National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell appears determined to pursue the “go woke, go broke” path, capitulating again to radical left social justice elements.
In a continuation of last year’s efforts to promote racial justice, the NFL will play the song known as the black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” at prominent games and events this year, and will allow on-field signage, decals on player helmets, and in-stadium PSAs featuring messages like “End Racism,” according to Front Office Sports.
“They’re bringing back a lot of elements from last year,” a source told the sports site, which included playing the black national anthem before the “Star Spangled Banner.”
The playing of the black national anthem at “tentpole” events like the NFL draft, the playoffs, and the Sept. 9 kickoff game featuring the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys, is part of a 10-year, $250 million commitment to combat systemic racism — as defined by the extreme left in America.
The NFL is also expected to highlight alleged victims of racial injustice with a “Say Their Stories” project.
The timing of the report comes as Major League Baseball saw ratings for the All-Star Game plummet to the second-lowest in history this week after relocating the annual game to Denver from Atlanta — Commissioner Rob Manfred aligned with the Democratic Party misinformation campaign on Georgia’s voter integrity law.
The black national anthem was featured often at NFL games in the 2020 season and was performed by Alicia Keys before “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl 55 in February, as players from Tampa Bay and the Kansas City Chiefs linked arms in unity.
Goodell went full woke last year, all but apologizing to radical left former player Colin Kaepernick, who initiated the protesting of the national anthem before games, while talking up the oft-violent Black Lives Matter political movement.
End racism. #ItTakesAllOfUs pic.twitter.com/IU4G626FvQ
— NFL (@NFL) September 10, 2020
“We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter,” the commissioner said last year. “I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country.”
“Without black players, there would be no National Football League,” Goodell added. “And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff. We are listening, I am listening, and I will be reaching out to players who have raised their voices and others on how we can improve and go forward for a better and more united NFL family.”
As Front Office Sports noted, the NFL realized its first regular-season TV audience downturn in three years last year, and while some blamed schedule irregularities and postponements due to COVID-19, the embrace of social justice resulted in fans across the country calling for a boycott.
The blaming the pandemic doesn’t necessarily play well when considering much of the country was locked down and people were stuck at home with little to do, being unable to go to work in many cases, attend school, or participate in social events.
The irony here is that as Goodell doubles down on a move that promises to alienate many fans, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was pushing “a return to normalcy” in 2021.
No league embraced racial justice like the NBA, led by radical left superstar LeBron James, as Silver approved the emblazing of “Black Lives Matter” on the court of play.
With rating in a freefall — the 2020 NBA Finals ratings dropped to a historic low — Silver acknowledged that last year was in response to “an extraordinary moment in time,” saying in Oct. 2020 that social justice messages will be largely delivered off the floor in the 2021 season.
As for this year’s finals, viewership through the first three games of 2021 compared to 2019 — pre-pandemic — is down an average 4.6 million, or 34%, according to Nielsen.
Under Commissioner Goodell, the NFL just rolled out a marketing ploy to celebrate Pride Month, proclaiming in a highly featured “Football is Gay” ad campaign.
In what was widely seen as a desperate attempt to pander to the left and avoid the dangers of today’s cancel culture, the NFL had this message: Football is gay. Football is lesbian. Football is beautiful. Football is queer. Football is life. Football is exciting. Football is culture. Football is transgender. Football is queer. Football is heart. Football is power. Football is tough. Football is bisexual. Football is strong. Football is freedom. Football is American. Football is accepting. Football is everything. Football is for everyone.”
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Tom@bizpacreview.com
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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