The Dallas Cowboys’ Troy Aikman bust resides in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, because of his offense, but the legendary quarterback switched to defense Tuesday night to defend his criticism of a military flyover at Sunday’s Green Bay-Tampa Bay game.
In a commentary unintended for air, Aikman questioned the need for a pregame flyover in front of a three-quarters empty stadium, to longtime FOX broadcast partner Joe Buck. A hot mic picked up his comment that it took “a lot of jet fuel just to do a little flyover” and it was shared on Defector.com, whose Twitter account received 2.5 million views for the video.
Buck sarcastically responded, “That’s your hard-earned money and your taxpayers at work.”
Aikman, who supported Mitt Romney’s and John McCain’s presidential campaigns, said, “That stuff ain’t happening with a Kamala-Biden ticket, I’ll tell you that right now, partner.”
Military members pointed out that flyovers are not done at any additional cost because they are part of pilot training, right down to the precision of multiple jets soaring over a stadium as a national anthem ends.
The story received a lot of attention, with people wondering what Aikman meant with his comments on Sunday, and he addressed the mini-controversy on his Twitter account.
“I love a flyover but it was odd to see one over a mostly empty stadium, but I am an unwavering patriot that loves this country, has always respected our flag, supported the men and women in the armed forces as well as those in uniform who serve and protect, and for anyone to suggest otherwise doesn’t know me, my beliefs or what I have stood for my entire life.”
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