Football's impact on lodge

ii/17/2011

A new "For Pete'due south Sake" web log appears each Th.The thought of any stoppage of play in the NFL has football fans everywhere on edge. It's not difficult to empathize why. Every bit Howie Long stated in his 2000 enshrinement speech from the front end steps of the Pro Football game Hall of Fame, "baseball may be this country's pastime but football game is its passion."

Information technology's the passion for the NFL that has fabricated pro football this state's nigh popular sport. People are often surprised to larn that, in fact, the NFL has been the most popular sport in the U.Southward. since the mid-1960s!

Today and tomorrow, Hall of Famer Art Shell is at the Pro Football Hall of Fame taking part in our annual Black History Month seminar as part of our ongoing and award-winning Educational Programme. Beat out will talk about the trials and tribulations of growing upward equally an African American in the 1960s. He'll surely impact upon what pride he took in becoming the NFL'southward commencement black caput jitney of the modern era when the Raiders hired him in 1989. Here's a shot of Art speaking with the students on hand in our NFL Films Theater. Hundreds of other high school students across the state are engaging with Vanquish through our videconferencing technology.

But, Beat out'south visit to Canton reminds me of another moment that proves merely how important the NFL is to the social fabric of this country. The Raiders were truly ane of the cracking dynasty teams of all-time. The team had a roster filled with  many star players and future Hall of Famers including Shell who spanned the long-tenured success the Silverish & Black enjoyed from the tardily '60s through the 1980s.

Just, it was the 1980 Raiders team that showed just how intertwined football is with life in this land. That flavour Oakland qualified for the playoffs as a wildcard team which meant their route to the Super Bowl was a challenging i to say the to the lowest degree. Symbolic information technology was equally this country was among i of its most challenging and tumultuous times.  Americans were faced with the tension of the growing Cold War, a struggling economy, and the fact that 52 of its citizens were existence held earnest in Islamic republic of iran.

Then, there was hope. V days before Oakland faced the Philadelphia Eagles in the Louisiana Superdome with the NFL championship on the line, the unabridged country rejoiced. That's considering the American hostages were safely released afterward 444 days in captivity.

The solidarity of the land had been symbolized by a xanthous ribbon that was displayed throughout the hostage crunch. Information technology was e'er so evident at the Super Bowl from the large eighty'x30' ribbon on the side of the Superdome to the yellowish stripes on the back of the players' helmets, to the 80,000 mini ribbons handed out to the fans who attended the game.

The Super Bowl was the perfect outlet for celebration in this state. For Crush and the Raiders, information technology was the finishing touches on an amazing flavour that included fighting as underdogs to bring domicile the Vince Lombardi Trophy. They did and so in spectacular fashion with a 27-ten win over their NFC counterparts. The loss stung for Philly and also produced ane of my favorite best quotes. Eagles coach Dick Vermeil stated with emotion, "anyone who says 1 game cannot ruin a season has never lost a Super Bowl."

For the Raiders, information technology was history in the making. Oakland became the first wildcard squad to win a Super Basin.  Not only did Raiders fans celebrate only an entire nation reveled in the game that was the perfect cap to an exhilarating week of news off the football field.

The game of pro football most undoubtedly is an important part of our American civilisation. And like our society, information technology will endure and abound regardless of what this offseason brings.

Previous Next
Get back to all weblog listings