Hard Hits

A new subject of debate in the NFL surfaced last week after a bunch of hard, "dangerous", hits caused player injuries such as concussions, of brief losses of memory. Last Sunday night, NBC commentator and former NFL player, Rodney Harrison, known for his hard hits during his career, boldly proclaimed the need to suspend players for dangerous hits, as opposed to simply fining them. He said, "When I got fined, it didn't stop me -- missing four or five games is the only way they'll stop."

The next day the NFL issued a report saying that a reform would be issued to abstain from further injuries, prohibiting deliberate hits to the head and neck area. It seemed that the NFL acted on Rodney Harrison's words, and quickly. Later that night, the usual analysts on ESPN, Steve Young, Trent Dilfer, Tom Jackson and the rest of the ex-player/coach crew, freaked out in objection to this rule, cynically saying that the game of football as we knew it was over. They acknowledged the safety issue with it, but said that from a football player's mind, they understand what they're getting into, the game is inherently violent, and frankly, we watch football because of those hits.

It's been an interesting debate that many have talked out about this past week. What interests me the most, however, is how fabricated the media made the issue. I didn't hear much about what the player's seemed to think, but again it doesn't matter. The NFL is a company, designed for making money. The executives in the NFL don't want the league to get the image of being brutal (although who are they trying to fool), so because of a week of football with a condensed amount of heavy hits, they make a radical change.

I'm not sure what I really believe. I want to say that above all, people shouldn't be at risk of dying on the field, or off the field a few years down the road. It's no surprise that retired football players suffer from head trauma, and early, untimely deaths. Should we just accept it as is, or should we change it? Do you we support the fact that football players are really just millionaires running around, so the risk they take is justified? And are we or the media to judge how these players play this game they choose to play, or do we change it to appeal to what we want to see (and is it safety or is it more brutal hits?)

I don't know what I agree with, I'll open up the table for ya'll.

Welcome

Hey everybody,

Most of you reading this will probably be in my Press in America class, but just in case any strays find this blog, let me explain its purpose. We were assigned to create a semester-long blog in order to respond to various aspects of the media, using the theories we've learned, such as the libertarian theory, or different terms, such as deep ecology, to help explain our relationship to the world through the media lens.

In attempt to be creative, I decided to theme my blog around football and alcohol (though not every post will relate to these topics) because these are two entities in American media and culture that, in a way, represent us. Football is the new American sport, and alcohol is one of our oldest pastimes. Also, I happen to be a fan of both these things, and therefore want to focus on them in order to investigate why I, like many other Americans, am so attracted to watching people hit each other and intoxicating myself in order to have fun. WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE? Hopefully, throughout the course of the semester I will discover that, or at least gain some headway.

But first, let me explain my reason for choosing this blog. It all started last Sunday night, October 4, when I was sitting at my kitchen table, drinking some Labatt Blues (classy, I know) and watched the Giants/Bears game on Sunday Night Football. First let me admit, I am a Jet fan, but root for both New York teams (I was raised a Giant fan but eventually learned the correct path), and watching the Sunday Night Game is something me and my housemates usually do, especially if the matchup is good. But unlike any other Sunday game, the Sunday Night Football game is the worst; it airs on NBC, 8:20 p.m. (prime-time), it's catch phrase is "Football Night in America", and worst of all, every half time is full of two minutes of Bob Costas explaining a new phenomenon (if you even want to call it that) that's "hot" during that week in the NFL.

The latter of these three might be the worst.

See, Bob Costas represents my main issue with football. I'll admit, I like the hits, the excitement, the fact that these athletes are supermen, and the fact that they play once a week. But i'm not a brute-headed fan; I played football throughout my life, up in junior year in high school, and was always fascinated by the complexity of it. Good football, to me, is an art, like any other kind of sport performed at a very high level. Did you know that most football teams spend most of the time each week in the film room, studying tapes and thinking of strategies, thinking of every possibility for every formation, personal, and filed situation? They may be brutes, but in order to be a good football player, you need more than brawn.

But back to Bob Costas -- why do I need to listen to this schmo' tell my about the severity of quarterback concussions, or have him make a big deal about Donovan McNabb (ex. QB of the Philadelphia Eagles) returning to play his former team with the Washington Redskins, with Costas telling me the background like it was some soap opera? (Donovan McNabb, the one who would be most affected by the situation, is actually unfazed about the Hollywood aspect of his situation). Why does Sunday Night have to be Football Night in America?

"Hey kids, gather round the television!"

There's dad, beer in hand, the only one paying attention to the pre-game show.

Mom, running around making pigs in a blanket, chips n dip, serving her family faithfully, cuddling up next to Daddy, his arm around her, her trying to figure out what all these yellow flags mean.

Lil' Billy, wearing his jersey, only 10, can't wait for the game, a big hit, wants to talk to his friends all about it tomorrow before recess starts and they have a little game of their own.

Susie, two years older, in it for Sheryl Crow's weekly edition of "Are you ready for some football?" which is the same song NBC's been showing for the last several years, only for Sheryl Crow to alternate the lyrics depending on the teams.

And of course there's Rover, laying down, unamused, waiting for some hot dogs to roll his way (that's why he's sitting next to lil' Billy).

But is this what NBC means? Why do they try and paint that picture?

Yet I'm sitting there, drinking beer, waiting for the game, listening to these talking heads -- and I never felt more American. And when i say American, I mean the media America. I like beer and I like football, yet I wanna get a head start on my puking when I see these networks sensationalize football. It's a game, and now a game that's changing fast, a game that's in trouble of even happening next season cause the players have become so greedy they want MORE money, a game that's being used as a tool for beer, liquor, food, and you-name-it, to incorporate advertising. Everyone's trying to ride football's coat tails

And I love the game I truly do, and if the Jets win the Superbowl I'll lose my mind and skip school for a week to go on a 5 day drinking binge. Yet I realize, they got me.

I like football for my own reasons, but when I sit there, in front of the television, beer in my hands, meat on the stove, cigarettes, and bongs, and heavy hits, and all my friends, and half time chugs, and Bob Fuckin' Costas, and the :03 field goal-fourth quarter --

I'm being the American they want me to be.

p.s. sorry for the rant