Recent headlines are ruining football
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Whether it be the NFL or the NCAA, I'm starting to wonder why I care about the game of football anymore.
Recent headlines have taken the game of football and turned it into a tabloid sport where millionaire athletes and billionaire owners argue over how much money they want to get or how much they want to keep.
Recent headlines have players who haven't paid for their jewelry bills that are around $800K.
Recent headlines have current players who want the future draft picks to skip one of the biggest moments of their life to show the solidarity of the players, like they're holding hands in a critical game of "Red Rover."
Recent headlines have players getting arrested during this lockout, one player on a weapons charge, while another on a drug charge. There was even a drunk-driving charge.
Recent headlines have lawyers and judges probably deciding the fate of the upcoming NFL season, which could be in jeopardy.
Recent headlines have a football coach keeping emails secret, which kept his players on the field, which helped them win games.
Recent headlines have ex-Auburn players and OSU recruits saying they were given money, $100 handshakes and other "services" to persuade them to play for their school.
Recent headlines have a football player playing soccer.
Recent headlines have the words "pimp," "300 dollars," "16-year-old" and "prostitute" all in the same paragraph.
Recent headlines have a bowl game about to be kicked out of the BCS for "excessive compensation."
Recent headlines have colleges waiting for appeal verdicts, while another player practices despite a ban.
Whatever happened to the days of football headlines being about … hmmm, I don't know, actual football topics? For example, where are stories on spring practices on these "big-time" news organizations? Sure, there are some stories on the NFL draft, but for every story on the actual draft, the "main" story is on the lockout and how it affects the draft.
For college football, the stories are about how a player in the early 2000s got money and women to play at a school. Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but that isn't news … I'm sure it has happened before that player, and I'm sure it will happen again.
However, what Jim Tressel did was wrong and they should throw the book (how about "The Winner's Manual?") at him because his decision did affect a college football team’s outcome and season.
As for NFL players, being arrested or being in debt is old news, too. Let's face it, none of these people play for the "love of the game," or they wouldn't be a lockout, unions or any of that over the world's greatest evil and necessity … money.
Pro sports is about making money. It is entertainment, and with that comes making money. You don't expect Tom Cruise to make a movie for free, so why should players not get the maximum money they can get?
I couldn't care less if college players get paid, but my theory is if they want to be paid they should have to pay for their college like everyone else. If they leave school early, they should pay back all the money for their scholarship for someone who will actually use it.
Speaking of the lockout and Red Rover, these recent headlines give me the visual of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees all hold hands while swinging them in the air furiously as Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones run at them full-force, with their billions in hand, but as soon as they are about to collide, an injunction is placed and they start over again.
Maybe during their negotiations they should have hired Dr. Phil, or better yet, I know one person who would have had this solved in less than 30 minutes … Alex Trebek.
Why … because he seems to have all the answers.
All of these headlines about non-field issues, thoughts on Red Rover, and game show hosts are driving me away from the sport itself and sending me into a dark place.
These headlines are doing something very scary and sad … they make me miss the Brett Favre saga.
Please, football, fix yourself before the last 80-plus years are for nothing, and your fan base finds something else to watch in this fast-paced world.
But please … please don't make me miss Brett Favre and his cell phone anymore.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Recent headlines have taken the game of football and turned it into a tabloid sport where millionaire athletes and billionaire owners argue over how much money they want to get or how much they want to keep.
Recent headlines have players who haven't paid for their jewelry bills that are around $800K.
Recent headlines have current players who want the future draft picks to skip one of the biggest moments of their life to show the solidarity of the players, like they're holding hands in a critical game of "Red Rover."
Recent headlines have players getting arrested during this lockout, one player on a weapons charge, while another on a drug charge. There was even a drunk-driving charge.
Recent headlines have lawyers and judges probably deciding the fate of the upcoming NFL season, which could be in jeopardy.
Recent headlines have a football coach keeping emails secret, which kept his players on the field, which helped them win games.
Recent headlines have ex-Auburn players and OSU recruits saying they were given money, $100 handshakes and other "services" to persuade them to play for their school.
Recent headlines have a football player playing soccer.
Recent headlines have the words "pimp," "300 dollars," "16-year-old" and "prostitute" all in the same paragraph.
Recent headlines have a bowl game about to be kicked out of the BCS for "excessive compensation."
Recent headlines have colleges waiting for appeal verdicts, while another player practices despite a ban.
Whatever happened to the days of football headlines being about … hmmm, I don't know, actual football topics? For example, where are stories on spring practices on these "big-time" news organizations? Sure, there are some stories on the NFL draft, but for every story on the actual draft, the "main" story is on the lockout and how it affects the draft.
For college football, the stories are about how a player in the early 2000s got money and women to play at a school. Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but that isn't news … I'm sure it has happened before that player, and I'm sure it will happen again.
However, what Jim Tressel did was wrong and they should throw the book (how about "The Winner's Manual?") at him because his decision did affect a college football team’s outcome and season.
As for NFL players, being arrested or being in debt is old news, too. Let's face it, none of these people play for the "love of the game," or they wouldn't be a lockout, unions or any of that over the world's greatest evil and necessity … money.
Pro sports is about making money. It is entertainment, and with that comes making money. You don't expect Tom Cruise to make a movie for free, so why should players not get the maximum money they can get?
I couldn't care less if college players get paid, but my theory is if they want to be paid they should have to pay for their college like everyone else. If they leave school early, they should pay back all the money for their scholarship for someone who will actually use it.
Speaking of the lockout and Red Rover, these recent headlines give me the visual of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees all hold hands while swinging them in the air furiously as Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones run at them full-force, with their billions in hand, but as soon as they are about to collide, an injunction is placed and they start over again.
Maybe during their negotiations they should have hired Dr. Phil, or better yet, I know one person who would have had this solved in less than 30 minutes … Alex Trebek.
Why … because he seems to have all the answers.
All of these headlines about non-field issues, thoughts on Red Rover, and game show hosts are driving me away from the sport itself and sending me into a dark place.
These headlines are doing something very scary and sad … they make me miss the Brett Favre saga.
Please, football, fix yourself before the last 80-plus years are for nothing, and your fan base finds something else to watch in this fast-paced world.
But please … please don't make me miss Brett Favre and his cell phone anymore.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]