That Story About James Harrison Threatening Any Teammate Who Sits For The Anthem Is Bogus

Former NHL player Jeremy Roenick showed his ass by tweeting this on Monday:

Roenick’s sentiment was dumb enough, but there was an additional problem: The story was bullshit.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison never made that comment, nor did he tweet, “if you are on my team and not standing for Anthem better be because a broken leg or I’m gonna give you one. #EyesonuCK” last year, after people began to notice Colin Kaepernick’s anthem protest.

Jonathan Jones of Sports Illustrated got to the bottom of things by simply asking Harrison about all that manufactured internet sludge. Harrison’s reply:

“I mean, I guess it speaks to the gullibility of people. Just because you read something on social media doesn’t make it true. If you were to do that and believe everything that you hear or see, written or there, the world would be in a real bad place. And we’re already in a tough place now.”

[...]

“I mean, I think the source was what, Happy Gilmore or something? C’mon,” Harrison says, offering a chuckle. “Let’s use a little bit of common sense.”

Per Jones, the Steelers’ PR boss had checked with Harrison after Roenick’s tweet started making the rounds, and corrected the record with his own tweet. Roenick’s had already picked up steam by that point, though.

Harrison’s actual thoughts on anthem protests, via Jones: “That’s up to the individual. If they feel like that’s something they want to do, that’s their right.”

[ Sports Illustrated]