I must admit I spent very little time watching the NFL's 2010 version of the Pro Bowl this past weekend. I thought it was a grand idea to alternate the game site between the mainland and the traditional venue in Hawaii. However, the game has lost its luster over the years and things were made worse when the NFL decided to hold the game in the week leading up to the Superbowl. Of course, this scheduling snafu robbed league fans of the chance to see Super Bowl players such as Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Reggie Wayne.
The NFL is a moneymaking machine and they are opportunistic to say the least. I realized the full reality of their marketing power when I attended last years Super Bowl. They had their paws in everything from merchandise, food, and even monopolized the event parking for the big game. When it comes to the Pro Bowl, I believe the league might want to revise their game plan. The game has become a glorified flag football contest, not worthy of the gridiron sport we call tackle football. In truth, many players don't even want to be involved with the event. If you question this, just give Vikings offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie a call and ask his opinion. Participants loathe any real contact and QB's have about as much time to throw as the average Super Bowl commercial takes to finish. I still like the concept of seeing all the superstars out on the field at the same time, but it hardly seems fair to charge game prices for something that no longer bares any resemblance to a football game. If nothing else, donate the proceeds from the game to a good cause like the relief effort in Haiti.
Lights out.
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