See, I told you all ...

That you could do without football. That, the players would get a better deal ... if, they held out with our support. Now, we are forced to do without football. Even, the fiasco of the draft, won't happen. But, I have to admit that it seems that I was wrong about one thing ... that, we the fans matter. Because, what I'm hearing is, the nfl is prepared to play an entire game in an empty stadium. And, whats surprising is that some players are embracing this ... saying "it will be refreshing" or "it probably would be better". But, whats even more alarming is that ... they're some fans cool or okay with receiving ... this blatant, disrespectful, backhanded b÷tch slap in the face.

 

No fans in stadium would be flat out weird. Watching some of these talk shows is strange when they say a joke and there is no laughter. One show on HBO, he uses an audience from the 50's in black and white.

 

What if they make the players stay 6' away from each other on the field?

 

They could make them wear giant rubber donuts, 6' in diameter. It would be like bumper cars.

But seriously, if it was empty stadiums or no season at all? I'd go with empty stadiums. They could probably pump in lots of crowd noise and have a sound engineer with his finger on the cheer and boo buttons.

One thing we don't have to endure, however, is the potential for a lost season with a SB contender type team. Think how we would feel if we lost a season with the killer B's. Take Bell's first holdout season, for example. If he was reporting and we expected him, AB, and Ben to all contribute. If that season was taken from us, every one of us would believe that we lost a ring. At least we're not on the precipice of losing a season with a SB contender.

 

Hey it worked for Artie Burns.....

 

Hey defva.

First, and foremost, I hope that you and your loved ones are all well. Now, do not get me wrong folks with what I am about to say here. If there was no football season I too would be disappointed. And yes, there probably would be a void in my life….to some degree. Given that, there is part of me that could care less. This is coming from a guy with over 40 years of hard-core, dedicated fandom (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins). However, the NFL game/product has evolved into something, which for me, has become very difficult to digest at times. Below is what I would not miss:

Replay/Review:

It has taken the game to levels that are totally disgusting and intolerable.

Even with the technology there is no guarantee they get the call right.

It can only be used at certain times and sometimes when it is not allowed to be used it is during a time when it could be so beneficial. Leaving me in disbelief as I scratch my head.

What is a catch is the worst? They have taken something so simplistic and turned it into a complicated and complex disaster.

It slows down the flow of the game and has me channel surfing sometimes up to ten minutes.

Talk Shows and Analysts

There are hundreds of them. With way more than half who are unknowledgeable, have probably never played any sports in their lives, always have to have a pretty “skirt” (they do serve as nice eye-candy though, if nothing else) on the set who serve absolutely no purpose. They get paid millions to give unsubstantiated and biased opinions that are pretty worthless. There are other things as well about this topic that I will definitely not miss.

Media

Kind of along the lines of the Talk Shows and Analysts. Way too many Media Outlets with Cable TV and Online Resources. They write and talk about worthless topics that are fluff and filler. Again, most are totally useless and providing nothing but “overkill”.

Commercialization

In short, everything from “over-designed” team gear, to Hollywood half-time shows, to TD celebrations, to whiny cry-baby fans, coaches and players (some who constantly signal they want a flag) and a whole host of other non-sensical BS.

Fantasy Football

Just do not care for it. To those who like it, great. Hopefully, I am not offending anyone. It just is not my thing. I am sure that to some degree, it is entertaining and fun, and that is cool. However, I just do not see, nor can get into it. Especially, when ESPN and other stations dedicate a whole hour show to it. It is Fantasy! I cannot watch the many of the sloppy, back-room participants of this activity who really know nothing about sports or who probably have never engaged in them. If people like this activity, then I do not want to ever again hear anybody blast me about one of my favorite fantasy sports which is TV Wrestling (Oh Yeah!).

Well that is it for me folks. Given all of that, yes it would be nice to have football this season. However, and once again, for me, it would not be the end all to everything.


STEELWINDS AKA The East Side Kid

 

The Browns would finally have a chance to win!

 

Hey Blast Furnace.

I hope you and your loved ones are all okay. We are fine over here.

Once again, do not get me wrong. I would rather have football and I am as rabid a Steeler fan as they come. Sometimes I do not watch the games in the house out of respect of all others. This is due to my, let's say "passionate outbursts" putting it mildly (smile).

Yes, you are right about the "control" concept. However, I, you, all of us are all bombarded with it at every turn of the corner. Primarily the Internet and Cable TV. Like you said, and I agree, I could just ignore most of it, and I do. However, even with those efforts, sometimes you are channel-surfing for example and inadvertently: "Oh it is ESPN" and bam there it is.

I get what you are saying and maybe I am a product of my generation to a degree. I am not a dinosaur by any means being a Computer-Teacher. I love Technology. I respect Technology. Especially, all of the advancements in Tele-Communications. However, like any technological advancements, it is a wide spectrum of value from great to worthless and everything in between.

However, with me, maybe some of it is nostalgia. You may laugh but I do not mind the old days of getting up and changing the TV dial. The once a week highlight show that came on Saturday nights. I think it was called: "This is the NFL". Steve Sabol maybe? Do you remember? It was always exciting to look forward too; especially, since it was just a once a week event. I am glad that you have found a passion for Fantasy Football. I just can't get into it. Once again, good for you if it brings you some happiness, seriously.

On a lighter note: I do not know if you grew up with "Pitching Quarters" on the streets. I did and it was competitive, fun and intense at times. Plus profitable on some days. I was joking with another poster that if there is no Football and TTF would allow it, I could go back to the old neighborhood and live-stream a competition through the Board here (laugh/smile). As a Physical Education Teacher as well, I love any form of competition from Tidily-Winks, to Baseball Card Flipping, to Marble-Shooting and of course Football. I love and respect any physical activity that has some skill involved. If there is no Football something is going to have to fill that void. Take care.


STEELWINDS AKA The East Side Kid

 

The way our D played against the Ravens’ B team last year, one would think that was the case

 

I never understood the no fans option, what protects the players from the other players?

As we saw in the NBA where it was the players who were testing positive for the virus.

I do not know what they are going to do until a Vaccine comes out for Sporting Events.

 

I guess they figure there can be a system in place to test the players frequently. You can’t easily test 45k fans. It’s a nightmare either way especially when tests aren’t 100% and symptoms aren’t always evident

 

Hey 86WardsWay.

That is comical my friend. Then again, we could not tee-off on any of them. On a good note, it would keep that A-hole Myles away from our QBs. I wonder if he would have pulled that same garbage with Ben that he did with Rudolph. Then again, stupidity does not discriminate.


STEELWINDS AKA The East Side Kid

 

I just don't see Baker doing anything as a pro. A step up from Trubisky but that's about it.

 

If I do not hear booing for when Goodell shows his face and when NE is picking, then it will be a sad and dull draft, LOL.

 

His wife may boo him but she probably boos him quite frequently....

 

I want my money back for tickets, parking and seating license. Watch them make it pay for veiw.

 

Goodell makes $40 million a year, I doubt he cares when the fans boo him, it's tired anyway.

 

Funny, I just read an article about how there is over a billion dollars tied up because MLB, NBA, and the NHL have not cancelled their games and just put them on "Hold" The article said that the online sites will not issue any refunds for the tickets or fees until the games have been cancelled. In the event the games get rescheduled there will be no refunds due back to customers.

 

It's the amount of people coming in contact with each other in those venues. Think about when the last time you saw someone wash their hands properly at a sporting event. Most just splash and go if that. Cold games are the worst, you can just watch people wipe their noses on their gloves and whatever. handing cash to the servers with dirty ass hands and using the common condiment bottles or dispensers...

 

I wonder how they will get me out of rooneys box?