Recent, articles about the NFL losing audience is rather interesting in that the NFL seems to be clueless about the core reasons and why people watch football. What interests the fans is the game, the battle on the field. http://tiny.cc/w1mery
What the audience is annoyed at is the political view of the players. It is about the game. The audience wants entertainment. The don’t want a political statement, listening to the transgressions of the players off the field, the terrible personal judgements the players make, the obscene amount of money the players get paid for playing a game.
In this time, of divisiveness in the political arena, the less that stellar moral character of the political leaders, the outrageous and blinding lust for power over right action, the American public wants entertainment to be just that. The political view are personal matters.
What does a 24 year old making millions know about the world, working hard to feed a family, hold down a job, paying bills, getting out of debt, paying taxes. Every bump and bruise is examined in the media as if it where a life threatening ailment.
The media is desperate for stories to capture an audience. The lust for a story outweighs the facts and it’s relative importance. If the NFL wants it audience back, focus on the game, the strategy, the players skill, the matchups.
Yes, the photo of the ballplayer with his scantily clad wife/girl friend in a compromising situation gets attention, momentarily, it minimizes the value of the player’s perception in the eyes of the audience.
If we want to improve the narrative of the players, lets focus on their contributions off the field. Heroes visiting the hospitals, cheering up the sick, visiting schools and talking about contribution and leading by example. Whereas it may not be sexy to visit a high school and explain how to cover a receiver. For lives it does touch is experience is uplifting, long lasting and deeply meaningful.
Lastly, we can’t lose sight of the fact, that the players live in the United States, a country that is giving them the opportunity to reap the benefits of their inherit athletic gifts. The players own the country far more than than the courtesy of standing for the national anthem. For the privilege of playing in the NFL they ought to feel the obligation to give back.
If there is a need to make a political statement may it be with the foresight to lead by example, clear in its purpose and not offend the sport, the country and the people that give them the opportunity.
#NFL #Standing for the National Anthem #NFL TV Ratings #NFL Player Association #Do the Right Thing.