As the National Football League lockout drags on-and-on endlessly like a Stanley Kubrick film, it's time to ask the age-old, proverbial question:
"Who needs ya?" I don't, for one.
Spending almost an entire lifetime of 49 years watching, listening to and following the NFL, I've seen it all. It's all been done. There's nothing that sport can throw at me that's new, unique, original or mind boggling. It's about time fans and followers saw that as well.
Isn't what we've witnessed and experienced over so much time enough to carry us through a season without? I've seen the impossible become possible. I've seen my share of victories on the last play to win games, come-from-behind to prevail in the end dramas, heartbreaking losses, seeming miracles, apparent "Divine Interventions" and what have you.
It's appropriately ironic that the lockout came on the heels of a season in which the No. 6 seed in the NFC not only advanced to the Super Bowl, but won the game. I hadn't seen that before, but now I have. Another "nail in the live without the 2011 season's coffin."
What will so many do, it's been asked, without the NFL in 2011? My answer is simple: Live without it. I can. It can represent a good opportunity for people to do and think further for themselves. Becoming less dependent on such sports for entertainment purposes -- and molding fans' own identities -- may be just what our country needs to grow a bit.
Let's live for ourselves -- and stop wasting time living through them. If need be. We all may learn a valuable lesson in humility. While teaching those of the NFL the same about themselves.
Of course, I feel much for the common people whose livelihood depends on the league. The key words are "the common people." I feel not for the millionaires or billionaires. Before someone can note that a loss of revenue could affect their contributions in "charitable works," I suggest they display human generosity.
They can simply give up some of their own selves -- and material things -- to assist others. Won't they? I've given to others when I had nothing myself and did without. I thought such as those involved in the lockout are so much "bigger than me?" I thought I'm the proverbial nobody? So I thought.
Sure, such prominent persons earned their money and have a right to indulge themselves as they want. But, while I respect their right to do so, don't expect me to necessary respect them as being right for doing so.
It's time for the power of independence. I'll find plenty to do thinking, creating and envisioning without a 2011 NFL season. Hopefully, others will catch on to such things, too.
"Who needs ya?" I don't, for one.
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