OT: Pro Sports Net Negative Favorability
For the first time Gallup's polling has shown that Pro-Sports has a net negative favorability.
30% approve of pro-sports, 29% are neutral, and 40% disapprove for a net -10%. Last year's poll showed that pro-sports had a +20% favorability, which means that net favorability has dropped 30% from 2019.
A lot of people are stressed out and get upset easier with everything going on in 2020.
A lot of people got use to not watching sports during the shutdown, but that doesn't necessarily make people start to disapprove of pro-sports.
September 11th, 2020 at 8:59 AM ^
I don't get it.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:06 AM ^
Ask your gf she'll explain
September 11th, 2020 at 9:24 AM ^
He doesn't have a gf. He has a "sparty crush" he has been trying to lasso and reign in for years.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:36 AM ^
I've moved on from her.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:42 AM ^
There are plenty of mares on the ranch.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:44 AM ^
His gf was a horse? That makes sense.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:47 AM ^
No, she was real.
I had a couple of classes with her back in HS, and that's probably where I became interested in her.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:04 AM ^
Was this HS in East Lansing?
September 11th, 2020 at 11:42 AM ^
On the west side of the state.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:28 AM ^
I recognize the sarcasm, but... The main thing to "get" is that millions (billions?) of dollars are at stake. Relatively few people watch golf, but the demographic that does watch tends to be wealthy. So sponsors line up to advertise. A significant distaste for other pro sports will significantly throttle the money pipeline. Whether it's BLM or lack of fans in the stands or whatever, the institution cannot perpetuate if the moneyed masses decide not to tune in.
September 11th, 2020 at 3:24 PM ^
I understand your point, but I think the fact that Arrowhead was filled with 16,000 people, many of whom were booing during the players' kneeling, counters your point. I'm willing to bet the entire stadium would have been filled if that was allowed. It's easy to vote in a poll like this but still watch the games. So, I think the "moneyed masses" are tuning in, but many are still stating publicly that they won't.
September 12th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
Maybe telling 68% of the population/viewer pool that they are racist 24/7 because a rapist ran from the police and got shot assaulting a police officer while holding a knife isn't such a good business model.
Its almost like people resent being told they are at fault for the stupid decisions of others and they demonstrate that fact by not watching and buying products.
Just a stab in the dark.
September 12th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
You can just fuck all the way off
September 11th, 2020 at 9:01 AM ^
I believe a lot of people think that they have had enough of the racial justice blm etc.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:08 AM ^
Could be, but a poll came out yesterday saying 62% approve of athletes taking social justice stances, including 56% saying it’s appropriate to kneel, so maybe not.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/10/poll-nfl-anthem-protests/
September 11th, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
It didn't sound like that at the KC game with the booing going on. There has been a strange correlation to the racial divide and this current administration. Just saying.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:38 AM ^
I would expect those who attend opening night during a pandemic are likely to have political views that align with those who think the players should just shut up and play football. In other words, they are not a representative sample.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
As Drew Magary put it on Twitter, "The Venn diagram of fans who would willingly attend a game right now and fans against police brutality is a perfect fucking figure 8."
September 11th, 2020 at 10:01 AM ^
Haven't those people (the shut up and play crowd) stopped watching pro sports? At least that's what they claim. They have been saying for weeks each team will do something prior to the kickoff to show they support social justice for all.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:14 AM ^
Not sure if I'm a representative sample. I suspect not. I'd rather they shut up and play. The whole point of sports is escapism. Dragging drama into sports of whatever kind is annoying. Especially given they are mostly a much of millionaires who couldn't possibly be more detached from reality.
But if you watch ESPN at all it's roughly the male equivalent of People magazine. The drama is unreal, and unwatchable. I don't.
Which is why I've been watching M sports almost exclusively for the last 10 years. But we don't have M sports anymore, now do we?
First year in 10 I'll be planning around Sundays, rather than Saturdays in the fall. It's going to be odd.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:22 AM ^
Totally agree and there is some nuance.
For example, I don't care if the players have opinions etc off the field. But on the field you make it so I have to think about it. I don't want to think about it while watching football and I don't have to watch.
Lastly they really missed the mark when they started protesting the flag. Short of my family there aren't too many things in my life I hold dear more than my patriotism. Today is 9/11, a day we should remember our commonalities not what divides us. Doing anything in protest with the flag is going to turn me off.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:59 AM ^
So exercising ones basic and critical freedoms off the field before the game turns you off? How can people call themselves patriots but not support their fellow citizens right to exercise the freedoms that flag represents?
September 11th, 2020 at 3:02 PM ^
For example, I don't care if the players have opinions etc off the field. But on the field you make it so I have to think about it.
Reading comprehension...
September 11th, 2020 at 12:13 PM ^
I am glad you 2 fans tune in for escapism and expect those athletes to dance for you while ignoring
1. what happens in the real world "off the field"
2. their own health
3. their loved ones health
4. the injustice inflicted on their fellow mankind
just so that you can enjoy your life of blissful ignorance. Golf clap to you both.
I suspect that you will have to find someone else to dance for you in the future, because I just don't see these guys forgetting their grievances any time soon.
September 11th, 2020 at 12:28 PM ^
I do tune in for the escapism. And they are paid very well to play a game most of them enjoy playing for my enjoying that escapism.
If they don't want to be paid to provide that escapism? That's fine by me. I hardly think a bunch of millionaires have grievances I give a crap about.
September 12th, 2020 at 4:28 AM ^
I’m pretty sure the whole point is to make your avenue of escapism uncomfortable. Us fans who deal with racial injustice don’t mind hearing about it with our sports because we can’t escape it, it’s a constant part of our everyday lives. Also, I believe millionaires of every ilk should be using their largest platform to talk about the issues they hold dear, otherwise what’s the point of having a platform to speak from.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:28 AM ^
Two different things here.
While I think more people are starting to agree with and support the BLM/social-justice movement, they may feel the amount of advertisements and messaging is too much?
I found a lot of the pre-game tributes to the social-justice movement very heartfelt and loved seeing players, coaches and teams supporting the cause. But like Tony Dungy said last night, the support means nothing without actions and leadership.
September 11th, 2020 at 1:18 PM ^
Can we make a very clear distinction. There is supporting the players belief that all people regardless of color should be treated fairly and equally by the police (and society in general).
I think that qualified immunity and the resulting free reign over the citizenry (of all races and colors) provided to our government is total bullshit and a massive infringement on our Rights, but promoting an organization that promotes destruction and rioting by putting the name of the organization on the court is something else entirely.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:14 AM ^
This was a poll of all Americans, not specifically sports fans, the demographic that matters. Additionally, many non sports fans and non-mils may not even know the proper protocol for National Anthem participation. Kneeling sounds respectful to them. If they polled sports fans, I am guessing you would find less support.
Not to mention "using their platform" is vague. I support athletes using their platform for issues as long as their platform is their fame and influence while NOT at work. Foundations, charities and causes are great, but not while you are in uniform. I think my position is probably similar to most Americans. Most of us cannot protest or posture while we are at work. Watching athletes do it only reminds us of their privilege.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
Every single American, in any profession, can protest or make a statement while at work. There might be consequences, but you can still do it. And if the cause is important enough to you, you put up with the consequences.
September 11th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
Yeah, and they face potentially huge consequences as well. Colin Kaepernick was booed out of the league and lost tens of millions of dollars for kneeling peacefully before a game. That's privilege?
Jordan famously wouldn't get into politics because "Republicans buy sneakers too". There is much too lose by wading into these waters.
September 11th, 2020 at 3:51 PM ^
He hasn't been hurt financially. He's made more money from Nike since he was "booed out of the league" than he would have as a washed-up backup.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:44 AM ^
That's a depressingly low number for a country that is supposed to be "free". I can understand not agreeing with the reason for kneeling but to think it's not appropriate to exercise one of our most basic and critical freedoms is crazy.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
For each of the following business sectors in the United States, please say whether your overall view of it is very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative or very negative.
Reasons someone might answer "negative" for sports right now (in no particular order):
1) I don't like the social justice message.
2) I don't like that they are playing at all and their irresponsible actions.
3) I don't like the new stupid rules being put in place.
4) I don't like sports right now because I have other things going on.
5) I suddenly resent their millions of dollars.
6) I don't like that I can't go to the stadium.
7) I don't like that some places are allowing people to go to the stadium.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:49 AM ^
I will add that without fans it is a much less engaging experience. Combined with actually important things going on in the real world it suddenly feels like ‘just a game’ that doesn’t really matter. That might move me to neutral but probably not negative.
I don’t think I will get upset if my team loses this year. In the past getting screwed on a call against the packers or OSU that cost the game could feel like such a gut punch. Now I’d probably shrug my shoulders and just say oh well.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:24 AM ^
Stop putting things into perspective.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:51 AM ^
I would add “i am a member of a cult and follow blindly the incoherent, bigoted ranting of my dear leader.”
September 11th, 2020 at 10:26 AM ^
C'mon, Brian isn't that bad.
/s pls don't ban me
September 11th, 2020 at 10:29 AM ^
You missed “the owners are rich careless billionaires”
September 11th, 2020 at 3:30 PM ^
And the commish is a spineless, drooling, greedy as fuk douche who stands for nothing.
September 11th, 2020 at 10:35 AM ^
I'm not certain the "resent their millions of dollars" sentiment is that sudden for those that incline that way.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
*Wrong reply thread
September 11th, 2020 at 9:25 AM ^
You honestly believe that this has one iota to do with racial justice, or the BLM protests? If you're sincere in that belief, then you're just lost.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:31 AM ^
BLM the prima facie statement, or BLM the organization. The two are not the same.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:50 AM ^
In the context of what I replied to, I don't see that the distinction matters.
September 11th, 2020 at 9:58 AM ^
words matter
September 11th, 2020 at 10:42 AM ^
Black words matter?
Non-straight words matter?
Big words matter?
Small words matter?
All words matter?
Oy... this could be a problem. We better lock the thread now to keep everyone safe.
September 11th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
I'm not sure what you're saying here. Can you expound for the simple minded?
September 11th, 2020 at 11:00 AM ^
BLM "the organization?" What organization? Who are the leaders? Where and when do they meet?
September 11th, 2020 at 12:55 PM ^
https://blacklivesmatter.com/