HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH - PART II

Maybe you are among those who believe the NFL owners deserve a larger share of the revenue pie via a re-negotiated labor contract, so they can build more $1.15 billion stadiums.

If so, it may help that logic if you are willing to forget about what comes next: rise in tickets, more expensive seating licenses, and you paying $25 for a medium cup of Pierogies. Sauce is extra.

Being just a little guy in this whole communication stuff, I must admit I wouldn't be sharing your view. My unwavering conclusion is that I believe the NFL and the owners are convinced we fans are "easy prey."

What caused that? The willingness of some fans to spend $200 to stand and watch a game outside a $1.15 billion stadium on a big screen while they pay $19 for a Tex-Mex Margarita and bragging rights?

We are convinced that not only 2 adults, but our 2 kids too, need to experience watching the opening of a wallet as $412. 64 pours out into a NFL owners "povery collection barrel." In Dallas they must have bigger barrels as the cost there for a family of four is $758.58.

NFL Commissioner Goodell says of the Super Bowl, "We put on this event". We beg to differ. We think its the guy paying the $412 and $758 who's footing the Super Bowl bill; instead of teaching his kids the joys of delayed gratification.

Goodells right about one thing, "The NFL takes over the Super Bowl stadium chosen - rent free - and the 32 team owners including the host share equally from ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise.

Could these be the same owners who act like Ali-Babba descendents and claim they're really hurting - while refusing to open their books? So much for, "doing what is in the best interest of the fan."

Charles Dickens is dead and it's unlikely the Commissioner would be too anxious to have to relive his past in the same manner as Scrooge.

There is a sense here that the sensitivity of that W&J college kid/bartender who took a disturbed customer back safely to his home is but a distant memory for the Commish. Trying to get him to reveal what he feels is in the best interest of the fan is a even more distant second.

Speaking of sensitivity, let's again examine that of NFL Executive VP Eric Grubman who had the guts to call Sunday's seating travesty:"an installation issue, and a failure, a shared failure and it's as simple as that."

Who's going to tell him any different? Maybe the LA attorney who just filed the lawsuit on behalf of the ticketbuyers who expected seats?

I've got an idea. Assuming there is a Mrs. Grubman, maybe she could show "Grubby" the error of his ways. Maybe she could explain why it was so important for her to meet with the builders every day when they built their last house in order to make sure they got the right counter tops in their stainless steel kitchen.

"Hey Jerry, next time you build another $1.15 billion stadium, hire a couple Mrs. Grubmans to make sure you get what we're paying for".

Why didn't that happen? To paraphrase the VP, "it wasn't important" And "Grubby", It WAS as SIMPLE AS THAT!

To those guys and gals who are being offered compensation by the NFL for their inconvenience: hold out for a guarantee. God forbid that the future Super Bowl ticket is for a numbered (non-souvenir) folding chair in front of a big screen erected outside the stadium in the frozen north; while you listen to a Sinatra imposter crooning "New York, New York."

Apparently, quality of product and workmanship, as well as careful planning, is too mundane for the NFL to contemplate when their real priority is demanding ,"Where's the money?"

Next time those of you who are fortunate enough to finally find a job and are entrusted to run a big project, you probably don't want to emulate Grubman's wordtrack when asked by the boss, "What went wrong?"

"What went wrong" in todays NFL/Fan environment is that we didn't stand up and say "NO" to disproportionately financing stadiums as well as letting itinerant NFL owners off the hook when, on a whim, they decided they wanted a bigger and more extravagant "house."

If there is a player lockout the only thing that would make it worse is if we agree to go to a half empty stadium and pay to watch a bunch of wannabe scabs give us the performance of a pickup team. We need to show the NFL and the owners we simply will not and cannot take any more.

Oh, and for you guys who are looking for your Congressman to assist; when they panned the crowd in Dallas I think he may have been seated up in the owners box - and he wasn't paying $19 for a margarita.

The margaritas will always be free in the owners box if we continue to insist on "buying a round" for the owners. We could even be charged as an enabler for violating the dram shop act as a "social host".

Cuidado! The owners don't know when they've had enough.