By Kent Babb, (c) 2017, The Washington Post
The Louisiana youth coach couldn’t help but notice the deterioration of interest; his players and even his four sons began turning off the NFL game on television to turn on the NFL video game. At least then there’d be personality and showmanship and sizzle, not yellow flags raining down on the field for yet another delay in between commercials.
“You have kids playing Madden being bored watching a Sunday game at home,” the coach said. “They’re just looking for the excitement.”
The coach is Joe Horn, the former NFL wide receiver who in 2003 took a bland Sunday night game and poured on the spice.