I challenge anyone who for whatever reason - boycott, time conflicts, you name it - has missed watching (m)any NFL games this season, to sit down and attempt to watch a (portion of) game.
I predict you won't last 5 minutes; NFL football is simply insufferable. It is (has become) increasingly boring, with an incredible amount of interruptions that disturb the flow and pace the game. Whether lackadaisical play, penalties, reviews, and/or frequent commercial breaks, it is impossible to hold any functioning person's attention.
This is the real effect of the push-back: a nation of virtual zombies has seemingly broken the spell. It took generations of programming to take hold, nurtured on dramatics and sporting heroics. But then the league changed the formula hoping no one would notice. Sure, small pockets of resistance were forming in various fields, but overall the threat was minimal.
Now, the NFL could start all over, but all the theatrics, all the false signalling, all the nonsense would have to first be stripped away. The WLB WS is an absolute great example of what sporting entertainment should be: athletic drama at its finest.
Bonus question: anyone else with wife/SO who typically has no interest in sports, but has been (weirdly) following the WS with avid interest? I'm wondering when this phenomenon will begin to be discussed.
My wife hasn’t been a fan but is watching the WS. Same goes with me but it’s because the Astros are in it. But I suspect lots of former NFL viewers are watching.
I agree on virtually all your points. It became tedious to watch games, frustrating seeing literally the same commercial three or four times during the SAME commercial break. One thing though, that had driven me nuts for years was the lack of tackling, a lot of times seeming like the player had no knowledge or training in making a proper tackle. Very frustrating. I know it’s an art, not a science but still... What do you think is going to happen if you just bounce off the ball carrier?
The same thing happened in 2004 as the Red Sox clawed their way back to defeat the Yankees in the American League championship.
Everyone seems to be watching the World Series in my neck of the woods. This included vast numbers of people who previously had no interest in baseball.
It gave rise to something known as ‘ the pink hats ‘. After the 2004 win, people were seen running around Boston wearing pink colored Red Sox hats. Had never seen one of those before. A lot of the new fans were women.
How long their interest remained in the sport is anyone’s guess.
I haven’t watched the NFL this season. BUT, the Ohio State — Penn State game last weekend was amazing!