CAVEAT: I began writing this diary entry months ago, but when Bill Maher basically advanced the same thesis I decided I had to finish in order to perpetuate the meme!
If there is one institution in this country that your typical conservative, freedom-loving, Obama-hating, anger-filled American probably loves, it's the NFL. Professional Football is king in this country, beloved for the spectacle it provides week in and week out. What most conservative NFL fans probably don't think about however, is that they are enamored with an institution that embraces many of the tenants they despise in other parts of American life. Even more ironic is the fact that without these structures (which are laid out below) the NFL would not be as popular as it is today.
Front and center is the fact that NFL players are unionized. What would happen if there were no collective bargaining rights? I suspect you would not see the level of talent coming into the game you have today. The NFL players union was originally formed in order obtain basic benefits like minimum wages and guaranteed salary after injury... benefits that help attract talented players year after year. Look beyond the handful of multi-million dollar contracts and you will find a deep bench of well-paid athletes who probably wouldn't even consider professional football without the basic protections afforded to them through union representation. This beneficial relationship is most likely lost on those conservatives who worship at the alter of the grid iron.
Another aspect of the NFL to consider is all the ways the system is rigged to provide a "level playing field." In the conservative world, the idea of the "free market" is king, but the most beloved sporting institution in America is anything but. The worst-performing teams in a given season are given first pick of that that year's best college recruits. The league shares TV revenue evenly amongst all of its teams. These and other more minor devices (such as league-wide standards for uniforms and equipment) all create a more competitive and entertaining sport for the fans. The famous slogan, "any given Sunday," owes its existence to the deliberate socialistic behavior of those who control the NFL.
Next time you hear a conservative bemoaning the crushing yolk of government, remind him (or her) that without rules of the road, life becomes a game where small market teams like the Green Bay Packers or the Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn't stand a chance of making it to the Big Game!