In supposed charity, NFL shows greed, stupidity and bias
On the Saints playing a home game in the Meadowlands
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
Please note that the following article wasn't written because I'm a fan of a different NFC East division team than the NY "Football" Giants. It was written because I believe the NFL screwed up royally and showed extreme stupidity in having the New Orleans Saints play their "home" game against the Giants in the Meadowlands.
First, the NFL screwed over the Saints and their fans. I know that there are bigger issues in the post Katrina aftermath than what happens with the Saints, and what inconveniences might befall their fans, but the solution that the NFL has applied is almost a complete and total slap in the face to the Saints team and their fans.
The bulk of the evacuees from Katrina were moved out of the New Orleans area to Houston and other areas in Texas, as well as many having migrated to other areas in Louisiana, Florida or other southern states. Finding a location for the Saints to play in nearer to those areas should have been a higher priority for the Saints game that will be played tonite (September 19th, 2005), as well as for the remaining games (where the solution that was arrived at was to have the Saints play in San Antonio for some games, and then in Baton Rouge for the others).
In finding an alternate location for the game tonite, the NFL has handed an extra home game to the NY "Football" Giants, and has given what should have been a home town advantage over to the Giants and robbed the Saints of the same.
What I believe should have happened, and would have shown the utmost in charity and support for the Saints and their fans, would have been a rescheduling of tonites game for the Houston area. Much like the Meadowlands, which yesterday hosted an NFL Jets game, requiring the move of the Saints vs. Giants to tonite (causing a "double header" for the NFL), Houston may not have been ready to hold the Giants vs. Saints game yesterday, but they certainly could have held such a game tonite.
I believe that the NFL acted with haste to hold the game in the NY area because they felt they could sell more tickets on shorter notice. That would be fine and dandy, but it really robs those people that were impacted the most by Katrina of the opportunity to see their team play in their own back yard. If the belief was that the game wouldn't sell out in the Houston area, then the ultimate act of charity by the NFL and the teams would have been to give the tickets for the game away for free to Katrina refugees. Let anyone that could show a drivers license from the impacted area have 4 tickets per person for free. Let them then sell the tickets, or use them for themselves and their family. Once at the game, let the NFL show a bit more generousity by giving away Hotdogs and Sodas along with the game tickets.
Yes, doing so would cost the NFL and both teams, but it would have shown the ultimate act of charity that the NFL really could have done. They would be supporting the fans, and demonstrating what efforts they are willing to go to in helping to make things more normal for the victims of Katrina.
That's my $.02 on the situation, yours?
First, the NFL screwed over the Saints and their fans. I know that there are bigger issues in the post Katrina aftermath than what happens with the Saints, and what inconveniences might befall their fans, but the solution that the NFL has applied is almost a complete and total slap in the face to the Saints team and their fans.
The bulk of the evacuees from Katrina were moved out of the New Orleans area to Houston and other areas in Texas, as well as many having migrated to other areas in Louisiana, Florida or other southern states. Finding a location for the Saints to play in nearer to those areas should have been a higher priority for the Saints game that will be played tonite (September 19th, 2005), as well as for the remaining games (where the solution that was arrived at was to have the Saints play in San Antonio for some games, and then in Baton Rouge for the others).
In finding an alternate location for the game tonite, the NFL has handed an extra home game to the NY "Football" Giants, and has given what should have been a home town advantage over to the Giants and robbed the Saints of the same.
What I believe should have happened, and would have shown the utmost in charity and support for the Saints and their fans, would have been a rescheduling of tonites game for the Houston area. Much like the Meadowlands, which yesterday hosted an NFL Jets game, requiring the move of the Saints vs. Giants to tonite (causing a "double header" for the NFL), Houston may not have been ready to hold the Giants vs. Saints game yesterday, but they certainly could have held such a game tonite.
I believe that the NFL acted with haste to hold the game in the NY area because they felt they could sell more tickets on shorter notice. That would be fine and dandy, but it really robs those people that were impacted the most by Katrina of the opportunity to see their team play in their own back yard. If the belief was that the game wouldn't sell out in the Houston area, then the ultimate act of charity by the NFL and the teams would have been to give the tickets for the game away for free to Katrina refugees. Let anyone that could show a drivers license from the impacted area have 4 tickets per person for free. Let them then sell the tickets, or use them for themselves and their family. Once at the game, let the NFL show a bit more generousity by giving away Hotdogs and Sodas along with the game tickets.
Yes, doing so would cost the NFL and both teams, but it would have shown the ultimate act of charity that the NFL really could have done. They would be supporting the fans, and demonstrating what efforts they are willing to go to in helping to make things more normal for the victims of Katrina.
That's my $.02 on the situation, yours?
