Jump to content

Kim Pegula seeks compromise with players on social protests


YoloinOhio

Recommended Posts

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22555783/buffalo-bills-owner-kim-pegula-seeks-compromise-players-social-protests



"My own experience, I think a lot of it is just communication," she said. "I know that's easy to say. But I know that several of our players, when I actually talked to them and actually gave them a different perspective -- just like they were trying to give us a different perspective -- on the impact of the business and what the impact is of what they do socially, off the game, at home and then how that affects the business side. They didn't grow up in the sports business world. They came in on the players' side.

"So a lot of [Bills players] just didn't understand or know the impact that it had on the business, the organization and the community - good or bad. So I do think there's definitely an impact. I wouldn't shy away from it at all. I think there is a common ground. I think a lot of it is more about communicating and learning from each other on both sides and coming to some type of a compromise at some point. Sometimes you won't be able to come to a compromise. But something usually gets done when that happens."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think she makes a solid, rational point.  And its the way to approach this or any issue.  

 

However, with that said, you should not put your work uniform on, go to the office and then publicly protest or state opinions contrary to the organziation you work for.   That's just the way it is.   The players, any of us, have the right to say and protest all we want on our own time.  But they're using the stage the NFL and the Bills organization (in this case) provided them to state a personal opinion.  That's the problem I have with it..and its the point I think the players need to understand.     

Edited by Dan
  • Like (+1) 2
  • Haha (+1) 1
  • Thank you (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think convincing the players that as a "team" - including as owners - if you all have a common interest with respect to social issues, that will smooth these things out.  The important thing is - if you get the players to not hurt the brand by doing things viewed by some as detrimental, you have to still represent the issues on some level.  Whether that is giving money and time to causes or whatever.

 

As a player - if you are hurting the "brand" - you are hurting yourself because that diminishes your paycheck.  When you can still support a cause and not hurt the brand - it's a win/win.  Not everyone in the country agrees with every cause - and certainly some causes of players may not be able to be supported by the team (e.g. if they wanted to support illegal activities).

 

Equal protection and eliminating prejudice is an admirable goal.  Kneeling during the anthem is not really supporting that.  It attracted the wrong type of attention.  Making your voice loud and clear as a TEAM by working with your community and beyond will accomplish much more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ummm...okay?

 

Am I the only one who thinks this didn’t make sense. (Granted I’m in bed with a fever and the flu) Nobody had ever explained the other side

of the coin to black players? She then explain it was hurting business, which totally hasn’t been reported? And they were then like, “sorry boss, thanks for explaining. We will stop now”

 

This whole thing comes across as tone def and condescending.

Edited by Mango
  • Like (+1) 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Dan said:

I think she makes a solid, rational point.  And its the way to approach this or any issue.  

 

However, with that said, you should not put your work uniform on, go to the office and then publicly protest or state opinions contrary to the organziation you work for.   That's just the way it is.   The players, any of us, have the right to say and protst all we want on our own time.  But they're using the stage the NFL and the Bills organization (in this case) provided them to state a personal opinion.  That's the problem I have with it.  

no, you have a problem with what they are protesting.  the NFL stage is used for many things...fighting breast cancer, wounded veterans...hell, even toys for tots, but the minute it's used to address the oppression of others, then you have a problem with it...? 

 

haha there's that cognitive dissonance again.

 

Edited by 87168
  • Like (+1) 5
  • Thank you (+1) 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, Mango said:

Ummm...okay?

 

Am I the only one who thinks this didn’t make sense. (Granted I’m in bed with a fever and the flu) Nobody had ever explained the other side

of the coin to black players? She then explain it was hurting business, which totally hasn’t been reported? And they were then like, “sorry boss, thanks for explaining. We will stop now”

 

This whole thing comes across as tone def and condescending.

of course is it. in all honesty, she's an Asian American, married to a white billionaire. she couldn't be further disconnected from the issue, yet she feels entitled to weigh in on how it "hurts" business, while people are losing their lives. 

 

please.

 

Edited by 87168
  • Like (+1) 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the important part of the owner reaching out was not the "explain the impact it has on business" - but was that the owners support the issue - just not how it was being raised.

 

What ESPN reports - and what Kim P says to ESPN are probably somewhat out of context.  Players maybe didn't all understand that some fans were really turned off because of the kneeling.  Granted - some of these same fans are probably also blind to the cause itself, but the kneeling was obvious and became a distraction from the issue itself.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, 87168 said:

of course is it. in all honesty, she's an Asian American, married to a white billionaire. she couldn't be further disconnected from the issue, yet she feels entitled to weigh in on how it "hurts" business, while people are losing their lives. 

 

please.

 

“Entitled to weigh in?” She was asked a question ... and answered it. Should she plead the 5th at a public event because of her race and economic status?  She was speaking on a panel at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston, and was asked whether social activism by players is good for the business of sports.

:blink:

Edited by YoloinOhio
  • Like (+1) 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, 87168 said:

no, you have a problem with what they are protesting.  the NFL stage is used for many things...fighting breast cancer, wounded veterans...hell, even toys for tots, but the minute it's used to address the oppression, then you have a problem with it...? 

 

haha there's that cognitive dissonance again.

 

Yes but when they fight for those things they are doing it outside the game. They are visiting patience outside the game, donating toys for children outside of the game and so on... They don't do it while they are at work. What I don't like is that me and you go to our jobs and if we try to make a political statement at work then we would be fired. And many work places to a Toys fo tots... That kind of stuff is good. But making a political statement at work is not the appriate time. Makes the players look selfish because the Owners are the ones that are impacted the most

 

I don't agree with their views on oppression but that is their view points so they have right to protest but on their own time when they aren't working at a game.

 

Fans watch sports to get away from politics... I know I hate the political talk about football. I just wanna watch football

Edited by Kmart128
  • Like (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Dan said:

I think she makes a solid, rational point.  And its the way to approach this or any issue.  

 

However, with that said, you should not put your work uniform on, go to the office and then publicly protest or state opinions contrary to the organziation you work for.   That's just the way it is.   The players, any of us, have the right to say and protest all we want on our own time.  But they're using the stage the NFL and the Bills organization (in this case) provided them to state a personal opinion.  That's the problem I have with it..and its the point I think the players need to understand.     

How do you know their opinions are contrary to the organization? Many owners agree with the players

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...