Is football, both professional and college football as we know it today, on a path of self destruction?
When we consider some of the events and circumstances that surround the game today, it would be hard not to question the game’s long-term future.
One of the prominent stories on the professional level is producing revelations concerning what goes on in the pro-football locker rooms and on the training fields. Words that appear in article after article in newspapers, sportsrelated magazine stories, and on sports talk-shows include “racism, profanity, vulgar, mean-spirited, etc.” Only the athletes and coaches know the specifi c purpose of hazing a new prospect or rookie, but the action seems to be very much a part of the process of indoctrination of the new athlete. Taunting a person to “toughen them up” is not new to the world of other means of employment.
The military has been doing it for years and only when it goes too far, as we are seeing in the Incognito/Martin case do we learn some of the background. In the military, it is usually a death that puts it on the front page and the seriousness of the publicity has actually changed much of the training ritual in some branches of the military. But as was recounted in the movie “A Few Good Men,” the public is not always prepared to handle the truth. As you may remember, a Marine colonel responded to an attorney dealing with a death from a “Code Red” order: “you can’t handle the truth.” We spend too much time enjoying football games and the tailgating atmosphere to really understand what the gladiators actually endure to prepare for the event.
We have attained a point in our “entertainment cycle” where we really don’t want to deal with the concussions, drug abuse, bullying and any other reality that might cloud our enjoyment.
We learned in church this morning that the Jewish temple in Jerusalemduring Jesus’ lifetime was approximately 600 yards by 600 yards and it was the place of worship for the Jewish people. I couldn’t help thinking, a current football stadium could fit into those dimensions (less parking lots of course) and that it is a place of near-worship on so many Saturdays and Sundays in the fall.
Remember, I am just as guilty as anyone where devotion to football is concerned. However, my fear is the fact that we have allowed sports as a source of entertainment to dominate our lives, subsequently the question of long-term survival.
When a lady reportedly traded a set of diamond studded rings appraised over $2,500 for six football tickets to give to her husband, I am awed by her love and overwhelmed at her priorities. The price of tickets and branded gear from most sporting activities have long been too rich for my limited budget. But my limitation has not deterred the overall sales of team identifi cation gear to demonstrate one’s team loyalty.
The highest paid collegefootball coach is reported to earn over $5 million per year. The issue of paying the college players a stipend has not been resolved even though it is acknowledged that some programs subsidize their star players through the assistance of alumni.
The economy of college and professional football is booming. Is it a bubble?
Can the sport withstand a major disruption to its income if an overwhelmed public turned o◊the television and revenues from that source dried up? If a major economic depression were to befall our nation, could the sport survive? I get concerned that the adverse publicity and ever increasing cost of being a spectator and fan may lead to a disastrous result in the future.
And, I’m probably the only person concerned.
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Editor’s note: Leo Lynch is an award-winning columnist. He is a native of Benton County has deep roots in northwest Arkansas. He is a retired industrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace. He can be contacted at prtnews@nwaonline.
com.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 11/20/2013