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March Madness: Too Many TV Ads
Except for perhaps “American Idol,” many people will tell you the
hottest viewing on TV is the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. For me,
“Idol” gets my vote every time. Why? Fewer commercials.
Among
the discerning, Division I college basketball is a game with flaws that need
fixing. Doesn’t matter whether it’s the NCAA tournament or regular
season, college hoops should be a better game to watch and play.
The
frequency and length of the TV timeouts is abominable. Every four
minutes a TV timeout is imposed so that networks and athletic
departments can line their pockets with money. Not only can you count
on the TV timeouts, but it’s pretty likely, too, the coaches will call
one or two timeouts during these four minute periods. In a span of five
minutes real time we can be “treated” to three commercial breaks!
The
result is college games don’t have much non-stop action and that’s an
affront to the beauty of basketball. For participant and spectator
alike, basketball is best played and watched during multiple minutes of
uninterrupted action. Instead of a game that flows, too often we see a
product that seems like a tease to make us watch a tiresome babble of
advertising messages.
While
the takeover of college basketball by the TV bean counters and Madison
Avenue creative teams is a relatively new development, NCAA hoops is
also off its game with the five foul rule for disqualification. First,
the college game is over officiated and too many fouls are called,
particularly violations close to the basket where more contact should be
green light, not red light. Second, fans come to see the best players
compete, not watch them spend inordinate amounts of time on the bench
because of fouls.
Ohio
State and other Big Ten Conference basketball fans can tell you about
the numerous games this season when they watched freshman phenom
Greg
Oden be charged with early first half fouls and then sit on the
bench. It will likely be no different for Oden, Texas superstar
Kevin Durant and other star players during the NCAA tournament.
Gee, do I turn on these games to watch the likes of Oden and Durant, or
do I view them to see a second stringer? Please, change from five fouls
to six and loosen up the calls.
College basketball could be improved, too, by adding four minutes to its
games. Use two 22-minute halves, or four quarters with periods of 11
minutes each. Keep the same darn number of TV commercials (please,
don’t add any) and spread the ads over more minutes than presently
available with two 20-minute halves. We’re probably dreaming on this
next one, but reduce the coaches’ allotment of game timeouts from five
to four. The longer games will provide more entertainment for fans, a
better flowing game for spectators and players, and perhaps more playing
opportunity for reserves. |
Doesn’t matter whether it’s the NCAA tournament or regular
season, college hoops should be a better game to watch and play.
For participant and spectator alike,
basketball is best played and watched during multiple minutes of
uninterrupted action.
The college game is over officiated and
too many fouls are called, particularly violations close to the basket
where more contact should be green light, not red light.
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Souhan Predicts Twins to Finish Second
Jim Souhan has proven his baseball expertise through the years
covering the Twins first as a reporter and now as a columnist for the
Star Tribune. He’s an admirer of the 2007 Twins and also the American
League’s Central Division.
Pressed for a predicted order of finish, he said Tigers, Twins, Indians,
White Sox and Royals.
Souhan added a quick disclaimer that the order of teams could easily
change in “by far” baseball’s best division. “A really talented team is
going to finish fourth in the Central this year,” he told Sports
Headliners.
Souhan “loves” the Twins lineup and bullpen and likes the club house
chemistry. He also “loves the young arms” of potential starting
pitchers Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin
Slowey. “To me the key is not getting buried early in the season
with the rotation as it is (mostly veteran questionables Sidney Ponson, Ramon Ortiz,
Carlos Silva),” Souhan said. “If they (the Twins) can get
through mid or late May and not be buried, still have those young arms
in reserve and ready to pitch in the major leagues, they’re in pretty
good shape. While it’s hard to pick any team (in the division), look
out (for the Twins).”
Souhan talked about the veteran pitchers contributing early while
Perkins and Slowey develop in the minors but he sees a bigger role for
Garza right away. “When you look at what this team’s aspirations are,
they’re going to need a real No. 2 starter (behind Johan Santana),”
Souhan said. “Garza is the only guy in camp right now who is capable of
being a No. 2. If they get to July and their rotation is starting
Silva, Ortiz, (Boof) Bonser and Ponson, then they’ve got a
true ace (Santana) and a bunch of fours and fives. Maybe a three at
best, Bonser.
“If
you have Garza and he pitches the way he’s capable with that arm, then
you’ve got legitimate No. 1 and No. 2 (pitchers) who can any given night
go out and completely shut down the opposition. You can fill in behind
two guys like that. Also, if they get to the playoffs and Garza is
pitching like a true No. 2, now it’s not all on Santana. You’ve got a
chance to win the first two games.” |
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins
Matt
Garza
“A really talented team is going to finish
fourth in the Central this year.”
Jim Souhan on the Central Division race
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins
Johan Santana
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Worth Noting & Quoting
Pavol Demitra is the only player on the Wild and one of the few in
the NHL who uses a wooden stick instead of a composite. “For me I can
shoot much harder and (with) more accuracy,” he said. “I can hit any
corner I want. Every shot is just exactly the same kind of speed. …”
The
Big Ten Conference athletic directors are expected to discuss expanding
the number of conference football games when they meet this spring.
Each school now plays eight conference opponents and if there is any
increase a ninth game might be most likely, according to a Big Ten
source.
Jim Dutcher, the best TV analyst in the Big Ten Conference, offers
these Final Four picks: Florida, Ohio State, North Carolina and
Kansas.
Four
of the nine head coaching basketball positions in the Mountain West
Conference are open, Wyoming, Colorado State, New Mexico and Utah. Will
former Gopher coach Dan Monson show interest?
The
lineup of concerts coming up at Xcel Energy Center includes
Christina
Aguilera, March 19; Rod Stewart, April 25; Billy Joel,
May 9; Kenny Chesney, May 13 and The Police, July
3.
The MIAC recently announced its men’s hockey
award winners and Augsburg College senior forward Aaron Johnson
was named Player of the Year. Johnson finished the conference season in
the top four in points, goals and assists. Augsburg’s Chris Brown
was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Auggies to a third
place MIAC finish and a 9-3-4 record.
Gustavus Adolphus College senior defenseman
Andrea Peterson was named the women’s Player of the Year. Peterson
earned her fourth MIAC Player of the Year award after leading the
Gusties to the MIAC title and a 17-1 conference record. St. Olaf head
coach John Bazzachini was named Coach of the Year. The Oles
finished the MIAC regular season in second place with a 12-5-1 mark.
College of St. Catherine senior forward
Angie Johnson received the 2006-07 Sheila Brown Award. The
award is given to a senior who has made a long-term contribution to her
team’s success and consistently competed with good sportsmanship.
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Pavol Demitra
John M. Williams, DDS
Cosmetic & Family Dental Care
612-521-7611 |
