Colonial Media and Entertainment announced Tuesday that WFAY-AM/FM in Fayetteville, an ESPN affiliate, would not broadcast Eastern Carolina’s football game against South Florida on Saturday after 19 band members took a knee while playing the national anthem before the team’s game against Central Florida last weekend.
CEO Jeff Andrulonis posted his reason on Facebook. “Roughly a dozen band members disgraced themselves on the football field this past weekend. I’m proud of our country and I’m proud of our soldiers … especially our soldiers from Ft. Bragg … fighting for our country so I’ve decided that ESPN Fayetteville will ‘protest the protest.’ “
Andrulonis went on to say that “The band members could have quietly protested in the early morning hours before the game. But that would have required them to wake up early. So instead they chose to make a spectacle of themselves in front of the big crowd at Dowd-Ficklen. They’re college students and it’s about time they get an education on the concept that their actions have consequences. And the consequence in this case is that the ECU Pirates will not be heard on ESPN Fayetteville this weekend.”
The East Carolina band members were warned by school officials Monday that kneeling during the national anthem will no longer be tolerated.
Andrulonis said he has the full support of his sponsors. After bypassing the broadcast this Saturday, the station plans to carry the remainder of the East Carolina Football schedule.
I agree with Ruth Bader Ginsberg that these protests, and how they are being done, are DUMB and DISRESPECTFUL. I have not watched an NFL game since all these self-centered overpaid hypocrites began this protest. Last night, I tuned in the Broncos/Charges Game just to check the score. Within a minute, they showed a replay (right before half time) of Brandon Marshall kneeling, I shut it off in disgust. I am a firm believer in the First Amendment, BUT it doesn’t apply when you are in someone else’s uniform, in someone else’s venue, on someone else’s time. If I were to wear my employer’s uniform, and stand on their property and spew what many perceive as ridiculous propaganda, I would LOSE MY JOB. I applaud the fans that BOOED the ECU Marching Band for their silly antics. Again, the band members are in someone else’s uniform, in someone else’s venue, on someone else’s time. College Protesters have a double whammy because many are funded by taxpayers, scholarships and Alumni contributions, and THEY want no part of the protest. As we saw with ECU, many financial contributors are threatening to pull funds. I agree that college folks like Michael Rose-Ivey have a right to make their point heard, but they need to keep in mind that many NFL owners either served in the military or had family that did, and THEY may be offended by these actions, hence, bye-bye potential for big contracts!!!
Our military and our forefathers fought for their right to protest and to free speech. You don’t have to like it, but as long as they are not violent, and not hurting anyone, you do have to respect the Constitutional rights of a free country. This isn’t Russia…at least for now! #nevertrump
How about just kick them out of the band?
True patriots should respect the troops by making sure they have access to proper medical, psychological & financial help available after serving. Yes, that’s something a patriot and a great country would do.
Since a very, very few protesters communicate their message during the playing of a national anthem, this gives the alleged, self-declared “patriot” the right to impose his meager leverage on unsuspecting and undeserving third parties (radio audiences and advertisers) by withholding broadcasts.
Apparently, from here anyway, the owner seems to be unaware of the irony of his position and his behaviors.
But then, nobody has to pass a civics test to own, or to toil in the radio business, either.
It’s not the point….is there anything great about America, anything?? If so when do we recognize and acknowledge it, how about for two and half minutes during the playing of the National Anthem? It’s a great country and needs to continue to get better, but people shouldn’t use it to protest “things” they disagree with. There are plenty of other places and forums you can protest…and should if you disagree with something, that is America and part of what makes it great! Here’s another example it’s no different than someone who is against abortion and want’s to take a knee because of their beliefs onthat issue. The other question I have is when do people stop taking knees, after we implement new laws, death counts go down, etc. etc. Maybe those people should submit a list of demands that need to be met before they start standing again? I think we would ALL agree that Amercia is the greatest country in the world, it’s just to bad that we can’t ALL show it for two and a half minutes from time to time. God Bless the USA!
“America is the greatest country in the world.” I’m so sick of hearing that. It’s arrogant. Do you realize how that sounds to other nations? Do you realize that it is a propagandist phrased used to pump us up and stymie our critical thinking so that when our leaders want to flex some muscle, or win an election, or suck up to us, we climb on board? What is the proof that it is “the greatest”? What does that even mean? I think that you would find more nations who call America the “greatest terrorist nation in the world,” and rightly so. In fact, there is some evidence to support that. Why is there a need to boast, anyway? Isn’t feeling good about this country enough? When does patriotism become nationalism? When does patriotism become dangerous? You can be proud of your country (and you have to define that term) but shouldn’t our priority be to be proud of our planet? Our ability to get along? The recognition that we are all more alike than different? Perhaps we are so brainwashed we aren’t able to think in such terms. The American leadership, over the decades, has conducted a string of interventions and coups, supported dictators (until they get “out of line” like Saddam etc.), been the perpetrator of mass deaths from Vietnam to Iraq to Afghanistan and beyond. In addition, ours is a gun-crazy nation that is clearly still torn by racism? There is so much ugliness, I don’t think it’s appropriate to be bleating about our “greatness.” I love living here. I love the physical place. I love most of the people. I do not love our blindness to our shortcomings. And I certainly do not love the atrocities, carried out by elites who really don’t give a damn about us, the “little people.” I suggest, whenever making a statement about “America,” you explain what exactly you are referring to when you use the word. And I also recommend thinking from the view of other countries, and how we may have affected them. And you know what? When you visit other nations, you realize that they are pretty great.
How does this ultimately serve his listeners? It seems to be more about his ego and only hubris than being a sound business decision.
And on the political side, nothing says “freedom” and America” like denigrating those who refuse to “act patriotic” in the way you personally deem acceptable.
They protested their way. He protested his way. They are simply poorly educated students and he is an American Patriot. Get over it!
Unfortunately the GM is an idiot and the band member taking a knee is not them being unappreciative towards our military or Ft. Bragg. Just another ill informed person making ill informed decisions.
I hope the stundents take a knee again to show their support to the cause. Also know that if he continues to take games off the air he will have s law suit waiting. I’m also sure that their is more than sports station in that city.
Don’t let a bigot deter the free speech of your students. Be proud!! College students have shaped the world during so many crisis & this is another example of them taking their rights given to them to express it.
Why is he angry? He’s angry because he’s a bigot and he’s lacking in intelligence. Oh, and he lives in a state run by racists. A few things: 1. These protests are nothing to do with troops. They are about Black Lives Matter. So he doesn’t even know what he’s mad about. 2. If this loudmouth wanted to protest on behalf of his radio station, do you think he’d do it “in the early morning hours”? The whole point of protest is to make a point to as many people as possible, right? 3. Like all bigots, this guy uses ad hominem to cloud the picture. He implies the students are lazy because they wouldn’t get up early to protest (see previous point). Students in college marching bands typically put in very long hours of academics and band practice (and maybe other important commitments, like part-time jobs, activities to advance their future job prospects, etc.). I’m sure they work at least as many hours a week in total as this bigot. And guess what: While he was probably “on the clock” while spewing his vile diatribe, kids in marching bands aren’t paid. So who is on the softer ride? 4. Is America as free as its politicians hype it or not? If it is, these students are well within their rights, and punishment would be, well, un-American. 5. How far to the right does radio, in general, have to go? The industry is panicking like virgin at a buck’s party about its future. Trying being more inclusive and you might do, oh, who knows, a helluva lot better. 6. When talking about our troops, the arguments are often distorted. Our troops are caught up in illegal invasions, not a wars. Their lives are in jeopardy, not because real Americans don’t care about them, but because powerful Americans send them off to do their dirty work for them. Many are too young or too desperate for money to either understand or resist. But it’s the same old bleating from radio extremists: If you don’t “support the troops” you’re a commie. Well, not wanting them to be cheated out of their lives is pretty good support and should be recognized by one and all as an American value, shouldn’t it? And guess what: Millions of Americans DO hold it as a value. 7. What these kids are doing takes more guts, and potentially is risking them far more, than this mouthpiece who spews vitriol at them, without supporting facts, unhindered. 8. And to this person: Okay, turn off the broadcast. Penalize people who want to support the team, and listen to the game, in an effort to strong-arm them to your point of view. It only highlights your bigotry and desperation. The fact that the media can be used as a sledgehammer like this, is another great case for why the public should own all media, and private ownership yields bias and propaganda.
Radio is not dying because of streaming. Radio is dying because it is more alienating with every passing year.
“1. These protests are nothing to do with troops. They are about Black Lives Matter. So he doesn’t even know what he’s mad about.”
Authors do not exclusively own the meaning of their words. Once they are made public, the reader or listener also has input into their meaning.
In this case, the “authors” are the students and their actions are their “words.” Regardless, no matter what students or others say protests are about, the observations and interpretations of people who observe and interpret their protests as something else are just as valid.
So, you can say the demonstrations are about BLM because that’s what they mean to you. However, the interpretation of a service member who views it as an affront to the country, the military or his/her service is just as legitimate. As I said authors, don’t exclusively control their meanings. That’s Literature 101.
The rest of your post is just nonsensical ranting and drivel. But, the bigger point is this, the majority of this country does not support the demonstrations or BLM (despite what the media would have you believe). And they’re beginning to take action. This radio station is just one example; ECU heard from outraged fans, alumni and boosters after the band’s stunt who threatened to withhold ticket purchases and donations, which is why the school reversed itself and banned future anthem protests. Other schools that have been caught up in PC hysteria over the last few years are also being hit with decreased giving. Slowly but surely, control of the asylum is being taken away from the inmates.
But, the biggie is the NFL. Checked the ratings recently? They’re down at least 20 percent from last year overall, after previously being indestructible. And despite the creative excuses from the media (like claiming people are tuning out to watch election coverage instead… on Sunday afternoons), the reason is #BoycottNFL. Millions of people are simply forgoing pro football either because they oppose the tantrums of Kaepernick and his cabal or they simply prefer sports to be a politics-free zone. And more people are joining the boycott every week. As ratings decline, so does revenue. Once the owners get hit in the wallet hard enough, they will take care of the anthem issue travesty, and Kaepernick and co. will either be on their feet, or they won’t be in the stadium.