Will American Football Be Dethroned?

in #sports7 years ago (edited)

Superbowl NFL.jpg

This was supposed to be the NFL’s week. American football, the sport that has the deepest cultural pull of any sport in the U.S., has been busy taking over more of peoples’ lives. Sunday football wasn’t enough, so decades ago, they added one game on a Monday night. It was brilliant because people talked about that one game all week. We recently finished some playoffs that spanned both Saturdays and Sundays. The National Football League also has added Thursday night games, reaching an agreement today with Fox to support those games.

The NFL Draft was once an afterthought, scheduled when no one was watching, and most people gave it a pass. But the league has played this up so much now that the draft anticipation is incredible; people are doing mock draft predictions up to one year in advance. Scouting of secondary school talent has reached a fever pitch. Now even during the offseason, the league makes a point of scheduling something regularly to keep the talk going; it might be the release of the upcoming year’s schedule or the deadline to sign free agents. Whatever the NFL does, it keeps people watching and talking. When the season comes, people can’t wait to tune in and support those advertisers.

It’s a weeklong, yearlong, 24/7 source of entertainment.

And that does not even include Fantasy Sports or gambling, which both grow each year. Fantasy football has spread like wildfire in the last few years to the point where there’s someone in every office and every bar talking about his team. Gambling is half the reason the NFL exists, though no one likes to admit it. This week alone, there are estimates that Americans will place $4.76 Billion worth of wagers on Sunday’s Super Bowl. That may not even factor in online gambling, 95% of which is illegal in the U.S. and generally handled by offshore entities.

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Sports Betting. Source: Creative Commons via Flickr by ghoseb.

And this is football’s big week. The Superbowl, the NFL’s championship game, will be played on Sunday. This year, the game matches up the perennial favorite New England Patriots with the surprisingly good (even though they are missing a starting quarterback) Philadelphia Eagles. In preparation for the Superbowl, the NFL schedules two weeks between the previous round of playoff games and the big game itself.

That two weeks provides enough time for media members and other hangers on to reach the destination city and be ready for the game. Once upon a time, Superbowls were played each year in Miami and New Orleans, some of the most southerly (and therefore desirably warm) places to visit this time of year. Now, the NFL rotates the game and often uses it as a rewards for cities that invest in new stadiums. This year’s Superbowl ended up in one of the coldest places one can imagine, Minneapolis.

The two week lead-up to the Superbowl is anchored by an event that takes place the beginning of Superbowl week. It’s called Media Day. The coaches and some players are forced to come out of hibernation and answer some questions from the media. After all, they are entertainers, and the media needs more things to write about, so give those reporters some juicy quotes. In most years, Media Day is a little wacky. There are some crazy radio hosts who have media badges and get in, often asking some outlandish questions. There have been dancers, strippers, and people in various stages of drew or undress. It’s an opportunity to get some attention.

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SuperBowl Media Days of the past: a little wilder. Source: si.com

This year, with media budgets limited, the number of people was smaller at media day. Those who went reported that it was more serious than usual and with fewer of the colorful entertainers and radio hosts showing up. Perhaps they didn’t feel like going to Minnesota in the wintertime.

Media Day should be a big deal. It should dominate the sports news. There should be enough quotable quotes and reportable actions to keep the American sports media occupied with stories for the next few days, leading up to the big game on Sunday.

But a funny thing happened this year. The next morning, the NFL ended up in second place. All of the Superbowl Media Day stories were one rung below the lead story, which was about basketball. The Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) traded a star (even if he’s an overrated one). They sent Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in a multi-player exchange.

Griffin NBC Sports.jpg
Source: NBC Sports.

Blake Griffin is a power forward, the kind of player who would have been great in the 1970s. It’s not his fault that he is not as mobile as most of the NBA’s best performers in this era, but he’s still a very, very good layer and perhaps Detroit will be a good enough fit that he can excel in new ways.

So an NBA trade scooped the NFL’s Media Day coverage, bumping it to second fiddle. And there we can see the flippening of America’s favorite sport. The NFL has been king for a very long time. But the demographic of its fans is aging. Younger people are not as engaged with football as their parents were. Slowly, basketball is taking over as America’s most deeply rooted cultural sport and it's quite well liked outside the U.S. also. It has a long ways to go, but we can see that trajectory as a probable outcome.

The NFL has had a lot of problems recently. The brain trauma that players are suffering in this violent sport has caught the attention of medical experts. A disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has been found to be prevalent among former players and it’s eating their brains. Some players have quit while they are young so they don’t have more head trauma.

CTE.jpg
Source: CNN.com

There are former players and game announcers who now say they will not let their own kids play football.

Then there have been PR flaps in the way the league has dealt with cases involving players who are alleged to have committed crimes and domestic abuse. And there is the flag protest that has involved some players sitting (not standing) while the National Anthem is played before each game. Some fans on either side of this issue have boycotted the games.

Basketball, meanwhile, is a sensation that continues to grow. The most recognizable U.S. sports players around the world tend to be our basketball players (of course, the teams are smaller than in many other sports). It’s on TV all the time, more often than football. The basketball stars stand out and they are quite popular. If a Blake Griffin trade can knock the NFL off the top position on sports media during SuperBowl week, we are seeing something new.

Barring some change, I see football fading in the coming years as the talent pool shrinks and more pro athletes are drawn to other sports. Personally, unless two good teams are playing, I find most NFL games to be unwatchable these days due to the frequent breaks and penalties. Meanwhile, basketball continues to surge in popularity.

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Source: NBA King of Court 2.

If this continues, the flippening is coming. Football cannot remain king. Stay tuned.

Sources:

Mock Drafts are almost year-round: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2756898-nfl-draft-2018-1st-round-mock-draft-as-super-bowl-52-approaches

CTE: https://www.sbnation.com/2018/1/24/16927456/bob-costas-super-bowl-brain-trauma-nfl

Superbowl Gambling: http://abcnews.go.com/US/super-bowl-lii-prop-bets-exceed-900-total/story?id=52722490

Griffin trade that dominated headlines: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22258464/blake-griffin-los-angeles-clippers-talks-traded-detroit-pistons

NFL Media Day: https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/01/29/super-bowl-media-day-highlights-patriots

NFL Thursday Night Fox Deal: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000912686/article/nfl-fox-sports-reach-thursday-night-football-agreement

Top image: NFL

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American Football will be dethroned by the NBA for one simple reason.....the flag protests. No team, no business, no religion can possibly survive when you actively spit in the face of half your audience. Plain and simple. This will be the only reason why Football will first be dethroned, then eventually wither and die. And it all lies at the feet of Roger Goodell.

Look at the NBA. The Commissioner put his foot down and stated emphatically that "You will stand during the National Anthem" No ifs ands or buts. He knows that it's a divisive issue, and that it's best left off the court and in the real world. Sports events are supposed to be an escape from reality, not a political event.

Kudos to the NBA, the future #1 sport in America!

Sir.

They've gone up the ventilation shaft.

Absolutely, and ESPN is going down with the NFL.

Yes, that's another reason. It's very important to people (on both sides of that flag controversy, actually) and football clearly didn't handle it well.

Honestly a lot of people are simply tired with the Patriots constantly being at or near the top every single year with little change to the roster composition. We've heard every story about Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and Bill Belichick, what more can we say about them?

There's also the fact that nothing big really came from media day this year. In previous years we've had Marshawn Lynch and his antics and Rob Gronkowski and his antics, but this year it was quite tame, plust the huge news of Blake Griffin moving to Detroit would dominate almost any headline anyway.

At this point, I pretty much only watch the Super Bowl for the ads and the gambling (speaking of which, check out my Super Bowl Contest: https://steemit.com/contest/@brandonp/steemit-super-bowl-squares-official-nfl-super-bowl-contest).

The NFL definitely needs to make some big changes to compete with the NBA, but we've known that for a long time.

I totally agree with you. I just watch now to see all the new ads and find out later how much was spent on each ad. Its funny to see how much they spend on these ads.

Advertising is just a hobby for rich people.

I used to watch the Super Bowl for the ads as well, but they went down hill the past few years. I might tune in this year to simply mock those roughing the winter snowstorms for "entertainment".

Even the ads are losing some luster, but they still are quite entertaining.

If people are sick of Brady and the Pats then how do we all feel about Lebron?? Do we really need to have Cavs vs Warriors every year??? Get so league wide talent and some parody in the NBA.

At this point, Celtics are doing great! I am not sure if Cavs will be in finals this year. We will have to wait and watch. I am Lebron and Wade fan but things are looking right. But I am sure Lebron will be Lebron in playoffs.

I still want Tom Brady to win. I am not sure if he is retiring after this year. I am not at all bored watching him. He is an amazing quarterback and the best in NBA history.

You're right. These dynasties can last for a while and there are only so many elite players in each league.

Maybe we will have some crypto adv this time!

Those are factors also. You're right that there wasn't anyone as entertaining as in some past Superbowl Media Days.

Well the Patriots have staff that steal signs. Not to mention they always cheat! I bet the Eagles practices were gift wrapped for Belechik and Brady by someone. I think Patriots win big on Sunday. #brandonp do you bet? Who you think will win?

The roster changes dramatically
What are u talking about ?

The United States is known for a high level of independence. There is the American English, American football and so on. This is why I think American football cannot be dethroned in the country. There is so much passion for the game and we thst stay far away, even if we do not enjoy watching the game, it is portrayed with high esteem in movies and it is always challenging.

Fantasy football has spread like wildfire in the last few years to the point where there’s someone in every office and every bar talking about his team. Gambling is half the reason the NFL exists, though no one likes to admit it.

This is true for all sports. Some people make a living from Fantasy football and gambling, especially in a world where education is no more lucrative.

Though soccer is the most popular sport worldwide, American football and Basketball remain a great passion for the American audience.

I really don't know about bushel assuming control football. The fans won't all of a sudden change their taste on account of the considerable number of issues caused by this game.
At last, fans are the ones who choose which wear is the number 1, and I see no motivation behind why individuals will begin to help b-ball once again football.
What I see developing in notoriety in the US is soccer, yet despite everything it has far to go before achieving European levels.

It will end when crypto ends... never lol #humor

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@donkeypong, I have some most attraction with football before long years ago with NFL league. But I have never seen American football lever come to near by European professional level. I really enjoying with watch both game adventures. Its very speedy and powerful game. The association will have to reach out to the casual fans. Considering the average regular season NFL Sunday night game averages more viewers than the NBA Finals, it's clear the NBA has some catching up to do, especially to lure more advertisers. That's really interesting post.

Obviously, There is need for more giants to arise. Naturally it gets boring when people get to watch the same set of people perform or win a competition. People want to see that competitive edge, that is what keeps fans around wanting more. Thanks for your views

If those future giants are younger kids now, then are their parents going to let them play a game with a danger of brain trauma? Some will, and there's still the money, but some of those top athletes may go a different direction rather than football.

Eagles 27-24 !!

its never going to end man

I've certainly lost some interest in football the last few years. Talking to other friends and in general, it seems the sentiment on the NFL is waning. The NFL may be playing second fiddle in the coming years.

I can't watch a game anymore unless there's someone really good playing. It's like 11 minutes of actual football per hour now, in between all the ads and penalties and timeouts. I used to be a big football fan, but it's nasty out there now.

The game is getting more and more political. People tune it to see a competition. Just because they play the game like a rock star doesn't mean their politics are worth a second of my time.

I havent watched pro sports in a long time..... I enjoy high school and college much more. There is so much more heart in the athletes....

I agree, but unfortunately even college football is becoming commercialized.

True, but beyond the SEC and the elite teams in each league, the college game still has spirit and some measure of unpredictability which makes it fun.

I actually am not sure about basket taking over football. The fans will not suddenly change their taste because of all the issues caused by this sport.

In the end, fans are the ones who decide which sport is the number 1, and I see no reason why people will start to support basketball over football.

What I see growing in popularity in the US is soccer, but it still has a long way to go before reaching European levels.

Soccer is the world's sport and I love it, but I don't see it gaining traction in the U.S. for a while still. Every few years, people predict that will happen and it still has not happened yet.

I really don't how it happened that soccer wasn't able to penetrate the US.
It's like you guys have some sort of soccer firewall or something.

NFL and NCAA had better figure out a way to mitigate the CTE problem in a big way. If not, the regulators will eventually step in and try to solve it for them--and that will spell the end of American football.

Yes. I don't know what they'll do, but it probably will involve eventually curbing the violence. That would turn off part of the audience for sure. Maybe we'll see grown men playing flag football soon? :)

Certainly, we are seeing a lot more rugby-style tackling. The surest way to help curb the violence and the concussions would be to lose the helmets. They are missiles!