Daily Herald Editorial

Long an over-the-top display of materialism and hype, the Super Bowl this year also became what will probably be 2011’s biggest example of ridiculous greed — and the show doesn’t appear likely to end anytime soon.

Trying to extract every last dollar from an already cash-rich event, the National Football League and the host Dallas Cowboys tried to pack a few additional, jury-rigged seats into the stadium. When those seats proved unsafe, the league waited until game time before telling 400 of the people to be seated there that they would have to instead watch the game on television. Perhaps a wiser league, less concerned with inflating its pocketbook, would have canceled the seating plan earlier, when it first became apparent that the idea was going astray.

Now, desperately trying to make amends, the league is offering free tickets, free travel and all sorts of other inducements to the displaced fans. But it is the fans’ turn to show what greed is all about. At least some of them, through their lawyers (of course), have reportedly turned down what most would consider generous compensation. One presumes they hope to extract even more. And, of course, it is likely that the lawyers who promptly got involved also hope to make something from the situation.

The NFL was wrong to push the extra-seating scheme so far. But fans who try to work the league over for all they can get are doing no better. Two wrongs don’t make a right. And they certainly don’t enhance the image of any person or organization involved.