With the league facing a huge backlash over recent legal problems, the NFL is in the main news more often than the sports these days. However the problems don’t seem to be affecting attendance and for an organization that is profit-driven, this doesn’t augur well for those who see a need for a change.
Any significant change would have to start at the very top and league Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it clear he’s not going anywhere. With his skills at making it rain money, the owners are in no hurry to see he leave either. But sometimes public pressure does come to bear, as has been evident in the recent fire-sales of NBA teams after remarks made by owners. If the NFL does succumb to public opinion and oust Goodell who would be a suitable replacement?
I had the answer right up until this morning: the Dalai Lama. The NFL is a very big entity, and Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama was born, possibly several times, to be the leader a huge group. His calm, serene approach can’t help but have a soothing effect on players, no doubt leading to better relations off the field. His command of the English-language isn’t great, yet still better than that of many players.
Imagine if you will, at the beginning of a game, as players are introduced and run out of the tunnel, instead of high-fiving scantily clad, bouncing cheerleaders, they would use essentially the same motion to spin several prayer wheels!
Penalties and fouls would be called transgressions and instead of referees tossing flags, they would tie a simple “protection and blessing” red cord around the wrist of the transgressor, and forgive.
I had the whole thing figured out and then this morning the Dalai Lama put the skids to it all be Tweeting this:
The idea of one side suffering defeat while the other side triumphs is out of date. Instead we have to develop dialogue.
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) September 23, 2014
While I agree dialogue is always a good thing, in a league with a distinct aversion to tied games, most won’t buy into the Dalai Lama’s idea that winning and losing are out of date!
I wonder if the Pope might be a better choice? Heaven and Hell are all about winners and losers.
DCMontreal 