“So many bigger issues,” agreed Hoda Kotb. Bigger issues notwithstanding, the duo proceeded to squirm through a discussion on the recent wave of NFL players protesting racism during the pregame national anthem. There was no mention of how (or why) this drives Donald Trump crazy, and in fact both seemed to sympathize with his perspective.
In the clip above, come for the ambivalence of Kathie Lee (“I think it’s certainly their right, and I also find it disrespectful and upsetting”), stay for the confusion of Hoda (“You sort of wish there was a way that you could protest without disrespecting the flag, without that being the thing”). Hoda, that is the thing. That is the point.
“I think it really hurts the game of football and football doesn’t need anymore hurt right now with all the things that football’s gone through,” said Kathie Lee. So true. Hasn’t football suffered enough??? If only there were something else in this country’s history that could possibly compare to the oppression the institution of football has faced!
“I couldn’t stop thinking about all the people that lost a knee because they were protecting our rights, and lost their lives,” said Kathie Lee to Hoda’s emphatic agreement.
At the end of their conversation, Hoda noted, “This is going to be going on and on.”
“I wish it would all just go away,” said Kathie Lee. “I haven’t watched a football game since Frank [her husband] passed. Can’t do it! Can’t do it. All right, but we love to watch Megan Markle and Prince Harry. All day!” And with the dawning of a new segment, all was well again in Todaytown.
