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When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem before an NFL game in 2016 I was outraged! The NFL’s television ratings since suggest I was not alone. Fan attendance at games also plummeted following Kaepernick’s insulting display. His sympathizers rushed to remind us that this is America, and people here have the right to free speech. That is true unless one’s union signs an agreement waiving the right to certain forms of free speech. In 2016 kneeling was in direct violation of the NFL’s policy on conduct during the National Anthem. The 2016 NFL policy stated: “The National Anthem must be played prior to every game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country.” Many, but not enough, fans seemed to prove that last sentence to be true when they stopped paying attention to the league. There was a clear violation of a policy agreed upon by both the league and the players union. Had the Commissioner been a real leader he would have disciplined the player immediately. If the team owners really cared about how their fans viewed the league’s patriotism they would have forced the Commissioner to do so.

The NFL took similar steps that politicians take when Congress is caught lying or stealing from constituents. They marched out a new Anthem policy in 2018. The players hated it so again the league summarily ignored it. Then the cowardly owners and players got serious. In 2020 they made yet another National Anthem policy change. They stood up in front of the cameras and told us the new policy demanded that ” . . . all league and team personal shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem. Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room until after the Anthem has been performed.” Notice the policy states that all personnel SHALL stand for the Anthem. That is, ahem, unless you don’t want to. This proves that even billionaires and millionaires can be phony. They sound so much like lowly politicians. Ultimately no discipline was ever handed out to any of the players who gave their patriotic fans the finger. Most fans use sports as an escape from politics, and other societal problems. We are angry when we go to our escape mechanism and are forced to watch what we are trying to escape.

If the owners believe what the players are peddling about what a terrible place the USA is they should sit down and have a conversation with them. They should ascertain what, specifically, the players are upset about. They should work out a plan, away from the view of the fans, and begin to address the issues. Every owner, and player, has a unique platform from which to speak. If any of them requested a press conference to discuss their view of racial inequality every network that covers the NFL would acquiesce.

I don’t pretend to be the smartest person in any room. One needn’t be a genius to understand the impact players and owners could have on their communities. They are uniquely positioned to have an immediate impact with at risk children in their home towns. For better or worse athletes are viewed as heroes in their home town, and in the cities where they compete. There are millions of children from single parent families who desperately need the presence of a hands on mentor and role model. Statistics prove that children from single parent families are at much greater risk of dropping out of school, joining gangs, having children out of wedlock, using drugs, and being incarcerated. It isn’t popular to say, but if we can figure out how to keep inner city kids in school we can increase their chances for success in life. This by definition would mean fewer confrontations with the police. But this kind of activism means rolling up your sleeves and committing both time and money to improving lives. It is easier to take a knee.

Finally, it is difficult for the average American to understand the complaints made by pampered, entitled, multi-millionaire players. It is only in America that a person can become wealthy by playing a game. CNBC reported that the average salary in the NFL was $2.7 million dollars in 2017. That same year the median salary was $860,000, and the minimum salary was $435,000. What if every player was to commit just ten percent of their salaries to directly benefit local children in poverty? What if the Commissioner also committed ten percent of his salary? And the owners were to commit ten percent of team profits. This would generate a huge amount of money. Putting together this sort of alliance would entice community leaders to get involved as well. Boys and Girls Clubs could be funded. Buildings could be built, or rehabbed, to create safe places for children who desperately need them. Imagine these buildings equipped with WiFi, and computers, and volunteers available to help kids catch up, or stay up, with their school work. Then imagine if the athletes committed to showing up at the buildings once a week for an hour. Imagine what it would mean for a group of inner city kids to have the opportunity to sit in a private box at home games. To be fair, I know there are some players who are already engaged and doing projects to help kids. More need to join them, or quit bitching about how unfair America is.

Until we see the above, or something similar, being implemented there are a couple of things that patriotic Americans must do. First we must stand against the narrative that America is systemically racist. IT IS NOT! Second, we must all stop attending games or watching them on TV. Since Kaepernick was not disciplined for disgracefully taking a knee in 2016 not a single pro football game has appeared on my television set at home. I have been a pro football fan for nearly 60 years. In fact, I have been a fan for so long I can vaguely remember when the Detroit Lions were pretty good! It was not easy giving it up. But I thought about all of the dead and disabled soldiers who made sacrifices so that we could live in the greatest nation on earth. Not a perfect nation, but still the greatest nation on earth. As time went by it got easier and easier. I soon realized that I had about ten hours of new free time every Sunday. I also found 3-4 free hours every Monday and Thursday. Think about that for a minute. By refusing to support an organization, many of whose employees think that our country and their fans are racists, I find that I have an extra seventeen to eighteen hours of free time every week during the season. During the last 5 seasons I have found all sorts of constructive projects to fill those hours. This is the only leverage we have. Lower TV ratings will mean less revenue from advertisers. Fewer fans in the seats will result in fewer $8 beers, sodas, hot dogs, and other souvenirs being bought. When owners experience huge cuts in revenue they will rethink the amount of money they pay the players. Even billionaires hate losing money. When players face reduced salaries it may help them appreciate their country, and the patriotic fans who provide the money for those salaries. They are currently playing games in front of empty seats because of COVID. If they continue to disrespect our country, and their fans, we should be prepared to give them empty stadiums again next year. (Taxpayers have spent around $7 billion on construction or renovation on 29 of the 31 NFL stadiums)! I hope you will join the millions of patriots who have said goodbye to the NFL. The silent majority must make their voices heard.