The media is about to ruin the sport we love the most

[Timm Rosenbach]

The NFL is the only league in all of sports that has gotten things right for the past 20 years or so:

Baseball has been ruined by outrageous guaranteed contracts, revenue sharing that effectively allows owners like David Glass of the Royals to actually benefit from not even trying to put a winning product on the field, and steroids

The NBA has been ruined by too many 19 year-olds coming into the league completely unprepared, crooked officials and over-expansion

Boxing has become a complete sham

The NFL has had everything right and that is why it is America's most beloved sports product: An effective salary cap, effective policies against steroids and performance enhancing substances, no guaranteed contracts, competitive balance, and a beautiful product on the field. The media and the lawyers are about to take an axe to the league with the concussion issue and the implications that this is a "gladiator sport" which needs to be protected from itself. I have the sinking feeling that over the next 10 years, there will be many changes to the league that will make it less entertaining. The lawsuits and media scrutiny are a tidal wave on the horizon and I just pray that the powers that be are able to stand up to them.

 

[GuernseyCard]

News flash: the concussion issue has been settled.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

News flash: the concussion issue has been settled.

Two of today's headlines:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/04/former-bears-qb-files-concussion-suit-against-nfl-riddell/


http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...indicators-cte-resulting-football-concussions

 

[Azlen]

It's a bit far fetched to blame the media for this. They weren't the ones suing the league.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

It's a bit far fetched to blame the media for this. They weren't the ones suing the league.

No, just raking the league over the coals for Tony Dorsett losing his memory and racist hazing all day today.

 

[desertdawg]

LOL, we should just sweep it all under the rug.

Boxing got out did by MMA.

Baseball just ran and is running it's course. Steroids up and popularity down.

The NBA is doing just fine.

Football is football, this recent Martin Incog thing is bringing more attention to the NFL. My wife even knows the names Incognito and Jonathan Martin now.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

LOL, we should just sweep it all under the rug.

Football is football, this recent Martin Incog thing is bringing more attention to the NFL. My wife even knows the names Incognito and Jonathan Martin now.

I was referring to the Incognito situation as well as the concussions. The mainstream media is raking the league over the coals for both

 

[Azlen]

No, just raking the league over the coals for Tony Dorsett losing his memory and racist hazing all day today.

The media, when they are doing their jobs correctly, should be highlighting the truth rather than covering it up. If Tony Dorsett does have brain damage that he received because he played football then I don't have any problem with the media reporting that. People who choose to play football should be informed of the dangers they place their bodies into by playing the game. If they still choose to play, then they will be paid very well to do so.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Two of today's headlines:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/04/former-bears-qb-files-concussion-suit-against-nfl-riddell/


http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...indicators-cte-resulting-football-concussions

Dorsett is subject to the settlement and even if Douglas has the money or support to fully litigate, he'll be an old man before a decision is made.

 

[oaken1]

they have steadily been ruining football for twenty years now...lawyers get a guy to sue the league because he is too stupid to manage his money...claim concussions...and never look at the fact that the guy had a 2.01 gpa in college majoring in basket weaving.....with a tutor.

 

[Buckybird]

If anything it will be the former & future players who ruin this league with its lawsuits against the league because they think NFL covered up its knowledge of concussions & impact of football on the entire body! Add to that, the possible expansion into London which I think is down right stupid!

I think it's BS for players to think back in the day that the science of head trauma could be what it is today & to sue because of it. To think ramming your body into another body at 15-20 mph isn't going to have lasting affects is just ignorant...well duh!

 

[desertdawg]

I was referring to the Incognito situation as well as the concussions. The mainstream media is raking the league over the coals for both

Concussions might and probably will decrease football's direction in some ways (especially the financially well off kids that don't need to play in professional sports to be successful).

The media has never caused a concussion though. And they are very real.

 

[Buckybird]

People who choose to play football should be informed of the dangers they place their bodies into by playing the game. If they still choose to play, then they will be paid very well to do so.

And for those reasons shouldn't have any reasons to sue for $$$ because of it. I bet next next years player must sign a document giving up those rights & rightfully so IMO.

 

[oaken1]

Concussions might and probably will decrease football's direction in some ways (especially the financially well off kids that don't need to play in professional sports to be successful).

The media has never caused a concussion though. And they are very real.

but todays media cannot be relied upon to report the truth,...or both sides of an issue...they will report what they feel will get them the best ratings and the most advertising dollars

 

[GuernseyCard]

If anything it will be the former & future players who ruin this league with its lawsuits against the league because they think NFL covered up its knowledge of concussions & impact of football on the entire body! Add to that, the possible expansion into London which I think is down right stupid!

I think it's BS for players to think back in the day that the science of head trauma could be what it is today & to sue because of it. To think ramming your body into another body at 15-20 mph isn't going to have lasting affects is just ignorant...well duh!

A team in London with access to a market of 500 million people doesn't strike me as stupid.

 

[oaken1]

And for those reasons shouldn't have any reasons to sue for $$$ because of it. I bet next next years player must sign a document giving up those rights & rightfully so IMO.

+1

any player who came into the league over the past ten years knew full well the possibilities for injury before he ever stepped on the field....they have been using that possibility against the owners for years to get more guaranteed money on their contracts.

 

[GuernseyCard]

but todays media cannot be relied upon to report the truth,...or both sides of an issue...they will report what they feel will get them the best ratings and the most advertising dollars

And when exactly was it any different?

 

[Buckybird]

but todays media cannot be relied upon to report the truth,...or both sides of an issue...they will report what they feel will get them the best ratings and the most advertising dollars

Hogwash! They can't just make crap up or they will be sued...it's call slander!

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

If anything it will be the former & future players who ruin this league with its lawsuits against the league because they think NFL covered up its knowledge of concussions & impact of football on the entire body! Add to that, the possible expansion into London which I think is down right stupid!

I think it's BS for players to think back in the day that the science of head trauma could be what it is today & to sue because of it. To think ramming your body into another body at 15-20 mph isn't going to have lasting affects is just ignorant...well duh!

Thanks to the Jonathan Martin situation, we could see a lawsuit for a hatecrime. What is next? Lawsuits by former players who had to carry pads, got strapped to the goalpost and get dunked in the cold tank?

 

[Azlen]

but todays media cannot be relied upon to report the truth,...or both sides of an issue...they will report what they feel will get them the best ratings and the most advertising dollars

The media, specifically the sports media, loves football though. ESPN is able to charge what they do primarily because of football. NBC is number one so far this season and one of the reasons why is Sunday Night Football. Football makes media companies a lot of money, so killing their cash cow isn't necessarily the best way for them to get ratings and ad dollars.

 

[Buckybird]

Thanks to the Jonathan Martin situation, we could see a lawsuit for a hatecrime.

It's coming! I would be suprised if Martin & his family haven't been contacted by dozens of lawyers yet because they can get theirs too.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Baseball has been ruined by.....

Baseball has been ruined by long, baggy pants, pitchers who can't seem to throw two baseballs in under three minutes and the use of the name Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

 

[Buckybird]

A team in London with access to a market of 500 million people doesn't strike me as stupid.

There are many loyal fans like you & 80-90k at each game overseas. But it's still a small fan base & from everything I've read the TV ratings have a very small audience. And I'm not even talking about the effects on the teams traveling to the UK or a London team traveling to the US.

 

[Krangodnzr]

The NFL DOES have revenue sharing. The problem with baseball is that they don't have a hard salary cap and salary minimum. Too much competitive imbalance.

 

[ajcardfan]

+1

any player who came into the league over the past ten years knew full well the possibilities for injury before he ever stepped on the field....they have been using that possibility against the owners for years to get more guaranteed money on their contracts.

Well, that can be argued and they are treating guys with concussions much, much better. But there is overwhelming evidence that, particularly in the 90s, they aggressively downplayed consequences of concussions, even in literature given to the players, when hard evidence to the contrary was being given to them by doctors and scientists.

This brain damage thing is FAR from over. If it can't be fixed, football will slowly go the way of boxing. It will never die, but it will also never be what it was at it's peak.