Do you plan to watch football in 2020?

[SteelerFan448]

I liked everyone's responses as everyone is entitled to their opinion on sensitive subjects.

One thing I have to disagree with is the idea that it isn't about the flag. That generalized statement comes across as fact when it is different from one person to another.

I served and I stand for the flag. During that time the flag is presented during the anthem I pay tribute to the soldiers that fought and died for this country. They don't ask people to stand for ***** and giggles. For me that time is reserved for soldiers ONLY. You infringe on that time with an agenda that makes it disrespectful to me and then in turn makes it about the flag.

Do you feel it's disrespectful if people sit on their couch when the National Anthem is played on TV? How about all of the people walking around the concourses, ramps, etc. who can hear when it is being performed yet continue to order food, drinks, wear their hats, scream, and generally go about their business? What about all of the Baltimore fans who yell "O" or the fans who yell "red" during the song because it supports their team? These happen every week and there has never been any outrage or threats of anyone to stop watching games because of it.

 

[SteelerSask2]

It's not my flag though anytime I attend an event in the US I act as if it was. I know all the people have died for my Canadian freedom too. But if it was a CFL or NHL game in Canada and someone choose to kneel or be indifferent to the national anthem, I would think that is their right. I have a right to not wear their particular jersey if their beliefs do not align with my own. But in reality once the whistle sounds they are all pawns on a chessboard of a game/ team I love anyhow. And they are paid extremely well in the case of the NFL or NHL to be that pawn.

 

[mightyguru]

Let's see...I don't watch any games other than the Steelers. I stopped buying nfl merch and going to games years ago. I don't care about any pre-game bullshit programs and watch the games on mute and listen to music.

That's all I got.

 

[jitter77]

Sure I'll watch its entertainment. The other BS i can tune out

 

[slashsteel]

Do you feel it's disrespectful if people sit on their couch when the National Anthem is played on TV? How about all of the people walking around the concourses, ramps, etc. who can hear when it is being performed yet continue to order food, drinks, wear their hats, scream, and generally go about their business? What about all of the Baltimore fans who yell "O" or the fans who yell "red" during the song because it supports their team? These happen every week and there has never been any outrage or threats of anyone to stop watching games because of it.

At home you aren't at an event. When I attend an event I stand. Those people walking around aren't facing the flag obviously.

If you are at an event and are facing the flag you should stand. The flag is present. If I had a flag event in my home that the flag was present I would stand. I definitely don't kneel ever. That is the exact opposite of standing so obviously that shows disrespect.

You know what I find curious? People don't mind trying to shove their ****** up agendas down our throats but when we take a patriotic approach they want to shoot it down.

Well my opinion won't be changing no matter who tries to twist it in whatever direction.

If it is a flag event you should stand. That is respectful.

People try to deflect away trying to find a reason to make it ok not to stand.

Thing is none of those reasons are worth a ****.

Standing all together actually shows unity.

The flag itself stands for justice, equality, freedom.

Every ******* thing that is good, that is what the flag stands for.

So it makes zero ******* sense outside of agenda not to stand for it.

 

[MTC]

The national anthem is the wrong platform to protest.
So although I get they aren’t meaning to disrespect the flag/etc.

The platform though. Just isn’t right.
I won’t stop buying nike or whatever over pro sports trying to be political.
That I can overlook.

Players choosing to kneel. Easier to make that choice.
I love the Steelers, but like anything else in 2020. Political agendas have affected them as well.

 

[SteelerFan448]

If it is a flag event you should stand. That is respectful.

I respect this point of view, but there are hundreds and even thousands of fans that don't respect the flag during the national anthem at games and no one has ever said a word about it or threatened to boycott the leagues. I mean they take pride in screaming something that supports their team during it. Some of those same people are the ones saying they are tuning out. I don't quite get it.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

I respect this point of view, but there are hundreds and even thousands of fans that don't respect the flag during the national anthem at games and no one has ever said a word about it or threatened to boycott the leagues. I mean they take pride in screaming something that supports their team during it. Some of those same people are the ones saying they are tuning out. I don't quite get it.

most people see a difference between people not paying attention and people intentionally making an action to show their disdain for the country.

Intent matters. If you want to get technical, wearing a flag on a shirt goes against the flag rules. But nobody takes offense because they know the intent is to respect the flag.

So it bugs me slightly when people are talking and ignoring the anthem but I know they are just unaware. They aren't intending to be disrespectful.

I have never agreed with protesting the flag or the anthem. It is never the correct target of scorn. The flag represents the people. The American flag more than any other. It's not some random symbol or a few colors. It's 50 stars and 13 stripes. The American people are literally woven into the flag itself.

The flag is not a symbol of the government. It's the exact opposite.


You can tell me a million times that when you protest the flag that you aren't disrespecting it. I disagree. I also think it's unnecessary. Years ago you could have made the argument that protesting the flag was a big gesture that was needed to grab attention for a cause. But not today. Today with social media, anybody can get their message out, especially athletes. Protesting the flag is completely unnecessary

It's also counter productive, because to many people when you protest the flag, you have already hardened them against your position and they will tune you out.

 

[TDX27]

I wasn't even thinking of the disrespect to our flag when I wrote my response earlier. And, that pisses me off to no end, no matter how you spin it. However, the NFL is my favorite sport and the Steelers are my favorite team. The NHL is 2nd. I will still watch and enjoy my Steelers either at home or at the local Steelers fan club bar here in Sarasota. I will watch through my black and gold colored lenses and do my best to ignore the bullshit going on outside of playing the actual game.

 

[BLITZ]

I wish I could ay I wont watch. But I will. Lets just hope they don't go overboard on this ****.

 

[slashsteel]

I respect this point of view, but there are hundreds and even thousands of fans that don't respect the flag during the national anthem at games and no one has ever said a word about it or threatened to boycott the leagues. I mean they take pride in screaming something that supports their team during it. Some of those same people are the ones saying they are tuning out. I don't quite get it.

When I attend games usually a few times a year I see the majority standing. The ones I don't I have the same disdain for.

I think people at the games want to just watch the games they don't want to be confrontational. Somehow that needs to be worked on, as I have spoke out at times, but one persons voice often falls on death ears.

I also think people tolerate it more because it isn't shoved down their throats. Media loves them some agenda. You zoom in on something disrespectful it will get more reactions.

 

[Steelr4evr]

It's going to be an absolute political **** show this season. I have a solution. Do not play the American National Anthem at any of the games. Problem ******* solved.

I kept watching because the Steelers didn't do this crap. If you're going to force me to choose. I'll choose to move on and never look back. It's an easy choice.

They may be lucky to even have fans at the game this season given this covid crap is not going away until enough people have had it.

If they come out and all kneel down for our national anthem I will never see them the same way ever again.

They can replace me with the new woke fantasy football fans. This one is out.

 

[str8liner]

As of right now this looks to be a political pandering shitfest this fall when the season starts and with the NFL turning into a bunch of Karen's virtue signaling I won't bother watching it.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

So although I get they aren’t meaning to disrespect the flag/etc.

Sorry MTC, but that is exactly what they're doing, and twisting the conversation will never convince me otherwise.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I respect this point of view, but there are hundreds and even thousands of fans that don't respect the flag during the national anthem at games and no one has ever said a word about it.

Not true, I've often attended games where I've told the ungrateful to stand and take off their hat. Generally they act surprised and are shamed when others around them express the same opinion. Usually the response is a sorry and they stand.

 

[slashsteel]

Not true, I've often attended games where I've told the ungrateful to stand and take off their hat. Generally they act surprised and are shamed when others around them express the same opinion. Usually the response is a sorry and they stand.

Kudos don't go changing.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

I liked everyone's responses as everyone is entitled to their opinion on sensitive subjects.

One thing I have to disagree with is the idea that it isn't about the flag. That generalized statement comes across as fact when it is different from one person to another.

I served and I stand for the flag. During that time the flag is presented during the anthem I pay tribute to the soldiers that fought and died for this country. They don't ask people to stand for ***** and giggles. For me that time is reserved for soldiers ONLY. You infringe on that time with an agenda that makes it disrespectful to me and then in turn makes it about the flag.

They can do agendas on their time, not mine. Do it on my time and I will show the same respect to them as they do the flag.

Here is a good read on standing for the flag and the anthem.

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/353087-5-reasons-we-stand-for-the-flag

******* A right.

 

[SteelerFan448]

most people see a difference between people not paying attention and people intentionally making an action to show their disdain for the country.

I disagree that they aren't paying attention. You can clearly hear the the song being played and there are people walking up the ramps or in line in at the concession stands in the open end zone or in the concourses at PNC Park. I know if I'm in line or walking to my seat, I stop and take my hat off and stand. I rarely see this. This also doesn't address stadiums full of home fans who shout phrases of team support during the national anthem. They take pride in it and the Baltimore/Washington area is one of the worst culprits. These people who yell are some of the same ones talking about disrespecting the flag by kneeling yet they are being inappropriate themselves.

Not true, I've often attended games where I've told the ungrateful to stand and take off their hat. Generally they act surprised and are shamed when others around them express the same opinion. Usually the response is a sorry and they stand.

That's fair. That's one example. Again, I haven't seen a large outcry of wanting to boycott sports because of it.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Look for the huge majority to kneel. With the destruction of Drew Brees, that is inevitable. NOBODY will speak against the kneelers publicly lest they be destroyed as well. They have twisted it to the point that now if you stand fopr the anthem, YOU are the one being divisive and hurting team unity.

Twitter is an echo chamber. Many of the media types only converse with each other and they go by twitter, so in their minds, they think that like 90% of the country now feels kneeling for the flag is not only OK, but necessary.

I think that is a huge miscalculation. When you see a guy like Brees get attacked, how many people will speak out publicly? Most will stay silent and they will voice their concerns by not buying tickets, not watching games, not watching ESPN or NFL Network, not buying gear, not listening to sports radio, etc.

We already saw a significant dip in TV ratings last time. They used every justification in the book, talking about how ratings don't matter anymore because of streaming, but it was clear that many people did stop watching. Part of that is also that the game itself is becoming ****. Reduced practice has made a huge decline in level of play.


I do think that for many players, they will look for a middle ground. Perhaps they will kneel for week 1 to show their support for whatever the narrative is that week, and then stand the rest of the time.

 

[MTC]

Sorry MTC, but that is exactly what they're doing, and twisting the conversation will never convince me otherwise.

I don’t intend on convincing you any other way.
Like you guys, if players start getting political, I may turn it off too.
I don’t like the idea of no Steelers. But the nfl messed up by trying to get involved in political causes.

Sadly social media has made things more open

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Wait a minute, there hasn't been a single sporting event of note in months. No anthems played, and yet somehow, without the all important "platform" of kneeling for the anthem, we have somehow gotten word of protests. It's almost as if kneeling for the anthem is completely unnecessary to get a point across.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Most of us here at one time or another were avid if not radical blown out obsessive huge fans of football. But for I, like many, have just gotten tired of the bullshit calls / cheating being allowed for a certain few / steelers made an example of / rules changes that change to game itself / money grab obscenity / cowardice / reality of not going back to real football-ever amongst other things, have lost full blown interest.

Many here are just holding on by the thread of their love of the past STEELERS combined to current. If the STEELERS closed shop, I'd completely quit NFL,.. Totally as is I DEAL WITH 97% STEELERS only when it comes to football. Godell has become the face of football has become, thus the disdaine for him but knowing all along that the owners support him in that the money machine keeps turning.

I watched the XFL and found myself a BIG fan in a very short period. I'm sorry they are NOT returning. In their short time established the NFL HAS TAKEN some of thier rules to enhance their own game (much needed and a lot more is needed as well). With as many flags and interruptions of the game, it is hard to watch an NFL game. When there is a big play I find myself not rooting for a delayed moment just to see if there is a flag and that by itself is a BIG distraction in game flow / experience.

I hope maybe this helps in understanding the position some of us are in. LOVE our Beloved STEELERS but not so much the NFL.





Salute the nation

I am a Steelers Fan. Not an NFL fan. But Sunday night games mostly give me an opportunity to be a social football fan. I might gather with some guys that I coach with at a sports bar and have the last three beers of the weekend and watch a good matchup. Otherwise I have a buddy and his son along with my own sons that I will watch Steelers with. We haven't been too successful watching the games together but I'm trying to get over my OCD about it. I don't give a **** about fantasy football and got punted from the one league I was in.
It will be interesting how the national anthem will be shown in the broadcasts. I haven't seen it on the regular games in years. I'm not even sure it's in the showcase games.
Iron City, it's too bad the CFL is going into Covid hiding till at least September. If you liked XFL you should honestly give it a look. The evolution of the modern pass game was CFL--College--NFL. All these modern passing concepts started in the CFL. There are player safety rules, but I'd say not as stringent as NFL. And frankly the players are significantly better than XFL.

 

[Steelmann]

most people see a difference between people not paying attention and people intentionally making an action to show their disdain for the country.

Intent matters. If you want to get technical, wearing a flag on a shirt goes against the flag rules. But nobody takes offense because they know the intent is to respect the flag.

So it bugs me slightly when people are talking and ignoring the anthem but I know they are just unaware. They aren't intending to be disrespectful.

I have never agreed with protesting the flag or the anthem. It is never the correct target of scorn. The flag represents the people. The American flag more than any other. It's not some random symbol or a few colors. It's 50 stars and 13 stripes. The American people are literally woven into the flag itself.

The flag is not a symbol of the government. It's the exact opposite.




You can tell me a million times that when you protest the flag that you aren't disrespecting it. I disagree. I also think it's unnecessary. Years ago you could have made the argument that protesting the flag was a big gesture that was needed to grab attention for a cause. But not today. Today with social media, anybody can get their message out, especially athletes. Protesting the flag is completely unnecessary

It's also counter productive, because to many people when you protest the flag, you have already hardened them against your position and they will tune you out.

Thanks for this comment,it’s changed my mind about a couple things. Like I said previously it’s always bugged me a bit of people not standing,talking,etc during the playing of the anthem. But not where I would take serious offense. Mostly because I don’t think there is intent to be disrespectful,but as others have pointed out the kneeling is with intent. I have never been in the military service,watched people die or get injured for their country. So there is no way I can feel the same passion as some of you veterans do. I don’t blame you for the insult you feel.

I know that most of you want no political protest at all during the games. People have been using public platforms for protests for all of time. That will never stop. ****,even a President or two will use a public platform or two that has nothing whatsoever to do with politics for political gain. Tell me one who hasn’t.

So tell me. Would you guys get just as pissed off if say they stood for the anthem,hand to heart facing the flag,then when the referee blew the whistle for the first couple of plays the players that wanted to protest take a knee in the middle of the field,do their circle prayer thing then got on with the game?

 

[Steelr4evr]

How much awareness do we need? Burning businesses down, turning cities in trash dumps, killing white cops,black cops,looting...creating your own ****** little commie zone "Chaz" Other cities trying to do that. Cities defunding and dismantling police forces. Celebrities making absolute fools of themselves. Each day is a downward spiral toward complete chaos and anarchy.

You know what's it's doing? Pissing people the **** off. A silent rage. You throw in months of this covid lockdown ****,jobs gone, some ********* just burned your buisness to the ground you never got to open back up.

You're going to get some really unhinged people with rifles going off next. Yeah let's just keep this train going.

Vent mode off. This is the last I'll speak of it on this side.

Peace out.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Strawman,,,