Too Many Chiefs, No Indians, and No Peace Pipes – The Problem with the Pro Bowl

The National Football League hosted its Pro Bowl this past Sunday. The NFC jumped out to a 42-0 lead on the AFC. The final score? NFC 55 AFC 41. I guess either the AFC manned up and rallied together or the NFC defenders are a bunch of chokers, except of course the Most Valuable Player of the Pro Bowl, NFC cornerback DeAngelo Hall (Washington Redskins).

C’MON MAN!!!

If enough sports fans in the world actually cared, I would call it the “elephant in the room”. Instead, the only elephant in this room is a stuffed one I bought at the zoo. The elephant-like presence is: professional all star games are no longer competitive. The problem is not isolated to the Pro Bowl. The NBA’s 2010 All-Star game had a total of 280 points scored between the East and West, indicative of a complete void of defense. In contrast, a typical NBA game has a total, in my estimation, of about 190 points scored between both teams, give or take 10 points depending on the teams playing. Major League Baseball’s 2010 All-Star game featured 58 players, between both the National and American leagues, seeing action in the game (rarely would that number exceed 30 in a normal game). So much for momentum and continuity….

Comparing the Pro Bowl to an elephant is not very respectful to elephants. 1

Old School All-Stars

In the 1980s, for example, I perceived a greater spirit of competition. “Back in MY DAY,” I observed more pride and harder fought battles in these competitions. I have my own theory and it is not a complicated one.

Thirty years ago, the best athletes were not filthy rich, with seven figure salaries, and set for life. Pro athletes made good money, compared to a typical college graduate, but only a tiny minority, possibly the 5 or 10 highest paid players in a sport, earned a comfortable seven figure salary. However, sports revenues grew rapidly in the 80s and 90s and the carrot at the end of the stick, for more athletes, were becoming bigger and tastier. All-Star games, in addition to being an honor, were opportunities for athletes to demonstrate their skills against the best of their piers in a quest to better their future earnings.

OJ Simpson, slashing, cutting, knifing through and and evading Ted Hendricks in the 1975 Pro Bowl. Do you think either of these guys aren't hustling? 2

Present Day All-Stars

Fast forward to 2011. Let me say, in case there are any recent or current pro athletes reading this article, that most pro athletes are STILL not rich, are not set for life, and have short careers. This statement applies 10 fold for NFL players, who earn less than players in any of the other major team sports, including hockey, and (most) do not have guaranteed salaries. However, the best of the best ARE rich. Veteran NFL starters (not “stars” just starters on their teams in their position) seldom earn much less than a million dollars per season. The super stars, such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees, have market values in excess of $15 million per season. Aging, declining, but productive stars, such as 37 old Terrell Owens, earned over $6 million in 2009 and between $2 million and $4 million (depending on bonus earnings) in 2010.

2011 Pro Bowl MVP DeAngelo Hall. It is hard to tell if Hall is celebrating or laughing. Because that "competition" was a joke! 3

The better players in the game have nothing to prove to anyone. They are already wealthy, some more than others. And they all have something to lose. A major injury will always diminish a player’s future value and can potentially derail a career. When every player on the field has a lot to lose and a small carrot on the stick in front of them (relative to the same player 20 to 30 years ago, trying to demonstrate his skills and earn a few more dollars when the next contract is negotiated) those players are not going to take unnecessary risks to perform in a post season exhibition game.

The NFL Is not King of the All-Star Games

What shocks me, however, is that the NFL, the most popular and profitable American sports league in history has, in my opinion, the least relevant and least entertaining all-star festivities of the four major sports. The NBA, MLB, and the NHL all feature an All-Star Weekend, with festivities and novel exhibitions related to their sports, leading up to the actual game. The NBA, to me, is the gold standard to all-star productions, with its slam dunk contest, and three point shooting competition among other All-Star Weekend events. Major League Baseball’s home run derby is always a competitive slugfest among baseball’s best power hitters and, for me, is often the highlight to the MLB All-Star Break. I do not live in a vacuum, so I am sure I am not alone.

Albert Pujols bashing a homer in the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby. Note that the stands are completely filled. 4

In contrast, I had to perform multiple searches to find out what the schedule of events leading up to the 2011 Pro Bowl consisted of. There were some fun activities for people actually in Honolulu, but I saw no exhibitions of any kind on television. Why not a punt, pass, and kick competition among NFL players? Why not a pick up basketball game among players? Why not an “old timers” touch or flag football game? Why not a talent show? Why not a demolition derby…WHY WHY WHY? Why not SOMETHING other than a bunch of big names on the field playing at 25% because, justifiably, they do not want to take excessive injury risks?

You're Better Than That, Sheriff Goodell

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a visionary who is not afraid to think outside of the box to grow his product. This is a man who has had regular season games played in Europe, made efforts to strengthen the Pro Bowl in the past by moving the date and location, will likely change the NFL’s regular season from 16 to 18 games, and brought the hammer down on star players in an effort to curb negative publicity from unacceptable off-the-field behavior. Roger! You can do better with the Pro Bowl! C’MON MAN!!!!

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1) Image from rense.com
2) Image from mmbolding.com
3) Image from theglobeandmail.com
4) Image from midwestsportsfans.com