Is American football in trouble?

[mgray]

As we Americans sat down to watch three football games between Thanksgiving dinner and dessert, I got to thinking that this could be the apex of popularity for the game that makes billions and billions of dollars for its owners.

The game is in trouble and in this new age of instant reaction to any event on social media, it could be gone -- as we know it -- in the next 5-10 years.

I've put my thoughts here

[Carmody]

I think that American football should be gone. Yesterday is not soon enough. In my thoughts and experiences, regarding the advancement or even the simple idea of an open field to grow in, it needs to be gone.

Let me put it this way. In my take on what is going on in the back drop, those who are in the insider groups, the secret societies..those people are given the chance to make a run at a position of power. as part of their showing of fealty, owning a major sports team, to distract, tame, control, divide, and entrain the male of the American species....that is the requirement.

Owning a major sports team or multiple sports teams, is a red flag, IMO and IME, when it comes figuring out if a person is a insider of a secret group --or not.

It's part of the evolved corporate structure, a nipple to suckle on.... for the entrainment and the holding of the entrainment....of the common man. To dumb the man down and hold the man into a dumbed down state, to maintain that dumbed down state, so they never recognize or see the dumbed down component. to take the natural thought creation and thought direction urges of the human male instinctual processes...and manipulate them for oligarchical desires and directions.

It is gladiator sport, bread and circuses, the Roman Coliseum of death.... in it's modern form.

Major league Football is a flat out stone cold entrainment and manipulation tactic.

It is the system of oligarchy saying: "we're screwing you right in the face, right out in the open... with and via your own life.......and you don't even see it." That, in a nutshell, is American Football.

Soccer is no better.

[Sunny-side-up]

You said it all so well there Carmody

Things like American and British football are trouble in my view.
They are Tribal based waste of human emotion and time!
They do have some good to them but mostly negative in my view.

I think it was the great Mr Bob Dean who said in a vid
'what's all the interest that people have watching other people run around after little balls, and games!' or words to that effect.

Mainly money makers.
But of course lots of jobs included for people!

[Jake]

Buskers in Seattle ROUTINELY get beat up on days where there is a home game! SEAHAWK fans seem to be jacked up on something... 50 to 75 dollar parking, 120 dollar tickets,, 9 dollars fer a beer,, 12 dollars for a hot dog....

yep, these are the folks who already think they own you!

Ive been roughed up twice now.. just playing music on game day... cops watching, too... lol... GUESS WHO GOT IN TROUBLE!!!

Football can go to hell! Oh,, it already has....

5 years ago, Seahawk fans were nowhere to be seen... Now its bandwagon garbage!! Nothing but garbage and im embarrassed for the whole city! Yes football is done! So be it!


jake

[Kbrammcdonald]

American football and "British football" (not sure if you're talking about soccer or rugby) are great sports if you look past the corporate influences and monetary aspect. Being a soccer and rugby player my whole life, I can attest to the benefits of playing either sport. You get to be active, engage in a team sport, and learn motivation and drive. Without soccer and/or rugby as an outlet in my life I would be a lot worse off when it comes to making friends, getting out of my own head and staying in shape. I can understand how one might feel saying these sports are losing their touch and should be done away with but that's just wrong. Think about the millions of people in the world who play and enjoy these sports. Kids who don't have video games to mindlessly spend their free time (not bashing video games), families who get together every Sunday to watch their team, friends getting together for a little friendly game, etc. Also to call them barbaric? I think that's definitely out of line and a biased opinion.

[ghostrider]

Our world is in trouble, and most of the masses spend their hard earned money watching grown men play games... It kinda says it all... Human nature thrives on watching a beat down, football, baseball, basketball boxing, wrestling, its a mirror image of the games at the coliseum of ancient Rome... Madness... I get to feel like a winner if my guy defeats your guy , if I lose I get to be angry at the world... All over an illusion... It's all about charging huge amounts of money for advertising commercials during the games ... They get all worked up over their team and have no concern their neighbor is out of food , behind on the mortgage, about to lose his job and could use help now ... Let it be gone, let the millionaires go sit on their millions... Irony, the working poor PAY to watch millionaires play games with other millionaires all owned by billionaires ...what little money the poor have, they give to people who don't need it they are already rich ...

[Jake]

I was talkin strictly American Football. The NFL...

Im not against kids playing football and being competitive. Id never complain about it in my own neighborhood. However, id never take my kid to an NFL game! Sorry,, thats not competitive sports, that's complete madness and mob mental gonnieness...

Jake

¤=[Post Update]=¤

I forgot to mention that Mariners fans (baseball) are class act! Same damn city, go figure!

[Kbrammcdonald]

Those games are a release from the world of trouble we live in. Its not just about the money. That guy who cant pay his mortgage or one who is about to lose their job get to spend 3 hours a week not thinking about that bull**** and enjoy talented players play an awesome and fun sport. Most of these millionaires you are talking about earn their money every week and have been working their whole lives to get to where they are. Like you said its a world of trouble we live in. We shouldn't be so concerned with bashing a sport when that time and energy that can be spent on things of greater importance.

[Kbrammcdonald]

Jake, I used to totally agree with you. I hated the NFL haha but one day it kinda just clicked that I enjoyed spending time with friends and family watching football. Its also fun to associate with a team and stick with them through wins and losses. I would know. Born and raised a Skins fan ha. Honestly, I wouldn't pay more than 20 bucks to watch a sporting event but its an experience that should be had once or twice in a lifetime. At the end of the day if you can look past all the BS beyond the game playing on the field, football can be very enjoyable. Gave my two cents and wont say anything more.

[Jake]

Just having a discussion, my friend!

I was beat up by insane fans... The poor guy with the mortgage let me down, brother... so did 'security, , so did law 'enforcement'! Ha! You crackin me up! Poor folks dont pay 120 bones for a ticket, 75 bones for parking, and another 50 of 60 bones for food/drink!! Etc!! What world do you come from mate? These folks have the I PAID FOR IT, GET OUT OF MY WAY mentality!

Seems more relevant than not, to discuss that sort of utter madness!

Jake

[Kbrammcdonald]

Yea, the poor folks stay at home, watch the game and drink coors light haha

[waves]

I hate to say it, but I strongly suspect the worse is going to happen. The violence and danger within live competitive entertainment has only escalated and escalated as long as I've been alive and I don't have the vaguest hope that millions and millions of exorbitant ticket buyers are going to suddenly lose the lust anytime soon. I predict current sports and/or the introduction of new competitions that escalate to much greater danger of injury and/or death will transpire this century.

[Ahnung-quay]

Well, both the rich and the poor help pay for stadiums usually through state tax dollars going to fund building and maintaining them.
I don't know about soccer but, I get the feeling that at least some of American football is a rigged game: at most it all is.

[Orph]

Although I have no use for any professional sports, I don't see football going away anytime soon. It may be that it's at it's pinnacle, and it may start a slow decline. But I don't see it going away. There's simply too many people that will pay almost any price, to watch the game.

[mgray]

Thanks for your thoughts. I believe many of the points touched upon here are true.

I fear that one day an NFL team will employ the shot-gun offense with an actual weapon in the name of ratings. Like some football scene from a movie (can't remember the name).

The idea of tax-subsidized stadia has come and gone. The public is sick of giving billionaires access to the public trough. This is part of the slippery slope the NFL is facing.

The thuggery of the fans is well documented. The former Philadelphia stadium had a jail and court room inside to arraign the "fans" charged with crimes on game day. I'm not sure about the new stadium.

[Orph]

Posted by mgray (here)
I fear that one day an NFL team will employ the shot-gun offense with an actual weapon in the name of ratings. Like some football scene from a movie (can't remember the name).

"The Last Boy Scout" perhaps??

[ghostrider]

Posted by Ahnung-quay (here)
Well, both the rich and the poor help pay for stadiums usually through state tax dollars going to fund building and maintaining them.
I don't know about soccer but, I get the feeling that at least some of American football is a rigged game: at most it all is.

what better way to scam the system , go to Vegas, bet on the other team with your millions and trip at the right moment , then laugh all the way back to the bank ...

[Ted]

It all depends on how you look at sports. Many people would say boxing is a brutal and violent sport, yet for those with an appreciation for the contest, it can be seen as a skilled art.
I enjoy watching highly skilled people doing anything, sports included. I've played enough sports to appreciate the level of achievement these people have reached.
Football doesn't cause people to become violent, it's just an excuse. Guys with a predisposed inclination will use the cover of a crowd to act out their aggression. If you've ever been in the middle of a riot (as I have) you'll see all kinds of "normal" looking people doing some very violent things. Crowd dynamics is a very interesting phenomenon.

[Rocky_Shorz]

With as well as the Chargers are doing this year, most San Diegans would say good riddance...

[Jake]

Posted by Ted (here)
It all depends on how you look at sports. Many people would say boxing is a brutal and violent sport, yet for those with an appreciation for the contest, it can be seen as a skilled art.
I enjoy watching highly skilled people doing anything, sports included. I've played enough sports to appreciate the level of achievement these people have reached.
Football doesn't cause people to become violent, it's just an excuse. Guys with a predisposed inclination will use the cover of a crowd to act out their aggression. If you've ever been in the middle of a riot (as I have) you'll see all kinds of "normal" looking people doing some very violent things. Crowd dynamics is a very interesting phenomenon.

Yes! Thank you for saying all of this.. it really is the truth! My mom and Dad are going to the Steelers/Seahawk game tomorrow! My sister bought tickets for a gift, as she visits for the holiday... The dynamics have changed so much that thdy may not go! Dads truck is routinely vandalized for his Steelers Stickers. They can't drive to the stadium or park any where near.. They are absolutely dreading it... They'd pay extra to be able to stay home and watch it on the teli!

On a side note,, i was at WTO in Seattle when the 'riots' broke out! It didnt change my outlook or behavior one single bit!! Crowd dynamics,,,? Or just weak minded people?

Personal sovereignty,, or 'follow the crowd'?

Jake