NFL: Death of an Era - ESPN, Hank Jr. part ways

[Koyukon]

(10-06-2011 06:24 PM)JDaveG Wrote:  Who abridged his freedom of speech? I mean, he said they did, but how did they do that?

This is exactly like the Dixie Chicks situation, and I view it exactly the same way. They said what they said, their core audience didn't like it, and they voted with their feet. That's how free speech works. You say some stupid crap, and I can choose not to purchase your products anymore. Hank Jr. said some stupid crap. ESPN chose not to use his song anymore.

No one told him he couldn't say it anymore. No one threatened to jail him. In fact, there was no state action AT ALL, and the only party bound by the Bill of Rights is the state. So to argue his First Amendment freedoms have been infringed is ridiculous. You want to say crap like that? Start your own football league, start your own sports network, and say whatever the **** you want. Until then, this was a marketing decision. No more, no less. And ESPN is perfectly entitled to do as it pleases with regard to who it lends its airways to.

I agree. the first amendment has to do with the government telling you that you aren't allowed to say something. a private company can. if you don't like it fine. go work some where else.