NFL's show lower than Kid Rock's IQ

Cincinnati Enquirer ^ | February 3, 2004 | Peter Bronson

[ejdrapes]

NFL's show lower than Kid Rock's IQ

Here's my early nomination for Biggest Lie of the 21st Century: "It's for the children.'' Never in history have we talked more and done less "for the children.''

Like some character in a Dickens story, we're constantly boasting about how much we care for the children, while we starve them on a thin gruel of mushy morality and poisonous pop culture.

Such as the Super Bowl halftime show.

How many parents sat semi-paralyzed through that extravaganza of bad taste, itching to grab the remote and turn it off, silently wondering, "How much worse can it get?''

How many cringed while their children watched crotch-grabbing rappers singing about their "whores'' who will do this and that and "anything in between''?

The accidental-on-purpose overexposure of Janet Jackson's bare breast on live, prime-time, family TV was a big shock - but really, why should it be? By then we had already seen culture sink lower than Kid Rock's IQ.

With dancers dressed like hookers, in garters and skimpy underwear, gyrating in simulated sex acts, why should we be surprised when all that artificial heat ignites a fire and someone's clothes are ripped off - just as promised in the lyrics ("Gonna have you naked by the end of this song")?

On Monday, the NFL harrumphed that MTV may not be asked to do another halftime show. MTV?

What, were they unable to hire Hugh Hefner or Larry Flynt? What were they thinking? Haven't they looked at any music videos lately?

Jackson warned everyone she would do something outrageous. MTV promised "shocking moments'' in her act.

What did CBS and the NFL expect? A "shocking,'' "outrageous'' tribute to Vince Lombardi? (To complain, go to Focus on the Family at www.family.org.)

I guess I am hopelessly old school. As I watched I began to wonder if those Islamic mullahs have a good point about American decadence.

But what worries me is not the parents who were embarrassed by the cultural sewage piped into their family rooms.

What worries me is parents who did not even hold their noses.

The kind who think it's OK for kids to be watch adult trash because "everyone does it'' - or maybe they just don't think at all.

What's really shocking is the stuff that doesn't shock us at all.

Some theaters are now offering special ID-cards so 13-year-olds can go to R-rated movies without the inconvenience of dragging Mom along.

When Ohio passed a simple law declaring that marriage is intended for one man and one woman, the media and intellectual elites fulminated as if it's an open season on homosexuals.

A tawdry parade of commercials by the most talented "creative geniuses'' in advertising gave us juvenile crotch jokes, a monkey propositioning a young woman and Napster shoplifters glorified as celebrities.

What we saw on Sunday night, if we watched closely, was just the latest obituary for traditional morality. Notice how we call it "traditional'' morality, as if it's your father's Oldsmobile on a used car lot, with many newer, sexier models to choose from - not one boring set of traffic laws for right and wrong.

So take a ride in the New Morality. If you don't feel like being a good parent, a dirty old man named Pop Culture will baby-sit "for the children.''

[ejdrapes]

It's good to see that A LOT of people are outraged by this and are speaking out. The Left cannot potray this as Conservative talk radio getting their knickers in a twist.

[Tarheel]

Glad to see that this editorial covered the spectrum of sleaze that occurred that night not just 'the old boob'.

If an NFL player had celebrated a TD by jumping around and grabbing his crotch he would have suffered sanctions. Why should the performers and ad companies be treated differently?

[Arpege92]

It's bad enough that they have to show this filth on television, now they have to insult the intelligence of the American people by coming up with so many excuses as to why this happened.

[whereasandsoforth]

I blame the NFL, if blame is the right word. It is an organization with enough clout to monitor and have the final say.

The NFL has a lot to regret. They are already planning next year's game. I hope regret turns to reason.

[Mr. Bird]

Hey, I like Kid Rock. Should he be featured in the Super Bowl halftime show? Probably not.

As for Janet Jackson, I was more offended by the organizers thinking she was relevant enough to give center stage than I was by the boob. What's next, Kajagoogoo?

I don't think they have to go back to some sort of hokey Disney-like production, but this one just stunk up the joint.

[expatguy]

A lot of people being "outraged" is hardly gonna stop the slide down.

People need to be willing to DO something and I expect the majority of people "outraged" will DO nothing.

Keep telling the world about the superiority of AMERICAN VALUES though.

One day Americans might realize that it is not people like Osama Bin Laden that you need to fear. It is yourselves.

[Vesuvian]

Kajagoogoo

Knowing the group you're talking about makes me feel old. But at least I'm not "too shy, shy" to post about it! ; )

[Puppage]

"It's for the children.''

The motto of the democRATS....unless, of course, those children happen to be in the womb. Then, it's open season on them.

[randita]

Every once in a while, the water in the pot gets a little too hot and the frog gets a hankering to jump out. But the frog eventually settles back into its deadly confines and continues to boil to death.

[BSunday]

IMHO, any parent who attempted to sit through that show, knowing ahead of time it was produced by MTV, is a MORON. I have no sympathy. You don't go to a whore house and expect to watch cartoons all night.

[Celtic Conservative]

"Knowing the group you're talking about makes me feel old. But at least I'm not "too shy, shy" to post about it! ; )" 7 posted on 02/03/2004 7:59:20 AM EST by Vesuvian (Quattro Power!)

hush, hush! =)

CC

[kinghorse]

I would rather see the finals of the punt pass and kick competition but the advertisers would have none of that. No easy solution when mega dollars dictate the action.

[Judith Anne]

I have DirecTV, and after a recent service problem, they offered me a free month of Showtime instead of a credit on my bill. I refused, citing the Reagan movie, said I'd never have Showtime in the house.

Now, since I have CBS, NBC, and ABC as an option, just in case there would ever be something on them (I haven't watched those channels in years) I think I'll call and cancel them, citing the half-time show as the reason.

I'm sure I won't be the only one.

[Aquinasfan]

As I watched I began to wonder if those Islamic mullahs have a good point about American decadence.

Even mullahs can be right sometimes.

[Aquinasfan]

The motto of the democRATS....unless, of course, those children happen to be in the womb. Then, it's open season on them.

Technically, abortion is "for the children." You have to parse their statements just like you had to do for Clinton.

[Puppage]

I KNEW I was miss'n something. Thanks for filling me in.

[Aquinasfan]

I would rather see the finals of the punt pass and kick competition...

Me too.

but the advertisers would have none of that. No easy solution when mega dollars dictate the action.

How about Celine Dion? There are plenty of decent, mainstream female and male vocalists.

[AlbertWang]

Half time should have been billed "Geezer Fest 2004".

My question is where was Foghat? Why didn't REO perform? Air Supply? If we are getting out the Cavemen, why stop with Janet?

And if we wanted a foul mouthed rapper, why not 2livecrew?

I think I could have done better, for much less.

[Katya]

"I was more offended by the organizers thinking she was relevant enough to give center stage than I was by the boob. "

Exactly....Janet's a has been...and unlike Aerosmith..not a classic.

I do want to express kudos to Beyonce Knowles, who wore her Sunday best and delivered a flawless rendition of the national anthem with the reverence such an occassion deserves.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I was wondering if it was just my age when I watched some of that junk that was broadcast over the public's airwaves during the halftime show last Sunday. I am an old sailor that has stood shore patrol in some pretty sleezy areas of this world, and excluding exhibitions, the half time show content was just about as low as one can go on the face of the Earth. What is next dragging animals out to "participate" in the "act" etc.

A lot of distasteful things happen in the world today, but that doesn't mean that I want some jammed in my grandchildren's face when I turn on the television for a sports show.

Do we need Uncle to further intrude into our lives? I don't favor that, but I do favor removing financial support to the sponsors of such barf.