You've probably heard enough about standing or not standing for the national anthem before pro football games, so we will not delve into that today.
Instead we will talk about pro football without the politics, causes, or controversy. Or at the very least, we are going to try to steer around those things.
In the past, the game has been appreciated by millions of Americans just like you and just like me. As a kid growing up in the 1970s, I enjoyed every game to the max.
Pro football was not perfect in those days, and the players were certainly not as pure as the wind-driven snow. But on the other hand, it didn't have the high salaries, the show-biz glitter and glitz, or the severe individualism that fractures a team.
The National Football League of the 1960s and 1970s, and the American Football League of the 1960s represented a time in which pro football came of age.
Fond memories from that era include: the Fearsome Foursome, Doomsday, the Perfect Season, the Monday Night Football sensation, the Steel Curtain, the Immaculate Reception, and the Hail Mary.
Pro football in the present, however, has a different feel for a number of reasons.
One of those reasons (the one we don't want to get into here) is that recently many Americans haven't been able to turn on the television and just watch the game.
Instead, they've tuned in to see protests get more attention than the game itself. And since that's not why they watch football in the first place, many are giving up Sunday afternoon viewing.
If you are one of those individuals, here are some thoughts to consider.
Editorial on 10/11/2017