A PERFORMANCE REQUEST

A PERFORMANCE REQUEST




I want to start with a handling of this subject that wasn’t on my mind, until I was reading in the online news that some cheerleaders were suing the NFL ( national football league ) and others in something they were calling a labor dispute and was about the wages they did or did not receive for being a team cheerleader.  And of course I was there the other night.  Thursday Night and the first game of the season for 2014.  Seattle and Green Bay, but for some reason why I was there and the game result pale when I read about a labor dispute for  cheerleaders, providing a service for a business enterprise.  And of course, this is America.  We love to fight about money and get lawyers involved.  More than football even, its’ America’s Game.  And this disappoints me.




Went into an Ace Hardware store to get a key made this past week, and of course the big buzz was about the local team.  "What about those Seahawks?"  And then we would do water-cooler chatter about team and that could go on for a while, depending if we won or lost.  In terms of the score, on Thursday night, the Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers.  And that will be one for the history books.  The excitement lingers, until Sunday.  We were the first game of the new season.  But here I was, having to go back for a second time to Ace Hardware Store, because the keys I had made, didn’t work.  Didn’t let me in, no access.  And so I had to come back.  Disappointed when some dude, who didn’t make the first set of the keys, tells me casually.  "Sorry about that.  We are having trouble with are key-making machine.  We have a new one on order."  Thanks and all that, I am telling myself, and ask:  "Where can I get a key made.  I’m going on vacation, and need a key.  Like yesterday even."  My way of saying, "Your performance disappoints me."  And that is my blog for today:  

 A Performance Request.

Back on subject and I was at Ace Hardware talking to this nice lady, who was quite knowledgeable.  She was talking up the Seahawks, and mentioned that the NFL was a non-profit organization and didn’t pay taxes.  And I am thinking:  "Are you kidding me?"  But at the time I was having a conversation, and wasn’t going to get stuck on anything discordant or negative.  We moved on.  Mentioning Washington Redskins and name changes, and before you knew it, was too late for me to go 6 blocks away to get a new set of keys made, for the house-sitter.  So that was one story that I could expand upon, but won’t say much more.  Only because I have another NFL story to tell, and has nothing to do with keys and access and my disappointment with the hardware store’s performance. 



So I was reading about cheerleaders and labor dispute.  And how some teams do not pay their cheerleaders for performing at the game.  And some teams do pay, but as we realize now with a 9 billion dollar business that doesn’t pay taxes, there are things about our favorite team and the NFL, that we would not approve of, if we knew the full extent of things. 




But I was there.  NFL and the Thursday Night Game.  The fans were happy.  We won.  And more importantly, it was a good game.  Both teams displayed a lot of talent, and matters not that one team was better.  I enjoyed being there, but then came half-time and filler entertainment.  Cheerleaders showed up and danced and displayed their special enhancements and contribution to my fun and excitement.  And I turned away.  Went out to get some water.  Didn’t want to get involved.  Labor Dispute.  Cheerleaders and they do it for free, or if they get paid, its minimum wage and even then, for the work they do, its not satisfying the pay they receive.  So now its in the courts.  Lawyers and people in dispute.  And both sides have a point to make.  But to me, it is disappointing.

A performance request and will now extend this conversation to include blog writing.  Seems as if we look forward to both writing and reading blogs.  For me this is true, but then I hit a period where I write and then I don’t.  Happened recently and when I realized I was long over due to write my once a month blog, and wrote not one blog to cover my monthly quota, which is of course my quota and self-imposed.  Was listening to that quiet voice inside me that said,  "Its summer.  Step away from the window."  No wait, I am getting things mixed up.   "Step away from the window."  Is the quote I used in a blog that refers to a movie:  3 Days of the Condor.  Robert Redford vintage.   "Step away from the computer."  The voice inside of me said.  




So now I am dealing with  ‘ A Performance Request."  Got the word.  "We want more. Please.   Please."  And that leaves me with flashbacks from another time.  Not that I was popular, but in my youth I did get a lot of performance requests.  And that’s how it is.  Young and Popular in your own special way.  More action than logic and money.  Then one day you find yourself going to the football game.  And the girls on the field, cheerleaders and show girls and singers and dancers and prancers.  Having a good time.  And here I am.  I look away.  Wander off.  Come back, hoping for the game to resume.  And when it does, I am relieved.  Got what I came for.   A really good performance from the members of the team.  And I go home happy.  Got what I paid for.  And that other stuff, NFL and they don’t pay taxes.  Non-profit.  Are you kidding me.  And of course if I was a girl, I would stop performing on the field, but of course that is a personal choice and am staying out of all that.  Lawyer up, and that’s not why I go to these games. 




And of course the hypocrisy is there.  Security and not a good experience, and certainly not the same for me.  Now that I know.  Can buy a big screen super-visual digital, and stay home.  Will the view be the same.  Will it spoil the performance aspect for me.  Not sure, but have decided.  No big deal to me, if its free.  If the NFL is not making money directly off of me, is not my issue and will pursue the fun.  Won’t give up being with and looking at my favorite girls, and having fun.  Just won’t do it as a commercial venture, and let’s face it.  NFL is not really good old fashion sport.  Its business.  And the bottom line.  ‘You get what you pay for." 



And that’s a fact.  A Performance Request.  All I ask that you show up.  Write a blog.  Entertain me.  And please dear lord of the free press.  "Let It Be Free."   Don’t embarrass me by demanding payment.  In the end, you get what you deserve. " If you are any good, you have my respect.  If not, Forget about it."  Justly said.  "How about those Seahawks?  And Those Green Bay Packers."  You have my respect.  Good game.  Good performance.  We had a good time, and if you are a fun freak, its all you need.  Am I right?