Just my thoughts on the NFL:
I heard a report the other day that 10 years ago (I think) could be 5, but not too long ago, 75% of males 25+ said that they followed the NFL closely. Now, only 51% say the same. That’s a huge drop off, and I count myself in that group. Here are three reasons why my interest has dropped:
– The players have become activists and celebrities – these gentleman who play professional sports are gifted with physical talents few of us possess, and it is fun watching them perform at high levels but that is where it needs to end. If you want to protest and/or bling up and hang with celebrities, then do it on your own time. Don’t protest or wear your bling on the field. You’re not rock stars or high paid celebrities, you’re athletes and the field is your stage. Act like it and respect it.
– Too many flags – let the guys play. If the refs wanted to, they could call something on every play. There is always going to be contact violations if you apply a strict interpretation of the rules, so they need to find a better balance. I think that a flag should be thrown only if the violation was blatant and/or egregious, or directly impacted the result of the play. These calls for holding that are on the other side of the field and not even close to the action are ridiculous.
– THE DESIRE TO WIN – sadly I think that because of the money, many players no longer have their heart in the game. When you’re playing on a 4-11 team and still getting in your Ferrari and driving home to your estate at the end of the day, why push it? Why kill yourself when you don’t have to? Few players anymore in my opinion have that true competitive desire to just win. And this is where college ball is different. I am a BIG FAN of college sports because of the desire to win.
Re: this year’s Super Bowl, while I am not a big fan you have to admire Tom Brady. 40 years old and still picking apart defenses. He is the best QB to ever play the game and I say that as a 49er fan and former Joe Montana groupie. My hope is that Nick Foles and the Eagles will pull off the upset and prevent us all from having to watch another Bill Belichick press conference. Eagles 31 Patriots 27.
Blogs For Victory 
Yeah…but are you going to watch the game?
I don’t think anything will change in the NFL till it costs too much to refuse to change, and that cost can only be imposed by people like us.
Maybe it’s a girl thing, but I also don’t like to watch players I can’t respect. I would not watch a game with Michael Vick playing, even if it was my home team, and I have no respect for the “fans” who don’t care what he did as long as he can play well.
That’s one reason I can’t watch NFL games any more. I am a lifelong Broncos fan but I can’t stand to watch Brandon Marshall out there collecting his millions when I know that he is really profoundly stupid. (What other explanation is there for disrespecting the entire nation, its flag and its anthem, because “I just want people to know how hard it is to be a minority.”) And I have no use for the spineless management that was more worried about losing some games than standing up for a principle–which, BTW, didn’t work out so well for the Broncos as they lost anyway.
I have no tolerance for the stated protests. If someone wants to protest police brutality, and it is about an actual case or pattern of actual police brutality, I have no problem with him giving interviews or even putting a sticker on his helmet. I’d prefer that he put some of his millions to use doing something productive instead of just symbolic virtue signaling, but that’s just me. What I can’t stomach is hatred of this country piously cloaked in some claptrap about protesting something else.
If there is a wrong that needs to be righted, and it is a national policy, then protest the government. If you’re too lazy or stupid to do something productive to change it, that is. But if police brutality is not a policy of the United States and you protest the flag or the anthem in its name, you are either lying about your real motive or you are bone-deep stupid. And in either case I won’t support the team that enables your spite, malice and hypocrisy.
The first time those black race pimps came onto the field with their hands up, management should have sent them back into the dressing room without a second thought, even if it meant forfeiting the game. Management with a backbone and integrity would have made those morons sit through the findings on that killing of that enraged, dangerous thug who was threatening the life of a police officer, and told them if they want to posture in spite of facts they would have to do it on their own time.
But they caved. They pandered, they whined, they whimpered, they soothed, they enabled, and now the entire sport of professional football is responsible for a sizable amount of the rage and divisiveness and general ugliness in the nation today.
I guess you can figure out my position on supporting them by watching the game……………
On the other hand, the Puppy Bowl is pretty good.
Yeah…but are you going to watch the game?
No, and it will be the first one I’ve EVER missed, and for the reasons you so eloquently stated.
If your dog will watch TV she might like the Puppy Bowl. Some have been pretty funny—like football, it all depends on the players.
re: football. I discovered that once I decided not to watch, I really didn’t care. I didn’t even know what kind of season the Broncos were having till the end. I have talked to several people who felt the same way.
I did watch a couple of college games and plan to watch more next year.
You hit upon something I think important – the morals of the players. A tattooed, scraggly haired guy who has trouble in a strip joint is not really someone who should be playing, I think. The usual caveat “I’m no angel” applies here…but, seriously, if we’re going to pay someone a bucket of money and put them on a national stage where little kids will admire them, can we at least have some minimal standards? I looked it up today – the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, who went 0-16 this year, gets paid more than a million dollars a year. To play a game. This is great. Happy for him. Wish him all the success in the world (which would be 1-15 next year, I guess). And, of course, for all I know the guy (whoever he is) has sterling character. I hope that is the case…but we should make sure that it is the case. That’s a lot of scratch for playing a game…should come with some requirements (after all, in his case, it didn’t come with the requirement to win a game).
The whole thing of the NFL is money – and it is making so much money that the players (even the bad players) are making money that only the tiniest minority in human history has ever seen. And this fine – you sell a product people want, then reap your reward. But now that it is all about the money, we’re getting to a situation where neither the players nor the owners want to risk their investment…a guy getting paid a million bucks a year to lose at playing a kid’s game doesn’t want that to be ended by a hard tackle…and neither does the owner want to be shelling out a million bucks on a contract player sitting on the sideline with a cracked rib. So, they’ve continually revised the rules to where the old, hard hitting game is nowhere to be seen. I don’t grudge anyone wanting to stay safe…but, then again, football is what it is. A dangerous, contact sport.
Last thing on it – is it just me or do the penalty calls seem to more and more be designed to make sure a game goes a certain way? I’ve seen overt pass interference not get a call while, at other times, the defender merely looks in the direction of the receiver and a pass interference penalty is called. The refs should not work for the NFL…they should work for some independent entity and be assigned to the games by this entity.
I’ve been a Broncos fan since 1968 and will remain one for life. However, since my wife passed, I haven’t had the same level of interest. That and because I’ve moved to a different state where the games aren’t always televised means I don’t watch near as many games. I haven’t missed them that much as I’ve developed new interests.
First of all, I will be watching the game, or at least it will be on at my home with some friends over. Re: Mark’s comment, there’s no better example of today’s pampered athlete than Patrick Peterson, cornerback with the Cardinals. Very gifted athlete and cornerback, but I have never seen his desire to win. He is a pretty boy and likes to flash his bling, but I have never seen him level a big hit, or have a game changing moment which he is capable of. In fact to the opposite, I have seen him avoid big hits regardless of how if effected the game. But there he is at the end of the game all flashed up and standing in front of the press answering questions. It’s just a show to him. And people pluck down $250+ a game to go in person and watch this ????
I can say this much, if the NFL wasn’t televised, I would not at all go to the games and pay those prices. A few years ago, a client of mine gave me some good tickets to a Cardinal game so I went. Big mistake. After walking nearly a 1/2 mile from the parking lot, I had the pleasure of being strip searched to enter the stadium where I was subjected to $12 beers, $6 hot dogs, and so many time outs for TV and other crap that it was really hard to be interested in the game. Considering the cost of the tickets, parking, and snacks, this outing would have easily cost $400 for TWO OF US.
I’m sure the NFL and advertisers appreciate your support
Speaking of having the desire to win:
Gingrich believes it is critical the GOP understand they are in a “cultural civil war” and are fighting against people who hate and “despise” conservative values.
“It’s very important for us to understand this is a fight. We are in a cultural civil war with people who despise us. There’s no neutrality in there. And that’s why they dislike Trump so much,” Gingrich said. “Because Trump has the nerve to talk about MS-13 because they can’t answer it. The more he is right, the more enraged they are.”
One of Gingrich’s final points to Republicans was to embrace President Donald Trump’s political style and mimic it, every chance they get.
“I would say to every candidate: study Trump. Trump is one of the greatest articulators I have ever seen,” he concluded. “He understands fighting. He likes to fight, and he is prepared to figure out how to go at you at an angle you can’t defend.”
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/03/gingrich-2018-elections/
I agree except for the “greatest articulator” part. If Trump really was a great articulator,the fight we’re in would be a slam dunk. He’s often his own worst enemy because, while he almost always speaks passionately, he says things in a clumsy, inarticulate way except when he’s on a teleprompter. Just my opinion, though — in the overall scheme of things, not worth a bucket of warm spit. Results are what count, and we’re seeing results. And the fact that those results often make Leftist heads explode is just icing on the cake. In fact, one of the things I like about Trump the most is the adverse psychological effect he has on the Left. Republicans, aside from the Gingrich revolution in 1994, have NEVER been fighters, so that part of Newt’s advice I agree with, and I hope some of that aspect of Trump’s persona rubs off on them.
I agree, Trump as a “great articulater” isn’t very accurate. I think he has the ability to zero in on an issue and get right to the heart of it, but it is too often in a clumsy way that detracts from the message.
I also think a lot of this comes from never being a politician. When you own your own company you can say pretty much what you want to say, and it isn’t out there on TV or the Internet an hour later, so if you have to explain it or refine it you have time to do that, in the boardroom or in meetings or even just when you have a chance to reflect on what you have said. This whole instantaneous rebound has to be disconcerting, especially when it has been tweaked by some virulent opposition intent on putting it in the worst light possible.
A good example might be the comment he made in Charlottesville. In a boardroom or meeting, someone would have had the chance to say “WTH, Don! Those are NAZIS!” and he could have said no, he was talking about the brave people who were there to try to head off violence. Oh. But he never had that kind of opportunity, so the statement had to stand alone, where it could be spun to mean he was praising the white supremacists. His instinct was to be fair, to give credit where credit was due, and to remind Americans that the white supremacists did not represent everyone at the march. I think he will improve. But he needs backup, he needs voices out there who will pick up the baton, who will ask him questions so he can expand upon what he said and put it into context. Too often he is just left swinging in the wind, without anyone providing an opportunity to clarify.
I do think he is stiffening some Congressional spines, too few and it is taking too long but starting to get people thinking about being a little tougher. I am one of many enjoying the ants frantically running around every time Trump pokes the anthill.
I think Trump’s instincts are 100% spot on, but agree his messaging is lacking. I think Gen. Kelly has helped improve things on that front …..
Gingrich is right in saying that the press is hostile towards conservatives and they need to be treated as such. I watched Hugh Hewitt today opine about the memo, only to be interrupted and challenged by Chuck Todd, who is obviously an out spoken progressive and Democrat but still regarded in many circles as an “objective” journalist.
THIS kind of sums it up.
Pretty comprehensive list.
Those 40 Iron laws are Iron clad.
After weeks of panicking over the release of the memo and the damage that will be done to our security agencies, Morning Joe is now mocking the contents of the memo. Without any shame, or acknowledgement of the fear they promoted for weeks.
The state of the punditry class has never been lower, more dishonest, or more partisan.
As an aside, the Super Bowl was one hell of a game.
And let’s not forget the collusion between the Clinton campaign and the media:
At least 38 top national reporters attended a different dinner at John Podesta’s house in April 2015.
There was a lot of colluding going on during the 2016 election and none of it had anything to do with Trump. And once again, the American people got it right and that is driving the media nuts, because in Mika’s opinion – “the media is suppose to tell Americans what they want”
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/10/wikileaks-list-least-65-msm-reporters-meeting-andor-coordinating-offline-top-hillary-advisors/
The media is doing everything they can from these basic truths from being known. The truth is – the political class from both sides of the aisle did everything they could to destroy Trump, and they are still at it. Right John McCain?
– Trump’s political opponents during the primaries hired the firm Fusion GPS, which specializes in opposition research, to dig up some dirt on Trump
– After Trump won the primaries, Fusion GPS lost the customer, but just for a short while
– The new customers of the dirt on Trump become the Hillary Clinton campaign and the DNC
– The new customers requested dirt on Trump from Fusion GPS, not only in the American domain but also in the international arena
– To add international dimension, Fusion GPS hired a subcontractor – former resident of British intelligence in Moscow Christopher Steele, known for his open anti-Trump beliefs
– Christopher Steele hired some former agents of the Russian intelligence services (against whom he once fought during the Cold War)
– The agents of Russian intelligence services concoct a dirty file on Trump (linguistic analysis confirmed that this dossier was written in “Russian English” with minimal editing by native English speakers)
– It is still unclear as to what extent these Russian agents were the “former” agents of the Russian intelligence services (that is, to what extent this dossier is fiction, and to what extent is it the deliberate work of the KGB/FSB disinformation effort)
– Trump’s dossier, compiled by the Russians, gets to the FBI through the Assistant Deputy Attorney
– General Bruce Ohr, who received it from his wife. At that time, she was working for Fusion GPS and was a part of the anti-Trump research team
– The FBI used this dossier as one of the key arguments in the secret intelligence court FISC to obtain a warrant to wiretap the Trump campaign
– In other words, the Obama administration used a dossier concocted by Russian agents to legitimize its surveillance of their political opposition.
According to the memo, FBI leaders knew precisely where the dossier came from, but in the application to the FISC, they presented the dossier as a proven fact, and not as opposition research. It was not just a mere bureaucratic mistake — the FBI used the dossier in such a way not once, but at least four times.
As a result, the Trump campaign was under surveillance by the FBI before the elections, after the elections, and even after the inauguration of President Trump.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/02/explosion_over_the_washington_swamp.html#ixzz56Fw9lPzx
Clearly the Complicit Agenda Media are trying to provide cover for the Dems. And the sun came up in the east this morning. Any breaking news?
But building a wall is racist –
‘Drunk’ driver who killed Indianapolis Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson is a Guatemalan illegal immigrant who has been deported twice and made it back into the US under a fake name
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5353535/Drunk-driver-killed-Colts-player-illegally.html#ixzz56FzAMYpw
This is why immigration reform has to start with new legislation applying a very strong penalty for being here illegally, amplified for coming back here after being deported. When you know you can just come back every time you are deported that is not a very strong deterrent. If you know that you will do jail time for at least six months just for being here illegally, and hard time in a real prison if you are caught after you come back illegally, that makes repeated reentries a much more serious risk.