I hope I was not the only person who was thoroughly disgusted by the way that Monday Night Football provided so much attention to the spectacle that was the behavior of Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb. I realize that this attention may help boost ailing ratings, and the game was quickly becoming a drudge due to the performance of the overmatched Cowboys. The amount of face time given to Owens TD celebration dances was unecessary. Furthermore, McNabb and Owens thumbing their noses at the media for the attention that was given to their sideline spat in the Eagle's previous weeks loss was childish. They are quite aware that thier antics will get play, but why should the media indulge them?

The NFL is the greatest show of sports and media glitz on earth. They have earned their reign through the quality of the performances on the field and the quality of it's product. I like my ritualized violence as much as the next person but the halftime musical performances, stupid reality-show interludes, and over the top multi-media productions at the beginning of games are all endemic to the hubris that seems to be consuming the sport. The game is forgetting it's roots and what has made it strong. This spectacle works as long as fans are buying the product. Yet increasing ticket prices, a poor economy, and parity-induced poor on-field product may eventually change the fan's attitudes towards all of this. The people like their bread and circuses, but they must be willfully engaged in the event for it to be effective.

Thanksgiving Sunday, the Lions will be featuring a performance from John Cougar Mellencamp at halftime. Why is this necessary, while I am gorging on deep-fried turkey? I would much rather see marching bands, a short game from a couple of Pop Warner teams or some other form of All-American entertainment that doesn't magnify the ever-increasing stupidity and crassness of our withering society. C'mon NFL do the right thing!

I initially had written this entry without seeing the beginning of Monday Night's game. The ensuing firestorm has further supported my point. We live in a society that is looking for cheap "pops", we are totally bereft of substance. I am not offended seeing an unlothed white woman jump into the arms of a black man, it does offend my sensibilities that it was done in such an obvioulsy contrived and calculated manner.