U mad, bro?: Readers irate with protesting players, Al Villanueva column, politics and sports

We don’t need to ask the rhetorical question. I know that “U are mad, bro.”

Everybody is mad at something — and mad at each other — these days. So, I’ll just let all of you focus your anger toward me.

That’ll make it easy.

Here are some responses to columns that I wrote regarding kneeling NFL players, politics ruining sports and media blame.

Here’s an email from “bugbane30” about my column regarding Al Villanueva. The Pittsburgh Steelers tackle blamed the media for the swirl around Drew Brees’ statements refusing to endorse players who protest the national anthem.

Since most of the responses to Brees came straight from his New Orleans teammates, I disagreed with Villanueva’s assessment.

“What a crock! The problem with today is that if your opinions differ from the media, you are villainized. You just proved that point.”

No. “The problem with today” is that if you respectfully disagree with someone — as I did with Villanueva in the column — you are deemed to be “villainizing” them.

That’s “the problem with today.”

At any rate, you completely missed the point of the column. The point was that the media didn’t advance an opinion. The Saints players did so themselves via their own Twitter accounts. So, Villanueva blaming the media makes no sense.

It’s right there in print. How can you fail to understand that?

“Sturkey” sent a profanity laced email in response to the same column.

“Give the man a break, he actually served his country in combat, risked death for your (rear end), and saw some of his fellow heroes die in action. If he wants to blame the media for any reason, or complain about anyone dishonoring the anthem/flag, he has EVERY right!

By the way, I love your obligatory, one sentence ‘I sympathize with Villanueva’ quote. Get the (expletive deleted) off your high horse, and stop spouting off the trite (cow droppings).”

How did I do on the edits there? Did I clean up this email enough to make it fit for print?

As far as Villanueva’s military service goes, that means we owe him a debt of gratitude. He’s not owed immunity from criticism if he plays poorly or says something that’s incorrect.

Furthermore, I never questioned Villanueva’s right to express his opinion. As you shouldn’t question my right to disagree.

He can blame the media all he wants. I just think that’s an incorrect, inaccurate view of what happened.

This is simply how I feel. That’s not a very “high horse” opinion, is it?

I’m extremely short. I don’t need a very high horse. A Shetland pony should do.

Joe emailed me about a column I wrote regarding players who refuse to kneel.

“Players are paid to perform, not protest. Fans watch to see them perform, not protest. What a player says about their performance means nothing if he doesn’t follow it up with action.

What anyone says about any social injustice is meaningless unless they follow it up with meaningful action. Opinions are like noses - everybody has one. Actions speak louder than words.

I don’t care if a player stands or kneels during the National Anthem. If he doesn’t perform, he goes onto his life’s work. Pure and simple.”

OoooooK. That has nothing to do with the conversation and is an irrespective outcome on a separate debate. But, duly noted.

I guess.

I mean, the column wasn’t about sincerity of action by the protesting players. Nor was it about the correlation between protesting and on-field performance.

The column posed a question about how those protesting players would react to teammates who didn’t join them in the protest.

And that’s a lot more nebulous of an answer than the clear-cut scenario you describe.

I got this email from Anthony after I wrote about the future of Brees’ relationship with NBC in the wake of his comments.

He’d prefer I only talk about sports and stay away from politics.

“Tim, your job is to report the sports news. Stay away from the hipe [sic] of the (George) Floyd situation. No one wants, or cares what you think politically.”

Anthony, thanks for informing me what my job is. I’ll make sure that language is clarified in my next contract.

However, I double checked. Drew Brees is a quarterback. And the NFL is a sport. So I’m not sure what your complaint is.

And I’d hardly call the fallout from the protests over Floyd’s death “hipe.” Have you walked through downtown Pittsburgh lately? I have. It seemed like more than “hipe” to me.

Or even “hype.”

Let’s be honest, Anthony, you don’t care if I talk politics. You just want me talking about the kind of politics you endorse.

Whatever those politics may be.

Zach sent me a bunch of tweets. He is part of the #StickToSports club, too.

“I don’t give a (expletive deleted) what my doctor has to say about sports, what my dentist has to say about religion, and what pro athletes — and those that write about them — have to say about politics and worldview.”

He added in a follow-up tweet:

“I don’t watch ‘Meet The Press’ for NHL Playoff analysis.”

Zach, I’m going to guess you don’t watch “Meet the Press”… ever. For anything.

But if hockey ever influences politics the same way politics has influenced sports the past few months, I bet you would.

Also, Zach, if you can’t see the need to blur the lines between sports and politics with the way that sports has been soaked into politics for three months, then I don’t want you reading my posts anyway.

Look at the political decisions that have influenced the pandemic’s protracted shutdown of sports. Look at the sports world’s reaction to George Floyd’s death.

If you are failing to see the connection, that’s because you are intentionally trying to do so.