I write this letter as a concerned American citizen. As a perplexed sports aficionado. As a ticked off homebody that needs football on television at least four nights a week.
Help me understand what the fuss is all about. Please. And don't give me the "he said/she said crap". Neither the players nor the owners are going to make ANY money if games don't get played next season. So what is all this going on now? One big game of chicken? Does both sides of this little spat think that by demanding more greenbacks and coming off as unflappable at the negotiations table that the other side will panic and give in completely? How often does that happen?
The crazy thing is the disconnect is not on WHAT to do but rather what to do with the changes that BOTH sides want to make. Take for example rookie salaries. Both sides are in agreement, as far as I can tell, that rookies shouldn't make as much. Cool. But both sides have very different views as to where to transfer the money that USED to go to pay outrageous first round draft picks salaries. Here's some arbitration for ya: if you can't agree on it, NEITHER of you should get it. Just like my mom used to say to my brother and I if we both wanted to play with a specific toy...if we can't share it then neither one of us will get to play with it. So owners and players, if you can't share the $1 billion dollars, I don't think either one should get ANY of it. Instead, why don't we pump that money into the school systems in the areas of the 32 NFL franchises.
Typically the larger metropolitan areas are where most pro-teams reside and these also happen to be the areas that need the most financial support for their schools. Based on the amount of students in each area and current levels of academic prowess in those areas, we could easily formulate a system to delineate funds to every applicable market across the nation. From Buffalo to Miami...from New York to San Francisco...the NFL could do some amazing things if that money could find its way to our schools that need it the most, particularly inner city schools.
I have been watching The Wire lately which is a very raw and realistic HBO show that revolves primarily around Baltimore City Police. However, Season 4, takes a turn and focuses more on the school system. The show demonstrates the pressure teachers are under to "teach toward the test" which basically means they singularly focus students on how to pass the state exams needed to show that the schools are "doing their job." It also depicts how this actually teaches students very little and retention goes out the window. Students from the rougher parts of town don't get the education or direction needed to show them a way to break the bonds of poverty and indoctrination of the preeminent drug culture that they were born into.
Granted, it's just a TV show, but if real life is even half as bad as what the show illuminates, then we have serious problems. But we all knew that already. Then I think about the Baltimore Ravens. A strong franchise that really does a lot for the city it is located in. I think about the NFL's Play60 campaign to promote healthy play and activity for kids 60 minutes a day. Then I think, why not go a step further. How much more would those Ravens be heroes to the children of Baltimore if the $20 million they were going to pay that rookie went down to $12 million and the other $8 million went to better school facilities, textbooks, SPORTS EQUIPMENT for middle school teams. Or better yet, why don't we start honoring the real heroes and raise teachers' salaries! I know not every teacher deserves it, but let's incentivize the ones that do! Let's try to attract more qualified and exuberant educators that are bent on changing the lives of young people for the better instead of giving a measly paycheck to whomever is willing to "handle" a classroom of rambunctious 4th graders 5 days a week.
If it helps, NFL, I can turn this into "business talk" so that you don't think you are just giving away your cash. Think of this move as a long-term investment. You put money towards educational institutions where, in 5-10 years student-athletes will be cropping up looking forward to playing for their hometown club. It is no secret there is an inverse relationship in the rise of quality education and crime. Mr. Goodell has been on a mission to "clean-up" players' off-field behavior since day 1. Well, helping a 22 year-old choose right from wrong starts when they are in grade school. These players need to learn financial literacy as well. Going from $0 to $millions would be a difficult transition for anyone, but the more they understand savings, investing, and money management techniques, the better off your players will be when that first check is in their hands. This can all be established with a firm foundation starting as early as middle school!
So you are basically paying to make your future players better...in so many ways. I mean shoot, so much as been discussed this past season over concussions and helmet safety. Well concussions can happen in high school football as well. New helmets courtesy of your friendly neighborhood pros would be a nice gesture. If the city's (whatever city it may be) improves its education in the classroom, its academic as well as athletic facilities, it will draw in more quality talent to the area. This will give a big advantage to local college teams which can lead to more press of the entire area and the football being developed there and Mr. Joe Schmo's NFL franchise looks more appealing because of the surrounding amateur ball being played.
Does any of this sound good to you NFL execs? I'm guessing it means about diddly-squat to you in all actuality. This entire letter is just the ramblings of a die-hard Colts fan that thinks if we hadn't had 40% of the team injured throughout the season, we could have made a very serious run to the Super Bowl this year and he just really wants to see an agreement made to ensure the season is played because he thinks Indy could be the first host site of a Super Bowl where the home team is actually IN the game. And to some degree you would be right to think all that.
But think about EVERYTHING that will be effected by a holdout...the pizza delivery industry, the sports bars, the merchandise chains, etc. Lots of other people depend on NFL being THE NFL. Whether that is a good thing or bad thing can be debated, but what's up for debate now is all about the benjamins. I say, in the long run, everyone benefits if the NFL and NFLPA can agree to send disputed funds to the local schools. Mark my words on this. Until that time, school's out...way out.
What I'm into:
Movie- Remember the Titans. One of my favorite football movies.
Song- Rise Against "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" I really like this song and this album. Here is an artist that has realized the silliness of some of their previous adolescent rebellions and have come out the other side able to reflect and grow from their past mistakes...while simultaneous making good music about it.
Bible Verse- 1 John 3:17 "But if anyone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need and refuses to help- how can God's love be in that person."
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