America’s number-one game is back!

Watching an NFL preseason game in comparison to a regular-season game is like night and day. All 32 teams are in many ways showing why the NFL game is, by a wide margin, the number-one game.

In the early 1980s the NFL passed Major League Baseball as the number-one-viewed game in the United States. As we know, Major League Baseball may have fallen further behind because of dwindling numbers in 2018 with only eight percent of its players American-born Black players.

One factor could be that 75 percent of the NFL players are Black. The controversial protests by some players during the national anthem the last two years, ignited by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, have been a source of division among the owners, fans, some media and players. Some sports fans were irritated with the players’ choice to protest and their right to do so.

The NFL said, “They [all the players, owners, scouts and coaches under the NFL umbrella] believe in dialogue, understanding and unity. We embrace the role and responsibility of everyone involved with this game to promote meaningful positive change in our community.”

Some claim that the NFL ratings slipped last season because of the players’ protests. I think the issue itself is one of the most misunderstood protests along racial lines and is divisive. President Donald Trump has sparked the outrage among his base supporters, saying owners should fire NFL players and calling them “sons of bit**es.” Trump called the Nike embrace of Kaepernick “a terrible message.”

Nike is now airing a two-minute TV spot narrated by Kaepernick during games and on various devises as part of their 30-year “Believe in something even if it means sacrificing” campaign. Already it has generated nearly $45 million in media exposure.

Vikings players, you may have noticed, have stayed away from even talking about the swirling protest, much less taking a knee. The Vikings’ 24-16 victory over San Francisco Sunday was important. Many claim it’s not how you start but how you finish.

This week the Vikings travel to Green Bay for an early Division tussle that will test which team can take early control of the NFC North. Green Bay rallied to beat the Bears Sunday night in the 197th meeting with the Bears. If the Packers, celebrating their 100th season, were to win, they would be 2-0 in the Division.
This Vikings team, however, with quarterback Kirk Cousins and this dominating defense that forced four turnovers against the 49ers, has the potential to be among the best in franchise history. Their eyes as a team are clearly on the big prize.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.