So, Roger Goodell has decided to take it to the NFL fans, the same way he took it to the thugs who were encompassing the NFL. The only problem is, the fans are the lifeblood of the sport. The NFL is the most widely viewed sport in this country. There's big money to be made. Much of that money comes from alcohol companies and all of those products are forced down the throats of the NFL fans through advertisements and endorsements.
But now Mr. Goodell, who has come off very holier than thou during his reign as commissioner, has institued a fan code of conduct. Included in this code of conduct is no drunken behavior, no foul language and no rowdiness. In other words, no fun and hypocritical. Let me first state that many NFL fans at the stadiums are loud and obnoxious. And yes, often times, they get out of control, including violence and aggression. Those people are dealt with according to the law of the land. If you throw a battery (or dog bone) on the field, that's a crime and should be dealt with. But there's a huge difference between some derelict Browns fan and a fan who has imbibed on some Budweiser and is giving the players or an a rival fan a hard time. Heaven forbid they use some profanity. It is my right as an NFL fan, as one who financially supports the teams and the players, to be a jerk. There, I said it. If I want to act like a jerk, within the confines of the law, then that's my prerogative.
Mr. Goodell should not impose his morals or beliefs upon the rest of the fans. He seems to be trying to make it into a G-rated family affair or some kind of tennis crowd. What's next, no loud cheering because you might scare little Timmie who still wets himself around loud noises. I have a six-year-old daughter. I wouldn't bring her to a Bengals game, for many reasons. One, it's adult fun, kind of like a bar, with a football game. It's not appropriate. If you choose to bring your child to the game, know what you're exposing them to and don't expect me or anyone else to change our game.
Lastly, Goodell needs to remember that beer companies fork out millions of dollars into his league. To crack down on drunkeness but take those millions from the beer companies is quite hypocritical.
I wonder if Paul Tagliabue can be coaxed into "pulling a Favre" (yeah I'm trying to coin that phrase) and come out of retirement and save the NFL from Goodell and his moral stormtroopers.
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