An Annual Plea: Move Up the Pro Bowl

To think, we could be watching an actual game this weekend.

Though it is hard enough waiting through the world's longest bye week for one of the most anticipated Super Bowl matchups since XXXII and maybe even going back to XIII, what is really bothersome about this upcoming empty Sunday is that the NFL could very well slate a game—the Pro Bowl.

The first argument here is always based on the precedent set by the NBA. While my new main man J.A. Adande once succinctly explained in an October episode of the maddeningly addictive "Around the Horn," that people do not watch the Pro Bowl game because it does not deliver big hits, which people want to see.

No disrespect to Adande, but so what? Surely, Adande's seen the NBA All-Star Game, or, to put it more appropriately for the game that ultimately ends up a viewer's dessert rather than the main course, NBA All-Star Weekend. With innovation, a little experimentation, and lots of participation from players, that other sport draws more viewers for this meaningless game and its peripherals.

Is the National Football League not interested in money? Are Roger Goodell & Co. not interested in sharing audiences? Just imagine the possibilities:

• "Predict the Super Bowl winner" (and over/under, MVP, etc.) between the all-stars.

• A pick-three fantasy football contest between the Pro Bowl coaches. Or even a Madden tournament - played in "coach mode," of course.

• An old-timers' or celebrity flag-football games.

• An Arena League pre-season game or two (and imagine the potential increase in ratings for the AFL) - oh, the potential tie-ins...

• Interactive voting for the best NFL cheerleader.

• The Monday Night Movie. Again with interactive voting, the fans pick a film from, say, five nominations. (You know, cheesy/guy stuff like "Rudy," the original "Longest Yard," "Brian's Song," "Remember the Titans," etc.) Then slot the game into ESPN's regular "MNF" time slot and have Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser dissect the flick, Mystery Science Theater 3000-style.

• Finally, two words: reality shows.

As for the Super Bowlers nominated for Pro Bowl play, simply replace them; a trip to Arizona makes up for missing a trip to Hawaii. Let's see, representing New England on the AFC starting squad this season are Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Logan Mankins, Vince Wilfork, Mike Vrabel and Asante Samuel. Surely to move up named reserves Peyton Manning, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Kris Dielman, Jamal Williams, Shawne Merriman and Antonio Cromartie into the lineup would not cause any fan to bat an eye. And small-market, under-hyped teams could get more representation, thus more promotion. (Is the league not interested in promotion?)

Whether or not Goodell decides to bump up the Pro Bowl - though this writer believes it is inevitable - the man's few public statements on the matter are few and far between, and have flip-flopped more than Mitt Romney after a six-pack of Red Bull.

High on a potent combination of Pacific island weather in February, and his new position as NFL commissioner (not to mention fearful of threats that the city would soon - like tomorrow - be tearing down Aloha Stadium), Hawaiian-shirted Goodell proclaimed around game time last year that the league had "a great relationship with the state, and we hope to continue that. ... We are talking about some things that might improve it, and it is going to be good for the state and good for us."

Meanwhile, in October, idea man Goodell began verbally tinkering with the Pro Bowl about the same time he floated his crazy idea about a London-based Super Bowl. (Apparently, he loved the pouring-rain aspect of XLI so much, he wants to assure such weather for every Bowl.) He seemed to talk a little sense about the game at that time, stating "This is an opportunity for us to showcase our other great athletes on the week before the Super Bowl, leading up to that, and finishing up on a very climactic note which is the Super Bowl."

Yes, that is correct.

The reactions to Goodell's messing around with sports writers were myriad; this writer's personal favorite was FOX Sports' Jason Whitlock's two cents calling the idea "stupid," and going on to prove the opposing viewpoint while arguing against moving the Pro Bowl date and locale.

"The beauty of the Pro Bowl in Honolulu is that most football fans can not pile into a car and drive to the game," wrote Whitlock. "The Pro Bowl is exclusive. About a dozen media members, a select group of retired players and groupies with actual jobs regularly attend the Pro Bowl. The players stay in a secluded resort. The setup is perfect. Goodell should think long and hard before making this move. He is going to create a major headache."

(Whitlock apparently means "A major headache" for guys like himself who do not think it is fair that they should have to share one of the world's single most popular tourist destinations with the unwashed masses like everyone else.)

But does it not seem as though the insane success of the NBA All-Star Game resides in the democratization of the thing, the spreading of wealth, hype, awards and, best of all for the league, valuable television coverage? Is the host city not rewarded with similar benefits and prestige? Do the ESPNs of the world enjoy the ratings shares they are running up, simply by screening a lot of jacking around with the likes of Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Frankie Muniz and the league's most amusing players?

Alas, this idea has yet to come to fruition, so Week 21 of NFL season 2007-08 is filled with the emptiness of dissecting highlight clips and wondering, "How can the Giants stop the Patriots?" This writer plans to watch none of it.

Is the league not interested in that?

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