I stopped following football, the NFL, my beloved chargers and all the players I’ve loved through the years on all social media. It took two hours. I’m still formulating my boycott of the NFL and my reasons for it but here’s what I think today.
First of all, I must thank Keith Olbermann for succinctly stating his thoughts on the NFL and how dishonorably the organization and its leadership has acted in what can only be called The Ray Rice Debacle. I don’t follow Mr. Olbermann but have always liked that he said. He seems like a smart, politically progressive and knowledgeable person.
On Sept 9th, I saw a video where he showed me that he is also a humanist and a feminist who totally understands the plight of abused women and the culture in America of supporting those who abuse them. I encourage you to watch it here. At the end, he stated that (and I’m paraphrasing) good people have little choice other than boycotting the NFL until Roger Goodell resigns or is fired for the way he handled the abuse of Janay Palmer by football player Ray Rice.
I, probably like most of you, did not pay much attention to the story. Football player acts badly; football player gets “punished” by organization; end of story. I didn’t see the video of any of the activities until Jay Mohr mentioned it on his radio show. When I got home, I saw and was sickened and hurt by it.
I was also sickened and hurt by how the NFL acted. But this time it went too far. And that’s on me because the NFL has always gone too far.
The NFL is the original Old Boy’s Network, an affiliation of very rich, mostly white mostly males who have condoned racism, sexism and all manner of poor social behavior. And I let them.
The NFL owners practiced segregation early on and only did away with it when it suited their bottom line. In fact, I would argue that all of their socially progressive behavior is a product of greed instead of being nice. Chiefly, they did what all rich white men do; exactly as they wish until that behavior starts to cost them money.
The racism (we have a team named with a racial slur), sexism (one word: cheerleaders), and the tacit approval of violence in all its forms should have been enough to sicken me on the NFL. But condoning domestic violence, blaming the victim of domestic violence, and likely covering up the whole mess was the final straw for me.
After watching the video of the assault, I was still a football fan and like all football fans I hoped that something would be done. After I saw Keith Olbermann’s video, however, the emperor simply had no clothes. The NFL was exposed as a rich, white, racist, misogynistic, non-human Reich.
One that I refuse to support in any way. I will no longer purchase tickets to or anything licensed by the National Football League. I have already quit following all teams and players on all social media. And I will also not consume, or support the advertisers of, NFL events of any kind on any media.
This was not an easy decision. I have loved football, and my team The San Diego Chargers, my entire life. I have been an avid, if not a rabid, fan of football.
I consider Junior Seau and Ladanian Tomlinson personal heroes and continue to feel that way. I just cannot support the organization that supported one and may have killed the other. I’m just sorry that it took me so long to see what really transpires (or is transacted) in the NFL: human flesh in exchange for American dollars.
I will simply have nothing more to do with an organization that does not care about anyone or anything but money. I no longer want to give them any money. Thanks for listening and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
KevinSix.com 