Well, I did it. I never thought I would but for the first time in a very, very long time — I did not watch a football game this entire past weekend.

 

Some of this decision had to do with the fact I spent most of Sunday at the Renaissance Festival with family and friends and some had to do with the disgust I had in the way the Vikings played against Pittsburgh the prior weekend.

 

But mostly it had to do with the disgusting lack of respect and courteousness by the NFL for those past and present military personnel who represent what the stars and stripes truly mean.

 

I’m further disgusted by those who dare to say that my (and others) disappointment in football players taking a knee during our national anthem is a racist thing — well, I just don’t know where to begin with that topic.

 

When Colin Kaepernick decided a few years ago to — first, take a knee, then sit on the bench — during the playing of this country’s national anthem, I was appalled that someone would be that disrespectful. Then to find out he sat (or knelt) to point out how black people (like him) are oppressed in this country and are continual victims of police brutality, I could not believe it. Having the gall to stamp on our nation’s flag and service members and disrespect the USA in that manner was shameful.

 

And then came last weekend, when hundreds of players from the NFL sat or knelt during the national anthem in the league’s first nine games Sunday — I couldn’t believe the sport and the sportsmen I’ve watched for all these years — had let me down to the nth degree.

 

Then to see some teams NOT EVEN TAKE THE FIELD in protest — well, that was it. I was done.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I understand freedom of speech and I understand everyone in this great country of ours has the right to speak up and protest. That’s not my issue here. It has to do with the platform on which these people are protesting that I protest.

 

In reality, the hundreds of football players, owners, coaches and players from other leagues who have jumped on the Kaepernick train — are not really protesting black life oppression or social injustices (or they would have knelt before). They are protesting our President of the United States and his lambasting of the league and its owners.

 

The flag, our national anthem, our military, our police and fire officers and our country are (in my opinion) not something to tread on to get ones point across. It’s that simple. Find another platform. Don’t use patriotism and the blood of millions of this country’s soldiers as your stage to raise awareness for oppression and injustice.

 

Since these sanctimonious big shots are using their liberty to boycott the national anthem, we the people who employ these over-paid sportsmen by watching their games in person and on TV — and buying their merchandise — can use our liberty to boycott the league with our feet (by standing) and our dollars (by not going).

 

My father was a Marine and I have a brother who also was a Marine and another who was in the Air Force. I have dozens of family, friends and acquaintances who have proudly served this country and made sacrifices for this nation. It’s not fair to them that these pompous, multi-million dollar athletes use their symbol of freedom to make their case for so-called injustice.

 

My decision to boycott the NFL comes on the heels of my brother-in-law’s Facebook proclamation he made last Sunday at noon. He (Bill Lee) is someone I look up to and appreciate for his obligation to his wife, his family and his country — especially when   he traipsed the forested mountains and beaches of Vietnam during that ugly conflict.

 

“I have been a football fan my whole life,” Lee said. “However, as a combat Marine, I am more of a Patriot than I am a football fan. I will not watch football until the disrespect of the anthem and flag stops. I invite other patriots to join me.”

 

The words from the mouth of a veteran ring truer to me than the words of a bunch of million dollar athletes telling the world they are oppressed. 

 

Pick up a rifle instead of a football. Put on an army helmet with bullet holes instead of your pristine helmet with a colorful logo. Enter a combat zone instead of the end zone and you’ll forever see and feel what taking a knee really means.

 

I stand because I respect the men and women who died in real battles. I stand because I am a patriot and a proud citizen of this great country. I stand because it is the right thing to do.

 

As Mike Huckabee said, “I wish that some of these players who get on one knee would get on both knees and thank God they live in the United States.”

 

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Goodbye football. I’m taking my stand. Maybe you should too.

 

God Bless the USA!