Are You Ready For Some Football?
September 10, 2023 2:26 PM Subscribe
Today marks the beginning of the 2023 NFL Season with football every Sunday through to next year. As with all NFL Seasons, there's multi-year chaos, drama and changes - and that's off field. This years biggest change has been in the ownership of the Washington Commanders with the sale of the team by the reviled Dan Snyder to a team lead by private equity investor Josh Harris who already owns or holds stake in the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils and EFL's Crystal Palace F.C. (Warning: Yes, that name is used in a bunch of older news articles)
Synder has a long and loud history of being terrible, even by NFL standards. From running the worst ranked stadium in the NFL or being the first to charge fans to watch pre-season practices or maybe turning their cheerleaders into nude models and forced escorts (the workplace culture later lead to a $10M fine and Dan Synder stepping down temporarily) or trying to sue the local alternative for their coverage of his misdeeds or.... the big one - the name.
The team, founded in Boston in 1932 as the Braves, adopted their long lived moniker before moving to Washington DC in 1937. Despite decades of calls for the name to be changed, Dan Synder emphatically said the name would never change. They trotted out polling showing that Native Americans didn't find the name offensive (of questioned value) and used money to garner native support. Then in the wake of the George Floyd protests and multiple sponsors pulling funding from the team, the Washington team became "The Washington Football Team". The WFT name lasted for two years before the team rebranded as the Washington Commanders (with sports writers gleefuly adopting the shortened "Washington Commies" nickname)
But ultimately, despite all of this - what forced Synder's hand was the classic bad move of a racketeer - skimming the take from his fellow owners. Even his rumoured blackmail collection that supposedly lead to Jon Gruden's exit in disgrace wasn't enough (Bonus crappiness - cheerleader photos were leaked in that disclosure).
In November of 2022, shortly after the scope of financial improprieties came under Federal investigation, Dan Synder hired Bank of America to explore the potential sale of the team, beginning the end of the Dan Synder era of Washington Football.
New into the ownership, there's still plenty of time for Harris to establish his reputation as a football owner, but he's already talking about bringing the team back to it's glory days, in all of it's "glory"
Another co-owner has flatly stated that the old team name is not on the table for any rebranding efforts
With the passing of Dan Synder from the league, it seems that Jimmy Haslam currently holds the title of worst owner for his pursuit and signing of Deshaun Watson despite all of the sexual assault allegations. (far from Haslam's only bad behavior)
And don't feel too bad for Dan Synder for being forced out of the league. He bought the Washington Football Team for $800 million and sold it to Harris for a tidy sum of $6.05 billion
As for the team, they won their first game against the Arizone Cardinals, but that's of questionable barometer value with the Cardinals in full season tank mode.
Synder has a long and loud history of being terrible, even by NFL standards. From running the worst ranked stadium in the NFL or being the first to charge fans to watch pre-season practices or maybe turning their cheerleaders into nude models and forced escorts (the workplace culture later lead to a $10M fine and Dan Synder stepping down temporarily) or trying to sue the local alternative for their coverage of his misdeeds or.... the big one - the name.
The team, founded in Boston in 1932 as the Braves, adopted their long lived moniker before moving to Washington DC in 1937. Despite decades of calls for the name to be changed, Dan Synder emphatically said the name would never change. They trotted out polling showing that Native Americans didn't find the name offensive (of questioned value) and used money to garner native support. Then in the wake of the George Floyd protests and multiple sponsors pulling funding from the team, the Washington team became "The Washington Football Team". The WFT name lasted for two years before the team rebranded as the Washington Commanders (with sports writers gleefuly adopting the shortened "Washington Commies" nickname)
But ultimately, despite all of this - what forced Synder's hand was the classic bad move of a racketeer - skimming the take from his fellow owners. Even his rumoured blackmail collection that supposedly lead to Jon Gruden's exit in disgrace wasn't enough (Bonus crappiness - cheerleader photos were leaked in that disclosure).
In November of 2022, shortly after the scope of financial improprieties came under Federal investigation, Dan Synder hired Bank of America to explore the potential sale of the team, beginning the end of the Dan Synder era of Washington Football.
New into the ownership, there's still plenty of time for Harris to establish his reputation as a football owner, but he's already talking about bringing the team back to it's glory days, in all of it's "glory"
"The Commanders were once the No. 1 franchise in the NFL back when they were the R******* -- not the Dallas Cowboys,"
Another co-owner has flatly stated that the old team name is not on the table for any rebranding efforts
With the passing of Dan Synder from the league, it seems that Jimmy Haslam currently holds the title of worst owner for his pursuit and signing of Deshaun Watson despite all of the sexual assault allegations. (far from Haslam's only bad behavior)
And don't feel too bad for Dan Synder for being forced out of the league. He bought the Washington Football Team for $800 million and sold it to Harris for a tidy sum of $6.05 billion
As for the team, they won their first game against the Arizone Cardinals, but that's of questionable barometer value with the Cardinals in full season tank mode.
Commercials. It's nothing but commercials.
posted by underavenue at 4:02 PM on September 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by underavenue at 4:02 PM on September 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Always has been. I watch so many games compressed it’s not funny.
Also wanted to make it clear, the average NFL owner is a monster. Dan Synder takes the cake though and it still took him skimming from his fellow monsters to get the boot.
posted by drewbage1847 at 4:12 PM on September 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Also wanted to make it clear, the average NFL owner is a monster. Dan Synder takes the cake though and it still took him skimming from his fellow monsters to get the boot.
posted by drewbage1847 at 4:12 PM on September 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
EFL's Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace are in the Premier League.
posted by biffa at 4:31 PM on September 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Crystal Palace are in the Premier League.
posted by biffa at 4:31 PM on September 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Sports YouTuber UrinatingTree has a good overview of how horrible Snyder is as a business owner, a team owner, and generally as a human being.
posted by NoxAeternum at 4:39 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by NoxAeternum at 4:39 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Crystal Palace, what a cool name. Go Nottingham Forest! Go Hibernian!
A bad start to this season for both my Chiefs and my Seahawks.
In spite of the terrible ownerships, and head injuries and such. It is just such an intricate game. So much going on. Sigh,,, I know I should hate it, but it is just so crazy complex. Good for Daniel Snyder to be gone. Good for Donald Sterling to be gone from the NBA. But, we are talking about billionaires here, so you take the punishments you can get.
posted by Windopaene at 4:43 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
A bad start to this season for both my Chiefs and my Seahawks.
In spite of the terrible ownerships, and head injuries and such. It is just such an intricate game. So much going on. Sigh,,, I know I should hate it, but it is just so crazy complex. Good for Daniel Snyder to be gone. Good for Donald Sterling to be gone from the NBA. But, we are talking about billionaires here, so you take the punishments you can get.
posted by Windopaene at 4:43 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
I was all for renaming the Washington football team, but I hate the new uniforms. The classic burgundy and gold unis were one of the best in the league.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:58 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 4:58 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am a Vikings fan and today was a perfect reminder of why I should concentrate on my other interests.
posted by Ber at 5:14 PM on September 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Ber at 5:14 PM on September 10, 2023 [4 favorites]
Jon Bois turned a bunch of us into Vikings fans, and now we can all suffer together.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:44 PM on September 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:44 PM on September 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
I am a Vikings fan and today was a perfect reminder of why I should concentrate on my other interests.
Secret Base just finished their history of the Vikes just in time for the season!
posted by NoxAeternum at 5:44 PM on September 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Secret Base just finished their history of the Vikes just in time for the season!
posted by NoxAeternum at 5:44 PM on September 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm trying to embrace Bud Grant's philosophy of living with the bounce of the ball. Yesterday's game was a test.
Sloppy play and too many mistakes means losing a winnable game. For the Vikings, that's Meets Expectations.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:33 AM on September 11, 2023
Sloppy play and too many mistakes means losing a winnable game. For the Vikings, that's Meets Expectations.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:33 AM on September 11, 2023
As a Green Bay Packers fan dating back to the days when we were overjoyed to see Randy Wright replaced by Don Majkowski--and more recently an "owner"--I am happy to report that the Chicago Bears still suck.
posted by slkinsey at 10:16 AM on September 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by slkinsey at 10:16 AM on September 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
LOL, Crystal Palace - Live im Maschinenhaus Berlin 2014" Breathe" - YouTube. Not where I know the name from.
I watch a good bit of American Pointy Sports Ball, but couldn't tell you anything much about anything about anyone other that thinking "that's gonna be a flag", don't even know the positions.
Really, is it surprising that owners/players/coaches etc. who make several million a year can turn out awful people.... Not really. Seek and Ye shall Find.
posted by zengargoyle at 1:19 PM on September 11, 2023
I watch a good bit of American Pointy Sports Ball, but couldn't tell you anything much about anything about anyone other that thinking "that's gonna be a flag", don't even know the positions.
Really, is it surprising that owners/players/coaches etc. who make several million a year can turn out awful people.... Not really. Seek and Ye shall Find.
posted by zengargoyle at 1:19 PM on September 11, 2023
My beloved Browns handily beat the Bengals yesterday. I half listened to the game, only paying attention when I heard screams of delight from my neighbors.
posted by kathrynm at 5:38 PM on September 11, 2023
posted by kathrynm at 5:38 PM on September 11, 2023
No. No, I am not.
posted by non canadian guy at 7:23 PM on September 11, 2023
posted by non canadian guy at 7:23 PM on September 11, 2023
Secret Base just finished their history of the Vikes just in time for the season!
I pretty much tuned out the NFL quite a few years ago, but that Secret Base series on the Vikings was so good! Worth the time.
posted by nubs at 6:21 AM on September 12, 2023
I pretty much tuned out the NFL quite a few years ago, but that Secret Base series on the Vikings was so good! Worth the time.
posted by nubs at 6:21 AM on September 12, 2023
And good lord did we get a reminder that God hates the New York Jets last night.
Josh Allen had more completions to the Jets than Aaron Rodgers did.
posted by drewbage1847 at 8:59 AM on September 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Josh Allen had more completions to the Jets than Aaron Rodgers did.
posted by drewbage1847 at 8:59 AM on September 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Complicated feelings about Rogers, but that is really sucky.
posted by nubs at 10:07 AM on September 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 10:07 AM on September 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Commercials. It's nothing but commercials.
I watch recorded games--never live--on my Tivo. There are no commercials, only blipverts.
posted by neuron at 11:49 AM on September 12, 2023
I watch recorded games--never live--on my Tivo. There are no commercials, only blipverts.
posted by neuron at 11:49 AM on September 12, 2023
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posted by cmfletcher at 3:35 PM on September 10, 2023 [1 favorite]