'Be happy, be cool': Trump tweets once again about NFL protests
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'Be happy, be cool': Trump tweets once again about NFL protests
Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports 1 hour 50 minutes ago 
Protests during the national anthem continued in Thursday’s preseason games. (Getty)
It is our solemn duty to report that the President of the United States is once again tweeting about the NFL .
You now have two options. You can tap out now and read about the actual games (Andrew Luck came back! Baker Mayfield looked good! Saquon Barkley is the truth!) or you can continue to read about the intersection of sports and politics. The choice is yours, but should you continue, you have voided all rights to complain that no one “sticks to sports” anymore.
Still with us? Cool. Let’s dig in.
The NFL preseason has begun, and so have the protests
Thursday night marked the official start of the NFL season, and with it the return of protests during the national anthem. Players from the Dolphins, Eagles, and Jaguars all offered up some form of protest , despite the fact that the NFL had threatened fines or worse for players who protested.
Roughly half of all Americans are against the protests in some form , according to multiple surveys, but it’s worth noting that the protesters aren’t a horde of unpatriotic malcontents looking to stir up trouble. The players are fully aware of the potential consequences of protesting, and do so anyway. The players understand that they are risking their entire careers, and they protest anyway. To carry this a bit further: it’s almost as if they believe in something more than just making money and playing football.
“As a man I gotta stand for something,” Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith said after staying in the locker room during the anthem . “I love my team, I’m dedicated to my teammates and that’s what we’re talking about. I did what I did. It was love. I hope people see and respect it. I respect different views. I love the military. I wore my Salute to Service cleats today. It’s love.”
And then the president weighed in.
‘Find another way to protest’
In between a stream of commentary on collusion and tariffs, Trump offered up two tweets on the NFL protests:
This iframe is not allowedThis iframe is not allowed
“ The NFL players are at it again – taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem,” Trump tweeted. “Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their ‘outrage’ at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love…… …..Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay! ”
The protests began nearly two years ago, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt to protest social inequality and police brutality. Trump claims in these latest tweets that players are showing “outrage,” a word which he places in mocking quotes, “at something that most of them are unable to define.” This is simply not true. Not only have the players “defined” their reasons for protesting on literally dozens of occasions, they did so this summer in a direct letter to Trump himself in the New York Times .
Trump echoes common refrains of protest opponents: the players are rich, so why can’t they be happy ; a football game is no place to protest . But again, that sidesteps the entire point of protests: it’s possible to be concerned with larger issues than one’s own paycheck. And a protest done in a way that’s comfortable for the intended audience is a protest that gets ignored.
More fact-checking: NFL players receive 47 percent to 48.5 percent of the league’s defined revenue, a share they won’t be able to renegotiate until 2020. So the idea that “most of that money [that fans spend on games] goes to the players anyway” is, again, simply not true.
Plus, the idea that players should “ Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay ” simply does not apply, given the NFL’s current rules. The NFL released a statement to that effect shortly after the initial wave of protests Thursday night:
This iframe is not allowedWe’ll doubtless return to this exact storyline many, many times this season — remember, you had the chance to bail out of this article ten paragraphs ago — and each time, we’ll return to the same themes. The players aren’t un-American; they want to be heard. The NFL owners brought this on themselves by trying to appease Trump. The president is hammering away at an issue he knows plays well with much of America, framing the issue in deliberately simplistic terms.
Fans have every right to be upset about the protests, and they’re not wrong for wanting a politics-free sporting event. But it’s important that they keep in mind who’s really perpetuating the need for protests. As long as the NFL worries about Trump’s reactions, it’s vulnerable to his blowtorching. As long as Trump needs an easy, low-risk, high-reward hot-button issue to fire up the base, he’ll tweet-blast the protesters. And as long as players feel they’re not being taken seriously, or they’re being misrepresented as unpatriotic and ungrateful, they’ll keep protesting.
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It's none of your goddamned business Rump.
Another dog whistle to your supporters.
You are the one that seems to be doing all the barking!
Well, of course it's his business. The players made it his business when they protested during a nationally televised football game. In fact, that's what they wanted. They wanted to make it everyone's business. Mission accomplished.
What they maybe didn't count on was that some people - a majority of the country, it turns out - actually disagree with them either on the message or the tactic and are speaking out themselves. Some speak out on Twitter, like the president. Some express themselves by not going to games or turning them off. All I can say to that is: too bad; that's life!
If they had wanted to keep it private, they could have discreetly mailed a strongly worded letter to the local police chief or their congressman or someone similar.
No it's not his business because the NFL is not his business. He cannot dictate how the owners discipline or penalize the players. It's none of his goddamned business. It's also just another distraction.
Then why is it any of your business? Why do you get to chime in on the topic?
No surprise that Trump is on the wrong side of both the police brutality issue AND the 1st Amendment issue.
Excuse me?
How did the players make it his business?
The NFL originally began the practice of players standing on the field during the National Anthem, NOT OUT OF A SENSE OF PATRIOTISM, but because …
The practice of “paid patriotism” came to light on 30 April 2015, when Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) released a statement chiding the New Jersey Army National Guard for paying between $97,000 and $115,000 to the New York Jets for a series of promotions involving military personnel. That November, Flake and fellow Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain issued a report stating that the Defense Department had been paying for patriotic displays in football and other sports between 2011 and 2014:
_______________________________________________________________
How is it that NFL Players are denigrated by Trump (and his base) for protesting the police shootings of unarmed Blacks …
WHILE NEO-NAZI/WHITE NATIONALISTS ARE REFERRED TO BY TRUMP AS "FINE PEOPLE" … when they march with torches essentially PROTESTING THE RIGHTS OF JEWS, BLACKS and IMMIGRANTS TO EVEN EXIST?
Trump plays to the racists, xenophobes and other knuckle-draggers in his base; the NFL protests are but one example.
It's all faux patriotism and the Rump supporters respond like rabid dogs to his dog whistles
You demanded to know how it's Trump's business. If you get to question his right to comment on a story, then I get to question your right to comment on it. You're full of opinions on it. So, tell us: How is this any of your business?
Explained in 1.2 .
Excuse me?
It's not his business, it never was his business. You explained nothing, bupkis. The players never made it his business. They were using their First Amendment rights which you and the 'president" obviously have a problem with
Your explanation in 1.2 makes no sense so you explained nothing. You got bupkis
I explained that the players wanted to make it everyone's business. That's why they did it so publicly. The president has as much of a right to an opinion as you do.
You still haven't explained how it's any of your business and why you have a right do express an opinion even though you claim the president doesn't.
What difference would it make if they wrote to the local police chief or a senator or someone similar? That's nonsensical. Who cares if the turd invited them to the white house to talk about it? None of the protesting players want to meet with his bigoted fat ass anyway. The turd in chief made it an issue when he told the world with his tweets and on TV. Again a racist dog whistle and another distraction.
It is my business. It's not rump's business, no way, no how.
So you have right to express yourself, but Trump doesn't. I get it. We have been back and forth on this.
Okay . . . why?
You and Trump are both citizens and you both have 1st Amendment rights to express yourself. Why do you have a right to opine on this issue but he doesn't?
Also, is there anyone else who doesn't have the right to express an opinion on this topic?
were you upset when Obama weighed in on public situations and gave his opinion ?
Yes I do and no he doesn't have a right to interfere in the NFL and how they pay or discipline the players and their right to free speech. He has no right to trample on their free speech. You are the one in denial here.
Upset? No, but I often thought it was ill-advised. Not always, but sometimes. I think Trump could ignore the NFL situation and I think every time he mentions it, it just enflames things (I share his point of view, though). But in neither case did I try to claim that the president has no right to chime in. That's silly. Every citizen of the United States has the same 1st Amendment rights to free speech.
i definitely applaud you for your consistency ! it seems to be rare on both sides of the " aisle ".
What does that even mean?
Did you read the article? Read the last paragraph and you will figure it out.
I honestly prefer you explain yourself all by yourself without making me guess. Otherwise I could just be arguing against a straw man. I don't want to assume what your argument is.
Fun fact... One of the core beliefs of socialism is the government involving itself in private business.. Like....Oh, I don't know... Trump trying to save jobs with Carrier, (which failed completely), or...gee...what else....tariffs....and....griping that football players are exercising their constitutional right to protest..
How does it feel.....TT, to support a SOCIALIST president?
So reading the article is too much work? I mean, you do understand that's how this works, right? You read the article, then comment on said article, here.
If you can't figure it out, not my problem.
I honestly don't give a fuck what you prefer
You tell me. You voted for Obama, right? And then Hillary?
Trump is expressing his opinion. He isn't taking action. Big difference. YUGE Difference!
I guess you can't explain it then. Not my problem.
If you cannot comprehend, not my problem.
He took action when he intervened. He spoke to the owner or the owners and they acquiesced. Again, it's none of his business and the players DID NOT MAKE IT HIS BUSINESS.
Fuck the protesting players. If Goodell was any type of commissioner he would have handled it the first time Colin did it with a suspension for "conduct detrimental to the image of the NFL".
Unfortunately Goodell has Napoleon complex- an overpaid stuffed shirt that is more concerned about the NFL being PC- than actually respecting all of their fans.
Fuck Rump and his faux patriotism and his dog whistles to his supporters and his distractions from his obstruction in the Russian investigations.
I might have to get a t-shirt or a coffee mug that says "Be Happy, Be Cool." That is great!
What does that even mean? Be happy, be cool?
Just seems like a nice sentiment. You don't like being happy or cool? Not surprising. The modern Left is only happy when they're outraged about something. We can get you a t-shirt that says "Be Sad. Be Crabby" if you like.
Sounds like putting icy-hot on my nuts.... Well, minus the happy part.
Rump is saying it's not cool to protest. I'm sure most football players are very concerned about looking cool in the eyes of Rump!
EggsActly! See? Not that complicated.
Obviously your 'president' has a problem with these players exercising their first amendment rights.
That's "obviously" not true. He has a problem with the way them protesting during the national anthem. You might be ignorant of this, but he has actually invited them to talk with him about the issues that concern them and he has a rather diverse task force addressing those issues.
He has been very clear. I'm surprised you can't understand his message. He has said people should stand respectfully during the national anthem. He never said these players shouldn't exercise their rights.
Why would anyone bother talking to that lying piece of shit about anything?
How isn't it cool to protest? It's their right.
Nope, it is quite obviously true.
Two reasons:
1) The national anthem is being played for some important reasons. a) to honor America b) to honor people who serve in our military c) it's non-political, or at least it should be.
Whatever else is going on in the world, we should all be able to agree that we love America and are grateful for those who sacrifice on our behalf. Protesting during this moment unnecessarily fucks with that sentiment of unity and gratitude. There are so many other ways and times to protest and these assholes have to fuck with the one moment where we should all be able to come together. They're all prima donnas.
2) They are performers and the audience paid for a football game, not a protest.
An entertainment event is being staged. Tickets and advertising were sold. Several thousand people paid to be there in person to watch a football game. Millions around the world tuned in for the same thing. They all do it to escape the politics and stresses of the rest of the week. We all pay good money and time for this.
But these millionaires want to breach that contract. They want to tell us that we have to pay extra for our show. It's not enough that we pay money or sit through ads, we also have to watch these morons sit, kneel, or raise their fists. And we have no choice apparently. We are a captive audience forced to watch if we want a football game.
Well, it irritates the audience and some are refusing to pay for the show if they have to sit through that garbage as well. (This is a big reason why ratings are also down for the Oscars).
It's actually not their right. They are at work. They have a right to protest in the public square, i.e. streets, sidewalks, public parks. The football stadium is none of those things.
If I went to a restaurant and the waitress wanted to go through some protest routine before bringing me my dinner, she'd probably get fired. Any time people pay for some service or entertainment, if the person paid to deliver starts in on some personal agenda bullshit, you can expect the customer to get mad and just maybe walk out the door.
You don't get how making a persuasive argument works, do you.
See AMacs post above. There is no reason to play the anthem at football games much less any reason to stand for this faux patriotism nonsense
No you don't
Standing for the anthem is meaningless and Rump has no right to claim the players should stand. It's meaningless and faux patriotism
Denial is not just a river in Egypt.
i seem to remember numerous complaints when a previous president would "weigh in" on situations... seems the tune has changed since it's Trump... how odd..
Funny isn't it. Some conservatives want companies to have free reign yet at the same time want to stick their noses in others.
All of Trump's concerns about the national anthem fall either into the category of him wishing to change the subject from the investigation into himself and his associates or into the category of criticizing blacks for the amusement of his base.
Yup a distraction and a dog whistle to his supporters
I'm still trying to figure out why Trump and his supporters take such delight in seeing innocent black folks killed by cops.
Please cite the people who are "delighted" that someone of any color who was "innocent" was killed by a cop.
Seriously, why does Trump care so much? I seriously don't give a shit what people during the anthem, it has no impact on my life. I am just wondering if there isn't something more productive a president could be doing than bitching about what people do during a song to which he doesn't even know the words.
A) He's a racist moron who doesn't see any problem when cops kill innocent black folks.
B) He uses things like this to draw attention to himself while distracting from his very substantial problems.
C) He knows that his base is very easily manipulated by racism and nationalism.
He's really patriotic. I don't think it's any more complicated than that. Remember he's also got people working on a military parade no one asked for. The whole thing gives him a thrill. There's nothing wrong with that. He's a fan of the U.S.
And that's your choice and you're entitled to it, just like he is.
Absolutely. But he's not the first president who has his personal priorities that others don't agree with and he won't be the last. Also, even Trump can walk and chew bubble gum at the same time, at least for a little bit.
Really patriotic? That's some serious bullshit there. A parade no one asked for? More bullshit. Rump is the one who asked for the parade. A fan of the U.S.? He's in debt up to his ridiculous combover to the Russians.
Again, just a distraction from the Russian obstruction investigation