COLUMN: To stand or not to stand

     It’s been a wild crazy week in the NFL and that was even before the first snap of the ball took place last Thursday evening.

     Lets face it; the current temperature among many NFL fans is getting close to the boiling point.

     If you followed any form of social media, picked up a newspaper or checked into a sports radio or television talk show, you discovered quite a few fans and non-fans are fed up with the many players who have been exercising their freedom of speech by not standing for the National Anthem.

     To add fuel to the fire, President Trump added his two cents to the situation by condemning the current state of the NFL and letting his feelings be known that he strongly opposes the situation going on with the players disrespecting our National Anthem.

     While I agree with Mr. Trump, it seems like his statement backfired on him. This past Sunday, more players than ever took a knee or stood arm in arm. In one case, the whole team, excluding one player (a former veteran), failed to even make it to the field for the playing of our nation’s official song.

     Anthems are used in a wide variety of contexts, and certain etiquette is part of the playing of those anthems such as the removing of one’s headwear and rising up. Anthems are considered patriotic and recognize the history, traditions and struggles of the country’s people.

     Here in America, it is often associated with honoring those who have fought for and died for our country.

     I probably don’t need to remind anyone how this all started, but a fellow by the name of Colin Kaepernick, who at the time was the 49ers’ quarterback, took a knee in protest of what he perceived as social injustice between young black men and police officer involved shootings.

     For the record, Kaepernick opted out of his contract this season and to date has not been signed by another team. I assume many owners didn’t want the distraction that came along with signing Colin. Well, that point of contention is mute now as controversy is sure to follow the league throughout the remainder of the season.

     So far only one baseball player has taken a knee, but with basketball and hockey seasons about ready to get going, I am sure you are going to see this filter into other sports. I’m guessing basketball will be the next one affected.

     My opinion on the matter is there is a place and time to try and make a difference in the world but this negativity towards our nation’s anthem isn’t the correct way.

     The NFL is loaded with men making tons of money. How about getting yourselves organized and reach out to communities and young people of all ethnicities? I’ve lost respect over the years for the NFL and many of its players.

     It’s hard to take many of you guys too seriously, especially when one of them imitates a dog taking a pee on the field after scoring a TD. Yes, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. did just that on Sunday. Talk about childish!