When I first read this, I thought it was a joke (and kind of still do). As a 30-year San Diego resident and longtime Chargers fan, I’ve seen this team underperform almost every year since 1995 – when they played in the Super Bowl for the first and only time. Thanks to the Spanos Family who are the worst owners in the NFL, the team currently plays in a tiny soccer stadium near Los Angeles and on most weekends there are more fans in attendance for the opposing team than there are for the Chargers. Still, I would like to see them do well for one reason: Philip Rivers. The veteran quarterback is my favorite NFL player. He’s a down-to-earth guy who plays with a tenacity and toughness that makes you remember why you loved the game in the first place. Rivers had one of his best seasons ever last year, and took an overlooked team to the playoffs. If he can stay healthy, the Chargers will have a chance. Head Coach Anthony Lynn is a solid guy who has done a great job with very little support from the front office. I will be rooting for the Chargers this season, but not holding my breath that they will do any better than in previous years.
I once read that sports are a universal language. Regardless of ethnicity or what language you speak, almost everyone speaks sports. No place has that been more evident than the Olympics, where every four years, we are moved by images of athletic rivals from around the world shaking hands and embracing each other in moving displays of sportsmanship.
The NFL markets its brand as well as any enterprise in the world. I heard a comedian once say that the NFL is so popular, it has its own day. NFL football is huge. Each NFL franchise brings in approximately $400M a year in revenue; almost double the annual revenue of NBA teams and 2 ½ times as much as MLB clubs.