Thursday, May 24, 2007
NFL No. 1 in Sports World?
Here's an interesting story from the star-telegram.com
NFL flawed and ugly, but it's No. 1 in sports world
"Of all the sports, the NFL continues to amaze in its marketing expertise. How else do you explain building a new billion dollar stadium and charging $900 per ticket for a Super Bowl, while the quality of the product on the field continues to diminish? Fascinating."
That's a bingo for Jim.
Locally, we celebrate this week the coming of a Super Bowl, and rightfully so.
We praise Jerry Jones for delivering on a promise to Arlington voters, and rightfully so.
Meanwhile, Jerry's football team is simply another of the many that is mired in the muck that is the NFL product of today. Blame it on whatever, but start with that combo of salary cap and a loosening of free agency movement.
Still, the NFL product is not close to what it once was, and will never again be there.
Yet, it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all in the heart, head and hip pocket of the public, or the almighty TV networks. The money continues to flow like the Trinity River after a good rain. The popularity of the league continues to soar. And nothing else, jock kingdom-wise, even compares. Fascinating, as Jim from Fort Worth noted.
In Vegas, where they will bet on anything, I suggest this new "prop wager" for the sports books:
"Will the Cowboys play in a Super Bowl before Arlington hosts one in 2011?"
Tell me, Cow Sheep, are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? A team that hasn't won a playoff game in more than a decade, a team that hasn't made a Super Bowl appearance since the '95 season, so speak up, Sheepsters. How would you bet?
Then again, does it really matter anymore how good the Cowboys will be next season or beyond? Texas Stadium will still fill up every Sunday, and when the new Boss Hawg Bowl opens in Arlington, fans and sponsors will be shoveling money at Jerry.
That's just the way it is for the NFL product of today. Flawed, and even ugly, but still The One and Only Game, locally and nationally.
By comparison, check out the so-called "competition."
The NBA?
All you need to know about the current status of professional basketball is that, for the first time in forever, two American-born "franchise saviors" are available in the draft next month, which is a good thing.
But then came the tale of the ping-pong balls this week, with a lottery system determining the eventual teams for Kevin Durant and Greg Oden.
One will end up in Portland, and the other in Seattle.
Durant and Oden have now become the "Big Foot" of professional sports. Playing in the Great Northwest, they will be reduced to myths for most of the country.
Another thing about the NBA -- not even those of us who love the game can actually watch the league's current version of the Final Four.
There is boredom in the West, and incompetence in the East.
But I'm sure glad David Stern personally destroyed the NBA's one remaining playoff series for entertainment. It's good to know Stern will enforce a stupid rule. And you are now left with what, Mr. Stern?
The NHL?
Anaheim and Ottawa in the Stanley Cup Finals. Anything else you need to know? (OK, I will watch, but would anyone else like to join me?)
Major League Baseball?
The local view is flawed because of our team. Actually, the game is doing well, nationally, but the shadow of Barry Bonds hangs over baseball, and as long as that's there, the image is smudged.
NASCAR?
I'm hesitant to put this sport in with the others, because even the Sumpin' Blowed (thank you, David Casstevens, for giving me that jewel years ago) crowd will have to admit to slippage in what was once a popularity boom.
Admittedly, however, NASCAR is bigger than the NHL, although I doubt Eddie Gossage will take that as a compliment.
Bottom Line:
We live in an NFL world. Flawed and ugly doesn't matter. The Super Bowl is coming to Arlington. And sorry, but I can't help you score tickets.
Randy Galloway's Galloway & Co. can be heard weekdays 3-6 p.m. on ESPN/103.3 FM.
SUPER COWBOYS?
So what are the Cowboys' chances of playing in Super Bowl XLV at their home stadium? Based on history, zero. A team has never played in its home stadium for a Super Bowl, but four teams have played a Super Bowl in their home state.
Super Bowl XI (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.)
Oakland 32, Minnesota 14
The Raiders traveled downstate to win their first Super Bowl title before 81 million TV viewers, the largest audience to watch a sporting event at the time.
Super Bowl XIV (Rose Bowl)
Pittsburgh 31, Los Angeles Rams 19
There was no home-field advantage for the Rams, who played their games at Los Angeles Coliseum, about 20 miles away. The Steelers won their fourth Super Bowl behind MVP Terry Bradshaw.
Super Bowl XIX (Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, Calif.)
San Francisco 38, Miami 16
The 49ers, who played their games at Candlestick Park, did not have to travel far for this rout of the Dolphins. MVP Joe Montana passed for 3 TDs and ran for another.
Super Bowl XXXVII
(Qualcomm Stadium,
San Diego)
Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21
This time, the Raiders had it handed to them in Southern California as the Bucs' defense intercepted five passes, returning three for touchdowns.
NFL flawed and ugly, but it's No. 1 in sports world
"Of all the sports, the NFL continues to amaze in its marketing expertise. How else do you explain building a new billion dollar stadium and charging $900 per ticket for a Super Bowl, while the quality of the product on the field continues to diminish? Fascinating."
That's a bingo for Jim.
Locally, we celebrate this week the coming of a Super Bowl, and rightfully so.
We praise Jerry Jones for delivering on a promise to Arlington voters, and rightfully so.
Meanwhile, Jerry's football team is simply another of the many that is mired in the muck that is the NFL product of today. Blame it on whatever, but start with that combo of salary cap and a loosening of free agency movement.
Still, the NFL product is not close to what it once was, and will never again be there.
Yet, it doesn't matter. Doesn't matter at all in the heart, head and hip pocket of the public, or the almighty TV networks. The money continues to flow like the Trinity River after a good rain. The popularity of the league continues to soar. And nothing else, jock kingdom-wise, even compares. Fascinating, as Jim from Fort Worth noted.
In Vegas, where they will bet on anything, I suggest this new "prop wager" for the sports books:
"Will the Cowboys play in a Super Bowl before Arlington hosts one in 2011?"
Tell me, Cow Sheep, are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? A team that hasn't won a playoff game in more than a decade, a team that hasn't made a Super Bowl appearance since the '95 season, so speak up, Sheepsters. How would you bet?
Then again, does it really matter anymore how good the Cowboys will be next season or beyond? Texas Stadium will still fill up every Sunday, and when the new Boss Hawg Bowl opens in Arlington, fans and sponsors will be shoveling money at Jerry.
That's just the way it is for the NFL product of today. Flawed, and even ugly, but still The One and Only Game, locally and nationally.
By comparison, check out the so-called "competition."
The NBA?
All you need to know about the current status of professional basketball is that, for the first time in forever, two American-born "franchise saviors" are available in the draft next month, which is a good thing.
But then came the tale of the ping-pong balls this week, with a lottery system determining the eventual teams for Kevin Durant and Greg Oden.
One will end up in Portland, and the other in Seattle.
Durant and Oden have now become the "Big Foot" of professional sports. Playing in the Great Northwest, they will be reduced to myths for most of the country.
Another thing about the NBA -- not even those of us who love the game can actually watch the league's current version of the Final Four.
There is boredom in the West, and incompetence in the East.
But I'm sure glad David Stern personally destroyed the NBA's one remaining playoff series for entertainment. It's good to know Stern will enforce a stupid rule. And you are now left with what, Mr. Stern?
The NHL?
Anaheim and Ottawa in the Stanley Cup Finals. Anything else you need to know? (OK, I will watch, but would anyone else like to join me?)
Major League Baseball?
The local view is flawed because of our team. Actually, the game is doing well, nationally, but the shadow of Barry Bonds hangs over baseball, and as long as that's there, the image is smudged.
NASCAR?
I'm hesitant to put this sport in with the others, because even the Sumpin' Blowed (thank you, David Casstevens, for giving me that jewel years ago) crowd will have to admit to slippage in what was once a popularity boom.
Admittedly, however, NASCAR is bigger than the NHL, although I doubt Eddie Gossage will take that as a compliment.
Bottom Line:
We live in an NFL world. Flawed and ugly doesn't matter. The Super Bowl is coming to Arlington. And sorry, but I can't help you score tickets.
Randy Galloway's Galloway & Co. can be heard weekdays 3-6 p.m. on ESPN/103.3 FM.
SUPER COWBOYS?
So what are the Cowboys' chances of playing in Super Bowl XLV at their home stadium? Based on history, zero. A team has never played in its home stadium for a Super Bowl, but four teams have played a Super Bowl in their home state.
Super Bowl XI (Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.)
Oakland 32, Minnesota 14
The Raiders traveled downstate to win their first Super Bowl title before 81 million TV viewers, the largest audience to watch a sporting event at the time.
Super Bowl XIV (Rose Bowl)
Pittsburgh 31, Los Angeles Rams 19
There was no home-field advantage for the Rams, who played their games at Los Angeles Coliseum, about 20 miles away. The Steelers won their fourth Super Bowl behind MVP Terry Bradshaw.
Super Bowl XIX (Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, Calif.)
San Francisco 38, Miami 16
The 49ers, who played their games at Candlestick Park, did not have to travel far for this rout of the Dolphins. MVP Joe Montana passed for 3 TDs and ran for another.
Super Bowl XXXVII
(Qualcomm Stadium,
San Diego)
Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21
This time, the Raiders had it handed to them in Southern California as the Bucs' defense intercepted five passes, returning three for touchdowns.
Labels: 2007 nfl, NFL, NFL news
# posted by Eho @ 11:37 AM 
Monday, May 14, 2007
Pittsburgh Steelers' top two draft picks injured
Bad news for the Steelers...The Pittsburgh Steelers' top two draft picks, linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley, were hurt Friday during the first day of a three-day minicamp and might not practise the rest of the weekend.
Timmons' groin was wrapped following the morning practice and Woodley injured a hamstring. Neither injury is believed to be serious, and both players will be re-examined before the first of two practices Saturday.
Timmons, from Florida State, was the 15th pick in last month's NFL draft. Woodley, from Michigan, was the 46th.
Timmons' groin was wrapped following the morning practice and Woodley injured a hamstring. Neither injury is believed to be serious, and both players will be re-examined before the first of two practices Saturday.
Timmons, from Florida State, was the 15th pick in last month's NFL draft. Woodley, from Michigan, was the 46th.
Labels: Pittsburgh Steelers
# posted by Eho @ 3:37 PM
