The Loser Bowl
There’s nothing like a Loser Bowl to put the NFL in perspective. Preface this topic with a reminder that NFL players, coaches and others ‘employed’ by this ‘industry’ are paid incredible salaries and the notion that you don’t always get what you pay for becomes clear. When the resounding elation in ‘Packerland’ is that you were not defeated by the only winless team in the NFL there is a momentary distraction from the fact that a 6 and 10 record is pathetic. It is just not as pathetic as being the first team to go winless since the regular season grew to sixteen games. The Detroit Lions receive the bonus distinction of being the first team to also go 0 and 15 based on the results from the previous week’s game.
Not to be ignored during this week of NFL footnotes the Dallas Cowboys, a recurring nemesis for the Green Bay Packers, managed to get pounded 6-44 by the Philadelphia Eagles in their effort to look as bad as the Pack. Two pieces of trivia which add to the list of Dallas and Green Bay coincidences is that the Dallas QB is from Wisconsin and it is reported today he was so banged up after the game he collapsed a couple of times after the game. A collapse that mirrors that of both teams this season.
The larger point for publishing this post concerns the fans (consuming public) and how the heavily paid members of professional sports constantly pursue how to squeeze more an more money from the public. From the troubling stories of years past focused on college-age athletes abandoning the traditional idea of obtaining a college education in concert with the opportunities provided by excelling in sports the current trends were set. Fast forward through the years of greed and continuous inflation connected with professional sports sprinkled with ‘gangsta’ attributes and various regular scandals and exploits of overpaid talent to management’s and owner’s strategy of taking nearly everything pay per view as soon as they can to begin seeing pro sports for what they are.
Although some of the initial ‘virtues’ of professional sport remain the dominant theme of ’show me the money’ has largely replaced the noble pursuits. There was a time when pro sports were a positive influence on community spirit as well as the strongest real life example of what is possible through hard work, discipline and commitment. The recent display of the chink in the armor of professional sport may have been provided by NASCAR. The loss of sponsorship dollars required to fuel the sport is falling on hard times in the face of financial setbacks worldwide. Maybe the NFL and other sports leagues should heed the warning of what could happen to their golden goose if current trends continue.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com