What mental midget put the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl?
I write so infrequently about sports that I don’t even have a blog category for my sports-related articles. But I’m so annoyed with the NFL that I’m going to offer a few thoughts, and I’d love to get your comments on whether you agree or disagree.
The NFL changed the date of the Pro Bowl so that this year, for the first time, it happens the week before the Super Bowl. Apparently their thinking is that people will lose their enthusiasm for football during the two week period between the AFC and NFC championship games and the Super Bowl. I’m throwing the bullshit flag.
The extra week gives up more time to figure out whose house we’re watching at, what beer to buy, and how many chicken wings we need. In years past, it gave me more time to find someone who wanted to bet on the game. (I pretty much don’t bet on sports anymore unless I’m in Vegas where I can watch on an enormous screen with a bunch of other football nuts.)
It stands to reason that the two teams which make the Superbowl are likely to have a disporportionately high number of players make the Pro Bowl. And it stands to reason that no coach or football organization will let those players risk getting hurt in a meaningless game a week before the game that means everything. (Yes, I understand the oxymoron inherent in a “game” that “means everything", but from the point of view of a professional athlete, it is essentially an accurate statement.)
I’m tempted to boycott the Pro Bowl just to send the NFL a message…but I probably won’t. Instead, I’ll just be hoping they reverse this stupid decision…a decision which will keep me from seeing the Colts’ and Saints’ best players one more time…and for 2011 and beyond return the Pro Bowl to its rightful spot as the NFL’s last event of the year.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Rossputin on 01/30/10 at 03:12:26 am . Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. |
Yours truly
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01/30/10 @ 06:47:55 am
I have all but quit watching any sport, way too many commercials, and liked pro football much better in the black and white days, and college ball (UTexas) narrated by Kern Tips. When I first heard about this schedule, I thought the same, what idiot came up with this and why? Your better and best are going to be playing in this game, and if they are injured or etc., they certainly will not be able to give their best or participate in the Super Bowl. Someone, somewhere, needs to be looking for another job.
01/30/10 @ 07:37:10 am
Must have been the same guy that scheduled Jay Leno for five nights a week.
For that matter, why don't they have the Super Bowl on Saturday instead of Sunday? It would sure be nice to have a day of rest after the GTME.
01/30/10 @ 01:04:15 pm
I think for the same reason the players playing in the Superbowl, will avoid injury leading to poor performance which makes watching Probowl boring. On the other hand, the 'hang-loose' play-for-fun attitude by the players makes it much more interesting, especially when it's the last game. If NFL don't understand this, they are like Pres. Obama with his healthcare agenda. Pushing something they think is a failure just to sell.
01/30/10 @ 06:04:56 pm
Well, I am a huge fan of the NFL as I have followed the Eagles (No need for ridule) since I can remember. With that said, I can't think of 1 year where I have looked forward to ANY all-star game. Whether it is the NBA, NHL or MLB. I could really care less. What's worse for the NFL, you can't get away from the tackling or hitting which can lead to injuries. So the stupidity this year is that the two top teams won't have any players in the game BECAUSE it is before the Super Bowl. Amazing and idiotic at the same time.
01/31/10 @ 10:44:37 pm
Apparently, it is almost the rule of thumb that many NFL All-stars from the Super Bowl Contestants do not attend the pro bowl anyway. So, they figured they had nothing to lose. Speakng of lose, what losers watch the pro bowl anyway?