HAS ROGER GONE TOO FAR?

BY MARK HALPERN

Roger Goodell the NFL commissioner has been trying to expand the viewership of the NFL in many different countries. We have seen the NFL play in London with great success, the NFL has had some games in Mexico and Germany, but London has seen the most action. Now this year Rodger and the executive body of the NFL thought lets go to Brazil. ( This may or may not have been decided after watching the Simpsons Brazil episode) Brazil being a very big Soccer country. But Roger and company believe they can get any country to love American Football. Rodger and the NFL arranged for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers play their opening game in Brazil. The idea has been well perceived by a lot but not too soon after the date was booked and plans arranged the NFL had been told that the Eagles and the Packers could not wear the color GREEN because of gang affiliations. Let me repeat myself the Packers whose prime colors are GREEN and yellow and the Eagles whose prime colors are GREEN and white won’t be able to wear their dominate color with the fear of gang violence. Why is this game with these teams being played if there is so much controversy of colors. I understand that timing would be horrible especially for people who have tickets to the game but if the Country’s President is that concerned why did the NFL pick two teams whose primary colors are Green to play? As the plans have been made available that the players planes will arrive separately and teams will enter ARMORED caravans to their hotel where they will be protected by some faction of the Brazilian Military (NOT POLICE). I see a bounty of problems and I truly hope that someone check all the facts before booking two NFL teams into a possible dangerous situation. To compare a recent event that was held we can only expect the same type of problems like Miami had for the soccer final. the Stadium in Miami was destroyed not only to the outside façade but many different internal areas including air ducts, V.I.P. rooms and escalators damaged and destroyed needless to say the security for that event was in no way prepared. After witnessing that disgusting display and disrespect I wonder how Brazil will choose to decide that the proper security not only be outside but inside the venue much prior to the event beginning and to secure the site maybe throw a few guys in the air vents just in case. This is a serious look for the league and hopefully everyone will be safe.