Sport or Scam?

The NFL as Entertainment

Throughout the past several years, NFL fans have been asking one question: is the League a fraud? This inquiry has risen once again following the past three major games (Texans vs. Chiefs, Commanders vs. Eagles, and Bills vs. Chiefs). While this has likely been going on since Tom Brady’s days, these particular games have drawn more attention. 

But, you may ask, isn’t the NFL a registered sport? The answer to this is tricky. While American Football is technically a sport in all the right ways, the NFL itself is registered as entertainment. This means that while it is shown to be an athletic event, it is not a sport in the way College Football is shown to be. It’s purely entertainment. In fact, since it is registered as such, the administration can legally rig games. There are other “sports” that are known worldwide to be rigged. The WWE, which has become more fake as time has gone by, is a good example. 

Is this the case with American Football?

Well, there is no definitive answer. However, recent matchups have shown the referees blatantly missing calls or even fabricating ghost flags. Over the past three games, there have been a total of 37 penalties, a staggering statistic. More than that, the three losing teams have lost a total of 177 yards for 23 flags (the winning teams combined have only lost 80 yards). Many of these penalties have come at times when the game is on the line. It certainly appears as if the refs are assisting the winning teams, helping them reach their final goal: the Super Bowl in New Orleans. 

It doesn’t come down to just the games themselves. There are other aspects as to why the games might be rigged. Travis Kelce, tight end on the Kansas City Chiefs, is known far and wide for dating pop star Taylor Swift. Viewership for the league has increased massively since the two started dating. This is entertainment to Swift’s fans. They want to see their favorite singer alongside her boyfriend. They want another Super Bowl win for the couple. And speaking of Kelce, this demonstrates why he was displayed all over the NFL’s social media page following the win over the Buffalo Bills, kissing his girlfriend, seemingly getting praise for his contribution to the game. An average viewer might assume that it was because he played well and deserved recognition. 

But not so. 

Kelce had a grand total of 19 receiving yards and two receptions with four targets versus the Bills. So why was he being shown if just a decoy? That’s right, because the NFL is giving a certain demographic what they want. The league wants money, not a fair game. There are a dozen other aspects to the controversy, but maybe another time. But what it comes down to is that the NFL is not a sport in the defined terms. It’s merely entertainment.

By: Adelle Hall