Hot-Take Hotep Vol. 6: I Got a Serious Problem with the NFL…

Photo Credit: thegrio.com

I debated on writing this for several days because I like to focus on the fun side of sports.  It’s a joy seeing the underdog triumph or the world’s best player in their respective sport put on an all-time performance.  Sports can be a place of hope, inspiration, and humor.  There are just so many positive and dope things about athletics you tend to get lost in it.  Like all things, though, there are ugly sides to it.  Sure I could get into sports figures that have committed various crimes, the corruption of sports betting, and how bad ESPN’s First Take is now, but I got a bigger fish to fry.

The NFL is trash for the Anthem Rule, and as a black man I would be doing a horrible disservice if I didn’t talk about it.

Before I get into this, here’s what the Anthem Rule is, straight from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

POLICY STATEMENT
The 32 member clubs of the National Football League have reaffirmed their strong commitment to work alongside our players to strengthen our communities and advance social justice. The unique platform that we have created is unprecedented in its scope, and will provide extraordinary resources in support of programs to promote positive social change in our communities.

The membership also strongly believes that:

1. All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

2.The Game Operations Manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem.

3. Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the anthem has been performed.

4. A club will be fined by the League if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

5. Each club may develop its own work rules, consistent with the above principles, regarding its personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

6. The commissioner will impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.

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Photo Credit: @NFL_MEMES

What. The. F**K?!

I was cool on protesting the NFL last year because I just didn’t feel the need to boycott the league because Colin Kaepernik wasn’t given a job.  I agree that it’s bulls**t that he’s unemployed simply due to the fact that the Browns went 0-16 and I know damn well Colin could’ve gotten them one f*****g win.  We should be boycotting the existence of the Browns, if we’re being real.  I respect his cause and I still wish he had a job, but I wanted to still enjoy the sport I’ve grown up loving.  Then Ole-Boy-In-The-Big-House-That’s-White said something reckless last season about players protesting and all around the NFL several players started taking a knee during the Anthem, but that was out of defiance instead of social injustice.  The original cause for the National Anthem protest became diluted and it ruined what Colin initially set out to do.  THIS was actually in the NFL’s favor because they flat out cower away from social issues that don’t favor white people.  Truthfully speaking, they could’ve ignored it and moved on at that point because people made it about buddy in D.C.

But they didn’t.  They decided instead to just f**k all the way up.

The NFL just told us that money is more important than justice, the freedom to protest, the opinion and lives of black people (which account for about 80% of the players in the league), and that they’re afraid of that dude in D.C.  If you think this move was about the “respect” of the Anthem and not about advertisers threatening to pull out, you’re crazy.  So since the NFL has picked a side, I guess I have to as well.  I’ll still follow the league for the sake of Hot-Take Hotep, but I’m not watching the games. 
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We have to make them do better.

Photo Credit: Wherever Memes Come From

The Infinity Gauntlet is Out to Erase “The Land” (With Jordan Cryfaces!!!)

Both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals were nuts. 
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First I have to commend the Boston Celtics on a phenomenal season.  Game 7 of the ECF is all you need for proof that superstars matter in the NBA more than anything.  If Kyrie and Gordon were there for that game, Cleveland doesn’t make it out of the East.  It’s just that simple.  The purpose of the superstar on a talented roster is to close the door on any kind of comeback or to provide the spark for a comeback in any game.  The Celtics never really had that in this series and in the end the only true star on the court bounced them out of the playoffs.  LeBron capped of an incredible series with another outstanding performance, and punched his ticket to another ass-whoopin’ from Golden State (as well as his 8th trip to the NBA Finals, but whatever).

Photo Credit: @bighurtrocks

​Speaking of the world-destroying dominance, the Dubs survived a Rockets team that surprised me with just how closely they matched up with Golden State.  I’ll just say it… Golden State would’ve lost if Chris Paul didn’t get hurt in Game 5.  Without him to run the offense and temper the team, Houston just started doing dumb s**t.  Harden actually showed up, but he wasn’t the same player that he is with CP3 out there helping him out.  In Game 7, after a pretty solid first half from the Rockets, GSW just turned tf up on them and I don’t think that same situation plays out in that way if Chris is out there being Captain America.

Photo Credit: The Crying Jordan Facebook Page

So here we are again.  For the fourth (and likely final) time, Golden State and Cleveland will meet in the NBA Finals.  It’s either going to be really exhilarating or depressing affair, and that all depends on who you’re rooting for.  If LeBron can take this wack ass team and beat the Warriors he’s the greatest player I’ve ever seen.  I mean I’ll become a full on LeBron fan if that miracle happens.  Seeing as how we don’t live in that alternate timeline, this thing is over before the first tip-off.  Golden State is going to annihilate Cleveland.  I think it’ll take five games, but a sweep is very much in the realm of possibility.

What’s interesting is where we go from here.  LeBron is clearly leaving, right?

Right?

Oh yeah and Roseanne SUCKS, so this is hilarious and I have to share with you guys.

Photo Credit: @bighurtrocks

J2
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J2 recently went back and watched that first episode of “Black Mirror”.  It’s still SMUT!!!