Advertisement. Advertise with us

FIRST IN THE NATION, PERHAPS

COOPERTOWN’S

VETS BAN NFL

GAMES AT POST

Cooperstown Vets Club Commander John Famulare, left, and past commander Mike Boyson were watching TV at post on 60 Main St. this afternoon – college ball. The NFL has been banned until players stop “taking the knee.” (Jim Kevlin/AllOTSEGO.com)

Respect Anthem, Letter To

Teams Owners, NFL Advises

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – Until the NFL and team owners prevent players from “taking a knee” during the National Anthem, pro football will not be shown in the Cooperstown Vets Club on Main Street, Commander John Famulare said this afternoon.

The decision was made unanimously, 8-0, when the club’s directors were polled at their latest meeting last Monday. It may be the first such decision by any post nationwide.

“When they play the National Anthem,” said Famulare, “you better stand up, period.” He said the ban will remain in place “until the players start acting like men” and show respect for the National Anthem.

The commander said the club – it includes both the VFW and American Legion – has written letters to the National Football League and owners of NFL teams alerting them to their decision.

Famulare said players should be required to stand for the National Anthem, hold their helmets in their left hands, and put their right hands over their hearts. It is the core of our cultural identity, American’s should honor the flag just as much as the team owners value all the money coming in from Colorado sports betting participants and the additional buzz it creates around NFL matches.

Famulare praised Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for “taking a knee” and holding hands with players, then all of them standing at attention during the National Anthem Sept. 25 at the Arizona Cardinals Game in Phoenix.

As to the other owners, “Why aren’t they doing anything?” he asked during an interview this afternoon at the bar in the basement of 60 Main St. Football was on TV, but it was college ball.

Sitting next to Famulare, Mike Boyson, past commander, said since “taking the knee” has not spread to college ball, post members will certainly watch the Army-Navy game and other college-level games, but not pro ball.

Famulare said there has been an impact, with some members staying home to watch Thursday night football, but the post is willing to take the hit.

While the Veterans of Foreign Wars issued what was termed a “blistering” condemnation after 200 NFL players “took a knee” on Sept. 25, this may be the first time a veterans organization has taken such a step.

Posted

6 Comments

  1. When this bunch of white folks get as incensed over people wearing the flag and cutting holes in it to wear it as a poncho as Kid Rock did at one of his concerts then I might give these silly people some credence. Waste of good energy. I ca not fathom why these vets have an issue with people exercising their first amendment right for which they went to war to defend. Their white privilege is shining brightly!

  2. My father, my mother, my uncles on both sides, my brother, my nephew, and numerous cousins fought for many things, including our right to freedom of speech. How dare you dismiss that. I am appalled.

  3. I agree 100 percent, too any Men and Women have died fighting for this country, show some respect players.

  4. You’d think people who’d fought in war wouldn’t be such cowards when it comes to addressing racial grievances in our country. If you fight to defend the constitution, you cannot turn around and cry foul when those rights are exercised.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

SCOLINOS: It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide

COLUMN VIEW FROM THE GAME It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide Editor’s Note:  Tim Mead, incoming Baseball Hall of Fame president, cited John Scolinos, baseball coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, as a lifelong inspiration, particularly Scolinos’ famous speech “17 Inches.” Chris Sperry, who published sperrybaseballlife.com, heard Scolinos deliver a version in 1996 at the American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, and wrote this reminiscence in 1916 in his “Baseball Thoughts” column. By CHRIS SPERRY • from www.sperrybaseballlife.com In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching…

Piper Seamon Scores 1,000th point

1,000 THANKS! Piper Seamon 5th CCS Girl To Hit High Mark The Cooperstown Central student section erupts as Piper Seamon scores her 1,000th career point in the Hawkeyes’ 57-39 win over Waterville at home last evening. Seamon becomes the fifth girl and only the 14th player in school history overall to score 1,000 points.  Inset at right, Pipershares a hug with teammate Meagan Schuermann after the game was stopped to acknowledge her achievement. Seamon will play basketball next year at Hamilton College. (Cheryl Clough/AllOTSEGO.com)  …

Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told

CLICK HERE FOR MEMO TO SCHOOLS Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told COOPERSTOWN – In a memo released Friday evening, county Public Health Director Heidi Bond advised local school superintendents that sports can resume as early as Monday. “Effective Feb. 1, participants in higher-risk sports may participate in individual or distanced group training and organized no/low-contact group training,” Bond wrote, “…including competitions and tournaments, if permitted by local health authorities.”…

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.