Staff Reports
Ah, it’s that time of year again when America’s favorite pastime—no, not baseball, but virtue signaling—takes center stage on the NFL turf. The NFL kicked off the season recently in a showdown between the Eagles and the Cowboys, but it wasn’t the plays that caught the nation’s attention. Nope, it was the endzone messages, painted there like a Hallmark card set to a backdrop of bone-crushing tackles. The chosen mantra? “Choose love.”
Now, there are many ways to express love, but hawking a loogie on your opponent probably isn’t one Hallmark’s considering for next Valentine’s Day. It’s the kind of irony only the NFL could perfect, while patting itself on the back for championing civility. But in a league known for its high level of physical aggression, it’s baffling how they’ve confused schoolyard antics with acts of love.
That wasn’t the only moment leaving fans scratching their heads. Let’s talk about the national anthem(s). Yes, in this current age of inclusivity—thanks to the NFL’s enlightened leadership—a double feature was in order. Enter the Black National Anthem, performed before the traditional national anthem. One can only imagine a future where the game starts after a playlist covering every skin tone’s anthem, turning the kickoff time slightly later than the Super Bowl’s halftime show. But during this anthem, you’d be forgiven if you heard crickets—because most folks in the stands had no idea what was going on.
Of course, the NFL’s production crew seemed about as comfortable with this charade as a cat at a dog show. The awkward silence in the stadium was deafening. It was as if the NFL tried to sell fans a $20 hot dog and forgot the hot dog. But hey, at least they were sticking to their “choose love” campaign, even if the love was a rather lonely affair.
All this has got to be doing wonders for ratings, right? But while the NFL leadership basks in the glow of their virtuous end zone of dreams, viewers can hardly keep a straight face. Perhaps it’s time for fans to exercise their own choice—say, choosing to switch over to a channel that offers a hefty dose of political sanity? When the gridiron circus comes to town, it’s best to remember: not every touchdown is a show of love, especially when it comes with a side of spit.
