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There are SO many things I would recommend the NFL does -  but the first is simply to acknowledge that if they surveyed their players and did a "thought experiment" on the nature of cheering vs. jeering.....that every player would readily admit being booed over long periods of time for their performance would be devastating to them personally and professionally.....because .every player believes (AS THEY SHOULD) the old addage that "on any given Sunday" their team - no matter the record, no matter the field, no matter the weather, no matter the score......can still win!  

 

Now, ask these professional players how long they would want to play if the only play they could ever run simply failed miserably.....and there was no capacity to change the final outcome of the game - EVER.....and that the only fans over time that kept showing up were by all appearances there only to boo the losing team on to an entirely predictable failure......

How many games, seasons, and decades would these professionals want to endure under such conditions? 

1 game?

2 seasons? 

a decade?

an entire career?

a lifetime?

 

And yet....aren't we asking so many of our youth to do JUST THAT? Like Martin Seligman's German Shepard shocked into submission, our youth have drawn a drastic conclusion that no matter the effort they muster or the play they run,  there simply is no way to change the final outcome or score of the "game".....so why even TRY to run a different play today?

 

I live in the Seattle area where we are enjoying a historical moment for a very otherwise maligned franchise. We are now Super Bowl Champions that had struggled with mediocrity both on and off the field for decades. I recently remarked to an educational colleague that perhaps the greatest advantage the Seattle Seahawks have is not in their personnel (as good as these players are), and it is not in their coaching (though likely to be in the Hall of Fame for Coaching), and it is not found in the incredibly cool surroundings of the stadium they play in.(though it is impressive)...the "secret sauce"  is simply what we call "the 12's."

The Fans.  

The loudest fans in the country, and arguably anywhere in the world.  But as loud as these fans are, it is not merely their volume that makes their contribution important. It is that they are (very) loudly loyal and in support of one team no matter the weather, no matter the play, no matter the score, and no matter the outcome.

My colleague didn't disagree at all - because we both know that under the intense support of such fans virtually any other team in the league could flourish. 

 

As we concluded our conversation on "football" I asked my colleague, 

"Don't you think every child deserves his own "12's"?"

 

If we could ask anything of the NFL, or of any celebrity or any accomplished individual, would it not be that we simply find a way to ensure that every infant, toddler, adolescent, young adult, and individual have their own "12's" rooting them on to victory in the presence of adversity? Would it not be that every child experience a "home field advantage"? Would it not be that the "coaching" they receive listen to their perspective and help develop new ways of running new plays that yield different outcomes or "scores"? Would it not be that even if a truly "level playing field" could not be provided that compassionate individuals would come alongside that individual to ensure that forward progress - despite the slanted field - was always possible? And would it not also be that on any given day that ends in "y" that there was acknowledgement for effort and cheering for simply getting back up again after being tripped up, falling down, or even "fumbling"?

 

The NFL's challenge is a microcosm of society's challenge and the same challenges in my state, region, town, neighborhood, block, and home.  We should stay focused on getting "12's" for each 1's needs. 

 

Now THAT would be something to cheer about!

Thanks for this comment, Steve. Thanks for the explanation....didn't know about the 12s....can you tell I'm not a football fan??

To boil your suggestion  down to a sentence, would it be something like:

Encourage the NFL (or start with the Seahawks first?) to educate their fans about ACEs research, so that they'll shine all that "12s" power onto kids, too?   

Jane,

I read your thoughtful article and felt like if the common man, woman, public official would read and relate to the things you pointed out, we could use the NFL as a vehicle for change when it comes to inter-personal violence!  What a cultural sea-change it would be for one of the most brutal but beloved US sporting events to suddenly stand up and speak out on behalf of inter-personal violence?  We need a new definition of masculinity, a new common idea of what it means to be a role model, and an acceptance that the sport plays a HUGE role in the culturally acceptable incidence of domestic violence, personal violence, and harmful masculinity messages.  It's not JUST the NFL, but the NFL makes a LOT of money off of US citizens who pay homage to their sport and their team!  And, if the NFL wants to attract more women to the sport, shouldn't it do more than allow the color pink on the field during the month of October?  How about supporting player families in ways that are healing, hopeful, making the players' partners feel that they have value too?  I really enjoyed your piece and wish there were more female figure heads in this and many other sports.  Valuing women starts at the top, treating your players humanely sends the message that they should be humane to those they value and love too and the message filters down to the sports fan who will in turn begin to understand how violence against those we love is both harmful and unacceptable.  I WISH we had some dynamic leadership in the NFL and I hope your article at least points out how far we have to go before our sports heroes and leaders can truly feel proud of the message they convey in every fan's home and life.

Cheers!  Brenda

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