Here’s one that’s been making the rounds on the social media, let’s see the Dope’s response. Sports and religion! Fun.
The story is that devout Muslim Husain Abdullah who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs has received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct after dropping to his knees and touching his head on the game…court, in sujud, prostration to Allah.
It’s caused more stink than an explosion at a turd factory, with some saying it wouldn’t have happened if he clasped his hands in Christian prayer, some that prayer is something that should be done outside the sports time. Whadya reckon?
Seems pretty straightforward. Is it true that a Christian prayer would not have been a rules violation? Don’t we have a clear answer to that post-Tebow?
Tebowing is okay. You can drop to one knee, but not both. Whatever, a rule is a rule. Abdullah can go around prostrating himself in postgame interviews or whenever else he likes.
The text of the rule says: “Players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground.” From here
So, yes, it is a violation of the text of the rule. I couldn’t find any exception for religion, other than the 35,000,000 million times that Christian players did it and did not get penalized.
The NFL will come out and say that the ref followed the letter of the law, but not the intent. He won’t get fined, and the NFL may even say it shouldn’t have been penalized.
The NFL hasn’t been shy about fining Christian players for religious violations. Jon Kitna springs to mind, though apparently his fine was later rescinded.
The NFL’s draconian punishments for even the slightest display have become effing absurd up against the real problems of the game.
Yes, yes, a little stutter-step or point to heaven or shout of joy or dance move COMPLETELY demeans the other team and the whole game. But in reality, they don’t notice anyway, being occupied with their concussion-driven hallucinations and endless conferring with lawyers over their bloated contracts, spousal abuse and firearms violations.
“Husain Abdullah should not have been penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct following his fourth quarter touchdown,” NFL spokesman Michael Signora wrote in an email to USA TODAY Sports."
"“Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 (d) states ‘players are prohibited from engaging in any celebrations or demonstrations while on the ground.’ However, the officiating mechanic in this situation is not to flag a player who goes to the ground as part of religious expression, and as a result, there should have been no penalty on the play.”
No Fun League indeed. This is one area where the NHL gets it right. Roger Goodell would be handing out suspensions left and right if he were and charge.
Seriously, the NFL needs to get its priorities straight.
I was actually watching the game live, unlike some people commenting on this (I’m not saying that’s necessarily anyone in this thread). I was a little surprised on the initial call, but that was because I hadn’t realized they changed the rules about celebration and that a player can’t slide like that. Personally, I saw him slide in the end zone, saw the flag, stopped actively watching the TV for a little bit and missed the praying bit. Then I listened to the referee’s call on the flag and paid no more attention to it. I think the penalty was accurate for the sliding in the end zone and the rest is mostly recreational outrage.
I saw it on TV and I didn’t think it should have been flagged. There was nothing offensive or in-your-face about the slide.
I think that the most ironic thing is that GEICO is featuring Ickey Woods in its NFL advertising. During the add, which airs at least 10 times in every NFL game I watch, Ickey does his signature “Ickey Shuffle” touchdown dance in the cold-cut aisle in a supermarket, yet if anyone did that same dance in the game they would be flagged.
I’d penalize any player for praying or pointing to the sky during games, unless they pledged to do the same thing the next time they fumble/strike out/make an error.
After all, Jesus/Allah/Jehovah is responsible for both bad and good performances.
No, you can dance all you want. You just can’t do a choreographed group celebration, use props, or go to the ground.
What is ironic is that NFL Network is constantly airing retrospectives (particularly in their Top 10 series) that highlight the diva wideouts of the nineties/2000s and especially their endzone celebrations. Steve Smith’s snow angel, T.O.'s signed ball and pom poms, Joe Horn’s cellphone, they’re all there.
I think the anti-celebration rules are fucking stupid and killed one of the most entertaining parts of the game, but the NFL still thinks its market is old people*, so there you go.
While I’m a fairly devout Catholic, I tend to frown on excessively showy religious displays on the playing field, no matter what the religion in question is. I could easily live without “Tebowing.”
In THIS case, did the Muslim player go too far? I didn’t think so. He certainly didn’t do anything that warranted a penalty.
PS: I’m reminded of Joe Lapchick, the old basketball coach at my Dad’s alma mater, St. John’s University.
Lapchick always told his Catholic players NOT to make the Sign of the Cross at the free throw line. When asked why not, he’d say, “Because if you miss, you make the Church look bad!”
It feels like everyone talking about it is unaware of what really happened. The flag was thrown once he started sliding on his knees, before he knelt and prayed. The ref had no way of knowing that it was a religious gesture at the time the flag was rightly thrown. Neither the player nor his head coach had any problem with the flag, nor did he feel discriminated against, because of the slide. This is a total non-issue.