Mavrik Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Strange as it sounds, trouble in paradise? By Patrick Hruby & Jay Lovinger Page 2 Editor's Note: Following an anticlimactic (to put it kindly), desultory (to put it truthfully) Super Bowl, we received the following letter on the state of pro football from Page 2 founding editor Jay Lovinger and columnist Patrick Hruby. With the Pro Bowl over and the scouting combine more than a week away, now seemed like a safe enough time to publish it. Editor's Note No. 2: The following reflects the opinions of the authors, and in no way reflects the opinion of ESPN, Disney or any affiliated corporations. Editor's Note No. 3: That means all complaints and/or hate mail should be directed at Lovinger and Hruby. Fellas, Television ratings are swell. Attendance is terrific. The money keeps piling up, and while the Bill Belichick hoodie hasn't caught on as a national Casual Friday staple just yet, it's only a matter of time. By every conventional quantifiable measurement, the NFL couldn't be stronger, richer or more atop the American sports pyramid, a sun-eclipsing summit for rival leagues to gaze upon ... and despair ... and starve to death because crops can't grow without photosynthesis. That said, we can't help but wonder if the NFL has jumped the shark. We know, we know: it sounds strange. But hear us out. The Super Bowl obviously has become humanity's crowning achievement in self-parody, a bloated carnival of going-though-the-motions excess, one that millions -- including us -- continue to watch, in part because we can't turn away. From the ads to the hype to those pretentious-without-irony Roman Numerals, it's like a sports/pop cultural flea market that all of us have tacitly agreed to keep attending, even though we all know it's terminally tacky and will continue to grow even more so, no matter what anyone does. So why bother to resist, anyway? In a sense, it's the sports equivalent of global warming. Beyond the big game, though, is where the real trouble lies. Some of the following issues are bound to give football fans and the general public pause -- if not now, then soon: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny green balls Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 no no and no. so long as there isn't a scandal involving rigging games or a protracted players strike of some sort the NFL will remain dominant for some time to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dierking Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 no no and no. so long as there isn't a scandal involving rigging games or a protracted players strike of some sort the NFL will remain dominant for some time to come. Really, as long as their are lines and pointspreads, the NFL will be very healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn306 Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Sadly Johnny is right I think that it is an absolute disgrace the way the guys who built this league are looked upon and if it true what Vincent said then he is an @ss as well. $130.00 a month !?! are you freakin kidding me. Wasn't it about 10-15 years ago Joe Garagiola started the B.A.T.S foundation to help out older baseball players struggling ? This is going to have to be what happens in the NFL. Players today don't know about those who helped paved the way for them and probably don't care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 Some of the older players in the NFL are in dire health-I was listening to Elvin Bethea about this on the radio- a disgrace by the NFL on how they are treating former players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFSIKH Posted February 13, 2007 Share Posted February 13, 2007 If the NFL has and it goes away, I will give up sports altogether. As Colin Cowherd pointed out, the NFL is not going anywhere because they promote the team and not the individual. That is why the NBA, NHL and Golf's support ebbs and flows with it stars. BAseball was, but the NFL is now America's past time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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