NFL: Bias, the Marketplace, and the Economy

Got a few things to get off my chest, bear with me, it happens, no matter what team you root for.

I live in small town America. Well, not so much small anymore, only 60,000 plus outlying communities. I've lived here all my life, and for as long as I can remember, i've always been a Raider fan.

This week, since the budget of our state have been a bit knotted, they have been looking for ways to add money to the pool. And one such source, is the belief that they should tax Internet sales. South Dakota would stand to make about $56 million in revenue should they do this.

Fine and dandy. But then a local radio station owner, Lia Green, says that these out-of-state businesses don't support your local soccer teams, and any money spent out of state doesn't come back.

Funny, ever hear of tourism?

But the one thing that gets on my nerves, is that purchasing out of state is the only way I can keep getting Raiders stuff. The local businesses overcharge for what little they can get in.

Added into the fact, why would I want two Darren McFadden Jerseys, when I already have one? It also doesn't help that the local selection is bad, when 90 percent of the stores, like Kmart, Walmart, Shopko, Sears, and Target, have all their merchandise picked from out-of-state distributors?

What markets do they follow? Broncos and Vikings, of course.

To a greater degree, you'd almost call it censorship. You could use the argument that they're bringing in teams that win, but considering they said the same thing last year when the Broncos finished below .500, and the Vikings have lost four Super Bowls...I think someone needs a class in NFL marketing.

So, I'll continue to send my money out of state and support my addiction to Raiderbilia, Lia.

Second topic, reflected on Sunday. Me and a few Raider friends went to our local sportsbar, A place called SportsRock. It's a decent place, kids can come in, mom and dad can have some chips or peanuts, and there's about a dozen TV sets in the place.

Now, we've gone to this place for the last five or six games. Me, two other friends, and about a half-dozen Raider fans all lined up on three tables, looking over at set two. Then, they turn the Raider game on, over at set 7.

No big deal, we figure we'd simply move over to the tables near set 7, only to discover an anti-social blonde, who said she was reserving this table, decided that "table" meant BOTH tables....of course, she isn't wearing any colors, and is only there to make sure her friends have their tables reserved.

And then she left the game, in the second quarter.

It was irritating, but to add to the insult, they were showing the Tampa Bay Bucs game, on two different TVs. One of the sets was on table two....and the other table, was covered with Bears fans, who could care less about the Bucs game.

After this happened, we decided to leave the SportsRock, no tip, and take the service elsewhere. It's a shame, but hey, if you don't want to discriminate, don't tick off six customers for one bubblehead.

Lastly, was a question tossed to me regarding the Raiders, the economy, and the NFL in general. Does anyone think the economy will hurt the NFL? After all, here is a league that prides itself on money, is run by money, and the fans have to shell out money to watch games...Where does it stand, if the fans can no longer afford the games?

A curious case in point surfaced after Invesco opened, for the Broncos in Denver. Sure, nice and new...But for those who were used to the cheap seats at the rock pile, paying 10 times the amount for bad seats far from the field, you have to wonder how it's affecting the fans now.

Making a choice between food and going to the game is kind of easy to make. It also comes full circle, when a team performs badly, that fans eventually won't want to buy tickets...granted, Raider fans have loyalists, but could the economy actually shut down the locals too?

And lastly, will the economy curtail contracts? After all, if the market starts to sink, revenues aren't flowing in, and teams start to lose money, how will it affect everything?

Is the NFL recession-proof?

To a degree, I don't think you'll see L.T. sign for $50,000, or a No. 1 draft pick get a signing bonus of $1 million. But to a degree, there might be more players who have contracts set up to affect deeper into the years, pro-rating the money, so that hopefully when the economy picks up, so will the revenues.

Otherwise, you're going to start seeing a lot of teams playing in the red...and it might cause a few clubs reason to either move, or become creative with the bottom line.

RCA, over and out.