Courtesy: Sporting News
*FAN SUBMISSION by Eddie Ryan of Ireland. Follow him on Twitter @storyteller.
Not a great weekend for NFL fans. Mexican waves while a player is being stretchered off, half empty stadiums with the game clock still showing over two minutes, and the barbaric cheering as the hapless Matt Schaub is injured.
I am a sports fan myself, and its an emotional business, where sometimes reason and sanity, are overrun by the all consuming desire, to see your team triumph.
Franchises encourage their fans to be hostile and create an intimidating environment for opposing teams.
Its part and parcel of the magic of The league, the color, the passion and the noise, make it an almost Gladiatorial stage for the players to perform upon.
Sometimes these elements can combine to create a different type of atmosphere.
The minority of fans who delighted in the Texans passer being side- lined, should hang there head’s in shame.
This behavior has no place in Gridiron.
Our wonderful sport is a shining example to the world. Courage, honesty, friendship, are the ideals which the NFL is built upon.
A place where parents can bring their kids, and proudly wear their colors.
Hopefully last weekend was a once off, a stain which will be quickly removed from our game.
I was in Wembley Stadium London,a couple of weeks age, and like everyone there, marveled at the magic of a regular season game.
What an advert for the NFL. A spectacular game, and fans from Minnesota and Pittsburgh were magnificent, shining examples of what the league is all about.
Let us pray that the cynicism that is like a Cancer in other sports, does not spread to the NFL.
Gridiron above all else is the American Dream, may it never turn sour.
