The NFL is a cash cow with revenues flowing from 32 franchises, TV contracts, and a lucrative logo marketing system. Due to the ambiguity of many of its deals, it is difficult to determine annual revenues of the entire NFL, but one can guarantee it is considerably higher than the estimated football-only (non-royalty) revenues that are in excess of $6 billion. The NFL and each and every one of its franchises have nothing to complain about, but, supposedly, the Buffalo Bills do.

The Bills have spent countless hours crying over business decisions evoked by the NFL, hinting that such progress is the death knell for the team in WNY. The press, Bills fans, and our elected officials have been influenced by these ramblings and have taken up arms to protect the Bills and, in essence, the NFL itself.

In a study of contrasts, one cannot help but wonder why they are fighting so diligently for NFL gluttony while clamoring for the control and even death of everyone’s favorite whipping boy: Wal-Mart. Sam Walton’s lasting legacy is also a multi-billion dollar enterprise with incredible regional impact but a good many people instead chose to attack it rather than support it, even though its impact upon society is greater and arguably more important than anything the NFL ever could muster.

If anything, the Bills maintain only a physiological and emotional impact upon WNY. The franchise and its foibles are a diversion and a common bonding interest, nothing more, and nothing less. It is socially important, but when you get down to the nitty gritty of what really matters in life, the NFL cannot hold a candle to the positive economic influence of Wal-Mart. More so, when looked at with an eye that ignores the pro-sport mystique and hype, the NFL is considerably more evil than Wal-Mart could ever aspire to be.

To begin an analysis of the disconnect look at what these businesses give their consumers. The Bills and their NFL brethren sell items that are way out of line with what their customers can afford. With ticket prices in excess of $50 and simple logo-emblazoned attire that can be sold at more than $100, the NFL quietly sucks every last dime out of the middle-income people who make up its fan base. When revenue – not the consumer - is their ultimate concern, this is the path that can be chosen. Alas, with what is a monopolization of the pro-football market and definite control of market factors, the NFL can charge what they want.

Although Wal-Mart, as well, is looking out for its revenues, it is just as driven by a philosophy instilled upon it by Sam Walton whereby good products should offered to the customer at affordable prices. This philosophy to sell at affordable prices is utilized day-in, day-out. In contrast to the NFL, it is selling a products and services that are consistent and real, not the entrainment fluff that the NFL peddles. The same blue collar folks who have made the NFL king have found a higher standard of living because of Wal-Mart’s philosophy: They can now buy products which they could not in decades past, allowing them to experience a level of materialistic comfort that was once only attainable by the upper-middle-class.

Another part of the socio-economic equation is employment. The NFL supports ego-driven, overblown athletes whose average pay exceeds a million dollars with many receiving $10 million or more. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, keeps real people employed. Real people who earn real wages and have a real impact on the economy. One could say the NFL also employs real people, but realize any sort of supplementary employment beyond the front office is temporary and seasonal. The quest to save the Bills and influence the NFL will only worsen this gap between the reality and insanity of employment.

This attempt to help the Bills is a misdirection of political efforts. The Bills are a nearly $200 million a year piggy bank that like the rest of the NFL uses its emotional leverage to rape consumers. If people were really concerned about true economic worth and wanted to support a gigantic corporation, they would get behind Wal-Mart and its intent to set up shop or improve its operations across WNY. Instead, political power – such as that displayed by the Amherst town board and ungodly slow Lockport – is spent on damning a good corporation (Wal-Mart), while other powers – such as those exerted by Schumer and Higgins – are spent on supporting an organization (the Bills) only as a means to make themselves look wonderful in voters’ eyes. The politicians have lost sight of the things that really matter.