SEX, VIOLENCE AND THE NFL

I wish I did not like the game of football so much. I love watching the games but the culture of the NFL is making me sick. Money talks, and TV money is big money.The Seattle Seahawks 41-36 upset win over the New Orleans Saints earned the highest TV rating in over two decades for a wild card game, an 18.3 rating with a 33 share, up 8% from last year's equivalent wild card game. Similarly, the Jets-Colts 17-16 last second victory earned the highest rating since 2002.

Obviously, the NFL is doing well as a business, and doesn't want to anything to interfere with this money making machine. Sex and violence are marketed carefully to attract a TV audience without going over the top. There are pole dancing cheerleaders but they keep their clothes on. While there have been many fines, there is yet to be a suspension for any violent hit for the entire 2010 season. Sex and violence translate into significant TV ratings.

But then there are those players who push the limits of the sex and violence culture. Brett Favre is a good example. Nearly two years after texting a Jets hostess, Jen Sterger, he is supposedly investigated by the NFL for sexual behavior that is inconsistent with the standards set by the NFL for their players. Yeah, right. First, it takes two years to discover. Then the NFL investigation takes several months and doesn't get disclosed until the last week of the season. Notice Brett is not suspended which would potentially reduce the TV ratings for a popular player with a high TV draw. Then, the NFL makes itself look good by fining him $50,000 for interfering with the investigation.

But now for the most disgusting part, it turns out Jen Sterger wasn't the only one who had to put up with Brett's predatory sexual behavior. Two part-time massage therapists who worked for the New York Jets, Christina Scavo and Shannon O'Toole, were fired from their jobs after also complaining about receiving sexually suggestive text messages from Brett. They have sued Brett for unspecified damages. Don't expect to hear much about this case in the future. Brett will pay enough money to make this go away long before it goes to court and interferes with his TV popularity. The NFL will make sure of it. It just would not look good on TV.