If NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expected the scattered fans at Arrowhead Stadium to boo the pre-game minute of unity on opening night, Im not sure. Someplace along the line in their thousand actuarial conferences relating to whether they should support the players in their quest for– gasp– equality, it should have come up.
But if weve learned anything about the weathermen and ladies who run this league and the nation at large, ongoing support for such things always depends on which method the wind is blowing. This offseason, in a speedy and amazing minute of togetherness from the leagues gamers, the NFLs hand was forced. Accept what Colin Kaepernick was attempting to alert the nation about and acknowledge he had a point. Purchase programs and initiatives that might benefit disparaged communities. Support players who, in their precious little off time, are helping to pass legislation, arrange conferences with regional police and accentuate systemic racial injustice.
Or, run the league without them.
Names of victims of cops cruelty on the back of players helmets. Gamers choosing not to be on the field for either. Gamers picking to kneel for some.
Kansas City Chiefs protective end Alex Okafor (97) kneels while other teammates represent the national anthem before their video game versus the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.
Danny Medley – USA Today Sports
A few of it was great to see. Some of it was cringeworthy as a small pocket of experts and announcers attempted to hang on frantically to “both sides” of the “concern.” Some of it was stimulating, as we began having conversations about the black experience from black experts on national television before the season opener. And, as we saw on the field in Kansas City, as players from both teams locked arms before the start of the game, a few of it was roundly turned down by a portion of the leagues intended audience.
Possibly its an outlier. Maybe were making the familiar error of putting excessive attention on a small pocket of individuals determined to wander through life with their eyes closed. Perhaps this thing gets uglier than we ever anticipated. Perhaps the rhetoric of 2016, the framing of players as boys of bitches, the letter-writing campaigns and the expected rankings dip were mere childs play. Possibly the NFL continues to be the battleground it never ever wished to be, particularly as we draw closer to November and the sitting president, who got plentiful donations from a big portion of NFL owners throughout his first project, fumbles around the sofa cushion for some brand-new (old) ammunition.
Will Goodell and the NFL stick with their plan? Will they, like their gamers, refuse to bend amid the storm? In Week 11, are we still able to hear Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy supplying a sensible piece of life that most of us are fortunate to ignore?
Thursday night was the culmination of an offseasons worth of muscle from the NFLs brightest stars. It was an absent parent purchasing your birthday present 5 months after the truth, Amazoning it to the home with a little card that states “We cool?”
However today is a different day; the early morning after all of the built-up capital has been spent and utilized. Today is when the blowback begins. Today is when owners tune in to their morning viewpoint channel of choice and consume the absurd and unavoidable response to Thursday night and how it is somehow, undoubtedly un-American.
What takes place if the boos continue? What occurs if the polls shift?
Assistance gamers who, in their precious little off time, are assisting to pass legislation, organize conferences with regional law enforcement and draw attention to systemic racial injustice.
Names of victims of authorities cruelty on the back of gamers helmets. Players choosing not to be on the field for either. And, as we saw on the field in Kansas City, as gamers from both groups locked arms before the start of the video game, some of it was roundly turned down by a portion of the leagues desired audience.
Possibly the rhetoric of 2016, the framing of players as kids of bitches, the letter-writing projects and the supposed scores dip were simple childs play.
