A.G. Gancarski
Just weeks ago, members of the Jacksonville Jaguars made international news by protesting the U.S. national anthem on foreign soil.
Ahead of a game in London, Jaguars players kneeled while owner Shad Khan supported their protest by standing with the team during the anthem.
In the interim, an attempt to walk it back: as a mea culpa letter from Jaguars President Mark Lamping to a city of Jacksonville official made clear on Oct. 6.
The team, wrote Lamping, “was remiss in not fully comprehending the effect of the national anthem demonstration on foreign soil has had on the men and women who have or continue to serve our country.”
“We owe you an apology and hope you will accept it,” Lamping added.
That formal apology followed a meeting between Jags ownership and management and military leaders and veterans — with one meeting attendee speaking out in a letter obtained by Florida Politics, which questioned the apology.
That veteran: Anthony (Tony) D’Aleo, the President of the local Nicholas J. Cutinha Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 1046.
D’Aleo’s account of the meeting filled in many of the gaps left by the Lamping letter to the city official, ascribing material motivations to the Jaguars’ about-face.
“What I got out of this meeting: they are worried of protest and ticket sales — merchandise very low. Michael from the USO said he purchased 1500 tickets at low price for the last game and only sold 200,” D’Aleo wrote.
D’Aleo also questioned the legitimacy of the apology itself.
“The Jaguars don’t think they did anything wrong, (to me that’s bull). They have reason why they knelt — they blamed it on Trump and the NFL Commissioner why they did it.”
“[Shad Khan, the Jaguars owner] and Mark [Lamping] said, the Jaguars will not apologize or say they are sorry to the Veteran Community. I felt they bought the city, with that Million Dollars donation,” D’Aleo wrote.
The $1 million donation was a financial commitment made in 2014 to the city’s military affairs department by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Our military, both active duty and retired, is an important part of the fabric of Jacksonville and the Jaguars fan base,” said Khan. “When veterans decide to call Jacksonville home, that’s an honor for all of us, and with that comes the responsibility to support them in their transition to civilian life.”
We have reached out to the city and the team for their comments on D’Aleo’s account of the meeting; check back for updates.
5 comments
Shad Con
October 18, 2017 at 11:22 am
Commission Shad’s yacht into the U.S. Navy and call it even.
Frankie M.
October 18, 2017 at 10:05 pm
So tired of these snowflakes who get their panties in a wad over some people kneeling. If you don’t want to go to the game then don’t go. Just stop telling us about it. And I thought liberals were whiny. At least Shad was right about one thing. The person in the WH(Curry’s boy) is way more offensive than a group of people peacefully protesting.
Jpalm
October 19, 2017 at 8:17 am
Even if they’re too dumb to realize they’re protesting over lies and BS
Frankie M.
October 19, 2017 at 5:57 pm
which side? The kneelers or the boycotters?
Dwight C.
October 24, 2017 at 8:23 am
Given that the kneelers are protesting Police brutality – which is a local issue – by kneeling for a National anthem, I’d say the kneelers any way you slice it.
Comments are closed.