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Friday, 06 July 2007 |
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Americans are fiercely loyal to their football teams. Every football season they gather in bars, living rooms and football stadiums across the country to cheer their team on while simultaneously cutting down the competition. Through good times and bad Americans stick by their teams, keeping faith in them when they are losing and cheering them on when they are winning. Unfortunately, sometimes teams will hit a slump they are unable to break out of and their fans will lose the faith.
This is devastating emotionally but can also be a hard financial hit, as in the name of support consumers often spend hundreds of their hard earned dollars on NFL memorabilia, particularly on commemorative jerseys which will show where their loyalties lie. What happens to these jerseys when a fan has decided they are not worth wearing anymore? There are, of course, the more traditional routes of disposing of unwanted memorabilia. The items can be resold for a tidy profit through Amazon or e-Bay, and they can be gifted to various relatives in honor of holidays and birthdays. (It is best for former fans to gift these items to friends and family before these individuals are aware that the giver’s loyalties have changed, as they will immediately suspect the giver of being cheap and giving away all of their former memorabilia. This is, of course, precisely what is going on, but it is best if they are not made aware of it.) The jerseys in question can also be packed away in storage in the hope that their team will someday make a comeback and the team colors will once again be able to be worn with pride. There is another option, one that is often not considered when consumers are cleaning out their closets. Many football fans do not have the financial means to purchase an NFL jersey through a retailer; they are more concerned with keeping clothes on their backs and shoes on their feet. Organizations such as Goodwill, which accept donated items and resell them for a reasonable price, exist to help these individuals while at the same time providing jobs and support for individuals who are developmentally challenged and who may not be able to find a niche in the world through other means. By donating their unwanted football jerseys to these organizations football fans can feel a sense of pride in themselves for having reached out a helping hand to those in need. This is one of those rare situations in which everyone wins. |
