NFL: SLOWLY DYING OF A SELF INFLICTED MORTAL WOUND - HARAKIRI

ICHEOKU says imagine what will happen and the chaos that will be unleashed upon the land if every professional is allowed to interject their personal politics into their duties and jobs. Imagine a neurosurgeon preaching antagonistic politics to a patient on the operating table somewhat raising his or her blood pressure before operation. Imagine a pilot demanding that passengers first listen through his or her political rantings before he would either take off or land a pane? Imagine a fireman demanding that entrapped victims first listen through his politics before rescuing them? Then speak of the military and you wonder how far do these political activists in professional sports want to go with exhibiting their displeasure at some existing inequalities and injustices in the country. 

ICHEOKU bemoans that there are other better ways to lead the fight for equality and against inequality; and to lead the effort to bring justice to the unjust situation. How about these millionaires sports men and women establishing foundations for scholarships to train constitutional and civil rights lawyers to carry on the fight through the court system. How about these millionaire sports men and women starting something similar to President Jimmy Carter's Habitat for Humanity to build habitable housing to enable folks trapped in inner cities to have a new beginning new homes? How about these millionaire sports men and women establishing food and pantry services to help feed folks who cannot afford to feed themselves or even establish medical foundations to help procure much needed life saving medicines and secure doctors visits when needed. But no, they like the drama of camera, light and action; hence their over dramatized taking of knee in football pitches and stadiums. 

Icheoku says professional sportsmen and women should be above board, mindful that amongst their fans are people from different political backgrounds, opinions and general standard of living and ideology. They should be mindful too that the stadium in which they are playing was built and financed with City bonds and tax write offs and that among the collective owners of such City assets are people from the other side of the political spectrum. These professional players must be mindful of the meaning and purport of the word "professional" which presupposes doing what you are trained to do flawlessly, regardless of the attendant pressure, including political correctness as well as general activism. Therefore when these people cross the line to take side in any argument, they are automatically isolating and discriminating against their fans who belong to the other side of the political divide and this is not fair to them and should stop. These fans equally paid top dollar amount to see their sports hero play and desires nothing from them other than a wonderful display of their sports artistry, devoid of politics etc. 

This is the fork on the road of the current discourse in the land and these professional sportsmen can douse the fire by just behaving better, including by not taking a knee while the National Anthem is being played. Let everyone remember that it is not about anyone telling another person what he or she can or cannot do; nope, it is about showing respect to the flag and what it represents. These players are role models to many and their actions sort of glorifies disobedience and recalcitrant behavior. These players should be mindful too that the life they have is made possible by the fans who buy tickets, sports outfits and concessions as well as who are targeted consumers of what advertisers and manufacturers have to sell to them as a result of their love for the sports. If they withdraw their money and patronage, the Owners will not have money to hire and pay these athletes and it will barrel down from there. So be that as it may, ICHEOKU says please enough of the kneeling players; let us go back to playing our sports the way it made fans and players out of many of us. Let politics be left where it belongs, outside the ballparks and stadiums. ENOUGH of the divisiveness as it is hurting our collective cohesiveness as a nation.