All it takes is one. One tweet or one Instagram post or one Facebook post can set off a firestorm of stupidity. Look no further than the rumor that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills’ game would be moved to Cleveland. Let’s examine why this really pisses me off.
Teams in the National Football League play a long, hard season not just to make the postseason, but to also get the opportunity to play playoff games at home. Players sleep in their own beds, you get the crowd in your favor and the organization gets some extra gate and concession money. But you also get the weather. While I’m sure both teams have players that would love to be playing in warmer, dryer temperatures part of having home-field advantage is having the elements as your friend.
What really grinds my gears though is the absolute stupidity of the idea that playing in Cleveland is the answer to “bad weather.” Some basic geography skills will tell you that Cleveland is within driving distance of both Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Therefore, it seems highly likely that both fan bases wouldn’t shy away from road tripping it to the Mistake by the Lake.
But here’s where the stupidity comes in. The people spreading this rumor believe the NFL would move this game, due to bad weather, to Cleveland. As I pull up my trusty weather app, it speaks pretty plainly to me. THERE IS A MASSIVE STORM CURRENTLY COMING ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION. THIS STORM IS FOLLOWED BY RIDICOULOSLY FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
So therefore, instead of dealing with some cold, snow and wind in Buffalo where the majority of the fans there are within a close distance of the stadium, the NFL would encourage those same fans to hop in their cars and drive a few hours in those conditions. Doesn’t this make total sense to you? NOT!
This entire instance reminds just how pathetic we’ve become. What happened to the day when we played in ANY WEATHER? Downpours, blizzards, tropical depressions… These weren’t even an after thought for the NFL but suddenly it seems even the slightest weather issue creates panic and the idea to move games to “better” locations. What this is really about is gambling. Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers etc can’t put up big numbers if the conditions are bad and that’s not good for Vegas or any of the sportsbooks. The excuse however will be “safety” which is also a joke.
This whole thing is out of control and down-right stupid! Where is my whiskey? Get off my lawn too!
