The Revolutionizing of the NFL

So I was sitting on my couch last Thursday night, when the best prime time shows are on television, and what was I waiting intuitively for? The NFL Draft.

That’s right, not a game, not a 7-game series like the NBA and NHL had on at the same time, but a collection of quote-unquote student athletes, who certainly didn’t make it to class this day, making millions all in a matter of minutes.

Who has the balls to take over a prime time spot like that? The NFL that’s who.

It has supplanted all other sports made to man, and has taken everybody along with it, Lady GaGa style.

I don’t know what it is, but I feel like more people can discuss the Madden curse (watch out Mr. Brees) than say – who the second best pitcher is in the National League.

The sport of football is much easier to root for with its simplicity and recent progression with technology. Baseball – No. Basketball – same old same old. Hockey – not so much.

I love the NFL Draft, I didn’t get into it as much, but with so much hype and so many analysts breaking down 40 times and vertical leaps months before – it says something. It tells me that the most watched sport in the United States is the NFL, and that baseball may not be as sweet as apple pie anymore.

College basketball has its three weeks to itself for March Madness, the NBA has its Finals in June, and baseball , well it has the World Series I guess. Sad thing is more viewers tune into watch college and professional football come October, than they tune into watch “America’s game.” The NFL, well it has its own network for one – and has turned into a year-round phenomenon.

Now the NFL has 17 weeks of action on the most relaxing day of the week for its viewers. Don’t forget prime time Monday Night Football, and the one time where EVERYONE and their 80-year old grandmas will be clamoring to find a seat to watch the one and only Super Bowl.

It’s a worldwide mainstream sport that has transformed with help from the internet by staking a multi-million dollar enterprise with fantasy football. The most played sports video game is Madden, and when you see someone wearing a jersey of sorts, more than likely it will don the NFL logo than any other.

So why has it come to be that more viewers tune into a selection of college players more than the most important playoff games for NBA and NHL franchises?

Its quite simple really – we can relate to it. Football is a man’s sport, and its something that every father wants to see his son compete in. If your boy were to say, “Daddy I want to grow up and be Michael Phelps,” as compared to, “Daddy I want to be the next Ben Roethlisberger,” any reliable dad would pick the latter, except of course if he knew his daughter would be seen with the likes of that man.

Sunday afternoon is a perfect viewing time, and every game is meaningful, not just another 3 games in 4 day NBA roadtrip or a 4-game series played in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin for baseball. Each NFL game counts, and as the season goes along, they become more and more heart-wrenching.

Then there are the Playoffs, not a 7-game series, but ONE game where the phrase “Any Given Sunday” rings true. All leading up to the most watched event of the year – The Super Bowl, where folks like you and me plan everything right down to what kind of dip you like with your chips.

Technology is another thing that has been good to some things, and not so good to others. You get multiple angles from cameras, instant replays used by officials, and even the imaginary first down marker for our viewing pleasure. What do you get in baseball? Or basketball for that matter? No sport has benefited more from High Definition, Surround Sound or Instant Replay than football, and it has taken what was a time for Grandpa to talk about the 52’ World Series and turned it into DirectTV and NFL Sunday Ticket.

Another thing is that it appeals to kids – in order to play a baseball game you need at least a dozen people. Now who in this day in age is going to find more than a handful of their friends willing to get their gloves to play a routine baseball game? Not unless you are present at a family reunion.

Another thing about baseball – it is boring. I challenge anyone to sit down on the couch, don’t leave or change the station and literally watch an entire nine innings of a regular season baseball game. Don’t forget, there’s 161 more to go too.

Basketball is easy to play, you can play one-on-one, two-on-two, or three-on-three. You can shoot by yourself, and many kids attend camps around the country to hone their skills. But what sets basketball apart is that the NBA has turned into a me-first league. We don’t see players progressing over the years wearing college uniforms, so it’s hard for fans to get attached if all they see is one-and-done’s on the hardwood.

Football is a game with 22 people on the field. Each team has close to a dozen coaches, along with managers, a strength staff and recruiters/scouts. This can reach a much larger audience than the game of basketball, and with so many positions can reach out to the tall AND the small.

So just like all those players who like to say they went to THEE Ohio State University, they can now say that they are playing in THEE NFL, because friends it has now claimed its spot on top the sport’s summit as King of the Mountain.