Super Bowl 50 - Ditching The Ugly L

With all of the hype surrounding the Super Bowl, you might have noticed something noticeably different this year. Instead of the traditional Roman numeral to mark the particular year's game, the NFL has chosen to use a plain 'ol "regular" number. In this year's case, it happens to be the number 50.

I never quite got the Roman numeral thing. I guess it looks a little more sophisticated? Or perhaps the numerals are a throwback to ancient Rome in the sense that modern day football players are sometimes viewed as modern day "gladiators"? Whatever the case, I'm glad the NFL is ditching the X's and V's.

Determining which Super Bowl was played in any given year has always been pretty easy for me. The Super Bowl number has always been the same number as my age. If someone talks about Super Bowl 38, I instantly know that I was 38 years old when that game took place. Of course, if someone refers to Super Bowl 38 on paper, it becomes Super Bowl XXXVIII. This usually forces me to convert the antiquated numeral and then mentally reboot the modern number to match my age. That's a lot of wasted brain power, in my opinion.

So, what's the real reason that we're ditching the Roman numeral for this year's big game? It's actually quite simple....the NFL felt that "L" (the Roman numeral for 50) just wasn't very attractive. The creative director of the NFL (who knew?) described the "L" as being a symbol for "loser". He also mentioned that the letter L isn't very symmetrical and that it uses too much negative space. I wonder how much the NFL pays a "creative director" to come up with this stuff.

I don't quite get it. I mean, look at some the past "unattractive" Super Bowl numbers. Take the example that I used earlier, Super Bowl XXXVIII. Doesn't that sound just a little too busy? At how about Super Bowl XL? It sounds more like a shirt size. And look at Super Bowl XXX. Sounds a bit risque to me. I wonder if Jenna Jamison performed the halftime show?

The only other notable entities that use Roman numerals are the Pope and the Olympics. I can almost understand the rationale in these cases since they've both been around for thousand's (or M's) years. But the Super Bowl has only been around since 1966.

Some people criticize those of us who frown on the Roman numerals. They say that it's another example of the "dumbing down" of modern society. It don't see it all like that. Aside from being perhaps more aesthetically pleasing, what purpose do Roman numerals have in today's world? Would you write a check for the amount of XXXVIII dollars? Can you imagine writing today's date as II/VI/MMXVI??

So, while the number 50 is getting a workout in the never ending Super Bowl promotions, unfortunately, the traditional numbers will be put back on the shelf next year. The NFL will be bringing back the Roman numerals in Super Bowl 51. Oh excuse me, I meant to say Super Bowl LI. Agghhh..

kw

The Video That Killed The Football Star

Right on the heels of the Raven's disappointing loss in their season opener yesterday, fans were greeted with the newly leaked video of Ray Rice knocking his girlfriend unconscious inside of a casino elevator. This new video has been making it's rounds through the media networks all day and has left Ravens fans feeling betrayed.

When we first learned of Rice's infamous incident, many fans were reluctant to judge the "anti-bullying" advocate until they saw the whole picture. Well. they have now been presented with the whole picture and it's caused quite a stir on the social media sites. From the things that I've read today, Ray Rice's name is now mud. Even seasoned excuse-makers are having a hard time defending Rice after this...

It's easy to overlook a lot of things. However, the image of a man, especially a man that plays professional football, knocking a woman unconscious is something that sticks with you for a while. And although there's no other photographic evidence (that we know of), many believe that Rice is no rookie when it comes to beating on girls. The casual way that he pulls his finance's limp body out of the elevator doesn't help this perception. It was a sick image that will likely follow Rice for the rest of his life.

(On a side note, I can't help but think, "How stupid was Ray Rice?" He was in a casino where every square inch is under video surveillance. Did he actually think that he would get away with this. That's the problem, he didn't think at all...)

As the negative reactions reached a boiling point this afternoon, the Ravens officially announced that they were parting ways with their troubled running back. Ray Rice has officially left the building (or at least M&T Stadium). His future, at this point, is uncertain. Will another NFL gamble on him and give him a second chance sometime down the road? I don't know, maybe. But for the time being, Rice is a definitely a four-letter word around the NFL.

Compounding things for Rice, the NFL announced that they were suspending him indefinitely. This comes after they initially suspended him for two games. And the NFL recently announced that any future wife-beatings would result in a six-game suspension for the first offense and a life-time ban for any additional incidents. The NFL has been heavily criticized for the original two-game suspension which most people viewed as a slap on the wrist. So, when the video surfaced today, they were almost forced to react quickly and more harshly.

I know there will be a few who will defend Rice in some twisted way. To those people, let me ask you this...If that were your sister or daughter on the receiving end of that uppercut, would you still feel the same way? Sorry folks, there's no defending this one.

So, kids let this be a lesson on how quickly your life can change by one stupid decision. In a flash, Ray Rice went from the playful, fun-loving guy who was active in the community to the banished poster boy of domestic violence. Most of the people who once proudly wore his jersey to Ravens games will now be using those jerseys for port-o-pot doormats at the next tailgating party.

It's definitely been an eventful day for Ravens fans. And for all the wrong reasons.....

kw

The NFL's Latest Black Eye

Wow! That sure didn't take long.....

Just a few days after the NFL announced harsher penalties for domestic violence incidents, 49er's defensive end, Ray McDonald, was arrested for roughing up his pregnant girlfriend. Sounds like a real Teddy Bear of a guy, huh?

The NFL's new penalties surrounding domestic violence translates into a 6-game suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second. This decision, of course, came on the heels of the slap on the wrist that was given to Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice.

Rice, attempting to become Baltimore's greatest knock-out artist since Hasim Rahman, was arrested earlier this year for punching his girlfriend's lights out in an Atlantic City casino. The image of Rice dragging his girlfriend's limp, unconscious body out of an elevator instantly became a source of embarrassment to the Ravens and their fans. The NFL was heavily criticized when they gave a Rice a relatively light suspension of only two games. And since the Ravens play their second game on a Thursday night the suspension amounts to less than a week.

Now, the thing that goes through my mind is, "Why do these guys keep getting into these situations?"

Some people will attempt to downplay these "rare occurrences" and argue that the NFL is actually below the national average for domestic violence instances. While this might be true, I guess I expect a little better behavior from guys that are supposed to be disciplined professionals. Plus, most of these guys are very large and tremendously strong. Just the thought of one of them punching a woman is a bit disturbing.

How many other occupations have to outline the disciplinary actions for domestic abuse? I have been in the workforce since I was a teenager and I can't remember any of my employers ever saying "Just to let you know, if you hit a woman, you're going get six weeks off without pay. And if you do it a second time, we will have no choice but to let you go."

And let's face it, if you got arrested for some of these things, your career would likely be in immediate jeopardy without an option for a second chance. The NFL might have to take that approach before long.....

kw