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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Ben Roethlisberger Regrets Steelers Boycotting Anthem |
| 2017-09-26 |
| [HOLLYWOODREPORTER] Ben Roethlisberger on Monday afternoon released a statement saying he regretted his Pittsburgh Steelers boycotting the national anthem on Sunday. The NFL team was the first of three to not come out for the pregame ritual. "I was unable to sleep last night and want to share my thoughts and feelings on our team’s decision to remain in the tunnel for the National Anthem yesterday," the Super Bowl-winning QB said in a statement. "The idea was to be unified as a team when so much attention is paid to things dividing our country, but I wish we approached it differently. We did not want to appear divided on the sideline with some standing and some kneeling or sitting. He continued, "As a team, it was not a protest of the flag or the Anthem. I personally don’t believe the Anthem is ever the time to make any type of protest. For me, and many others on my team and around the league, it is a tribute to those who commit to serve and protect our country, current and past, especially the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice." Steelers' lineman Alejandro Villanueva, a former Army Ranger, stood an the entrance of the tunnel for the anthem. His jersey has been the top seller since that moment, according to Fanatics. The NFL shop also moved his jersey to the top spot on the team store page. The other two teams to not come out for the anthem were the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #19 Donate their contract salaries to PR. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-09-26 23:01 |
| #18 Not all of NASCAR is of the same mind as Dale, Jr. Former NASCAR driver and current team owner Richard Petty said he would fire anyone on his team who protested. “Anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period,” he said. “What got ’em where they’re at? The United States.” Personally, I'd be more impressed with the 'protests' if all these highly-paid children were doing something that actually made a difference rather than yelling "Hey, look at me!". Start a charter school. Mentor some kids. Be a father - either to your own kids or a surrogate for someone else's. If you really care about 'oppressed minorities', put some skin in the game. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2017-09-26 20:55 |
| #17 I wish I could boycott the NFL (National Flaming Losers) but apparently I've been doing that all my life. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2017-09-26 19:10 |
| #16 IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THERE ARE ALREADY PLACES ON THE NET WITH RUNNING JOKES ABOUT BEN ROETHLISBERGER, AND THIS JUST REINFORCES IT! |
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Posted by: Thing From |
| #15 Earnhardt Jr. is retiring and will not be in the Chase. Like McStain, he's free to make unpopular choices because soon it will not matter anymore to him career-wise... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2017-09-26 15:02 |
| #14 It will be interesting to see how sales react to dale Jr's decision to back the kneelers. NASCAR fans tend to carry a flag or two to wave and this guy just crossed a line. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2017-09-26 14:46 |
| #13 Socialists screw up everything. . |
| Posted by: OregonGuy 2017-09-26 13:48 |
| #12 Leftists are the most disgusting people on the planet. |
| Posted by: newc 2017-09-26 12:55 |
| #11 The widespreade levels of disrespect and minority racism against all things "white" and traditional in American culture is having an effect, just not the one they anticipate. Another round of calls for conversation really are leftspeak for more concessions (programs, money, power). What is actually happening is that sides are forming and minds are closing. Instead of decreasing the racial/political divide they have deepened it. |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2017-09-26 12:12 |
| #10 Their fans got exactly what they deserved. How's that? What's wrong with watching a football game and cheering for the home team? Can't we just get back to enjoying life instead of making everything political? No? We're screwed. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2017-09-26 11:43 |
| #9 Their fans got cheated. Their fans got exactly what they deserved. |
| Posted by: Woodrow McGurque3481 2017-09-26 11:14 |
| #8 The way the Steelers got beat up by the Chicago Bears it would seem they were distracted by something. I'm guessing they had political bull crap on their minds instead of football. Their fans got cheated. |
| Posted by: Abu Uluque 2017-09-26 10:26 |
| #7 Well, a Gerber in the liver will give them time for reflection. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-09-26 09:42 |
| #6 The highest paid athletes in the history of the world are byching and moaning about social injustice. In a land with the greatest opportunity and freedom known to man, perhaps the cry of 'social injustice' is little more than media fed, tribal demagoguery. Could it be there is nothing that will satisfy their hatred and lust for conquest ? |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2017-09-26 07:17 |
| #5 Sides are being chosen. When the cold war turns hot, a lot of 'players' (not just in sports) in the game will be crying for talk. When the bullets fly, the time for talking is over. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2017-09-26 07:13 |
| #4 Bullshit - the protest was specifically against the Flag and the Anthem. That is why they did it! |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2017-09-26 01:41 |
| #3 More likely he's seeing the backlash and some hardcore fans reaction. Be interesting to see if the Boycotts actually have visual impact during the Playoffs. |
| Posted by: Charles 2017-09-26 01:11 |
| #2 Now the Cowboys chose to show the world they are 'also rans' in the team over American loyalty competition. Guess they've had more practice kneeling in the shower room. |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2017-09-26 00:58 |
| #1 The other two teams to not come out for the anthem were the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks. On National People's Radio yesterday, Tennessee and Seattle were described as being no-shows for the anthem but there was no mention of the Steelers and Alejandro Villanueva at all. Curious, eh? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2017-09-26 00:16 |