Tennessee Gov. BILL HASLAM yesterday spoke about NFL players protesting during the anthem, saying, "People used to look at sports as a retreat from the real world. But the reality is, players are people. They have far more platforms than they’ve ever had before." Haslam's brother JIMMY, who owns the Browns with his wife DEE, have "publicly supported" the players actions. Haslam said of Jimmy and Dee, "I have not had that discussion with them. But I think you had a lot of owners who felt like, ‘We have to stand up for our players, our players are expressing their opinions, our players have been called out and even called names, and when our players are called names, we have to show that we’re a unified team here'" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 9/27).
POLARIZING COVER: In San Jose, Daniel Mano writes he believes SI "did Americans a service" with the photo on the cover of its Oct. 2 issue that shows several sports figures locked in arms. It is "seemingly no accident" that Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY is "pictured in the center." On the other hand, COLIN KAEPERNICK is "out of the picture." Jaguars Owner SHAHID KHAN is "also on the cover." Khan is another representation of how there is "tension not just between the players and the President but also the owners and the President" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 9/27).
PUBLIC SERVANTS: K.C. Fraternal Order of Police President BRAD LEMON is asking Chiefs CB MARCUS PETERS to "set aside personal protest and get involved in a new police-backed community outreach program." Lemon invited Peters to "join officers at a community-based program at Wendall Phillips Elementary School." Lemon said that Peters "did not respond to the letter, but Chiefs executives did." Lemon said that the Chiefs "pledged to get involved" (K.C. STAR, 9/27)....Geauga County (Ohio) Sheriff SCOTT HILDENBRAND yesterday "barred any of his deputies from working off-duty security" at future Browns games because of their "protest during the national anthem" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/27)....Washington County (Penn.) Fire Chief PAUL SMITH, who "landed in water for posting a racial slur" about Steelers coach MIKE TOMLIN to Facebook after the team decided to not come on the field for the anthem, has "resigned his position" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/27).
MOVING ON: Ravens national anthem singer JOEY ODOMS yesterday "resigned." Odoms wrote on Facebook, "The tone/actions of a large number of NFL fans in the midst of our country's cultural crisis have convinced me that I do not belong there. Someone once told me to always 'go where you're welcomed.'" Odom was the "primary national anthem singer at M&T Bank Stadium for the past three seasons" (ESPN.com, 9/26).
