The opening of the 2020 NFL season last night in Kansas City was a step toward the sense of normalcy that has been missing since the coronavirus pandemic disrupted our lives.
In this year’s season opener, the Kansas City Cheifs beat the Houston Texans 34 - 20, but the fact that there was a real game made everyone a winner.
With only about 16,000 fans in the stands at Arrowhead Stadium, there was a definite lack of emotional intensity, but relative to the pandemic-controlled world we are living in, it was great to watch a game.
Before the game, both the Chiefs and the Texans met at midfield and locked arms in a show of unity for the NFL’s commitment to promoting social justice in America. The public address announcer at Arrowhead Stadium announced to the sparse crowd and the TV viewing audience: "Please join us in a moment of silence dedicated to the ongoing fight for equality in our country." But the sounds of what appeared to be “boos” from some of the fans in attendance cast a disturbing tone on the players’ gesture.
NBC broadcaster, Cris Collinsworth is being harshly criticized for a comment he made from the booth prior to kickoff. Collinsworth said, “I feel like I have to start off by saying I stand behind these players 100%, 100%. What they’re trying to do is bring positive change in this country that frankly is long, long overdue. Let’s just get that out of the way and go call a football game.”
Why do so many die-hard NFL fans react so negatively to the promotion of social equality? The gesture of the players locking arms and honoring a moment of silence for racial injustice in America before the game did nothing to interrupt the game. The words in the end zones and the phrases that promoted equality throughout the stadium did nothing to change the game. The bottom line is that many NFL fans are greatly offended by the embrace of social equality. And for those who argue that they just want football without politics - why is the fight for social equality a political issue? If it is a political issue as many insist, then that suggests that one side is against social equality. It’s 2020 - who the hell is against social equality?
The NFL fans that claim the league’s promotion of social equality is a political issue are the ones who are turning it into a political issue. Shameful!