For the Love of the Game

We normally do not like to mix politics with football, but it seems to be the fashion these days. Many discuss the disrespect of the American flag or civil rights statement, depending on your view of the statement of players taking a knee during the National Anthem.  However, I think most fans would agree that it is not so much the political statement itself that caused all sorts of emotions, it’s the fact that the love of the game and the experience of the sport has been impeded on.

Football games are truly an American experience. We make games into an event and follow and support our teams as a form of religion. We eat and drink our fill, enter the stadiums or turn on the channel to watch the opening ceremonies. We watch our team run out onto the field and the singing of the National Anthem. This is America and we take pride and enjoyment out of that unique experience.

The players, as all of us, have many forums to express their political views. But when players make the opening ceremony of this American experience into a political forum, they deface the beauty for which many come to watch.  They intrude on our tranquility and hurt us with their disrespect.

Let the player’s voices be heard if they so choose, and shall no action be taken against them personally for political expression.  But let too, free men and free markets exercise free will.  For some of us, the game is no longer worth watching.