Politics and football

 My Facebook feed/timeline , whatever it is called is being filled with news about who is going to perform at the halftime show for the Superbowl. At first I heard it was Lizzo, then her dancers accused her of creating a hostile work environment, sexual harassment and fat shaming! So, she was out. The next one I heard about was Bad Bunny. He's a rapper, at least I think that it what his claim to fame is, I have seen him involved with professional wrestling, I figured to boost ticket sales and attract a new audience. This morning I read where he is out, although I can find no other source for that information. I suspect it isn't true as that story claimed Kid Rock would take his place. The whole story is supposed to make you believe the NFL has backed off their "woke" policies. Personally I don't care who does the halftime show, I'll most likely watch the game anyway. 

  Reading all of that I began to wonder just how the halftime show at Superbowl became such a big deal. Yeah, I know it's all about ticket sales, money, fame and being seen. Thing is I'm old enough to remember when getting on the Ed Sullivan show was that thing. He did have a "really big show" for us most Sunday nights. If you where on the Ed Sullivan show you were on your way to stardom! After that show ended, it was replaced by the Sunday night movie. The end of the show came about because the "younger" kids stopped watching and the show got that reputation as being for old people. It just wasn't cool anymore. So, in 1975 Saturday Night Live begins airing and that is where you wanted to be seen and heard. Oh, there were other places like the Johnny Carson show that were big deals in the entertainment world, a big deal to get on those shows, but SNL was the bomb! Not so much today in my opinion, as I haven't watched that in years. 

  It does seem to me that doing the halftime show at Superbowl is the equivalent of those old shows as far as exposure goes. The big difference is you have to already be somebody to get that invitation. A rising star won't cut it! And those performers do not get paid for that show. I read where the NFL covers all the production costs and the performer may receive "union" scale pay, that amount is far less than what they usually make. The big draw for them is in being seen. Personally I can't see where it is worth to them. You have to already be someone to get that offer. And, as it becoming more evident every year with the selection of that performer, you can't please all the people. If Bad Bunny does perform will that gain him new fans, a new audience that will buy whatever he is selling? I don't think so. It may even harm the product you are telling to sell, football. Yes, that's why they are paying the production cost, the hope being to attract more viewers. The advertisers are just salivating at the prospect of hawking their products during the Superbowl!

  Well politics and football do not belong in the same discussion. That's my feeling on the whole deal. We have seen boycotts, protests and ticket sales rising and falling like the stock market. What political stance are we taking today? Lizzo was fat shaming people and acting inappropriately, she even declared she wasn't making music for white folks. Yeah, I already knew that Lizzo but thanks for the clarification on that. She wasn't being inclusive I suppose and hurt peoples feelings. So Bad Bunny is chosen. A Puerto Rican rapper that sometimes wears a dress. I read his genre is Latin Trap, which is Latin rap. It's rap music in Spanish. Why the NFL believes that would attract people is beyond me given the current political climate concerning immigration, illegals and people from Latin American countries here in the United States where we play FOOTBALL, not "futbol" as in soccer. No, I just don't think that was a very good choice at all. 

  So, if we are to have a halftime show what should it be? My thinking is it would have to be something fairly benign. Yes, something that will not offend. That's a tall order these days as everyone is offended by everything. We can't even have animals in the circus anymore! You have to be a hyphenated person, perhaps gender neutral or proud and show no loyalty to the country in which you live, but embrace your "heritage" from hundreds of years ago. Being a vegan is a plus, as is proclaiming your hatred for Trump. Is that really the demographic the advertisers are going for? It sure seems that way to me. But just what show/performer could they get to appeal to everyone? Do any performers like that exist today? If they do, I haven't heard of them. 

  Perhaps the halftime show shouldn't be a musical performance at all, perhaps invite the very best high school marching band in the country to perform. They could just play the standard marching band songs so as not to offend anyone, carry no flags or banners, wear no ribbons, pins or badges in support of anything. Maybe even have a computer choose that band at random from a national database. That way, no one is being judged! They may not be the best but we are all winners! Hey, it's only fifteen minutes, give them that spotlight! It's for the children. Everyone agrees on that, right. Yes, as long as it for the children, it's a good thing.