# Trump Magically Turns NFL Games Into Anti-Trump Rallies **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216 "2017-09-24T20:34:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/481 "2017-09-29T15:23:07Z")
Do we have any attendance / viewership numbers for NFL games for the past week or so as compared to prior to the Trump tweet? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/482 "2017-09-29T15:35:56Z")
Several articles claiming different things, but; Has been trending downward for several years already due to proliferation of other choices, general decline in TV viewership and so forth. The number of houses with cable/paid TV dropped from 84% in 2014 to 79% in 2016. Also pointing out that the Hurricanes caused a bit of a drop, as people lost power, homes, etc and have more important things to worry about. Some people have been turned off by all of the revelations about head trauma. Generally, the more right wing the media source, the more they try to claim that this is all about the protests. The more objective media are saying that the impact is negligible compared to all the other things going on. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/483 "2017-09-29T15:45:02Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Let’s quote the part you left out. > > That’s the only part that might apply and only drooling morons (like you and the Big Orange) would blame the NFL itself for players protesting. > > Again, with Trump calling for the players to be fired, (which is also a breach of their contract) that brings in the government demanding speech be curtailed. I do wonder, if anyone were to be fired, and the reason for the firing was explicitly, “The President told me I had to fire you”, if that person would have any standing to redress their grievances of having the govt order the firing of someone based on their expression of free speech. It is entirely a matter between the owners and the players. If the owners think that the league is better off letting them do their limited protest, then they can let them do that. If the owner feel that the league should not allow that, then they can be explicit n their contracts saying that the athletes are performers, and part of the performance is to stand for the national anthem. The public is welcome to weigh in on the matter. Obviously, the public are the ones who got to games, so their opinion does matter to the owners, but it is not binding. Personally, I think that, no matter the decision of the owners, viewership and attendance will be barely, if at all, affected. Out of the millions of people who watch the games, only a small percentage really care about these things that have the right all worked up. What the owners do need to be concerned about is the players. Losing a few percentage of the viewers may be a bit unfortunate, but if the players start quitting in mass, then you don’t have a game anymore. Replacing fans is much easier than replacing players. The govt, on the other hand, and any representatives of the govt, should not be demanding disciplinary action to be taken against people, especially not when the action that they are taking is explicitly protected by the document that they swore to uphold. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/484 "2017-09-29T15:49:48Z")
Actually, replacing the players would be quite easy. Given that each team walks into training camp with up to 90 players and then makes cuts to the final 53 man roster, that’s 37 people who think they’re going to play, or have a chance to play, that won’t. Of course, the quality of play would suffer and the league would lose a lot of minority players and a lot more of their audience, that they would likely never get back. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/485 "2017-09-29T15:51:24Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Of course. 'cuz you’re the only one whose opinion matters. Ah, the “only people who agree with me matter” argument. Always a good one. > [@](#): > > Judging by the fact that, as I said in the post before, Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots etc. are now going to all stand for the anthem, the opinion of quite a few members of the public who canceled their DirectTV subscriptions, burned their season tickets and NFL paraphernalia etc. matters to NFL quite a bit. “I’m gonna burn all this stuff I already gave my money to the NFL for!” Yes, that will show them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/486 "2017-09-29T15:53:13Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Of course. 'cuz you’re the only one whose opinion matters. > > Judging by the fact that, as I said in the post before, Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots etc. are now going to all stand for the anthem, the opinion of quite a few members of the public who canceled their DirectTV subscriptions, burned their season tickets and NFL paraphernalia etc. matters to NFL quite a bit. When the Steelers signed the felon-dogkiller I stopped watching their games. I guess they listened to me, since I no longer see that asshole on their roster. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/487 "2017-09-29T16:03:41Z")
Actually, while I don’t see that piece of shit’s comments here and only see them when other people quote them; “The New England Patriots had 17 players kneel for the national anthem Sunday, joining hundreds around the NFL to protest the treatment of black people in the United States.” > **[What Patriots players had to say about anthem protests](https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2017/09/nfl_national_anthem_protests_w_1.html)** > > The New England Patriots had 17 players kneel during the national anthem in protest Sunday. They explained why after the game. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/488 "2017-09-29T16:05:02Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Of course. 'cuz you’re the only one whose opinion matters. > > Judging by the fact that, as I said in the post before, Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots etc. are now going to all stand for the anthem, the opinion of quite a few members of the public who canceled their DirectTV subscriptions, burned their season tickets and NFL paraphernalia etc. matters to NFL quite a bit. No one canceled their DirectTV over this. No one cares that anyone burned season tickets that were already paid for, or anything else that was already paid for, for that matter. Shit, I’d release an album called “Okrahoma is a Russian fuckstick” if I thought you’d buy all the copies, no matter to me if you’re gonna burn them or give them away. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/489 "2017-09-29T16:07:32Z")
Many many people are burning NFL gear and stuff because of the NFL’s craven submission to BLM and ISIS. Lots of people, oodles and gobs of them! I could give you actual numerical-type numbers, but you wouldn’t believe them because they are so _huge_! I’ll be honest with you, they are really, _really_ big, believe me! ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/490 "2017-09-29T16:07:47Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No one canceled their DirectTV over this. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy-1506453159](https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy-1506453159) “DirecTV is letting at least some customers cancel subscriptions to its Sunday Ticket package of NFL games and obtain refunds if they cite players’ national anthem protests as the reason, customer service representatives said Tuesday.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/491 "2017-09-29T16:08:51Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Judging by the fact that, as I said in the post before, Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots etc. are now going to all stand for the anthem, the opinion of quite a few members of the public who canceled their DirectTV subscriptions, burned their season tickets and NFL paraphernalia etc. matters to NFL quite a bit. Yea, the stands in Packers/Bears game were totally empty. Empty of boycotters, that is. Of course they did have a bunch of people disrespecting the flag and the anthem by chanting USA USA during it. Disgusting behavior. [Those people should be shot in the head.](http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article175456871.html) Or at least, publicly humiliated and shunned. I wish I could give up my DirecTV Sunday Ticket. They have the worst customer service I’ve ever seen. And I swear, half the packers games are on regular TV. What a waste of money! ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/492 "2017-09-29T16:11:56Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Yea, the stands in Packers/Bears game were totally empty. Empty of boycotters, that is. > > Of course they did have a bunch of people disrespecting the flag and the anthem by chanting USA USA during it. Disgusting behavior. [Those people should be shot in the head.](http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article175456871.html) Or at least, publicly humiliated and shunned. Just burns your butt that Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Saints etc. have said they will in the future stand for the anthem. That “blunder” (LOL) by Trump seems to be working out fine. See the OP title 🙂 Those “anti-Trump rallies” fizzled out pretty quickly didn’t they. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/493 "2017-09-29T16:12:02Z")
A great response to that sort of thing; > **[J.K. Rowling Shuts Down Readers Who Burned Harry Potter Books](https://time.com/4657055/j-k-rowling-twitter-harry-potter-book-burning/)** > > The author doesn't mince words “Well the fumes from the dvds might be toxic and I’ve still got your money, so by all means, borrow my lighter.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/494 "2017-09-29T16:38:30Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > [https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy-1506453159](https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy-1506453159) > > “DirecTV is letting at least some customers cancel subscriptions to its Sunday Ticket package of NFL games and obtain refunds if they cite players’ national anthem protests as the reason, customer service representatives said Tuesday.” “is letting” ≠ “did happen” When come back, bring numbers (and pie). Only a couple more days left in September; do they do your monthly reviews at the end of the month or the start or what? Gotta be making you nervous. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/495 "2017-09-29T16:39:39Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Just burns your butt that Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Saints etc. have said they will in the future stand for the anthem. That “blunder” (LOL) by Trump seems to be working out fine. See the OP title 🙂 Those “anti-Trump rallies” fizzled out pretty quickly didn’t they. Which is why his Gallup approval rating is back down to 36% after being a bit higher before his nonsense calling Kapaernick’s mother a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/496 "2017-09-29T17:54:30Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Just burns your butt that Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Saints etc. have said they will in the future stand for the anthem. That “blunder” (LOL) by Trump seems to be working out fine. See the OP title 🙂 Those “anti-Trump rallies” fizzled out pretty quickly didn’t they. Blah blah Russian bot. Can’t respond to actual words, just plug-n-play responses to stimuli. Eliza gave a better impression of being a real person than you do. ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/497 "2017-09-29T18:31:25Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Just burns your butt that Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Saints etc. have said they will in the future stand for the anthem. That “blunder” (LOL) by Trump seems to be working out fine. See the OP title 🙂 Those “anti-Trump rallies” fizzled out pretty quickly didn’t they. You’re wrong. The players didn’t stand because of the backlash, they stood and locked arms in solidarity with other players who kneeled. From the article below: > [@](#): > > “It will represent a coming together of players who want the same things that all of us do – freedom, equality, tolerance, understanding, and justice for those who have been unjustly treated, discriminated against or otherwise treated unfairly,” the team said in a statement. > **[Packers and Bears stand, link arms before NFL game | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/28/us/green-bay-packers-linked-arms/index.html)** > > Some Green Bay Packers fans followed quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ request and locked arms Thursday night during the National Anthem before a game against the Chicago Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/498 "2017-09-29T18:35:26Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > And I noticed that everyone so far responding avoided the question. So - just stipulating the circumstances of the photo - is “taking a knee” during playing of Taps at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier disrespectful? Add me o the list of people who not only don’t think it’s disrespectful, but rather think it denotes respect. I’ve never been to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but I have been to the Normandy American Cemetery. It was many year ago, but I remember genuflecting. I can think of no stance that I could take that would be more respectful of the sacrifice made by those soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/499 "2017-09-29T18:35:52Z")
> [@Southpaw](#): > > You’re wrong. > > The players didn’t stand because of the backlash, they stood and locked arms in solidarity with other players who kneeled. From the article below: What I said: “Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Saints etc. have said they will in the future stand for the anthem.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216/500 "2017-09-29T18:54:00Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > What I said: “Packers, Bears, Steelers, Patriots, Saints etc. have said they will in the future stand for the anthem.” Do you have a macro button for each of your oft-repeated replies? Prove us you’re a human. Say something only a human would say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-magically-turns-nfl-games-into-anti-trump-rallies/797216.md?page=26)