I’ve always been a fan of American football. Ever since I was a kid, we never went to church – so Sundays meant football. Football was my dad’s favorite sport so he would lay in bed all morning watching the game. He’d come out of the bedroom in his white briefs – and not much else! – for the afternoon game, chain smoking Pall Malls and falling asleep and snoring in his favorite chair with the cigarette still burning…

All we had back then were two games on TV on Sunday [one AM, one PM…], and Monday Night Football starting in the early 70s. There was no ESPN or any of 24-hour sports networks.

Back in those days, sports on American TV consisted of Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey. Sometimes we’d get the odd motorsport on ABC’s Wide World of Sports…but we didn’t get any decent F1 coverage until around 1982 with the dawn of ESPN.

But over time, I stopped caring so much about sports because they became increasingly irrelevant to my life.

However, since the 2024 election I have needed a reason to escape from the horrible reality that confronts me every day. I know I am not alone in my need to escape.

Romance novels, Sci-Fi, cat videos, superheroes or whatever: people need more ‘Bread & circuses’ to keep their worried minds off all the chaos, strife and misery.

Since November, I’ve immersed myself in every distraction I can think of to help ease the pain.

The NFL has been my primary source of diversion, because it is so ubiquitous in the USA, especially this time of year.

The idea of a bunch of young, healthy people pounding the shit out of each other to reach the END ZONE [while making a shit-ton of money] seemed like the perfect metaphor for the times we live in. It’s just a pointless display of gladiatorial prowess and incredible athleticism. I can appreciate that.

But here’s the thing: the new phenomenon of players celebrating after virtually every play is starting to grate. I don’t understand why folks feel compelled to jump up and scream and point downfield and strike a pose following every single play, no matter how minor or futile.

And the over-emphasis on touchdown celebrations is really over the top.

I realize the players have been encouraged to ham it up for the sake of entertainment, but the refs should be calling delay of game when celebrations are choreographed with the entire team doing a fucking line dance or whatever. It’s embarrassing.

It seems to me a real class act would be to simply hand the ball to the ref after you’ve done your job. Back in my day they didn’t allow this kind of shit.

I mean, just do your damn job and then hand the ball off, or toss it, or just leave it on the ground. Why act like some kind of gibbering idiot after you make a play?

But even defensive players are guilty of “over-celebrating.” Every single tackle, every sack, every swat down, every big hit is another excuse to jump up and scream and run downfield like an uncaged animal..! What’s the point?

This just seems like another symptom of our totally narcissistic, “me-me!” society, where the primary goal in life is to make a spectacle of oneself at every opportunity. I blame social media. Are people that insecure..?

Okay, but try and TAKE A KNEE after you make a big play and they’ll ban your ass from the NFL forever. God forbid you forego the usual post TD antics to make a statement about the on-going crises of excessive police violence in the US, especially against people of color. Oh, no. That’s a career ender, for sure.

The slave masters in the NFL Owner’s Association are perfectly okay with their multi-million dollar Pickaninnies jumping up and down and dancing around and even performing choreographed skits in the end zone after a touchdown or a turnover. They can carry on to their hearts’ content.

But POLITICAL STATEMENTS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED…no matter how dignified or solemn.

[You are free to make a complete ass of yourself, though..!]