My advice to the regular refs is to swallow your pride and settle (ASAP!) before you are not only permanently replaced but completely forgotten.
(“NFL: Replacement Refs … and the Call,” The iPINIONS Journal, 2012)
In the above-quoted commentary I presented a clearly rational case for the NFL to stick with the replacement refs by pointing out, inter alia, that much of the criticism of them was being fueled by mob passion masquerading as fan outrage.
But, evidently, I did not fully appreciate the impact a mutinous mob (even in the Twitterverse) could have on rigid businessmen (as opposed to the impact mobs routinely have on spineless politicians).
Because only mob rule explains the irrational way the NFL folded like a cheap suit yesterday and gave the regular refs practically everything they were demanding – most notably in terms of pension benefits and pay rises.
Indeed, you know insane fans are ruling the league when no less an authority than legendary sportscaster Warner Wolf proclaims that the only reason the commissioner and owners caved in is that they feared Cheeseheads in Green Bay would inflict bodily harm on replacement refs if they showed up to call their home game on Sunday. It is telling, if not troubling, that Wolf proclaimed this repeatedly – without any hint of dismay or disgust – on this morning’s edition of the IMUS in the Morning program on Fox News.
But, frankly, I don’t see how this outcome is any different from newspaper editors caving in (by not publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad) because they fear Islamic fanatics might do bodily harm to their cartoonists.
In any case, the NFL has been so spooked by what the commissioner described, disingenuously, as fan passion that regular refs will be returning to call tonight’s game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.
But mark my words, before the last game ends on Sunday, these same passionate fans will be complaining about the bad calls their now saintly regular refs made….