Tag Archives: NFL

A Tale of Two Networks

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I’d previously bemoaned the fact that my brother-in-law’s CableCo doesn’t carry the NFL Network, resulting in our not watching the Kansas City Chieves on Thanksgiving night. Scott, aka The Fat Guy, suffered through listening to his Cowpokes on the radio, since he couldn’t get NFLnet.

Only yesterday, I wrote about NASCAR’s HotPass package for 2007.

Let’s compare and contrast the two plans:

Neither the NFL nor NASCAR is ashamed to squeeze the last nickel out of fans, but the NFL’s network is in the position of browbeating CableCos, SatelliteCos, et.al., into carrying it. And the NFL wants the carriers to pay them up front, and oh by the way, please put NFLnet in your base package lineup. The result is spotty coverage for the network at best, and the ones who lose are the fans, who are deprived of the chance to see their team play. To say nothing of market penetration and such.

Now, look at NASCAR. Fox Sports has paid dearly to carry NASCAR events next year; on their own, Fox developed the HotPass idea, ran it by NASCAR, who loved it. Presumably, NASCAR got paid again for HotPass. Fox is providing the additional cameras, equipment, and announcers to make it a reality. Now, Fox has subscriptions to sell, with making a profit in mind. In the meantime, conventional race coverage is not affected; fans won’t miss out on what they’ve had for years. Those who opt-in can have a real value add in HotPass.

So let’s sum up: NFLNet tries to squeeze out more money, by providing just another means to distribute an existing product. It can hardly be argued that Bryant Gumbel and Chris Collinsworth bring much to the microphone to make the telecasts sizzle.

NASCAR, having already been paid, probably twice, provides another way for the fans to enjoy the sport, without taking away what anyone already has.

-k-

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Presented as a Public Service

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Presented without any drollery by yours truly, the text of the Bill of Rights, on its 215th birthday:

Amendment [I] Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment [II] A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment [III] No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment [IV] The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment [V] No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.

Amendment [VI] In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining Witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.

Amendment [VII] In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment [VIII] Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment [IX] The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment [X] The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

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Whither Interference?

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Can anyone offer a one-sentence, unambiguous summary of the NFL’s pass interference rule? I’m watching Dallas/Giants, I’ve seen two calls, neither of which I understand, and neither of which looked like pass interference to me.

Or, is pass interference the NFL equivalent of a NASCAR debris caution? More likely, we’re in the Cake and Circus stage of our Republic.

-k-

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No Santa’s Butt for Maine

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As I reported here last year, the state of Connecticut had banned a Holiday beer called Seriously Bad Elf, because it depicted Santa Claus on the label.

Not to be outdone, Maine has banned another offering from the same company. This one is called Santa’s Butt. The bottle, pictured here, depicts a Santa quaffing a beer while making his list and checking it twice.

The reason given by both states in banning the potables was that “the labels might be attractive to children.” OK, that’s good enough for me. I guess the inflatable NASCAR Budweiser cars, and stand-up cardboard cutouts of Dale Jr, that grace displays are not similarly attractive. News flash to Maine and Connecticut: children are attracted to lots of things, both good and bad. It’s the parent’s place to parent and provide guidance, not yours.

The brews are all imported by The Shelton Brothers, of Belchertown MA. They also have a blog, which unfortunately doesn’t support any kind of syndicated feed that I could find. The blog entry about the Maine case is here. The Maine Civil Liberties Union is representing the Sheltons, and the contention is that the labels have expressive value over and beyond identifying the contents of the bottle. It seems obvious to me that that’s the case; if they sold posters of either or both of the labels, I’d buy one. And if I see the beer for sale around here, I’ll buy a six-pack, at least.

-k-

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DirecTV Channel 212

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That would be the NFL Channel, on which Baltimore and Cincinnati are now playing the Thursday Night game. I don’t care much about the outcome of the game, I just wanted to see whether DirecTV carried it. I missed the Kansas City Chieves (against Denver at that) on Thanksgiving night, because my brother-in-law’s cable company doesn’t carry the NFL Channel.

The NFL wants money and lots of exposure for the channel, evidently more than the CableCos are ready to fork over at the moment. Aside from being an argument for switching to satellite, it’s a classic case of the market at work. No one has a “right” to see a sporting event, and as a customer in the market, an individual can either petition the NFL and Cable, forget the whole thing, or switch to satellite.

The above all sounds great until the Washington Redskins, or some other team favored by one of our congressional representatives, is relegated to an appearance on the NFL Channel. If cable doesn’t carry it, all sorts of pressure will be brought to bear on cable, the NFL, and anyone else they can think of, to preserve some “right” that isn’t a right at all.

-k-

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Futbol

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SWMBO and I watched a couple of NCAA Football games last night; the last part of Texas-Oklahoma, followed by Tennessee- Georgia. We enjoyed both games; our enjoyment was no doubt enhanced by both our chosen teams’ winding up victorious.

I observed that the NCAA has picked up one of the more disgusting customs of the NFL, that being the instant replay rule. The rule is seemingly invoked at random in NCAA, leading to umpteem replays of the play in question, and talking heads explaining in detail the fine points of the rule book as they apply to the situation.

Why, oh, why, is our Congress, Executive Branch, and governance in general, becoming more gamelike, while simultaneously our games require explanation by Philadelphia lawyers to make sure all calls are 100% correct?

What a country.

-k-

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It still takes two to tango

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The UN Security Council has passed a resolution to end the conflict in Lebanon.

Seems to me that Hezbollah, not being a country and all, is under no obligation to comply with anything the UN decides.

And from the article:

The number of U.N. troops in the area would be increased from 2,000 to a maximum of 15,000; they would be joined by 15,000 Lebanese troops.

If I’m Hezbollah, it sounds like more targets to me. If, on the other hand, the UN vote means “We’re agin’ the violence”, then rock on. And duck.

-k-

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Are You Ready for Some Football?

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Tonight, the Hall of Fame Game, from Canton OH. I don’t get as fired up about football as I once did, but tonight’s game features the Raiders against Philadelphia.

I’m a fan of the Kansas City Chieves, and as such, would probably be run out of KC for saying I like the Raiders also. But that Raider mystique, Al Davis periodically telling the NFL to get bent, and the general outlaw image of the team, makes them hard to resist in my book.

-k-

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