NFL is too self absorbed to avoid labour strife

Friday, February 11 2011

The good thing is the NFL has never been more popular. The bad news comes if the NFL suspects its popularity makes it bulletproof. This article was written by Bud Shaw and appeared in the Cleavland Plain Dealer.

The NFL is the richest, most popular boy in school. Now we find out if he's unmatched in street smarts, too, or if all the fawning and eyelash batting has gone to his head and convinced him he can do no wrong.

Super Bowl XLV was the most watched TV show in history. Some of that interest had to do with the commercials and -- at least for a fleeting few minutes -- the desire to see if Black Eyed Peas were there to entertain or if they were angling to get beamed to the Starship Enterprise. A real-time poll of viewers favored matter transportation.

But by most measures, the game has never been more popular, and that's a little scary as the owners and players threaten to huff and puff and blow each other's houses down. Owners might just think fans will be waiting for them as eager as ever when the lockout ends and a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

Other than here in Cleveland -- where people got their hearts ripped out in 1995 and held candlelight vigils to win back the right to pay for PSLs and a new stadium -- where does the NFL come off thinking we're hopelessly addicted to what it's selling?

Already emboldened by billions in TV money to help them ride out the storm, owners don't seem particularly worried about the PR hit. They know, of course, the players always take the brunt of that, even if the owners are locking out their employees.

Major League Baseball wasn't nearly as popular as the NFL when it killed the 1994 World Series. It needed the Steroid Era to sell it after.

You'd like to think the owners recognize the wave of goodwill and popularity they're riding and would adopt the Hippocratic oath to do no harm to a loyal (and growing) fan base instead of adopting the Oath of Hypocrisy by crying poor, taking their ball and getting a limo ride home.

You'd like to think behind closed doors they've agreed to protect the 2011 season at all costs. Because the game isn't in financial ruins.

You'd like to think the people negotiating this agreement wouldn't mess up such a good thing. After all, it's all about the customers, right?

OK, except the ones told their $800 Super Bowl tickets in Dallas didn't come with a place to sit down.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.