Can We Survive Without Football?
Football season is back! Players and owners reached a labor deal ending the lockout to the relieve of millions of football fans across the country. The entire ordeal was nerve-racking because many fans and sports columnists thought there wouldn’t be an NFL season.
Now that the 2011 season is ready to hit high gear, what would have happened if there wasn’t an NFL season? What if players and owners couldn’t reach an agreement and the lockout was inevitable? Would our Sundays be that mundane if there wasn’t football? Certainly bars and restaurants would have been hit hard by the lockout since many fans congregate to sports bars to watch their favorite team while feasting on buffalo wings and beer.
Baltimore Raven linebacker Ray Lewis stated that a rise in crime would occur if there was no football. I’m not sure if it would have gotten to that point, but then again we are living in stressful times considering the state of the economy. Fans need a distraction from the dismal economy and other harsh realities that are affecting Americans.
Watching football on Sundays has become a sacred ritual. A ritual that is becoming increasingly popular because in a way it’s an outlet for many of us. It’s a chance to express our anger, joy, frustrations, and other emotions that we deal with on a daily basis. Perhaps I am reading too much into the sport.
Then again football has become the most popular sport in America. It’s impact is felt in our lives one way or the other. To ignore the sport is difficult even if you’re not a fan. But, at least for now we will not know what would have happened if there wasn’t a season. So… are you ready for some football?
