The NFL’s Disrespect of America is Subsidized by Us

The NFL’s Disrespect of America is Subsidized by Us

We are seeing a lot of discontent in the NFL nowadays, and all of it is not taking place on the field in the form of a kneeling player, or a pandering NFL Commissioner.

It is being seen among fans who have been loyal and entertained for decades but are getting fed up with the disrespect players are showing. Some have vowed to never watch another televised game. Others have burned the jerseys of players they used to root for. And there is good reason to be dismayed at the behavior of both the players as well as the ownership of the teams and the league.

Here is another reason for disgust you may not be aware of:

Since 1997, one finding showed, the NFL has built numerous new stadiums, aided by $7 BILLION in taxpayer money. Teams are also given discounts on municipal services like police and fire department protection and utility costs on top of that to keep them happy and local.

Two years ago, one study claimed that total might be as high as $10-12 Billion in taxpayer money being funneled to the sports entities.

Teams often get tax breaks on the money they spend on construction of these stadiums as well. Most spending is financed with tax free municipal bonds, which were originally created by Congress to help fund roads and schools. Special consideration for land and infrastructure concessions also increase their bottom line and save them millions.

In spite of this, enter Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers who devolved after a few years into a player no longer in demand. His claim to fame will be his taking a kneel to protest racism and inequality in America. His protest for social injustice was soon followed by teammates and other players from other teams and has led to the dwindling support of the NFL.

Kaepernick is now unemployed looking for a team to play with and many football fans couldn’t be happier, as the majority of them never sided with him and his displays of disrespect for America. He once wore a pair of socks that depicted police as pigs, but go no reprimand from the NFL. In fact, 64% of Americans disagree with his protest with a mere 24% support him. Disrespect for America will likely never be mainstream, even though Liberals politicians of today are certainly trying to portray it as such.

So, every time you see players "take a knee" to protest civil injustice in America, they are not just expressing false outrage, they are disrespecting the police, the military, the government and President Trump. But did you ever stop to think that they are also thumbing up their nose at the benefactors of that $7-12 Billion they gladly pocket — YOU, the taxpayer!

Since this is federally collected money, a taxpayer in Hawaii may be, in effect, helping finance a new stadium in New York City, for instance, 5,000 miles away from their home, giving money they will never see a benefit from for a stadium they will unlikely ever even visit.

These subsidies go toward baseball, basketball and football entities, compounding the problem. For instance, $431 million was funneled to Yankee Stadium since 2000 alone.

Pro athletes live high-on-the-hog, as we say in the South, at the sacrifice of the very people they willingly choose to dishonor. We, the American taxpayer, are the reason for their very existence and the fabulous lifestyle they enjoy as pro athletes. In reality, you and I pay our hard-earned money so they can enjoy the life they live. Even if you are not a fan and never watch a single game, you pad their bank accounts. Add that to their total disrespect of America and its values, and there is reason for real outrage.