By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Hello Hillsboro: NFL stars fumble image importance
Placeholder Image

After many years of on again-off again threats, I have finally decided to cut all ties of loyalty to the Chicago Bears…and the Green Bay Packers. That should end a lot of inner bickering!

However, I have also cheered for the last time for the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and every other National Football League franchise.

For years folks, including me, have blamed the frightening increase in violence on movies, television crime shows, comic books, and even video games.

However, it’s just possible that the bad examples are now emanating from the kind of natural athletes that kids used to look up to and, unfortunately, to some degree still are.

Those former heroes were featured on the front of boxes of Wheaties, the “Breakfast of Champions,” and persuaded kids to eat their cereal in order to grow big, strong, and rich!

Now, instead of Aaron Rodgers demonstrating the art of tossing TDs at will, we’re shown a repulsive tape on TV over and over of a current NFL “star” punching out his fiancée (now wife) before dragging her unconscious body out of an elevator!

In addition, arguably the best running back in the game has been charged for allegedly “disciplining” his 4-year-old child with a wooden branch.

Neither of the figures involved has even been indicted yet, while investigations continue.

There is currently a hot debate between even hotter fans going on in the country as to the  punishment suspensions leveled by the league commissioner.

The shocking part of the entire mess to me, however, is that many fans showed up at the players next home game wearing their name jerseys in tribute and leading cheers.

And let’s not forget the Atlanta Falcons famous “dog trainer” who enjoyed watching the cruel deaths in the ring suffered by tortured animals whose only crime was being without a friend in the world.

And, if they somehow survived but didn’t put on a good show for the gambling vultures who enjoy cheering pure cruelty, he did the deed himself.

Fortunately, he ended up serving time in prison, but that didn’t stop the NFL from bringing him back. After all, he sold tickets and helped TV ratings. Just to add some final disgust to this story, the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he returned to the field.

I wonder how many of them were pet owners.

Maybe the TV crime shows and video games aren’t so bad after all!


            ***

We will close this column on a much brighter thought about football, but just as accurate.

On the opening day of school a first grade teacher explains to her class that she is a Bears fan.

She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Bears fans.

Wanting to impress their teacher, everyone in class raises a hand except for one little girl.

The teacher looks at the girl with surprise. “Janie, why didn’t you raise your hand?” she asked.

“Because I’m not a Bears fan,” she replied.

The teacher, still shocked, asked, “Well, if you’re not a Bears fan, than who are you a fan of?”

“I’m a Green Bay Packers fan, and proud of it,” the little girl loudly stated.

The teacher could not believe her ears, and said, “Janie, please tell us why you are a Packers fan.”

Janie stood her ground. “Because my mom is a Packers fan, and my dad is a Packers fan, so I’m a Packers fan, too.”

“Well,” said the teacher in an obviously annoyed tone, “that is no reason for you to be a Packers fan. You don’t have to be just like your parents all the time. What if your mom was an idiot and your dad was a moron. What would you be then?”

“Then,” Janie answered with a big smile, “I’d be a Bears fan!”