I have been very good at not writing much about the Rams this season because of how ownership has conducted business not to mention how the NFL runs their railroad. With that said, I could not overlook the actions of a few players who took it upon themselves to show their support to the awareness of what has taken place in Ferguson, Missouri.
Little did they know what an impact they would have, as they now have others upset on the other side of that fence. So upset that the local police union wants action and punishment to those who they felt were showing them up. They also want action from the NFL on putting their players in place.
This is a fuse that when lit could make things very tricky for a lot of people, as this will be a thin wire for some to walk on.
It is good to see a pro athlete take a stand, whether you agree with them or not. Too often pro athletes avoid political issues in their community. It is easy for them to say it is not their problem, roll up the windows and head for their secluded neighborhoods to protect their potentially lucrative off-field opportunities. Most athletes stick their head in the sand and hop no one asks them what they think.
These Rams players took a stand. A stand that will not go over well to with the supporters of Darren Wilson and those who think he was right for his actions. I wonder if those players understand what they have done. If they do, welcome to the struggle. If they don’t, welcome to being part of the problem of not even knowing how to carry the water in this case. While I cannot speak for either side here, I get the feeling that the players were not trying to disrespect an entire police department.
Yes, emotions are still running high. The question that comes into play here is when do you express your personal and political feelings and is the job the best place for it?
When you think back to athletes who wanted to “express” themselves, I hearken back to Olympian John Carlos who along with Tommy Smith raised a black-gloved fist on the podium during the awards ceremony at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City to show their support for the Civil Rights Movement and the atrocities that were taking place in this country. The Olympic Committee promptly removed them from the podium and banned them for life from the Olympics. It was costly to their futures, as they were scorned by many for what they felt strongly about.
While most sports leagues tolerate celebrations and fun stuff that surrounds the game, seldom have they had to deal with politicized players in this country. Middle ground was even found for former NBA player Chris Jackson, also known as Mahmood Abdul-Rauf, when he refused to stand for the national anthem as he objected to things that were taking place in the country. Adbul-Rauf used the time to pray and that was not a big hit. It cost him, as many teams would not touch him despite the fact that he could score.
As for the police union demanding these players be punished, this will be very tricky as they basically have thrown down the gauntlet that there will be no professional courtesy extended to them, nor the likes of them. For too many years pro teams and their athletes have had a cozy relationship with law enforcement. In some cases, if a player gets into a jam, some police departments will work with the individual and team to make it go away. The police departments in NFL cities have officers who also work for the team as part of their security or as consultants.
When it comes to respect, this has not been the best of seasons for some police departments in light of the communication breakdowns, image problems and the highlighting of some bad – fatally bad – cops. Many officers find themselves trying to earn the respect of the public because of the bad actions of a few.
Some protestors have taken the liberty to verbally assault the police with little repercussion to prevent a more volatile situation. Some men in blue – regardless of what got us here – have had enough of being disrespected. They are mad as hell and will not take it anymore, and the actions of the Rams players may have lit the fuse.
The NFL has enough problems with their players and their conduct as it is. They will issue the usual statement loving everyone, but more may be needed from the league to satisfy the police and those who support them. If the police unions can band together and throw this in the lap of the NFL and seek punishment then all hell will break loose, as the players’ union will weigh in and its back to court or arbitration again.
Cooler heads should prevail here. Everyone needs a seat at the table, and a conversation needs to take place. The NFL and the police department do not need to butt heads, they need to talk. As a matter of fact, with the exception of criminals, the police could step back from the head-butting contest.
Citizens who are leery of the police and the police who want respect need to take a deep breath and understand they need to find a way to work together. They need to communicate and understand the impact they both have in the community. There is no place for a vendetta here, although that has been put on the table by the union in the tone of their press release. It’s time for the pros on both sides to figure out what should happen next, as they will provide the next the next example of how we address our problems while the world is watching.
