look? It wasn't that difficult, was it?
The NFL and NBC sold Saturday night's Dolphins vs. Chiefs playoff game beyond a wall of ransom, so many people would have otherwise tuned in to watch what was expected to be the most enticing game of the weekend. Millions have chosen to live without the game.
And that's the NFL and MLB's smug new TV business model. It's a condition that avid viewers can't live without. That's a great strategy. As if greed is undefeated, as if greed doesn't kill, as if, in the words of Wall Street, pigs can't be slaughtered.
Or does the public not realize that the NFL is counting on us to fund the removal of things that the company cannot grow without its most trusted and dedicated customers?
As reader Bruce Korman succinctly put it, “The day half the country snowed in this game.” [had it been seen over the air] It would have been a ratings monster. ”
And thanks to NFL Treasurer Roger Goodell's sublime leadership, what would have been an all-in game was played to a minimal television audience in dangerous arctic night conditions for both players and spectators. I was disappointed. That sarcastic sense of humor included the player's remark that safety is a top priority and the warm, fuzzy words, “It's all about the fans.”
The game was designed to get maximum funding, $110 million from NBC/Peacock, in exchange for one-night box office success.
So, while Sunday night's Rams vs. Lions “had a peak audience of over 38 million viewers,” according to NBC, NBC claims it was a “record” behind a streaming/pay wall. They once again insulted the people with their transparent and easily dismissed fool-bait propaganda. 23 million people watched Miami-KC, but the total was even higher because metropolitan Miami and Kansas City were available on terrestrial television.
But even if 23 million people watched the Rams vs. Lions on terrestrial television, based on NBC's numbers, 15 million more people would have watched the Rams vs. Lions on terrestrial television than NBC's “record-breaking” game against the Peacocks. This is a poor record as no match has ever been sold exclusively. Move to pay-per-view operations. Indeed, if he had had 10 million fewer buyers, it would have been held, as NBC called it, “the largest live streaming event in U.S. history.''
As for Goodell, he claimed to be “excited” about the pay-per-view numbers, which was predictably disingenuous. Was he “thrilled” and “proud as a peacock” that the crowd was reduced to what would have been millions of people watching an NFL playoff game?
NBC, from Mike Tirico to Sunday night's pregame staff, put on a triple Lutz to sell this fight, which was held to ransom at the expense of credibility.
CNBC investment “expert” Jim Cramer, financial guru days before former Metropolitan Museum of Art and deep-seated misanthrope Lenny Dykstra was arrested, convicted and jailed on fraud charges. He called on NBC's pregame panelists Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison to appeal for the acquisition of the Peacocks. .
The day before the Dolphins vs. Chiefs game, CNBC aired a kickoff countdown box surrounded by a peacock logo. Reader Peter Sullivan informed us that the same watch appeared on his Syfy channel, which is owned by NBC.
Yes, it's disgusting, but then again, shameless people, including NFL Treasurer Goodell, cannot be shamed.
Anyway, another Goodell reader, Walt Goldeski, writes: The Bills will play the Chiefs outdoors in Buffalo on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Does it make sense?
Hey, “It's all about our fans!”
College hoops suffer from delayed games
College basketball, for some inexplicable reason, currently seems intent on canceling games and nullifying action as a matter of design.
Saturday's game between the San Diego Saints and Utah on CBS was unplugged so referees could examine the TV monitors to determine whether a Utah player intentionally flopped.
There was no call, so keep going! Why stop playing to maybe find out? If he failed, he did it at his own peril and the risk of his team falling back on defense. For crying out loud, just keep playing!
On Saturday's Fox broadcast, St. John's and Creighton engaged in a close game with 57 seconds remaining. Then it was time to coach on each possession. This took him 8 minutes to complete his 57 seconds.
So last weekend's NFL game began with a solemn tribute to the memory and martyrdom of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birth and upbringing was derided as “Un Earl” by racists.
Then Treasury Secretary Goodell went back to praising vulgar, N-word spewing artists for the enjoyment of the American public during the Super Bowl halftime show.
I'm not talking about CBS, but the Super Bowl Network will be reporting it this season: racial essayist and NFL studio host James Brown relinquishes the courage to stand up for his beliefs. Deaf–or pandering–Goodell will take notice, but this year's headliner, Usher, checks off every backward-looking sexual issue. His only song, “Nice and Slow,'' has racist undertones.
Can I read the lyrics out loud, Roger? JB? no? why? Is it perfect for us and for us, even if it is inferior to you and yours?
But a soulful NFL end zone reminds us of the “end of racism.”
The announcer's word salad is tasteless.
I'm starting to get the hang of it. Replace something simple, simple, and immediately useful with something vague, redundant, and worthless. It will be as follows.
In the first quarter alone of Saturday's Texans-Browns game, NBC's Noah Eagle and Todd Blackledge reported that the Browns “were able to avoid negative yards,” “ran the ball downhill,” and “dialed up some long pass plays.” He said he decided to score the TD because of “I did it.” However, Houston quickly struck back with a “positive gain.”
On ESPN/ABC's Eagles-Bucs game, Troy Aikman, who earned about $93 million over five years, observed that Bucs running back Rathard White “was able to get some positive yards and move the chains.” did.
Of course, on the apparent scramble by Dallas QB Dak Prescott, Fox's Greg Olsen had to add during replays of the obvious that Prescott “used his feet.”
Even the reliable Sean McDonough is struggling. On ESPN's Rangers vs. Capitals on Saturday, he noted that Washington is “sliding downhill.”
Week review:
This week's product placement: A commercial for an erectile dysfunction treatment aired during the U-18 women's game between the United States and Sweden, which was aired on the NHL Network.
This week's Schadenfreude shots: Fox cuts to a disgusted Jerry Jones as the Packers humiliate the Cowboys on the road.
Bad timing this week: The Washington, D.C.-based Caps and Wizards are considering a move to nearby Alexandria, Virginia, for several reasons, not the least of which is that street crime in D.C. is hampering attendance. It is.
The Wizards released point guard Ryan Rollins on $1.7 million bond last week after he was charged with repeatedly stealing from a Target store in Alexandria.
This week's analysis: “This is the modern fast break,” Donnie Marshall said after a 3-point upcourt charge by the Huskies led to a 3-pointer during the Georgetown-UW game on Fox on Sunday.
This week's stats: The Nets, who blew a 16-point lead and lost to the Heat at home on Monday, missed 43 of 55 3-point heaves. In a game they lost by one point, many 3s limited the Nets to 16 free throws (compared to 25 for the Heat).
But unlike their recent loss at home to the Bucks, at least the Nets seemed to have some interest in winning. For example, is it possible to be a basketball fan and still pay to be a Nets fan?
