NBA, NFL return to traditional 'merry Christmas' messages as American culture is finally being embraced again



Netflix and Disney's ESPN saw a return to normalcy with simple Christmas messages, as the two sports brands battled for viewer supremacy on the holiday.

While the idea of a war on Christmas has been seen as something of a meme in recent years, bans on Christmas trees and "Christmas-themed items" still happen on occasion.

If football and basketball fans are tired of hearing "happy Holidays" instead of "merry Christmas," both the NBA and NFL seemed keen to focus on "merry Christmas" this year in order to garner fuzzy feelings instead of viewer outrage.

The NFL's first broadcast on Netflix came with focus on Christmas, particularly the message of "merry Christmas."

Stars like Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson even ran around like a lunatic with a Santa coat on, while Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce sported theirs in the locker room.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid then appeared as Santa Claus himself to wish all his players a "merry Christmas."

All of this was presented officially by the NFL. Yes, the league wants ratings — and it worked.

For the Chiefs' game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, Netflix saw its second-most popular live broadcast, with viewers from over 200 different countries.

According to the Mirror, the platform had its highest concurrent viewership on Christmas Day in four years, with one-third of those viewers tuning in to the football game.

Arrowhead Stadium, Christmas Day 2023Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

'I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day.'

The NBA was clearly looking to compete, and since basketball historically is the go-to sport for Christmas Day in the United States, the league pulled out all the stops. Although the viewership numbers aren't yet known, the NBA had high hopes by pitting LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

After a thrilling two-point victory, James made it clear that the NBA was in it to win.

"I love the NFL. I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day," James told an ESPN reporter, reciprocating a "merry Christmas" of his own.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who scored a historic triple-double, had his own "merry Christmas" message pushed out on official NBA channels after the game.

Disney-owned ESPN took advantage of childhood memories during its broadcast as well, invoking Mickey Mouse and all his friends for what seemed like an awfully unfair pickup basketball game for whoever had Pluto or Chip 'n' Dale on their team.

In the end, Mickey's Christmas wish came true, the tree was lit, and Santa flew away, leaving the Disney characters to ball on their own personal Christmas court.

It goes without saying that major sports leagues know that falling back on wholesome messaging can win back audiences, but only time will tell if the NBA can beat its 4 million viewers from last Christmas. That number was more than 10 million in 2018, per Sports Media Watch, but the likelihood of that number being reached unfortunately seems like a pipe dream for the league.

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Three holiday movies that keep the 'Christ' in Christmas



War on Christmas?

It's strange that anyone would bother. In 2024, it's perfectly easy to celebrate Christmas without any reference to Christ or Christianity.

Charlie Brown's melancholy reflections on the season demonstrate that being 'over' Christmas is not a modern invention.

Most of know about the commercialization of Christmas and Coca-Cola’s mass adoption of a secularized Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) to sell beverages starting in the 1920s and 1930s. But for decades after, pop culture depictions of the holiday still commonly included references to the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

Even a secular film like "It’s a Wonderful Life" famously emphasizes the themes of redemption and hope symbolized by Christmastime.

More recent movies like "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation" (1989) or "Home Alone" (1990), while less reverent about the season, still manage to present it as an occasion for reconciling with family and finding hope during troubled times.

Cut to the past several decades. Holiday offerings like "The Grinch," "Elf," "Deck the Halls," "Red One," and "The Christmas Chronicles" limit themselves to a vaguely Christmas ambience and mood without any deeper reflection.

Many of these movies are "family" films in that they avoid profanity and sex. But their hollowness and crass commercialism make them arguably harder to sit through than raunchy pics like "Bad Santa." At least the latter is honest about its cynicism.

Of course, there is more nourishing Yuletide fare to be had. Below is a list of some Christmas classics we recommend, some more obscure than others but all worth a viewing.

'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (1965)

The very first of many TV specials based on Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" made two radical decisions for the time: dispensing with a laugh track and hiring actual children to play the characters. The result is something quieter and more humble than the overstuffed entertainments we take for granted today.

Which is not to say that it is naive or saccharine. Charlie Brown's melancholy reflections on the season demonstrate that being "over" Christmas is not a modern invention and make Linus' reminder of the reason for the season (quoting Scripture on network television!) especially powerful.

'3 Godfathers' (1948)

This lesser-known collaboration between director John Ford and icon John Wayne also quotes Scripture, Luke 2:22's description of the presentation of Jesus at the temple: "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord."

Three bank robbers have found a Bible while on the lam in the desert; one of them reads this passage aloud. They've also found a newborn — his dying mother has charged them with keeping him safe. A thoughtful and funny retelling of the story of the three wise men.

'Joyeux Noel' (2005)

What we came to call World War I had been raging for a few months when Pope Benedict called for a temporary Christmas truce in December 1914, expressing his wish "that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.” Those in charge rejected his plea, but the men doing the fighting had other plans. On Christmas Eve, British soldiers in their trenches at the Western front heard something strange: the Germans singing "Silent Night."

The British joined in; soon an impromptu celebration formed, with the enemies meeting in no man's land to sing, exchange small gifts, and play soccer. 2005's "Joyeux Noel" (sometimes called "Merry Christmas" in English-language versions) compellingly depicts this event through the eyes of different French, Scottish, and German soliders. Unflinching and unsentimental, it nonetheless manages to convey an authentic Christian hope in the midst of a hellish conflict.

Align's ultimate last-minute Christmas gift guide



Did someone say "last-minute gifts"? You've come to the right place. Below we've curated a delightful array of products we've featured in Align over the past year. And remember: No matter what the MAINSTREAM MEDIA tells you, real Christmas enjoyers know the season extends well into January.

1. An American flag set from Allegiance Flag Supply

There's no better gift for the patriot near and dear to your heart than a “beautiful American flag,” to quote our once and future president. But how to make sure you're buying an Old Glory made here at home and not some Chinese knock-off? The good folks at Charleston, South Carolina-based Allegiance Flag Supply have you covered. Since 2018, they've been keeping it "American Sewn, American Flown."

2. A "You Are What You Eat" print from Stacy Tabb

Dan and Stacy Tabb live in Alabama on a former hay farm, which they're busy turning into Ironspring Orchard and Farm. They're also both artists. Dan, a disabled Navy veteran, sculpts in stone. Stacy makes (among other things) beautiful, folk-art inspired prints of animals that whimsically celebrate the food chain. Support a local artist — and bring a bit of the great outdoors inside.

3. Classic tales to thrill from Passage Publishing

Do men read books anymore? Step inside the typical bookstore — with display tables groaning under the weight of pastel-colored chick-lit 2.0 tomes — and you'd certainly think not. Jonathan Keeperman's upstart Passage Publishing knows otherwise. In addition to providing a home for heterodox writers like Curtis Yarvin and Steve Sailer, Passage has also reissued work by pulp legend Robert E. Howard and singular master of horror H.P Lovecraft in handsome new editions. And let's not forgot F.W. Dixon's "Hardy Boys" series, restored to their original texts after various edits to protect delicate modern sensibilities.

4. A pair of Anderson Bean boots

There are better-known brands out there, but one name comes up when you ask around about the best boot in the biz: Anderson Bean. Zeferino Rios and his family began making fine, handcrafted boots in Mexico in 1953. Fifty years later or so, the operation moved to Mercedes, Texas, where it continues to this day.

5. A .22 lever-action rifle from Henry Repeating Arms

Without the Second Amendment, there would be no First Amendment, and arguably none of the rest, either. You can support both our right to bear arms and American manufacturing ingenuity with a fine firearm from Brooklyn-based Henry Repeating Arms — a brand that goes all the way back to the Civil War.

6. A copy of 'On the Incarnation,' by Saint Athanasius

Nothing helps keep your mind on the reason for season than a little time with the fathers of the church. The Christmas Day homily St. John Chrysostom delivered at Antioch in 386 invites us to "behold a new and wondrous mystery" — and is always worth a read. There's also Saint Athanasius' "On the Incarnation," a theologically profound yet simply expressed musing on Advent and the foundational Christian belief. This edition comes with an excellent introduction by C.S. Lewis.

7. A basic emergency kit from Kruschiki Supply Company

Got someone on your gift list who loves spending time in nature? Kruschiki Supply Company's wide range of hardy and hard-to-find surplus gear and supplies have you covered. Tell them "Merry Christmas" and "I hope you survive the apocalypse" at the same time with KSC founder's personally selected budget bug-out kit.

8. Classic full-zip hoodie from American Giant

This gift of the "greatest hoodie ever made" can help your loved-one stay warm and cozy while also signaling his or her support of American manufacturing. Almost 15 years ago, Bayard Winthrop had a crazy idea: What if we could make a hooded sweatshirt in America and entirely out of American materials? He pulled it off, and American Giant was born.

Editor's note: American Giant is a sponsor of BlazeTV's "The Glenn Beck Program."

9. A charitable donation to the Gary Sinise Foundation

What about the proverbial person who has everything? They'll certainly appreciate a donation made in their name to support the Gary Sinise Foundation's indefatigable and life-changing efforts on behalf of veterans and first-responders.

10. A Subscription to Blaze News or Frontier

Not to toot our own horn, but do you know the expression "the gift that keeps on giving"? That's what a subscription to Blaze News is all about. The political commentary and reporting you've come to trust — as well as our new, expanded lifestyle and tech offerings. And if you like the tangible feel of glossy magazine pages, check out our new magazine, Frontier — a wonderful surprise to put in anyone's mailbox.

Please note that the product recommendations that Align publishes are meant solely to inform and edify our subscribers; unless explicitly labeled as such, they are neither paid promotions or endorsements.

Even in cases in which a company is a paid sponsor of Blaze Media, Align editorial content is created independent of any commercial relationships.

'MAY THEY ROT IN HELL': Trump unleashes scathing 'Merry Christmas' message



Former President Donald Trump posted a fiery message wishing people a Merry Christmas while blasting "THUGS" within the U.S., declaring, "MAY THEY ROT IN HELL."

"Merry Christmas to all, including Crooked Joe Biden's ONLY HOPE, Deranged Jack Smith, the out of control Lunatic who just hired outside attorneys, fresh from the SWAMP (unprecedented!), to help him with his poorly executed WITCH HUNT against 'TRUMP' and 'MAGA,'" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Included also are World Leaders, both good and bad, but none of which are as evil and 'sick' as the THUGS we have inside our Country who, with their Open Borders, INFLATION, Afghanistan Surrender, Green New Scam, High Taxes, No Energy Independence, Woke Military, Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Iran, All Electric Car Lunacy, and so much more, are looking to destroy our once great USA. MAY THEY ROT IN HELL. AGAIN, MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

In another post on Christmas day, the former commander in chief spoke of a battle to save America "from MADNESS & DOOM."

"It's hard to have a truly great Christmas when you have a Crooked and Incompetent President who wants to put his Political Opponent in jail, and who has been working hard (for a change!), illegally using all of the levers of Law Enforcement, to do so. We are in the fight of our lives to save our Country from MADNESS & DOOM. MAGA 2024!!!" Trump posted.

"2024 WILL GO DOWN AS THE YEAR OF GREAT AND FULLY COORDINATED ILLEGAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE BY CROOKED JOE BIDEN, THE WORST AND MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, THE DOJ, FBI, A.G.'s, & D.A.'s THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BUT DESPITE IT ALL, IN THE END, THERE WILL BE A BIG AND GLORIOUS VICTORY FOR THOSE BRAVE AND VALIANT PATRIOTS WHO WANT TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!" Trump declared in another post on Christmas.

Trump has been crushing the rest of his Republican presidential primary competitors in polls as he seeks the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

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5 Last-Minute Gift Ideas That Show You Still Care

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Apparently, wishing someone 'Merry Christmas' is now 'white supremacy culture at work'



In our culture of progressivism and political correctness, nothing is safe.

Now, apparently, even wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" is "white supremacy culture at work." At least, that's according to Jen Bokoff, a Chicago woman who made the astonishing claim on Christmas Day.

"This is your annual reminder that not everyone celebrates Christmas! The default to 'Merry Christmas' as a normal greeting is also white supremacy culture at work. If someone celebrates, then by all means. But so many people don't," Bokoff tweeted.

This is an actual person: https://t.co/pWHdUBY1cC
— Joe Concha (@Joe Concha)1608935902.0

Bokoff's claim is dripping with irony. That's because Christmas is one of Christianity's two major holiday seasons (the other being Easter, of course). And Christianity is, in fact, the largest global multiethnic religion, which means Christmas was celebrated on every continent and nearly every country on Friday.

Bokoff's message generated a tsunami of backlash, resulting in Bokoff "locking" her Twitter account.

One person responded, "My best friend's Muslim family, our black neighbors, my Jewish college roommate - ALL celebrate Christmas and no one gets pissed when they say 'Merry Christmas.'"

Another person said, "Who wants to tell her that hundreds of millions of Christians who celebrate Christmas worldwide are something other than white?"

One person pointed out, "This isn't a racist white thing. Jesus was Middle Eastern. This is a, 'I follow Christ thing' Bless her heart."

Another person said, "I was walking on the sidewalk today a Muslim lady was going the other direction, she said Merry Christmas to me. I was thrilled. I wished her Merry Christmas, we both smiled and kept walking. It was a great moment for me. The real person should give it a try and get real."

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