OPINION:
Sports matter, and for Americans, they matter a lot. Their love of sport on field and court is an expression of a kind of double helix formed by competitiveness and patriotism in the national DNA. American sports, though, have thrown in with trendy causes that scorn the heritage that brought them immeasurable fame and fortune. Now fans are left with a choice: either join their favorite teams in a beat-down of Lady Liberty or stand up for the land they love.
The sometimes-peaceful, often-riotous street demonstrations following the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, pinned down by a cop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have dissolved the distinction between Black lives matter as a principle and Black Lives Matter as an organization. Well-meaning — but naive — athletes have wandered into a de-facto alliance with the so-named organization founded by advocates of Marxism, a radical ideology responsible for the enslavement and annihilation of millions. Sly organizers have successfully disguised their malevolent movement behind a title that embodies a self-evident truth. Who would deny that Black lives matter?
Top athletes certainly would not dare to. In a world in which their images are carried on billions of smart phones and TV screens, they have both a hunger and obligation to channel coolness to their eager followers. Consequently, as professional sports have relaunched following the coronavirus-forced hiatus, the stars of professional basketball and baseball have begun their seasons on their knees. Even coaches, the commanding generals of sport, and referees, the whistle-blowing lawmen, have been brought to their knees.
At Disney World, LeBron James, “the king” of the National Basketball Association, models a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt as he warms up the court, which is similarly plastered in large lettering. Players compete in jerseys emblazoned with messages such as “I Can’t Breathe,” “Power to the People” and, of course, “Black Lives Matter.”
Out at the ballpark, Major League Baseball has authorized the World Series champion Washington Nationals to take the field with “BLM” patches stitched to their uniforms next to the “MLB” logo. Beneath the pitchers’ cleats, both acronyms are stamped prominently on the pitcher’s mound. Blinking, fans may wonder if they’ve gone dyslexic.
Drew Brees, the “Mr. Likable” of the National Football League, made the mistake of characterizing the practice of kneeling before the national anthem on game day as “disrespecting the flag.” The New Orleans Saints quarterback later apologized. “I completely missed the mark,” he beseeched.
On bended knee, Mr. Brees may disassociate the act from the anthem, but it isn’t so easy for millions of TV viewers who, since 2016, have witnessed some of their heroes kneeling in disrespect during the national anthem. At least they’re not burning the flag on the field as their angry ideological soulmates are prone to do on the streets of the nation’s once-proud cities.
With games to be played in nearly empty stadiums owing to the coronavirus, the NFL has decided to pipe in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black anthem, in addition to “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Week One game on Sept. 10.
The national anthem really doesn’t need a new tune, though. An oft-forgotten stanza added during the Civil War already tells the story of freedom’s struggle:
“When our land is illumined with Liberty’s smile, If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory, Down, down with the traitor that dares to defile The flag of her stars and the page of her story! By the millions unchained, who our birthright have gained, We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.”
Icons and officials of the professional sports leagues aren’t expected to win a degree in political science, but they should not come out to play with no grasp of the sacrifices already made to form “a more perfect union.” And having the focus to summit the pinnacle of their sport, they ought to be sharp enough to uphold brotherhood without falling for the “woke” tactics of anti-American Marxists.
Reveling in vicarious competition through the exploits of professional athletes is a national pastime. But if champions wear radical emblems on their sleeves and take a knee in disrespect for the stars and stripes, then patriotic Americans have but one choice: Turn. Them. Off.
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