Sports

SPnflkneeling581/600   

Sam Maidenberg

On Wednesday May 23, the National Football League (NFL) addressed the issue that has been haunting the league for the past two seasons. “I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.” said Colin Kaepernick, a NFL quarterback, in 2016 after kneeling for the first time during the national anthem of a preseason game. Since Kaepernick’s bold statement, players from every NFL team have followed his movement in protesting the national anthem in response to the racial injustice and police brutality taking place in America.

The NFL’s new rule states that players will be fined if they kneel on the field during the national anthem. If players chose to, they can stay in the locker room during the pregame presentation and will not be punished. However, the new mandate will not completely discourage players from protesting. Christopher Johnson, co-owner of the New York Jets, publicly supported his players by saying, “If somebody on the Jets takes a knee, that fine will be borne by the organization…I never want to put restrictions on the speech of our players.” Agreeing with Johnson is Malcolm Jenkins, current Philadelphia Eagles player, who said, “Everyone loses when voices get stifled.” Jenkins continued regarding the effectiveness of the rule, saying, “I will not let it silence me or stop me from fighting.”

President Donald Trump has had a lot to say regarding the topic. Trump is aligned with the new rule as the President has strongly expressed his discontent with pre game kneeling. After a series of tweets over the course of last NFL season, where the President said he felt kneeling was disrespectful to the flag of the United States and its troops, Trump publicly spoke about the new rule. Talking to Fox reporter Brian Kilmeade, President Trump said, “You have to stand proudly for the national anthem, or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there.” the President continued by alluding to deporting players by saying, “Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”

As a direct response to the President's comments, Steve Kerr, former National Basketball League (NBA) player and current coach of the Golden State Warriors said, “When NFL players were kneeling…they were protest[ing] police brutality, to protect racial inequality. They weren’t disrespecting the flag or the military, but our president decided to make it about that and the NFL followed suite.”

While many people, like Jets owner Johnson, see the new mandate as a limitation on the first amendment, Zach Altamore ‘18 sees the ruling as another way for the NFL to make money. Last season, much was made of the lower TV ratings during NFL games, which many anti-kneeling advocates attributed to on field protests, resulting in lower than usual revenue. Trump tweeted, “NFL attendance and rating are WAY DOWN… many stay away because they love our country.” Altamore took a neutral stance saying, “To me the NFL is ran like a business and you have to do what the boss says, whether it [is] right or not.”

SPpatriots511/500

Concern for the Patriots?

Via The Washington Post

Eli Verdun

Much talk has been circulating two New England Patriots missing organized team activities (OTAs). Many National Football League (NFL) teams have OTAs during the off season in order to better prepare their respective teams for the upcoming season. Quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski have not made an appearance at the Patriots OTAs thus far, which has proved concerning for New England fans.

This upcoming season will be NFL veteran, Brady’s 19th season in pro football. Brady turned 40 this past summer making him quite old to still be playing in the NFL. Back in 2017, Brady reported to CBS Sports, “I’d like to play until my mid-40s. Then I’ll make a decision. If I’m still feeling like I’m feeling today, who knows? Now, those things can always change. You do need long-term goals too. I know next year is not going to be my last year.” Regarding the Patriots organization, fans have speculated that there has been a power struggle between Patriots coach Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft and Brady. ESPN reported that Brady went behind Belichick’s back to Kraft to get back up Jimmy Garoppolo traded. These accusations were quickly dismissed by the Patriots and Kraft even said that, “The three of us share a common goal,” in regards to Brady, Belichick, and himself. Some fans would argue that the misalignment of the Patriot’s big three may split up the team. Brady still has two years remaining in his current contract with a base salary of $14 million. NFL insider Herbie Teope reported that Brady plans on extending his contract. Teope reported that Brady, alike with Gronkowski, was expected to miss the teams voluntary OTAs. Adam Krakower, ‘19, said, “This is how Gronk[owski] and Brady roll, I don’t think there’s any real worry.”

Rob Gronkowski will be entering his 9th season in the NFL. After a tough loss in the 2018 Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles, the 6 foot 6 inches, 265 pounds tight end was unsure of his return to the NFL for another season. Gronkowski decided to stay with the Patriots another season as long as Brady remains with the team, as per ESPN. Gronkowski has two rings with Brady on the Patriots. The two national championship wins being Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI - Gronkowski was injured during Super Bowl LI, but still earned a ring as a part of the team. Gronkowski still has two seasons remaining on his contract with a base salary of $8 million this season. Julia Fardin, ‘20, said, “I don’t know how much longer Gronkowski can play with all his injuries.”

Belichick refused to comment to the media regarding the whereabouts of these payers. According to NBC Sports, Belichick said, “I’m not going to talk about the people who aren’t here. The guys who are here are improving, working hard. That’s who we’re going to focus on.” NFL insiders do expect for Brady and Gronkowski, two of the patriots most valuable assets, to attend the team’s mandatory boot camp from June 7 to June 9.

USA Today

SPsportsbetting424/400

A New Era: Sports Betting Outside of Sin City

Eli Verdun

On Monday, May 16, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned the 1992 case of Phil Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. The decision originally made by the court was known as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

PASPA forbid states and other government entities from having sports betting under their authority. The sports leagues that were included under PASPA were the NCAA, NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB. Nevada was essentially the only state that was able to keep its sports betting. Delaware, Montana, and Oregon were grandfathered in and continued to operate with limited sports betting. The law allowed for a one-year period for states to be able to propose a gambling plan for their state. At the time New Jersey was in the talks of sports betting, but never proposed a plan.

After missing the deadline, New Jersey took the lead on legalizing sports betting. In 2012, Governor Chris Christie signed a bill the legalized sports betting in New Jersey, directly in opposition to PASPA. The bill, S3113, states, “AN ACT permitting wagering at casinos and racetracks on the results of certain professional or collegiate sports or athletic events...”

Following the creation of this New Jersey law, the NCAA, NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB collectively sued the New Jersey governor and state gaming officials. The alliance of sports league beat the State of New Jersey on 3 accounts: first in a district court, second on appeal, and third on a second appeal. The SCOTUS later took control of the case. In a 7-2 vote, the SCOTUS found that PASPA violates the 10th amendment, which states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” Justice Alito made clear that if Congress felt the need to, they in fact have the power to regulate gambling directly.

So what’s next for New Jersey? Casinos and racetracks in New Jersey will likely be able to start offering sports betting in the coming weeks following the SCOTUS’s ruling. NJ Gambling Sites reported that, “Monmouth Park CEO Dennis Drazin...has targeted May 28 as the day the Oceanport track’s William Hill Sports Bar can be converted back into a sportsbook and take the state’s first legal sports bet.” Robert Stine, an avid poker player and teacher at Columbia High School, said on sports betting, “No. I think sports betting is a stupid thing to do and you lose money...People aren’t smart enough to understand when to bet and when not to bet.”

SB Nation