Reaction to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans’ national anthem protest during Sunday’s game continues to roil the Sunshine State and now a powerful Florida politician urges a boycott of the team.
During the November 13 game against the Chicago Bears, Evans decided to use the playing of the national anthem to make the political statement that President-elect Donald Trump is a “joke” and the country is filled with racists for electing him as president.
Reaction was instant with many expressing their disgust at the $14.6 million per year player’s actions. And now powerful State Senator Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, has chimed in with his thoughts on the “outrageous” incident.
“I think it’s outrageous,” Sen. Latvala said on Monday. “I just think it’s wrong, it’s selfish, and I’m tired of it.”
The senator went on to insist that Evans was disrespecting our soldiers as well as the country.
“What he’s done is, disrespected them, he’s disrespected the flag, the national anthem and our whole country,” Latvala exclaimed.
On Tuesday, Evans apologized to anyone he offended and vowed to discontinue the pregame protest.
Latvala was one of the powerful state politicians who worked to get the Buccaneers $60 million in tax rebates over the last 30 years.
Speaking of those payments of tax dollars, a former Republican legislator is calling to halt them.
“We should stop sending the monthly check they’re already receiving,” Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano insisted.
Even worse for the player’s political position, after he stirred controversy with his “Star Spangled Banner” sit-down it came to light that he didn’t even bother to vote in this month’s elections.
According to numerous reports, Evans admitted not voting on his own social media acount.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.