An Open Letter to the NFL...

Date:      September 26, 2017

To:          Mr. Roger Goodell, Commissioner, National  
               Football League

From:     "The Chuckmeister"

Subject:  Patriotism and Whiny Kneelers

Dear Mr. Goodell;

As near as I can tell, the only difference between you and the Captain of the Titanic is that it's going to take you just a bit longer to drown.

You had a chance to do something meaningful last year in the wake of Mr. Colin Kooperdrink's having chosen to make his defiant Black Muslim disc jockey girlfriend proud by "taking a knee" when our National Anthem played at football games.  

Yes, Mr. Goodell, you had the chance to show your leadership by forcefully coming out in support of an already-existing official NFL policy condemning such actions as being detrimental to the game and to the country we love so much. A policy that permits you to levy suspensions, and penalties, and fines, and outright dismissals of any player who chooses not to conform to the rules as written.  

Put simply, the NFL's own rules prohibit everything these pampered millionaire whiners have been doing as of late; kneeling and stretching and hoisting the Black Power salute and scratching their asses.  In short, showing disrespect to the legions of brave Americans who have fought and died in the service of our Great Country since its baptism by fire. 

But you didn't.

You wimped out by puking forth a tepid missive that stated the flag is okay, but you know, like, ahem, so is giving the Black Power salute and sitting on your butt when the rest of us stand, hand over our hearts, proclaiming our fealty and support for the military, our First Responders and those who have gone before us in wars fought far and wide over more than two centuries.  You took the easy way out.  You didn't demand that your gladiators follow the rules.  You didn't condemn such actions. You indirectly added your support. 

Now you're reaping the whirlwind.

May I remind you that you refused to permit your players to wear a patch on their uniforms memorializing the 15th anniversary of 9/11, the worst tragedy to ever befall our great nation. You said it was too political. When asked by one of the Dallas Cowboy's players to permit his team to wear patches in honor of the five policemen assassinated by a sniper while protecting the participants in a Black Lives Matter protest in his town, you refused. You though it might offend somebody or other. (You're right. It did!  Me, and millions of others!). 

And now, when given the chance to redeem yourself by refusing to permit employees of the owners of the teams which hired them - and you - to disrespect the flag for which so many have fought and died, you wimped out again. No problem, you said.  And I'm guessing to you, it isn't.  

But to many of us, it is...

My own personal view is that this kerfuffle was caused by our decision to eliminate conscription after the Viet Nam, er, unpleasantness.  Since then, we've enjoyed an all-volunteer military.  Those wishing to serve our fine land will vote with their feet; they will head on down to the recruiter's office and sign up.  And so they have, by the hundreds of thousands, most specifically since 09/12/01.  Those joining up are patriots.  They want the very best for their Country.  And they're willing to sign a blank check made out to Uncle Sam for an amount up to and including their lives.  

But that means that the other 99% of us, as only about 1% choose to serve, must rely on the "few and the proud" to defend us.  And that also means that we've lost the benefit of having rich and poor, Black and White, young and younger, men and women, take up arms in our stead. And so we've lost that feeling of universal service. And with it the sense of patriotism that each and every person who serves learns to their very quick.  No draft, no reason to honor the flag under which we all served. Too bad...

But back to the point:  The reality is that Clinkerdrip's actions, and the actions of those that followed him in his lame protests, led to a ratings disaster for the NFL last year. Viewership was down an overall 8% from the previous year. This year's ratings are down another 15%! so far. A recent survey showed that fully 34% of respondents would be willing to turn off football forever if these feckless misguided protests continue. You, Roger, are in a high-wire act, and you're beginning to lose your balance.

The NFL's media deal with the networks is worth about $2.5 Billion in revenue over a five-year period.  That revenue stream is predicated upon anticipated viewership ratings.  If they improve, the ad payments go up. And if they go dowwwwwwwwn, the opposite happens.  Ummm, like what's happening right now, Rog baby.  The owners are facing what could be a $250 Million Dollar haircut just in 2017 if current ratings trends don't improve.  And I get the feeling they're getting a bit nervous. And if you're not, you're not as smart as you look.

And knowing this, you still decided to permit your paid performers - for that is exactly what they are -- they are no different than bull riders in a rodeo, or acrobats in a circus, or stand-up comedians at the Laugh Factory -- to make fools of themselves on national TV.  And a fool of you.  And fools of the owners who are paying you. And some think fools of those who continue to watch football on the NFL.  

Oh, and insult every single American who ever wore the uniform of this Great Country.  And their wives and husbands and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and grandmas and grandpas.  In short, millions and millions of Americans are outraged at what's unfolding on their TV screens.  Face it, Rog.  Everybody between Tahoe and Tallahassee thinks you're a raging dolt.  And you've earned every bit of their enmity.

I don't know why your owners don't send you packing.  You could open a consulting business with Colleen Klapperdangle.  Your ad line could be, "Hire us and we'll show you how not to do it!" 

The Chuckmeister