How long before we have to bail out the NFL?
posted at 9:05 pm on December 4, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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This is a trick question, of course. Thanks to dark threats of relocation, NFL owners have extorted billions from cities, counties, and states for publicly subsidized but privately owned stadiums. Some of them even made money selling naming rights to financial institutions that will be eating at Hank Paulson’s Bailout BBQ & Diner, so in essence they’ve found a way to get taxpayer money in several directions.
But I digress. The NFL Channel, the league’s effort to keep all of those advertising dollars to itself, has a monopoly on Thursday night football, and tonight’s game selection will give you an idea of how well they’ve managed to turn this into a showcase for the league. They have the Oakland Raiders squaring off against the San Diego Chargers, two teams that between them have seven wins all season and no hope of competing for a playoff spot. Last week, the NFL served up three turkeys on Thanksgiving. The week before, they scheduled the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers against the hapless Cincinatti Bengals.
They’ve just started the second quarter, and the Chargers are up 17-0, thanks to a Raiders fumble to set up one TD and a Raiders personal foul to keep another TD drive alive. Exciting!
Next week? The 6-6 New Orleans Saints play the 6-6 Chicago Bears. Maybe we’ll see a 6-6 tie.
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Incidentally, the Detroit Lions are owned by William Clay Ford, Sr.. You know, as in the William Clay Ford that served as Ford’s Chairman of the Board until 2005. As in the father of the current Executive Chairman of Ford.
amerpundit on December 4, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Perhaps Condi Rice should have been made NFL Commish…
I’d say you, Ed, but I wear my Seahawk jacket with pride. Even now.
HotAirJosef on December 4, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Meh, haven’t watched much since Tarkenton retired.
Jim62sch on December 4, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Yeah, but you gotta admit… Raiders do have the most interesting lookin fans….
Romeo13 on December 4, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Thanks for reminding me that I forgot to do my NFL picks.
JammieWearingFool on December 4, 2008 at 9:18 PM
I’m watching the Pittsburgh Penguins beat up on Carolina, 5-2 with 6 to go in the third period.
Zorro on December 4, 2008 at 9:21 PM
I lost interest in professional sports 20 years ago. And 20 years ago, it was better. As far the National Felons League in particular, I lost interest in that 24 years ago.
keep the change on December 4, 2008 at 9:23 PM
The Raiders? A pox on them. Forever.
Signed,
A fan of the Broncos since way before most of you were born.
PS: It meant something different back then. And it’s sad those days have passed.
wccawa on December 4, 2008 at 9:24 PM
did Ed just cast a pall on a frakking NFL thread?!
/dark times we live in, my friends …
Buckaroo on December 4, 2008 at 9:29 PM
The Saints and Bears will both be playing this week, so they won’t be 6-6 by the time they play next week. One team will have to win 7-6.
DaveO on December 4, 2008 at 9:29 PM
The NFL is for Sunday afternoon with beer and BBQ not Thursday night on a cable channel few get.
goat on December 4, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Yeah, Ed…………. as a lifelong Charger fan who HATES the Raiders, it is……….
But to the point that NFL owners get corporate welfare, no argument there. A couple of years ago, the City of San Diego had to pay the Chargers a “Ticket Guarantee”, i.e. the city had to buy up all unused tickets in order to get local TV play, and as a result, the Owners weren’t motivated in building a good team…………….. then they raised the prices.
Once that stopped, they started “we need a new stadium or we are going to take our ball and go home” mantra, but by that time, the labor unions had control of the city council and voted in over bloated retirement benefits which is sucking the city dry.
………………….. nice!
By the way……………………… you know that old story about a guy with a stone who lives in a glass house?
……………….. love the Pittsburgh Steelers “Open Thread” on Sundays.
Seven Percent Solution on December 4, 2008 at 9:33 PM
Now you’re talkin’. Do we all get free tix?
faraway on December 4, 2008 at 9:35 PM
The NFL Channel would be more successful without Chris Collingsworth.
conservative_in_texas on December 4, 2008 at 9:37 PM
If you have Time Warner or Comcast you can’t even get the NFL channel.
clearbluesky on December 4, 2008 at 9:44 PM
Meh…….. like all good intentions, the City first gave the tickets away to “needy children” who never had a chance to see an NFL game, but of course, being a bureaucracy, it soon spiraled into a slush fund for payoffs and favors.
To boot…………. when the City was paying for the tickets, the Charger’s front office didn’t spend a dime on advertising to try to sell the tickets and save the tax payers millions of dollars…………..
With this in mind, and the Trillions being handed out in Washington changing the very fabric of our society from a Free Market into Socialism, what kind of graft, greed, and corruption do you think almost 8 Trillion will buy you?
………….. and why isn’t anyone saying “STOP!”
Seven Percent Solution on December 4, 2008 at 9:45 PM
Well, at least the Chargers-Raiders game isn’t as much of a blowout as Louisville-Rutgers.
m064404 on December 4, 2008 at 9:48 PM
the Charlotte Bobcats are a good case of a failing team that was given a taxpayer bailout before they ever played a game.
the Hornets left town because a publicly funded Arena was voted down. Then the city-govt built one anyway and the NBA gave Bob Johnson the chance to be the first black owner over the Larry Bird Group…stupid decision.
nobody gives a rip about the Bobcats, if the Hornets were still in Charlotte they’d probably have fans again with Chris Paul and winning and all. Johnson has lost money and may sell his share to Michael Jordan
jp on December 4, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Looks like i got that wrong. You can get it on Comcast if you’re willing to get one of their more expensive packages, it’s Time Warner that doesn’t offer it at all.
clearbluesky on December 4, 2008 at 9:51 PM
TW and NFL are in a dispute, NFL Network claims they are trying to make TW make NFL Network part of regular cable and that TW only wants it as a part of a sports package for an extra 6 bucks a month or something.
jp on December 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Yeah, but those Houston Texans fans had some pretty cool stuff going last weekend.
Y-not on December 4, 2008 at 9:58 PM
Yep, we had it free on Comcast for a while, then it went to a package. I think Charter didn’t carry it for a while (near me, anyway).
The best part was the NFL sending my emails telling me to contact Comcast to protest!
I wrote back reminding them about their idiotic deal with Direct TV. I can’t get Direct TV anyway, but still… what a terrible business decision that was. “Let’s offer an exlusive package to the smallest market possible!”
These days I wouldn’t pay extra for games though. 2.5 hours of idiot beer commercials and bad announcers, with a 10% chance of seeing a good game.
reaganaut on December 4, 2008 at 10:02 PM
One of several reasons I am no longer a fan.
jgapinoy on December 4, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Haven’t watched the NFL since they went on strike.
Hog Wild on December 4, 2008 at 10:08 PM
The NFL is 70% black, Ed. I guess we know where you fall on the Racism-O-Meter.
Akzed on December 4, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Well, my favorite NFL is the New Orleans Saints and have been ever since I attended my first game in New Orleans back in the 70’s. So maybe the upcoming Obama regime, in the spirit of fairness and spreading the wealth, will forgo the playoffs, the Super Bowl and just name the Saints as Super Bowl Champions?
Carl on December 4, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Some sports team owners have taken advantage of the taxpayers-perhaps the prime example is Democrat insider Peter Angelos in Baltimore.
But some team owners have built new stadiums with private funds, with little government help. Like the Kraft family in New England with the Patriots.
Of course, the Patriots are “cheaters”, so that is irrelevant.
Del Dolemonte on December 4, 2008 at 10:29 PM
I’m with you Carl. Now if we can get the rest of the league to buy in on this.. :)
itsspideyman on December 4, 2008 at 10:36 PM
The Hornets left town because the principal owner, George Schinn, was a greedy, corrupt bastard who made the robber-barons look like amateurs.
Same s**t, different sport.
hillbillyjim on December 4, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Del Dolemonte on December 4, 2008 at 10:29 PM
You are right for once
Jamson64 on December 4, 2008 at 10:53 PM
But, Ed don’t you realize – tonight isn’t just a crappy game matching the league’s most paranoid-psychotically run team against this year’s biggest underachievers, it’s a crappy game matching the league’s most paranoid-psychotically run team against this year’s biggest underachievers that’s being broadcast in 3-D! (See the Raiders’ fumbles coming right at you just as if you were on the field yourself trying to play out the season…)
jon1979 on December 4, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Where will the bailouts stop? Every abused company cannot be bailed out. Its got to end somewhere.
johnnyU on December 4, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Fan of both of the New York Teams since 1967…
Have been having complete fun this season (as opposed to one side of fun on occasion) for the first time…
And now members of both teams seem determined to screw it up…
Ain’t no justice…
But on the bright side, even if both teams collapsed, they would STILL play better than the three stinkers the nets put on the air Thanksgiving Day. Were any of those games competititve after the 1st quarter?
52Ranger on December 4, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Ed, you actually paid for the NFL Channel? I wouldn’t give those pirates a dime.
irishspy on December 4, 2008 at 11:47 PM
This is why I hate pro football. I’ll stick with college ball any day… although I have a SERIOUS BEEF about OU somehow sneaking past Texas in the BCS. WE WERE ROBBED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Harris and AP polls just HATE Texas. I’m sure it has something to do with Bush, or global warming, or something..
pullingmyhairout on December 4, 2008 at 11:49 PM
I still get confused when I hear the Cardinals will be playing against St. Louis.
I was at a game where Marlon Briscoe played QB. Not quite vertical-striped socks, but still quite back there.
Rhinoboy on December 4, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Thanks for playing hard Chargers……………
………… the Raider’s fans look extra stupid in those costumes when they loose, but we are all still Americans, aren’t we?
This is just a football game, right……….?
To the American Armed Forces, who didn’t have a chance to watch the game tonight……….. God Bless You All!!!
Seven Percent Solution on December 5, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I am just waiting for Arlen Specter to get involved again and force the NFL to make the games available to the general public.
The type of buzz these Thursday night games generate? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Mallard T. Drake on December 5, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Not that I am at all expecting this to happen, or happy at all about the prospect of an 8-8 Charger playoff team, but facts are facts.
Thanks to the Broncos, the Chargers are not yet eliminated from playoff contention. *knock on wood*
“No hope” is an opinion, not a fact, Ed. ;-)
Hawkins1701 on December 5, 2008 at 1:04 AM
Pretty optimistic isn’t that Ed? I remember back in the day when Married With Children would mock Fox for the crappy stations they were stuck with. The NFL could be just as easily mocked. One lone guy with a beer helmet standing outside an electronics store watching the game through the store window might tell that story. Cable subscribers by and large won’t “see” any of the game.
NTropy on December 5, 2008 at 1:15 AM
Signed,
A fan of the Broncos since way before most of you were born.
PS: It meant something different back then. And it’s sad those days have passed.
wccawa on December 4, 2008 at 9:24 PM
You can say that again. Roman Gabriel, Joe Namath, Rosie Grier. Ahhhhhh, That was when they stomped tail! No fooling around. They didn’t get much money. Now, it is different. Gets boring.
sheebe on December 5, 2008 at 1:17 AM
San Diego fan remembering the past……… maybe this is what started to turn the game …… who knows, just a thought…
Rest in Peace Lyle…………. Rest in Peace……… I hated you as a bad ass mother fu$$er who beat my Chargers, but you are and will always be one heck of a football player….
………. with respect to your family, you are missed.
Seven Percent Solution on December 5, 2008 at 1:29 AM
“But in 1992, seven years after playing in his last regular-season game, Alzado died from brain lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. He was 43. Although there is no medical link between steroids and brain lymphoma, Alzado was certain the drugs were responsible for his cancer. He became a symbol of the dangers of steroid abuse.”
I remember him too. That was sad :( Steroids, not wise to mess with. 92 was still a great time in Football.
sheebe on December 5, 2008 at 1:38 AM
If we had to bail out a Football Team. Could we get all the dodger dogs we can eat? I would go for that then! :)
sheebe on December 5, 2008 at 1:49 AM
Everything that Paulson and government leaders are doing to “save” the economy, is actually insuring its demise.
The two main reasons why our economy is doomed for failure are:
1) America (and Americans) consumes more than it produces.
2) America (and Americans) borrows more than it saves.
Under these conditions, the American standard of living can only be sustained by selling off assets that we have accumulated in the past, and/or borrowing money with a promise to repay it in the future. Obviously this can not go on indefinitely, there will come a day of reckoning. This day may be postponed slightly with government bailouts. But bailouts will only exacerbate the problem because they will undermine the foundation of our capitalist system. Also, the demand for continuing government bailouts will become insatiable. Bailouts will lead to the eventual insolvency of the federal government.
Two Concise Reasons Why We Face Certain Economic Doom
garyganu on December 5, 2008 at 6:38 AM
I am not a sports fan. I dont and cant get excited about a bunch of semi-literate millionaires who couldnt get a real job, chasing a ball around a field or dropping a round ball through a hoop.
And it is true that pro sports team owners have extorted billions from taxpayers, most of whom cant even afford a ticket to get into the stadia they paid for.
If the NFL, the NBA, and MLB disappeared tomorrow in a mother ship that took them to a galaxy far, far away, I could not care any less about them than I do right now. Matter of fact, our youth might be better off for it. Consider Plaxico.
Flame away.
abcurtis on December 5, 2008 at 6:53 AM
WE?? what position do you play?
abcurtis on December 5, 2008 at 7:12 AM
In order to achieve ‘faaiiirnesss’ I say the 59 Demos + McCain offer up a new law that says every team must finish 8-8 every year and all teams share in the SuperBowl. And also, every alternate year a black QB has to be named MVP and every 7 years an Asian linebacker has to be named player of the year.
It’s how Obama chooses his cabinet, why not do the same in pro sports?
angryed on December 5, 2008 at 7:22 AM
The NFL?
Heck, how long before we have to bailout the oil industry?
Oil could drop to $25 a barrel.
drjohn on December 5, 2008 at 8:12 AM
NFL aside, China lectures the USA.
Bail out or repayment due?
maverick muse on December 5, 2008 at 8:25 AM
re: NFL.
Go Giants!
rbj on December 5, 2008 at 8:30 AM
You think those games are bad. Every game in which the Eagles have “competed” this season has been a yawner. NFL football is a bad product right now.
james23 on December 5, 2008 at 9:22 AM
The real action is in college although don’t get me started on the abortion known as the BCS. Pro players stopped taking their profession seriously decades ago. With few exceptions, most games are a scripted joke.
grdred944 on December 5, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I despise all public funding of sports. Why? Three words.
Bread and circuses.
Nathan_OH on December 5, 2008 at 11:38 AM
“Looks like i got that wrong. You can get it on Comcast if you’re willing to get one of their more expensive packages.”
I already have digital cable, which you have to have to get HDTV channels.
The Sports Package is only $5.00 a month extra. And since sports is 90% of what I watch anyway, I’m happy with it. Besides the NFL Network, I also get Fox Sports channels across the country which have some great College Games.
I just wish I could figure out a way to block all of the crappy news channels on cable. A la carte should be an option.
NoDonkey on December 5, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Dude the games are scheduled before the season. This issue has been ongoing for years with Monday Night Football and now with all the other prime time games. To partially address the problem they instituted “flex weeks” for Sunday night football last year. Starting in week 10 or 12 NBC can choose to select a different Sunday game to show (subject to some restrictions). Sunday Night Football has been in “flex weeks” for a few weeks now but haven’t had to change a game until this week. Thanks to the “flex week” format instead of seeing the NE/Seattle game Sunday night you’ll see the Washington/Baltimore game instead.
Unfortunately due to the nature of the NFL it is not feasible to jumble games around to different days (and Fox and CBS probably wouldn’t be too happy about having 3 instead of one top games poached a week) so Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football are stuck with the games they select before the season.
In any case to say that the NFL is a bad product right now is delusional. They remain the biggest draw in professional sports in the US right now. While it may be that your particular team is not competing this year and thus it’s a bad season for you in total this season has been very exciting up to this point. There have been multiple exciting, tight games virtually every Sunday and the playoffs are still wide open at the wildcard level. About half of the division titles are still up for grabs depending how you look at it.
Big E on December 5, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Like the photo. I believe that is the only team in the NFL that has lost to the Texans every time we’ve played them. And their fans show up dressed for Halloween whether its September or December. Black and gray grease paint in 90 degree/90 percent weather must be fun.
DanMan on December 5, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Which they badly needed to do after the Rangers fiasco game the night before.
Sabu! Sabu! Sabu!
rightwingprof on December 5, 2008 at 1:46 PM
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