Will The NFL Never Learn?

philfree · 09-10-2004, 02:35 PM

Will The NFL Never Learn?
9/10/2004 5:51 AM

By Rufus Dawes | FAQ

September 10, 2004 (morning)--The game’s purists will no doubt protest. Still others will simply ignore it or shake their heads that this is another example of the NFL’s arrogance. But the NFL is back in the music business eight months after it suffered through the embarrassment of the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake halftime episode.

If you’ve forgotten, Ms. Jackson’s breast was exposed at the conclusion of a song she and Timberlake were performing in Houston at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII. By the conclusion of the game and in the weeks that followed their antics were being discussed more than what took place on the field of play that day. Later, the commissioner was called to testify before a congressional committee and the matter was written off as a bad judgment call.

That the league would simply sweep those memories aside and go right back to having a musical component kick off its new season is difficult to understand. I don’t watch much major network television any more – which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who reads this column – but someone named George Lopez hosted last night’s “NFL Opening Kickoff” – a celebratory exercise including a long list of musical guests, sponsored by Ameriquest Mortgage Company and promoted by the National Football League.

I don’t pretend to be the face of America’s culture, but like most people I like my sports straight with no chaser. I don’t need Destiny’s Child, Lenny Kravitz or even the Boston Pops to get me pumped up for this year’s NFL season and I don’t think most of you do either. Is the atmosphere surrounding our games to become a present day version of Thackeray’s Vanity Fair with “bullies pushing about, bucks ogling women, knaves picking pockets, policemen on the lookout, quacks…bawling in front of their booths and yokels looking up at the tinseled dancers…not a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, though very noisy.”

On its face, the extravagance of pop music and the culture that surrounds it have precious little to do with football and everything to do with commerce. It’s all about grabbing the viewing audience’s attention and particularly that of a younger audience.

You see, the NFL is concerned that it is losing the battle to hold the interest of today’s youth. For evidence, it cites ratings from last year’s Super Bowl where viewership was down 13% for men 18-34.

But an hour’s worth of pop entertainment won’t make professional football more hip or more profitable and, anyway, what does being hip have to do with why we like football? Football is old school, simple with blocking, tackling, running and throwing. It’s managed to flourish all these years without a warm-up act.

The people who think up these ideas in the league office huddle together for warmth in what G. K. Chesterton called “the clean, well-lit prison of one idea.” It was bad idea then and it’s a bad idea now.
______________________

I couldn't agree more. When I first saw the the NFL Kickoff commercial I thought what in the hell are they doing? If I wanted to watch that stuff I go watch VH1 or MTV or one of those channels. I guess the cost to bring in those entertainers was offset by the revenue gained by the commercial spots.

I guess.

PhilFree

Dr. Facebook Fever · 09-10-2004, 02:42 PM

Musical performances at football games are always bad and annoying..... except KISS at the Super-Bowl a few years ago.....

ENDelt260 · 09-10-2004, 02:43 PM

Hahahahaha!! This is the funniest Rufus column yet.

"Next they'll be dancing!"

ENDelt260 · 09-10-2004, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

Musical performances at football games are always bad and annoying..... except KISS at the Super-Bowl a few years ago.....

Kiss sucks.

Dr. Facebook Fever · 09-10-2004, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

Kiss sucks.

but not as much as you...or UMR.

ENDelt260 · 09-10-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

but not as much as you...or UMR.

Well... yeah. That's why I can't get a record deal.

ENDelt260 · 09-10-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

but not as much as you...or UMR.

Oh... just had to edit and add on the UMR, huh?

Dr. Facebook Fever · 09-10-2004, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENDelt260

Oh... just had to edit and add on the UMR, huh?

Yea...I was a bit slow on the up-take on that one.

jcroft · 09-10-2004, 02:49 PM

The pre-game show was from 7-8pm. The game started at 8pm. Everyone knew what the pre-game show was going to entail. If you're not into pop music, Rufus, don't set your ****ing TiVo for 7pm. It's not that hard.

HC_Chief · 09-10-2004, 02:51 PM

Dude's only happy when he has something to bitch about.

It was a GREAT GAME. **** all the rest of that stupid shit.

jcroft · 09-10-2004, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Dude's only happy when he has something to bitch about.

It was a GREAT GAME. **** all the rest of that stupid shit.

Exactly. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Complianing about this is about the same as complaining that CBS airs "Survivor" before "CSI."

"CSI is a great show! It doesn't need a warm-up act!"

philfree · 09-10-2004, 02:55 PM

Quote:

The pre-game show was from 7-8pm. The game started at 8pm. Everyone knew what the pre-game show was going to entail. If you're not into pop music, Rufus, don't set your ****ing TiVo for 7pm. It's not that hard.

I think the point Rufus is making is that football the game and the way it's played is what lead to it's popularity and no pop artist is gonna help make it more popular. So in that regard it's a waste. Now if it brings enough revenue from commercials to raise the salary cap then I guess I can tolerate it.

PhilFree

Chiefnj · 09-10-2004, 02:56 PM

This might be the only Rufus column I agree with. It is a shame that Janet's ugly boob eclipsed a great Super Bowl game. You don't need to try to prop up the NFL with a horse and wagon show.

jcroft · 09-10-2004, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philfree

I think the point Rufus is making is that football the game and the way it's played is what lead to it's popularity and no pop artist is gonna help make it more popular. So in that regard it's a waste. Now if it brings enough revenue from commercials to raise the salary cap then I guess I can tolerate it.

PhilFree

My point is simply that they aren't infusing pop music into the game itself. The game itself is still pretty un-tainted. They do this stuff for pre-game and halftime, but they've left it very easy to ignore if it's not for you. Ho many times did you usee Jessica, lenny, or Beyone after 8pm?

I guess my opinion is that it's not really affecting the game at all. As long as it stays out of the game itself, it's fine by me.

stevieray · 09-10-2004, 03:06 PM

just more teenager based marketing.

09-10-2004, 02:35 PM
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $65854	Will The NFL Never Learn? Will The NFL Never Learn? 9/10/2004 5:51 AM By Rufus Dawes \| FAQ September 10, 2004 (morning)--The game’s purists will no doubt protest. Still others will simply ignore it or shake their heads that this is another example of the NFL’s arrogance. But the NFL is back in the music business eight months after it suffered through the embarrassment of the Janet Jackson-Justin Timberlake halftime episode. If you’ve forgotten, Ms. Jackson’s breast was exposed at the conclusion of a song she and Timberlake were performing in Houston at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII. By the conclusion of the game and in the weeks that followed their antics were being discussed more than what took place on the field of play that day. Later, the commissioner was called to testify before a congressional committee and the matter was written off as a bad judgment call. That the league would simply sweep those memories aside and go right back to having a musical component kick off its new season is difficult to understand. I don’t watch much major network television any more – which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who reads this column – but someone named George Lopez hosted last night’s “NFL Opening Kickoff” – a celebratory exercise including a long list of musical guests, sponsored by Ameriquest Mortgage Company and promoted by the National Football League. I don’t pretend to be the face of America’s culture, but like most people I like my sports straight with no chaser. I don’t need Destiny’s Child, Lenny Kravitz or even the Boston Pops to get me pumped up for this year’s NFL season and I don’t think most of you do either. Is the atmosphere surrounding our games to become a present day version of Thackeray’s Vanity Fair with “bullies pushing about, bucks ogling women, knaves picking pockets, policemen on the lookout, quacks…bawling in front of their booths and yokels looking up at the tinseled dancers…not a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, though very noisy.” On its face, the extravagance of pop music and the culture that surrounds it have precious little to do with football and everything to do with commerce. It’s all about grabbing the viewing audience’s attention and particularly that of a younger audience. You see, the NFL is concerned that it is losing the battle to hold the interest of today’s youth. For evidence, it cites ratings from last year’s Super Bowl where viewership was down 13% for men 18-34. But an hour’s worth of pop entertainment won’t make professional football more hip or more profitable and, anyway, what does being hip have to do with why we like football? Football is old school, simple with blocking, tackling, running and throwing. It’s managed to flourish all these years without a warm-up act. The people who think up these ideas in the league office huddle together for warmth in what G. K. Chesterton called “the clean, well-lit prison of one idea.” It was bad idea then and it’s a bad idea now. ______________________ I couldn't agree more. When I first saw the the NFL Kickoff commercial I thought what in the hell are they doing? If I wanted to watch that stuff I go watch VH1 or MTV or one of those channels. I guess the cost to bring in those entertainers was offset by the revenue gained by the commercial spots. I guess. PhilFree
Posts: 8,910

09-10-2004, 02:42 PM	#2
Dr. Facebook Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $7620	Musical performances at football games are always bad and annoying..... except KISS at the Super-Bowl a few years ago..... __________________ courtesy of BoneKrusher "Baseball? It's just a game. As simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It's a sport, a business and sometimes a religion." Ernie Harwell
Posts: 34,887

09-10-2004, 02:43 PM	#3
ENDelt260 Let's all go down to... Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: 92107 Casino cash: $802	Hahahahaha!! This is the funniest Rufus column yet. "Next they'll be dancing!" __________________
Posts: 59,095

09-10-2004, 02:49 PM	#9
jcroft Thread-Stopper Extrodinaire Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Casino cash: $4611	The pre-game show was from 7-8pm. The game started at 8pm. Everyone knew what the pre-game show was going to entail. If you're not into pop music, Rufus, don't set your **ing TiVo for 7pm. It's not that hard. __________________ Jeff Croft** jeffcroft.com
Posts: 2,150

09-10-2004, 02:51 PM	#10
HC_Chief Pull my finger Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: OPKS Casino cash: $10026080	Dude's only happy when he has something to bitch about. It was a GREAT GAME. **** all the rest of that stupid shit. __________________ I'm mean because you're stupid.
Posts: 9,478

09-10-2004, 02:56 PM	#13
Chiefnj MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Willis, Harris and Davis. Casino cash: $1025	This might be the only Rufus column I agree with. It is a shame that Janet's ugly boob eclipsed a great Super Bowl game. You don't need to try to prop up the NFL with a horse and wagon show. __________________ "I always tell (the assistant coaches), 'Make it simple, 'cause I'm stupid,'" Edwards said. "This ain't computer football." Herm Edwards, 3-20-07 Q: Herm, back on December 25th you were asked if Trent Green was your starter going into next season and you said, ‘yeah, why wouldn’t he be?’ Have you changed your mind on that? EDWARDS: No, I have not.” (1-11-07)
Posts: 6,811

09-10-2004, 03:06 PM	#15
stevieray IN THE BLACK Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $85019643	just more teenager based marketing. Last edited by First Down Elvis; 09-10-2004 at 03:12 PM..
Posts: 34,082

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode