Monday Night Football celebrated its amazing Fiftieth Anniversary this week and I enjoyed all the clips of Howard, Frank, and Dandy Don. Plenty of people want to ‘boycott’ the NFL this season, but I’m not going to get into that here.
When I was a kid in the 1970s and early-1980s Monday Football was a big deal. I remember doing a speech about how popular MNF was when I was a sophomore in high school – and that was almost 40 years ago. Even though it moved from broadcast to ESPN cable in the last few years, it was still the highest-rated show on Monday nights every single week last year. That’s 16 weeks in a row.
At MegaCorp, MNF was always a good ‘chat’ with coworkers on Monday. Who’s playing? What’s the line? Anyone for your Fantasy Football team playing? After the long, first day of the work week it was nice to have something to look forward to.
In early retirement, I probably watch sports more now than I did then. I even like Thursday Night Football now that it has become a regular thing, especially if one of the teams I have a rooting interest in is playing (#GoPackGo / #SkolVikings). Since the games sometimes go late, it’s nice not to since have to get up early the next morning.
I know politics is ruining pro sports for many people, but I’m just ignoring the off-field and pre-game activities and enjoy watching the game. Anyone still with me? If not, what else are you doing on Monday Nights?
MrFireStation 
I, too, still watch, but only sometimes, Chief. With divisive politics now dominating sports, as well as everything else, I’m less engaged. Instead, I read for pleasure, and watch reruns (Office; Everyone Loves Raymond) to laugh.
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I’ve noticed that the broadcasts I’ve watched just start with kickoff of first pitch and skip showing the national anthem. That’s fine with me. Get to the action …
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I played football, lived football, loved football and always thought I’d grow up to be a football coach. After having two daughters it turned out to be fast-pitch softball coaching instead… But I still love the game of football. I loved MNF!… heck any football for that matter back in the day!
But now I just can’t support a business model now loaded with pompous athletes, who are some of the most fortunate from birth, yet hypocritical, and privileged people on the face of this planet telling me how I’m supposed to think about every social issue in the world, and how evil America is. I simply will no longer support it (..and yes, it’s a hot button for me). I first turned it off a couple of years ago. I tried to watch again last year, but it’s even worse now. I watch sports to get away from the world of craziness. I’ve now permanently turned off all pro sports. They’ve lost me. I’m still watching some college sports for now, but that soon will also be destroyed. It’s already heavily seeping into college sports. I think it’s by design. I think there’s a movement to a slowly erode all of the former “American“ foundations of society in order to bring about a forced political change. I won’t be part of it. I do believe that when the money starts to dry up…the pompous opinions will go away. The sooner, the better…just play the game you were gifted to play, and shut the heck up until you’re off the field. Talk all you want off the field. Choices…we all have them…and I choose not to support them any more. Sorry for the long winded rant…but you did ask! 😉
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I think your thoughts are echoed by many people nowadays. I read an interesting article recently that talked about the social justice leaders of a generation ago (ie Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton) were religious leaders. As religion has less influence, particularly in the big cities, the baton of protest has been handed to Hollywood (Academy Awards) and sports figures (Kapernick, Lebron James) – who also have their own Messianic visions of their greatness. I’m frustrated by the fact that politics is trying to ‘infect’ every aspect of life, but am going to try to resist getting mad. I’m hopeful that sports – pro, college, local – can once again be something that can positively unites people.
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It’s a nice thought. I hope you are right. That’s one I’d happily be wrong about.
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