Jan 29, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Female fans in football helmets pose at Super Bowl Boulevard on Broadway in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
With the outcry and uproar ignited over the latest domestic violence quandaries plaguing the NFL, it leaves female fans such as myself questioning their loyalty. I am a fan. I always have been, although through the years the fandom has transformed to a love that I share with millions of others, both male and female, around the world.
Football is love, for not only the NFL players, but for the adoring fans who admire the sport. August till the first weekend of February could easily be described as the happiest time of year for me. The NFL season is something I look forward to, and miss sorely when it isn’t around to keep me wildly entertained. But what now? Am I supposed to stop my passion because some bad apples out there are ruining it for the good guys?
Yanks Go Yard
In weight of all the domestic abuse controversy, which is a backseat to the usual injuries the league is faced with, many fans are left scratching their heads over what to do. Fans have taken to their Twitter accounts, their blogs, their Facebook posts, or simply voiced their complaints in conversations with friends. I understand that no one is perfect, and I am glad that the NFL is not tolerating this poor behavior, but the means in which they are reprimanding are rather questionable.
Sure, I understand that marriage is trying at times. I am sure that I have said some things that have pissed my husband off. But guess what? He has never TKO’d me in return after I’ve done or said something that may have angered him. That says something about a person’s moral character. And I don’t think that the NFL is what made people this way. I think they are the scapegoat. Do you really think that was the first time Rice ever put his hands on her? And why did we have to see the full video just to believe it? One thing is for certain in all of this: NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell is drowning in high water and desperately in need of a drink. I can not feel sorry for him and his poor decision making in approaching these delicate matters.
When things are bad, they’re really bad, and that has a tendency to overshadow the light shining elsewhere. I will not turn away from the light and focus on the negative. Instead, I make the choice to focus on the positive. I defend those players who are good, who compete with good intentions, and use their fame and their voice to help others. Rather than think of all the negatives or allow the bad guys any more of my energy, because they don’t deserve it, let’s focus on a couple of the good guys for a nice change.
First up, the McCourty Twins, Devin and Jason. Together they are taking a stand, and campaigning to bring awareness and raise donations for Sickle Cell Research.
Then, why don’t we think of a mega-famous star who didn’t get caught up in all of the fame, even though he is now a 100 million dollar man. J.J.Watt was a small town boy from Waukesha, WI, with big dreams, who hasn’t changed one bit.
Drew Brees and his wife have raised and helped to contribute over 20 million dollars for cancer stricken and impoverished children of Louisiana, through their organization The Brees Dream Foundation. During the NFL season, Russell Wilson can be found on his days off volunteering his time at the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Troy Polamalu raises money in alliance with the Pittsburgh Foundation to support our country’s veterans. It’s not fair for these men who bring so much good to the league, and their community, to be lumped in a category with others who have made poor life choices.
This being said, the NFL offers support to its players, and their families, by way of the nfllifeline.org. There are support groups and the financial means to put someone in the right track to make better choices if they feel they are losing their way. Making the first step and admitting that you have a problem is by all means the most difficult task. Hopefully soon some of the bad guys will realize that every day is a gift; a chance to change your life. And that only they have the power to accept it.