Carol Anne Costa: Is It Really Only About the “Goodell” Boys?

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Carol Anne Costa, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

The collision of money, power, accountability, corporate citizenship, and America’s favorite game tragically sounds like the snap of a switch on a child’s naked skin and the thunderous thump of a punch to a woman’s face. The repercussions of these two despicable acts are testing our nation’s resolve and stressing the billion dollar babies that are our NFL teams, owners, and sponsors from coast to coast. But, does the controversy swirling about these events begin and end on Roger Goddell’s desk alone? The levels of complicity filter through our TV sets, social feeds, and front pages. Let’s face it football is king. It rules our weekends like a boss. We obsess on the food, the location, the beer, and even the jerseys. We often times craft our schedules pursuant to game time, it’s no secret many of us are “all in” when it comes to game day.

It is patently unfair to paint the whole of the NFL with a broad brush in the light if the Rice and Peterson developments. But, it is equally difficult to ignore the silence, obfuscation, insensitive pressers and overall inaction of the entire institution that is the NFL. Well, that was until Wednesday morning when apparently some things changed. As I put my head on my pillow a little before midnight on Tuesday, Minnesota Viking running back indicted for child abuse, Adrian Peterson to my dismay was reactivated for this Sunday’s game. Perhaps the 30-7 loss to the Patriots had a little something to do with the decision to get him suited up again. I must tell you I was extremely disappointed and angered by the decision and the overall insouciance shown at the Minnesota Vikings Press conference delivered in part by Vikings General Manager, Rick Spielman. Mr. Spielman is not the only NFL operative who hosted a truly disingenuous presser… we will get back to that later, Coach Harbaugh. Speilman said in part, “to be clear, we take very seriously any matter that involves the welfare of a child.” Really? The bloody remnants memorialized in police photos of the beating of a four year old, I guess weren't proof enough at that point. But, when I awoke early on Wednesday and rubbed my eyes and grabbed my phone to read the news of the day behold Peterson was out. The news of his ouster was announced around 2 AM, so what happened in the wee hours of Wednesday that changed? Wait I minute, I know… A sponsor namely, Radisson Hotel pulled its money. It was Confucius who said, “The Superior Man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.” And, if it sells, our sports nations are eager and present with hands wide open, as we happily pour money into the hoppers of billionaires.

So who is selling and who is buying?

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Roger Goodell did not get awarded the coveted the NFL Commissioner job in 2006 because he is guy with whom you’d like to get a beer. He was hired by some of wealthiest people in our country to keep the money train a runnin'. Goodell was selling and the owners were buying. When a group including 15 billionaires taps you to lead their mission to make more money and protect the assets of an American Institution, chances are you are a pretty sharp cookie. The NFL was heading for a brick wall in 2006 when the nature, scope and impact of concussive injuries was poised to destroy the league, the feeder leagues, turn parents off as a sport of choice for their youngsters and delve deep into the pockets of these folks, it was Roger Goodell who held back a torrent and kept the NFL as one the most lucrative sports on the planet. Naivete aside Roger earned all of his 104 million to date as commissioner and, I am guessing the checks were written by the owners with big smiles; after all it's about ROI! I am certain it’s a gig Roger wants to keep. On concussions he kept the ball and let his lawyerly smarts find the way to score the goal of settlement. Like a good game, not everyone was happy with the tally. It is Goodell’s mastery of the “let’s move forward together” strategy that remains appealing to fans and owners alike, as in the end it is the smart play.

Flea-flicker or a Handoff?

So, can Goodell use his PR prowess and legal smarts to extract the NFL from the current terrible light it finds itself in? Will he use a flea flicker or a handoff? Right now the NFL is on its own one yard line and is backed up against the goal line, the crowd is loud and getting louder, and the fervor and intensity reflected in the eyes of the defensive line is hankering for a safety. The NFL’s play selection will be key to moving out of trouble. I see a play of handoffs, and quick passes to get to midfield. The first hand off is to the three women Goodell brought on to advise on domestic violence. They are: Lisa Friel, Jane Randel and Rita Smith. Not a first down, but definitely gives some breathing room. At the end of the day what did Roger know, what did he need to know, when did he know it and what is the value of women and children in the grand kingdom in place within the NFL? Knocking a woman unconscious is an unequivocal act, as is beating a child with a switch. Roger knows this. But the league, the owners the franchises, the sponsors and the money are inextricably linked to feverish damage control at the expense of knowing right from wrong. We live in a society that embraces no score soccer and win at all costs methodology. It sets such a fine example for our youth.

A look at the Rice timeline reveals a disturbing wide spread knowledge of the incident. A look at the awful pictures of Peterson's son should leave no one uncertain of the brutality at the hands of a grown man. These events speak as much about our culture as they do about the acts themselves.

Is the football culture culpable too?

Make no mistake we are buying - shirts, tickets, jackets, throws, TV packages and everything on which you can stick and NFL label. I would be remiss if I did not express my special anger for the women who were proud to wear a Ray Rice Jersey in the wake of the clear picture of him coldcocking his soon to be wife in the Atlantic City elevator. Each a sickening display. I simply don't get it but I hasten to think the powers and marketers at the NFL do and will exploit it to the max.

The impotent response of the NFL, the troubling press conferences, the silence of owners and the weak and slow to emerge protests of sponsors add the to game day culture, as it is wrapped in violence, and fueled by money. At some level we can all take a piece of the blame. So many Americans are fine with giving a pass to the big burly men who play a boy’s game and who remain Gods of any given Sunday. I only hope these events begin a meaningful dialogue about the culture of violence and the inordinate amount of attention we play to a game.

Carol Anne Costa: Is It Really Only About the “Goodell” Boys?

Related Slideshow: The National Felony League - see the NE Patriots

2001

2001

2001

2003

2004

2004

2006

2008

2008

2008

2008

2010

2011

2012

2013

2013

Related Articles

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast