INBOX

FOR OCT. 2, 2017

The media, NFL owners and the commissioner are colluding to target the wrong audience. The vast majority of us enjoy a good game and individual athletic performance. We do not like unsolicited lectures on social morality, and we certainly do not like political theater at the expense of our national anthem.

Robert M. Boyd

WINNSBORO, TEXAS

As an eight-year-old boy living on an Army base, I learned that when you were outside and heard the reveille, you should face the flagpole and stand at attention. I maintained that respect for the flag when I was on active duty and in the 50 years since. I respect a person's right to protest. I do not, however, accept that the time and place to do so is during the national anthem—unless you are protesting the United States.

Laurance F. Sitter

PORTLAND

Roger Goodell? Really? His weak comments showing the mildest support for the protests gives him no right to be on this cover.

James Ruckman

LA MESA, CALIF.

Your well-intentioned cover is a travesty. To portray "A NATION DIVIDED, SPORTS UNITED" without prominently featuring Colin Kaepernick, the athlete who first took a stand by taking a knee, is absurd.

Mark Mohr, VANCOUVER, WASH.

It's unfortunate that issues such as racism and police brutality are being overshadowed by the issue of standing for the national anthem. If athletes really want to effect change, I suggest they articulate their ideas through words instead of silent and irrelevant protestations.

Seavan Sternheim

PALO ALTO, CALIF.

I read with interest your many articles concerning the protests at NFL games. One would have thought, in fairness, that you'd have at least one article in support of the President's position. Since half of Americans disapprove of these athletes' actions, it would have been the logical thing to do.

Gregory Mangold

STERLING HEIGHTS, MICH.

Thank you for this issue and for deftly addressing the rights of athletes to stand up for what they believe in despite negative attacks from the public, in general, and the President, in particular. I usually donate my read copies of SI to the waiting room of the medical facility where I work, but this one, I will save.

Harm Wilkinson

GUALALA, CALIF.

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