No Fun League Strikes Again
Although this when has more to do with No Heart. Jake Plummer, a former teammate of Pat Tillman - the NFL player turned Army Ranger who died in Afghanistan - has been offering a small tribue to Tillman this year by putting Tillman's old number - 40 - on the back of his helmet. The NFL, in all its wisdom has said no.
Why? Because as the NFL argues, you can't allow players to put personal messages on their uniforms. Where would you draw the line?
It's pretty simple, really ...
You do it on a case-by-case basis. If a player wants to make a change to his uniform, he must petition the NFL. So if Peyton Manning wants to wear black hightops to honor Johnny Unitas - he got shot down for that one - or if Plummer wants to put a No. 40 sticker on his helmet - he's been threatened with fines if he keeps doing it - they can ask the NFL and the NFL can decide. If they say yes, what do you really think is going to happen? Joe Horn petitioning for the right to put a cell phone company ad on the back of his jersey? Tom Brady asking for permission to attach an XM satellite antennae to his face mask? Heck, even if they had the audacity to do that, you just reject the request. Next case, please. Think anyone would be upset by that?
The NFL, in all its uniform fascism, is missing a wonderful PR opportunity. By allowing personal tributes such as Plummers, they present their players as complex and thoughtful people, rather than steroid crazed psychopaths. Apparently the NFL doesn't want that. Look at them, but for pete's sake, don't relate to them!
Plummers's No. 40 sticker shows his sense of friendship and how he was touched by Tillman's sacrifice. Mannning's black hightops showed his appreciation of NFL history and his respect for a quarterback who helped making the league what it is today.
That, says the NFL, cannot be allowed. Wouldn't want anyone to think there are human beings beneath those helmets, would we?
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Speaking of No Fun, would someone please explain to me why celebrations can draw a flag? The NFL apparently doesn't understand that it's in the ENTERTAINMENT bidness, and a good celebration at the appropriate time (e.g., come-from-behind, game-winning TD catch) adds to the experience for fans of the celebrating team. And don't tell me this is about sportsmanship. If the league actually gives a damn about that, there are a number of other behaviors it can penalize that are at least as annoying, and probably more so.
Posted on October 5, 2004 9:22 AM