Worst Day Ever

Daylight Savings Time sucks.

That is all.
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Well, OK, that's not ALL.  I also wanted to comment on the ongoing outrage about NFL "bounties."

In case you haven't heard, controversy erupted a couple of weeks ago when it was revealed that Gregg Williams, the former defensive coordinatpr of the New Orleans Saints, encouraged a bounty system, whereby players would receive financial rewards--sometimes running into the thousands of dollars--if they tackled opposing players so hard that these folks had to leave the game.  The outrage arises from the fact that (A) players were being encouraged to cause injuries and (B) this behavior was encouraged by the team's management.

Frankly, there has always been something of a "Shocked! Shocked!" quality to this whole thing.  Yes, it's somewhat distasteful to think that players involved in what is, after all, a game, are not simply playing to win but to physically injure their competition.  But let's face it: Football is an inherently violent game.  When a defensive player tackles a quarterback or any other offensive player, he is trying to make sure that the offensive player goes down.  On every play, therefore, the nature of the game calls for violent, potentially bone-shattering or concussion-inducing collisions--and if players want to stay in the NFL, they know that they must make full contact at all times.  In other words, does a bounty system--which most players have admitted exist in every NFL locker room--truly lead to more ferocious contact? 

A playoff game between the Saints and the Vikings, wherein Viking quarterback Brett Favre was repeatedly pummeled, has become Exhibit A in the bounty controversy.  But had no such system existed, do people think the Saints defenders would have just gently lowered Favre to the Superdome turf?  Indeed, the very fact that the controversy only erupted when people found out about the existence of the bounties proves how much a standard part of the game such violence is.

Rules should--and do--exist to protect players from exceptionally violent contact, rules outlawing blows to the head and certain low tackles.  Outlawing "bounties" is somewhat pointless.  Even if management forswears such behavior, the players themselves will continue the practice informally.  It no more undermines the integrity of the game than high-fives, and it is arguable less offensive than endzone dances.