CNN — Rather than displaying his doctorate in anatomical sciences on the wall of his office, Justin Sipla displays the certificate of the minority share he has in the Green Bay Packers.
Teaching at the University of Iowa’s medical school, the neuroanatomist said, “That’s all the students need to know about me.”
The main reason he accepted the job in 2010 was that it was close to Lambeau Field, where his team plays in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Every NFL club has ardent supporters, but the Packers supporters are distinct in that they have ownership in the team but not the same privileges as other team owners. According to the team’s website, more than 360,000 supporters own more than 5 million shares in the Packers, the only publicly owned team in the league.
Minority stockholders expressed gratitude to the team for standing united last weekend, but they were offended by the fact that some players on other teams chose to protest by kneeling in reaction to President Trump’s condemnation of players who choose to do so. However, other stockholders declared they will follow quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ request to stand united and link arms during the playing of the National Anthem prior to Thursday’s game against the
“It will represent a coming together of players who want the same things that all of us do – freedom, equality, tolerance, understanding, and justice for those who have been unjustly treated, discriminated against or otherwise treated unfairly,” the team said in a statement.
Even though the President was not speaking directly to Packers shareholders, Audrey Birnbaum Young, an Atlanta stakeholder, said she was insulted as a fan and a part-owner when Trump urged NFL owners to dismiss players who protest during the playing of the National Anthem.
The 34-year-old stated, “It was completely absurd for him to insult the owners without taking into account the fact that there are shareholders who are also fans.” “We are unable to terminate those players, but even in the event that we were, we would not take that position.”
A number of players throughout the league, including Von Miller of the Denver Broncos and Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens, took a knee during last weekend’s games.
However, Blue Point, New York resident John Downs says he couldn’t help but imagine how soldiers felt when they saw players take a knee during the Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game in London’s highlights.
The minority owner of the Packers claimed he became enraged with the demonstration because it was insulting to the soldiers who were watching from abroad.
“Creating a culture around football”
In the five years after the team became a publicly traded nonprofit corporation in 1923, the Packers organization has given supporters the opportunity to purchase stock. 2011’s final stock offering was used to fund restorations at historic Lambeau Field. At that time, almost 250,000 stockholders became owners.
There is nothing like a real stock in Packers stock. It is not required of the team to be purchased back. Investors shouldn’t anticipate making money. Securities laws do not provide them with any protection either. The NFL and Packers bylaws “severely restrict” any stock transfers. Yes, shareholders are able to vote.
Minority owners now take pride in the equities, which were first sold to support the team in a little market. Stock is owned by several family members.
“There is something that has always been in the culture of the Green Bay Packers and their fans about the fans coming together to keep this team afloat,” Sipla added. “We still feel like we’re a part of something that’s creating a football culture that we think we kind of are,” the participant said.
Since being admitted to the hospital following a stroke, Sipla has only missed two games: victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans in December of last year.
The devoted fan traveled five hours last Sunday to Lambeau Field in Green Bay to watch the Packers play the Cincinnati Bengals.
Although Sipla stated that he always stands for the playing of the National Anthem, he added he doesn’t take offense if someone doesn’t, “especially if the causes they say they’re doing it for are for reasons of social injustice.”
Seeing the team link arms gave him hope.
“In my opinion, the American flag represents the liberty granted to us by the US Constitution,” the man stated. As long as the event is peaceful, “that means people who want to sit, stand, or do something else during that kind of ceremony have that privilege.”
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