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LeBron James on the new NFL: 'The fun part of it is kind of being taken away'
For whatever reason, NFL ratings are down. The league is still clearly far and away the most popular of all the North American pro sports, but the NFL’s litany of “showcase” games on Sunday, Monday and Thursday evenings have taken a dive in terms of televised viewership this year, alongside the Sunday afternoon bashfests we’re all used to.
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There are unending reasons for this, and myriad ways to chomp down on the guesswork behind the dips that have marked the season as it enters its tenth week. Because NBA superstar LeBron James is likely the most popular and famous athlete in America and a noted NFL fan, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin thought it appropriate to ask the Cleveland Cavaliers champion why, exactly, he thinks fans are turning away from a pastime they once couldn’t get enough of:
“I’ve heard some of the comments from some of the players, as far as the game, the fun part of it is kind of being taken away. And I know when I played football, I played it for that reason,” James said after Cavs practice Monday. “For the competition, one, and for the fun of it … I’ve seen a couple of the main guys talk about how the game is not as fun. It’s all political, things of that nature, at this point. You definitely don’t want to take the fun away from the game. That’s why we all fell in love with sports in general is because you have fun with it at the beginning.
“But I’m not the commish. I’m not on the board. I don’t know what [the explanation is]. Football is such a great sport, but I don’t have the answer for why fewer people are watching.”
It’s important to note that fans aren’t exactly turning away in droves. The “[can’t] get enough of” reference above is also something we should be mindful of, as it appears this is more of a case of a heavy chunk of NFL fans telling the league that they’ve had plenty, thanks, and aren’t really as desperate to tune into a Browns/Ravens game on a Thursday night as they once were.
They’re just as sated with following their own team, making sure their fantasy lineups are on point, and following the highlights and headlines just enough to drop the occasional bet, and have something smart to say back to their car radio speakers while listening to sports talk radio and/or an NFL podcast.
Ratings have clipped, and James is correct in pointing out that it’s a different game to take in.
Jokes about the NFL acting as a “No Fun League” are entering their fourth decade; that aspect is nothing new. What is different is that, at times, watching the league’s product feels less like watching the game of football and more like watching a production made solely on the NFL’s terms.
This also is nothing new, but the difference in attitude hasn’t shifted incrementally enough to keep the mindful ones from noticing. Types like Roger Goodell and Phil Simms seem like the sort of junior high principal that would still give you a hard time in the hallways in spite of your good grades and the two sports you played. Merely because you looked like trouble, or smelled like subversion.
Comment sections and browbeaters will swear up and down that the ongoing protests made by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick have everything to do with fans running away in droves but, let’s be honest with ourselves here – the sort of dweebs that would haughtily make a “stand” about Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the playing of the national anthem are the NFL’s bread and butter core. The remaining enlightened NFL fans are loath to discuss it, but they’re sharing a couch and a fantasy team with the guy with all the bumper stickers on his truck.
Many are not watching because they don’t enjoy having a strong role in encouraging a bloodsport. This is something LeBron does not mention; nor take part in, as he has been seen on the sidelines of several NFL games since sports fandom has become more and more aware of football’s long-ignored CTE and domestic violence problem.
That’s something I relate to, and it’s the reason I haven’t watched NFL games in years. That’s a personal choice and I don’t take issue with those that don’t emulate my own (rather easy, considering all the death and destruction) decision. What I do take issue with are the hundreds-strong in sports media having their cake (getting to produce endless smarmy anti-NFL content on wesbites or social media) and eat it too (half priced wings and Ravens/Browns!).
No, the current “problem” for league is the fact that too many NFL games are made to act as “showcase” games on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday evening. It’s tough to pick sound autumn and winter matchups for broadcast viewing during the summer, in a league obsessed with parity. And football, just like any other sport, can be ably followed by those who have either cut the cord, or retained the cable package while just decided to click elsewhere on Monday evenings.
It’s such an obvious (and minor) issue that even Mark Cuban called it years ago. Certainly nothing anywhere near the scope and enormity of the league’s real issues, as we’re all going to look rather silly wasting words talking about declining ratings and an inability to celebrate touchdowns as one sees fit as the issues spiraling inside the brains of those that bash heads several times a week for pay continue apace.
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!