Robert Griffin III on Football

Sports Salute to Service

Over this Veterans Day weekend, the NCAA and the NFL made major efforts to have a Salute to Service for those men and women who serve to defend our freedom. 

This year the NCAA held the Armed Forces Classic basketball game in at Camp Humphreys Army base in  Pyeogtaek, South Korea where the 19th ranked Oregon Ducks beat the Georgetown Hoyas 82-75 before a crowd of hundreds of soldiers.  


Both teams wore special camouflage uniforms.  In lieu of having their names emblazoned on the back of their jerseys, the Oregon Duck players IDs  read "USA"  and the backs of the Georgetown Hoya jerseys had mottoes like "Courage", "Integrity" and "Respect.    The coaches of both teams wore combat boots and military styled cargo pants.

Oregon (light camo) playing against Georgtown (dark camo) at Camp Humphrey Army Base in Pyeogtaek, South Korea

Many NCAA football teams made efforts to give a Salute to Service.   There is controversy attached to the Northwestern University Wildcat football special uniforms. The Wildcats intend to honor the Wounded Warrior Project during their November 16th game against the Michigan Wolverines by abandoning their regular purple and white garb and donning uniforms flag inspired uniforms. 

 Under Armor tried to further stylize this equipment by having red accents on the patriotic design to give it a rough, worn out look.  After the game, these uniforms will be auctioned for charity. But some are seeing red as the Wounded Warrior Wildcat uniforms have red splotches on the helmet, sock and cleats so these design elements can be interpreted as blood. That is an ugly connotation for something that is intended to honor and support the Wounded Warrior Project. 

The NFL has nearly a half century of working with the USO to support our military men and women in uniform.  During the 2013 season,  the NFL has designed 32 games throughout November as Salute to Service games where the NFL will donate $100 per point scored to each of its three military related charities, the Pat Tillman Foundation, the USO, and the Wounded Warrior Project.  In 2012, the NFL donated nearly $800,000 as a result of the Salute to Service campaign. 

During these games, players use special footballs, gloves, patches, hats, sweatshirts and camouflage towels.  All of these Salute to Service game worn merchandise will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the aforementioned non-profits.

There are many different Salutes to Service at NFL stadia.  During the Salute to Service games, all of the Field Goal posts had camouflage padding. In Green Bay, Lambeau Field fans used cards to thank those who served with a card stunt during the National Anthem. 

The Packer half time featured all veteran parachute teams landing in the middle of Lambeau Field. Similar sorts of celebrations will occur for the Monday Night Football game in Tampa Bay, which is in the shadows of MacDill Air Force Base and United States Central Command. 

Pat Tillman as Army Ranger

Kevin Blackistone

This sort of patriotic appeal and honoring must drive outspoken ESPN sports commentator Kevin Blackistone crazy, as he has repeatedly chastised sports teams for playing the National Anthem and honoring Pat Tillman (an NFL player who left pro ball to serve as an Army Ranger and died in a friendly fire incident).  While it is unclear how much money will be raised by these fundraising auctions, it is laudable to try to honor and serve those servicemen who sacrifice for us.  However the photo from the Pittsburgh Steeler's Salute to Service shows the poignancy of such tributes. 

A recent book entitled "The War on Football"  points out that many of the traits which are esteemed in football are the same characteristics inculcated in military training. Moreover, sports are an important connection with home for military members and their families.




 So in a society obsessed with celebrity, it is good to see organized efforts to offer a Salute to Service, and honor the virtues of service, teamwork, selflessness and courage.

RGIII is not PC in DC

Since the City Council in the District of Calamity has nothing better to do, Councilman David Grosso (I-At Large DC) has proposed a non-binding resolution to prompt the Washington NFL franchise to change its name from the “Redskins” because Grosso finds it racist and offensive.  The councilman claims that a majority of DC City Council  will support the resolution.

The politically correct clamor from the DC City Council is meant to bolster efforts by aboriginal American groups who are suing to deny the football franchise from keeping trademark protection for their famous Redskins moniker. 

Grosso proffered his solution to change the name of the team to the Redtails.   Grosso observes that : “You can still sing the song and everything...you can still keep the feather.”  How generous! This solicitous solution sounds as weak as changing the Washington Bullets to the Wizards.  


While the Clash sang about Washington Bullets referring to weapons, the Washington Bullets name derived from a shoe manufacturer.  The American Basketball League Baltimore Bullets were named after Bata Bullets athletic shoes named near Baltimore.  Washington kept the name Bullets of the NBA franchise from 1973 when the team moved to DC until 1995 when owner Abe Pollin wanted to change the name after the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzah Rabin.  While there was a contest to narrow the name list and the Wizards moniker was chosen.   But that was the free market working by a capitalist choosing to rebrand to suit himself.

Now it seems that politically correct politicians and attention seeking pressure groups want to dictate how private companies can market themselves.  No wonder why DC can be considered the District of Calamity (sic). 

What is remarkable about this politically correct pogrom is that a prominent community leader took a stand against social tyranny.  Robert Griffin, Jr (a.k.a. RGIII), the first year Washington starting quarterback who lead his team from the wilderness into the NFL playoffs dared to speak his mind and buck the PC powers that be.  RGIII tweeted “In the land of political freedom, we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness.”  

It did not take long for RGIII’s Twitter statement of independence to draw fire from those who would otherwise champion diversity (as long it conforms to their mores).

It seems that the ‘Skin’s star quarterback is not only agile and inspirational but also courageous.  But now the ire of liberal sports writers will be waiting to heckle him.  RGIII may be treated slightly better than dog killer Michael Vick before he was convicted.  However, if RGIII stumbles in his comeback from season ending knee surgery, he might be considered like a PC sports pariah ala Tim Tebow.   


h/t: The Blaze
      WAMU . 

[The article originally appeared on DistrictofCalamity.com]