Just curious - NFL followers?

[motherto2]

Just curious - is anyone else tired of hearing the whining and crying from all the owners and football players going on these days? I think they all need to get over themselves. Why not consider lowering the price of a NFL football game experience for all of us who don't make anywhere near the millions/billions that they all make? I would so love to take DS to a game of his favorite team, but I can't afford it. I've gotten so sick of all the entitlement "stuff" that comes out of all of their mouths for the last couple of years that I refuse to even have my tv on a channel that is showing a game. I don't want to support people who make that kind of money and then cry about how they don't have enough. My opinion goes for other celebrities also - whether it be actors, singers, etc. I guess I support it somewhat because I do have my tv on, but I almost never go to a movie or any type of concert, because, frankly, I can't afford it. My entertainment type money (which takes into account lunches out because of work related events, or any type of non-necessary type shopping) is $25/week. That wouldn't even get me into a parking lot for a game, and it would pretty much take care of my entertainment money for the week if I went to a movie and got popcorn/drink. Sorry, but I get tired of it.

[2kids10horses]

What football players?

I haven't watched any football in a decade.

It wouldn't bother me a bit if there was no season.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Adding insult to injury, the local tax payers are supporting the building of new stadiums and the teams turn around, raise ticket prices and charge personal seat licenses ranging in the tens of 1000s and also are charging $100s for each seat.
What has gone on at the new Meadowlands stadium in northern New Jersey is a disgrace.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I don't pay a whole lot of attention to it right now. It's off season. They'll figure it out in July/August. We have 2 toddlers under the age of 3, there's enough activity in our house that it's hard enough to get the important news and weather heard on a daily basis, much less football news in the off season.

[sheilaincali]

I totally agree with you. I live in MN and every day I have to listen to people whine and debate building a new stadium for the Vikings. Die hard fans for a team that hasn't been to a Super Bowl since 1977! They do their summer training where I live. It's a pain in the butt- yes they bring some money into the community from the people that come to watch practice. But when the coach has to demand that the players spend x number of minutes signing autographs before practice it's pretty sad. If it weren't for the fans these people wouldn't have their jobs so why be rude to the fans?

Personally I watched a super bowl back when the Bears played? With William the Fridge Perry I think he was called. This was when I was in like 3rd grade. Haven't watched a minute of football on tv since then and I don't feel like I am missing anything.

[souldoubt]

The NFL employes a lot of people directly and indirectly who have nothing to do with any of this so even if you don't care about the sport it's not a good thing. I'm a huge NFL fan but considering everything else going on in the economy I'm getting real sick and tired of hearing millionaires and billionaires whine and fight over money. The union wanted complete access to the owners books which they were denied. The owners offered enough information so that the union could confirm through a neutral third party that their profits haven't been rising as much as costs over the last so many years.

I find myself agreeing more with the owners right now and hearing one of the players compare it to modern day slavery while he makes superstar money is just beyond sick. The sad thing is in the end the deal will mostly benefit the owners and the big name players more than the little guys. It's got to suck to be one of these guys who makes a smaller amount of money by the NFL standards who has to stand by while their union is looking out for the bigger names more.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

I find myself agreeing more with the owners right now and hearing one of the players compare it to modern day slavery while he makes superstar money is just beyond sick.

Interesting thought on the slavery angle. Sort of cheapens the horrors of slavery during the early part of the life of this country.

[iono1]

I have season tickets & when the season resumes, assuming we miss some games during the lockout, I'll be there. My tickets are for the Buffalo Bills who have been bad for over a decade, but I still enjoy going, and I live almost 300 miles from the stadium. The tickets are the lowest in the league & I can park a quarter mile away for $10.
I look at it this way: I pay to watch them do something I can't do. If I could, I would have been on the field with them when I was younger. It's one of my favorite forms of entertainment and I wouldn't give it up.
To the OP-if you can't afford games, do something special for your son-make a game when his favorite team is on TV a big event. Throw a party & get creative. Some people get a TV in their back yards & make it like they're at the game. You don't have to be at the game to get the gameday experience. Half the games I watch each season are on TV & I still look forward to every Sunday. Also, say you want to go to a game in the 2012 season. If you can put $5 a week into a football fund, you'll have enough for 2 tickets & the full stadium experience. I'd recommend finding cheaper parking away from the stadium or using public transportation to the game. I've been to games in NE, which charges $40 for parking & I know it's a lot cheaper going to the game by train than driving.

[hoops902]

"Why not consider lowering the price of a NFL football game experience for all of us who don't make anywhere near the millions/billions that they all make?"

The current issue has nothing to do with the price of a "football game experience". That is decided by the laws of supply and demand.

"I don't want to support people who make that kind of money and then cry about how they don't have enough. "

What would you like to see happen then since the discussion is over how to split the money they make. One side says "give me more" and the other side says "good idea, here's a billion dollars since we already have enough and you want more"?

I don't understand when I hear people say "they both need to get over it". That's not a solution, a solution is "you get this much, you get this much". Does "get over it" mean that whoever throws out the first deal the other side has to accept or face public wrath? This is no different than a salary negotiation when offered a job. If the employer offered you less than you thought you were worth, would you negotiate it? Or would you just take it so as not to seem greedy?

"The sad thing is in the end the deal will mostly benefit the owners and the big name players more than the little guys. It's got to suck to be one of these guys who makes a smaller amount of money by the NFL standards who has to stand by while their union is looking out for the bigger names more. "

What makes you think they're looking out for the bigger stars more? In fact one of the biggest issues right now is the pension plan which would take care of former players, giving them health care, etc. Do you think that's something the rich players need? Or do you think that's something the low paid players who screwed up their bodies in 3 years of playing need now that they're out and can't get insured?

In basketball and baseball the new deals almost always benefit the superstar players when the union wins because the union pushes for higher salary caps, higher salaries, etc that benefit the top players. In the NFL many of the issues being fought for by the union do help the lower-rung players more than top pros, specifically with the issues of pensions and healthcare for players who might not be able to afford to take care of the post-NFL impact on their bodies as they age and don't ahve enough money to pay out of pocket for the costs.

[souldoubt]

What makes me think that? Probably their actions and every time some of them open their mouths. DeMaurice Smith has made the union look bad numerous occasions and continues to do so whenever he talks. One of the issues is health care long term which will benefit all players. Considering almost 4 out of 5 players are BK or in serious financial trouble within 2 years of leaving the league they all need that protection. While I agree that they need to adjust or fix health care the average career is a couple of years due to injuries so giving life long health insurance for some guy who may live another 50 years is a huge commitment. Health care is one issue but the biggest issue is 9B and how both groups can get more of that.

[Deleted]

I do care and I really hope they resolve the issue. There are a lot of "little" guys in the community who make their money from games. They are innocent in all of this, so for people to say they don't care if they ever play again is narrow minded. Also, why should the owners lower the ticket prices? I paid 3.5 times the face value for tickets last year because the demand is so high. A good business man isn't going to lower the ticket prices when he sells out games.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<<< Just curious - is anyone else tired of hearing the whining and crying from all the owners and football players going on these days? >>>

...yes... we need to get to work fast so that we can be ready to take our 7th Super Bowl ring next Feb.... we were pitiful against the Packers...

[hoops902]

You need to get to work fast but for a far different reason. You don't want Big Ben roaming the night clubs for too long. He's liable to get sent to prison.

[midjd]

LOL Hoops

I don't care much about football myself, but I work within walking distance of Lucas Oil Stadium (home of Super Bowl 2012). It will be a real blow to the city if it's canceled - heck, they've been tearing up literally EVERY SINGLE STREET in downtown Indianapolis since 2009 in preparation. A lot of people are counting on this to revitalize the city. And if I find out the damage to the undercarriage of my car, and days of being late for work because the street was blocked by construction equipment, was all for nothing...

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

<< You need to get to work fast but for a far different reason. You don't want Big Ben roaming the night clubs for too long. He's liable to get sent to prison. >>>

...no kidding...


<<< LOL Hoops >>>

...no kidding #2...

[so1970]

then again when wasthe last time nike or anyone else asked you to endorse their product while you were doing your job,or when did a family of 5 show up to your place of business to watch you type or shuffle papers. people are paid for their talent and their entertainment value.

[2kids10horses]

Somebody made the point that the "little people" who work at the stadiums would get hurt if they went on strike, and yes, you do have a point. I once rented a house to a couple who worked at Braves Staduim as vendors, and I remember when Baseball went on strike they had a hard time. I also had a tenant once who was a Braves BatBoy.

That was interesting... one day I had to let myself in to get a repair done (I had made an appointment) and while I was waiting for the A/C guy to come, I picked up a Sports Illustrated mag on the kitchen table. While I was thumbing thru it, I came across the article about John Rocker and his rant against the NY Mets fans. It ruined his career. Anyway, I set the mag back down on the table, and THEN I saw the mailing label: It was addressed to John Rocker at Atlanta-Fulton Co. Stadium! OMG!!!

That was Rocker's personal copy of the SI mag that ruined his career!

I wonder how much that would have been worth on Ebay?

Back to the point...

I don't watch sports anymore, nor any TV for that matter. But, the TV revenues are what drives the profitablity of the pro sports. The gate is a minor part of it. TV money comes from the advertizers. The beer companies, car companies, and razor blade companies subsidize the teams! I don't know what thier advertizing expenses are for pro sports, but I bet they are HUGE!

Those costs get passed along to the consumers in increased cost of goods. If the season got cancelled, the advertizers would not have to spend those dollars, and the cost of the products we buy could be reduced. Now, you might say they would just advertize elsewhere. Maybe, maybe not.

I think the system should be changed so that every game is a "pay per view game". The owners and players split up the proceeds from those viewers who are willing to pay to see them play. Those of us who don't give a hoot shouldn't be taxed via hidden advertizing charges in the everyday goods we purchase to support the league.

I know it aint't gonna happen, but that's how I feel.

[sapphire12]

We've been hearing about this lockup for the past 2 years. What if we were to have an NBA and NFL lock out? It could happen. I won't lose sleep on either or both of them. It definitely is not news I need to hear or read about on a daily basis. Let me know when a deal is reached.

[jeffreymo]

I choose not to pay attention to it. When it is talked about on ESPN or talk radio I change the channel. I'm confused as to how many sports fans really find this entertaining. I like some of the offseason stuff. Trades. I'm a big fan of the draft. I cannot stand hearing about holdouts, contract negotiations, lockouts, strikes and any of that other nonsense. These offseason "attractions" were all transformed into entertainment by the mighty ESPN. I try to limit my exposure to ESPN to only games for the most part.