When I was a boy and attended movies with my parents, there used to be a short-subject film called , "The Passing Parade." This "short" often chose a subject to film and discuss, to do with American Culture/Society.
I'm going to borrow the Passing Parade title, from that old movie "short," to write about the same thing; American Culture/Society. This blog then, is the first of this writer's view of "The Passing Parade," 2010 and beyond.
I admit to being a fan of a certain professional football & baseball team. When I was 10, I carried some of my father's equipment into the stadium and "helped" him set up the technical aspect of the game. His job title was "radio engineer."
I have long since moved away from the city of my boyhood, parents are deceased, sisters live elsewhere and I have no "ties" that remain, to "my home sod."
Except following the baseball and football teams.
I watch as many games these teams play, whenever I can.
I think football is too violent, especially at the professional level, yet I enjoy following my favorite team, despite my concern about the violence and other aspects of the game and team.
OK, I'm a fan.
Currently, the National Football League (NFL) is in labor/management collective bargaining on a new labor Agreement (contract). The current labor contract expires in June of 2011.
In the past, both strikes, by the players and "lockouts" by the owners, have occurred.
I assume everyone knows that a strike is when the workers in a certain field of labor refuse to work.
"Lockouts" are probably a little less known by defition. Lockouts are when management "locks out" or prevents, it's workers from reporting to work.
In the past, the NFL owners have locked out their regular players, the names we all know and sometimes love, sometimes don't love at all and hired "replacement" players.
These "replacement players" come from a variety of places. Many are former NFL players who "could not make the grade" with any team. Some are former college players who never were "tried out" by the NFL and, it is rumored, even some "replacements" are former high school players.
These "replacement players" then dress in the uniforms of the regular players, the owner will not allow to play, and become the team of... The Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, whichever team.
In the past, too many people watched these games. I HOPE the players and owners come to an agreement when they next meet in December. Positive comments have been made by both the Union and Management to the effect that signs are hopeful in that direction.
I do not wish to "take sides" here, however::
You can count me among the fans of the NFL, who will NOT watch "replacement teams or games." In fact, I will call them "scab" games from henceforth.
In my opinion, the media networks, satellite TV outlets, the "visual media" has contributed to a strike by the players, or lockout by the NFL owners, by giving the National Football League money to broadcast 2011 season games.
It is in no one's best interests that either a strike or lockout occur, not the players, owners, media and especially, the fans, without whose loyal support, the entire NFL would not BE.
The payment for the 2011 games being carried by the media, is already in the NFL's bank account(s). I have seen the figure, the media has already paid for these games, set at 5 billion dollars by the NFL Players Union. I don't know if that figure is anywhere near correct. I wonder if all or part of the media payment already paid to the NFL will be returned to the media, if "scab" games are broadcast. I don't know.
Perhaps someone out there knows the answer to these questions: How much has the NFL media already paid for the right to broadcast the 2011 games? How much of that money will the NFL get to keep, if they air "scab" games, with replacement players?
But I tell players, owners and media of the NFL this, just from me.
If there is a lockout or a strike -
I will not watch "scab" games.
Further, I will cancel my subscription to my TV programing provider. (I have already informed the company of my intentions, twice. They have "replied" that " I am a valued customer of long standing and they are considering my views on this matter.")
If all "NFL fans" want to pay for and watch, games played by less than professional performance level players, well, it's your money and your time.
Not me.
Walter Hopewell
No comments:
Post a Comment