ChitownBucco wrote on Jul 24^th, 2020 at 2:59pm:


How about Jimmy Hendrix at Woodstock.  Now there is a great rendition of the National Anthem!

It's not that complicated though. Players can decide whether to make a statement, and we can individually decide how much of the stink of politics we want to be a part of the game before we're no longer interested. For me it won't take much to turn me off of what is already a tainted season, but we'll see.

NJBucsFan wrote on Jul 24^th, 2020 at 5:02pm:

Exactly

https://twitter.com/mattwalshblog/status/1286827910087749634?s=21

Her black life mattered. Her baby's black life matters. But no protest over this. No kneeling for this. No uniform patches for this. No wall-to-wall cable news coverage for this.

Let's get one thing straight from the jump.

This is not a freedom of expression issue.

None of us have the right to make any statement we want on the job, unless it is permitted by our employer.  Food servers can't foist their political opinions on customers.  Construction workers can't whip out a bullhorn and pontificate on issues of the day.  Gymnastic coaches can't lecture the little ones on what is right and wrong with America.

Unless it is permitted by the proprietor of their business.

At that point, it becomes a business decision.  I would say this goes to labor relations and to marketing.

I don't think it's been collectively bargained for, so at the very least, it can be considered a tacit endorsement of the position.  It is a unilaterally granted/tolerated right of expression because, to do otherwise, may be at the peril of ownership and labor peace.

Marketing-wise, it gets even trickier.

While teammates will usually choose the path of lower conflict, fans are not beholden to either the team or the players.  In a city such as Pittsburgh, where attendance was tenuous at best going into this, offending any fan or group of fans puts the financial viability of the franchise in question.

This year, it won't be evident with no fannies in the seats, but TV ratings would show a decline if people don't agree with the messaging and presentation.  We will be able to tell, via inference, if coverage doesn't include visuals, or references to, the National Anthem.

As the father of a cop, I would be much less inclined to support a team that endorses a message that puts the life of my son in jeopardy.  That means following the team drops off my radar, and I don't buy tickets (when available), or merchandise, or support the sponsors of the team.

The Pirate Ship may wind up on Gilligan's Island.

man, this thread is making me uncomfortable bringing very important real life things into my baseball refuge.

This Topic was moved here from OnlyBucs Fan Forum [move by] Possum.