tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post116178109207016678..comments2024-03-17T03:18:56.070-04:00Comments on Dan Shanoff: Wednesday A.M. Quckie:*What* Kenny Rogers Scandal?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161815153864601832006-10-25T18:25:00.000-04:002006-10-25T18:25:00.000-04:00"The globalization of the NFL is an inevitability;...<I>"The globalization of the NFL is an inevitability; fans might as well embrace it. (<B>Most fans of a given team don't go to the games anyway</B>, and imagine the expanded fan base when a foreign city adopts the team.)"</I><BR/><BR/>The reason behind that is because so many tickets are locked up with season ticket holders that average fans cant get ahold of tickets for games.<BR/><BR/>If the NFL wants to play overseas, fine but why waste anything more then a preseason game there. Someone said today, and it might have been on 1st and 10 on ESPN, that the fans overseas will turn out for games wether there preseason or not.Travishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01676482582616039215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161801092934336672006-10-25T14:31:00.000-04:002006-10-25T14:31:00.000-04:00The neutral schedule has to be intra-conference ba...The neutral schedule has to be intra-conference based on last years finish, i.e. first place NFC East place a first place team from the AFC Division they are not playing that year, this year would match up the Giants against either Patriots or Denver, it would be easy to schedule without conflict. <BR/><BR/>Regarding matchup's, looking at the fan base a Giant-Patriot game in Dublin seems a natural fit, between those two cities they have as many irish as Ireland. Plus the love of Rugby Union in Ireland would translate well to the NFL. <BR/><BR/>I also like Oakland v. Tampa in San Juan, good priate back drop, <BR/><BR/>San Francisco v. San Diego in Madrid, <BR/><BR/>Carolina v Jacksonville in Rio de Janiero, since Jaguars and Panthers are really names for the same South American big cat.rukrusherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02005928545753221172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161795444998746262006-10-25T12:57:00.000-04:002006-10-25T12:57:00.000-04:00shoes do make the man.dan, this goes back some, an...shoes do make the man.<BR/>dan, this goes back some, and the names can scare you, but...<BR/>when dave bliss (yikes) took over the head coaching job at new mexico, he brought along with him a contract with Pony sneakers. his star player was luc longley (egad) and luc developed achilles problems while wearing the pony's. luc went to wearing another brand and painting over the new logo.<BR/>even an amateur like myself can "feel" a bad pair of shoes.<BR/>i for one will keep watching stephon's shoe situation<BR/>alohabarry finkenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13549595860453864420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161794413262798672006-10-25T12:40:00.000-04:002006-10-25T12:40:00.000-04:00Dr. Z: "Am I anxious about the Vikes' appearance o...Dr. Z: "Am I anxious about the Vikes' appearance on ESPN's Monday-night show? You bet. Forget the game. I understand the special guest in the booth will be Rep. Mark Foley."Worldwide Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02392063253787919708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161793834552141672006-10-25T12:30:00.000-04:002006-10-25T12:30:00.000-04:00Saints in Rome!Saints in Rome!Ingrid and Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04839516417267884278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161793428713418022006-10-25T12:23:00.000-04:002006-10-25T12:23:00.000-04:00You know how ESPN does that ESPN360 thing for game...You know how ESPN does that ESPN360 thing for games, where you see one camera angle on the WWL, another one on the deuce, and Dick Vitale's bald head for 2 hours straight on ESPNU?<BR/><BR/>This would be an interesting way to show MNF. Have separate announcing teams do the game on ESPNs 1 and 2. In fact, have separate production crews. You might have one crew try to be all over the top, invite Oprah into the booth, six sideline reporters....The other crew, instead of playing "can you top this?" would instead understate its coverage....put good announcers (Jaws and Vermeil?) in the booth and let the game be the thing.<BR/><BR/>I'm too young to remember the separate broadcasts that NBC and CBS did for Super Bowl I. Is there anyone here old enough to differentiate the broadcasts? (Curt Gowdy versus Ray Scott, no?)Brian in Oxfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16053368055698118199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791958327472552006-10-25T11:59:00.001-04:002006-10-25T11:59:00.001-04:00The Neutral Field game is genius. I'm having flas...The Neutral Field game is <I>genius</I>. I'm having flashes of pro games played in places like the Swamp, Neyland Stadium, <I>Smurf Turf!</I> <BR/><BR/>I am totally on board with this. How awesome would it be to have a Bucs-Jaguars game in the Swamp on some weekend when UF is off in Nashville beating up on Vandy?TJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923521765537437204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791942684989542006-10-25T11:59:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:59:00.000-04:00You think the Packers fans who waited 30 freakin' ...<I>You think the Packers fans who waited 30 freakin' years to get season tickets want to watch them play in London?</I><BR/><BR/>You couldn't be more right. Playing NFL games in Europe? Seriously?<BR/><BR/>I can't think of a better way to destroy the leauge than to try to "globalize" it. The NBA is slowing going that route and ... well ... the NBA is just dreadful.<BR/><BR/>What helps make football so great is the crowds. Green Bay. New England. Pittsburgh.<BR/><BR/>Toronto? London? Paris? Ummm ....<BR/><BR/>If anything, the NFL need to make its league <I>smaller</I>. Two less teams, at least. Cut two preseason games, at least. Leave the playoffs alone. They are perfect (except for the stupid 2 week break before the SB).Worldwide Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02392063253787919708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791776815173872006-10-25T11:56:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:56:00.000-04:00Also, i don't have a single gripe about ESPN's lat...Also, i don't have a single gripe about ESPN's latest <A HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2006&week=8" REL="nofollow">Power Rankings</A>marcomarcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17507640418000407851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791681327620362006-10-25T11:54:00.001-04:002006-10-25T11:54:00.001-04:00i agree with the poster who said they should drop ...i agree with the poster who said they should drop a pre-season game to add the international game.<BR/><BR/>i also think they should find a way to play the international games near large bases of U.S. Troops serving abroad... and allocate a certain number of tickets to the troops.Sheldizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01198083524704018695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791675662217482006-10-25T11:54:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:54:00.000-04:00The Bengals vs the Vikings in Amsterdam.What would...The Bengals vs the Vikings in Amsterdam.<BR/><BR/>What would be the over/under on:<BR/>Pregame Altercations<BR/>Substance Abuse suspensions<BR/>Domestic Abuse suspensionsmarcomarcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17507640418000407851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791424371604652006-10-25T11:50:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:50:00.000-04:00Bashing ESPN has been pretty easy to do these days...Bashing ESPN has been pretty easy to do these days, and while I will no doubt subject myself to cries of, "Well, if you don't like ESPN ... then just don't watch it!" there is still a point to make. <BR/><BR/>There are things ESPN does that I appreciate - mainly, they pay for the rights to broadcast games. NBA, MLB, NFL, College football & basketball. They're all over the place. And I appreciate them for doing it.<BR/><BR/>But they just go so overboard about the whole thing. You can take many examples, but since Dan brought up MNF, it is topical for these purposes.<BR/><BR/>Football is my favorite sport and I will rarely miss a MNF game. I just wonder why ESPN can't deliver these games to us in a more understated format? Seriously. Why do we need to see "Pink" at the beginning of every broadcast? Why does TK have to act all serious, talking about Jerry Jones (or whoever it is) "selling his soul to the devil" in this big pre-game speech? It's a goddamn football game - that's it. <BR/><BR/>Why do we need two sideline reporters? Why do we need even <I>one</I> sideline reporter? Honestly, somebody answer that question for me. They are <B>useless</B>. <BR/><BR/>The worst are the in-game interviews and the crowd shots. Tom Cruise during that 'Skins game. Charles Barkley. Was Spike Lee on during the Saints game? Emmitt Smith. Hank Williams. And all of this is taking place ... during the game, while there is action on the field, while the Giants are driving down the field! And we have to listen to Emmitt go on and on about how hard it is to prepare for a dancing contest. Honestly, I don't get it.<BR/><BR/>Can someone please come to the defense of ESPN here? Dan? Someone make some sense of this to me.<BR/><BR/>(And don't tell me it boosts the ratings. My girlfriend isn't going to all of a sudden want to watch MNF because the idiot announcers are talking about Dancing with the Stars for 10 minutes).Worldwide Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02392063253787919708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161791011037642732006-10-25T11:43:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:43:00.000-04:00and i just had an ideai thought the neutral sites ...and i just had an idea<BR/><BR/>i thought the neutral sites plan would make sched problems but i say they just ran the teams by last year record 1-32 and have 1 play 32 and 2 play 31 and so on<BR/><BR/>although you might have teams playing a division opponent for a third time....but hey a home 1 away 1 neural = more fair?GuyInTheCornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10281686811471557576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161790801595224872006-10-25T11:40:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:40:00.000-04:00Full credit to Horatio right here...THAT IS A GREA...Full credit to Horatio right here...<BR/><BR/>THAT IS A GREAT IDEA<BR/><BR/>17 games a season and 2 preseason with 1 game being neutral<BR/><BR/>think about it....if there were to be 16 games on neutral sites i'd say we'd have them in...<BR/><BR/>Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Mexico City, San Juan, Oklahoma City, LA, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Loisville, Las Vegas, Lincoln, Birmingham, and Boise (on the smurf turf)<BR/><BR/>that would be aewsome for everyone, especially the people who dont live near an nfl cityGuyInTheCornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10281686811471557576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161790530955196782006-10-25T11:35:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:35:00.000-04:00There is no god but football, and the frog is his ...There is no god but football, and the frog is his prophet.<BR/><BR/>This ESPN overkill is <I>slowly murdering me</I>. Is it Monday yet? I fucking wish it were so I didn't have to sit through endless self-promotion and overhype. It's like the week before the Super Bowl--but every damn week.TJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923521765537437204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161790283164269432006-10-25T11:31:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:31:00.000-04:00A few international thoughts...The most obvious on...A few international thoughts...<BR/><BR/>The most obvious one is:<BR/>- The Vikings in Scandanavia<BR/><BR/>Some others musings:<BR/>- New England in Old England <BR/>- Seahawks in Vancouver<BR/>- 49ers in Tokyo<BR/>- Lions or Bengals in Johanesburg<BR/>- New Orleans in ParisMr. Travel Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06990646143370534194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161789077672713842006-10-25T11:11:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:11:00.000-04:00By the way, I'm not talking about Hank Williams in...By the way, I'm not talking about Hank Williams in the booth. I'm talking about all the coverage of MNF that happens in the 24 hours leading up to the game -- not to mention that "Is It Monday Yet?" ad campaign.<BR/><BR/>But, again, we'll see how it goes when MNF runs into a less appealing matchup. But so far, the audience size has been remarkable.Dan Shanoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08126386161198401693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161788944201845582006-10-25T11:09:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:09:00.000-04:00I love the idea of picking out which international...I love the idea of picking out which international cities might make the most sense for a given NFL team to play in. (ie, Bills in Toronto. Maybe Lions in Toronto?)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, let's stretch imaginations here to figure out the best fits of NFL team and international destination.<BR/><BR/>-- D.S.Dan Shanoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08126386161198401693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161788912768355632006-10-25T11:08:00.000-04:002006-10-25T11:08:00.000-04:00If the NFL continues to fight for parity, the smal...If the NFL continues to fight for parity, the smallest advantages become magnified. A team with one fewer home game, even if it is a "neutral" game, can be at a big disadvantage for the season. Just think of what the home crowd means to a lot of teams. This doesn't take into account home-filed advantages gained late in the season by teams that play outdoors up North in winter, or Denver with their thin air, or teams whose homes are in domes and build their team to play well in a dome.<BR/><BR/>Another huge problem is time zones. If my team is playing in Japan, do I have to stay up until 3am to watch it live? I think the NFL should stick with preseason games if they are sending some to other countries.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14561089277086762996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161788270893367742006-10-25T10:57:00.000-04:002006-10-25T10:57:00.000-04:00But how does ESPN's ratings compare to network MNF...But how does ESPN's ratings compare to network MNF ratings? mmm?<BR/><BR/>With football, I think it's a given they'll play in Latin America for one game and in Asia or Europe for the other. Canada is saturated to the point they have their own minor league (cfl). Buffalo should play an alternate game there sometime, but I don't see that happening as part of this.<BR/><BR/>Don't pick on Shaq for his policing efforts, because most police probably go through the same thing in obscurity. If he beats up a 5'1" guy, then you can pick on him!<BR/><BR/>As for hockey: Buffaslug POWER!!! How long can we go undefeated? <BR/><BR/>It almost washes that awful Bills vs. Patriots aftertaste away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161787600694305862006-10-25T10:46:00.000-04:002006-10-25T10:46:00.000-04:00Even if the Cards do win the WS, the NL is still a...Even if the Cards do win the WS, the NL is still an inferior league. Small sample size will have just produced an aberration.Myles!https://www.blogger.com/profile/08737765181093893033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161787167031763602006-10-25T10:39:00.001-04:002006-10-25T10:39:00.001-04:00I don't really see the NFL latching on that well g...I don't really see the NFL latching on that well globally. In Europe, it only seems to work in Germany. <BR/>I think there's a better chance of the U.S. finally getting on the Soccer bandwagon...than the rest of the world getting on the Football bandwagon.rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09286062038193331350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161786667752932232006-10-25T10:31:00.000-04:002006-10-25T10:31:00.000-04:00I don't think Canada will be as big of a focus in ...I don't think Canada will be as big of a focus in the NFL International branding. Canada already has TV deals in place with the NFL, and they are are for a pretty hefty price.<BR/><BR/>What the NFL wants is England/Germany/Mexico/China TV Networks shelling out millions because of increased demand of their product. <BR/><BR/>It will take years, and a lot of convincing, but it could happen.<BR/><BR/>Joe (Dayton)Trey (formerly TF)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16016679366233865869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161786455821946722006-10-25T10:27:00.000-04:002006-10-25T10:27:00.000-04:00I can't believe you didn't mention Evgeni Malkin h...I can't believe you didn't mention Evgeni Malkin has scored 4 goals in his first 4 NHL games! This hasn't been done for 14 years. He'll be going for 5 straight on Saturday against the soft and disarrayed Philly Flyers.<BR/><BR/>Where's the love?<BR/><BR/>Malkin also moved to left wing onto Sid "The Kid" Crosby's top line.WuzUpGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17432324921980566815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33624629.post-1161786230866321022006-10-25T10:23:00.000-04:002006-10-25T10:23:00.000-04:00As much as I hate the Cardinals after beating my M...As much as I hate the Cardinals after beating my Mets...I actually wouldn't mind them winning it all. I want all of the year-long negative comments about how "bad" the National League was/is to be squashed. <BR/><BR/>If anything, I think that the amount of fight the Cards have put up (winning 2 already), even if they lose the rest, just proves the argument against the NL was totally incorrect. Ever think that maybe the NL was ALWAYS as talented, simply more balanced than the top end AL (reason behind the higher number of average records, but MANY teams grouped together).Jake Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08201105067598986800noreply@blogger.com