Can we just get back to football and have debate about the national anthem after the game?
— Chuck, Air Force vet
Kiz: Yes, Raiders week did get hijacked by a debate between true American patriots and protesting Broncos. Now there’s an argument where there actually are some very fine people on both sides. But as defensive end said, this is a must-win game for Denver. Look, there’s probably not a field goal difference between the talent levels of the Raiders and Broncos. But I’ll go with the more-desperate-team theory and predict: Denver 27, Oakland 23.
I am a four-year veteran of the illustrious 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army and now a high-school history teacher. I appreciate your attempts to help fans understand why NFL athletes feel the need to protest. I fight this same fight daily, attempting to have my students understand the social injustice many of them do not experience. Many only see the kneeling as disrespect to veterans or the military. I make attempts to get them to wrap the mind around the idea that by kneeling these athletes are in fact honoring our great country. They honor it by expressing the most important right we as Americans have: the freedom of speech and expression.
— Chad, vet and educator
Kiz: We all pledge allegiance, but not necessarily blind faith, to the flag.
I read your column on calling the bluff of Broncos fans disgruntled about the anthem flap. I am a season-ticket holder, and my daughter is using all my seats this year. I did have a personal streak of missing only one game in 22 years, whether I attended in person, watched on television or listened to the radio. I even endured the quickly eroding broadcast skills of Ron Zappolo and the zero focus of Brian Griese during preseason games. My TV was off last Sunday and will so the rest of the year. This is my protest during this whole nauseating and disrespectful ordeal.
— Gerald, won’t even peek at final score
Kiz: You are protesting against the NFL protesters, and want to alert the free press about your grievance. Thatap great. Thatap as American as apple pie. In wanting your voice heard, maybe you have more in common with NFL players than you think. But the staff here at Kickin’ It Headquarters has flagged you 15 yards for unsportsmanslike conduct, for gratuitous shots on Zappolo and Griese, who always stand for the anthem, as best we know.
And today’s parting shot suggests the real reason a sportswriter supports a kneeling NFL player is the free hot dogs in the press box.
Want to give up your free access, paid parking (or is it limo service?), your free meals and your unending series of freebies as a sports reporter? You can spit on someone who thinks the privileged and coddled Broncos you suck up to every day might actually be expected to show some respect to the flag? I’ll call your bluff on that every day, Kiz.
