Dear Football Mom,

About the advice you gave the peewee mom to change holiday traditions if the family sees football in their future, I think that was just plain wrong. Maybe that family had a timeshare that can only be used over Memorial Day weekend. Maybe family should come first and football last. Maybe it’s only peewee and the coach will have to get over it. What if the kid’s position isn’t that important so as to have everyone’s plans change for a game that doesn’t count. I think you were too hard on that mother and you are the one who is wrong.

Dear Reader,

Well, shucks. Hard as I try, my gentleness is like a raft floating somewhere down a river between the rocky rapids and a tranquil calm.  

You know, they say you never really arrive until you get snippy letters like this one. So truly, I thank you for your comments and, believe it or not, I really do appreciate them. I understand where you are coming from. You have every right to your opinion.

Yes, it’s true. It’s only peewee football, but what you do today will determine how well your tomorrows shine. Not attending at all sends the wrong message to not only the child/player, but the entire team, in my opinion. The example of pulling out, chucking it and not keeping an obligation begins at a young age. No one intentionally teaches their child to be wishy-washy and break commitments, or do they? Remember, kids learn what they live. Life is about choices. Choices aren’t always convenient or easy.

It really boils down to responsibilities and goes so much further than what we see on the surface now. The kid is, after all, signed up with this team. He should be given the chance to do the right thing and show up.  

Perhaps the family worked it out to attend and participate in the game and still drove to the beach Saturday evening. There was Sunday and Monday to this holiday. No matter what they decided, I’m almost sure they enjoyed family, no matter where they ended up spending Memorial Day.

By the way, there is no such thing in football as games or positions that don’t count. Or coaches who get over it.

Dear Football Mom,

          Now, what do you think of the new NFL ruling about taking a knee during the National Anthem passed a few days ago?

Dear Reader,

Powderpuff player, Roger (as in Goodell), that poor ol’ boy is about two bricks shy of a full load, had no other choice but to square-off with this issue. After all, they — owners, players, investors, coaches — were all losing their bricks. Or maybe that should be, their jerseys. Didn’t we say it would come down to the money thang?

Ten percent down in viewership may not sound like much to some, but sum it all up in the millions of lost revenue, and it’s a pretty penny! I actually believe it’s a little, too little, too late. It should have been addressed two years ago. The NFL has already lost its integrity and pureness of the sport.

Back in our day, or our dad’s or grandfather’s day, the NFL held a certain magical spark, capturing The All-American admiration. They weren’t gods, or without controversies off the field, but that’s just it, they kept it off the field.

We were in awe of players like “Broadway” Joe Namath, William “Refrigerator” Perry, “Bullet” Bob Hayes, “Mean” Joe Green, Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, Jim Brown and Ernie Davis, to name a few. As these names came pouring out of my memory, they evoked a sense of pride in my heart for what was once a sport of being known for a player’s powerful talent, not his political views. How about it? Any veteran fans feel the same way. Do these names bring back some down-home American football pride?

For the younger puppies, here’s a summer workout plan for you. Look up a few of these greats, and send me your written findings via email. Tell me what position they played and what made them great. You can also share who your favorite player is and why. I may choose some to share. You could end up reading about you in newspaper print.

NFL commissioner and company will still suffer losses. This is far from over, and I’ve heard through the grapevine that some teams are planning to ignore the new ruling. Nice, guys. Real nice. Again, what great role models you NFL-ers have turned into these days. Not all, but some. Whatever happened to T-E-A-M? I see no “I” in that word.

There is a speck of hope for pro team fans — a new professional football league is on the horizon called, the Alliance of American Football AAF. “A dynamic bond between players, fans and the game. This is our vision. This is our Alliance.” First game slated to play February 2019.

This franchise has some heavy hitters leading the way with some of the most seasoned professionals on-board. Some highfalutin NFL-ers would be wise to get a thimble full of humility lickety-split, as these dogs will seriously be on the hunt for TV turf. Look out boys, there’s nothing like the heart of an underdog’s competitive drive.