Seriously, this robot has to go. Is there any moron out there who watches the Sunday Fox NFL broadcasts that thinks, “Man, the NFL just wouldn’t be the same without this dancing robot.” Sadly, I can only assume that there is.
The aspect of the graphic that irks me the most is perhaps that the NFL allows the thing to go on. I’m no Media Law professor, but Fox obviously has a contractual agreement with the league itself to broadcast games. And while I’m sure the league grants it’s TV outlets creative leeway on how they produce and direct their broadcasts, doesn’t this just really p*ss off Roger Goodell?
This robot is imitating end-zone celebrations that would be flagged every time for taunting or excessive celebration if performed by a player. How is that okay? Would Goodell be just fine with the robot imitating, say, an illegal crackback block? Or how about spearing a QB robot in the back? Or for that matter, how about a dive at the knees of a QB robot, followed by a nauseating and totally classless hogtie sack dance? All of these actions would incur the same penalty as what the robot is doing.
An open plea to Roger Goodell: Please, sir – in your infinite wisdom and swift-judgment of disciplinary issues, I implore you to direct the Fox Broadcasting Network to can this graphic. I cannot believe that its absence from my TV screen every Sunday will in some way diminish the awesome power of the sport you preside over. Furthermore, Fox already punishes its viewers enough with the 17 jock-sniffing ex-players it crams into it’s pregame studio to bellow with laughter at each other’s jockular hilarity.
Thank you, Mr. Goodell. And perhaps while you’re at it, you could also have NBC ditch the country-girl music videos that we are subjected to prior to Sunday evening broadcasts. It is my understanding that those videos were test-marketed on captured Iraqi insurgents circa 2004-2006.
contact: nick.thomas@flyingpigskin.com
