Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

ESPN Flip-Flops on Televising Anthem
Rush Limbaugh.com ^ | October 2, 2017 | Rush Limbaugh

Posted on 10/02/2017 3:18:10 PM PDT by Kaslin

RUSH: Well! I have just stumbled across something that’s a little interesting to me here. That combines a couple of issues. That otherwise would not be related. Happy to have you here, my friends. It’s Rush Limbaugh and the most listened to radio talk show in America, the EIB Network, Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies, Anti-Leftist Studies, and Anti-Media Studies. No graduates, no degrees. The learning never ends. It’s 800-282-2882 if you want to be on the program.

Okay. I wasn’t gonna mention this until we had finished or completed our discussion of the event in Las Vegas. However, I’m going to mention it. There is an NFL game tonight, the Washington Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are the undefeated team, and the Redskins are playing much better than anybody forecast. ESPN had announced that they were not going to televise the national anthem.

You should also know this, that John King, CNN, yesterday said that he knows for a fact that the owners and the NFL know full well ratings and attendance are down because of Kaepernick. They know it. They are denying it in public but they know it. There was an incident in Baltimore. The Steelers and Baltimore that I can’t wait to get into, but it’s not time yet. But in light of what happened in Las Vegas, ESPN has changed its mind and has announced that they are going to televise the anthem.

They weren’t gonna televise the anthem tonight, why do you think that is? I’ll tell you why that is. The partnernship that exists between the networks that televise NFL games and the league, I mean, there’s a lot of money that goes back and forth — sorry — a lot of money that goes one way, networks to the NFL. But the NFL and the networks both have a vested interest in the audience increasing, attendance going up, TV viewership going up.

They know, they know, they know why attendance is down and shrinking, and they know why ratings are down. They will not admit it in public, but they know, these anthem protests and the whole Kaepernick thing and disrespecting the country are the reason. It’s not the election. It’s not any of the other things that they’ve said. They know it. They just won’t admit it publicly.

So since they can’t get the players to cooperate — they would love it if the players would shelve this and just stand. Just stand for whatever it takes, a couple minutes, stand up for the anthem. Just do it. Find some other way to express your disgust and your angst and your anger at whatever social injustice you think there is. But the players are insisting ’cause they’re — I don’t know who’s running the players, but it’s some leftist malcontent group. It has to be. And players that otherwise nobody would know are acquiring fame. We used to never even televise the anthem. That was a standard commercial break, up until Kaepernick, up until year. The anthem was never televised except the Super Bowl.

So they were not gonna televise the anthem tonight. That was going to be a way of denying the malcontents their stage. The malcontents would still kneel, protest, or whatever, but it wouldn’t be on live TV. There’d still be still shots of it and there would be video of later, but it wouldn’t be part of the live broadcast.

Now ESPN has come along: “Because of the horrific news of the shooting at a Las Vegas concert, ESPN has reversed course and will broadcast the national anthem that precedes Monday night’s game between the Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs as well as the moment of silence that will take place in Arrowhead Stadium.

“It’s a reversal of course, one that reflects the network’s decision to remain nimble as far as showing the anthem during this season of Monday Night Football. It had intended to return to its new, normal practice of not showing the anthem until at least 50 people were shot to death and more than 400 injured in the shooting in Las Vegas.”

Okay, I, ladies and gentlemen, have a question. Why has ESPN changed its mind? They weren’t going to televise the anthem, but now 58 people and counting are dead, over 500 wounded, and ESPN said, “You know what? Change of course. We are going to televise the anthem.” Why? Why are they gonna do this? Hmm? Well, no. Stop and think about this.

Why does the media support the displays of protest? The media loves this. You have to understand. Sports media, news media, they love the players who kneel, who sit, who do not stand for the anthem. That’s news. Ah, we have some people protesting America. That’s news to the news media. They love it. They eat that up. Because in their world everybody has these grievances. In their little bubble of a world, they don’t think the players are outliers. They think the players represent a majority ’cause that’s how the media themselves think.

So if — stick with me on this — if your point of view is that America is flawed, is deeply flawed, if America is rife with injustice, social injustice, economic injustice, all kinds of injustice, wouldn’t an event like this prove it, that America is flawed? That somebody would engage in a mass shooting? Why are they gonna turn around and play the anthem? Now, you may think the answer is obvious to you.

“Rush, come on. There’s gonna be a moment of silence, first responders, honoring the dead.” Yeah, but all of that is part and parcel of what is being protested. All of a sudden now it’s gonna be honored? Why? What’s different here? No, no, no, no, no. No big deal. I’m just pointing out what I think is a little hypocrisy. I’m glad they’re gonna televise the anthem; don’t misunderstand. We’ll see what happens now. We’ll see how many people kneel. We’ll see how many people take a knee, sit on the bench.

Marshawn Lynch, the Oakland Raiders — who’d they play? They played the Broncos yesterday. And when the Raiders arrived, Marshawn Lynch had some T-shirt, some anti-Trump T-shirt on. And a bunch of people tried to cover him while he was walking to the locker room so nobody would see it. Raiders officials, somebody tried to shield Marshawn Lynch and his T-shirt from the cameras. Thought it wouldn’t look good.

Okay, the guy is showing it’s us versus Trump, I forget what the T-shirt said, I’ve got it here in the Stack. Yeah, yeah, that’s what it was, “Everybody vs. Trump.” But whoever it was thought, “That’s not gonna be helpful here for our guy to be seen wearing that shirt,” so they tried to cover it up. ‘Cause everybody knows this is hurting the NFL, which is the objective.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: anthem; espn; football; nationalanthem; nfl; redskins; rush; sports
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

1 posted on 10/02/2017 3:18:10 PM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I don’t care what they do anymore.


2 posted on 10/02/2017 3:18:49 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

the ESPN is dead


3 posted on 10/02/2017 3:23:07 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
"It had intended to return to its new, normal practice of not showing the anthem until at least 50 people were shot to death and more than 400 injured in the shooting in Las Vegas.”"

Their new normal is not showing the anthem until at least 50 people were shot to death? Do at least 50 people have to be shot before every game?

They are "returning" to a new policy?

NFL is just fumbling the ball big time. They need to apologize, say they didn't mean to insult the anthem and the flag, and set a rule against kneeling. And they need to fire Colin K. since he said he did mean to insult America.

4 posted on 10/02/2017 3:25:50 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Wouldn't bother me. Deny the attention whores the attention.

I don't believe MLB anthems are ever broadcast except for special occasions.

5 posted on 10/02/2017 3:32:52 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

This is the most convoluted, confused, stupid, naïve so-called protest in history. I don’t believe the players, the owners, the networks, the fans or the ball-boys have any idea what they are protesting. The protests range from players take a knee during the anthem, take a knee before or after the anthem, lock arms during or before and beg the fans to join in! What??!! Guess what ... doesn’t matter what they do from now on. They have driven a life-long fan away from watching over-paid girly-men engage in antics that dishonor the country and those who have given their lives for it.


6 posted on 10/02/2017 3:33:35 PM PDT by JohnEBoy (O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Anybody remember when Monday Night football was really a special sporting event? (Howard, Dandy Don and Frank)


7 posted on 10/02/2017 3:47:10 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
It's probably time to sever the artificial connection between patriotic displays and professional sports. Playing a game for entertainment has no connection at all to anything that contributes to the country, other than passive spectator interest.

Even when the patriotic displays may have had a purpose. i.e., to show support for troops engaged elsewhere in war, it really didn't make the actions of big, beefy athletes equivalent to the risks and hardships the soldiers/sailors, Marines or airmen were undertaking. (Having those big guys in uniform would have been a mixed blessing: while they would be useful in loading ammunition trucks, they'd be too big and easy to hit in infantry combat)

I think that the NFL and other sports entities need to be denied permission or outright prohibited from connecting patriotic displays with their commercial entertainment events.

They don't deserve them.

8 posted on 10/02/2017 3:48:35 PM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker
Any ideas as to how many in MLB are kneeling? I have only seen one at an Oakland Game so far. I hope that the MLB players are not siding with these NFL Miscreants.

I don't want to give up Baseball. I will only watch ESPN tonight to see what the players do during the presentation of the Anthem just like I did last night. Then I will watch FOXNEWS.

9 posted on 10/02/2017 3:50:28 PM PDT by wmileo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Kid Shelleen

Howard was Howard Cosell or something like that, correct? But who were Dandy Dan and Frank?


10 posted on 10/02/2017 3:51:22 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Don Meredith and Frank Gifford.

God, I feel old... ;-)

11 posted on 10/02/2017 3:53:31 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I guess that CBS lady didn’t tell them that most of the crowd were probably “gun-toting Republicans”.


12 posted on 10/02/2017 3:56:00 PM PDT by workerbee (America finally has an American president again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wmileo

I’m not aware any MLB players are kneeling. What’s the point? The anthems aren’t broadcast anyway.


13 posted on 10/02/2017 3:56:24 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

14 posted on 10/02/2017 4:02:06 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN
NFL is just fumbling the ball big time. They need to apologize, say they didn't mean to insult the anthem and the flag, and set a rule against

Yes. Until I hear about an apology and a rule against this type of crap, AND consequences for breaking the rule, I won't watch anymore.

Really, any kind of political activity is inappropriate at any sporting event, pro to little league.

15 posted on 10/02/2017 4:14:48 PM PDT by libertylover (We EXPECT RESPECT for the flag and anthem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill; Kaslin

We're just maturing and mellowing gracefully!     :-)

For Kaslin:  Dandy Don Meredith (center below) used to sing



"Turn Out The Lights, The Party's Over"

when the outscome of a Monday Night Football game was no longer in question.
16 posted on 10/02/2017 4:23:43 PM PDT by Songcraft
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Quite a few of my circle of friends are done with ALL of them.


17 posted on 10/02/2017 4:34:27 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

I remember that guy. MNF in the Houston Astrodome. The Oilers are getting blown out. That guy flipped off the nationwide audience and everyone in the booth was stunned until Dandy Don said, “I guess he’s telling us the Oilers are #1.”


18 posted on 10/02/2017 4:57:58 PM PDT by Neanderthal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Billthedrill

Don Meredith and Frank Gifford. Thanks I know who those were.


19 posted on 10/02/2017 4:58:41 PM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

My mistake; Dandy Dan should be Dandy Don...


20 posted on 10/02/2017 4:59:39 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-34 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson