While watching the Super Bowl, when the excitement of the game cuts to a commercial break, many look forward to the commercials instead of muting them or changing the channel.
In the past the Super Bowl has been a very competitive place for advertising and normally companies have a good response from consumers, either for the advertisement’s humor or emotional value. Example A: The Budweiser puppy commercial.
However, this year I found that the commercials being aired during the Super Bowl were more of a reflection of what the NFL wanted to say rather than companies competing for air time.
For example, there is a commercial of eerie silence as a woman dials 9-1-1 and proceeds to order a pizza, while showing images of a punched-in wall and broken frames because she can’t speak because her attacker is in the room.
The end of the ad reads, “When it’s hard to talk it’s up to us to listen . . . help end domestic violence and sexual assault. Nomore.org.”
I applaud the reality and tastefulness of the ad, especially because of the subject matter, but I just don’t feel it had a place in the Super Bowl. Especially in light of the recent domestic violence case against Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice and alleged sexual assault by San Francisco 49ers Ray MacDonald.
I agree that right now the NFL needs to take action, yet this commercial seemed like a poor attempt to do so. The NFL needs to take action against players who commit crimes against women and their families. More action than a chilling super bowl ad to remind us of what the NFL should really be talking about. More action than six game suspension.
USA TODAY Sports has an online database for the arrest records of all major league sports players. Between January 2000 and January 2015 there have been 89 domestic violence arrests, making domestic violence the worst category among other offenses like DUI’s, sexual assault, gun violence and murder. Yet if you look further into the database you will see that most of the domestic violence charges get dropped, swept under the rug and left out of the public eye.
The NFL needs to wake up and take serious action not just try to make it up to the world with commercials and good press. I say “NO MORE” playing time to athletes who abuse women, their families and even their children. Enough is enough. It is time for the NFL to listen.
Kenall Pope can be contacted at kpope@keene-equinox.com
