Dave Zirin: NFL Opener Becomes Site of Solidarity

[marmar]

from The Nation:



When a football player, standing by himself, points a finger to the sky, he is usually either giving praise to God or stating, if you were unaware of this fact, that he is indeed number one. Other players have also been known to raise a different finger in fits of self expression. But last night when two teams, billed as bitter enemies, walked onto the field before the start of the NFL season, holding a finger in the air, you knew that this wasn't business as usual. As the national anthem ended, the defending Super Bowl Champs New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings raised their finger in a gesture directly aimed at the fans and the owners, and the message was clear: “WE are one. We aren’t opponents who want to rip our heads off on the field. We are unionists locked in a bitter labor battle against 32 of the most powerful people in the United States, and we will not be moved.” On the NFL’s website, the heading for this particular clip reads, “Players show solidarity.”

In a country where unions are ignored when they’re not demonized, it was perhaps the most widely-seen, collectively experienced display of labor solidarity in the history of the United States. Hyperbole? Consider that the game garnered the highest opening night ratings in the history of the NFL. 28% of all households were unexpectedly treated to a taste of solidarity.

Predictably, the game’s announcer, Al Michaels, a proud man of the right who loves slipping in political jabs into telecasts, couldn’t hide his disgust saying with serious snark, “There’s nothing like a labor statement to start the season.” Similarly, on this morning’s ESPN radio show, Mike and Mike in the Morning, former NFL player Mike Golic, who described himself as a “proud union guy”, said he hated the gesture, calling it counterproductive and alienating to fans. His partner Mike Greenberg echoed that “99%” of the emails they received made clear that viewers hated the gesture. He said, “In every sports labor battle fans side against the players because they are being paid to play a game and people just want to watch.”

I don't buy it. That may have been true in the past, but this time they’re wrong. For the players, going public was a brilliant move. I don’t know who has the time or energy to email into Mike and Mike in the morning at the crack of dawn, but to judge today’s predicted fallout, the reaction in virtual-land has mirrored the reaction of the crowd at the Louisiana Superdome: one of respect. This shouldn’t surprise us. There are a number of reasons why the political scales tip more toward the players this time around. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blog/154625/nfl-opener-becomes-site-solidarity

[Toots]

1. While I am sympathetic toward the Unions, it is hard for me to get much

passion for those poor millionaire NFL players...or the owners either ...

[Renegades of Funk]

2. Side with the players

Owners don't get concussions and debilitating injuries.

[Swede]

3. Or fatal brain lesions.

[givemebackmycountry]

4. 75% of NFL players are bankrupt 5 years after they stop playing.

Offensive and Defensive linemen die early.
A good number of them never reach the age of 60 because of the pounding their bodies are subjected to because they "play a game".

Jerry Jones just built a billion dollar stadium funded by taxpayer dollars.

Fuck the owners.

I side with the workers and in this case the workers wear helmets and jerseys with their names and numbers on it.
When they get hurt, the owners toss them aside like a empty beer can and someone else will wear their jerseys with their names and numbers on it.

Fuck the owners.

[fishwax]

7. .

:thumbsup:

[loudsue]

5. Awesome!!!! Public solidarity for something besides racism and hate

is a small miracle these days.

:bounce:

[Snotcicles]

6. Some would take away the right to collective bargaining for workers, while

supporting the SCOTUS granting the corporations the right to collectively bargain away the Constitution.

I am just amazed at how many of my working brothers and sisters allow themselves to be manipulated into voting against their own best interests. Whether or not your a Union member, UNIONS do benefit all workers.