The 'F' Doesn't Stand for 'Federal'

Okay, so I know this is fairly old news, but this story is what finally got me to start this blog. Its not that this story was, by itself, all that significant; its just that the musings, ponderings, and rants that it caused me tipped the scales.

An article appeared on 28 Oct. at espn.com that reported Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, testifying before Congress. He was being grilled over several topics - head injuries suffered by NFL players and possible connections to brain disease later in life; the welfare of retired NFL players; and steroid use within the NFL. The article pointed out a couple instances in which members of the House Judiciary Committee were treating Goodell like a naughty child worthy of their rebuke.

I'm not defending Goodell or the NFL's treatment of former NFL players; frankly I don't really care that much about it. What brings me to the Average Guy Musings is the question:

What business is it of the House Judiciary Committee, or anyone in the federal government, what the NFL does about its former players? Or steroid use? Or whether Goodell believes there a connection between head injuries and brain disease?!

I mean c'mon! Steroid use, while distasteful and unethical, isn't illegal. Let the NFL deal with it. What makes Congress think they've got any jurisdiction over the business of the NFL? Granted, Congress passed a law in 1961 that grants professional leagues anti-trust exemptions for broadcasting, but that doesn't mean they have any say in everything else the NFL does. And for Rep. Maxine Waters to threaten Goodell with the revocation of that anti-trust exemption over the answer Goodell gave regarding the welfare of retired players, she showed just how power hungry those in Washington have become.

What's next? A federal take over of the NFL? Why not? The feds already apparently believe they've got more power than the Constitution actually grants. Then instead of the National Football League or the No Fun League, we'll have to come up with some other name for it. Perhaps it should be the National Federal League...

...no, that's somewhat redundant and gives no indication that it has anything to do with football. But then again, if the feds take it over it won't look like football anymore, will it? Anyone have any suggestions for the name of the NFL once the feds take it over? Hopefully we won't have to use any of them.