27-09-2012, 04:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 27-09-2012, 10:00 PM by Charles Drago.)
By way of background: The owners of America's National Football League (NFL) teams recently "shut out" members of the NFL Referees Association in the wake of stalled contract negotiations. Consequently, the first three weeks of the 2012 NFL season saw "replacement" referees -- in the vast majority of cases incompetent semi-pros -- officiating at all games.
Errors made by the replacements included non-calls, phantom calls, comedic misinterpretations of rules, and other gaffes that in at least two instances resulted in the rightful winner of a game being charged with a loss. Matters came to a head last Monday night, when a referee victimized the legendary Green Bay Packers franchise by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on a literally last-second play.
And throughout the lock-out, players have been disregarding rules of all sorts -- including those implemented to limit severe injuries in the most violent, potentially lethal sport since the Mayans abandoned the Sacred Courts.
Players, coaches, fans, and even Barack Obama voiced their outrage at NFL owners, whose destructive-to-the-sport-and-revenues actions were inexplicable. The financial stakes could not have been more inconsequential -- we're talking a few million dollars over time to a growing business with current yearly revenues of $9.5 billion.
How to account for the owners' actions?
Perhaps a deep political analysis can shed some light on the issue.
Tens of millions of Americans, including their president and one hundred percent of mainstream media owners, commentators, and pundits, are now calling for -- no, make that begging for -- the return to professional football of unchallengeable authority. Clearly, they argue, we cannot police ourselves. Left to our own devices, we shall unleash chaos.
And make no mistake: In American professional sports, officials/authority figures may NOT be challenged. On the rare occasions when a coach or player even mildly criticizes an official's on-field performance, huge fines and even suspensions are levied.
The masses speak: "Please ... we beg you ... save us from ourselves!"
As of 11:15 AM EST, an agreement in principle has been reached in this matter. Details remain sketchy.
Errors made by the replacements included non-calls, phantom calls, comedic misinterpretations of rules, and other gaffes that in at least two instances resulted in the rightful winner of a game being charged with a loss. Matters came to a head last Monday night, when a referee victimized the legendary Green Bay Packers franchise by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on a literally last-second play.
And throughout the lock-out, players have been disregarding rules of all sorts -- including those implemented to limit severe injuries in the most violent, potentially lethal sport since the Mayans abandoned the Sacred Courts.
Players, coaches, fans, and even Barack Obama voiced their outrage at NFL owners, whose destructive-to-the-sport-and-revenues actions were inexplicable. The financial stakes could not have been more inconsequential -- we're talking a few million dollars over time to a growing business with current yearly revenues of $9.5 billion.
How to account for the owners' actions?
Perhaps a deep political analysis can shed some light on the issue.
Tens of millions of Americans, including their president and one hundred percent of mainstream media owners, commentators, and pundits, are now calling for -- no, make that begging for -- the return to professional football of unchallengeable authority. Clearly, they argue, we cannot police ourselves. Left to our own devices, we shall unleash chaos.
And make no mistake: In American professional sports, officials/authority figures may NOT be challenged. On the rare occasions when a coach or player even mildly criticizes an official's on-field performance, huge fines and even suspensions are levied.
The masses speak: "Please ... we beg you ... save us from ourselves!"
As of 11:15 AM EST, an agreement in principle has been reached in this matter. Details remain sketchy.