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I get asked a lot about “locker room culture” these days. Ever since the Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito bullying situation and the recent coming out of Michael Sam, it seems the media has become fascinated with understanding the inner workings of an NFL team. I’ve seen countless articles discussing how bullying or homosexuality is dealt with in an office setting and others comparing our workplace with the traditional American workplace."
I am sure an MLB clubhouse has its perks, hockey players must be really fun to crush beers with, and the NBA is probably, well . . . an interesting place to work. (Can you imagine having a locker next to J.R. Swish?) But in my estimation, absolutely nothing compares to an NFL locker room. I played a lot of different sports growing up. None of them quite creates the brotherhood, the camaraderie, the fraternity that exists on a football team...
What we end up with in the NFL is a room full of 65 of the most athletic, driven, and—let’s face it—reckless men in the country. Not many sane, rational individuals would voluntarily choose to play a game that threatens to take years off your life, possibly lead to CTE, and leave your joints feeling like rusty bicycle chains. What you do have, however, is one of the most diverse melting pots in the world. “Parks and Rec” has nothing on the character ensemble I work with every day. Cowboys from Texas locker next to rappers from L.A., guys blasting “Yeezus” on the stereo across from guys talking about Jesus with the chaplain, married guys with three kids next to married guys with three girlfriends.
Bill Maher has a funny bit in which he says, “Any institution where there’s no women around—like the Church, like football, like the Middle East, like fraternities—things go to s—.” I’d have to say there’s more than a little bit of truth in that joke. The NFL locker room is the ultimate boys club. Yes, we talk about horrendously inappropriate things. Yes, we make fun of each other. And yes, we have a tendency to take pranks a bit too far. (An Icy-Hot-in-the-helmet incident in 2011 cost one rookie a practice and earned me some time in coach Gary Kubiak’s doghouse.) But at the end of the day, this is not a normal job. Contracts are not guaranteed, career-altering injuries are commonplace, the average career lasts three-and-a-half years. READ MORE
There is usually, at the very least,
two sides to every controversy. I like rare opportunities to hear the other side.
16 comments:
"Bill Maher has a funny bit in which he says, “Any institution where there’s no women around—like the Church, like football, like the Middle East, like fraternities—things go to s—.” I’d have to say there’s more than a little bit of truth in that joke."
Yes, but, when you want somebody to run up 50 flights of stairs carrying 100 pounds of equipment, girls just won't cut it.
It is obvious that the only politically correct solution is to enforce the rule that every player should curtsey and say "Mother May I" before rushing the passer.
The NFL administration has lost it's way by trying to enforce politically correct dogma in it's sport. You will never satisfy the people who insist on that because they will always find something to bitch about. Instead they should just let the players strap on the helmet and go play ball. That is what made this million dollar business. If they want to turn it into ice skating they will eventually kill the goose.
Trooper York said...
If they want to turn it into ice skating they will eventually kill the goose.
Here! Here! Next thing may just be Johnny Weir and Tara Lupinski commenting on NFL fashions and style. :-))
Psst: What made NBC feature Weir, who never won a single thing Olympic, to be a commentator? And now both he and Tara are working for ABC as well covering the Oscars?
Don't worry Troop...if Weir becomes an NFL analyst, don't do anything rash, just call me. I will buy you a bottle of Kelt XO, which you can't drink but I can. Help a buddy out and all that...
Any institution where there's no women around....things go to s---.
One more example of Bill Maher's colossal ignorance.
I've made this point before on SI's boards, but I'll do it here too. Why does America expect a normal working environment in an NFL locker room? I'm not aware of many other work environments where the boss can drop the f bomb with impunity and directly to his subordinates and no one bats an eye? Of course that kind of work environment is going to lead to all sorts of stuff that doesn't happen in Corporate America.
The idea that an NFL locker room is just like any other workplace in America was the biggest tragedy of the Wells report.
The NFL has lost it's way. They need to fire Roger Goodell and get somebody with the right attitude for football.
Somebody like...oh I don't know...how about Richie Incognito.
Nah that wouldn't work. It would upset the women too much.
How about....I don't know...Michael Vick?
What's the matter with you racists? You don't want to see a brother get ahead in this world?
Maybe once Richie gets out of the looney bin he will consider it.
Nah that wouldn't work. It would upset the animal rights pussies too much.
How about.........I don't know........Ru Paul.
Perfect. Politically correct. Looks like a dude but pretends to be a lady. That's what they want to change football into.
RuPaul for NFL Commissioner!!!!
He just went to the looney bin to bolster his case against the Dolphins and the NFL. I bet he is going to sue them for intentional infliction of emotional distress. You know they bullied him.
He has a real smart scumbag lawyer.
Yeah, but what did that Ferrari ever do to deserve such a beating?
Hey those dago cars are always mouthing off. A smack now and again will do them good.
Trooper, The PC shit is to deflect all the other bad publicity. Get the media loving you for being PC and they'll conveniently ignore other transgressions. This is PR 101.
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