I am a huge fan of football and I can’t wait for the start of the 2009-10 season. In one year, the Jets, my Jets, lost a Hall of Fame quarterback to injury, retirement, indecision, free agency; fired their Mangenius head coach; and parted ways with standout receiver Laveranues Coles. Ten years ago, I would have written off the season, calling it a rebuilding year. But the NFL has changed. The Jets, instead of rebuilding, may only be reloading. I won’t participate in conjecture and speculation but the early talk is that of the Jets winning the AFC East and perhaps even making it to the Superbowl. One can only dream, right?
That dream, however, has a fighting chance of becoming a reality because NFL rules, which are a reflection of NFL values, dictate so. The league used to be dominated by a few teams but this is no longer the case. The championship returned to the city of Pittsburgh but there are no guarantees the Steelers will even make the playoffs again. Is this progress? I don’t know… but what is happening in football is as American as the proverbial “apple pie.”
There are less dynasties in the NFL because the league has instituted policies, many of which resembling socialism, to protect the viability of its brand. The college draft, salary caps and free agency transfer power from the ‘haves’ to the ‘have less’ or ‘have nots.’ The net result is a game that is fairly played, less disparity between the best and worst teams and a national hope that any team can beat any other on ANY GIVEN SUNDAY.
Compared to MLB, the NHL & the NBA, the NFL appeals to a wider audience, is watched more frequently, generates more revenues and grows much faster. Football viewership has expanded from once on Sunday locally to 2 games locally and 3 nights per week nationally. Its national games are bid on by 7 television networks and countless other local TV and radio stations. Off-the-field coverage has expanded from highlights during the evening news to integrated networks of out-of-home-, television-, radio- and print-media channels. In 2010, league expansion will add 4 more teams in Orlando, LA (finally), Portland & San Antonio. In short, the NFL is its own mini-economy and football has become America’s game.
Just as I am excited about the upcoming season, I have counterparts from first place Pittsburgh to 0-12 Detroit who are equally anticipating a competitive season. It is nothing short of amazing that the NFL’s embrace of a few seemingly socialist policies can have a positive impact on a capitalist economy.
I am going to withhold my opinion on the current healthcare debate but I do have an opinion on what is an what isn’t America. On that note, I will conclude with a simple homework assignment… Please answer the following:
If Football = Socialism and Football = America, can Socialism = America?
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Thoughts of a Confused Enthusiast 