I was surprised to hear that the preseason game on Saturday night August 15 between my hometown San Diego Chargers and visiting Seattle Seahawks had become a victim of the National Football League’s ‘blackout policy’. Not sold is the reason given. There will be more to come of all indications due to the tough economic times we are in. The NFL cites its policy of providing better television games with a large audience.

Swill! The real reason is old greed. The goal of the NFL is to punish the local public if they do not show enough loyalty to buy all the tickets to an NFL game, exhibition season or not! (The NFL has published guidance that these games should be referred to by all broadcasters and people in the media as ‘preseason’ games and not the truest description of them as ‘exhibition’ football where they are rarely seen. to regular players. tryouts’ for rookies and unsigned free agents, pricey for what you pay to watch, a ‘real’ soccer game).

The NFL policy on televising local games without tickets being sold out reads as follows: “To ensure the ability of an NFL club to sell all of its game tickets and make televised games more attractive For viewers through the presence of sold-out crowds, the following policy is observed by the NFL: In order for a home game to air locally on the franchise market and on any blocking secondary market (s), the game must be sold out 72 hours before kickoff. If the game does not sell out before the 72 hour limit, both the local franchise market and the secondary markets of the transport network will issue an alternative game. “

There was a time when season ticket buyers received these “exhibition” type games at no cost as a reward for purchasing a package of season tickets. Not anymore, as these loyal fans must also purchase, at full price, each team’s two ‘preseason’ home games as part of the deal. This equates to tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue for the NFL.

Jim Steeg, a San Diego Charger front office official, explains the slowdown in ticket sales in general and the preseason dilemma as an economic problem, vice versa, because of the lack of fan enthusiasm for the game. “I think we are just not immune to that,” Steeg said. “We’re sitting here in San Diego, with the US economy, the California economy, the housing bubble, all those kinds of things where we have the eye of the storm here. That’s really what it comes down to.”

The NFL is making an egregious public relations mistake by enforcing this policy in these tough economic times where many are suffering in terms of money and simply cannot afford the hefty prices now being asked for professional football tickets. The reality is that there are fiscal priorities in today’s world.

But since when was the NFL considerate of the fans who support them? This spring, amid the devastating news of the economic collapse here at home, the NFL was seriously considering outsourcing the Super Bowl to London in the near future. That is, until word got out about this outpouring of uncontrolled gluttony to the public that caused such an uproar that it forced the NFL to back down on such a stupid idea.

The NFL, as recently as last weekend in Detroit, has refused to back down from its greed-based stance when Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will not alter its blackout policy. Is this guy, the very perpetrator of the offshore Super Bowl fiasco, for real or has he become immune to the country’s hardships, especially the plight of the workers who provide most of the purchasing power to sell the games? of the NFL?

Has greed overcome old-fashioned common sense and decency? It seems that Goodell’s intentions mirror those of Wall Street moguls who grant bonuses and who are oblivious to economic fair play.

Let me be bold enough to offer this advice to Goodell and his self-indulgent staff: Consider the times they are in our country, where millions are unemployed, struggling with long-term financial difficulties paying their mortgage and other urgent bills like putting food on the table. for your family, and recognize that you may need to consider these factors before buying expensive, inflated and overpriced football tickets. Announce in no uncertain terms, unequivocally, that the blackout policy is being suspended for this season in consideration of financially affected fans who have loyally and financially made the NFL successful in the past. Announce that your support has been appreciated as the NFL recognizes the difficult situation they are in and will not scold them for the opportunity to see their home team on television, even if they cannot go to the game for monetary reasons. Give fans an NFL ‘rescue’ at least this season; the NFL owes it to him.

And guess what? I’m willing to bet that fans will be so grateful in recognition of this gracious gesture that they can go buy some tickets they might not otherwise have – a reward for knowledge of NFL public relations. Try it, Goodell. You will be pleasantly surprised at the positive results.

If you are a fool at NFL corporate headquarters, seemingly unaware of the impudence of your actions in light of the times, continuing your greedy ways of blocking home games on television, you will be equally surprised by the adverse impact that it will be more than compensated. any ticket sales you haven’t had. No one is more cruel and vindictive than an underappreciated soccer fan. Nobody!