View topic - Is it football anymore?

[Pommah Profile]

Friday night, I watch the local high school team play. We got killed, but the other team had a small fast running back who was very good, and it was fun to watch him play, even if he torched our boys. Four quarters of kids playing their hearts out, and it's done in an hour and a half. No commercials, no pansy rules.

Saturday, I watch my kid play in Pop Warner. 3 quarters of stalemate. A wide open reciever drops a sure TD pass from my son on the fake QB keeper sweep. The other team coughs up a fumble with a hit from our big DE, we recover at midfield. Our o-line gets their traps down and starts springing our RB for some big gains, and we're able to plunge the ball in from 4th and goal at 2 for the W as time runs out. Four quarters of kids playing their hearts out, lots of mistakes, but no commercials, we're done in an hour and a half, and I had a lot of fun watching.

Sunday, I watch the Stillers on TV. Neither team can run the ball for crap. Ticky-tacky penalties. Arm tackling only, no blocking below the waist. O-lineman blocking with their hands, doing things that would get aformentioned high school and Pop Warner kids flagged. Incessant commercials every frigging 2 or 3 minutes. It's a beautiful day out, and I can't take it anymore, I get up and go mow the lawn (like I shoulda done the day before). Come back in for the 4th Q to see the Stillers blow it. These guys are getting paid zillions for this crap?

I love the Stillers, but I had a way better time watching the high school and pop warner kids for my 3 hours of football watching time investment. In comparison the NFL doesn't even seem like football anymore, it's pass-ball or pansy ball or whatever you want to call it. It's sure not guys playing their hearts out for the love of the game anymore.

[Crucible-steel-kid Profile]

Yes, there is an element of truth to what you state in your post here.

I have talked to many African Americans who are aspiring to follow their professional licensure requirements in their chosen fields of practice and they state emphatically the following 2 points: that the N.F.L. has become an entertainment opium for the masses (no religious meaning here at all as stated by Lenin), and that the sport has become a form of "Glorified Ballroom Dancing" at a gay bar...

Needless to say I do not agree totally with their points of view as any players life can be ended on any given down all over the U.S. when they are engaged in gladiator warfare. But the owners have Millions invested in these guys and the game has evolved to the point where it is an issue of protecting the investments in players against the likes of a Jack Tatum of the O. Faders...

[indysteel Profile]

Such thoughts enter my mind to -- often, after a loss. I am coaching PopWarner this year and agree that is a lot of fun and, frankly, more enjoyable than watching the Steelers (I've been doing it for over 30-years!)

In any event, the league has to be careful. Fans are getting tired of the horseshit and it's getting expensive. Even the DISH to get the Steeler's games (I'm not local so it is required to watch them every weekend) is a tad pricey.

What we as fans need to remember is this:

The NFL is a business. We, as fans, take the games a hell of alot more serious then the players. I truly believe that. This is a job for them. Couple that with the notion that the vast majority of them are nothing more than 20 something punks behaving poorly and you begin to get a bit jaded.

Gone are the days of the 1960s and 1970s when players could go out in public without being mobbed. They all had off season part time jobs to support themselves. Remember then you got most of your information on the team either via the newspaper or on the NFL Today show. Hell, I don't watch any of the pregame crap anymore at all (including the SupBowl). By the time the games roll around, I've read magazines, been on-line, chatted on this board, etc...etc..etc.....and really, I don't give a hoot in hell what the other teams are doing.

One other point. I think when the NFL started offering games other than Sunday and Monday night it lost something for me. Something about waiting all week to watch the game on Sunday then coming in on Monday night after work / school to watch MNF captured by attention. I don't give a shit what anyone says -- MNF now is pretty pathetic. Give me Cosell back!

[Coke Oven Profile]

"The NFL is a business. We, as fans, take the games a hell of alot more serious then the players. I truly believe that. This is a job for them. Couple that with the notion that the vast majority of them are nothing more than 20 something punks behaving poorly and you begin to get a bit jaded."

Truer words were never spoken. And no, it isn't football anymore.

[rwdavis2 Profile]

At the Pitt game Saturday we all fantasized about taking a rifle shot at the guy in the red jacket that holds off resuming play until the commercials are over. I can remember a few years ago after they shortened half time to 12 minutes that the games actually were done in under 3 hours unless there is over time. Since then they actually keep the clock running in situations when it used to stop and now the games are almost always 3 hours or more. Though it does give a chance to take a leak more often and the to get some more wings.
BD

[TheStillerWay86 Profile]

Its ashame that we pride our team so much, and we expect so much but they dont put out as much as they should. We have great talent, we just have a fucked up O.C. and a D that doesnt seem great anymore (i.e. GAY AND TYRONE!).

[Lake37 Profile]

Its ashame that we pride our team so much, and we expect so much but they dont put out as much as they should. We have great talent, we just have a fucked up O.C. and a D that doesnt seem great anymore (i.e. GAY AND TYRONE!).

I wouldn't classify our D as "not great anymore", they are just a bit banged up