The Evolution of Sports Programming

On Friday, my sports cable coverage was expanded due to some network shuffling. As a sports package subscriber, I am now entitled to ESPNU, ESPNEWS HD, MLB Network, NBA Network, and some other non-descript channels. I spent all of about 15 minutes gazing upon the MLB Networks HD channel when I realized that this would be a welcome addition in my household. I had access to this channel prior to a programming switch for about a month prior to the season. It didn't look like much other than a lot of baseball. Fast forward to yesterday and I was receiving 2 to 3 minute highlight packages per game with home announcer game calls for each team's success. Until you've heard your 12,000th boo yah or odd rap song reference during a home run call, you can't fully appreciate this change of pace. When the box score came up, I got almost every stat for each team including pitchers. This level of coverage is what fans now expect to get for their viewing pleasure.

As NFL season approaches, I will be affixed to the all new HD edition of NFL Total Access on the NFL Network. That one hour smorgasboard of football is clearly the best thing that ever happened to football on tv. If you think that's grand, the MLB Network spends five hours per night with live look-ins and bonus coverage of every game. You only get the good parts, so the Twitter nation can always feel immediate gratification. I also spent part of last week serving on a panel for the Big Ten Network. Not just college sports, but a single conference of college sports has their own channel. As an alumnus, (by the way, you're one person, so you're an alumnus. unless you have two friends in your pocket quit calling yourself an alumni asshole) I can't get enough Purdue programming or any other Big Ten team outside of Indiana. This young network produced one of the best sports shows I watched in the calendar year-to-date in 1988-89 big ten basketball's greatest season.

If you've noticed one thing about these last two paragraphs, it has been the omission of the eastern seaboard programming network also known by its call letters ESPN. Outside of roughly four 1/2 hour shows during the middle of the work day, you need not utilize this channel. Anything you thought you've ever wanted from ESPN can be had at any given second on ESPNEWS. Unless you clamor for 20 minutes of legal coverage of a man not currently on an NFL roster, you can avoid this channel for anything other than live sports coverage. Even so, you're likely stuck with vanilla man Mike Tirico, angry Joe Morgan, America's worst GM Steve Philips, or Digger Phelps' ties. My suggestion to ESPN: cover sports, avoid being part of the story ala T.O./Dan Werder episodes, and quit hiring ex-sports superstars who can't put together a cogent thought. Until they figure this out, I hope you're all joining me in watching these great new league-operated networks.

Fantasy Reality Check

Training camp is officially in full swing. For those of you who have fantasy football drafts way too damn early, I'll drop some quick knowledge. Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL and he doesn't lose any looks to teammates ala another highly touted receiver in the NFC. Brandon Jacobs is an absolute beast and does more with 17 carries than most do with 25. Don't go overboard on Peyton, TB, or Brees at the top of your draft. Even if you miss out on a Rodgers, Warner, Rivers, or Romo, you are going to enjoy having Matt Schaub or Matt Ryan toss the ball for your squad with the weapons around them. Don't draft the Eagles defense. They just lost their starting middle linebacker, and you have to be strong up the middle. Greg Olson should be the tight end flavor this year, and if you have to overdraft him, go for it. He's a #1 wideout, not just a tight end.

With those quick hits out of the way, we're still in the middle of the stretch run for fantasy baseball. Don't go out and trade for Jake Peavy just because your favorite team got him. He's a high count pitcher who won't be allowed a high count once he returns. Stop looking at name players at this point in the year. Maggs, Vlad, and Garret Atkins won't push you into title contention. Focus on acquiring young players for bad teams and solid players on playoff contenders. Why you ask? They're going to be getting all the PT. That's the name of the game. No at bats equal no homers, no RBIS, and you get the picture. Injured prone vets on bad teams will obviously start to shut it down just while you start to rely on them. If you couldn't snag Gordon Beckham, keep your eyes peeled for Justin Smoak in Texas, anyone with a pulse in Pittsburgh, and maybe Matt LaPorta in Cleveland. Who is your pick to click that currently resides in the minor leagues? Wonder why I like the guys that I do in fantasy football this year? Well all you need to do is ask. If you need fantasy trade analysis or have specific questions, just post them right here. I'll be sure to reply and I bet some of the loyal followers will chime in as well.