Football and Politics Collide

I've started writing this blog on several occasions in the past week, but somehow I keep getting distracted by currents happenings in our Nation. Mainly I have been spending time with the all important up-coming election. Voting, especially in a presidential election, is the only thing more important than Football. OK maybe that's not entirely true, football is pretty important. However, you may ask what does the election have to do with football? Believe it or not more than you may realize.

Sure everyone knows the outcome of the Washington Redskins game is supposed to predict the election. Many presidential candidates have professed to be fans of the game at some point during their campaigns. NFL players and coaches, past and present, have been seen on the campaign trail. Polls have been taken to determine with which candidate you would most like to watch a football game.

In my "real" life I have worked for government for more than 30 years. I have no doubt with which presidential candidate I would like to watch the game and why. I am very concerned about the future of our great Country based on the recent economic state and the up-coming election.

Football,especially college and professional has long been a vibrant part of our economy. Millions and millions actually billions of dollars are spent each year on football. If the economy remains in a slump and the taxes are increased on any of us, especially the middle class something will suffer. I am concerned it may well be my beloved football, especially the NFL. The NFL contributes to the quality of life that many Americans enjoy today. But who will be able to pay for tickets, parking and beer in any NFL stadium. Sell-outs may become a thing of the past.

My family has had season tickets since the 1940's. So I was thinking maybe I could send the Federal government tickets for one game in lieu of paying additional taxes. They could then redistribute them to one of the homeless people I normally pass soliciting money on my way into the stadium. Heaven forbid I should be able to keep my hard earned money to spend it the way I choose. At any rate you get my drift and my concerns for the future. We may well have bigger concerns than bad calls by the ref, rule changes or who to pick in fantasy football. Of course this election may affect all of the things I love about the NFL. So my rant to you today is vote on Nov.4th. Be informed before you vote and think about your future when you do. Was there football in Germany?

Your Mom

Don't Blame the Officials

On any given Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or sometimes Saturday in the NFL season the men affectionately known as "zebras" find themselves determining the outcome of NFL games.

Do you think these guys don the black and white uniforms and step out onto the field, whistles in hand with no idea of the rules of the game? No...it takes many, many years to make it to the NFL. Take a look at these guys next time you watch a game..you won't see anyone in their twenties, maybe not even their thirties...it takes a lot of officiating to get to the NFL. But that training and expertise still doesn't stop us from questioning the eye sight of these guys or whether they really know the NFL rules. I know I see a lot more rule breaking from my seat in the stadium or even from my living room couch.

There are seven guys on the field: the back judge, line judge, side judge, field judge, referee, umpire, and head linesman and they still have to go to the guy in the booth on occasion to make a decision. They sometimes huddle on the field for what seems like an eternity only to come up with some explanation of a flag that no one understands. I especially like it when they come out of the huddle and then decide there was no penality on the play. Why is it that the ref's have so much influence on the outcome of the game? I say it's about luck. Football is really a game of chance; luck if you will. Many games come down to a lucky play, lucky weather, or maybe even a lucky call; not neccessarily good coaching or player skill. If you needed a favorable flag to win a game you probably didn't deserve to win it anyway. If you loose a game on a bad call I say that's luck.... maybe bad luck, but get over it. Life isn't always fair. That's not to say I haven't nor will never complain about the refs. It's the nature of a good football fan to complain about the refs. But my rant today is still don't blame the officials. Consider them a part of the game. Play better and smarter and maybe keep your lucky rabbit foot in your pocket.

Your Mom

NFL entertainment

This week I continue my rant about the entertainment factor of the NFL. Football in general, be it midget league, high school, college, or professional is a big part of our American culture. It has become so much a part of our lives that you really can't ignore it. I love football and can't wait for training camps to start and I'm sad when the Super Bowl is over and I can't wait until the spring draft to get more football. Am I nuts? Maybe, but I'm certainly not alone.

How has this once simple sport that attracted mainly the male population become such big entertainment? Media coverage has gone wild and more women have found the sport. Each new NFL commissioner takes the NFL to another level. Rule changes, more rule changes, and even more rule changes have drastically changed the game. Personally I sometimes wish it wasn't such a big money game. I really enjoyed the days when you could hit the quarterback and if he didn't get up he was carted off the field and the next guy came in. It made the game less predictable and more exciting. Hit the receiver, hold the linemen, kick, spit, punch, and scratch...now that was entertainment.

Now it's much more "civil" because the players are paid too, too, much to play. You have to protect your investment and we are worried about the image of the NFL. I liked to see the bloody, battered player hobble off the field only to return the next series of downs to seek revenge. So what are we doing now? Oh yeah, making more rules to protect the players and changing the game even more. I understand the game is different and I've come to accept that it will continue to change, but oh how I long for that good old football game. They have gone so far as to fine players for flipping the bird to the fans. Oh, give me a break...so now we're even protecting the fans. Get over it people.. THIS IS FOOTBALL. or a least it used to be.

If you don't like the hitting, hand jesters made be the players, or any of drama of the game...don't watch it!!! You can change the TV channel or not attend the game. As for me ...that's why I love the game and that's the real entertainment factor of the NFL.

Your Mom

NFL Cheerleaders?

So what's up with the NFL and Cheerleaders? Twenty-five teams currently have the sometimes scantily clad beauties dotting the sidelines or preforming at halftime. Why? Oh, I understand all you guys enjoy the eye candy, but come on this is FOOTBALL!. Cheerleaders and all that other mascot stuff that happens on the sidelines and at halftime drives me nuts. Halftime entertainment should be the local high school band, Frisbee catching dogs, and punt, pass, and kick contests. NO cheerleaders, NO motorcycle riding guys in costumes with big cowboy hats waving the Dallas Cowboy flag. Are you kidding me? Ticket prices are expensive enough. I don't need to pay to be "entertained" by anything other than the actual game.

The stadium in which I watch NFL games does not have Cheerleaders. We have fans that do not need to be prompted by pom pom waving from the field. We have intelligent fans that know when to make so much noise that the opposing team can't hear the signal count and we know when to be silent. We know how to dance in the aisles and we know how to encourage our team without Cheerleaders directing our responses. And yes we enjoy the game.

The seven team with no Cheerleaders are the Bears, Steelers, Packers, Jets, Lions, Browns and Giants. All real NFL teams... not teams that had to find some other means to get people to the stadium. I guess I come from the old school when football wasn't so much of a big entertainment business, but sports...plain and simple. And I really like it that way. It's all about the game.


Your mom

I Love Football

So Craig has written a very good introduction to what will hopefully be an entertaining collection of thoughts and comments on one of my favorite things in life...FOOTBALL. What he neglected to tell you was this little adventure was really born from an off the cuff comment last time he was at home here in "Steeler Country". I told Craig I was planning to retire soon and would have time to make comments on his blog. He called me on it and invited me to write my own side column.

Of course my first stab at this happens after week one of the NFL season. The week that puts Tom Brady out for the year and allows Brett Favre to win his first game in another albeit green uniform. I can't, just can't, pass up the opportunity to say: Dear Tom--it's Karma. You should have been a little more humble and certainly not so self-righteous. Perhaps this long, long season with no snaps from center will give you time to reflect and you too will see what many of us see in you...a spoiled pretty boy who believes the world revolves around him. From where I sit, your ill mannered behavior on the field unfortunately sticks in my mind much more than any completed pass, number of wins, or MVP awards. You and your coach have done much to tarnish the NFL as I have always viewed it. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. May you spend may hours not in physical pain, but mental anguish over what it really means to be a quarterback in the NFL.

As for Brett Favre I have somehow had a slight change of heart. I was so tired of hearing the on and off retirement saga that I actually began to watch summer re-runs. Now I am not so disappointed in the end result. He has only played one game, but it was enough to make me understand how much he loves the game. He was willing to chance the comments of critics to do what he loves. Maybe that's the better story and one many can learn from.

So there you have my first comments. There will be more to come, provided my son allows me to continue.

Looking forward to your comments... I love a good football conversation..just ask my twin sons!

your mom

Mother Knows Best

Clearly, I love football. I live and breath football. I don't understand people that don't share my obsession. But where did this obsession come from? Yes, my Dad is a huge football fan, yes, he would throw the ball around in the backyard with me as a kid, yes, he's flown cross country for games and gone to the Super Bowl, and yes, he hates to miss a game. But, it's Mom that's the lifelong season-ticket holder. It's Mom that hasn't missed a home-opener in decades, and it's Mom that was there for the Immaculate Reception. Not to take anything away from Dad, he knows his stuff and shares Mom's passion, but when you really need someone to let you know how they feel about the NFL, give my Mom a call. And so I kick off the first NZI side-column, written by the one and only Vicki Bryan, aka my Mom.