NFL FAIL: Why I will never again support pro football
Anyone who knows the first thing about me knows that I'm not a big fan of football, and lowest on that totem pole is NFL football. My reasons are myriad, starting with my impression that the game itself is ridiculously broken, but there's also a cultural aspect to it, too. Basically, I don't like the culture I see as surrounding pro football.
Finally, the NFL has assured that I will never again want anything to do with it. I'm not at the point where I'll rant at close friends of mine who do like football and are decent, but I'm done.
Why? Because the NFL let Michael Vick back in. That's right. They sent a signal to the American public-- you can torture animals for sport and be welcomed back as long as you're sufficiently contrite. Sorry, that's not America. In America, you win through hard work and moral decency. You can't fail one of those two and expect multi-million contracts and international stardom. That's just not the way it works.
And I know what comes with dog fights. Know how I know? Because I'm the son of a veterinarian who practices in rural North Florida. Do the math.
There's been some complaining and grousing about how football players who've killed people are let back on the field. I actually think vehicular manslaughter is a fine reason to ask someone to leave the field permanently, too, actually. That said, I'd suggest anyone prepared to make that argument follow this link first:
http://zombiegoat.livejournal.com/225649.html
If, after that, you still want to bitch about how someone's personal transgressions shouldn't be considered, it's cool. We'll take it out back.
The other rationalization (I won't dignify it as being an "argument") is that pro athletes aren't role models. It's an idea Charles Barkley used to shirk his duty to the public for a while. Guess what? It's wrong. You endorse one product, and you are implicitly putting your role model status for sale. That athletes can do that demonstrates their public position. Furthermore, I ask you this...if so many people pay to watch you perform, what the fuck else could you be?
So, that's it. The NFL made absolutely the wrong call, and I'm done. Out.
Hockey starts soon. No dog fighting rings in hockey.
Finally, the NFL has assured that I will never again want anything to do with it. I'm not at the point where I'll rant at close friends of mine who do like football and are decent, but I'm done.
Why? Because the NFL let Michael Vick back in. That's right. They sent a signal to the American public-- you can torture animals for sport and be welcomed back as long as you're sufficiently contrite. Sorry, that's not America. In America, you win through hard work and moral decency. You can't fail one of those two and expect multi-million contracts and international stardom. That's just not the way it works.
And I know what comes with dog fights. Know how I know? Because I'm the son of a veterinarian who practices in rural North Florida. Do the math.
There's been some complaining and grousing about how football players who've killed people are let back on the field. I actually think vehicular manslaughter is a fine reason to ask someone to leave the field permanently, too, actually. That said, I'd suggest anyone prepared to make that argument follow this link first:
http://zombiegoat.livejournal.com/225649.html
If, after that, you still want to bitch about how someone's personal transgressions shouldn't be considered, it's cool. We'll take it out back.
The other rationalization (I won't dignify it as being an "argument") is that pro athletes aren't role models. It's an idea Charles Barkley used to shirk his duty to the public for a while. Guess what? It's wrong. You endorse one product, and you are implicitly putting your role model status for sale. That athletes can do that demonstrates their public position. Furthermore, I ask you this...if so many people pay to watch you perform, what the fuck else could you be?
So, that's it. The NFL made absolutely the wrong call, and I'm done. Out.
Hockey starts soon. No dog fighting rings in hockey.