Arm wrestling leads to fines by NFL
The NFL had its first test of Las Vegas culture recently, as the NFL plans to fine players who participated in an arm wrestling tournament at the MGM grand hotel-casino.
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Logic would state that the NFL’s main concern is that its players might get hurt in a meaningless competition. However, the NFL is living up to its nickname as the “No Fun League” because this competition violates the leagues gambling policy. This comes only a few weeks after the league approved the Oakland Raiders request to relocate to the Las Vegas area with a 31-1 owners vote. The Raiders will began playing in Vegas in 2020 when the current lease with Oakland Coliseum expires and the new Vegas stadium is built.
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These fines could be the league setting the expectation that players, even the ones who will playing in the Las Vegas area, will not be allowed to participate in most events happening on the strip. Over 30 former and current players took part in the event in the MGM including Steelers linebacker James Harrison, 49ers linebacker Navarro Bowman, and Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King. Additionally, formerly retired running back Marshawn Lynch participated in the event as well. Harrison, who routinely gets nagged by the NFL for random drug tests and numerous illegal hit fines was not happy with the ruling. A reporter in Pittsburgh even termed the entire situation as the “James Harrison incident.” To this he replied, “Welcome to James Harrison world everyone. Glad you could join us.” The players cannot do much about the ruling handed down from the league. The league also said no players or people associated with the event contacted the league to see if it was in violation of the league’s policy. This raises questions about the league will deal with Las Vegas and casino culture once it begins playing there and the Super Bowl is inevitably played there.
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The event, dubbed the inaugural Pro Football Arm Wrestling Championship, will air over two weekends in the coming months. It will air on CBS, which is a major partner with the NFL. There is a chance that for future rulings on events such as these Roger Goodell will have a major player barking in his ear on which way to turn.
