| I was shocked to hear that the Saturday night, | | | | devastating news of economic collapse here at |
| August 15th, preseason game between my local San | | | | home, the NFL was seriously contemplating |
| Diego Chargers and the visiting Seattle Seahawks had | | | | outsourcing the Super Bowl to London in the near |
| become a victim of the National Football League's | | | | future. That is, until word leaked out about this |
| 'blackout policy'. It did not sell out is the given reason. | | | | manifestation of uncontrolled gluttony to the public |
| There will be more to come from all indications due | | | | causing such an uproar that it required the NFL to |
| to the economic hard times we are in. The NFL cites | | | | back off on such a stupid idea. |
| its policy as providing better games for television | | | | The NFL, as recently as this past weekend in Detroit, |
| with large crowds in attendance. | | | | has declined to retreat on its greed-based stance |
| Hogwash! The real reason is plain old greed. The NFL's | | | | when Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will |
| object is to punish the home crowd if they do not | | | | not alter its blackout policy. Is this guy, the same |
| show enough loyalty to buy all tickets to an NFL | | | | perpetrator of the offshore Super Bowl fiasco, for |
| game, exhibition season or not! (The NFL has put out | | | | real or has he become immune to the country's |
| guidance that these games are to be referred to by | | | | hardships - especially the plight of the working people |
| all announcers and media persons as 'preseason' | | | | who provide the majority of the purchasing power to |
| games and not the more truthful description of them | | | | sell out NFL games? |
| as 'exhibition' football where the regular players are | | | | Has greed overcome good old fashioned common |
| seldom seen. Instead, these games are 'tryouts' for | | | | sense and decency? It appears it has as Goodell's |
| rookies and unsigned free agents - pricey for what | | | | intentions reflect those of the bonus-giving Wall |
| you pay to see, a 'real' football game.) | | | | Street moguls who are oblivious to economic fair |
| The NFL's policy on televising local games not sellouts | | | | play. |
| reads as follows: "To ensure an NFL club's ability to | | | | Let me be so bold as to offer this advice to Goodell |
| sell all of its game tickets, and to make televised | | | | and his self-indulgent staff: Consider the times as |
| games more attractive to viewers through the | | | | they are in our country where millions are |
| presence of sellout crowds, the following policy is | | | | unemployed, battling enduring economic hardships in |
| observed by the NFL: For a home game to be aired | | | | paying their mortgage and other pressing bills such as |
| locally in the franchised market and in any secondary | | | | putting food on the table for their family, and |
| blackout market(s), the game must be sold out 72 | | | | recognize that they may have to consider these |
| hours in advance of kickoff. If the game is not a | | | | factors before buying expensive - and inflated, |
| sellout by the 72 hour cutoff, both the home | | | | overpriced - football tickets. Announce in no uncertain |
| franchised market and the secondary markets of the | | | | terms - unequivocally - that the blackout policy is |
| carrying network will air an alternate game." | | | | suspended for this season in consideration of the |
| Time was that season ticket buyers were given | | | | economically hard hit fans who have loyally and |
| these 'exhibition' type games at no cost as a reward | | | | financially made the NFL successful in the past. |
| for buying a season ticket package. Not anymore as | | | | Announce that their support has been appreciated to |
| these faithful supporters must also buy - at full price | | | | the extent that the NFL recognizes the plight they |
| - the two home games of each team's 'preseason' as | | | | are in and will not begrudge them a chance to watch |
| part of the deal. This amounts to tens of millions of | | | | their home team on television even if they can not |
| dollars in extra revenue for the NFL. | | | | go to the game for monetary reasons. Give the fans |
| Jim Steeg, a San Diego Charger front office official, | | | | an NFL 'bailout' this season at least - the NFL owes |
| explains the slowdown in ticket sales overall and the | | | | them that. |
| preseason dilemma as an economic problem vice one | | | | And guess what? I am willing to bet that the fans will |
| of a lack of fan enthusiasm for the game. "I think | | | | be so appreciative in recognition of this kind gesture |
| we're just not immune to it," Steeg said. "We're | | | | that they just may go buy some tickets that they |
| sitting here in San Diego, with the U.S. economy, the | | | | might not otherwise have - a reward for the NFL's |
| California economy, the housing bubble, all that sort | | | | public relations savvy. Try it, Goodell. You will be |
| of stuff that we've got the eye of the storm here. | | | | pleasantly surprised at the positive results. |
| That's really what it comes down to." | | | | If you nincompoops at NFL corporate headquarters - |
| The NFL is committing an egregious public relations | | | | you who are seemingly unaware of the gall of your |
| gaff in pursuing this policy in these difficult economic | | | | actions in light of the times - continue your avaricious |
| times when so many are hurting money-wise and | | | | ways of blocking out home games on television, you |
| simply can't afford the considerable prices being | | | | will be equally surprised at the adverse impact which |
| asked now for pro football tickets. The reality is that | | | | will far offset any ticket sales you might not have |
| there are fiscal priorities in today's world. | | | | had. No one is more vicious - and vindictive - than an |
| But, since when was the NFL considerate of the fans | | | | unappreciated football fan. No one! |
| who support them? Just this spring, in the midst of | | | | |