An open letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Dear Commissioner Goodell,
I am writing this letter as a concerned parent.  I am not sure when or why the NFL decided to make the Superbowl an adults only program, but I, like many other parents out there, am outraged.  It has become increasingly difficult over the years to watch it with my son, who is 6.  You see, children should be able to watch a football game without being subjected to half naked women (and men) shaking their "booties" and making inappropriate gestures.  After the Janet Jackson fiasco, the NFL made excuses and apologized, yet we all knew what you were thinking, and that was "ratings gold".  Nevertheless, you tucked your tail between your legs at the mercy of the FCC and had some relatively mild halftime performances for a few years.  Then came last year, and as I watched Nicki Minaj, a singer I had never even heard of, spread her legs and stick up her middle finger.  I hoped I could quickly usher my son out of the room.  This year, we were treated to Beyonce dancing in an outfit that could only be described as a stripper's castoff, licking her lips and finger and spreading her legs (her child must be so proud).
To be frank, I am not a prude, nor am I part of some extreme religious cult.   I just think that I should be able to allow my son to watch a football game without having to shield his eyes, or explain why that lady on stage is acting that way.  Nor should I have to explain why his favorite NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick, is in that weird, gross commercial, or why that man is in his underwear on TV.

"Sex sells" you will inevitably reply.  That would be cute if it were accurate.  The truth is that women account for 85% of the spending power in the United States, and many of us are mothers.  Don't think for a second that we don't take these things into consideration when buying, oh say, NFL tickets.  Look at the commercials that have garnered the most attention from last night: Budweiser's Clydesdales ad and Chrysler's God Made Farmers.  That alone should tell you what sells, and it is certainly not the atrocious slurping sounds of a model making out with a "nerd".

Take a look at record sales.  George Strait has sold over 68 million albums.  Beyonce has sold just 13 million.  For those of you who may say that he has been around longer, he has sold 14.5 million just in the time since she went solo.  If that alone doesn't prove that mainstream Americans appreciate talent even when it isn't wrapped up in spandex and fishnets, nothing will.

You see, commissioner, you can try to suck up to parents all you want with your "play60" and children's programs, but we see right through you.  You can't advocate for children, while at the same time making it impossible for them to watch the biggest game of the year.  If the NFL had followed the TV Parental guidelines, the game would have been rated TV14, for intense sexual situations.  But you don't care.  Funny that you don't , since those of us with the actual purchasing power in this country will keep that in mind.  Hope those teenagers you impressed with your halftime show pay the bills.

Dear Commissioner Goodell,
I am writing this letter as a concerned parent.  I am not sure when or why the NFL decided to make the Superbowl an adults only program, but I, like many other parents out there, am outraged.  It has become increasingly difficult over the years to watch it with my son, who is 6.  You see, children should be able to watch a football game without being subjected to half naked women (and men) shaking their "booties" and making inappropriate gestures.  After the Janet Jackson fiasco, the NFL made excuses and apologized, yet we all knew what you were thinking, and that was "ratings gold".  Nevertheless, you tucked your tail between your legs at the mercy of the FCC and had some relatively mild halftime performances for a few years.  Then came last year, and as I watched Nicki Minaj, a singer I had never even heard of, spread her legs and stick up her middle finger.  I hoped I could quickly usher my son out of the room.  This year, we were treated to Beyonce dancing in an outfit that could only be described as a stripper's castoff, licking her lips and finger and spreading her legs (her child must be so proud).
To be frank, I am not a prude, nor am I part of some extreme religious cult.   I just think that I should be able to allow my son to watch a football game without having to shield his eyes, or explain why that lady on stage is acting that way.  Nor should I have to explain why his favorite NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick, is in that weird, gross commercial, or why that man is in his underwear on TV.

"Sex sells" you will inevitably reply.  That would be cute if it were accurate.  The truth is that women account for 85% of the spending power in the United States, and many of us are mothers.  Don't think for a second that we don't take these things into consideration when buying, oh say, NFL tickets.  Look at the commercials that have garnered the most attention from last night: Budweiser's Clydesdales ad and Chrysler's God Made Farmers.  That alone should tell you what sells, and it is certainly not the atrocious slurping sounds of a model making out with a "nerd".

Take a look at record sales.  George Strait has sold over 68 million albums.  Beyonce has sold just 13 million.  For those of you who may say that he has been around longer, he has sold 14.5 million just in the time since she went solo.  If that alone doesn't prove that mainstream Americans appreciate talent even when it isn't wrapped up in spandex and fishnets, nothing will.

You see, commissioner, you can try to suck up to parents all you want with your "play60" and children's programs, but we see right through you.  You can't advocate for children, while at the same time making it impossible for them to watch the biggest game of the year.  If the NFL had followed the TV Parental guidelines, the game would have been rated TV14, for intense sexual situations.  But you don't care.  Funny that you don't , since those of us with the actual purchasing power in this country will keep that in mind.  Hope those teenagers you impressed with your halftime show pay the bills.