The "Puritan" NFL League has double standards...

Unless you've had your head in the sand recently, you've no doubt heard the white noise--no pun intended--regarding the pre-game skit between Terrell Owens and Nicollette Sheridan. Let's re-visit the festivities, shall we? Dateline ABC, November 15th, just before the kick off of Monday Night Football. Ms. Sheridan, dressed in a white towel, tries to entice Mr. Owens into ditching his teammates for other..err..festivities. Terrell initially plays it straight, insisting that he couldn't let down his teammates for the premiere football game of the week. The wiley Ms. Sheridan then drops her towel--revealing her bare back and leaving little to the imagination--and jumps into T.O.'s arms. Fade to black--no pun intended. This was clearly a shameless attempt by ABC to plug it's hugely popular show, "Deperate Ho's"...sorry, "Desperate Housewives." The problem with it was that the irony was lost on those who hadn't already watched the show. That said, the skit was still funny, if but a bit stereotypical--I'll get to this in a moment.

I suppose I shouldn't be suprised by the double standard "No Fun League" making noise about the skit, despite the fact that everyone in the Eagles organization--and thus, the NFL, by relation--knew the skit had been taped beforehand. What I find silly though, is the notion that the NFL's Monday Night Football broadcast has become this Puritan, moral, family program. Let's review the tape, shall we?: Are you ready for some football? You know...the (self proclaimed) Monday night party? Are you ready for Coors beer? ...and...and Twins!? Are you ready for Levitra, Cyalis, and Viagra? And contacting your doctor in the unlikely event you get "stuck" with a four-hour erection? Are you ready for tampon commercials? Are you ready for scantily clad cheerleaders? Are you kidding me? The NFL's Paul Tagliabue and company really need to sweep around their own front door before patronizing a network with whom they have a contract about how it chooses to entertain the public at large. This is the same network that televised the--[Ewww!]--complete bare backside of a male during more episodes of NYPD Blue than I care to recall. Yikes! I had successfully deleted that image out of my brain until just now. Thanks a lot, Mr. Tabiabue!

The other thing I find hysterical is this supposed moral outrage from a select number of viewers and media pundits. Listen closely: Monday Night Football is not--repeat, IS NOT--Little House on the Prairie. Don't like the material? Change the damn channel. This is another attempt at right-wing America attempting to impose their beliefs on what passes for entertainment today. Sorry, there's already a PAX channel. Deal with it.

The last thing that I found laughable was Tony Dungy's diatribe and references to race and Kobe Bryant. So I suppose if Brian Urlacher had played T.O.'s role it would have been "all good", right? Wrong. Sure, there are people who are (still) uptight about interracial relations, but hey, things have evolved since The Jeffersons broke loose with Helen and Tom Willis! I can understand and appreciate the "discomfort" with the less-than-subtle sexual undertone, but putting race into the mix is just ridiculous. And Tony Dungy, a reportedly religious man, is way off base here. I suppose all of those interracial couples are not suppose to publicy display affection now because it offends Tony? Give me a break...

But wait! Hold on just a minute...I just looked in the paper and what's coming up on Monday Night Football? New England vs. Kansas City? Say it isn't so! I can see it now...[Dream harp music plays in the background] Tom Brady has replaced T.O. and Beyonce has replaced Nicole in a spot for McDonalds. The towel drops as before, but the camera pans just a little low...Bootylicious, indeed...Okay, okay, a brotha' can dream, can't he?
Peace,
+THINKER