspect Identified As 25-Year-Old From Sudan

Daily Caller  "Nashville Police have identified the suspect of a mass shooting at a church Sunday morning as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson.

"Samson is being charged with murder and multiple counts of attempted murder in the attack that killed one and left at least seven other people injured at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, a town just south of Nashville, Tenn.

 . . .

"Nashville Police Department spokesman said the shooter entered the church after 11 am CST wearing a neoprene ski mask. One woman was shot in the parking lot before the shooter entered the church and opened fire on about 42 people still inside.

"One church member, 22-year-old Caleb Engle, confronted the shooter before being pistol whipped in the face. Engle then went to his car to retrieve a gun, which he has under a concealed carry license.

"Engle returned the church to confront the gunman again. The gunman shot himself in the face when the man returned, possibly on accident.

“ 'He’s the hero here,” Nashville police chief Steve Anderson said. “He’s the person who stopped this madness in its tracks.' ”

West Point Grad Alejandro Villanueva Only Steeler to Come Out for National Anthem

Mediaite  "Earlier today, it was reported that the all of the Pittsburgh Steelers players would remain in the locker room while the national anthem played prior to the start of their away game with the Chicago Bears. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin explained that the team wouldn’t participate because he didn’t want to force players to choose whether or not to take part in a protest.

"While the Star Spangled Banner played ahead of the contest today, all of the players did indeed stay in the locker room — except for one. Afghanistan veteran, former Army Ranger, and West Point graduate Alejandro Villanueva stood at the tunnel entrance while the song was played, standing with his hand on his heart. While the rest of the players remained inside, Tomlin was seen on the sideline.

"After the anthem was done, the rest of the team came running out of the tunnel, to a chorus of boos from the Chicago crowd.

"NFL players were expected to engage in widespread demonstrations during the national anthem after President Donald Trump attacked athletes who kneeled during the anthem as a way of protesting racial injustice."

Discussing Race

American Thinker

"Slavery found its way to the Western hemisphere because agriculture needed labor and the supply was insufficient. Slaves were for sale in West Africa and farmers bought them. Europeans did not enslave Africans. They bought slaves -- human beings who had been enslaved by Arabs, and by other Africans." A rather fine point, eh?

 . . . "One last comment on race. There were black slave owners in the South. If a free black had a farm too big to work with his family, he would purchase a slave.  Slavery was not strictly a black/white matter. The Jim Crow laws were. Those laws were the result of hardening political attitudes during Reconstruction.  We don’t need to be doing anything to harden those attitudes again.

"And a final political statement. Is it in anyone’s political interest to keep the racial cauldron bubbling? If one seeks political advantage by convincing people that they are victims, would it ever be to that person’s advantage to lift the “victims” out of their victimhood?" . . .

Perhaps the children of the rioters who beat Reginald Denny nearly to death during the Rodney King riots should be made to pay reparations to Mr. Denny's descendants, if any? TD

NFL may lose bigly with social justice antics  . . . "Trump is forcing already unpopular NFL commissioner Roger Goodell into zone defense, whining about Trump's "divisive comments."

"Divisive?  Really?  Most Americans already disapprove of the NFL's posturing and preening.  Instead, the NFL is doubling down on its losing formula, hastening its self-destruction.

"The media, the left, and #NeverTrumps are predictably and perpetually outraged.  Here is Trump the rube, once again venturing into something he knows nothing about.  Is that so?  They likely don't remember that Donald Trump owned a USFL football team, the New Jersey Generals, for a few years in the 1980s.  Did anyone else running for president in 2016 own a professional football team?  Hillary Clinton's only professional football experience was pushing the Washington Redskins to change their name." . . .

"New England Patriots Owner Supports Unpatriotic National Anthem Protests"  . . . Signs that President Donald Trump really struck a nerve with his epic condemnation of NFL players protesting the national anthem are continuing to manifest themselves within the league’s ownership class.

"Following a day of scorn, Trump upped the ante with yet another Tweet on Sunday morning imploring fans to stay away from the games until the NFL does something about the growing anti-Americanism that has become so pervasive, that Commissioner Roger Goodell put his seal of approval on it during a chaotic day." . . .

Just when liberal media was gearing up to destroy football over all the brain damage, Trump calls for a boycott of football over the National Anthem protests.
. . . "So, watch the liberal media endeavor to save football from bad old President Trump. He's a racist. This is his racism once again, stirring up the stupid people who voted for him." . . .
"Let the brain damage continue. We've got a culture war to fight."

First pro baseball player kneels during anthem

Washington Times

Maxwell is kidding himself if he doesn't believe that kneeling for the national anthem is not disrespectful. His act means that we can expect all sports will see the anthem protest become a fact of life. It will continue until the league gives in and banishes the playing of the anthem altogether.

Rick Moran  "Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel during the national anthem.

"After Donald Trump called NFL players who kneel during the anthem "Sons of bitches," this was inevitable. The reaction to Trump's call to fire or suspend NFL players who kneel from players and league officials was to be expected - harsh criticism that Trump was trying to prevent their right of free expression and that his call for owners to deal with kneeling players was racist.

"It's clear now that the battle lines have been drawn for all pro sports. Expect more baseball players to follow Maxwell's example today." . . .
. . . 

"Is this unbalanced, hysterically exaggerated rant the reason Maxwell took a knee? And if it isn't, why emulate it? Why not come up with another way to protest what Trump said rather than associate his protest with these false and malignant words?

"Black people are not "oppressed" in America. That is a loaded word not connected to reality. In fact, it is an insult to truly oppressed people everywhere. If you claim to be "oppressed" in the US, you are praised and feted from one end of the country to another by left wing media and liberal groups. If you claim to be "oppressed" in North Korea, for instance, you are likely to be taken out immediately and shot. Or in Myanmar, if you are a Rohingya minority, if you claim to be "oppressed" you're mother and sisters are likely to be raped and you end up in prison. That's what true "oppression" is and anyone in the United States who claims the status of being "oppressed" is a gross exaggeration of reality and minimizes the suffering and courage of those who seek freedom from that oppression around the world."

More NFL stars kneel in defiance of Trump as he says they should be FIRED and urges fans to BOYCOTT league in feud with athletes

UK Daily Mail

"Scores of NFL players have started kneeling during the national anthem in defiance of President Donald Trump just hours after he urged fans to boycott the league in his growing feud with athletes.

"Players from both the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars took a knee ahead of their game at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday.

"Those who didn't kneel linked arms in a show of solidarity as the national anthem rang out through the stadium.

"No players were kneeling during the playing of God Save The Queen - the British national anthem.  

"Trump had earlier called for fans to boycott the NFL if players didn't stop 'disrespecting' the US by kneeling during the national anthem. 

A Donald Trump Speech, a Barack Obama Foreign Policy

Interesting - as this comes from the Trump-critical National Review. Plus the author once briefly considered, along with Bill Kristol, his own candidacy for president, running against Trump.

David French at NR

"There was much to like in Trump’s remarks to the U.N. But, especially in his case, actions speak louder than words."

"I think I just watched a speech by a fictional president, a scene from some populist revival of The West Wing starring Donald Trump in the Martin Sheen role. In this episode, our hero went to the United Nations and finally gave those globalist technocrats a piece of the American mind. He called out our enemies. He delivered the kind of blunt talk that the U.N. never hears: a lesson on patriotism, a rejection of world government, and the best line about socialism ever spoken to a full gathering of the world’s foremost intergovernmental organization. 
"By the time Trump was finished, I half-expected to hear swelling music, followed by a focus group of “real Americans” yelling and pumping their fists. This was just what the United Nations needed to hear. This was just what our enemies needed to hear. Be afraid “Rocket Man.” Be very afraid. 

"Then, I flipped off the television and went back to real life, where the actual president of the United States is pursuing a foreign policy very, very much like the “globalist” presidents who came before him." . . . More here

Worry about Kim Jong-un, Not Trump

Jonathan S. Tobin.

On this issue, his actions have been more effective than those of past presidents.

"So far, the assumption that Trump is bungling or exacerbating the crisis with North Korea isn’t justified.

" Ever since he came down the escalator at Trump Tower that fateful day in June 2015, President Trump’s critics have worried that his anger-management and impulse-control issues would be exposed in an international crisis. Everything we’ve learned about him tells us that he is temperamentally unsuited to diplomacy or putting forward the image of quiet strength and confidence that is synonymous with traditional ideas about good leadership. In other words, he is exactly the type of person you wouldn’t want in control of the nuclear codes, or leading the meeting when an American response to a foreign provocation is required. 

"Yet now that such a crisis has arrived in the form of North Korea’s nuclear escalation, the most interesting thing about the U.S. response is that President Trump has not proved to be the liability that his critics assumed he would be. As with everything else he does, Trump has not behaved the way any of his predecessors or election rivals would have done. He has tweeted and boasted and at times has demonstrated that his command of the issues is far from complete. 

"Nonetheless, the criticism that has rained down on him for this is off the mark. UP NEXT Country-specific restrictions will replace travel ban ." . . .Read more.