Imagine owning a restaurant chain and you offer an employment contract to a top flight regional manager. Bu the worker isn’t getting the job done and you have to hire a replacement, strapping your franchise with a pair of big salaries.
The now-disgruntled first manager, on the sidelines, protests by spitting in the food of police and veterans. He encourages others to insult customers and tarnish your brand, then opts out of the contract and leaves your company with a PR headache and declining revenue. When he can’t get another job, he turns around and sues you.
That’s the basic story of former San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, a promising athlete who got benched for poor on-field play and started a sideline revolt that has infected pro sports, insulted many patriotic Americans and even drawn the ire of the President of the United States.
In the aftermath of the NFL players’ 2017 anthem snub that spread to other sports, once passionate and supportive fans have tuned out and turned away. And despite an NFL policy to curb disrespecting Old Glory and the National Anthem, professional sports leagues continue to suffer.
NFL Ratings Decline Caused by Anthem Protests
While biased media outlets would have Americans believe that the 2017 ratings decline were not caused by the anthem protests, common sense dictates otherwise.
The pro sports league had tremendous narratives to drive fans and TV viewership. An aging Tom Brady set himself up as arguably the greatest quarterback in league history and the 40-something’s ability to reach the Super Bowl was a thing of legend.
The Rams moved to Los Angeles and stunned the sports world with a Cinderella season. In Philadelphia, a group of devout Christians led the Eagles to a championship with a rookie signal caller who was replaced after injury by a seemingly washed up veteran. The NFL was hire drama from the first game to the last tick of the Super Bowl.
But marring the extraordinary season was the slight by players against the flag, police and a nation. ESPN reports that despite all the on-field success, wondrous personalities and narratives, the 2017 regular season ratings declined by 9.7 percent. That totals approximately 1.6 million less viewers than 2016. These sour numbers may seem even worse considering the NFL annually owns top viewership during the Sunday Night and Thursday Night football time slots.
The NFL has enacted a no-kneeling policy heading into the 2018 season in an effort to invite more than a million lost fans back into the fold.
Major League Baseball Suffers from Anthem Snub
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell was the first MLB player to take a knee during the anthem. Although the league denies others followed suit, MLB took a major PR hit.
To date, Maxwell was reportedly denied service at a restaurant in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. He was also reportedly arrested on gun charges in Scottsdale, Arizona, and continues to make headlines for his anthem disrespect.
Far outpacing the NFL in terms of a rocky history with fans, MLB set off a firestorm and fans have been quick to turn away from America’s pastime.
Attendance has reportedly plummeted to the lowest figure in 15 years. The 6.6 percent decline from June of 2017 is underscored by a total loss of 8.6 percent, Stats LLC reports. Major League Baseball is staring down a season attendance average of under 30,000 for the first time since 2003.
Experts are estimating that the total revenue loss experienced by MLB approaches $355 million in ticket sales and other revenue stream losses could rival that figure. Overall, the MLB faces its worst season since the player strike of 1995. Apparently, baseball fans don’t appreciate having their food spat on either.
Major League Soccer Respects National Anthems
While rules vary across professional sports regarding the National Anthem, MLS was swift to respond after U.S. women’s team player Megan Rapinoe knelt.
“While this is not a league rule, the playing of the national anthems of the United States and Canada remains an important tradition that has great meaning to our fans. The playing of ‘God Bless America’ at designated games is a club choice.”
Despite one player’s middle finger, MLS enjoys a high level of club and national pride. That type of respect for country, also seen in sports such as NASCAR, has helped grow attendance.
Unlike the spiraling NFL, MLS has enjoyed a steady rise in attendance. Attendance in 2017 grew at 1.9 percent, a higher rate than the .5 percent in 2016. Soccer may not yet be America’s pastime or passion, but fans stayed tuned and more are on the way. Clearly, patriotism matters…
If professional athletes want to thumb their noses at the country, leagues can expect declining attendance, ratings and revenue. The lesson miscreants are learning is that American patriots don’t throw bricks and disrespect the flag. They withdraw financial and community support, then vote!
~ Conservative Zone
I would just like to add that the NHL is also a league that respects the flag, and our military. And, a lot of players are from other countries, which makes this league, like MLS, even more special because of the respect the players give to our flag and military!
I may have to watch more NHL, dump the rest. Thanks for sharing that news.
NFL—NO FANS LEFT!!!…Need we say anything more??????? You created it NFL now you own it!!!…….
Remember POTUS Barry’s remark about “not doing stupid stuff?” The mavens that run pro sports seem to be trying their darndest to do just that. In very short order, that ‘it’s never going to end’ mindset could very well come crashing down. Sadly, the quest for riches via the athletic performance route has made a mockery out of the college student/athlete concept, which, by the way, receives vast subsidies from taxpayers that support this huge revenue generating industry.
That is the way of the left, destroy and try to salvage a vote.
Hockey and Golf, only Pro sports I currently watch (pending politicization of these sports by the left).
Don’t give up hope. The NHL has a few, pelly for instance, who are on the verge of being stupid. pelly opened his big mouth even before the Caps won the Stanley Cup which was very unnecessary and wrong. So hang on for next season — you may see some unpatriotic acts from a few hockey players.
As well as NASCAR ! If one does not like our Flag, Country, National Anthem…please feel free to leave…you will not be missed ! That does include people like Roger Goodell and any owner…well might as well include all of those George Soros backed organizations, the socialist (D) party, the RINO’s, the biased so called news media, ANTIFA, KKK, Black Lives Matter, Moveon.org, CAIR, Muslims who bring Islam/Sharia Law, the Cartels, MS-13, any illegal (wheather or not endanger their children). Oh, let us not forget the ignorant so called celebs !!!
We need to unite again in full force and vote in the 2018 elections so President Trump/Pence can continue to throw out the trash…Trump 2020 !!!
Well said. Vote to save our country.
I believe that pro athletics like the hollyweirdos think they are more important than this country. What they need to realize is America does NOT need them to survive but they need America to continue to make their millions and live a life of luxury. They won’t have that life in other countries. They are a pasttime for Americans to get away from their everyday stress of life and have some fun but, as proven, we will find other things to occupy our time.
I think these stuck up idiots who think their S*** doesn’t stink should watch the World Cup where not only do all the players stand for their national anthem but almost all of them also sing it. If you don’t like the way you perceive you are treated here, you have millions, move to another country.
Have never been a soccer fan but my God do they have national spirit! Too bad American football doesn’t transcend the globe as soccer does.
I like that NFL No Fans Left millions died for right to democracy and freedoms-right to free speech, right to bear arms, freedom of
religion-our flag is our symbol of our freedoms-its also the flag that honored the soldiers of the union army and colored regiment
that fought and abolished slavery-how dare the NFL players many who are black not honor the anthem or our flag-let the spoiled overpriced athletes play there games in an empty stadium for all I care
BAD IDEA!!!!!!!!!
it seems the people that own the NFL teams and all the ones associated with its survival, would put a complete stop to this stupidity of disrespecting the Anthem and the flag of this country which service men have died keeping it safe so that they can be free and play a game and make millions. Goodell and the owners should release every one of the players that insist on kneeling and disrespecting our country because they do not belong here. for them money talks so more people should quit going to games and watching them and no buy goods from sponsers. that will finally get to the core of the entire matter. I will never watch any NFL games until the owners take charge and get rid of the kneeler’s no matter how great they are. they are going to sink pro football and any other sport they decide to Kneel during the Anthem
I agree with Bob. Start up a new football league. We could call it Patriotic American League (PAL) .Let the NFL die. I will never watch them again.
I doubt if the NFL can ever recover from the racist rants and slurs against America, so lets start from scratch with new XFL League ! It starts in 2019, can’t wait !
The NFL is trying to fix this mess, but they sure took their good old time about it.
And let’s not forget that crooked Hillary supports these “protesters” and their “right to free speech.”
A paid sports performer is “in the work place” when they are performing. When in the “work place” you are representing the team or organization that you are performing for. This is NOT THE VENUE for personal commentary. I have worn a uniform in the past, while wearing that uniform, you are a professional and not a “private citizen”. Anything you say and do while wearing that uniform will reflect back on the team or organization.
Being a team member or “performer” comes with a set of professional responsibilities that need to be observed. The work place is not a Democracy platform, and, shouldn’t be.
I’m thinking Lamebrain sorry Lebron and Curry are doing a good job ruining the NBA. Pretty much all by themselves.
I believe the NFL has done irrepairable damage to itself by not standing up and enforce policies and procedures they already had in place. They can thank gutless Goodell for that. Too late for the NFL to recover. Summer camps are about to reopen and I’m not aware of any protests, meetings, gatherings whatever you may want to call them that players initiated on their break in the football season. Nothing done on their own time, which would possibly make their cause (whatever it may be) a little more credible.
It is such a shame that a few of the so called supper sports legends make it about themselves, and drag the team into this display of ignorance. Lebron, Curry, and a few other insignificant sports athletes have damaged the name and profession they so clearly profit from. Unbelievable that initial players scheduled to the white house, dragged the others down the toilet by partisan politics, when I am sure that many or most do not agree with them. I feel that so many are so disloyal to the country because of the liberal press, and nothing is going to change till we change hearts and soul of how great it is to be in America. But the socialist, communist, politically ignorant whom are in the minority lie and deceive Americans every day. Unfortunately we may not be around to see the fall of the west , so desired by George Soros, so he can make his millions or billions to undo what the greatest generation created for all of us.
I give Trump grudging credit—tho he has a history of being a lousy businessman, he’s a damn good salesman. He sold “taking a knee” as an affront to America, the flag–all that we hold dear, and a lot of credulous Americans have bought and drank his cool-aid. It’s just another example of his lying and manipulativeness. The “knee” was a quiet, non-violent expression of opposition to excessive police aggression against blacks. Again, credit to Trump for another successful gambit in the culture war that drives Americans further and further apart. He is a cancer on our democracy and our body politic.
Also seems to me that boycotting major league sports is cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. This patriotic American veteran is very much looking forward to seeing the Sox game at Fenway next Tuesday.
That lousy businessman is one of the most successful businessmen in America.
Taking a knee is indeed an affront to America, whether you recognize it or not. There is no lying. There is no manipulating. He just expressed at one rally what millions of Americans think and believe. Your insult to him is absurd.
if you want someone who drove Americans apart, I give you Barack Obama. Trump seeks to unite.
Whose nose is being cut off of whose face as fans boycott? It’s not their face(s). The kneeling disrespectful players are the ones that have cut off their noses. And add Goodell to that.
Further, the NFL has not solved the problem…it allows disrespectful players to remain in the locker room while the national anthem s played.
NFL History for me my family & friends no more enough insulting my flag I’m so proud of
The lesson miscreants are learning is that American patriots don’t throw bricks and disrespect the flag. They withdraw financial and community support, then vote! Malcontents don’t understand this. It is a shame because it is so true. The squeaky wheel get the focus of air time. It is their votes that led to the decline of so many cities and neighborhoods in America, yet they keep voting in the same people that have made it that way and even done them much more harm than they realize. I have a major problem with a multi million dollar player with gold chains around his neck and driving around in very nice cars telling me about the injustices in out society. It’s the reward for voting the way they have.
Support NASCAR!!! My son works in NASCAR. It’s so patriotic and everyone stands for the anthem!!
Agree with Norm Du Pont comment. Con man Trump is leading all of you to hell with his
divisiveness .