TAKING A STAND
Holly Seymour: Have a problem with NFL players and the National Anthem? Look in the mirror
Jul 26, 2018, 3:18 pm
People should look at the good NFL players do before judging them. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
The concern with the controversy surrounding the NFL and its anthem “protest” is going nowhere. Now, re read that first line. Because the controversy isn’t the “protest.” In fact, it’s not the anthem or the players either.
The controversy is within you. Let me further elaborate on this before you stop reading.
Malcolm Jenkins recently sat down with Lester Holt of NBC to discuss everyday issues in America. He gives an example stating how the players and we, the viewers, allow so many different causes to be acknowledged peacefully throughout the season. Military appreciation, breast cancer awareness, domestic violence are just naming a few.
All of these topics are sensitive and can be perceived from different views. So how is it that having an opinion on human rights is any different? If you have an issue on either side of this “protest,” maybe you should take the time to research instead of resulting to hate so easily.
In fact, these same players that people get offended by are the same guys that you see being active members of your very own community. Chris Long gave his ENTIRE 2017 season paycheck to charity, DeShaun Watson donated his holiday pay to workers inside of NRG, Patrick Peterson created the “Foundation of Success” to help provide resources and materials to low income and inner city youth, and as much as no one likes the Cowboys, they work year round with charities throughout the city of Dallas. I can go on for hours telling you about the acts of kindness and time these players give back to try to make a difference in this country.
Let me guess, some of you are rolling your eyes and thinking, “They make millions, it’s the least they can do.” You are probably the same morons that actually believe boycotting the most popular sport in America will change anything. And if this is you, YOU are the controversy. YOU are the problem.
I’m the first one to tell say, “I’m just ready for some football. Screw the politics.” However, all jokes aside, I feel it is important that we see beyond just the game of football. I’ll admit, when this story first broke two years ago, it took me a minute to educate myself.
I suggest you take a moment to do the same.
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Marcell Ozuna hit his major league-leading eighth homer and Orlando Arcia’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
It completes a three-game sweep of the struggling Astros and is Atlanta’s fourth straight victory.
The Braves scored two runs in the eighth inning to tie it at 4-4. Michael Harris II started the 10th as the automatic runner on second and there was one out in the inning when Seth Martinez (1-1) intentionally walked Matt Olson.
Ozuna lined out to right field to send Harris to third base. Arcia then singled on a ground ball to left field to score Harris and put the Braves on top.
Pinch-runner Jake Meyers was on second when Kyle Tucker walked with no outs in the 10th. Meyers moved to third on a fly out by Yainer Diaz but Jeremy Peña grounded into a double play to end it.
A.J. Minter (3-1) got the last two outs of the ninth for the win and Raisel Iglesias earned his fifth save.
Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. added his first homer of the season to help the Braves to the victory. Ozuna also leads the majors with 23 RBIs and he extended his hitting streak to 16 games, which ties his career best and is the longest active streak in the majors.
Yordan Alvarez and Mauricio Dubón both homered for the Astros, who fell to 6-14 and are last in the AL West.
There was one out in the first when Alvarez connected on his homer to the seats in left field to put Houston up 1-0.
Ozuna opened the second with his 432-foot shot to left field, which bounced off the wall and tied the game.
Acuña put the Braves up 2-1 when he sent the first pitch of the fifth inning to straightaway center field.
The Astros tied it on an RBI single by Alex Bregman in the fifth and Kyle Tucker’s RBI double came next to put the Astros up 3-2.
Dubón hit his first home run of the year off Jesse Chavez to start Houston’s sixth and push the lead to 4-2.
Harris singled to start the seventh before a ground-rule double by Austin Riley. Olson reached, and Harris scored on a fielding error by first baseman José Abreu when he couldn’t grab a routine ground ball.
There was one out in the inning when Riley scored on a sacrifice fly by Arcia to tie it at 4-all.
Houston starter J.P. France allowed four hits and two runs in five innings.
Max Fried gave up seven hits and three runs in five innings.
UP NEXT
Braves: Atlanta is off Thursday before opening a series against Texas on Friday night with LHP Chris Sale (1-1, 4.58 ERA) on the mound.
Astros: Houston is also off Thursday before ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night against Washington. The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder.