(11-11-2018, 06:12 PM)Dill Wrote: Who decides which "storyline" and which teams to push?

That's an excellent question.

While we call these leagues "sports," they are in fact businesses. Their business is entertainment. The NFL, for one, has actually argued this fact before the Supreme Court as recently as 2010. Being "entertainment," the leagues are legally entitled to do what is needed to entertain their audience, such as the creation and promotion of certain "storylines." Despite arguments to the contrary, this makes the NFL on par with Roller Derby and Professional Wrestling.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4822872


Jeffrey Kessler, a lawyer for the NFL Players Association and several other professional sports unions, said afterward that NFL teams believe they should be allowed to "fix the prices of labor, that they could impose restrictions that would prevent good teams from getting better, or take any other conduct without the antitrust laws coming into play."

(11-11-2018, 06:14 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: That's an excellent question.

While we call these leagues "sports," they are in fact businesses. Their business is entertainment. The NFL, for one, has actually argued this fact before the Supreme Court as recently as 2010. Being "entertainment," the leagues are legally entitled to do what is needed to entertain their audience, such as the creation and promotion of certain "storylines." Despite arguments to the contrary, this makes the NFL on par with Roller Derby and Professional Wrestling.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4822872


Jeffrey Kessler, a lawyer for the NFL Players Association and several other professional sports unions, said afterward that NFL teams believe they should be allowed to "fix the prices of labor, that they could impose restrictions that would prevent good teams from getting better, or take any other conduct without the antitrust laws coming into play."

I don't see that "business" or "entertainment" =Professional Wrestling, where both wrestlers have to cooperate to produce an outcome, not just the ref. 

So far as I can tell, NFL coaches and players actually want to win their games. Are they paid off? Do they see their purse connected to the "show" so they understand someone has to go down and are happy just to take the money?   Didn't sound like it in the Bengal locker room after the last loss to the Steelers. 

If it's a "business," then what exactly is the business interest of a coach or player or franchise to lose games?  How does that enhance one's brand or marketability.  Your quote about fixing labor costs appears to be an attempt to keep the league competitive.

Which gets back to my original question. If the NFL is "fixed," who decides which teams get favors?  Would the Ravens, Bengals and Browns franchise all agree it should be the Steelers in the AFC North?