Read the debate intro and the argument from Babe Ruthless.
I happen to share some of the same thoughts that Sports Geek echoed in the intro. I cannot remember the last time I watched the Pro Bowl from start to finish. Maybe that is because I never have. In fact, I could not tell you who won the last five Pro Bowls. Heck I could not tell you who won last year. Could someone help me out here? Please? I am waiting for an answer???!
Oh you don’t know either. Hmmm that is not a surprise!
What is a surprise is the fact that I, a single bachelor in his 20’s who loves professional football, could not tell anyone a single thing about a football game involving many of its stars. That in itself speaks to the relevance I, and most fans, believe the game has.
Let’s look at this year’s game. The starters and reserves were announced a couple of weeks before the end of the regular season. Now look at the teams and it is obvious that there has been tremendous turnover. The guys who are selected for the game that are playing in the Super Bowl are given a free pass on the game, which is an underrated perk for making the Super Bowl. Other players come up with reasons not to be there. And the guys that are there would rather be walking around South Beach (or at the beach, as was the case when the game was in Hawaii). It has always been an exhibition. But what it has become is a second-tier exhibition. Did you know that the three quarterbacks selected for the AFC team (Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Phillip Rivers) are not playing? They are being replaced by Matt Schaub, David Garrard, and Vince Young. What? Vince Young? He did not even play half the season!
When I was a kid growing up, I played little league. At the end of the season, all stars were always selected. I thought I had a chance to make it one year, but my lack of speed was a detriment to making the team. Well, I am sitting at home one afternoon, probably playing Tecmo Bowl on Nintendo, and I get a call at home from my little league coach saying they had a spot for me on the team. Yeah they were that desperate! I was so excited! It turns out that the only reason I was invited was because one of the other kids on the team had a conflict arise. I did not care, though. I had been recognized for the season I had, even if I was not chosen during the initial round of selections.
That situation mirrors the Pro Bowl. When players like Garrard are getting invitations to the Pro Bowl, you know the game is suffering. Just like when people like Loyal Homer are getting invitations to play in All-Star games, the game is suffering. No intention to slight to Garrard, who had an okay season. But he did not have a season worthy of a Pro Bowl. He is probably tickled to death to be in Miami this week, and good for him. Even his general manager implied that it was not one of his best seasons. That conclusion speaks to the overall quality of the game. It has become a second tier game and an afterthought of the people that are supposed to be participating.
I really cannot fault the players for the lack of interest in the game. Sure, I want the players on my team there. It is cool to see them mingling with players on other teams. I remember how cool it was years ago to see Brett Favre throwing passes to guys like Jerry Rice. But what if someone seriously gets hurt? Imagine how ticked off you would be if a player on of your favorite team got hurt (I refuse to give an example here for fear of giving them the Loyal Homer jinx). I know I would be livid. That is one of the main reasons there is a lack of interest by the players.
The bottom line is that the Pro Bowl is not even an exhibition featuring the best anymore. Manning and Drew Brees had two of the best, if not the best, seasons. They are not in the game because they have their eyes on that little thing called the Lombardi Trophy! The Pro Bowl has become less of a game and more of a ceremony.
My advice to you… watch the Grammys Sunday night!
