Americans rally around 'patriot' and 'hero' who defied team on 'Star-Spangled Banner'
Former U.S. Army Ranger officer Alejandro Villanueva – the Pittsburgh Steelers player who is being hailed as a hero after he defied his whole team Sunday and stood for the national anthem – actually earned his true hero status three years before he played professional football.
Villanueva – an NFL player who’s painfully aware that “freedom isn’t free” – earned a Bronze Star with valor after he reportedly pulled three wounded U.S. soldiers out of the line of Taliban fire in 2011.
During a 2014 interview with ESPN, Villanueva recalled a Aug. 25, 2011, event in Afghanistan when he was a lieutenant, 23-year-old Army football player and rifle platoon leader of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
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ReplyDeleteSteelers fan over more than half a century with family roots to same church parish as the Rooney owners. Even in losing years, and there were many, pride endured.
The coach sought to avoid the controversy but the path he/they chose was the same as a student who isn't prepared for a first period test, and reasons that 'if I'm late enough it will be over before I arrive', thus putting off the reckoning. Not mature reasoning.
Karma dealt this scheme a setback when Major Villenueva, a combat veteran Army Ranger came out of an unfamiliar tunnel at (love it) Soldiers Field when the anthem played. You can see him singing as well as placing his hand over his heart.
Tomlin's hollow explanation did not satisfy fans or the country. He thought he'd be in the clear if the players showed after the fans had observed proper respect for the Flag and Anthem. Was clearly miffed that one player had done the right thing, and singled him out. Bad decision on top of bad decision.
Later #78 had to partially walk back his actions because it made the coach and team look bad. Also a miscue since his presence was the team's only redeeming feature on that day when they lost to the Bears. Later another player admitted they were not game focused because of the energy and distraction that arriving at their 'better late than on time' decision had consumed.
I'm angry at the coach who postures manly virtues and platitudes but who obviously doesn't command enough respect in the locker room to issue a command and have the players comply.
So the Steelers are on notice, and they better step up, before and during the game.
I'm about at the end regarding the NFL; hope the owners clean house in the executive suite because this would be a non-issue if they'd dealt with this in their usual prompt, fine levying fashion when Kaepernick put his knee down for the first time. It's going to be a business school case study on how to throw gas on a fire.
America needs more stand up guys like this man!! He makes snowflake liberals tremble in his presence!
ReplyDeleteWell said, and yes we need many more of him!
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