Athletes Should Not Be Allowed In Sports

In 2017 controversy struck when the NFL tried “taking a stance” and protesting the National Anthem. In this protest, many NFL players one by one knelt down while the National Anthem played at their sporting event. The National Anthem is a song for our country and symbol to represent all of the men and women who have fought in our military. This song is not played just for our entertainment, it is to honor the flag and what it stands for. The protesting was started by Colin Kaepernick, last season, when he was the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He was the first player to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem, now many other NFL players this season are following in his path and doing the same thing. Many players and viewers claim it is for police brutality and the injustice that is being served, while other viewers see it as entitled millionaires disrespecting the flag and the military. Everyone has different opinions on the issue, but no matter what the country needs to respect one another as humans and be united; the American Flag is a symbol of our freedom and the NFL needs to recognize the National Anthem rather than kneeling and disrespecting what it stands for.

A big problem protesters like Colin Kaepernick and others are facing is that since they don’t participate in the National Anthem people think that they don’t like our country and are unpatriotic. For example Donald Trump and his aides took the situation into their own hands when calling out the protesters by saying, “protests are unpatriotic and disrespectful to the flag and those who have fought to protect the United States”(Tatum). After these comments players fire back by saying they’re exercising free speech by not participating in the National Anthem while standing with their hands over their hearts. Protesting is a

Athletes have been protesting in ways which are frowned upon by the government. Athletes should use their fame to promote a political agenda because everybody has an opinion.In the article, “The athlete as agent of change,” by Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton, athletes use their fame to promote a political agenda. In this article, Bunch and Skorton list the ways that athletes silently protest in sports. Ways that listed include athletes turning their back on the flag, kneeling during the national anthem, and refusing to salute the flag. These actions show that the athlete may be opposing America and by doing this, their opinion is shown. Athletes’ opinions are very powerful because athletes are often mentors or inspirations to their fans which

“O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” John Stafford Smith said in 1814. This has become America’s top way to show respect to the country. Can you imagine people being disrespectful during this important moment? Well, whether you believe it or not, the very act has been happening over and over on America’s top sporting fields. Players playing in the NFL have been kneeling during the national anthem, creating riots in the crowds. Many, many people died for America’s song, but yet people keep on kneeling no matter what people say, even the President! So, how bad is the kneeling issue? Well, we have to look at why they are doing this disrespectful act in front of thousands of people. And don’t worry, if you don’t have a side on this issue, this essay will help you make a decision. By listening to what fans, players, and NFL management are saying, we can finally take a side on this important issue.

“An athlete silently protests during the national anthem. People respond with taunts of "traitor," "you're a disgrace" and "leave our country!" Are these angry tweets aimed at National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem?”said by writers Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton.Due to half of the 49ers team kneeling during the National Anthem 49ers fans are burning their jerseys due to the refusal of the players to stand during the National Anthem.Many fans are outraged and boycotting National football because of the fact that football players are disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the National Anthem.The reason players should stand for the National Anthem is because the United States Flag stands for the individuality and

It’s been hard to ignore the mixing of sports and politics lately. Some football players have been kneeling during the National Anthem instead of showing respect for the men and women in our armed forces. Although they’re trying to send a message to people all over the country, I think they are going about it all the wrong way. Football players should stand for the National Anthem no matter what.

During the summer of 2013 one of the biggest outrages in all sports, not just the collegiate division, was the story of Texas A&M’s golden boy Johnny Manziel. At the beginning of the football season Manziel shocked fans around the country with his remarkable abilities; abilities that would later make him the youngest Heisman winner at the time. However, a couple of months later no one would be talking about his talent or his Heisman, but the allegations surrounded around Manziel selling his signature on eBay for money. The NCAA strictly bans collegiate athletes to benefit in any way when it comes to their name and the revenue that comes with it. This shined light on one of the major controversies in college sports; the dispute of whether it is right to allow student athletes to benefit off their names. The NCAA ought to allow collegiate athletes the ability to profit off the use of their name because by allowing players to receive revenues it would ease the negative effects of playing collegiate sports for the student athletes.

On July 21, 2009, Ed O’Bannon filled a lawsuit against the NCAA for profiting off of student athlete’s likeness. This lawsuit is still in the process of appeal to this day. However, as now (November 2, 2015), it appears O’Bannon has won the case. This is giving permission to universities to allow stipends to student athletes. A stipend is an allowance for players that is essentially paying players for playing college sports. Most division one programs are jumping on the ability to start paying their players because they do not want to fall behind the ability to bring in top athletes. The NCAA is still in the process of appealing the ruling to pay student athletes. One of the problems that O’Bannon is reaching out for college athletes is

The anthem symbolises our freedom, and the cost of it. Many see the flag and anthem as an opportunity to pay their respects to all the men who have died in the military. When NFL players choose to kneel during the anthem, it appears to the public as though the players are not grateful for the sacrifices the members of the military made for them. Drew Brees said, “It's an oxymoron that you're sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out." Instead of creating a conversation about issues players are trying to protest, they are creating anger and division between players and the public hindering the players’ credibility to bring current and future social issues to light. Thus furthering Server’s claim that kneeling during the national anthem is

Instead of doing the expected during the playing of the national anthem, which is standing and placing the right hand over the heart while facing the flag, some of the players decided to either kneel, sit, or don’t even come out of the tunnel during the playing of the Anthem. One of many examples of this is when the Pittsburgh Steelers team was absent during the national anthem, except one player, Alejandro Villanueva, a veteran who served in the army for three years in Afghanistan. While his teammates stayed in the locker room, Villanueva stood outside the tunnel, proud, with his hand on his heart. Head coach Mike Tomlin told the team before the game “We’re not participating in the anthem today not to be disrespectful to the anthem – to remove ourselves from this circumstance”. The coach decided to not participate in the anthem to protest rather than be respectful. Even though the behavior on how to act during the national anthem was never enforced, the right thing to do is stand to show respect and honor the

In the United States, there are constant protests occurring throughout towns, cities, and states, over the injustice unfolding across the nation, whether it’s regarding the Black Lives Matter Movement, equality for African Americans, or the ‘Take A Knee’ protest. These individuals protesting refuse to back down from what they believe in, and are fighting for “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” One main conflict that is encountered every Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, is the ‘Take A Knee’ protest that involves professional football players taking a knee during the National Anthem. Why are football players taking a knee during a time where all should be standing and respecting the National flag and anthem?

In “A leader is more than a messenger,” Toni Smith explains her experiences when she decided to turn away from the flag during the National Anthem. Toni Smith has gained unwanted attention with her decision to turn away, resulting in many people disagreeing and stating their own beliefs towards her and other athletes and celebrities. Smith believes that she should be able to endorse her unpopular opinion without the hate and unwanted attention. Sporting events are becoming more and more political, causing many people to voice their opinions when they don’t agree with what someone is doing.

In the article Athletes, activists spar on kneeling National Anthem protests, it says, “Defenders argue that they are exercising free speech by not participating in the anthem while standing with their hands over their hearts” (Tantum). By exercising free speech, they are showing people that no one can tell them what to do. Having the choice to stand or kneel will give the football players more freedom in what they do. Having that shoice will make the football players feel more relaxed, because they don’t have to deal with the stress of having to do something that someone else is telling you to do. America is a free country, which means that the football players shouldn’t be told what to do on how to honor the flag.

Flag respect has become a controversial topic, especially among American athletes and their fans, of which numerous news articles have been buzzing about. This ties in with a bigger picture, one about athletes publicly stepping into the political scene. This issue has garnered mixed responses from many places, many being that athletes should stick to sports. However, athletes should be able to use their fame to promote a political agenda for varied reasons. Washington Post’s article “The athlete as agent of change” discusses the history, causes, and effects of athletes influencing society.

People love watching sports and people pay lots of money towards these players . But is it worth their life? Many people have lost their lives in their strive to go to competitions. The NCAA needs to ban any weight loss techniques or the sport will soon die out. But you cant watch what the athletes do and some diets are not deadly.