The NFL being an official promoting wing of the US navy is nothing new. From the struggle phrases utilized to the sport itself by analysts and commentators, to the official camo swag, to Gronk promoting insurance coverage just for navy members and their households, the 2 have been arm in arm for many years. It shouldn’t have been a lot of a shock that on their greatest stage, the NFL would flip it as much as 11. Subtlety isn’t the league’s forte.

For the coin toss, the league trotted out its honorary captains, all Pat Tillman Students. And an introductory video pumped the identical message that the league, and initially the federal government, needs us to swallow. We all know that story, about Tillman abandoning his NFL profession to serve within the military, turning into a Ranger, and dying in fight. All of the vested events like to trot him out as every thing that’s proper with the nation and navy and authorities and the way all of them intertwine.

Everybody is aware of the reality about Pat Tillman’s demise

However that story has been thrown out for some time now. Tillman was extra an emblem of revolt, calling the Iraq struggle “fucking unlawful”. He was going to satisfy with Noam Chomsky after he returned. He refused to let the Bush administration use him as a bit of propaganda to spice up approval for a struggle he loathed.

We all know he was killed by pleasant fireplace. We all know the navy and authorities tried to cowl it up, even from Tillman’s circle of relatives. That is the entire story, and the NFL hoped on Sunday evening that we’d all simply neglect. Tillman didn’t need to be a prop in life. We could be positive he wouldn’t both 19 years after his demise.

Whereas actually his bravery and dedication are value remembering, Tillman has change into an emblem of a wayward struggle and bumbling authorities’s use of the navy. Their willingness to show anybody right into a pawn, particularly after their demise once they can’t argue with it. That is what the NFL was so desirous to play into on Sunday evening.

Tillman shouldn’t be erased from the NFL annals, however the entire story ought to be informed. Tillman would have been a greater image for gamers kneeling throughout the league, given how he was an knowledgeable thinker and never afraid to face up for what he believed in, somewhat than the league as soon as once more making an attempt to dry hump the armed forces.

Maybe if the NFL actually revered the troops, it could be asking severe questions on how they’re deployed and guarded. But it surely doesn’t actually, it cares concerning the cash from those that needlessly put them in hurt’s approach. Or co-opt a lifeless one’s story for their very own functions, with the NFL’s support. In some way I doubt they’ll use subsequent yr’s honorary captains to inform that story.

That is gamers deciding

You’re going to spend the subsequent week listening to about how the refs determined the Tremendous Bowl. About the way it isn’t truthful that the “gamers didn’t get to determine the sport.” If in case you have a Philly native in your life (and actually who doesn’t?), you’re going to listen to about it for the subsequent 5 years. Possibly longer. Maybe the one escape would be the heat embrace of demise.

Right here’s the factor although, the gamers did determine. Juju Smith-Schuster beat James Bradberry, and the latter grabbed the previous’s jersey. Smith-Schuster earned his group a name, and he received one. Don’t consider me?

The concept refs in any sport ought to spend the closing minutes of any contest making an attempt to go their whistles by way of their small intestines whereas testing the structure of the stadium as a substitute of the motion on the sector, permitting the gamers merely to have at one another just like the Battle of Stirling has all the time been horseshit. It solely ensures that the perfect gamers can be clutched, grabbed, and held all the way down to the extent of the worst gamers. That’s what we wish. A participant rising above the enormity of the state of affairs to do one thing depressing. Not some punter with the ability to forestall that by executing a flying physique block or cobra clutch that will usually draw a whistle or a flag.

Two gamers determined that the Chiefs ought to get a game-changing penalty. And that’s precisely what they received. That’s justice, even should you’re carrying inexperienced.

And fuck Philly anyway. Possibly the Sixers can full the set of championship barf-ups come June (sadly there’s no hope for the Flyers).