This is a post that has nothing to do with writing, books, or, well, me, really, although it’s told from my POV and speaks to my actions.
As some of you know, I’m a football fan. Â Specifically a NY Giants fan, but I love the game of football, the design of the plays, the execution, the team effort. Â What I haven’t been loving is everything wrapped around that game. Â And it’s finally come to this:
I will not be watching football games this season, or for the foreseeable future. Â I will not buy any product that supports the sport, nor give my money or energy to support that sport.
The culture we have created around football players – around ALL sports figures – that tells them that they are somehow more valued than the women around them. It (we) tells them they can do terrible things – they can shoot their girlfriends, they can rape classmates, they can abuse women in general – and society will treat them as Trent Mays and Ma’lik Richmond, the Steubenville rapists, were treated, with concern for what their actions did to their lives rather than those of their victim. As though they had merely been pranksters, rather than criminals.
No. Â Also, hell no.
I can’t change much. Â But I can change what I support. Â And I can change what relationships I’m in.
Football – from high school on up through the pros- has become an abusive relationship. Â And I’m walking away from it.
I hope, someday, I’ll be able to come back. Â But that’s up to them, not me.
Agreed and I am going to take on the same thing. while I have not given much attention to any football in a long time for the reasons you state here plus all the other crap involved in it now – it’s no longer a rough and tumble fun thing it used to be- I will do the same for all reasons. thank you for sharing this.
I have to give this thought. Serious thought.
If enough people take a stand, maybe the people in charge of the institution (again, from the high-school coaches up through the head of the NFL) will take action to fix this. And if not, at least you’re no longer supporting such a toxic culture.
If you’re looking for something to fill the gap, may I recommend hockey? The focus on team play rather than individual achievement – even the biggest stars need support from their teammates, and assists are considered as valuable as goals – teaches players humility from an early age. So the arrogant-superstar attitude that’s so prevalent in both the NFL and the NBA is pretty rare in the NHL.