Outside the Beltway

Outside the Beltway

Punt the NFL

James Joyner
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nfl-logoGlenn Reynolds links some poor sap who is angry at the NFL because Rush Limbaugh has been dumped from the group bidding for the Rams and is going to start a one-man boycott under the banner “Punt the NFL.”

I have cancelled my DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket package (including the Supercast). I will not watch ONE MINUTE of NFL games or coverage this season—including the Super Bowl.

I guess I’m going to have to go for it on 4th down.  (Or is “Teflon” punting on 2nd down, given that we’re only 5 games into the season?)

In addition to not being overly outraged at Limbaugh’s fate (see the above link),

  • I think boycotts are stupid.
  • I’ve been watching football for more than three decades now, predating my ever having heard of Rush Limbaugh.
  • Limbaugh didn’t own an NFL franchise when I signed up for Sunday Ticket again this year, so why should I be upset with the status quo ante?
  • Sunday Ticket is non-refundable.  The NFL doesn’t care a lick whether you actually watch the games.  This is precisely as effective as burning a Dixie Chicks CD you bought last year.
  • While the owners were unlikely to approve the bid with Limbaugh in the ownership group, the NFL technically didn’t ban Rush — the senior members of his bidding coalition did.
  • See bullet one.
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27 responses to “Punt the NFL”

  1. Furhead Avatar
    Furhead

    I don’t think boycotts are stupid. Here’s why: it’s a free-market way to pressure corporations to do the right thing.

    But, I don’t give a rat’s ass whether Rush Limbaugh owns a franchise. I would assume that all those black people in the league that are stereotypical buffoons with bones through their noses according to Rush probably don’t feel the same way.

  2. Steve Verdon Avatar
    Steve Verdon

    I think boycotts are stupid.

    Actually, that is how you send a signal to a firm that you have an issue with their product. Why keep buying a product you no longer like? Of course, as you pointed out this has little to do with the actual product and more to do with politics.

  3. Patrick T. McGuire Avatar
    Patrick T. McGuire

    This is precisely as effective as burning a Dixie Chicks CD you bought last year

    And just how did that work out for the Dixie Chicks, hmmm?

  4. Zelsdorf Ragshaft III Avatar
    Zelsdorf Ragshaft III

    It is a political tool with financial bite. The left uses it all the time. Why would I support something I firmly disagree with. I America political opinion should not interfer with financial opportunity. Those on the left have pressured the NFL to not allow Rush to purchase a minor piece of an NFL team. Rush has always, to the best of my knowledge supported professional football. I wonder if Jesse Jackson agrees politically with Al Davis?

  5. Triumph Avatar
    Triumph

    the NFL technically didn’t ban Rush — the senior members of his bidding coalition did.

    Actually, that’s not true–according to Rush it was the Democrats, liberals and the left.

    And this is bigger than football. This is an effort to destroy conservatism in this country.

    If you are pro-NFL, then you’re pro liberal.

    I never thought I’d say this, but “Thank God for Canada.” Not only do they have a REAL conservative ruler, but they actually have a damn good Football league.

    The Montreal Alouettes could beat the Vikings or the Broncos any day of the week.

    I think we conservatives should just switch our allegiences to the CFL–the Conservative Football League.

    With the big liberals like Sharpton, Obama, Algore, and Hillary running the NFL, we should call the place “No F*&kin’ Liberals”

  6. Bernard Finel Avatar
    Bernard Finel

    I just hope this means I’ll be back to pick up some good tickets at a discount. Since right wingers will no longer be coming to games, can we also stop playing country music during breaks in the action.

    This all seems like a great situation to me. You guys keep NASCAR, we get the NFL.

  7. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    You think boycotts are stupid, but how do you feel about restraint of trade. Because that is what Roger Goodell, the Colts owner and the Players Association have done with their statements to keep Rush Limbaugh out of the league. Currently, the NFL has a section one exemption of the Sherman Antitrust Act. It is time for conservatives to push for a Congressional investigation into the NFL’s actions and to repeal their Antitrust exemption.

  8. floyd Avatar
    floyd

    Sorry Bernard, but NASCAR has already been appropriated, and now looks like a soft Hollywood version of bicycle racing. You are welcome to both.

  9. Pug Avatar
    Pug

    It is time for conservatives to push for a Congressional investigation into the NFL’s actions and to repeal their Antitrust exemption.

    Yes, sir. Go after the NFL. That will win you millions of votes.

  10. DC Loser Avatar
    DC Loser

    It is time for conservatives to push for a Congressional investigation into the NFL’s actions and to repeal their Antitrust exemption.

    Hey, they have their priorities straight! No problems with the economy, Afghanistan or health care. But that NFL exemption thingie is a threat to national security.

  11. DMG Avatar
    DMG

    BTW, the NFL doesn’t have an antitrust exemption so there wouldn’t be much point to pushing for Congress to repeal it.

  12. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    Pug,

    Perhaps you were sleeping during the Congressional hearings of MLB and steroids. I don’t remember one elected official losing his or her seat over that.

    DC Loser,

    Did you ever stop to think that the government meddling in the economy, Afghanistan, and healthcare is the reason why these things have some many problems? The more time Congress spends on the NFL is less time they can spend screwing up things that really matter, such as the economy.

    DMG,

    Ummm…. Yes the NFL does have an antitrust exemption. It’s called the Sports Broadcasting Act.

  13. just me Avatar
    just me

    I think boycotts are stupid too. And while I think the whole “Oh my God Rush can’t own an NFL team, because well, because we don’t like him” reaction is equally stupid, I also really don’t care enough to get all upset about it either.

    I am not a fan of football-at least not the American kind and the other kind I will occasionally watch on TV and I enjoy but don’t follow.

  14. Steve Plunk Avatar
    Steve Plunk

    If a boycott brings personal satisfaction then it’s hardly stupid. If we then mention to others how it might satisfy then it becomes an organized boycott. Seems all reasonable and rational enough if the issue makes you feel strongly. Those who don’t feel the same are no less or more stupid.

    This is not an issue for congress based upon sportsmanship or the health of the league, it’s an issue because a citizen’s rights are being compromised by an entity with government granted special privileges.

  15. An Interested Party Avatar
    An Interested Party

    This is not an issue for congress based upon sportsmanship or the health of the league, it’s an issue because a citizen’s rights are being compromised by an entity with government granted special privileges.

    So perhaps Limbaugh could divert some money from the Oxycontin & Caribbean Sex Tourist Fund and hire a really good lawyer to sue the NFL, since his rights have supposedly been trampled on…

  16. justinslot Avatar
    justinslot

    I know Triumph is funning us, but the Alouettes actually could beat several NFL teams this year–the Raiders, Bills, Chiefs, Browns, etc. The bad teams are just really bad this season.

  17. Pug Avatar
    Pug

    Pug,

    Perhaps you were sleeping during the Congressional hearings of MLB and steroids. I don’t remember one elected official losing his or her seat over that.

    Actually I was kidding. The NFL is a hell of a lot more popular than Rush Limbaugh. I don’t see thousands of guys going to bars on Sunday to listen to Rush. Going after the NFL would be stupid.

  18. Triumph Avatar
    Triumph

    I know Triumph is funning us, but the Alouettes actually could beat several NFL teams this year–the Raiders, Bills, Chiefs, Browns, etc. The bad teams are just really bad this season.

    Actually, I am a serious Alouettes fan–the CFL is way superior to the American liberal league.

    They are going to beat the hell out of the Roughriders or whatever crap team the West puts forth in the Grey Cup this year!

    Fourth down is for liberal losers. CFL rox!

  19. Derrick Avatar
    Derrick

    This is not an issue for congress based upon sportsmanship or the health of the league, it’s an issue because a citizen’s rights are being compromised by an entity with government granted special privileges.

    I think we should create a law every time Rush feels victimized.

  20. sam Avatar
    sam

    I think boycotts are stupid.

    Well, there are boycotts and boycotts. The Montgomery Bus Boycott comes to mind as one that was successful, and so beyond its immediate compass. My fav in the stupid category is the boycott of P&G because of a “satanic” symbol in it logo.

    As for football, I’m not sure I can watch it anymore without thinking of the really severe damage the players are probably doing to each other.

  21. Davebo Avatar
    Davebo

    And just how did that work out for the Dixie Chicks, hmmm?

    Err. #2 grossing band in all of music (not just country) that year as I recall.

  22. kth Avatar
    kth

    It’s not a boycott if you just stop watching because they pissed you off, and you don’t really hope to change the offending behavior. But it’s hard to imagine more than a million people taking the rebuff to Limbaugh that personally.

    The mistake boycotters make is in underestimating the sacrifice required. People think their consumer choices are voluntary and spontaneous, when in fact they are quite conditioned. Liberals think they can do without gourmet food because the Whole Foods CEO uttered some laissez-faire stupidity concerning health care reform. Social conservatives think they can cut off one of the few kid-friendly movie companies in existence (Disney) because they offer benefits to gay life partners.

    But in an intensely competitive consumer environment, if you could easily do without arugula or The Little Mermaid or the Dallas Cowboys, it is a near-certainty that some competitor would already have steered your money and your time to them.

  23. sam Avatar
    sam

    @Tom

    It is time for conservatives to push for a Congressional investigation into the NFL’s actions and to repeal their Antitrust exemption.

    I’m sure they’ll get around to it after they work to repeal the medical insurer’s antitrust exemption.

  24. Observer Avatar
    Observer

    Has anybody else noticed that conservatives are the biggest whiny crybabies in America?

  25. SFAW Avatar
    SFAW

    Has anybody else noticed that conservatives are the biggest whiny crybabies in America?

    You’re just noticing that now?

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