In the Beginning was Football

And the game was crude and primitive. Overgrown men smashing an’ crashing into each other (and not just in a halftime rush for the bathroom).

In a world fraught with division, for a few short hours, men from all walks of life…

Red and blue
Blue and white
White and black

…set aside their differences and rallied ‘round a common cause: Us against Them.

The game was perfect in its imperfection: Of men, by men, and for men.

Rules were few and straight forward. There were no television cameras. No celebrities. And no yellow flags.

But there were cheerleaders.

The morning after, the sons of men would gather to recount the weekend’s highlights and mishaps, like stories told of old. And off to the side womenfolk would roll their eyes.

This was America’s game. It was not given for the world to enjoy. And it wasn’t for everyone.

On the seventh day, creation was complete. God rested. Men played football. And it was good.

But the Commissioner said:

“We can make it better.”

And the League brought forth commandments engraved on tablets of Turf:

𝐗𝐈: 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤
𝐗𝐈𝐈: 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬
𝐗𝐈𝐈𝐈: 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲

Nit-picking rules. Enough to drive a man back to his ex-wife (and you hafta have rules otherwise the game might be fun). And to enforce said rules, the Commissioner declared:

“Let time stand still.”

And the League brought forth instant replay (followed by tedious booth review, and endless analysis).

In an effort to make the game perfect, the game was made intolerable. And the Commissioner saw that it was good, but further declared:

“Let there be celebrities…”

So, the League brought forth fantasy teams.

And it came to pass, that fans could root for their team, or another team against their team, or multiple teams, or the odd allotment of players from various teams against players from the same team. Because you can’t spell Team without “me”.

“…and the casting of lots.”

For it is written: It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. Just so long as you cover the spread.

So, the Commissioner further ordered:

“Let the tribes go out into the world.”

And the League brought forth multi-culturalism, internationalism, and America took its rightful place in the backseat.

After all, globalism worked so well for NASCAR, displacing local dirt-tracking good ol’ boys with foreign car driving heathen. (The South lost again. They just ain’t figured it out yet.)

Then the Commissioner conspired:

“Let there be pink pussyhats.”

And the League brought forth linebackers trimmed in pastel hues, boyish cheerleaders, and lady zebras. After all, why should a game of men and by men be just for men?

And looking over the empty coliseums, the Commissioner saw that it was good. But still, something was missing…

“Let there be social justice.”

And the League brought forth anthem kneelers. And the anthem kneelers knelt on their nation’s flag. Then went forth onto foreign soil and knelt on their flag for all nations to bear witness.

And the Commissioner said nothing.

But the faithful hung their heads in shame, as the people fractured again into partisan divisions:

Red and blue
Blue and white
White and black

Finally the Commissioner proclaimed:

”Let there be a holiday.”

And the League brought forth the Super Bowl.

Around the world millions upon millions of gentiles and philistines tuned into the Game to End All Games to watch commercials; as the gluttonous consumed deep-fried everything, and drank themselves into oblivion.

The morning after, the hungover didn’t know who had won, or played, or where their pants were.

So, the Commissioner finally declared:

“It is finished.”

The game was now perfect. But no longer shall it be called football…

“Behold, the NFL!”


R is for Redskins
Juliet had it right. The Redskins by any other name would still be the Redskins. And would still be smelly.

Merry Christmas in the NFL
Merry Christmas in the NFL! Merry Christmas and we wish you well! Here’s a helmet, a whistle too, and cheerleader pictures autographed to you!