Red Team? Blue Team? Start Your Own Team.

 

Saturday afternoon, a shocking story shook the nation to its core. Not trivia about North Korean nukes, massive flooding in Puerto Rico, or the collapse of the US healthcare system. This was urgent.

Within minutes, millions across the country interrupted conversations with their kids, set aside their chores, and canceled their Saturday night plans. A battle is afoot and their nation needed them.

Remember when multimillionaire President Trump criticized a multimillionaire football player last night? Well today, a multimillionaire basketball player said he didn’t want to go to the White House no more. So, President Trump said the multimillionaire basketball player wasn’t welcome at the White House in the first place. And then a different multimillionaire basketball player tweeted something mean at President Trump.

Honestly, I’m just happy the Republic hasn’t collapsed.

A few million put on their Red Team uniforms and rushed to their computers. Another few million put on their Blue Team uniforms and grabbed their iPhones. To the barricades, citizens!

Then they wasted a beautiful Saturday afternoon tweeting at each other.

The sobering events that precipitated today’s meme battle are neither important nor interesting. They don’t matter and everyone knows they don’t matter. Just like whatever fight we had yesterday and the day before and the day before that.

“OMG!!! Trump acted like Trump!” the Blue Team shrieks.

“OMG!!! Celebrities are shallow!” the Red Team wails.

And on it goes until someone says a new dumb thing and the St. Vitus hoedown starts all over. Granted, the Troller-in-Chief has accelerated these cycles since Twitter is his favorite medium, but every dumb pro-Obama/anti-Obama statement had a similar, though slower, pattern.

As online friends and followers throw on their jerseys and rush into another keyboard tussle, they demand we join them.

“If you don’t denounce Trump, then you support racism!”

“If you don’t denounce the athlete, then you hate the troops!”

Ludicrous.

I’m not on the Blue Team. I’m not on the Red Team. I’m on my team.

Occasionally, I’ll exploit the Reds or Blues to advance my aims in, well, making America great again. But I refuse to surrender my individuality to be an extra in someone else’s movie. As the decades of DC failure have shown us time and again, none of these politicians consider themselves to be on my team. I’m just returning the favor.

Republican leaders will like me if I vote for them. Celebrities will like me if I buy tickets. But neither views me as an equal, just a pawn from which they extract money and power. Those days are long gone.

I look at it this way, in sports and in life: When I see the two teams battling on a football field, I’m not going to passively cheer them from the stands. Instead, I’ll head over to the basketball court to see if I can start my own game. And, to be honest, once the hoops scene gets too crowded, I’ll walk down to the baseball field and try starting a game there.

Politicians are just temp employees we hire to do our bidding. If they suck, we fire them. They aren’t gods we bow to or team owners issuing orders. We’re Americans, dammit.

Celebrities are court jesters we pay to amuse us. When they get too mouthy, we kick them out of the dining hall. That’s the beauty of capitalism.

So, if any of our so-called elites want me to join their team, no thanks. I simply have better things to do. Today I saw one of my daughters dominate a cross-country race and my other daughter played me a song on her guitar. I took them out for lunch, listened to a cool podcast, then decided to write for a while.

In other words, I left the football stadium and started my own pick-up game. If the Twitter warriors want to join me, cool. If not, that’s cool as well. I just hope they consider setting down the phone for a while and starting their own thing.

.

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  1. She Member
    She
    @She

    She (View Comment):
    I’m from Pittsburgh. We (still) have James Harrison on our team. So, this jostling between the President and our favorite sports team is nothing new to us.

    . . .

    Let them sit in the locker room. Where, of course, there are no cameras. And they can do whatever they want. Free speech wins. Football loving, National Anthem-singing fans win. And the game goes on.

    I’m from Pittsburgh.  http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20801902/pittsburgh-steelers-remain-locker-room-national-anthem

    • #61
  2. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    The NFL will have to change their name soon, as they clearly can’t claim to be the National Football League if they can’t respect our flag.  I would suggest the AAFL, the Anti-American Football League — it certainly fits today.

    • #62
  3. The Whether Man Inactive
    The Whether Man
    @TheWhetherMan

    I’m in the minority everywhere, I think, but I don’t care much if individual players choose to sit or kneel during the flag (and I find the equation of standing during the anthem with supporting the troops a bit baffling), and I don’t care much if the controversy makes team owners unwilling to hire Kaepernick.  I’m still in my fantasy league and watching football every week, because I enjoy it. And I find that attempts to politicize it don’t work on me when I simply ignore all the politics and enjoy the game.

    • #63
  4. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    The Whether Man (View Comment):
    I’m in the minority everywhere, I think, but I don’t care much if individual players choose to sit or kneel during the flag (and I find the equation of standing during the anthem with supporting the troops a bit baffling), and I don’t care much if the controversy makes team owners unwilling to hire Kaepernick. I’m still in my fantasy league and watching football every week, because I enjoy it. And I find that attempts to politicize it don’t work on me when I simply ignore all the politics and enjoy the game.

    It looks as if most of this stuff is coming from players on the Left Coast, regardless of sport. These acts have a nationwide flavor since the focus is on the flag and the anthem but the supposed reason for protests is against local events, mostly inner-city police actions against people of color. I think these players would have more effect by speaking out locally as individuals known in their community than what they are doing involving their, leagues,  teams, and teammates. The approach they are taking hurts at every juncture.

    • #64
  5. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    The Whether Man (View Comment):
    I’m in the minority everywhere, I think, but I don’t care much if individual players choose to sit or kneel during the flag (and I find the equation of standing during the anthem with supporting the troops a bit baffling), and I don’t care much if the controversy makes team owners unwilling to hire Kaepernick. I’m still in my fantasy league and watching football every week, because I enjoy it. And I find that attempts to politicize it don’t work on me when I simply ignore all the politics and enjoy the game.

    I don’t care either, until it’s shoved in my face and I’m made to care.

    • #65
  6. The Whether Man Inactive
    The Whether Man
    @TheWhetherMan

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):

    The Whether Man (View Comment):
    I’m in the minority everywhere, I think, but I don’t care much if individual players choose to sit or kneel during the flag (and I find the equation of standing during the anthem with supporting the troops a bit baffling), and I don’t care much if the controversy makes team owners unwilling to hire Kaepernick. I’m still in my fantasy league and watching football every week, because I enjoy it. And I find that attempts to politicize it don’t work on me when I simply ignore all the politics and enjoy the game.

    I don’t care either, until it’s shoved in my face and I’m made to care.

    I don’t consider it to be shoved in my face. And even then….

    It looks like Trump successfully reinvigorated the protests that were sort of dying out, but I only know that because I went looking for news on it.  I’m watching Red Zone, and it’s just game talk.

    • #66
  7. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    The Whether Man (View Comment):

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):

    The Whether Man (View Comment):
    I’m in the minority everywhere, I think, but I don’t care much if individual players choose to sit or kneel during the flag (and I find the equation of standing during the anthem with supporting the troops a bit baffling), and I don’t care much if the controversy makes team owners unwilling to hire Kaepernick. I’m still in my fantasy league and watching football every week, because I enjoy it. And I find that attempts to politicize it don’t work on me when I simply ignore all the politics and enjoy the game.

    I don’t care either, until it’s shoved in my face and I’m made to care.

    I don’t consider it to be shoved in my face. And even then….

    It looks like Trump successfully reinvigorated the protests that were sort of dying out, but I only know that because I went looking for news on it. I’m watching Red Zone, and it’s just game talk.

    It wasn’t a big deal until this season.  I’ve watched a few games and enjoyed them as usual.  But some broadcasters just can’t help themselves: I was watching the beginning of Seahawks/Packers with Joe Buck (shudder) and Troy Aikman, and of course Joe brought up the subject and they had to roll some tape of players kneeling on both teams from before the broadcast began.   So I turned off the TV.

    • #67
  8. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Randy Webster (View Comment):
    I was a Packers fan in the 60’s. I saw both of the two first Superbowls and the Ice Bowl. I’ve sort of drifted away since then. I couldn’t tell you who was in the last Superbowl.

    My dad had a crafty way to ensure I was a Packers fan — he had me baptized on the same Sunday as Super Bowl I (Packers 35, Chiefs 10). Then when I was two and we lived outside of Chicago, he drove me to Lambeau Field and held me up like Simba in The Lion King as part of some mystical ritual known only to my dad and the ghost of Curly Lambeau.

    • #68
  9. The Whether Man Inactive
    The Whether Man
    @TheWhetherMan

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):

    The Whether Man (View Comment):

    livingthehighlife (View Comment):

    The Whether Man (View Comment):
    I’m in the minority everywhere, I think, but I don’t care much if individual players choose to sit or kneel during the flag (and I find the equation of standing during the anthem with supporting the troops a bit baffling), and I don’t care much if the controversy makes team owners unwilling to hire Kaepernick. I’m still in my fantasy league and watching football every week, because I enjoy it. And I find that attempts to politicize it don’t work on me when I simply ignore all the politics and enjoy the game.

    I don’t care either, until it’s shoved in my face and I’m made to care.

    I don’t consider it to be shoved in my face. And even then….

    It looks like Trump successfully reinvigorated the protests that were sort of dying out, but I only know that because I went looking for news on it. I’m watching Red Zone, and it’s just game talk.

    It wasn’t a big deal until this season. I’ve watched a few games and enjoyed them as usual. But some broadcasters just can’t help themselves: I was watching the beginning of Seahawks/Packers with Joe Buck (shudder) and Troy Aikman, and of course Joe brought up the subject and they had to roll some tape of players kneeling on both teams from before the broadcast began. So I turned off the TV.

    I never manage to sit down until about five minutes after kickoff, so I have yet to hear a political rant this season. It was not an intentional strategy, but it’s a good one. Of course, if it did turn political I’d be more likely to mute or channel surf and come back than give it up altogether. Unsurprisingly, I also do not boycott businesses over their politics.

    • #69
  10. Jerome Danner Inactive
    Jerome Danner
    @JeromeDanner

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.

    I’m not on the Blue Team. I’m not on the Red Team. I’m on my team.

    Mr. Gabriel, as an individual, I am also on your team!

    • #70
  11. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    I am going to be interested in how chain sports bars stock performance is going to be affected.

    • #71
  12. Boney Cole Member
    Boney Cole
    @BoneyCole

    I am not an advocate of boycotting businesses over their politics, but I am likely to find alternatives if businesses or their employees foist their politics upon me.

    • #72
  13. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Can you take out a full page ad in the New York Times and print this? It is the best!

    • #73
  14. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):
    My dad had a crafty way to ensure I was a Packers fan — he had me baptized on the same Sunday as Super Bowl I (Packers 35, Chiefs 10). Then when I was two and we lived outside of Chicago, he drove me to Lambeau Field and held me up like Simba in The Lion King as part of some mystical ritual known only to my dad and the ghost of Curly Lambeau.

    Did it take?

    • #74
  15. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):
    My dad had a crafty way to ensure I was a Packers fan — he had me baptized on the same Sunday as Super Bowl I (Packers 35, Chiefs 10). Then when I was two and we lived outside of Chicago, he drove me to Lambeau Field and held me up like Simba in The Lion King as part of some mystical ritual known only to my dad and the ghost of Curly Lambeau.

    Did it take?

    Indeed.

    • #75
  16. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):
    Indeed.

    Sorry to hear that. You seemed like such a nice guy. ;^)

    • #76
  17. Mountie Coolidge
    Mountie
    @Mountie

    Jon Gabriel, Ed. (View Comment):

    Columbo (View Comment):
    If it wasn’t for this post on Ricochet, I wouldn’t have even known this massive Twitter War occurred. I count myself blessed.

    You are blessed, indeed.

    I walked away from Twitter the day Andrew Brietbart died and all the asshats came out and celebrated his death. I figured it was a cesspool that I didn’t care to be near.

    • #77
  18. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    The Whether Man (View Comment):
    I never manage to sit down until about five minutes after kickoff, so I have yet to hear a political rant this season. It was not an intentional strategy, but it’s a good one.

    Agreed. Watching today’s games I didn’t hear a word of politics – possibly because I got to my friend’s house late, but also because the announcers were discussing football, and the panel after the game was discussing football.

    One thing I’ve noted: everything on TV that does not specifically involve the act of playing football is fodder for amusement and ridicule – the ads, the promos, the halftime act, the posture of the players while the anthem plays. Nothing matters but the act of playing football. 

    • #78
  19. SEnkey Inactive
    SEnkey
    @SEnkey

    I agree with @thewhetherman, I try my best not to care. Same with google, when some other company offers me the level of service and products that google does at the price, I will switch. In the mean time, I enjoy the products. Oh football, I love you so much, please distributors of football, leave me alone to watch the game.

    PS My understanding of the Steelers staying in the locker room was to avoid the whole controversy. I can respect that decision even if I don’t totally agree with it.

     

    • #79
  20. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    SEnkey (View Comment):
    I agree with @thewhetherman, I try my best not to care. Same with google, when some other company offers me the level of service and products that google does at the price, I will switch. In the mean time, I enjoy the products. Oh football, I love you so much, please distributors of football, leave me alone to watch the game.

    PS My understanding of the Steelers staying in the locker room was to avoid the whole controversy. I can respect that decision even if I don’t totally agree with it.

    I think the Steelers handled it right. Don’t inflict your politics on your paying customers. What are you going to do when they don’t leave you alone?

    • #80
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