The word “schmuck” – my Yiddish grandmother didn’t mince words. It meant idiot, fool, or simply someone deeply disappointing. And right now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell embodies that definition perfectly.
But it’s more than just disappointment. Goodell’s actions feel…pathetic. A self-inflicted wound on a league built by a very specific fanbase – a fanbase he seems determined to alienate.
I understand this disconnect intimately. My understanding of Roger Goodell goes back generations, to a pivotal moment in my family’s history, 56 years ago in 1970.
The difference between Goodell and me isn’t about talent or drive; it’s about the worlds we were born into. I encountered a certain type of person frequently at Columbia University – privileged, entitled, and convinced they’d earned success simply by existing.
They were born on third base, believing they’d hit a triple. Roger Goodell is a prime example. An arrogance born of a life where everything was handed to him, effortlessly.
My own upbringing was starkly different. I’m a product of a blue-collar world, raised on a tough street bordering the Bronx. My neighborhood was populated by police officers, firefighters, and figures operating on the fringes of the law.
We didn’t have much, but we had resilience. I remember a time when a broken leg of lamb was considered a feast. It was a world away from the manicured lawns of privilege.
The city surrounding my neighborhood was predominantly Black, and my schooling reflected that reality. While friends attended Catholic schools, I found myself in one of the most dangerous high schools in America – Mt. Vernon High, a pressure cooker of tension and intimidation.
I was a minority, a target. Daily threats and physical confrontations were commonplace. But I learned to fight, to stand my ground, and ultimately, to thrive. I earned my place, and no one challenged me again.
Roger Goodell’s path was paved with advantages. He was the son of a United States Senator, Charles Goodell, representing New York in Washington. A world of connections and opportunities opened to him from birth.
Ironically, my father’s butcher shop was located in Bronxville, NY – a town synonymous with wealth and privilege. And guess who also grew up in Bronxville? Roger Goodell. Our paths ran parallel, yet remained worlds apart.
While Goodell captained multiple sports teams at Bronxville High, I was navigating the challenges of Mt. Vernon High, working after school to help support my family. The contrast was jarring, a constant reminder of the unequal playing field.
Today, Goodell champions causes that feel fundamentally at odds with the league’s core audience. He embraces national anthem kneelers, promotes specific ideologies, and makes choices – like this year’s Super Bowl halftime show – that seem designed to provoke.
The selection of a performer who may appear in a dress and sing in Spanish feels like a deliberate affront. It’s a betrayal of the fans who fuel the NFL’s multi-billion dollar empire.
He’s even expressed concern over the lack of diversity in recent head coach hirings, seemingly oblivious to the irony of his own actions. This isn’t about fairness; it’s about a deeply ingrained worldview.
I built my career on a different foundation. I fought for everything I achieved, with no doors opened for me. That struggle forged my conservative principles and my unwavering belief in meritocracy.
I reject the notion of DEI, and I believe in a color-blind society where opportunity is earned, not granted. I want the best coach, regardless of background. I oppose the divisive rhetoric that permeates so much of our culture.
But the roots of Goodell’s worldview run deeper than personal preference. They trace back to a political battle my father waged decades ago.
In 1962, my father became a founding member of the New York State Conservative Party. Their first major victory came in 1970 with the election of James Buckley to the US Senate – a stunning upset against both Republican and Democrat candidates.
And who did Buckley defeat? Charles Goodell, Roger’s father. A liberal Republican who ran on multiple party lines, representing everything my father opposed. It was a humiliating defeat, a resounding rejection of his ideology.
This explains everything. Like father, like son. Both embodying a worldview that feels increasingly disconnected from the heartland of America. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I may be one of the few with the full picture, the understanding of why Roger Goodell is the man he is today. And while I’ll be placing a bet on the game itself, I’ll be switching the channel long before halftime. The NFL’s current direction is a disservice to its fans, and a betrayal of its legacy.
