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WNBA Finals - Both teams were absent during the national anthem.
SanctionII
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Our local city council meeting has a few citizens who stay outside the meeting room during the pledge of allegiance and opening prayer. They hang out in the hall thereby voicing their protest.
Looks like this group is doing the same thing. Making a point by their absence.
They love to shoot themselves in the foot and do everything possible to get people not to care
Fire AJ Preller
I try to care about city council but it’s tough.
Acting like an oddball (and that is putting it mildly) is popular these days (got worse around 2012) it will not last most people have had more than enough of it and are now fighting back against it in their regular daily lives!!! Hahaha the WNBA.....I have men's sports to watch!!!
People have had it with the every 4 minute groups....give me attention it has been almost 4 minutes since someone has talked about (acknowledged us) how SPECIAL WE ARE!!!
Liberty Seated Half Dollars
(G-04 to F-12)
Sounds like a lot of insecurity.
Garbage human beings.
2025 SEC bowl record 4-10
SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8
And last place goes to you.
Translation. BGR is ok with people dodging our National Anthem.
2025 SEC bowl record 4-10
SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8
That's part of the deal with freedom. I support their right to protest for their beliefs whether I agree or not. Part of the deal and it matters not what I am OK with.
But yes. Also a good time to get Nachos.
for the love can we stop these feeble "let me share my politics" dumb-assery threads.
Whether or not the individual players on both teams playing in the finals care about or not care about the national anthem is irrelevant (due to the concept of "Liberty").
However, these individuals are employees of a team (which is an organization formed according to law and is viewed as a separate legal person separate from its human owners). The team (as the employer) has the right and power to establish the rules (within the bounds of the law) that govern the employer-employee relationship.
I have yet to hear/read/learn about what the position of each team playing in the finals is regarding the national anthem. If one or both teams decide that the players, coaches and other staff must be present on the court at the time the national anthem is played (or similarly if the WNBA itself so decides) then the players, coaches and other staff, being employees of the team, must comply with work place rules and be present on the court when the national anthem is played.
Since the two teams for two games now have chosen to not be on the court when the national anthem is played, that tells me that each team (and possibly the WNBA) tacitly or even expressly approve of the teams, coaches and staff not being present on the court when the national anthem is played. If that is the case, so be it. However, taking that position will definitely have an impact on attendance at games and on viewership of games. If the general population does not look kindly upon not being on the court during the national anthem, the financial health of the WNBA may be less than what it would be otherwise [but if the WNBA has ongoing funding of its operations by the NBA so that whether it operates in the red, breaks even or operates in the black is irrelevant; the powers that be in the WNBA can comfortably continue to function in the manner it does].
Both teams broke league rules. Teams are to be present during the National Anthem.
WNBA Motto: "Do everything you can to destroy the good will of fans, and then blame it on the fans."
Perfect, another black eye for the Caitlin Clark Abuse League.
After Caitlin Clark leaves the court, the WNBA goes right back to being the garbage league it was before her arrival.
2025 SEC bowl record 4-10
SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8
The WNBA already issued a statement and as you might expect they have no firm rule on this and are leaving it to the teams.
To be fair the NBA didn’t really have a rule on this when Cuban stopped playing it at Mavs games during covid. It wasn’t noticed for months and then the NBA made it policy.
I don’t even know what the message was but generally it’s not simply about being unpatriotic. So maybe that’s the question. Oh I’m so offended because people didn’t salute or stand hand over heart. That’s the mind of a child.
my grandfather was a WWII vet and a purple heart recipient. he was shot multiple times on Saipan. i'll never forget the day my family and i took him to the doctor back in 2017 to receive the grim news -- best possible option was to be placed in the hospital to extend his life for perhaps a couple of extra months. he was 93 and a lifelong smoker who was suffering from emphysema. his lungs were over it. i will never, ever forget his response. "no, no, that's not necessary." but it was the way he said it that will never leave my memory. it was a very chill, deadpan response. he took it like a champion.
a few days later i said to him (paraphrasing), "i want to commend you for something. the way you handled that conversation with the doctor was nothing short of impressive." his response to me was (again paraphrasing), "that's because i should have died long ago. i've been the recipient of the gift that keeps on giving for about 75 years. life has been very good to me."
he loved sports, and in his final few years the common theme was for select players to kneel during the anthem. that gesture offended him to his core. i can only imagine what his thoughts would be on entire teams leaving the court before the anthem and then coming back after it was over.
for me personally, it's the height of disrespect. tone deafness at its finest. you wanna protest for whatever reason? fine, knock yourself out. eotd, you have the ability to do so. but you best be prepared to brace yourself for what's to come, contingent on when, where and how you do it. many people who stop to think and forget to start again lose sight of the fact that ramifications are part and parcel of rights. ask Colin Kaepernick how everything worked out for him.
when you consciously choose to manifest your displeasure during a specific time that honors our flag and everything it stands for -- including those who literally risked their lives for you to enjoy the freedom to dribble a basketball for a living in a few minutes -- you are most deserving of the deleterious consequences that are coming your way as the result of your decision.
a less PC way to put it is, if you're that disgusted, leave. many people, including myself, consider that type of display to be a very serious act. my grandfather would feel the same way if he were alive, no doubt. you're hocking a loogie in the face of so many people who were willing to be prematurely vaporized to protect your life and the quality of it. but when you one day come to your senses and realize that the grass isn't greener elsewhere, the only thing you should encounter when you try to return is a padlock on the door.
.02
Why is it that so many have no problem being the contrarian instead of just sucking it up and showing a little gratitude for what they have?? Be dissatisfied with our Government as much as you want but at least be willing to show sone respect for those of us who sacrificed by choice so that you have the freedom you have. The root cause of this "I won't pause and Honor my Country and Flag" is that noone has "skin in the game" anymore, somewhere about 1%. JFK said it best, and if you don't know the quote you should.
Now go ahead, bgr, post something stupid that I can't see.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
I think this is purely a political exercise and has nothing to do with patriotism. I'm not in some competition with you Maywood about any of this and it doesn't bother me one bit if you have me blocked or not. If you survey veterans - you don't have to because this is nothing new and it's been done before... there's a general split along the same political filing you see in society...
some consider it disrespectful. this is what you see from the institutional veterans organizations like the VFW and the American Legion. Though I haven't found anything since the kneeling stuff back in 2017 - no comment on the WNBA so far.
others consider it "the right of freedom" that such sacrifice buys. I think most don't care to be used as a political prop, especially in the context of a nation that hasn't always treated it's veterans with the respect they deserve.
One example of this is the Green Beret who had convinced Kaepernick to kneel rather than sit on the bench - because kneeling is what you do at a fallen soldier's grave.
Until 2009 NFL teams rarely had teams / players on the field for the national anthem. This changed not because of an influx of patriotism, but rather because the NFL sought to court veterans and the DoD was paying teams for on-field military tributes and other military marketing programs. This was quite the controversy for a while with McCain stomping his foot on the record - wouldn't even make the news with the ridiculousness today.
Now back to Sports. Ohio State Sucks.
If the WNBA has a rule that teams are to be present during the National Anthem; and if both teams in this year's finals have broken this rule (twice so far and likely thrice later today) then:
that looks bad for the WNBA (non enforcement of rules or selective enforcement of rules); and
that looks bad for WNBA teams that choose to not abide by league rules.
Both of the above are detrimental to the league and to individual teams and opens them up to ridicule, scorn and disfavor with the general public.
The persons in charge of the league and in charge of teams are in positions where the decisions that they make are going to be viewed under a microscope and evaluated by the public. The personal views, opinions, values, etc. of these persons will dictate what their decisions are (which, depending on ones point of view may be helpful or hurtful to the overall health and vitality of women's professional basketball).
I think most people see it for what it is and stay silent and the people on the edges promote their opinion on why this is the fracture of decency. The fact is that it's not negatively impacting the league at all. While the NFL has an audience which is much closer to the national split as far as social issues go, the NBA has the youngest and most racially diverse. The WNBA is similar with a large LGBTQ contingent.
I think it's a fine opinion to have that what these teams or players or leagues are doing is wrong and to... you know... like not engage with them and hurt them if you can so you can force them to change their institutional choices around what they allow and who they market to.
And since when do old white men have an opinion on everything. I thought we were supposed to silently wait for death. Now we cry about everything people do.
I'm surprised the NBA owners have allowed so much nonsense in this league.
The play is better than ever but too much toxicity for my liking.
Erik
The play in the NBA or the WNBA?
BGR seems to be our 4 minute man as I described earlier stop feeding him attention. He thinks we must all accept everything but we don't simple as that. Trying to shame us into his ways (total submission or we are this or that) no thanks BGR I control my own mind (opinions). You don't like our way of thinking....so what!!!
Liberty Seated Half Dollars
(G-04 to F-12)
@WildWestHalfDollars, do like me, put him on ignore in you profile. He posts stuff but you don't see it. He thinks you do, but you don't. He's a troll.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Thanks!!!
Liberty Seated Half Dollars
(G-04 to F-12)
When two of the brightest minds put you on ignore. Double Win?
Right on time, he appears. 😂😂
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
6:47 was the time? dang. I should have checked sooner.
What's this make now 3 games these losers were absent during the anthem? I guess they didnt learn about the NFL tv ratings tanked during the kneeling nonsense.
2025 SEC bowl record 4-10
SEC bowl record vs BIG TEN last two years 2-8
this right here.
I couldnt have said it any better. Men like your grandfather (and mine, who fought in Korea) deserve the respect emblematic of our flag.
they may have the "right" but are certainly not in the right. people like those players disgust me.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
any very very very slight increase in my attention for the WNBA in the last year is completely over.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
You guys are adorable.
They dont care really. A lot of them own WNBA teams too and they got them dirt cheap and could resell them for a lot more now. The WNBA players make very little by comparison. I doubt many of them even pay attention. The NBA does a lot of the same stuff anyways the difference is just that the NBA protects its stars and cash cows.
Most importantly its just not worth it for them to pick a fight about it. It would get the media and sjws trashing them and could impact their NBA teams revenue which does actually make a lot of money.
Fire AJ Preller
Share an owner with an NBA team (7 of 15): 42% ownership
Golden State Valkyries — Joe Lacob and Peter Guber (Warriors)
Indiana Fever — Simon family (Pacers)
Minnesota Lynx — Marc Stad, who bought the Wolves and Lynx together at a $4.5B valuation in August 2026, with A-Rod retaining a stake
New York Liberty — Joe and Clara Wu Tsai (Nets)
Phoenix Mercury — Mat Ishbia (Suns), sharing a practice facility and HQ with the Suns
Washington Mystics — Ted Leonsis / Monumental (Wizards)
Toronto Tempo — Larry Tanenbaum, whose Kilmer group chairs MLSE (Raptors)
Independent (8 of 15):
Atlanta Dream — Larry Gottesdiener / Northland
Chicago Sky — Alter group; Dwyane Wade is a minority owner, no Bulls connection
Connecticut Sun — Mohegan Tribe
Dallas Wings — Bill Cameron’s group; the Mavericks are the jersey sponsor but not an owner
Las Vegas Aces — Mark Davis, who owns the Raiders, so NFL rather than NBA
Los Angeles Sparks — Mark Walter
Portland Fire — RAJ Sports / the Bhathal family
Seattle Storm — Force 10 Hoops
When you layer in the antics of LeBron James during the National Anthem to start the NBA season, I think the NBA owners have lost touch with the pulse of most of the United States.
I remember when Bud Grant had walk-throughs on how his team stood at attention for the National Anthem - from how they tied their shoes to holding their helmet to how they stayed at attention.
This is a far-flung situation from the Mr. Grant.
Erik
As long as you still make a bunch of money and get ad deals thats all they really care about.
Fire AJ Preller
Funny - looks like the WNBA is trying to squeeze out as much money as they can, while they can..........
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"Dream Even Series, Force First-Ever Game 7"
"Memento mori !"