While I agree with the message of the post, it will not happen for one reason; Money.
The NFL did not decide to require players to stand and respect our country because it was the right thing to do. Last year, the NFL defended the players’ actions stating that the “free speech” of the players was defensible. The only reason that the NFL changed their outlook is because fans quit watching and attending games.
Creating a healthy atmosphere, paying a decent salary, and treating cheerleaders in a moral and ethical manner would be the right thing to do. However, that will not generate more income and fans. In fact, it may just turn some watchers away if the cheerleaders are not sexy enough. I doubt it, but maybe.
If the NFL could legally prostitute their cheerleaders to season ticket holders, they would do it in a heartbeat.
They NFL as an organization does not give a damn about patriotism, morality, ethics, or anything other than their profit margin. If they did, they would not hire and retain so many criminals in the organization.
.……..lol, I have not watched the NFL one minute in 30 years except when it is forced upon me in an airport or hotel bar. So, unfortunately, I cannot hurt them much today because I’ve been boycotting the “felons” for 30 years.
That said, I’m going to disagree with Cal Thomas in part. Yes, these cheerleaders are naïve, gullible, defenseless, dupes looking to land a man with some money. Everybody knows that.
And, they damn sure need some protection/sanity from the owners in terms of what functions they are forced to attend. All that said, Cal Thomas said they should not be “forced” to attend promotional events. That’s nuts! That’s what they are there (i.e. to promote the team) for and last time I checked they are “employees”.
So, “promotional events” yes!...……...but with some 300 lb lineman going along to make sure the ogling guys behave themselves.
What teams need to do and MUST do is insist that their “cheerleaders” are treated with respect and put some active enforcement behind it.
The NFL did not decide to require players to stand and respect our country because it was the right thing to do. Last year, the NFL defended the players’ actions stating that the “free speech” of the players was defensible. The only reason that the NFL changed their outlook is because fans quit watching and attending games.
I'm sorry, but the NFL did this for exactly the right reason if they did it because of money. All I really expected from the NFL was to act as a concerned business entity about my and other paying fans' concerns about the "NFL experience".
By the way, I do not believe for one moment that I go to or watch an NFL game as some kind of patriotic exercise. So it could be said that I spectate for the wrong reasons.
When you win you must also "receive" the win. I am glad for the NFL's change in policy, especially since it is because of people like me and the other boycotting customers who weren't interested in spending their sports dollars to endure being "protested".
Cheerleaders are paid by sales of franchise merchandise - not by the sport teams.
I believe the cheerleader organizations have to pay the sport teams a fee to use their colors/logos/stadium. (An old friends daughter was a cheerleader for the Buffalo NFL team)
There is a lot of work and pressure for the cheerleaders to put up with.