Kneel, Don't Kneel

This is rich.  Donald Trump, he who would have us bow or kneel or genuflect in the presence of his greatness, insists on the right kind of kneeling (see above).  Kneeling in protest, on the other hand, is bad to the point of treasonous.

 

I don’t especially think symbolic protests by athletes accomplishes much.  When they start putting their money where their mouths are, then I take notice.  Curtis Granderson says something, and he’s already backed it up with years of working for social change.

 

That said, I don’t go much for this “shut up and play” attitude of the president and his pals.  If players are just supposed to play and nothing else, then doesn’t the reverse side of that coin be for fans to cheer and nothing else?  Unfortunately, logic doesn’t appear to be Donald Trump’s strong suit.

 

But it is gratifying to see that the adage of “what goes around comes around” really does qualify as one of life’s great truths.  The NFL has been wrapping itself in the flag and “shut up” patriotism for as long as I can remember.  Recent events have rendered that approach irrelevant to the point it threatens to cost the league money as fans turn away (if only they’d shut up and cheer).

 

How interesting that NFL owners have become as mute as their MLB counterparts, if for different reasons.  Instead of talking at the risk of saying something stupid, the owners have elected to have their respective commissioners do it for them.  So, Rob Manfred irritates most every baseball player and a whole lot of fans when he talks, which is a bad thing.  Roger Goodell talks and irritates Donald Trump.

 

I’d call that a good thing.