Legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said that he’d never watch another NFL game because of protests during the national anthem.
Scully began his career broadcasting Brooklyn Dodgers games in the 1950s and continued with the team when they moved to Los Angeles. He retired last year.
“During the fall and winter, I watch the NFL on Sunday, and it’s not that I’m some great patriot. I was in the Navy for a year, didn’t go anywhere, didn’t do anything, but I have overwhelming respect and admiration for anyone who puts on a uniform and goes to war. So the only thing that I can do in my little way is to not to preach; I will never watch another NFL game.”
As Sports Illustrated notes, Scully’s remarks come at a relatively safe time for him, as he retired last year after almost seven decades as a broadcaster for the Dodgers. Over the past two seasons of the NFL, players have been kneeling during the National Anthem, despite the NFL guidelines encouraging players to stand and place their hands over their hearts.
Hall of Fame Dodger announcer Vin Scully on the anthem protests in pro football: "I will never watch another NFL game again."@NBCLA pic.twitter.com/NEcPbZSrb2
— Conan Nolan (@conanNBCLA) November 5, 2017
Note the use of the phrase “safe time.” The silence from the sporting community on the anthem protests has been remarkable. They can’t all agree with the players. But they are terrified of speaking out and being called “racist” or worse.
What about former players? Why don’t a bunch of them get together and issue a ringing statement of support for standing during the anthem? Again, they fear they will pay a price not only with their peers, but with the racialists who would mercilessly attack them.
If just a few national sports personalities would issue statements like Scully’s, it would put some pressure on the kneeling players. But that’s not going to happen. There is safety in silence and that appears to be where most who disagree with the players will be.
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