ME & PA KETTLE

Are you old enough to remember Ma & Pa Kettle? Ma, as played by movie star Marjorie Main was the active, strict caretaker, leader parent of their large family. Pa - actor Percy Kilbride - was inclined toward more passive activities, including a little imbibing from time to time.

In one of their many movies, one of the kids asked Ma. "What's Pa doing over there in the rocking chair all day. "Ma replied, "PA's thunkin - that's what he does best. He's just thunkin."

I think I got a little "PA' in me. Been doing a lot of "thunkin" about the $75,000 (belated) NFL penalty fine on Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison due to two rather bruising hits last Sunday.

I say "belated" as none of the officials on the field called a penalty on either play despite having been schooled many- many-many times as to what the NFL contends is a "violent hit, worthy of a penalty."

Hey, all NFL officials can't be ranked in the top 5th of their graduating class. But, let's be honest. There are few businesses without a little "duplicity" in what they claim to represent.

Please trust me. The NFL is a business. In fact it's a monopoly. It even has it's own TV network. The NFL is a huge beneficiary of just about everything that has to do with professional football .

That includes all the merchandising - which - would not exclude the video games with the gore and violence emphasis in hopes adults and kids alike will buy them. The NFL was also big enough to coerce the networks to continue to pay them should the owners force a 2011 lockout. Prior to last Sunday, the big news in the football media has been the lockout possibility.

Fortunately, this week that was not perceived as a priority for ESPN columnist Rick Reilly, who no doubt includes several NFL owners and Execs on his Christmas card list. Rick would seem to have made one helluva ambulance chaser had he not chose "journalism" as his life long pursuit.

Reilly's all upset about this "new" development in football brutality and would like to see Harrison either retire or be suspended. The guy is downright funny. I loved his columns on the back of S.I. before he left for greener pastures.

Reilly is also rumored to be the face you see when you look up the term "smarmy."

He is a man of many and varied opinions. Based on his article in NFL.com , Reilly is also omniscient. He is "aware of all things"and advises us that Harrison "purposely lowered his head" into two Brown's wide receivers. Rick neglected to explain that one of them ducked and the other was playing the quarterback position when Harrison hit him - legally - as the rules explain.

One assumes that limited column space precluded a more detailed explanation . It could also get in the way of accuracy - something else rumored to not always be a priority for journalists.

According to the sideboard accompanying his column, someone at ESPN was kind enough to advise us that Reilly has been voted Sportswriter of the Year 11 times - or about as many times as someone with the first name of Kim has been elected North Korea's President.

Reilly confesses that with all the brutal hits (captured on film - and shown - over - and over -and over on ESPN - and one presumes The NFL Network) - "it makes you wonder what kind of person you are for sitting there watching" ( I suspect during the rest of the season Rick "will risk one eye".)

If TRicks (whoops) Rick's ESPN.com column on violence gains the circulation for which both Rick & ESPN are praying, he will no doubt come out with another book. Might even be one on "modern day" football violence.

One assumes it will have neither Y.A. Tittles bloody Polo Grounds picture on the cover or that one of Bradshaw after the hit by Turkey Jones many, many years ago.

Space is a factor here. So let's wrap up my "thunking". Nothing has changed my opinion
regarding the brutality of this sport and what it has meant to the many NFL veterans who still cling to the hope that someday they may regain the ability to walk erect.

That is still my stance. Regardless of why the NFL is now motivated to do something about it and the uncomfortable thought it does move the ridiculous comments by the owners about falling on hard times to the back burner- it's a timely cause. It would not be kind of me to remind folks that the owners want to extend those brutal hits by adding two more games. So, I won't.

OK, my real beef is with the hypocrisy of both the league, it's owners, and ESPN management- all of whom owe their fortunes to this brutal and debilitating game, and continue to promote it with an emphasis on violence. ESPN & Hockey apparently got a divorce.

My advice - or pleading - is not to overlook any of the violent hits but, "for God's sake - get your own houses in order. Even some of your best players - both recently retired and active - appear to know more about physics and the complexities in the interaction of two forces - than do the best minds in the NFL office."

Finally, please note there has been no attempt to defend what appears to be a non-exclusive pattern of violence on the part of Harrison - whether he's one of my favorite Steelers or not.

I'd have much more to say, but like Pa - "I'm getting a little tired and need to get back to my thunkin."







At first glance you have to conclude