The NFL, Kneeling, Ratings, and the Flag

[Kraut783]

No….just….no…..ffs

 

[AWP]

I no longer GAS about the NFL, but was a Vikings fan back in the day.

I'd have dropped the team and become a free agent after that BS. I guess collected the Steelers by default because that was my wife's team.

 

[Marauder06]

Maybe I'm a chauvinist prig, but no one wants the male cheerleaders that these NFL teams are putting out there. This tells you what I think.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1957151425873502227

I generally don't care what private companies decide to do with their time and money. But I'm curious, why this, and why now? Who or what are they trying to appeal to with this? Is this going to increase, or decrease, ticket sales and organizational support? Not sure what this gains, or prevents, for this organization.

 

[TLDR20]

I generally don't care what private companies decide to do with their time and money. But I'm curious, why this, and why now? Who or what are they trying to appeal to with this? Is this going to increase, or decrease, ticket sales and organizational support? Not sure what this gains, or prevents, for this organization.

The Panthers have had a male cheerleader for a few years. He wears a different outfit I think though.

 

[Marauder06]

The Panthers have had a male cheerleader for a few years. He wears a different outfit I think though.

Male or transgender? Not nitpicking, just want to make sure we're talking about the same person.

 

[AWP]

Male or transgender? Not nitpicking, just want to make sure we're talking about the same person.

They have one trans.
First trans NFL cheerleader will not be back with Carolina Panthers - Outsports

And are one of 12 with male cheerleaders.
12 NFL Teams Adding Male Cheerleaders in 2025: Full List Inside

That said...if you ever hear/see an interview with a former college male cheerleader (and I think ValhallaVFT is one) they all claim it is a fantastic way to...acquire various temporary companions during their tenure.

 

[TLDR20]

Male or transgender? Not nitpicking, just want to make sure we're talking about the same person.

Oh, I thought they were male. I can’t keep track when they don’t present feminine.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article254783102.html

Story is from 2021.

 

[amlove21]

I am just going to watch football, cause I like football. I do this weird thing now where I can do a thing without having to explicitly agree with all aspects that the thing encompasses.

Male cheerleaders are stupid, it's not the demographic, but I don't watch the NFL for the cheerleaders anyway.

 

[Cookie_]

I am just going to watch football, cause I like football. I do this weird thing now where I can do a thing without having to explicitly agree with all aspects that the thing encompasses.

You say you can enjoy something but don't need to agree with everything it stands for? That's classic patriarchy and whiteness at work. Your maleness allows you to enjoy things like football without questioning the sexist culture that surrounds it, and whiteness lets you conveniently ignore the racial issues in the sport, pretending they're not there while you enjoy the spectacle of black and brown bodies working for your amusement. And let’s be real, this “I just like it” mentality is exactly what conservatism thrives on; shutting down any critique of these systems, so you can keep enjoying the game without confronting how it upholds inequality.

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I asked chatgpt to give an insufferable lib response and then punched it up a bit to truly get that "angry white woman" energy. Lmao

 

[Devildoc]

I enjoy the drum lines far more than the cheerleaders. But add the cheerleaders to the mandated list of end zone slogans from which teams have to choose, and singing the black national anthem and all that garbage, the overall product just becomes a campaign rally instead of a sports event. When I watch I usually start about 30 minutes before the game and pause it so I can zip through the BS.

 

[Marauder06]

You say you can enjoy something but don't need to agree with everything it stands for? That's classic patriarchy and whiteness at work. Your maleness allows you to enjoy things like football without questioning the sexist culture that surrounds it, and whiteness lets you conveniently ignore the racial issues in the sport, pretending they're not there while you enjoy the spectacle of black and brown bodies working for your amusement. And let’s be real, this “I just like it” mentality is exactly what conservatism thrives on; shutting down any critique of these systems, so you can keep enjoying the game without confronting how it upholds inequality.

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I asked chatgpt to give an insufferable lib response and then punched it up a bit to truly get that "angry white woman" energy. Lmao

I had grad school PTSD after reading that post, lol

 

[amlove21]

You say you can enjoy something but don't need to agree with everything it stands for? That's classic patriarchy and whiteness at work. Your maleness allows you to enjoy things like football without questioning the sexist culture that surrounds it, and whiteness lets you conveniently ignore the racial issues in the sport, pretending they're not there while you enjoy the spectacle of black and brown bodies working for your amusement. And let’s be real, this “I just like it” mentality is exactly what conservatism thrives on; shutting down any critique of these systems, so you can keep enjoying the game without confronting how it upholds inequality.

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I asked chatgpt to give an insufferable lib response and then punched it up a bit to truly get that "angry white woman" energy. Lmao

S-Tier. +5

 

[DA SWO]

I'll wait until the playoffs, then start watching.

 

[Cookie_]

S-Tier. +5

I should have added some stuff about homophobia to really make it S++ tier.