Generational Gap On Lockout Argument
With the Owners and Players engaged In what looks to be a lengthy lockout, and fans clearly being divided on witch side has the claim to the billion dollar prize at the end of the rainbow. The one thing this lockout has proven to me is age defines who's on who's side. It seem to me most of the fans under the age of 40 see the CBA negotiation though the eyes of the Players. Their doing all the hard work, putting their bodies and lives on the line every time they go on the field. I hear younger fans saying if it were not for the Players there would be no money to fight over. Now, I see older fans siding with the Owners, who believe they took the risk of ownership of a NFL franchise. That owners have the right to make as much as they can off their investment, and opening their books to the Players is a joke. The fact Players make way to much money.
While i'm not as surprise there's a huge age gap regarding who's right in this contentious labor dispute. I am left with a shocking feeling of disbelief at how the money has no bearing at all on the younger fans opinion on the CBA dispute. It's hard to believe any fan can think a player is worth anywhere near 20 million dollars a year to play a game. This is where the generation gap can really be seen. Every young fan I talk with has no problem at all with the absurd amounts of money being pay to professional athletes. It's leave's me wondering how did we get to this point where the talk of insane money can be tossed around like it's nothing!?
I personally think the money has gotten way out of line on both sides of this argument. When we have to sit back and watch these two sides fight it out in court on how to spit a billion dollars. It take's much joy out of the game. It looks to me the money has gotten into the way of the game. I'm not a hater, I love the way this game has grown in my life time; ( I am 54 years old ) But at the end of the day it's still just a game, that both sides needs to understand, has gotten financially out of control.
We have players signing franchise tag contracts that in some cases may pay a player 20 million dollars a year. Than there's an owner who single-mindedly destroyed what should have been a tremendous Super Bowl experience for over 2000 fans; with his need and greed to hold a record ( in spite of mother nature's contribution ). Now I know your asking yourself what dose this have to do With the generational gap? Here it is, both sides of the gap see Jerry Jones ask a greedy egotistical owner, out for the money. Young fans see's a player about to make 20 million dollars a year as getting his do. I know, these are the times we live in, but man! how can this not bring a smile to your face.
As life has taught us, there will always be some kind of generational divide on sports issues and how they might be handle. It's my hope, that Owners and Players along with fans young and old will see this as an opportunity to bring common sense to the table on this particular issue. So the game of NFL football is the only thing to debate ( who has the best team, who's the best Quarterback in the NFL, or witch team will win the Super Bowl ) this is something both sides of the gap can agree on.
Brought to by: AJ Jones from Cambridge
"Let's Talk Football" Visit- www.ajstakeontheNFL.blogspot.com
Interesting take... I'm not so sure it's as cut and dry and you propose in the blog but I would imagine more young people side with the players than the owners. I think the reason young people accept the size of the players paychecks is because society as a whole has gotten totally imbalanced between the haves and the have nots.In the 1960's CEO's earned an average of 24 times more per year than their workers. in 2007 it was 275 times more than their workers!! I think we have grown up in an era where athletes, entertainers, and CEO's live a life that we aren't familiar with. All these folks making big bucks is normal to us. As for yy take on the Lockout, it is simple. I don't think it's a big deal. There are a bunch of smart people involved who at the end of the day will get a deal done. Players will continue to make tons of money and Owners won't go hungry either. Fans will continue to pay big bucks for PSL's, tickets, concessions , Sunday Ticket, Merchandise, and video games just like we always have because here in America we have proven we will pay top dollar to be entertained.
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