September 24: “Courageous Patriots have fought and died for our great American Flag—we MUST honor and respect it! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
September 25: “Many people booed the players who kneeled yesterday (which was a small percentage of total). These are fans who demand respect for our Flag!”
September 30: “Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country!”
Then, on Sunday, October 8, in a move that was choreographed as carefully as the dropping of balloons at a political convention, vice president Mike Pence walked out of a game between the Colts and 49ers in Indianapolis because several players knelt during the playing of the national anthem. This came after Pence had tweeted, “I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem.”
Thereafter, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones poured more fuel on the fire, warning his players, “If you do not honor and stand for the flag in the way that a lot of our fans feel that you should, then you won’t play.”
Here I should note that I haven’t heard Jones complain about fans who start shouting halfway through the anthem. Does it bother him when, around the time the anthem gets to “rockets’ red glare,” fans are screaming, “Go, Cowboys! Fucking go!”
For NFL players who choose to kneel, the primary issue is still the inappropriate use of police force and other matters of concern to the minority community.
Trump, on the other hand, is seeking to frame the issue in terms of whether the players support country, flag, and American troops who are fighting overseas. His comments bring to mind the thoughts of Samuel Johnson, who proclaimed, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”
Still, Trump’s message resonates with his base, particularly among those of his supporters who don’t like black people and see the protest as being driven by ungrateful African Americans who don’t appreciate the opportunity they’ve been “given” to play in the NFL.
At this point, I should make clear my feelings toward Donald Trump. I think he’s a crude, vulgar, mentally unstable narcissist with fascist tendencies. I love this country as much as he does, probably more. I have enormous respect for the democratic institutions that have made America great. I don’t need lessons in patriotism from a man who says that the neo-Nazis and torch-carrying white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, included “some very fine people.”
When the kneeldowns began last year, I didn’t think the tactic was well-chosen. I agreed with Jim Brown (one of the greatest football players ever and an outspoken civil rights activist), who said, “I would not challenge our flag. I would not do anything that has to do with [dis]respecting the flag or the national anthem. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Like Brown, I believe that we need more unifying symbols in this country, not fewer. And the national anthem, like the flag, has the potential to be one of these symbols.
As for the effectiveness of the protest, I felt then—and still feel—that the chosen means of protest allows people like Donald Trump to frame the debate on their terms and avoid confronting the underlying issues. Rather than reject what the American flag stands for, we should be challenging people to live up to the ideals that the flag is supposed to represent.
As for whether NFL players have a First Amendment right and other basis to protest in this manner, we’re looking at issues of law, power, and the difference between right and wrong.
You can’t work for McDonald’s and say “Heil Hitler” each time you give a hamburger to a customer. At least, I hope you can’t.
If the NBA can fine Kobe Bryant for calling a fan a “faggot” and force Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers because of his racist remarks, I assume there are circumstances under which a sports league can legally penalize players for “disrespecting the American flag.”
But suppose Jerry Jones says to Dallas Cowboys fans, “If you don’t respect the anthem, you can’t come into my home.” Can Jones terminate the season-ticket licenses of fans who refuse to stand?
And what about the media? I write about boxing and attend roughly two dozen fight cards each year. Should I stand or kneel when the anthem is played?
Let’s start with the understanding that the media is credentialed to report on the story, not be the story. Writers who sit in the press section aren’t athletes.
Nor are we there as fans. We have advantages and opportunities that fans don’t have. In return, there are limitations on our conduct. For example, it’s inappropriate to openly root for or verbally denigrate an athlete from the press section.
Virtually all media credentials, regardless of the sport, state on the back that the credential can be revoked for disorderly conduct or other offenses. Suppose someone wears an American-flag lapel pin in the press section? No problem, right? A Black Lives Matter button? Seems okay. An ISIS-flag lapel pin or a swastika armband?
We’re in the press section to report on the event, not to make a political statement.
The private sector can’t discriminate in most instances on the basis of race, religion, age, or sexual orientation. If Jerry Jones announced that he was banning people of color, Jews, Muslims, and members of the LGBTQ community from the press section, he’d be violating the law. But the private sector is allowed to limit free speech in ways that the government can’t.
Want an example? ESPN disciplined Curt Schilling (to the delight of the political left) and Jemele Hill (to the delight of the political right) for expressing their political views on social media.
The sports editors at three major newspapers offer differing views as to whether reporters on assignment at a sports event should be required to stand when the national anthem is played.
New York Times sports editor Jason Stallman says that the Times doesn’t have a policy governing the issue and that it’s left to the conscience of each reporter. Asked what he anticipates the position of the Times would be if a reporter’s credential were revoked because he or she chose to not stand for the anthem, Stallman declined comment because “it’s a hypothetical question.”
Like the Times, the Boston Globe doesn’t have a policy that’s specific to the national anthem. But Globe sports editor Joseph Sullivan, says, “We do have a policy for reporters that has been in place for more than a decade. Our reporters are not allowed to take a public stance on elections or other political issues. They have to remain neutral. In this instance, I think that would mean standing. The reader comes first. If you’re a reporter for the Globe, your job on this given day is to report on the game. You have to put your feelings aside.”
But Los Angeles Times sports editor Angel Rodriguez has a different perspective.
“The LA Times does not have a policy on it,” Rodriguez states. “And it has never really come up here. If we needed a policy, mine would be, I would leave it up to the individual to make a decision to stand or not for the anthem. If they had a political reason to not stand, I’d be fine with them sitting. If they wanted that time to sit and tweet, then I’d ask them to be respectful and stand.
“My parents are Cuban and fled Fidel Castro and his revolution in the sixties over restrictions on personal freedoms,” Rodriguez continues. “So individual rights are important to me as they’ve had a direct impact in my life. My father was a political prisoner who was viewed as a counter-revolutionary because his views were different than what that government imposed on its people. I am always fearful whenever a government looks to restrict individual choice. If one of my reporters decided they did not want to stand for the anthem because of political reasons, I would support them one hundred percent. It is why my parents are in this country. I will stand and honor the anthem and the flag because this country has given me opportunities I would never have in Cuba. But I realize my experiences may be different than others.”
And suppose Jerry Jones or another owner refused to credential writers who
knelt when the anthem was played?
“If we were denied a credential over this,” Rodriguez answers, “then we’d raise it to the league/promoters/whoever and complain and hope to resolve it through negotiations. We’d involve the Associated Press Sports Editors group and rally support from that organization and other media outlets. If that doesn’t resolve it, then I’ll be damned if I’d send another LA Times reporter to cover their event.”
Some things are more important than sports.
There’s a time-honored tradition in America of non-violent civil disobedience to achieve social justice. The civil rights movement succeeded because tens of thousands of foot soldiers braved much more than the loss of a day’s pay or being deprived of a press credential to achieve a desired goal.
Responsible media are already under assault by the Trump Administration. If Trump continues to force the issue, there may well come a time when standing for the national anthem is interpreted, not as a statement of respect for cherished American values but as a symbol of support for Donald Trump. If that time comes, I’ll kneel.
Kneeling under these circumstances would not be disrespectful to the American flag. It would be a statement of belief in what our country can and should be. In the words of Clarence Darrow, “True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.”
And a final thought: I’d like to see athletes who are kneeling for the national anthem also go out and register people to vote.
Fistic Notes
As a contrast to “Fistic Nuggets,” these “Notes” are on the serious side.
Earlier this year, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was in Dubai as a tourist. As Joshua later explained, “One of my best friends is a Muslim, and we went to the mosque. It was afternoon prayer, so I asked him to pray for me ahead of the Klitschko fight. He asked me to join in, and I joined in, and someone took a picture. I took it from Instagram and posted it.”
Accompanying the photo, which Joshua posted on his own Twitter and Instagram accounts, the fighter wrote, “Besides luck, hard work & talent, Prayer is a solid foundation. It was nice to join my brother as he led through afternoon prayer.”
Joshua is not a Muslim. He has said in the past that he doesn’t follow the teachings of any one religion but has an interest in faith. After posting the photo, he was on the receiving end of a torrent of cyberabuse. In response, Joshua said, “One of my idols in the boxing industry [Muhammad Ali] is Muslim. I didn’t think it would have the backlash. Religion is supposed to be a positive thing. It’s a shame it had that backlash, but I can’t control how people think. As long as my intentions are pure, that’s what counts.”
Joshua’s experience brought back memories of my own visits to mosques with Muhammad Ali.
My parents were Jewish, but I was raised with values that have a secular foundation. I consider myself more spiritual than religious. Prayer, in my view, isn’t about asking the Creator to make my wishes come true. True prayer, to my way of thinking, is a moment of reflection about oneself and asking, “Am I doing all that I can do to become a better person? Am I using this precious gift of life in a way that justifies what has been given to me?”
There have been times when I’ve walked into a church and sat alone in a pew to contemplate these questions in a spiritual setting. I’ve also done it in temples, in natural surroundings . . . And in mosques with Ali.
The first time I went to a mosque with Ali was in Chicago. Before the service began, Muhammad told me, “When we say our Islamic prayers, you can say your Jewish prayers. Only don’t say them out loud because it might offend someone.”
On another occasion, we were at my apartment in New York and visited a mosque a block from where I live for a Friday morning service. The hundreds of people there were enthralled by Ali’s presence. Then we went back to my apartment for lunch and Muhammad told me, “I thought about inviting everyone back here for lunch, but I figured you wouldn’t like that.”
My most memorable visit to a mosque with Ali took place in 1991 at the Grand Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Word spread that Ali was there, and a crowd estimated by authorities at two hundred thousand surrounded the mosque. When the service was over, a vehicular military escort was necessary to transport Muhammad through the throng back to our hotel.
The world needs more interfaith attendance at religious services, not less.
Charles Caleb Colton was an English clergyman who published a popular collection of aphorisms in the early 1800s. The best known of his sayings is “Imitation is the sincerest flattery.”
There are times when imitation is also a trademark violation.
Michael Buffer has elevated the craft of ring announcing to a level that boxing has never seen before. He’s known the world over for his trademark (and trademarked) phrase, “Let’s get ready to rumble.”
Joe Martinez is a ring announcer who works frequently for Golden Boy. When Martinez announces fights, he often employs the same voice inflection, cadence, and style of delivery as Buffer. It’s not subtle. A recent main event introduction by Martinez was highlighted by, “And now, ladies and gentlemen. The judges are ready. The fighters are ready. The world is ready. Make some noise if you are ready.”
Sound familiar?
Trademark protection is a complex area of the law. Buffer trademarked “Let’s get ready to rumble” and various spinoffs of the phrase years ago. United States Patent and Trademark Office records show that Martinez tried to trademark the phrase “Are you ready?” in English, but his application was rejected. Buffer has the trademark on that. Martinez then successfully filed a trademark application for “Stan listos” without a question mark. “Estan listos” can be translated to “They are ready” or “Are you ready?” depending on whether there’s a question mark at the end. Martinez also successfully filed for trademark registration for “the judges are ready,” “the fighters are ready,” and “let the world know you are ready!”
Numerous cease-and-desist letters have been written back and forth over the years.
I spoke with Martinez recently while he was on the road in Iowa.
“My wife and I sold our home six months ago and have a full-time ministry now,” Martinez told me. “We bought a mobile home and travel around the country, preaching the glory of God. We homeschool our kids. We feel very strongly that we have to be the light in this dark world. God has called us to do great things.”
Asked about the similarity between his ring announcing and Buffer’s, Martinez answered, “It’s funny you say that. I don’t see it that way. I like to think I was doing it this way before he was. I started ring announcing in 2000 and said what I said because I thought it was the thing to do. I’m not trying to imitate anybody or use similar phrases. I have my trademarks and Michael has his. But of course, he’s Michael Buffer. So he can say he said something in the bathroom thirty years ago and people will give him credit for it.”
Buffer, of course, has been ready and rumbling since the mid-1980s. And Jake Gutierrez offers further insight into the situation.
Gutierrez has been the public-address announcer for the UNLV Lady Rebels basketball team for twenty-nine years. Arena Football, soccer, boxing, and several other sports are also on his resume. Recently, he added public-address duties for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas to his portfolio.
Gutierrez recalls being one of roughly thirty candidates who auditioned to become Golden Boy’s regular ring announcer when the job opened up years ago.
“I drove from Las Vegas to Los Angeles,” Gutierrez recalls. “We got up in a ring, one at a time. There was a script we could read off of or we could do our own thing. Joe got up and—I remember it very clearly—it was like he was doing everything possible to sound like Michael. His choice of words, his delivery. Near the end, Joe actually said ‘let’s get ready to rumble’ as close as he could to the way Michael says it. Some of the people I was sitting with were like, ‘What is this?’ I just shrugged my shoulders.”
“I
learned a long time ago not to copy people,” Gutierrez continues. “I learn from them, but that’s different from copying. Michael is at the top. He and Jimmy Lennon have both been kind in giving me pointers along the way. But you have to be your own person.”
Meanwhile, Mark Kalmansohn (a Los Angeles attorney who represents Buffer’s trademark interests) says of Martinez, “It’s like trying to play Whac-A-Mole. We shut one thing down and then he pops up again.”
Dreams die hard for fighters. One of the saddest moments in a boxer’s life is when he realizes that he’ll never be a world champion. Whether he’s young or old, it’s a painful awakening.
Don Elbaum has been a promoter, manager, matchmaker, and just about everything else in boxing for longer than many Social Security recipients have been alive.
Elbaum was seven years old when he went to his first pro fight. “Willie Pep,” he remembers. “It was magic. That’s what I was going to be.”
And then?
“I had my first amateur fight when I was thirteen years old,” Elbaum reminisces. “I weighed 126 pounds. The opponent was sixteen and weighed 140, but a lot of his weight was in his stomach. He was out of shape and had a huge belly. I got in the ring and I was terrified. The other guy kept coming forward, throwing punches. And I ran. I didn’t dance. It wasn’t side-to-side movement. I ran backwards as fast as I could to get as far away from him as I could. The entire first round, I didn’t throw a punch. Second round, same thing. My cornerman, a guy named Frankie Schwartz, was screaming at me. ‘Throw the right hand!’ So finally, I stopped, closed my eyes, and threw a right hand as hard as I could. It hit him flush in the belly. There was a loud ‘Oooooh!’ The other guy doubled over and threw up. So they stopped the fight and gave me a knockout.”
So far, so good.
“I won my first fifteen fights,” Elbaum continues. “I could box. I had a good chin. I was beating tough guys. And I was a dreamer. I had my dreams. All fighters do. Fight number sixteen was in Erie, Pennsylvania. I was fighting a guy who was just out of the Marines and on the verge of beating the crap out of me. I was doing all right until he stunned me with a left hook and followed with a right hand that landed on the top of my head. Then he screamed. He’d broken his hand on my head, so they stopped it. That was my second knockout.”
Protect Yourself at All Times Page 31