Shot…
This old tweet from Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is getting new life after his team’s decision to sit out the national anthem, except for former Army officer Alejandro Villanueva, that is:
Thank you to the men and women of the Armed Forces who served our country and continue to serve. I have the utmost respect for you.
— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) November 11, 2014
The response from Twitter has been, well, here it is:
GO TO HELL U EFFING PIECE OF TRASH & TAKE YOUR CRIMINAL NFL GANG MEMBERS WITH U – U HAVE LOST AMERICA, I PROMISE U, DESPICABLE, ALL OF U https://t.co/RNBs951Gp7
— Deplorable-GINA GIGI (@GGNJ2000) September 26, 2017
You have the utmost respect?!!! I don't think you and I would agree on the definition of the word 'respect," you have no honor https://t.co/pErTcrsjZd
— JoDschmidt (@JoDschmidt) September 27, 2017
Bull Crap whatever team you work for will be hounded and boycotted for you sir are a racist. #BoycottNFL https://t.co/Qf5MtjKWRG
— Dr Gregg Houlden MD FEBS/EmSurg MBA (@gregghoulden) September 27, 2017
So much respect he bullied a vet into apologizing for standing for our national anthem. #Steelers https://t.co/MA830dBZ8h
— Judson McCulloch (@JudsonMcCulloch) September 27, 2017
Nice try Tomlin……but it doesn't wash…..A coach is supposed to energize his players…..not denigrate them…You should be fired…. https://t.co/ycKaJG17FR
— Joel S. Weinberger (@BearoftheSouth) September 26, 2017
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Many on Twitter think Villanueva was forced to apologize after his one-man display of patriotism went viral:
'My fault … only': Alejandro Villanueva APOLOGIZES for standing alone for National Anthem https://t.co/w4NFSFAhbf
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 26, 2017
And Villanueva will be donating all profits from his jersey sales to charity:
.@Steelers' Alejandro Villanueva to Donate NFL Jersey Sales to USO, Military Non-Profits https://t.co/YLx8SfVEpi pic.twitter.com/KbKcwNn08A
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) September 27, 2017
After the game, Tomlin said the team “didn’t play politics with the anthem”:
Tomlin says #Steelers didn't play politics with anthem: 'To perceive us as anything less than patriotic is wrong' https://t.co/PT2i5SCh2M pic.twitter.com/CoIW7mlKGv
— WTAE-TV Pittsburgh (@WTAE) September 26, 2017
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Related:
Patriotism FTW! Sales for Alejandro Villanueva's jersey rocket to the top https://t.co/5jKs2UciVu
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 25, 2017