NFL believes in "socialism".

[manifold]

Wrong, everyone works in the NFL ......

Good one.


Funny but still immaterial since, theoretically anyway, everyone can work in a socialist system.


But as uscitizen already pointed out, the NFL gets to succeed being socialist because they have big gubmint subsidies and monopoly exemptions. A nation trying to pull off socialism wouldn't share the same advantages that make it possible in the NFL.

 

[Oddball]

One of the TV announcers explained it.

The NFL takes all the TV money, puts it into a big pot, then divides it "equally" among the teams. It's why, in any given year, any NFL team might win the Super Bowl. It's called working as a team and "sharing the wealth".

But there are some MLB teams that will never play in the World Series because in baseball, it's every team (man) for himself. Some of those teams can't fill a stadium. They are merely "cannon fodder" for the "big" teams that have lots of money.

It reminded me of the Republican view of America. Every man for himself and the rich are supposed get more. Because they're rich. Who cares about the team (country). It's every team (man) for himself.

Wrong, yet again, meathead.

The NFL produces something that others willingly part with their money to purchase, where socialistic gubmint produces nothing and gains their "income" by coercion...Nobody imposes football upon everyone else, under the arrogant rubric that "it's in everyone's best interests".

The NFL revenue sharing agreement is a voluntary compact from within, not imposed upon it from without...That contract, as opposed to the mythical "social contract", has specific terms and conditions.

Within certain internally agreed upon costraints, the individual players sell their talents to the highest bidder...The mediocre QB often makes more than the great offensive lineman.

The list of counter-examples goes on and on and on.

BTW, insofar as your brain dead MLB comparison is concerned, I'm sure teams like the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, amongst others, would have something to say about the World Series Championship being nothing more than something that's sold to the highest bidder.

 

[Immanuel]

Socialism works for the NFL

Shared revenue and a "any given Sunday" reputation make it the most exciting sport in America

I have to disagree with most of this. Yes, the NFL is still the most exciting sport in America... strike that... the world. But, the Shared Revenue System, Salary Crap, I mean cap, Free Agency etc. have hurt the NFL in my opinion. When I was growing up, we could enjoy the games and be assured that the team stars of this season would be there next year and the year after and the year after. Hell, now days, the good players (call them Primadonnas) go from team to team from one year to the next. Why should I care about Terrel Owens, if next year there is a good chance that he might be a Detroit Lion?

And the crap about "on any given Sunday" is a bunch of malarkey. We still have dynasties. The Steelers, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers are still the cream of the crop while the Niners have faded from the scene but there is always a hope of changed ownership and a resurrection of the days of Montana to Rice. Sure, maybe one year the Saints will do well in the Playoffs and actually win a Super Bowl, but the next they are dead in the water and the Steelers/Packers meet in the Super Bowl in Dallas' new stadium.

I much preferred the old NFL. When you had player loyalty and fans could support a team that they knew would essentially be their team for years to come. Rivalries actually meant something because the Raiders hated the Steelers because of who the Steeler players were from year to year. Hell, now days, the Raider stars of 2011 might just be the Steeler stars of 2012! Who do I rout for then yesterdays Raiders or today's Raiders? Okay, I have to admit... Raider stars? Pshaw! But you get the idea.

I grew up in the Glory Days of the Raiders... before the Raider Nation became such a farce and an embarrassment. When Al Davis actually knew how to build a team. I was a 49er fan (after the Raiders moved to LA) during the Golden Years of the Niners while still supporting the Raiders. In those years we knew that our team was our team and barring a few trades here and there, the fans knew that until someone better came along or that inevitable retirement monster came along, Joe Montana as a Niner for life. We knew that Dallas was the enemy and that those players in Dallas would be the enemy for years to come. That has all changed. Today, I have no assurances that Tony Romo, who I love to hate, won't be a 49er next year and I will actually have to rout for him!! God forbid!!

The NFL has hurt itself with these "socialistic" "advances". They F'd up a good thing and unfortunately, it appears that there is no chance of reversing what they have done.

Immie

 

[driveby]

Wrong, everyone works in the NFL ......

Good one.


Funny but still immaterial since, theoretically anyway, everyone can work in a socialist system.


But as uscitizen already pointed out, the NFL gets to succeed being socialist because they have big gubmint subsidies and monopoly exemptions. A nation trying to pull off socialism wouldn't share the same advantages that make it possible in the NFL.

Everyone can, but will they? What percentage, would you say, of people collecting unemployment for 99 weeks are REALLY trying to gain employment?

Your other points i pretty much agree with......

 

[manifold]

Wrong, everyone works in the NFL ......

Good one.


Funny but still immaterial since, theoretically anyway, everyone can work in a socialist system.


But as uscitizen already pointed out, the NFL gets to succeed being socialist because they have big gubmint subsidies and monopoly exemptions. A nation trying to pull off socialism wouldn't share the same advantages that make it possible in the NFL.

Everyone can, but will they? What percentage, would you say, of people collecting unemployment for 99 weeks are REALLY trying to gain employment?

Your other points i pretty much agree with......

Ok, I get your point. If you stop working in the NFL you get booted off the payroll.

 

[Two Thumbs]

One of the TV announcers explained it.

The NFL takes all the TV money, puts it into a big pot, then divides it "equally" among the teams. It's why, in any given year, any NFL team might win the Super Bowl. It's called working as a team and "sharing the wealth".

But there are some MLB teams that will never play in the World Series because in baseball, it's every team (man) for himself. Some of those teams can't fill a stadium. They are merely "cannon fodder" for the "big" teams that have lots of money.

It reminded me of the Republican view of America. Every man for himself and the rich are supposed get more. Because they're rich. Who cares about the team (country). It's every team (man) for himself.

Must you prove you are an idiot daily?

sharing the wealth gets us teams like the Lions, Browns, Panther, etc. These teams suck year in and year out.

Why?

B/c the owner gets paid no matter what.

It's the will to win and do what's needed that gets you titles

Not some fucking stoopud thing like shareing the wealth.

 

[rightwinger]

Socialism works for the NFL

Shared revenue and a "any given Sunday" reputation make it the most exciting sport in America

I have to disagree with most of this. Yes, the NFL is still the most exciting sport in America... strike that... the world. But, the Shared Revenue System, Salary Crap, I mean cap, Free Agency etc. have hurt the NFL in my opinion. When I was growing up, we could enjoy the games and be assured that the team stars of this season would be there next year and the year after and the year after. Hell, now days, the good players (call them Primadonnas) go from team to team from one year to the next. Why should I care about Terrel Owens, if next year there is a good chance that he might be a Detroit Lion?

And the crap about "on any given Sunday" is a bunch of malarkey. We still have dynasties. The Steelers, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers are still the cream of the crop while the Niners have faded from the scene but there is always a hope of changed ownership and a resurrection of the days of Montana to Rice. Sure, maybe one year the Saints will do well in the Playoffs and actually win a Super Bowl, but the next they are dead in the water and the Steelers/Packers meet in the Super Bowl in Dallas' new stadium.

I much preferred the old NFL. When you had player loyalty and fans could support a team that they knew would essentially be their team for years to come. Rivalries actually meant something because the Raiders hated the Steelers because of who the Steeler players were from year to year. Hell, now days, the Raider stars of 2011 might just be the Steeler stars of 2012! Who do I rout for then yesterdays Raiders or today's Raiders? Okay, I have to admit... Raider stars? Pshaw! But you get the idea.

I grew up in the Glory Days of the Raiders... before the Raider Nation became such a farce and an embarrassment. When Al Davis actually knew how to build a team. I was a 49er fan (after the Raiders moved to LA) during the Golden Years of the Niners while still supporting the Raiders. In those years we knew that our team was our team and barring a few trades here and there, the fans knew that until someone better came along or that inevitable retirement monster came along, Joe Montana as a Niner for life. We knew that Dallas was the enemy and that those players in Dallas would be the enemy for years to come. That has all changed. Today, I have no assurances that Tony Romo, who I love to hate, won't be a 49er next year and I will actually have to rout for him!! God forbid!!

The NFL has hurt itself with these "socialistic" "advances". They F'd up a good thing and unfortunately, it appears that there is no chance of reversing what they have done.

Immie

Every year you get a former sub 500 team making a surge in the playoffs. Every year you get a major playoff team fail to make the playoffs.

Players move...but not as much as they used to. Great teams like New England and Pittsburgh stay on top because they have a system where you can fill in any player and they don't rely on one player. 49ers clicked whether Montana, Young or even Garcia was pulling the trigger

Raiders suck because Al Davis sucks...nothing the NFL can do about it

 

[Immanuel]

Socialism works for the NFL

Shared revenue and a "any given Sunday" reputation make it the most exciting sport in America

I have to disagree with most of this. Yes, the NFL is still the most exciting sport in America... strike that... the world. But, the Shared Revenue System, Salary Crap, I mean cap, Free Agency etc. have hurt the NFL in my opinion. When I was growing up, we could enjoy the games and be assured that the team stars of this season would be there next year and the year after and the year after. Hell, now days, the good players (call them Primadonnas) go from team to team from one year to the next. Why should I care about Terrel Owens, if next year there is a good chance that he might be a Detroit Lion?

And the crap about "on any given Sunday" is a bunch of malarkey. We still have dynasties. The Steelers, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers are still the cream of the crop while the Niners have faded from the scene but there is always a hope of changed ownership and a resurrection of the days of Montana to Rice. Sure, maybe one year the Saints will do well in the Playoffs and actually win a Super Bowl, but the next they are dead in the water and the Steelers/Packers meet in the Super Bowl in Dallas' new stadium.

I much preferred the old NFL. When you had player loyalty and fans could support a team that they knew would essentially be their team for years to come. Rivalries actually meant something because the Raiders hated the Steelers because of who the Steeler players were from year to year. Hell, now days, the Raider stars of 2011 might just be the Steeler stars of 2012! Who do I rout for then yesterdays Raiders or today's Raiders? Okay, I have to admit... Raider stars? Pshaw! But you get the idea.

I grew up in the Glory Days of the Raiders... before the Raider Nation became such a farce and an embarrassment. When Al Davis actually knew how to build a team. I was a 49er fan (after the Raiders moved to LA) during the Golden Years of the Niners while still supporting the Raiders. In those years we knew that our team was our team and barring a few trades here and there, the fans knew that until someone better came along or that inevitable retirement monster came along, Joe Montana as a Niner for life. We knew that Dallas was the enemy and that those players in Dallas would be the enemy for years to come. That has all changed. Today, I have no assurances that Tony Romo, who I love to hate, won't be a 49er next year and I will actually have to rout for him!! God forbid!!

The NFL has hurt itself with these "socialistic" "advances". They F'd up a good thing and unfortunately, it appears that there is no chance of reversing what they have done.

Immie

Every year you get a former sub 500 team making a surge in the playoffs. Every year you get a major playoff team fail to make the playoffs.

Players move...but not as much as they used to. Great teams like New England and Pittsburgh stay on top because they have a system where you can fill in any player and they don't rely on one player. 49ers clicked whether Montana, Young or even Garcia was pulling the trigger

Raiders suck because Al Davis sucks...nothing the NFL can do about it

"Players move but not as much as they used to"? Are you crazy? They move a lot more today than they used to. Teams used to stay together. Now, if a team has any semblance of being the same team in four to five years it is a miracle. The NFL has really hurt the rivalries that it used to maintain. They have destroyed the fervor of the fans, because they have players bouncing from team to team just to collect bigger paychecks or teams dropping stars because of the frigging salary crap... damn did it again, I meant salary cap.

Immie

 

[Sheldon]

I have to disagree with most of this. Yes, the NFL is still the most exciting sport in America... strike that... the world. But, the Shared Revenue System, Salary Crap, I mean cap, Free Agency etc. have hurt the NFL in my opinion. When I was growing up, we could enjoy the games and be assured that the team stars of this season would be there next year and the year after and the year after. Hell, now days, the good players (call them Primadonnas) go from team to team from one year to the next. Why should I care about Terrel Owens, if next year there is a good chance that he might be a Detroit Lion?

And the crap about "on any given Sunday" is a bunch of malarkey. We still have dynasties. The Steelers, Patriots, Cowboys, Packers are still the cream of the crop while the Niners have faded from the scene but there is always a hope of changed ownership and a resurrection of the days of Montana to Rice. Sure, maybe one year the Saints will do well in the Playoffs and actually win a Super Bowl, but the next they are dead in the water and the Steelers/Packers meet in the Super Bowl in Dallas' new stadium.

I much preferred the old NFL. When you had player loyalty and fans could support a team that they knew would essentially be their team for years to come. Rivalries actually meant something because the Raiders hated the Steelers because of who the Steeler players were from year to year. Hell, now days, the Raider stars of 2011 might just be the Steeler stars of 2012! Who do I rout for then yesterdays Raiders or today's Raiders? Okay, I have to admit... Raider stars? Pshaw! But you get the idea.

I grew up in the Glory Days of the Raiders... before the Raider Nation became such a farce and an embarrassment. When Al Davis actually knew how to build a team. I was a 49er fan (after the Raiders moved to LA) during the Golden Years of the Niners while still supporting the Raiders. In those years we knew that our team was our team and barring a few trades here and there, the fans knew that until someone better came along or that inevitable retirement monster came along, Joe Montana as a Niner for life. We knew that Dallas was the enemy and that those players in Dallas would be the enemy for years to come. That has all changed. Today, I have no assurances that Tony Romo, who I love to hate, won't be a 49er next year and I will actually have to rout for him!! God forbid!!

The NFL has hurt itself with these "socialistic" "advances". They F'd up a good thing and unfortunately, it appears that there is no chance of reversing what they have done.

Immie

Every year you get a former sub 500 team making a surge in the playoffs. Every year you get a major playoff team fail to make the playoffs.

Players move...but not as much as they used to. Great teams like New England and Pittsburgh stay on top because they have a system where you can fill in any player and they don't rely on one player. 49ers clicked whether Montana, Young or even Garcia was pulling the trigger

Raiders suck because Al Davis sucks...nothing the NFL can do about it

"Players move but not as much as they used to"? Are you crazy? They move a lot more today than they used to. Teams used to stay together. Now, if a team has any semblance of being the same team in four to five years it is a miracle. The NFL has really hurt the rivalries that it used to maintain. They have destroyed the fervor of the fans, because they have players bouncing from team to team just to collect bigger paychecks or teams dropping stars because of the frigging salary crap... damn did it again, I meant salary cap.

Immie

What makes you say that the rivalries have been hurt, or that the fervor of the fans has been destroyed?

There's so much smack talking about Green Bay and Chicago in my area. And the TV ratings continue going through the roof.

 

[manifold]

49ers clicked whether Montana, Young or even Garcia was pulling the trigger

I can't believe you just put Garcia in the same class with Montana (Young I'm gonna let slide).

Perhaps we found something you know even less about than politics.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Socialism works for the NFL

Shared revenue and a "any given Sunday" reputation make it the most exciting sport in America

Yet they are dropping the revenue sharing next year, so claiming it works is a bit like claiming the Edsel was Ford's greatest marketing triumph.

 

[Sheldon]

One of the TV announcers explained it.

The NFL takes all the TV money, puts it into a big pot, then divides it "equally" among the teams. It's why, in any given year, any NFL team might win the Super Bowl. It's called working as a team and "sharing the wealth".

But there are some MLB teams that will never play in the World Series because in baseball, it's every team (man) for himself. Some of those teams can't fill a stadium. They are merely "cannon fodder" for the "big" teams that have lots of money.

It reminded me of the Republican view of America. Every man for himself and the rich are supposed get more. Because they're rich. Who cares about the team (country). It's every team (man) for himself.

Wrong, yet again, meathead.

The NFL produces something that others willingly part with their money to purchase, where socialistic gubmint produces nothing and gains their "income" by coercion...Nobody imposes football upon everyone else, under the arrogant rubric that "it's in everyone's best interests".

The NFL revenue sharing agreement is a voluntary compact from within, not imposed upon it from without...That contract, as opposed to the mythical "social contract", has specific terms and conditions.

Within certain internally agreed upon costraints, the individual players sell their talents to the highest bidder...The mediocre QB often makes more than the great offensive lineman.

The list of counter-examples goes on and on and on.

BTW, insofar as your brain dead MLB comparison is concerned, I'm sure teams like the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, amongst others, would have something to say about the World Series Championship being nothing more than something that's sold to the highest bidder.

I got to thinking about this.


Any analogy will fall apart if you think about it for a minute. They're usually a bad way to make an argument anyways.

The OP being rdean, my guess would be he's using the NFL's way of doing business as an example of how the country should be governed.


When Obama made that spread the wealth comment, people shouted socialist. The NFL, and other leagues, "spread the wealth" among their teams--to some degree.

And I do think there's some legit points about the league powers and the player's union not being laissez-faire with the teams' front offices.

But beyond that the analogy falls to pieces. Especially considering a lot of these actions are contractual agreements, not the governing body controlling the means of production.

At least when Bill Maher made these points, he added some humor to it.


I guess the referees could be compared to a tyrannical dictatorship, since the players don't get to vote on their officiating.

 

[Sheldon]

Socialism works for the NFL

Shared revenue and a "any given Sunday" reputation make it the most exciting sport in America

Yet they are dropping the revenue sharing next year, so claiming it works is a bit like claiming the Edsel was Ford's greatest marketing triumph.

Where are you getting that information from?

 

[Immanuel]

Every year you get a former sub 500 team making a surge in the playoffs. Every year you get a major playoff team fail to make the playoffs.

Players move...but not as much as they used to. Great teams like New England and Pittsburgh stay on top because they have a system where you can fill in any player and they don't rely on one player. 49ers clicked whether Montana, Young or even Garcia was pulling the trigger

Raiders suck because Al Davis sucks...nothing the NFL can do about it

"Players move but not as much as they used to"? Are you crazy? They move a lot more today than they used to. Teams used to stay together. Now, if a team has any semblance of being the same team in four to five years it is a miracle. The NFL has really hurt the rivalries that it used to maintain. They have destroyed the fervor of the fans, because they have players bouncing from team to team just to collect bigger paychecks or teams dropping stars because of the frigging salary crap... damn did it again, I meant salary cap.

Immie

What makes you say that the rivalries have been hurt, or that the fervor of the fans has been destroyed?

There's so much smack talking about Green Bay and Chicago in my area. And the TV ratings continue going through the roof.

I don't know how old you are Sheldon, but in the days before players started bouncing around teams like Mexican Jumping Beans, a rivalry used to mean something. Things have changed significantly. Today's rivalries exist because Raider fans are supposed to hate Steelers, not because of any carried over misdeeds from the likes of Jack Lambert, or on the other side, Jack Tatum. Sure Raider fans hate the Steelers, but most of the younger generations have no idea why a Raider fan has to hate the Steelers.

Troy Polamalu is a great safety for the Steelers, but he does not come close to provoking the blood spitting ire of a Raider's fan like the mere mention of the name Franco Harris still does to an old timer. Ben Roethlisberger is just Big Ben. Who cares anymore? And it is not just because the Raiders are an awful team these days. The same goes for the Packers and Bears.

We don't have rivalries like they used to have rivalries:

Ranking the NFL's best rivalries: Where does Colts-Pats fit? - NFL - ESPN

Number 4 listed in the above link is a joke compared to the other ones listed.

Here is another link showing "top ten rivalries"

SI.com - Photo Gallery - Top 10 NFL Rivalries Of All Time

I miss the days when the Raiders had a reason to hate the Steelers, the Cowboys had a reason to hate the Redskins, the 49ers had a reason to hate the Giants or the Cowboys. The reasons are gone and they are simply not being replaced by other rivalries.

Immie

 

[Sheldon]

I don't know how old you are Sheldon, but in the days before players started bouncing around teams like Mexican Jumping Beans, a rivalry used to mean something. Things have changed significantly. Today's rivalries exist because Raider fans are supposed to hate Steelers, not because of any carried over misdeeds from the likes of Jack Lambert, or on the other side, Jack Tatum. Sure Raider fans hate the Steelers, but most of the younger generations have no idea why a Raider fan has to hate the Steelers.

Troy Polamalu is a great safety for the Steelers, but he does not come close to provoking the blood spitting ire of a Raider's fan like the mere mention of the name Franco Harris still does to an old timer. Ben Roethlisberger is just Big Ben. Who cares anymore? And it is not just because the Raiders are an awful team these days. The same goes for the Packers and Bears.

We don't have rivalries like they used to have rivalries:

Ranking the NFL's best rivalries: Where does Colts-Pats fit? - NFL - ESPN

Number 4 listed in the above link is a joke compared to the other ones listed.

Here is another link showing "top ten rivalries"

SI.com - Photo Gallery - Top 10 NFL Rivalries Of All Time

I miss the days when the Raiders had a reason to hate the Steelers, the Cowboys had a reason to hate the Redskins, the 49ers had a reason to hate the Giants or the Cowboys. The reasons are gone and they are simply not being replaced by other rivalries.

Immie

I'm 24 and started following the game as a sophomore in high school, so yeah a lot of that stuff is before my time. Thanks for the explanation.


Personally I think the reasons for the Mexican jumping beans extend beyond just free agency and the salary cap, and is also cultural in nature.

Maybe it used to be this way, I don't know, but it seems today that if a young player isn't performing at a high level two or three years out of the draft, they're written off as a failed project and the team bundles him in a trade deal and moves on to the next two year project.

The reason I say it's cultural is because there's tons of money, media time, and fan interest tied up in the game today. The more money there is, the the thinner the margin of error. Instant success over patience, I guess.

And I think the league is missing out on some great rivalries by having the stupid AFC/NFC split in places like South Florida, the Bay Area, Texas, and NYC.

 

[Immanuel]

I don't know how old you are Sheldon, but in the days before players started bouncing around teams like Mexican Jumping Beans, a rivalry used to mean something. Things have changed significantly. Today's rivalries exist because Raider fans are supposed to hate Steelers, not because of any carried over misdeeds from the likes of Jack Lambert, or on the other side, Jack Tatum. Sure Raider fans hate the Steelers, but most of the younger generations have no idea why a Raider fan has to hate the Steelers.

Troy Polamalu is a great safety for the Steelers, but he does not come close to provoking the blood spitting ire of a Raider's fan like the mere mention of the name Franco Harris still does to an old timer. Ben Roethlisberger is just Big Ben. Who cares anymore? And it is not just because the Raiders are an awful team these days. The same goes for the Packers and Bears.

We don't have rivalries like they used to have rivalries:

Ranking the NFL's best rivalries: Where does Colts-Pats fit? - NFL - ESPN

Number 4 listed in the above link is a joke compared to the other ones listed.

Here is another link showing "top ten rivalries"

SI.com - Photo Gallery - Top 10 NFL Rivalries Of All Time

I miss the days when the Raiders had a reason to hate the Steelers, the Cowboys had a reason to hate the Redskins, the 49ers had a reason to hate the Giants or the Cowboys. The reasons are gone and they are simply not being replaced by other rivalries.

Immie

I'm 24 and started following the game as a sophomore in high school, so yeah a lot of that stuff is before my time. Thanks for the explanation.


Personally I think the reasons for the Mexican jumping beans extend beyond just free agency and the salary cap, and is also cultural in nature.

Maybe it used to be this way, I don't know, but it seems today that if a young player isn't performing at a high level two or three years out of the draft, they're written off as a failed project and the team bundles him in a trade deal and moves on to the next two year project.

The reason I say it's cultural is because there's tons of money, media time, and fan interest tied up in the game today. The more money there is, the the thinner the margin of error. Instant success over patience, I guess.

And I think the league is missing out on some great rivalries by having the stupid AFC/NFC split in places like South Florida, the Bay Area, Texas, and NYC.

At 24, you have missed so much!

Maybe, it is that I am just getting old? But, I can remember when a football rivalry was a real rivalry. I simply do not see that anymore. In my opinion, today's rivalries are jokes compared to the good ole days.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the game, but I miss the days when I knew why I hated the Cowturds.

Back to the Mexican Jumping Beans... a lot of this problem is economic and quite frankly, player greed. The kids who play professional sports today play for the love of money rather than the love of the game. They go where the money is greatest. As a fan, this has worked to diminish the excitement of the game in my eyes. Note: I said diminish, not snuffed out.

There are a lot of reasons for the jumping around. Some are caused by the league and its rules and some are simply player related. But, all told, it hurts football.

Baseball has suffered the same thing in my opinion, even to a greater extent than the NFL. I have lost all interest in MLB. I live in Tampa. The year that the Rays went to the Series, I have to admit that I did not even know that they were playoff contenders until there was less than a week left in the regular season and suddenly everyone (the radio stations that is) was talking about the Rays. Hell, I don't think 95% of the Bay Area had a frigging clue that the Rays actually had a chance to make the playoffs.

The rivalries help to make the NFL exciting. And I mean real rivalries... the ones that fans could feel in their blood, not the ones that the Sunday Morning Commentators tell them used to exist.

Bring back the days when the Cowboys had a reason to hate the Redskins!

Immie

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I don't know how old you are Sheldon, but in the days before players started bouncing around teams like Mexican Jumping Beans, a rivalry used to mean something. Things have changed significantly. Today's rivalries exist because Raider fans are supposed to hate Steelers, not because of any carried over misdeeds from the likes of Jack Lambert, or on the other side, Jack Tatum. Sure Raider fans hate the Steelers, but most of the younger generations have no idea why a Raider fan has to hate the Steelers.

Troy Polamalu is a great safety for the Steelers, but he does not come close to provoking the blood spitting ire of a Raider's fan like the mere mention of the name Franco Harris still does to an old timer. Ben Roethlisberger is just Big Ben. Who cares anymore? And it is not just because the Raiders are an awful team these days. The same goes for the Packers and Bears.

We don't have rivalries like they used to have rivalries:

Ranking the NFL's best rivalries: Where does Colts-Pats fit? - NFL - ESPN

Number 4 listed in the above link is a joke compared to the other ones listed.

Here is another link showing "top ten rivalries"

SI.com - Photo Gallery - Top 10 NFL Rivalries Of All Time

I miss the days when the Raiders had a reason to hate the Steelers, the Cowboys had a reason to hate the Redskins, the 49ers had a reason to hate the Giants or the Cowboys. The reasons are gone and they are simply not being replaced by other rivalries.

Immie

I'm 24 and started following the game as a sophomore in high school, so yeah a lot of that stuff is before my time. Thanks for the explanation.


Personally I think the reasons for the Mexican jumping beans extend beyond just free agency and the salary cap, and is also cultural in nature.

Maybe it used to be this way, I don't know, but it seems today that if a young player isn't performing at a high level two or three years out of the draft, they're written off as a failed project and the team bundles him in a trade deal and moves on to the next two year project.

The reason I say it's cultural is because there's tons of money, media time, and fan interest tied up in the game today. The more money there is, the the thinner the margin of error. Instant success over patience, I guess.

And I think the league is missing out on some great rivalries by having the stupid AFC/NFC split in places like South Florida, the Bay Area, Texas, and NYC.

At 24, you have missed so much!

Maybe, it is that I am just getting old? But, I can remember when a football rivalry was a real rivalry. I simply do not see that anymore. In my opinion, today's rivalries are jokes compared to the good ole days.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the game, but I miss the days when I knew why I hated the Cowturds.

Back to the Mexican Jumping Beans... a lot of this problem is economic and quite frankly, player greed. The kids who play professional sports today play for the love of money rather than the love of the game. They go where the money is greatest. As a fan, this has worked to diminish the excitement of the game in my eyes. Note: I said diminish, not snuffed out.

There are a lot of reasons for the jumping around. Some are caused by the league and its rules and some are simply player related. But, all told, it hurts football.

Baseball has suffered the same thing in my opinion, even to a greater extent than the NFL. I have lost all interest in MLB. I live in Tampa. The year that the Rays went to the Series, I have to admit that I did not even know that they were playoff contenders until there was less than a week left in the regular season and suddenly everyone (the radio stations that is) was talking about the Rays. Hell, I don't think 95% of the Bay Area had a frigging clue that the Rays actually had a chance to make the playoffs.

The rivalries help to make the NFL exciting. And I mean real rivalries... the ones that fans could feel in their blood, not the ones that the Sunday Morning Commentators tell them used to exist.

Bring back the days when the Cowboys had a reason to hate the Redskins!

Immie

I know what you mean.

I remember the strike year when my team, the Cowboys, was one of the few that elected to ignore the strike, and they still lost to the Redskins. I also remember the comment by one of the Redskins when the strike was over about how he wanted to hate the guys that came in and played but that they beat the Cowboys, and that made up for a lot. You do not see that type of passion anymore.

 

[sealybobo]

One of the TV announcers explained it.

The NFL takes all the TV money, puts it into a big pot, then divides it "equally" among the teams. It's why, in any given year, any NFL team might win the Super Bowl. It's called working as a team and "sharing the wealth".

But there are some MLB teams that will never play in the World Series because in baseball, it's every team (man) for himself. Some of those teams can't fill a stadium. They are merely "cannon fodder" for the "big" teams that have lots of money.

It reminded me of the Republican view of America. Every man for himself and the rich are supposed get more. Because they're rich. Who cares about the team (country). It's every team (man) for himself.

Americans are convinced that Europe’s economic growth in GDP and jobs is hampered by its socialist welfare state approach to life. Meanwhile, Europeans are convinced that the American approach of free market capitalism unbounded by adequate social programs creates an underclass that lives in ways that shame the nation that produced it.

Whether you prefer one to the other, there is no debate that American society is more capitalist in its orientation than Europe, which in turn has a socialist thread that is much bigger than the Bernie Sanders campaign by a factor of thousands.

There is at least one huge exception. When it comes to professional team sports, it is the Europeans who practice free market capitalism while the Yanks are the socialists.

Sports: American Socialism versus European Capitalism