FanPost

When Will The NFL Lockout Proceed Past Your Point Of No Return?

[Note by JasonB, 05/12/11 3:41 PM EDT ] Promoted from fanposts. This is a great question raised by The Reddgie, given the news today that the lockout has now lasted longer than any other NFL "work stoppage."

Websters defines fan as: an enthusiastic devotee or follower, short for fanatic.  When it comes to football, this is what I am, an absolute fanatic.  I love football.  Truly.  There is no other way to describe how I feel about it.  I love everything about it; the games, the off-season activities, the passion other fans display for football and their teams, the year round coverage.  I am a devoted follower of Football.  Plain and simple. 

Football ranks above every other sport for me, and it's not even close.  It's better than baseball.  It's better than Hockey.  It's better than any and every other sport, hobby or recreational activity that exists.  I know this because when it comes to football, I watch and follow every single team in the NFL, not just my beloved Eagles.  I can't say the same about the other sports.  The Braves are on, so what, I'd rather watch a Seinfled rerun I have seen 50 times.  NBA playoffs are on, so what, I would rather read a book or watch paint dry.  I just don't care about the other sports if the Philly teams aren't involved.  But I care about everything that is football, whether it is the Patriots pursuing 19-0 or a Cowboys star WR being kicked out of a mall because his pants are hanging down to his knees.  It doesn't matter what it is, if it is football or football related, I am in to it.  Except for Arena football, cheap ass imitation.

So, why am I going on and on about being a fan of football?

Because when this ridiculous Lockout BS began, I had no doubt in my mind whatsoever that no matter how far they took it, no matter how many games were missed or how petty their childish squabbling got, it would not affect me one iota and I would be right back to being the fan that I was before the Lockout.  I would still follow everything NFL, I would still buy apparel and I would absolutely still go to games.  It would be like the Lockout never happened.  After all, ignorance is bliss and I would simply ignore the fact that the Lockout even happened and happily go back to the bliss that football used to be for me.

However, with every day that passes and there is no resolution to this Billionaires vs Millionaires pissing contest, I feel like it is becoming more and more likely that I will never return to being the devoted follower that I once was. 

I haven't reached my Point of No Return.  Not yet at least.  But it is approaching.  What was once so far off that I didn't believe it was even a possibility, is now approaching quicker and quicker and graduating from unlikely outcome to unwanted eventuality.

And I know that I won't completely turn away from football.  You can't just go from full devotion to total avoidance overnight.  But I now know that if the Lockout continues as it is now, there will be a point down the road with this Lockout where my fandom will forever be tainted and corrupted. 

So after 500+ words, what I want to know is if I am alone in feeling this way or if there are others who feel similairly.  Do some of you have your own Point of No Return?  Do some of you feel like this whole ordeal is going to leave such a bad taste in your mouth that you won't want to go back to the buffet for more?  Was the bad taste-buffet analogy a bit of a stretch?

Thanks for letting me share, it was cathartic and I am already feeling a little bit better.  Have a great day.  Reddgie