Anthem Disgust HOT TAKE!

Special Guest Column by Dan The Man Mattox

I was perusing Facebook for my political and social views as usual the other day, and I came across an interesting post from a friend from high school. The subject was the anthem controversy. Now I've never really felt pulled necessarily to either side of the fence on this issue, as I try to see both sides fairly. My friend's post was something to the effect of, he was sitting in a bar Sunday with four games of preseason football on and one television showing golf, and he chose to watch the golf. A "personal decision" to give up football. All because some millionaires want to kneel during a song? Ok, I'm fine with that, but c'mon Bill, who are you mad at? The NFL lost not one half cent because you chose to watch golf, which by the way, definitely need drinks to endure. 

Taking a step back and examining the situation led me to wonder, who are all these "fans" mad at? Let's examine the suspects and perhaps come up with some solutions. 

THE PLAYERS
Seems like the players are an easy target here. According to many, you have out of touch millionaire athletes making hollow gestures in the name of social injustice. I'm sure a great number of these players are genuine in their actions, regardless of whether their workplace is an appropriate forum. I get deciding not to watch because you think the players are disrespectful. But ask yourself: "Self, what am I accomplishing by tuning out?" The NFL loses literally nothing if you don't watch. Unless you are a Neilsen household, no one has any idea if you are watching football on Sundays or a Wiggles marathon with your kids. So while it may feel self-righteously good to tune out, you've accomplished nothing.

THE TEAMS
There are a great number of franchises that haven't had to deal with this issue, the Cincinnati Bengals being one. My friend is a lifelong Who Dey fan, so who is he hurting? Perhaps the team that puts their health and safety on the line to bring us this game we love? Why punish a franchise that has done all the right things? That doesn't seem fair, does it?

THE NFL
Maybe the ultimate guilty party in this is actually the league itself? The NFL has had numerous opportunities to fix this situation, or at least come up with a compromise. Baseball doesn't have this issue. Basketball for the most part has no issue. Why has the league messed this up at every turn? If I may offer a reason, it's simply money. The league continues to rake in huge profits, whether you and I go to the stadium, watch on television, or choose to watch the grass grow -- I mean watch golf. The players get their money, the league gets theirs, and the rest of us are left looking like chumps when we don't like to see grown men kneeling. 

THE SOLUTION
It's pretty simple, actually. Since the league is money driven, corporate sponsors must be squeezed until they pressure the league sufficiently to figure this out. Until disgruntled fans stop going to McDonalds, using Intel powered devices, driving their Ford trucks, drinking Pepsi products and cutting out most beer purchases, the league, teams and players will be laughing all the way to the bank. Anything else, including worthless internet memes, boycotts, watching golf, etc., will be as hollow of a gesture as the fist raising and kneeling by the players. That's the solution! Hit 'em in the pocket! Until then, I'd suggest calming down, enjoying the grace and brutality of our favorite sport, and maybe a number four from Mickey D's.