Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: School plans condom giveaway for prom

Why not Condi for NFL commissioner?

Or Gibson or Landis? Rubber-stamping Goodell for spot lacked imagination

Image: Condolezza RiceReuters file
Give Condolezza Rice a helmet and flak jacket and let her take a shot at being NFL commissioner, writes MSNBC.com columnist Michael Ventre.

BUD SELIG: As baseball commissioner, he’s been working to achieve a stringent drug-testing policy for some time now. Maybe it would be easier for him if he just switched to a league that already has one.

S. ROBSON WALTON: He’s the chairman of the Wal-Mart corporation. He knows a thing or two about bringing in obscene profits on the backs of dispensable employees.

RANDY “DUKE” CUNNINGHAM: He’s the disgraced former congressman from San Diego who took massive bribes and is now behind bars. What would appeal most to the NFL owners is that, because he is in prison, they would only have to pay him 50 cents an hour.

ANDERSON COOPER: According to a recent Gallup Poll, nearly 40 percent of Americans have never heard of him. If he succeeded Tagliabue, the CNN anchor could improve that by, like, almost one or two percentage points.

BEYONCE KNOWLES: Hey, shouldn’t the players have a say in this?

HARRY WHITTINGTON: He is the Texas lawyer who was shot in the face by his friend Dick Cheney. I can’t think of better preparation for a Super Bowl press conference.

JANET JACKSON: Right now, there’s almost no chance a Super Bowl audience will get to see her other boob. But with her as commissioner? Maybe.

Slide show
Giants v Saints
  Celebrating good times
Check out well-known NFL touchdown celebrations from the past few years.
LARRY BROWN: I just threw him in here because, if there’s a job open somewhere in America, chances are Larry has already started lobbying for it.

WILLIAM HUNG: Commissioner/anthem singer. Unprecedented.

JOHNNY DEPP: Take a good look at a photo of Tagliabue in public, then look at Johnny from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and tell me which one would be more fun to have as commissioner.

SURI CRUISE: She’s kept out of the spotlight and doesn’t say much.

Slideshow
Image:
  The Week in Sports Pictures
A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more.

more photos

JOHN MADDEN: Maybe it’s time for an upgrade. The only entertainment option in sports more popular than the NFL these days is Madden’s video game.

STEPHEN COLBERT: Finally, a commissioner more sarcastic than the sportswriters who cover him.

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL: He’s already used to coming out of his hole once a year.

TONY SOPRANO: One of the most important tasks of a commissioner is enforcing rules, protecting the brand and making sure everybody keeps in line. Of course, Tony would have to step up his game a bit, but he can probably handle it.

FIDEL CASTRO: From one communist state to another.

Michael Ventre writes regularly for MSNBC.com and is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.


< Prev | 1 | 2

advertisement
More news
Hall of Fame Game: Cincinnati Bengals v Dallas Cowboys
NBC Sports
Is Cowboys' window closing?

  PFT Live: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Cowboys beat reporter Charean Williams breaks down owner Jerry Jones' comments on the window closing for his team.

AFC Championship - Baltimore Ravens v New England Patriots
NBC Sports
SportsTalk: Which teams are under pressure?

  SportsTalk: Are the Ravens, Cowboys, Eagles or Chargers under the most pressure to win now? We debate it.

FREE VIDEO
'Lot of challenges to face'
Aug. 8: New NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is optimistic about his job, and Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga and Steelers owner Dan Rooney offer their thoughts on Goodell.
Special feature
NFL Draft HQ
A complete breakdown of the 2012 NFL draft, including pick-by-pick analysis, which teams drafted well, player bios and more.

NBC Sports

Video: Football from NBC Sports
House Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On Football Head Injuries
Getty Images
Breaking down the collusion case
PFT Live: Mike Florio breaks down the ins and outs of the NFL collusion cases. We take a look at what happened between the NFL and NFLPA since 2010.

Slideshow
Image:
  Sideline support
Check out some of the NFL cheerleaders from across the league.

NBCSports.com