Monday Night football moved to ESPN this season. There is talk about the ratings decreasing now that it is only aired on a cable sports network. The NFL is watching closely to see the viewer turnout. They need the sport to remain in the public eye for their livelihoods.

One year ago, after Katrina hit, I remember making a remark about what the world must think as they watch the residents of New Orleans flee their homes and journey to the stadium palaces we have built as their only chance of survival. We all watched with horror as the scene of the Superdome unfolded before our very eyes. Humanity at its most desperate was not something we had experienced in this country in the last decade. It was stark realization to us all.

I watched the first half of the football game this past Monday night. I watched with Jason, who had just returned from New Orleans the night before. I watched alongside many other fellow Atlantans who were hoping the Falcons would retain their 2-0 winning streak, with such promise for "our team."

I also watched b/c Green Day and U2 were slated to perform, and I will never miss a chance to see Bono.

Maybe I'm too cynical... but as they aired the clips explaining the refurbishment of the Superdome... as they interviewed the manager, who had been trapped inside the structure for five days immediately following Katrina... as they broke down the costs of such a project $180 million... I wondered...

Why was this first on the list?

There are entire neighborhoods, entire sections of the city, that look as if Katrina hit yesterday. Debris still lines the streets, trash piles high on the sidewalks. Where is the clean-up effort? Why will the $180 million refurbishment of a football arena take precedence over the homes and LIVES of the residents of New Orleans, 30% of whom are still without utilities?

I watched the interviews with some of the residents of the city talking about how pumped they were for the game. And I can understand how this can be viewed as just one step in rebuilding and restoring a city that seemed to have been without hope.

But I think we're missing something.

If football becomes the means for which we stake our hope, I really think we have missed the point.

If the wins and losses of a sports team become the markers of joy and faith in what lies ahead, what have our lives become?


But, you know, maybe I’m just being too cynical…

posted by Kelly @ 2:30:00 PM