The NFL Pro Bowl is scheduled for this Sunday. I feel like I have to write an article about this since most people have no idea it’s happening. It’s the least popular All-Star game out of the Big 4 (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA). It comes as no surprise, thanks to a few factors.
1. It comes at a strange time.
Let’s take a look at the other games. Baseball, hockey, and basketball all come in the middle of the season. Not only does it come in the middle of each respective season, it is also seen as the halfway point and provides the players with a well-deserved rest. The Pro Bowl comes in between the Conference championship games and the Super Bowl, which does provide a predicament for some of the players. For example, Patriots and Falcons players have to forfeit their opportunities to play in order to prepare for the Big Game. This not only deprives the players the honor of playing, but as well as the fans who pay money to see their favorites compete.
A possible solution would be to follow in the other leagues footsteps. Having the Pro Bowl in the middle of the season could provide entertainment for the fans, and give some much needed rest for the players.
2. The fans need more interaction
In some of the other All-Star games, the fans are able to vote for their favorite players and are encouraged to use social media to support them. This is one way the NBA excels in their All-Star games. Not only do they have the game, where fans vote for starters, but they devote a whole weekend to a slew of different events. The Slam Dunk Contest, Celebrity All-Star Game, and 3-Point Contest are all extremely popular events that fans can have a say in. Watching the telecast, tweets can pop up as well as instagrams from fans and celebrities alike that are watching the game, making it feel like the fans are actually there participating. After all, these All-Star games are for the fans.
One of the biggest gripes about the Pro Bowl is the lack of competitiveness. This is one area that is tough to overcome. Football is a physical sport. When it comes to the players, many of them don’t want to hurt themselves in a game that doesn’t mean anything. It is hard to argue with that logic. Considering the fact these athletes can lose their jobs after an injury, it makes sense they don’t want to risk anything. At least in the NBA and NHL, they can still make highlight plays without resorting to extreme lengths. This is a problem that requires more than a quick fix. If the Pro Bowl can fix these, hopefully it can draw the attention that the other games get.
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