My dad had the following to say and I couldn’t agree more.
“I saw people coming out of First Bank Stadium(where the Vikings lost their wild card playoff game) on Sunday, weeping in sorrow. WEEPING, mind you.
The sight of such misplaced grief was enough to make ME weep too.
I like football. A lot. I even played it as a kid. But it’s just a game. I can enjoy it a lot more if I keep that in mind at all times and keep my emotions in check. Disappointed, sure. But weeping?
Sorry, that I don’t get…
So I’m curious: why does football - a game played by millionaires, controlled by billionaires, and supported by people who are neither - elicit such raw emotion as if everyone was Kirk Cousin’s cousin?
I don’t see baseball having this same effect, do you?
Money and politics have infiltrated this game so badly, I can’t even pretend to take it seriously anymore. I do still like it. But it’s a game that clearly revolves around such humongous amounts of money, that it becomes harder and harder to relate to it on any kind of baseline human level. It’s not a “sport” as I remember it. It’s big business. Really big. Does that not take just a little of the “fun” out of it for you? It does me. The road to the climactic Super Bowl is filled with so much gold and money-driven protocol that a team with a mediocre season can win it all. Does that make any sense to anyone? Why have “standings” at all? Let’s give every team a “one more last chance” wild card game. Why not? No more hurt feelings over bad calls…
Sorry but the beloved Lombardi trophy is now showing tarnish. Football, loved for its competitive athleticism, has become little more than an entertainment medium - “American Idol” on cleats - “The Masked Singer” with helmets - whose biggest athletes sell themselves out to the highest bidder to become car insurance pitchmen between periods. (I’m hoping Brock Purdy will resist State Farm’s offers that you know are coming. But will he crumble too?)…
I was disappointed when my Packers were eliminated but I didn’t weep. I wept when my cat died. The Packers deserved to be eliminated and apparently so did the Vikings. My cat didn’t…
Maybe if this incredible game one day returns to a state of being in which it’s less about money and more about winning, integrity will be restored. Maybe if player’s salaries were contingent upon results? Isn’t your job somewhat based on your performance? Mine always was. I don’t begrudge anyone making a lot of money. It’s the greed factor that I can’t honor… To the fan, it’s a game all about winning. To the NFL, it’s a business all about revenue. I think the league and the fans - once somewhat united in purpose - have grown very far apart. What’s needed is some integrity…
The great Minnesota Vikings with their incredible record, are done. The Jacksonville Jaguars with their mediocre record are still in the running for the Lombardi. Now do you understand?…
I guess if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
So until someone throws a red challenge flag for integrity, I say:
*Go Jaguars!*”
I love their fiery coach as well the progress of both Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones. SB pick? Don't have one yet. Who would I like to see win it other than the Giants? Either the Bills or Cincy. The Jags winning it would be nice also.
