As the clock ticks down to an impending NFL lockout, Joe Fan sits on the sidelines, cursing the billionaire owners and the millionaire players.
As he worries about paying his mortgage and juggles finances to pay this month’s utility bill, Joe Fan wonders why the owners and players can’t find a civil way to divide an $8 billion pie.
What else can Joe Fan do?
As it turns out, Joe Fan has an organized, vocal ally on his side.
Tuesday, the Sports Fan Coalition sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, requesting that its representatives be present at all future negotiating sessions.
The Sports Fan Coalition is not asking for a voice in the talks, but it does want a presence.
“On behalf of NFL fans everywhere, we are requesting that the leadership of Sports Fans Coalition be present for future negotiating sessions between the NFL and the NFL Players Association until such time as a new collective bargaining agreement is reached,” the letter reads.
It continues: “We are not asking for a seat at the negotiating table — although we believe fans deserve one — but merely to be present in the room so that we may inform fans across the country about the state of ongoing negotiations and ensure that progress is being made towards an agreement that ensures a central consideration of fans.”
The chances of this sports fans advocacy group getting a seat at the table is about as likely as the return of $2 beers and $1 hotdogs at the stadium. But I applaud the Sports Fan Coalition for its efforts, its public pressure and its reminder to owners and players that fans have a stake in the negotiations too.
The Sports Fan Coalition is a nonprofit group formed in 2009 and based in Washington. It is fighting to give fans a voice on issues like media blackouts, escalating ticket prices, public stadium construction and a college football playoff system.
The major cause right now, of course, is trying to save the 2011 NFL season. There is a asking fans to sign up to “Save Next Season.”
Tuesday’s letter, sent by SFC’s executive director, Brian Frederick, and its chairman, David Goodfriend, was a proactive move. It argues that fans should be able to witness the labor proceedings unfold.
“As fans and taxpayers, we have invested over $6.5 billion around the country on NFL stadiums, in addition to the billions we have spent on tickets and NFL merchandise,” they wrote. “We have transformed our urban centers with the promise that new stadiums would serve as an economic boon to the surrounding community. A work stoppage would be devastating to many cities, including local workers and businesses.
“The NFL and other professional sports leagues also enjoy an exemption from federal antitrust statutes with respect to negotiating broadcast rights, which has enabled the owners and players to make significant revenues.
“If the NFL and NFLPA cannot come to an agreement and a devastating work stoppage is the result, the public has a right to know why.”
As I said, I seriously doubt that a third party will be invited to the NFL table. News will continue to be leaked to benefit one side or the other. The public relations war, led by Goodell and his NFL talking heads, will continue.
But at least the Sports Fan Coalition is raising a voice, for the good of the fans, for the good of the game.
Trivia time
When was the last time a labor dispute disrupted an NFL season?
Polling
In a Denver Post Broncos poll created on the day Shannon Sharpe was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we asked fans who should be the next Bronco inducted into Canton. The votes poured in — more than 18,600 at last count — and the big winner was running back Terrell Davis. He’s garnered more than 35 percent of the vote. Safety Steve Atwater (19.4 percent) is a distant second.
Reader’s rant
“If Champ wants a championship on his resume, he won’t get it playing for the Broncos. He should sign his next contract with a team that has a legitimate chance of winning the Super Bowl.
“Champ, you deserve a ring, sign with another team and don’t waste any more time playing with Denver … if you stay with the Broncos, you will regret your decision when you retire in a few years.
“Don’t listen to all of the selfish people who want you to stay, do what’s best for you Champ.”
— Dinker, posting on the story about the
In case you missed it
The NFL continues to try and put a happy face on the Super Bowl seating fiasco.
League spokesman told The Associated Press Tuesday that the league emailed all the fans to offer either $5,000 or reimbursement for “actual documented” Super Bowl expenses, whichever figure is higher.
The latest offer is the third and most valuable option for fans who had tickets but no seats in Cowboys Stadium for Green Bay’s 31-25 victory against Pittsburgh on Feb. 6.
According to McCarthy, the NFL decided to extend another offer after Goodell talked to fans over the past week.
The original offer was for $2,400 — three times the face value of the affected seats — and a ticket to next year’s Super Bowl. Next, the NFL added a second option of a ticket to any future Super Bowl plus airfare and hotel costs.
Trivia answer
In 1987, the NFL players struck for 24 days. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4-6 were played with replacement players. The Broncos won the AFC title, the Redskins won the AFC title. The Redskins beat the Broncos … ouch … 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com
