Does Brandon Roy Hate America?
by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni
That, more or less, is the question being asked by one columnist in Portland. You see, for whatever reason, Roy doesn’t stand with the rest of the team during “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to every game, and this clearly means he’s a communist!
Well, that or he’s a selfish person. Either way, he’s a bad guy.
The floor is yours, John Canzano:
It is not a political statement. It is not a protest. He said it is not intended as a slap on patriotism, or the ongoing war but Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy has long been absent from the Rose Garden Arena floor during the national anthem. For two seasons now, Roy leaves the court before “The Star Spangled Banner” is performed. He waits out of sight, in the arena tunnel, and has a quiet moment of prayer while his teammates stand and honor America together.
Something about that feels troubling. Roy is the Blazers captain, and leader, and two-time All Star. And while I understand his desire to have a personal moment to gather his thoughts, I think there is ample time for a meditative moment in the hours leading to the game and I worry that the statement he’s making is one of individualism.
Brandon Roy’s political or religious leanings are unknown; he says that he uses this time as an opportunity to pray and gather his thoughts. Something one would think he’s totally entitled to.
Roy says that if this rubs enough people the wrong way, he’ll stop doing it. It’s a shame that this type of thing is even up for discussion.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf must be rolling over in his grave.
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The columnist doesn’t explain why Roy refusing to say the anthem is individualism, nor does he connect Roy’s assumed individualism to any specific problems on the Blazers squad. He admits that Roy has declined to make the move about any sort of political statement.
So, where that leaves us is with a columnist who doesn’t like the actions of an NBA player, who cannot prove that those actions are affecting said player’s team, but has decided to use his media platform to foment anger towards the player.
That’s what we have here, and it pisses me off.
Woody, you’re entitled to spend your dollars how you please. But, to use that quotation about freedom, while at the same time wishing that Roy’s company would deny him the freedom to refuse to stay on the court for the anthem, is interesting.
Darrell, nothing about the anthem is sacred to me. It’s a song written during the time when America displayed hypocrisy regarding many of its ideals. Nothing about that says “sacred” or “holy” to me. The man says he’s praying and gathering his thoughts, prayer is sacred to me.
And I’m not a Roy fan. I think he’s overrated, and I think he recently shafted Andre Miller who is clearly better than Steve Blake and should be starting, but won’t because Roy refuses to change his game up.
You can choose to make it about foreigners, but it’s not.
I wish our forefathers had been as concerned as you are with honoring the folks who fought for freedom.
But, considering their willingness to uphold slavery despite the fact that blacks fought in the Revolutionary War, given their unwillingness to protect black Union soldiers in the South after the Civil War, and the twin affronts of segregation and discrimination that flourished despite black soldiers fighting in every war since this countries inception, I’m going to say it hasn’t been that important to honor those who preserve our freedoms.
It’s cool to talk about “supporting the troops” or “protecting freedoms” but to often the rhetoric falls far short of the reality.
But, I’m glad you fought in the military and I appreciate your personal sacrifice. Doesn’t mean I’m going to blindly worship at the false altar of American patriotism, but since I have family members who are decorated veterans, I respect what they had to do, and why the did it. I respect the person, but I don’t have much love for the symbols because they respresent far more than the person.
But all of that has nothing to do with Brandon Roy.
How is standing for the flag honoring the people who died to keep America a country?
Who decided that’s honoring them? Who decided that’s the only acceptable and justified way of showing respect?
First and foremost, Brandon Roy is standing. He’s standing in a hallway saying a quiet prayer and gathering his thoughts. Exactly what is he doing that’s disrespectful to the sacrifice of American soldiers? Better yet, how could it be respectful to stand for the anthem and listen to your Ipod? What type of sacrifice would that be?
Saying the anthem has nothing to do with the sacrifices of the people who have died in wars. The song wasn’t even initially created for that purpose. But, somebody told people this s important, and now you all think it’s important. That’s it.
Holy Baller is a hypocrite. If Roy listened to his iPod during the salute, he’d lambaste them for listening to music instead of listening to that fake patriotic BS.
Soldiers fight for our FREEDOM. -FREEDOM-
Learn what that word truly means and how Brandon Roy is exercising it.
It’s interesting that you believe that if you have a problem with something the solution is running away. Hope you never get married with that attitude.
BM JR
I think your comment was ridiculous. Americans are no more gullible or xenophobic than anywhere else. We weren’t the country confining Muslims to ghettos and preventing them from wearing head scarfs, that was France. The list of countries in Europe and other places who practice xenophobia is long and extensive. American catches flak because we have achieved wold dominance in the shortest possible time and many other countires resent that.
I appreciate the freedoms I have in this country, and having traveled out of the country briefly, I’m perfectly content to live in America until I die. That said, the country is not perfect and people are often more concerned with conformity than what’s right.
The same cats mad at Brandon Roy for not saying the anthem probably didn’t get too upset with the Governor of Texas for floating the idea of secession from the union. That’s the problem in my mind. Selective outrage.
Which political opinions are we discussing?
The non-existent ones mentioned in the article or the ones you’ve created in your mind?
2. Have any of you stopped to think whats so bad about Communism?
3. Americans are way too Patriotic, if you live in GB,hardly anyone is Patriotic,most people r really pessmistic about the country(In spite of the fact its a much better off country than others)and no one ever sings the national anthem except National Sport games, and even then it’s only the players, and everyone about the weather
So you’re saying that despite the fact that you don’t know Roy, you’ve determined him to be a liar. When he says that he uses that time to gather his thoughts and say a prayer, he’s lying. In fact, he has ulterior political motives.
Most people in the world had no idea Brandon Roy didn’t come out for the pledge until John Canzano told them. If people are ignorant of your actions, how can you possibly be making a statement with your actins? Who are you making a statement to?
However, I apologize for my mocking tone. That was unnecessry.
I note that the foreigners posting on this site congratulate the majority of you for your anti-American posts. Keep placating those folks, they have done so much to preserve our freedom. Oh, wait….
Woody, this site is designed for basketball lovers from all over the world. So i don`t understand who are you calling `foreigners` because everybody is foreigner to each other in this site.
Secondly, none of the people commented any Anti-american sentiment up until you turned up and said very moronic statement like fought for our freedom, or died for that cause…
Why is that assumption valid? Who sits on the committee that decides what defines patriotism?
There were MILLIONS of people who argued that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an unpatriotic communist when he marched for Civil Rights and when he spoke against the Vietnam War?
Were they right?
getting fanatical over a small issue? Because we don’t condemn a grown man for making his own decisions and when we nothing of his thoughts?
Anyway, what is sincere about revering the flag when everyone else does? Thats just conformity. How about considering the fallen and those who have sacrificed their lives in your own time, when you don’t have it thrust into your thoughts? Don’t percieve judgement on something you know nothing about, no-one hear knows anything of BRoys reasonings, except that he apparently prays, being athiest I can’t really say, but isn’t God above America? There is more than one way to be patriotic, and just as there are is more than one way to have fun, its down to the individual to do what they prefer.
You can’t have a name like Holy Baller and think that one man’s opinion is useless. Opinions matter, it all depends on how you support them.
That said, I can see your point that Roy has other times to gather his thoughts. I will admit that I wondered if perhaps he was making some sort of statement but didn’t want to discuss it with Canzano. Then again, if he was making a statement, why would he say he’d have no problems coming out for the anthem if people really had a problem with his absence.
I don’t think it’s impossible that he’s gathering his thoughts one last time. The more I learn about the NBA, the more I’m amazed at the amazing focus and dedication it takes to be a star or superstar in the league. Maybe for Roy that means having that one last time to center himself and talk to the Lord. I really don’t know whether he’s lying or not.
The problem for me was that Canzano pretty much branded Roy a liar. And he tried to do it while also attempting to praise him and make it seem like he has no problem with Roy. Then you have people on this site who have labeled him a traitor to his country. All of that bothers me because it feels unreasonable in my opinion.
But, that’s just my opinion.
I disagree. I think there are some values worth fighting for, and while I think America has a horrible track record in many ways, I seriously object to the idea that it’s truly worse than other nations.
America wasn’t a major player in colonialism, but most other major nations were and the list of atrocities committed in the name of colonialism is long and horrible.
America has flaws, but this new push to brand my country as the worst bully on the block is crap. France, Britian and Spain all took turns being the world’s ultimate superpower. The past few decades have been America’s turn, but that’s mainly because we haven’t had to wage a serious war on our own soil in more than a century. World War II was devastating for many of the world’s other superpowers, but ultimately turned out to be a major benefit for this country.
I can understand why cats like Wayno are so sensitive because too often people from other countries like to pretend that they are so advanced when it comes to peace and freedom and even racism. But when you take a closer look, it’s all a big sham.
What’s sad is this thread brings out bot the fanatical crazies who want to punish Roy (Woody) and the ignorants from other countries who look at America on the ouside while they do nothing to help the world from their own home (LZ)
Work it out.
NOT THAT THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH BRANDON ROY!
Here’s some food for thought: If it turns out Brandon Roy is Muslim, he is going to get creamed for not standing courtside for the anthem. If he is indeed Christian, people will call his acts “patriotic in their own way.”
Anyways, isn’t praying honoring the nation in its own way?
All casualties of war are a tragedy, however, and you have a right to be offended in some regard. The whole Vietnam War was a nightmare that should the entire world should never, ever let happen again.
Thanks for your awesome generic posts, Woody.
Also, the anthem wasn’t mandated to be used in sports or in schools until after World War II, when the gov’t encouraged its use to boost national pride.
And third, as the son of a Gulf War veteran, I’m well aware of the fact that the military is a necessary entity in a country really securing its strongholds. It’s nice and good to pay tribute to the military, but reciting an anthem in and of itself means nothing without conviction. Americans are about rituals, and though the symbols and continued actions in reference to America’s glorified roots are cute, history says that we probably spend too much time worrying about the small stuff (i.e. the anthem).
In America, people are continually dying from hunger, disease and suffering generational socioeconomic depravity, and here we are, talking about an anthem and a flag–both of which are actually solving any real problems. My question is why in the world does anyone care about what Brandon Roy does? I like him as a player and everything, but I’m certainly not going to let him make me feel bad. I could care less about him standing. It doesn’t mean that I’m less caring about being an American–what it does mean is that I have bigger fish to fry…and so should the rest of those people who care one iota about him and him choices. This is asinine to judge someone based on ambiguous absence and implication.
Not flag burning
Not terrorism
Not hate mongering
The anthem……
As a reporter you should at least have an idea about the stuff you write.
I mean the article is just B A N A N A S!
Nowhere does he mention something about a vague idea or sources he might have used to come to such a conclusion, just a i quote: “Something about that feels troubling”
Why?
Because you don’t believe Roy?
Because it looks like he is planning something?
Or because he is a athlete and they should lead by example?
I don’t care how much i get paid but if i believe in something and without showing any disrespect to anyone or anything i have the right to express me and most def if it’s about a simple prayer during the national anthem!
That bein said, i m not an American citizen but as some guys already posted: all over the globe you can find xenophobia and not to sugarcoat the land of the free and brave but me bein from a mixed family, things aren’t easier here.
A lot more hypocrits on a even bigger level.
Just saying
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