Again, Trump is right

This time (yes, here we go again), people are upset about President Trump's comment about NFL athletes refusing to stand for the national anthem. Here's what President Trump said:

"Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He’s fired. He’s fired!" You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, "That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired." And that owner, they don’t know it. They don't know it. They'll be the most popular person, for a week. They'll be the most popular person in this country."

But you know what's hurting the game is . . . when people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they are playing our great national anthem; the only thing you could do better is if you see it, even if it’s one player, leave the stadium, I guarantee things will stop. Things will stop. Just pick up and leave. Pick up and leave."

Here's the problem, and it's not with President Trump. As you know, the creation of the United States of America specifically established a "separation between church and state." Unfortunately, both professional and amateur sports made their events "political" with the voluntary or involuntary playing of the national anthem or any other political reference.

FACT: The actual physical act of shooting a basketball, or throwing a football, or hitting a baseball has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS. The only venue where sports and politics has any real connection is when the U.S. enters a sporting team as an "official representative" of the government of the United States of America, such as the Olympics or similar world championship events. Get it? But, in the absence of federal taxpayer support, the federal government is not always the "official" sponsor of the athletic organization. Get it?

Requiring people to stand for the national anthem is akin to requiring prayer in public schools and requiring everyone to acquiesce to the same religious beliefs, same prayers, etc. Keep in mind, we don't all share the same religious beliefs, so forcing people to adopt the same "prayer" is not constitutional. Likewise, we don't all share the same political beliefs, so requiring people to acquiesce to the same political beliefs is not constitutional. Plus, given the blatantly atrocious treatment (genocide, slavery, and on-going racism, oppression, incarceration, etc.) engineered and sustained by White people against Black people, Native Americans, Latinos, and Asian people, is it really smart to constantly remind people of color, to rub their faces into the fact they remain second class citizens and still excluded from the idealism and egalitarian principles established by the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution? Well, is it? No, it's not a good idea.

The man who wrote the national anthem in 1814, Francis Scott Key, was a slave-owning devout Episcopalian racist, so why in our enlightened era of "political correctness" is the national anthem played anyway? Even better, why doesn't each NFL team have their own theme song? Don't you remember the "Superbowl Shuffle" by the Chicago Bears back in 1985? The Bears finished with a 15–1 record for the 1985 season, and went on the defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, 46–10. This was a great song that the entire team rallied around, and it became a major hit, played throughout the U.S. on nearly every radio and television station - and it had absolutely nothing to do with race or politics, because it was about FOOTBALL!

Plus, the single sold over 500,000 copies and reached No. 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100, which made the Chicago Bears the only American professional team of any sport with a hit single, and to be nominated for a Grammy, and the first professional sports team to have their own rap video. Most importantly, over $300,000 in profits from the song and music video was donated to the Chicago Community Trust to help needy families in Chicago with clothing, shelter, and food. This was consistent with Walter Payton's rap lyrics in the song: "Now we're not doing this because we're greedy, the Bears are doing it to feed the needy." Source: Wikipedia Oh, the national anthem is played to support our veterans, right? Nope, because throughout U.S. history there were and remain veterans and millions of citizens who opposed and continue to oppose U.S. involvement in every war, especially the Vietnam War, and more recently, these "armed conflicts" that have taken the lives of thousands and thousands of U.S. soldiers over the past twenty-(20) years throughout the Middle East.

WALTER PAYTON AND THE CHICAGO BEARS THE SUPERBOWL SHUFFLE (CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO)

President Trump said if players refuse to stand for the national anthem and flag, then people should "leave the stadium, I guarantee things will stop." Likewise, people who oppose U.S. miliary involvement in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, etc., should also leave NFL stadiums. Get it? As long as football or any public event uses "politics" as a point-of-reference, there will always be public protests; such as Marlon Brando and his refusal to accept the 1973 Academy Awards due to the "poor treatment of Native Americans in the film industry." Get it?

Again, both professional and amateur sports made their events "political" with the voluntary or involuntary playing of the national anthem or any other political reference. As usual, the media and the general public have a very selective memory in this regard; and sadly, it's the current generation of Black professional athletes, like Steph Curry and LeBron James who are truly the most insulting because they embrace narcissism over Black pride and egalitarianism. Yes, Curry, James and other Black athletes only give lip service to civil rights, because they risk nothing; they are not willing to risk their fortune or fame for their Blackness.

Despite the fact that Black players have multi-million dollar salaries, they’re brainwashed to be too passive and too submissive (yes, massa), too stupid (many lack true business acumen and go bankrupt), and just too dumb (yes, LeBron James I’m talking to you!) to mobilize their wealth to create true economic and cultural change. Why haven’t ALL Black NFL players refused to play until Colin Kaepernick is re-hired? Where’s your solidarity? So, listen up you Black athletes and pseudo-rich actors, actresses, and wanna-be Oprahs, I dare you, I double-dog dare you to walk away from your NFL and NBA salaries and endorsements, but you won’t. No, you’re not Black enough to be an example like Muhammad Ali (he gave up his boxing career for his beliefs), Bill Russell (he refused election into the Basket Hall of Fame due to racism against Black players), or Minister Louis Farrakhan (he gave up his recording career for his religious beliefs). LeBron James is just another highfalutin "negro" who's all talk but no action. So, LeBron, shut the hell up, and play ball like the White man told you!

What? If you think the aforementioned criticism of Black professional athletes is too severe, consider the altruism of Philadelphia Eagles' defensive end, Chris Long.

The Philadelphia Eagles' defensive end, Chris Long (son of legendary NFL Raiders defensive end, actor and current sports analyst Howie Long), already gave up his first six game checks for 2017 to provide two scholarships for students in Charlottesville, Virginia. Long used his next 10 checks to launch the Pledge 10 for Tomorrow campaign. "My wife and I have been passionate about education being a gateway for upward mobility and equality," Long told The Associated Press. "I think we can all agree that equity in education can help affect change that we all want to see in this country." Long signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Eagles, including a $500,000 signing bonus and $1.5 million guaranteed. His base salary in 2017 is $1 million. Source: Sports Illustrated / Associated Press

QUESTION: True, as validated by his Lebron James Family Foundation, LeBron James is a generous philanthropist, but such is not true for most of his multimillionaire peers. So, why don't or won't every Black NFL player, NBA player, etc., with income comparable to or greater than Chris Long coalesce their combined wealth into an extremely formidable 501 (c) (3) to directly combat racism and injustice? Or, at least on an individual basis, why don't Black professional athletes mirror or improve upon Long's example of altruism and philanthropy?

Fifty-(50) years ago, Black people with true conviction took action. On June 4, 1967 in Cleveland, Ohio, Bill Russell, Jim Brown, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and other prominent Black athletes publicly supported Muhammad Ali's refusal to be drafted into the Army.

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?"

"No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of White slave masters of the darker people the world over.

This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years.” - Muhammad Ali, 1967

One-year-(1) later, in 1968, Black people with true conviction took action. 1968 Olympics Tommie Smith and John Carlos

In response to their raised fists in protest to racism in the United States, Smith and Carlos were immediately suspended from the U.S. Olympic team by IOC president Avery Brundage, ostracized by print and broadcast media, banned from subsequent track meets, suffered major financial loss, and received thousands of death threats, and their track careers ended. Twenty-eight-(28) years later, in 1991, Black people with true conviction took action. After converting to Islam in 1991, Abdul-Rauf stopped standing for the national anthem during the 1995-96 NBA season.

For nearly 60 games, he would either stretch during the anthem or stay inside the locker room. Abdul-Rauf did not make any public statement about his action, and consequently, none of his fellow teammates, team management, or fans were aware of his reasons for not standing during the national anthem. Ultimately, a reporter asked him about this subject, and with total honesty, Abdul-Rauf responded, "You can't be for God and for oppression. It's clear in the Quran, Islam is the only way. I don't criticize those who stand, so don't criticize me for sitting." In response to Abdul-Rauf's public statement the NBA suspended Abdul-Raul for one game for failure to comply with NBA rules that require all players to stand during the playing of the national anthem. Soon thereafter, the NBA and Abdul-Rauf came to an agreement that instead of sitting for the anthem, he would stand with his teammates but close his eyes and look downward silently citing Islamic prayer.

Quickly thereafter, Abdul-Rauf received death threats, his home was burned to the ground, he was traded the very next year to the Sacramento Kings in 1996, his playing time was drastically dimished, and he went unsigned after the 1998 season, which ended his NBA career.

Twenty-four-(24) years later, in 2015, Black people with true conviction took action. At the University of Missouri, in September 2015, Peyton Head, a senior and the president of Missouri Students Association, said he was called racial slurs as he walked toward campus. Later, on October 5, 2015 members of the Legion of Black Collegians were called "Nigger" while rehearsing for homecoming festivities. Then, on October 24, 2015 a swastika was drawn with human feces specifically targeting Black students at a university residence hall. President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin ignored protests from Black and other students.

However, when the predominately Black "money making" U of M football team conveyed they would boycott the rest of the U of M football season, which had an immediate loss of over $2,000,000 per game to the university, the President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin "decided" to resign. Get it?

Twenty-four-(25) years later, in 2016, Black people with true conviction took action. Colin Kaepernick (at right photo, center figure) said, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color."

In response to Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the National Anthem, as of September 25, 2017 he has not be re-signed to play with any NFL team. So, if Black NFL players are so concerned about their Blackness, why haven’t ALL Black NFL players refused to play until Colin Kaepernick is re-hired? Why won't LeBron James and other NBA players refuse to play until Colin Kaepernick is re-hired?

Here’s why: They are bought and paid for, just a bunch of highfalutin millionaire "negroes" who lack true conviction to risk their careers and income to actually be Black and Proud.

Everything, again, everything that happens in the NFL is ultimately determined by and owned by White people. Accordingly, given the existence of the at-will doctrine in employment, it's ridiculous for employers (NFL team owners) to allow any employee (including Black NFL players) to protest anything. Yes, President Trump is right. The "at-will" doctrine allows employers to terminate any employee at anytime, with or without notice, and with or without cause. Likewise, the "at-will" doctrine allows employees to voluntarily terminate their employment at anytime, with or without notice, and with or without cause. NFL players are contract employees, and team owners could easily mandate, as does the NBA, that as a condition of hire, all employees (players) must stand for the playing of the national anthem or be subject to immediate termination. This is a no-brainer.

If any NFL player elects to expand the "circumstances" of their work environment beyond the actual athletics and scope of football, or beyond their executed contract or bargaining unit agreement, they should quit and start their own league. Many if not most of these current or former Black NFL players are millionaires, and they "should" have or be able to acquire the start-up capital to create their own league. Keep in mind, it wasn't that long ago when Black athletes had their own professional baseball, basketball, and football leagues because White people prohibited integration. So, let's go back to that.

Option A: Black athletes, who represent the majority of NFL players, should leave the NFL to create their own league, with team ownership restricted to people of color. Put up or shut up.

Option B: Both professional and amateur sports will immediately discontinue the playing of the national anthem or any other political reference at all sporting events. It's time to take the "politics" out of sports, and simply enjoy sports!!!

Option C: The NFL continues its athletes-as-slaves practice and compels its employess to do as directed or risk immediate termination for insubordination.

Isn't it finally time to take the "politics" out of sports, and simply enjoy sports for its entertainment value? JIM MCMAHON AND THE CHICAGO BEARS THE SUPERBOWL SHUFFLE		Or, must sports function only as a "politicial" reminder of perpetual racism, sexism and oppression?
Again, the actual physical act of shooting a basketball, or throwing a football, or hitting a baseball has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS. Again, both professional and amateur sports made their events "political" with the voluntary or involuntary playing of the national anthem or any other political reference. So, take the "politics" out of sports, because "politics" continue to co-exist with the blatantly atrocious treatment (genocide, slavery, and on-going racism, oppression, incarceration, etc.) engineered and sustained by White people against Black people, Native Americans, Latinos, and Asian people, which means nothing will change, and the protests will continue. President Trump is right. Drain the swamp.

** EPILOGUE **

QUESTION: So, what did the NFL do to eliminate the "issue" of player protests during the national anthem?

RESPONSE: By definition of its creation and very existence, the National Anthem "is" a political event; nevertheless, the NFL will "manage" player protests during this "political event" just like the National Basketball Association, by requiring all players to stand during the playing of the national anthem or stay in their locker rooms. In summary, out of sight, out of mind, and keep you mouth shut. Play ball!

NFL.COM - May 23, 2018 at 12:15 p.m - The policy adopted today was approved in concert with the NFL's ongoing commitment to local communities and our country -- one that is extraordinary in its scope, resources, and alignment with our players. We are dedicated to continuing our collaboration with players to advance the goals of justice and fairness in all corners of our society.

The efforts by many of our players sparked awareness and action around issues of social justice that must be addressed. The platform that we have created together is certainly unique in professional sports and quite likely in American business. We are honored to work with our players to drive progress.

It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case.

This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem. Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed.

We believe today's decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it -- and on our fans who enjoy it.

POLICY STATEMENT

The 32 member clubs of the National Football League have reaffirmed their strong commitment to work alongside our players to strengthen our communities and advance social justice. The unique platform that we have created is unprecedented in its scope, and will provide extraordinary resources in support of programs to promote positive social change in our communities. The membership also strongly believes that:

1. All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

2. The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem.

3. Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the anthem has been performed.

4. A club will be fined by the League if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

5. Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

6. The commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

Source: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933962/article/roger-goodells-statement-on-national-anthem-policy

I welcome your feedback.

Trip Reynolds
trip.reynolds@yahoo.com

Reynolds' Rap October 11, 2017 © 2017-2019 Tripoetry. All Rights Reserved. First Amendment to the United States Constitution - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.