You are a billionaire. Money is no object. Ever. But you have your principles. And when you complete your $1 billion dream house, you get into a fight with the city’s public utility commission. You think the “little people” are taking advantage of your wealth, so you refuse to cave to their high-priced demands to flush the pipes that lead from your property to the city sewer system under the street in front of your house.
And then you throw a Jay Gatsbyesque party to show off your trophy house and your trophy wife and your trophy kids, and the tennis courts and swimming pools and bowling alleys.
Comments
Yes, this week's games were hideous. But we're all still watching, aren't we? So I don't look for the NFL to resolve this anytime soon.
Monday night was indeed painful to watch, and that disaster took so long to play that most of us had to go to bed before an interesting matchup ended. The NFL stayed with replacement players far longer than it should have, so I'm not hopeful that relief is coming soon. It's a hardball league when it comes to negotiations, and as a fan I am grateful. Baseball's strong union has effectively destroyed the game. Beckett got his fat paycheck then sat back and took the money, knowing the sox really couldn't do a thing about it. Football is much different, and the difference in quality shows. That said, football's product image is being seriously tarnished. Owners need to find a way to save face and get the real refs back sooner than later. Players complaining is one thing. But respected commentators like Jon Gruden trashing the work on a live, big-audience broadcast is toxic to the game's image.
Another gem fron Dan. Nobody brings it like he does.
There are two themes laced into this drama. The one you commented on, Rich folks sharing a little bit more of the wealth, is there. But these refs aren't exactly on food stamps, or looking for a municipal pension. They're getting nice money for a few hours of work. Not to say they don't deserve a bigger slice of the big pie. The theme of the rich clutching every penny is out in the open. But the refs aren't hurting because the overall level of money in the system is beyond nuts. Which is the second point, which is the excess money in this sport, and really all pro sports these days. If the games get bad enough, maybe audience numbers will go down. If those numbers go down, maybe revenue will go down. A correction is needed in the amount of money flowing through pro sports. People can't be complaining about spending a few bucks to get health care, then turn around and put ridiculous money into game tickets, shoes with a star's name on it, or overpriced t-shirts with a heroes name on it. Priorities are way out of whack.
Couldn't agree with you more except for the refs working a few hours a week. There's more to the job than that and, as far as I understand, they're being told that the league wants to do away with their pensions and give them 401ks. The simple solution is to grandfather the pensions of current refs and offer new refs coming into the league 401ks. You're sticking to the compensation deal that was struck before while reducing future costs. NFL owners don't seem to want to give an inch. Foolish.
As a woman who appreciates football, I could have done without "lingerie-league officials."
One of the replacement ref's previous officiating experience was in the Lingere League (it exists, look it up) It was not a cheap shot by Dan.
One of the replacement ref's previous officiating experience was in the Lingere League (it exists, look it up) It was not a cheap shot by Dan.
I'm from North Attleboro, and follow Hockomock League football. We don't want any of those refs in our league!
The game is better with the fake refs. Other than the five minute breaks, the game is more enjoyable.
The rich and powerful rule the world while we sheep keep putting money in their coffers. With work stoppages and assorted conflicts, professional sports owners have shown their disdain for their customers. As Steve Young put it so eloquently put it the other night, "let them eat cake" is their view of us little people. As djm71 said below, priorities are out of whack. I love sports but until we properly respond to the actions of these greedy owners we'll continue to get a steady diet of s@#t!
But there actually IS a lingerie league... I'm talking women dressed in lingerie playing football. I kid you not. And, no offense to anyone associated with the lingerie league (it is what it is and it's entertainment!), but given this officiating mess, I wouldn't doubt the NFL has hired refs from that league. So, it seems like a reasonable reference for Shaughnessy to make.
Btw, I am a woman who appreciates NFL, too.