105th GREY CUP GAME THREAD! / November 26th / Calgary vs. Toronto

[rdavies]

There's no doubt in my mind that, while Kaepernick is not all-pro-calibre, he's easily better than a lot of stiffs playing QB in the NFL, and he has been blackballed for his political views. I'd love to see him in the CFL both for his playing abilities and the statement it would make, but he's made clear that's not gonna happen.

Sorry, I call shenanigans on that. He blindly generalizes about systemic racism of which there is no evidence. Sure, back in the days of Jim Crow and slavery of course there was, not now. Individual cases of racism, sure, but not every cop shooting a black guy is racism and even worse to bring their idiocies to this country where people will readily, willingly adopt them anyway is ludicrous.

Here's what he actually said: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

The world is politicized enough without bringing this garbage to an entertainment event, I don't even think we should have the military there either and I'm a big supporter of our forces.

Can't we get away from this when watching a friggin' football game. It's bad enough our universities now are seeing fit to have Maoist struggle sessions at places like WLU, do we also need political games at our diversions from that?

[paulwoods13]

Guess we disagree.

[rdavies]

Ok, I see you don't want to get into it and frankly neither do I.

I just have one question, and maybe I already have my answer. Do you think it is ok to have "political" demonstrations like Kaepernick or honouring the military etc at a football game. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm not sure if they should even do the national anthem anymore, not because of protests, but aside from history, does it still have its place at a professional non patriotic event.

[Argo]

Ok, I see you don't want to get into it and frankly neither do I.

I just have one question, and maybe I already have my answer. Do you think it is ok to have "political" demonstrations like Kaepernick or honouring the military etc at a football game. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm not sure if they should even do the national anthem anymore, not because of protests, but aside from history, does it still have its place at a professional non patriotic event.

Perhaps a forum called "Politics" (*) should be added to this site. There's clearly some pressure to extrude such material, as we see from time to time.

(*) Although I note that, in our brave new world, concerns that are essentially or even entirely a matter of fundamental human rights are very often pejoratively labeled "politics".

[AngeloV]

Ok, I see you don't want to get into it and frankly neither do I.

I just have one question, and maybe I already have my answer. Do you think it is ok to have "political" demonstrations like Kaepernick or honouring the military etc at a football game. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm not sure if they should even do the national anthem anymore, not because of protests, but aside from history, does it still have its place at a professional non patriotic event.

I've been a proponent of not doing anthems at sporting events for years. They don't do it at movie theatres anymore. I for one have never stood up in my home for an anthem. It's totally useless, similar to USA chants.

[paulwoods13]

I agree, anthems should be saved for special occasions. The number of people at Argo games who disrespect the anthem, by walking/talking/leaving their hats on, is appalling. I am normally in my seat and see only what's around me, but before the last home game I got caught over near the players' walkway and I could not believe how many people in my vicinity failed to stop and shut up during the anthem.

[RB957]

I've been a proponent of not doing anthems at sporting events for years. They don't do it at movie theatres anymore. I for one have never stood up in my home for an anthem. It's totally useless, similar to USA chants.

I agree, anthems should be saved for special occasions. The number of people at Argo games who disrespect the anthem, by walking/talking/leaving their hats on, is appalling. I am normally in my seat and see only what's around me, but before the last home game I got caught over near the players' walkway and I could not believe how many people in my vicinity failed to stop and shut up during the anthem.

Agree with both of you. Removing the anthems makes sense and would go a long way to taking the political nonsense out of sports and entertainment.

[ArgoGabe22]

I agree, anthems should be saved for special occasions. The number of people at Argo games who disrespect the anthem, by walking/talking/leaving their hats on, is appalling. I am normally in my seat and see only what's around me, but before the last home game I got caught over near the players' walkway and I could not believe how many people in my vicinity failed to stop and shut up during the anthem.

To be fair at the last home game, half of the stadium didn’t know the anthem was taking place with the speakers experiencing technical difficulties. Now, I too see the same behaviour when the speakers do work.

[rdavies]

I agree, anthems should be saved for special occasions. The number of people at Argo games who disrespect the anthem, by walking/talking/leaving their hats on, is appalling. I am normally in my seat and see only what's around me, but before the last home game I got caught over near the players' walkway and I could not believe how many people in my vicinity failed to stop and shut up during the anthem.

Totally agree and I have to wonder WTF is wrong with people when they can't STFU for a minute, pardon the gratuitous profanity.

And why is it some "fans" can't STFU and feel they have to make some sort of "look at me I'm an idiot" disruption during a moment of silence. Keith Olbermann did a commentary on the moment of silence for Jean Belliveau and basically said it was the only moment of silence where some moron didn't do something. Rant off : )

["Issues"Mcgee]

I disagree. He was better than more than half the starting QB's in the NFL in 2016. Not his fault the team overall sucked.

As far as sacrificing his career, I don't believe he knew he was doing that. He may have just been naive in thinking all those old, white rich dudes that own teams would not black ball him for this.

It's pretty racist to just assume they all think the same way just because they are all old, white and rich. Why rationalize individual thought when you can just profile an entire group of people because they all happen to be the same race, right?

[AngeloV]

It's pretty racist to just assume they all think the same way just because they are all old, white and rich. Why rationalize individual thought when you can just profile an entire group of people because they all happen to be the same race, right?

You're right. I forgot to through in Trump supporters.

[Ron]

[gilthethrill]

I've been a proponent of not doing anthems at sporting events for years. They don't do it at movie theatres anymore. I for one have never stood up in my home for an anthem. It's totally useless, similar to USA chants.

Those "useless" USA chants helped rally Hacksaw Jim Duggan to many a victory my friend. Seriously though, when did movie theaters play the National Anthem? I don't recall that as a young, feckel faced lad.

[rdavies]

Those "useless" USA chants helped rally Hacksaw Jim Duggan to many a victory my friend. Seriously though, when did movie theaters play the National Anthem? I don't recall that as a young, feckel faced lad.

Yeah they did, in the 70s for sure and I know a guy who was a projectionist, so probably in the 90s as well.

[jerrym]

Good to see Albertans out in the cold.

It was a mild run this morning... aside from the chilly reception with my Argos jersey. But, I made good on my #greycup bet with @Kathleen_Wynne. https://t.co/4ekGirXnIp

— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) December 1, 2017

[rdavies]

BTW, Jumping the shark was the third episode of season 5, the show had a run of 11 seasons so as famous as that ep is, it didn't kill the show or signal the end. They all can't be winners, folks. In that same season came Mork from Ork.

[ArgoRavi]

Totally agree and I have to wonder WTF is wrong with people when they can't STFU for a minute, pardon the gratuitous profanity.

And why is it some "fans" can't STFU and feel they have to make some sort of "look at me I'm an idiot" disruption during a moment of silence. Keith Olbermann did a commentary on the moment of silence for Jean Belliveau and basically said it was the only moment of silence where some moron didn't do something. Rant off : )

Speaking of Keith Olbermann, he tweeted about how much better the Grey Cup was compared to the NFL game going on at the same time. I have gotten the feeling in the past from him that he has a lot of respect for the Canadian game.

[ArgoRavi]

Those "useless" USA chants helped rally Hacksaw Jim Duggan to many a victory my friend. Seriously though, when did movie theaters play the National Anthem? I don't recall that as a young, feckel faced lad.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan had a cup of coffee with the Argos in the 1970s.

[rdavies]

Speaking of Keith Olbermann, he tweeted about how much better the Grey Cup was compared to the NFL game going on at the same time. I have gotten the feeling in the past from him that he has a lot of respect for the Canadian game.

[paulwoods13]

To be fair at the last home game, half of the stadium didn’t know the anthem was taking place with the speakers experiencing technical difficulties. Now, I too see the same behaviour when the speakers do work.

No, I meant last regular-season home game. The anthem was completely audible, yet people kept wandering around and talking to each other.