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Power 2 the People

(2,437 posts)
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:06 AM Oct 2018

As we suspected. Trump had nothing to do with declining NFL ratings.

We see that now. And with the weak Trump ripple as a backdrop, it shows us something that can’t be ignored: Team owners completely botched how they reacted to the president, largely because they were unprepared and unaccustomed to being shouted at by someone on a platform they couldn’t crush with their own public-relations machine.

But Trump’s megaphone created a frenzy inside the NFL’s ownership collective. A fraternity that was not only clueless as to how to deal with Trump, but ended up cannibalizing itself by being strong-armed by a handful of members – like the Dallas Cowboys’ Jerry Jones and Houston Texans’ Bob McNair – who pushed for a harder line against players. Now we know the mistake for what it was: a panicked response to the tip of a political wave rather than a reasoned reaction to the underlying data that was driving ratings.

The rise and fall of the NFL’s viewership tide is about the quality of the game. Is … was … always will be.


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-tv-ratings-study-shows-badly-league-handled-president-trump-004752836.html
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As we suspected. Trump had nothing to do with declining NFL ratings. (Original Post) Power 2 the People Oct 2018 OP
When it takes three hours for a one hour game, Wellstone ruled Oct 2018 #1
Agree! Makes it sooo boring Thekaspervote Oct 2018 #2
who/what is responsible for huge declines in NASCAR ratings ? JI7 Oct 2018 #3
The realization that it's about as interesting as watching cars drive by on the expressway? Tommy_Carcetti Oct 2018 #4
I like watching cars drive by on the expressway. Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #5
It's because they're all turning left . . . . LEFT? SOCIALISM WAGGHBARGLEGURRGH!!!! hatrack Oct 2018 #6
+1 Power 2 the People Oct 2018 #10
It's about driving really fast and turning left a lot. Aristus Oct 2018 #14
I'm a lifelong NFL fan. For me, injuries are killing it. Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #7
I am a hardcore MMA fan, and MMA fighters are much less injured obamanut2012 Oct 2018 #9
And greedy owners like Jerry Jones want to see them play 18 games rather than 16. Power 2 the People Oct 2018 #11
i may remember incorrectly OriginalGeek Oct 2018 #13
Yes, that's true OriginalGeek but as you stated, pre-season games are not for the starters Power 2 the People Oct 2018 #16
Fuck Jerry Jones with a red-hot cast iron dildo. Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #17
Thursday night football needs to go away, PERIOD. Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #22
Three things made me stop watching NFL games obamanut2012 Oct 2018 #8
That's my list as well n/t BlueSpot Oct 2018 #20
Anyone not watching this season has missed some really exciting games. Cleveland is exciting now! Roland99 Oct 2018 #12
Been Saying That Right Here For Quite Some Time ProfessorGAC Oct 2018 #15
I watch fewer because Hermit-The-Prog Oct 2018 #18
+1 Power 2 the People Oct 2018 #19
Bart Starr? You're a youngster. I go back to Y.A.Tittle. Dave Starsky Oct 2018 #23
Who is surprised by this? Gothmog Oct 2018 #21

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
4. The realization that it's about as interesting as watching cars drive by on the expressway?
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 07:51 AM
Oct 2018

That’s basically all it is, except they’re just driving in a circle.

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
5. I like watching cars drive by on the expressway.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:32 AM
Oct 2018

You get to see what new car models people are driving these days, what food trucks are delivering, marvel at how some cars are still running despite literally being held together with duck tape, etc. That's entertainment.

NASCAR is more boring than that.

Aristus

(66,096 posts)
14. It's about driving really fast and turning left a lot.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:58 PM
Oct 2018

I do that just getting to work.

And if you think I'm minimizing the skill of NASCAR drivers, you've never seen traffic on I-5 at rush hour...

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
7. I'm a lifelong NFL fan. For me, injuries are killing it.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:39 AM
Oct 2018

The games move slowly enough, but now it seems like every five minutes, another injured player is being walked/carried off the field. By week 8, half of every team's starters are on the IR list. It's fucking ridiculous.

If I wanted to see carnage, I'd watch an MMA match. Even those guys end up in better shape.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
9. I am a hardcore MMA fan, and MMA fighters are much less injured
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:42 AM
Oct 2018

You only occasionally have a really horrific injury. The small, lightly padded gloves are a big reason why.

Power 2 the People

(2,437 posts)
11. And greedy owners like Jerry Jones want to see them play 18 games rather than 16.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:47 PM
Oct 2018

Just imagine how badly hurt these guys would get and how poorly the quality of games would be.

It's bad enough they make them play on 3 days rest for Thursday night games.

OriginalGeek

(12,132 posts)
13. i may remember incorrectly
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:55 PM
Oct 2018

but I think they want to play the same over-all number of games - they just want to make 2 of the 4 pre-season games into real games.

Of course, that still adds damage to starters as most of the high-dollar players don't play much in pre-season.

I love football but I would be happy to see Thursday night FB go away. Sunday and Monday and Thanksgiving are just fine with me.

(by my avatar you can see I'm a Cowboys fan but I am not a Jerry Jones fan. I've been a Cowboys fan since the early 70s so I'm hoping to outlast him.)

Power 2 the People

(2,437 posts)
16. Yes, that's true OriginalGeek but as you stated, pre-season games are not for the starters
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:13 PM
Oct 2018

Jones is thinking in dollar signs with no regard for his players short term or long term health.

It's tough for us true sports fans since most of the pro teams are owned by Republican businessmen. Dallas is one of the all-time great NFL franchises. It's a shame they're owned by such a radical right-wing nutbag.




Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
17. Fuck Jerry Jones with a red-hot cast iron dildo.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 02:53 PM
Oct 2018

I have always detested him. I always will. I hope he burns in hell.

I cannot stand to see people maim and harm themselves permanently in the pursuit of "sport". NFL football wasn't like this when I started following it. It's all about "spectacle" now.

In 1975, an R-rated movie called Rollerball was released that predicted a future sport where horrific injuries could happen. That movie was considered outrageous in its day. No way that could ever happen. If you watch that movie today, you will truly wonder what the fuss was all about. It's just another Sunday in the NFL.

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
22. Thursday night football needs to go away, PERIOD.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 07:14 PM
Oct 2018

It's an abomination. No team can recover in that time. They are risking not only their careers, but their lives.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
8. Three things made me stop watching NFL games
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:41 AM
Oct 2018

1. the hiring of Michael Vick built the coffin

2. the excuse of DV, rape, etc. put the lid on the coffin

3. the CTE coverup hammered the nails into the lid

Roland99

(53,342 posts)
12. Anyone not watching this season has missed some really exciting games. Cleveland is exciting now!
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 12:50 PM
Oct 2018

and KC with Mahomes, wow.

And Drew Brees this year

And...

ProfessorGAC

(64,427 posts)
15. Been Saying That Right Here For Quite Some Time
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 01:03 PM
Oct 2018

The ratings for EVERYTHING went down some (the NFL less than many others) because they hadn't yet figured out how to measure people consuming the product in ways other than regular TV venues.

Now we've got Yahoo reporting their streaming service numbers, as is Hulu and Roku (and perhaps Sling) and we find out that just as many people are watching the popular things as they did before and it NEVER had anything to do with some silly boycott by "angry white people".

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,041 posts)
18. I watch fewer because
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 03:04 PM
Oct 2018

1. Commercial barrages make it a test of endurance.

2. Substitute refs began the decline in "get it right". (The difference between a football game and a gang fight is the set of rules). Return of real refs didn't return consistent enforcement of the rules.

3. Chickenshit response to TrumPutin and chickenshit treatment of Kaepernick. Many players supported him; owners were cowards. A REAL President would have been the first to speak out in support of exercising one's 1st Amendment rights.

4. Roger Goodell has worked, and continues to work, to hide facts regarding brain injury.

I've been a fan of football since the days of Bart Starr.

Dave Starsky

(5,914 posts)
23. Bart Starr? You're a youngster. I go back to Y.A.Tittle.
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 08:14 PM
Oct 2018

Too many horrific injuries.
Too many commercials.
The response to people exercising their First Amendment right is crazy.

I still follow football because I love it so much, but I am tired of all of this.

Gothmog

(144,005 posts)
21. Who is surprised by this?
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 06:45 PM
Oct 2018

trump is trying to take credit for something that he plays no meaningful role in

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