At a Reuters Media Summit earlier this week, officials from the National Football League said they want to woo more women viewers to the sport, but are still working out the best strategy to do so. Women sports fans, the NFL found, wanted marketing that appealed to their interests but did not make them feel that they were being treated differently than men.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says that this is a very big initiative for the league. “(Women) fans want to be treated as real fans because they love the game and they understand the game, and they want to have the opportunity to experience the game just as anyone else does.”
According to the NFL’s market research, women make up approximately 40 percent of the viewing audience for the Super Bowl, but the broadcasts failed to speak to the female viewers. That’s because most of the TV ads broadcast during the event are for autos, beer and electronics and often filled with humor directed at young men.
The NFL is playing it smart. With more women holding down full-time careers and managing the family’s finances, it makes sense for the league to appeal to their advertising dollars. The danger I see is in “feminizing” telecasts or advertising too much. It’s important to keep the car and beer ads — women buy these items too — but advertisers need to create ads that will appeal to both sexes. As for the football telecasts, don’t change a thing. Women will tune in simply because they love the game or they have loyalty to a certain team.
The NFL can learn from NASCAR, which has built its marketing strategy of attracting women fans by promoting its stock car races as events for the entire family. In fact, I think the key to creating a more balanced fan base for any sport is to promote it as family entertainment. That way you have a pipeline of fans, for the present and for the future. Families tend to share their sporting interests through the generations. If a parent is a Cub fan, chances are their kids will grow up to be Cub fans too.
Now if we can only figure out how to draw more male fans to sports that women traditionally enjoy, such as figure skating and gymnastics.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Me and "My Boys"
I don’t watch much TV and generally don’t watch sitcoms, but I actually found one I could relate to. “My Boys,” which premiered on TBS last night, centers on a young, cute female sports writer named P.J. who covers the Chicago Cubs for the Chicago Sun-Times. Her closest friends are guys, and when the gang gets together to play poker or drink beer, they talk about dating and relationships. But despite her looks, her male friends, and her job as a sports reporter, P.J. has a hard time meeting guys to date. When I saw the previews for the show, I thought, “My God, this is me. This is my life.” Naturally, I had to tune in to see what the show is about.
There’s a lot of voiceover commentary throughout the show, and P.J. tries to draw comparisons between dating and baseball. Some comparisons are a bit of a stretch. Others, however, do make sense, such as trying to read signs of interest from a potential date much like reading the signs a coach is giving a player whether to steal base or not. If you miss the sign, chances are you’re thrown out at second base or picked off at first. Neither is a promising way to get a relationship off and running, if you get my meaning.
P.J. is a character I can relate to. We both love sports, and like P.J., my closest pals and baseball buddies are guys. While we don’t get together to drink beer and play poker, we have learned much from each other about relationships. And like P.J., it’s a lot easier for me to talk to a guy about sports than it is to, well, reach first base.
When she meets Bobby, the new beat reporter for the Chicago Tribune in the first episode, there is an immediate attraction, and viewers follow their awkward relationship through the ensuing episodes.
However, the show does lack logic and realism at times. For example, as a beat reporter, P.J. probably would be interviewing the players and coaches before or after the game, but we never see her doing that. When she shoots the bull with the other beat reporters after a game, they don’t talk about the game or the players. I would think that would be part of the day-to-day business of sports writing. I know it would be in my world. And wouldn’t a beat reporter travel with the team to cover road games? The show has yet to cover that. It’ll be interesting to see how the show’s writers attempt to handle the difficulties of dating, let alone having a social life, while you’re on the road most of the time.
Also, during the first episode, she and her guy friends get together to watch a Bears game on TV. Obviously, it has to be September, right? We all know it can’t be later than that because the Cubs never play in October. So if it’s September, why would any major newspaper start a new beat reporter at the end of the season? Why not introduce the Bobby character at the beginning of the baseball season, or even better, in spring training? Why introduce the story and these characters when the baseball season is nearing an end? How will the show’s writers handle P.J.’s off-season when she’s not at Wrigley Field covering her beat? It seems more logical to begin the show and story line during spring training.
Overall, I think “My Boys” has great potential, and I like the premise of the show. But it does need some tweaking. While the characters are fairly well developed, I’d like to see a little more depth to them. The writing is a bit weak, and some of the conversations among P.J. and her friends seem stilted at times. Yet there is an undeniable charm about this show. Besides, the guy who plays P.J.’s college friend Brendan is an absolute hottie.
There’s a lot of voiceover commentary throughout the show, and P.J. tries to draw comparisons between dating and baseball. Some comparisons are a bit of a stretch. Others, however, do make sense, such as trying to read signs of interest from a potential date much like reading the signs a coach is giving a player whether to steal base or not. If you miss the sign, chances are you’re thrown out at second base or picked off at first. Neither is a promising way to get a relationship off and running, if you get my meaning.
P.J. is a character I can relate to. We both love sports, and like P.J., my closest pals and baseball buddies are guys. While we don’t get together to drink beer and play poker, we have learned much from each other about relationships. And like P.J., it’s a lot easier for me to talk to a guy about sports than it is to, well, reach first base.
When she meets Bobby, the new beat reporter for the Chicago Tribune in the first episode, there is an immediate attraction, and viewers follow their awkward relationship through the ensuing episodes.
However, the show does lack logic and realism at times. For example, as a beat reporter, P.J. probably would be interviewing the players and coaches before or after the game, but we never see her doing that. When she shoots the bull with the other beat reporters after a game, they don’t talk about the game or the players. I would think that would be part of the day-to-day business of sports writing. I know it would be in my world. And wouldn’t a beat reporter travel with the team to cover road games? The show has yet to cover that. It’ll be interesting to see how the show’s writers attempt to handle the difficulties of dating, let alone having a social life, while you’re on the road most of the time.
Also, during the first episode, she and her guy friends get together to watch a Bears game on TV. Obviously, it has to be September, right? We all know it can’t be later than that because the Cubs never play in October. So if it’s September, why would any major newspaper start a new beat reporter at the end of the season? Why not introduce the Bobby character at the beginning of the baseball season, or even better, in spring training? Why introduce the story and these characters when the baseball season is nearing an end? How will the show’s writers handle P.J.’s off-season when she’s not at Wrigley Field covering her beat? It seems more logical to begin the show and story line during spring training.
Overall, I think “My Boys” has great potential, and I like the premise of the show. But it does need some tweaking. While the characters are fairly well developed, I’d like to see a little more depth to them. The writing is a bit weak, and some of the conversations among P.J. and her friends seem stilted at times. Yet there is an undeniable charm about this show. Besides, the guy who plays P.J.’s college friend Brendan is an absolute hottie.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
No Benching for Grossman
Bears' fans aren't happy unless they're discussing a quarterback controversy -- real or imagined. I'm probably in the minority when I say that Rex Grossman should not be benched after his dismal performance Sunday against the New England Patriots. What purpose does that serve? Grossman learns nothing by being benched, only that he'll need to look over his shoulder every now and then if he fumbles or throws an interception. Instead, coach Lovie Smith is putting trust in his quarterback, as is the offensive line. I think it's better to review the mistakes, correct them, then get back on the field for the next game. That's the only way young players will learn.
Understandably, fans are concerned about Grossman's ability to lead this team to a Superbowl victory. I'm not worried about the Superbowl; that's several months away. There are still four more games in the Bears' regular season, plenty of time to iron out whatever issues the team has. And really, this is a team problem, not just Grossman's. Lovie Smith is wise to admit that the entire team is at fault for Sunday's loss to the Patriots. He admitted that he made some bad play calls, and both the offense and defense had lapses.
Let's give some credit to the Patriots' defense (as well as other Bears' opponents) who have pressured Rex Grossman into forcing turnovers. They've looked at the game films and know that the young QB gets flustered under pressure, and they know he can be forced into making plays he shouldn't. It is up to the Bears' coaching staff to make adjustments so the offensive line can protect Grossman better and give him more time to make plays. When Grossman has time to throw downfield, the Bears can be electrifying to watch. But among Bear fans. Let's hope the former, and not the latter, is the team we see in the playoffs.
Understandably, fans are concerned about Grossman's ability to lead this team to a Superbowl victory. I'm not worried about the Superbowl; that's several months away. There are still four more games in the Bears' regular season, plenty of time to iron out whatever issues the team has. And really, this is a team problem, not just Grossman's. Lovie Smith is wise to admit that the entire team is at fault for Sunday's loss to the Patriots. He admitted that he made some bad play calls, and both the offense and defense had lapses.
Let's give some credit to the Patriots' defense (as well as other Bears' opponents) who have pressured Rex Grossman into forcing turnovers. They've looked at the game films and know that the young QB gets flustered under pressure, and they know he can be forced into making plays he shouldn't. It is up to the Bears' coaching staff to make adjustments so the offensive line can protect Grossman better and give him more time to make plays. When Grossman has time to throw downfield, the Bears can be electrifying to watch. But among Bear fans. Let's hope the former, and not the latter, is the team we see in the playoffs.
Yawney Exits as Hawks' Coach
In the revolving door that has become the Chicago Blackhawks head coaching job, Trent Yawney makes a quick exit after 18 months on the job. Denis Savard, a former Hawk and a popular player in his hey day, takes over.
Savard has never been a head coach, but has been an assistant under three previous Hawks' coaches. It'll be interesting to see what he has learned from them and what he will bring to the team. One thing is for sure, Hawks' management isn't showing much patience. They want fast results, and believe they have the team to achieve them.
Yawney only got 18 months or so to turn this team into a winner. How much time will Wirtz and Co. give Savard with essentially the same players?
Savard has never been a head coach, but has been an assistant under three previous Hawks' coaches. It'll be interesting to see what he has learned from them and what he will bring to the team. One thing is for sure, Hawks' management isn't showing much patience. They want fast results, and believe they have the team to achieve them.
Yawney only got 18 months or so to turn this team into a winner. How much time will Wirtz and Co. give Savard with essentially the same players?
Bulls Playing Head Games
So much is being made of the Bulls' benching of star center Ben Wallace after he broke team rules by wearing a red head band during Saturday night's game against the New York Knicks.
I'm not sure what the problem is. This seems like a silly, trivial matter to me. If the Bulls were winning, this wouldn't even be given any media attention. Wallace has been wearing a head band for years. It doesn't offend anyone and it doesn't interfere with the team's play on the court. Besides, Bulls' fans have seen far worse from Dennis Rodman's wardrobe.
If Wallace feels the head band gives him an edge on the court, if it helps him block more shots or get more rebounds or score more points for the team, let him wear it. Let's not sweat the small stuff here. Let's focus on the more important things, like winning basketball games.
I'm not sure what the problem is. This seems like a silly, trivial matter to me. If the Bulls were winning, this wouldn't even be given any media attention. Wallace has been wearing a head band for years. It doesn't offend anyone and it doesn't interfere with the team's play on the court. Besides, Bulls' fans have seen far worse from Dennis Rodman's wardrobe.
If Wallace feels the head band gives him an edge on the court, if it helps him block more shots or get more rebounds or score more points for the team, let him wear it. Let's not sweat the small stuff here. Let's focus on the more important things, like winning basketball games.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Buckeyes Win Battle of the Unbeatens
In a battle of the unbeatens that lived up to its billing, the Ohio State Buckeyes outlasted the Michigan Wolverines, 42-39, in Columbus, Ohio yesterday and finished their regular season with a perfect 12-0 record. OSU proved to be the better of the top two teams, not only of the Big Ten, but also in the nation, despite a strong performance by the Wolverines under very trying circumstances. The team lost its biggest supporter and longtime coach Bo Schemblecher on Friday after he collapsed outside a TV studio where he was scheduled to tape his weekly TV show. He was rushed to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
With USC’s victory over California last night, the debate about who should face the Buckeyes for the national championship game will be hotly debated over the next few weeks. USC still has two more games remaining on its schedule including one against Notre Dame. If they run the table, USC will face OSU. If the Trojans lose one of those two games, look for a rematch between the Wolverines and Buckeyes for the national title.
With USC’s victory over California last night, the debate about who should face the Buckeyes for the national championship game will be hotly debated over the next few weeks. USC still has two more games remaining on its schedule including one against Notre Dame. If they run the table, USC will face OSU. If the Trojans lose one of those two games, look for a rematch between the Wolverines and Buckeyes for the national title.
Drink to Your Health
If you’re not crazy about sports drinks, here’s a story you can sink you teeth into.
Recent research shows that drinking a glass of low-fat chocolate milk can help athletes recover after strenuous exercise just as quickly as a sports drink can. The study was conducted by scientists at Indiana University with support from the Dairy and Nutrition Council.
Cycling coach Scott Saifer said chocolate milk has the same components sports drinks do. “There’s really nothing magic about the powder in a can that you mix with water,” Saifer says of carb drinks. “It’s water, carbs, proteins, maybe minerals and electrolytes. What’s in chocolate milk? The same thing. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be as good for recovery as a carb drink.”
The dairy industry folks also suggest that the milk provides calcium which might be absorbed into the body more efficiently than other drinks. They also say it’s a less-costly and healthier option.
I'll drink to that!!
Recent research shows that drinking a glass of low-fat chocolate milk can help athletes recover after strenuous exercise just as quickly as a sports drink can. The study was conducted by scientists at Indiana University with support from the Dairy and Nutrition Council.
Cycling coach Scott Saifer said chocolate milk has the same components sports drinks do. “There’s really nothing magic about the powder in a can that you mix with water,” Saifer says of carb drinks. “It’s water, carbs, proteins, maybe minerals and electrolytes. What’s in chocolate milk? The same thing. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be as good for recovery as a carb drink.”
The dairy industry folks also suggest that the milk provides calcium which might be absorbed into the body more efficiently than other drinks. They also say it’s a less-costly and healthier option.
I'll drink to that!!
Cubs, Sox trade relief pitchers
In case you’ve been living on planet Mars lately, the Chicago Cubs have been wheeling and dealing quite a bit after re-signing Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramirez last weekend. No major acquisitions to speak of, but just a shoring up of position players.
In addition to Wood and Ramirez, the Cubs also re-signed backup catcher Henry Blanco, acquired second baseman Mark DeRosa from the Texas Rangers and made a trade with the Chicago White Sox to add left-hander Neal Cotts to the bullpen. The Sox in return get reliever David Aardsma and minor league pitcher Carlos Vasquez.
Cotts has always made it known that he would like to be a starter one day. He may have a better chance to do that with the Cubs than with the Sox, whose starting pitching lineup is tough to crack. As a Cub, Cotts can start out in the bullpen and work himself into a starting role, or do both as Glendon Rusch did. As a bonus, Cotts brings playoff and championship experience to a club that is starving to win a world title.
The Sox are getting two young pitchers that can develop quite nicely under the guiding eye of pitching coach Don Cooper, who has worked minor miracles with borderline major leaguers and made them look like Cy Young candidates. Cotts, for example, was an unknown quantity until 2005 when he was 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA in 59 appearances.
For further proof, look at the success of Jon Garland, another pitcher the Sox acquired from the Cubs in exchange for Matt Karchner. (Who? I don’t think the guy’s even in baseball anymore.) Garland won 18 games in each of the last two seasons.
As with any trade, there’s a debate about which team got the better deal. I give my vote to the Sox simply because Cooper is the better pitching coach. He will somehow bring out the best in Aardsma and Vasquez. In a year or two, Cub fans may regret that those two players were traded to the South Side.
In addition to Wood and Ramirez, the Cubs also re-signed backup catcher Henry Blanco, acquired second baseman Mark DeRosa from the Texas Rangers and made a trade with the Chicago White Sox to add left-hander Neal Cotts to the bullpen. The Sox in return get reliever David Aardsma and minor league pitcher Carlos Vasquez.
Cotts has always made it known that he would like to be a starter one day. He may have a better chance to do that with the Cubs than with the Sox, whose starting pitching lineup is tough to crack. As a Cub, Cotts can start out in the bullpen and work himself into a starting role, or do both as Glendon Rusch did. As a bonus, Cotts brings playoff and championship experience to a club that is starving to win a world title.
The Sox are getting two young pitchers that can develop quite nicely under the guiding eye of pitching coach Don Cooper, who has worked minor miracles with borderline major leaguers and made them look like Cy Young candidates. Cotts, for example, was an unknown quantity until 2005 when he was 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA in 59 appearances.
For further proof, look at the success of Jon Garland, another pitcher the Sox acquired from the Cubs in exchange for Matt Karchner. (Who? I don’t think the guy’s even in baseball anymore.) Garland won 18 games in each of the last two seasons.
As with any trade, there’s a debate about which team got the better deal. I give my vote to the Sox simply because Cooper is the better pitching coach. He will somehow bring out the best in Aardsma and Vasquez. In a year or two, Cub fans may regret that those two players were traded to the South Side.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ramirez, Wood to stay with the Cubs
In a move that surprised and disappointed many Cub fans, the Cubs re-signed pitcher Kerry Wood and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Wood gets a one-year deal at $1.75 million, but with incentives, could be worth as much as $6 million. That’s generous for a guy who has been hurt more than he’s been healthy the last few seasons.
Ramirez, who had filed for free agency, decided to stay with the Cubs rather than test the market. He probably figured he wouldn’t do much better than what the Cubs offered -- $73 million for five years.
Sounds like the Cubs overpaid to me. While Ramirez had decent numbers last season -- .291 average, 38 home runs and 119 RBI – his fielding has been questionable not to mention his desire and energy level. Some say he’s lazy. That may or may not be true. All I know is when Derek Lee went down with his wrist injury last season and the Cubs needed a player to step forward as the team leader, Ramirez was a no-show. He doesn’t have the leadership ability that makes him more valuable to the team.
I think the Cubs made a better move today by signing Mark DeRosa, a solid second baseman who played for the Texas Rangers the past few seasons. It's one of those "under the radar" moves that could work out surprisingly well for the Cubs. DeRosa is also an upgrade at that position offensively over Ronnie Cedeno.
Ramirez, who had filed for free agency, decided to stay with the Cubs rather than test the market. He probably figured he wouldn’t do much better than what the Cubs offered -- $73 million for five years.
Sounds like the Cubs overpaid to me. While Ramirez had decent numbers last season -- .291 average, 38 home runs and 119 RBI – his fielding has been questionable not to mention his desire and energy level. Some say he’s lazy. That may or may not be true. All I know is when Derek Lee went down with his wrist injury last season and the Cubs needed a player to step forward as the team leader, Ramirez was a no-show. He doesn’t have the leadership ability that makes him more valuable to the team.
I think the Cubs made a better move today by signing Mark DeRosa, a solid second baseman who played for the Texas Rangers the past few seasons. It's one of those "under the radar" moves that could work out surprisingly well for the Cubs. DeRosa is also an upgrade at that position offensively over Ronnie Cedeno.
Bears’ Giant Victory
The Bears prove once again that they are the best team in the NFC after defeating the New York Giants 38-20 on a Sunday night primetime telecast last night.
I must confess that I was nervous about this game. Despite all the hoopla over the Giants’ numerous injuries, I still felt they were a dangerous team. During the first half, my worst fears were being realized as the Giant defense shut down the Bears offense, despite being without key players. The Bears didn’t help their cause when they committed three turnovers.
Toward the end of the first half, the momentum shifted after running back Thomas Jones ran for 26 yards on a third-and-22 play. Then came a long pass to wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and a TD pass to Mark Bradley. The Bears were very lucky they were down by only three points going into half time.
But the second half of the game proved to be a different story. I wish I could tell you more, but to be honest, I was still nervous about this game at this point. I turned off the game, and did my yoga for an hour. Silly me!
The second half highlight was Devin Hester’s 108-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown, which put the Bears ahead 31-20. It ties an NFL record for the longest return of a missed field goal set by Hester’s teammate, Nathan Vasher, during a game last year against the San Francisco 49ers -- almost a year to the day, Nov. 13, 2005.
Will wonders never cease?
I must confess that I was nervous about this game. Despite all the hoopla over the Giants’ numerous injuries, I still felt they were a dangerous team. During the first half, my worst fears were being realized as the Giant defense shut down the Bears offense, despite being without key players. The Bears didn’t help their cause when they committed three turnovers.
Toward the end of the first half, the momentum shifted after running back Thomas Jones ran for 26 yards on a third-and-22 play. Then came a long pass to wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and a TD pass to Mark Bradley. The Bears were very lucky they were down by only three points going into half time.
But the second half of the game proved to be a different story. I wish I could tell you more, but to be honest, I was still nervous about this game at this point. I turned off the game, and did my yoga for an hour. Silly me!
The second half highlight was Devin Hester’s 108-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown, which put the Bears ahead 31-20. It ties an NFL record for the longest return of a missed field goal set by Hester’s teammate, Nathan Vasher, during a game last year against the San Francisco 49ers -- almost a year to the day, Nov. 13, 2005.
Will wonders never cease?
A fatal blow for child athletes
You can never have enough protection, especially when it comes to children who play sports. That’s what researchers concluded after a study presented by the American Heart Association found that children who play hockey, football, lacrosse or baseball risk sudden death from a hard blow to the chest even if they are wearing protective gear. If the chest is hit so hard in a particular spot above the heart, it can trigger an irregular heartbeat called ventricular fibrillation.
“If the blow occurs directly over the heart at a particular time in the heart’s cycle, the results can be catastrophic,” says Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. All it takes is a baseball, a baseball bat, hockey stick, a puck or any hard contact with another person to cause this phenomenon, resulting in collapse or sudden death. Researchers concluded that there needs to be better chest protection so young athletes can be safer.
“If the blow occurs directly over the heart at a particular time in the heart’s cycle, the results can be catastrophic,” says Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. All it takes is a baseball, a baseball bat, hockey stick, a puck or any hard contact with another person to cause this phenomenon, resulting in collapse or sudden death. Researchers concluded that there needs to be better chest protection so young athletes can be safer.
Kwan’s New Title: Ambassador
Michelle Kwan has a new job these days. In addition to studying political science and international relations at the University of Denver, Kwan was named as America’s first public diplomacy envoy, a non-paying role in which she will be “promoting our country’s democratic principles,” according to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. According to the USFSA Web site, Kwan will traveling to schools and clubs in various parts of the world to create a “cross-cultural dialogue with international youth and to increase understanding of America by sharing her story and life experiences.”
OK, so this might be a big fluff PR job, but it’ll still look good on her resume. What’s next – the United Nations?
OK, so this might be a big fluff PR job, but it’ll still look good on her resume. What’s next – the United Nations?
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Introducing the Wonderjock
And I’m not talking about a superstar athlete either.
You’ve heard of the Wonder Bra? Now there’s a similar product for men called the Wonderjock. It’s created by an Australian underwear manufacturer and sold on Aussiebum.com. According to their Web site, “The new 'wondercup' technology in these attention-grabbing, all-cotton Patriot briefs will have you seriously looking bigger and feeling amazing.”
Yeah, but after seeing a guy in his Wonderjock, wouldn’t it be disappointing to see the real thing?
(OK, I know this has nothing to do with sports, but I couldn't resist.)
You’ve heard of the Wonder Bra? Now there’s a similar product for men called the Wonderjock. It’s created by an Australian underwear manufacturer and sold on Aussiebum.com. According to their Web site, “The new 'wondercup' technology in these attention-grabbing, all-cotton Patriot briefs will have you seriously looking bigger and feeling amazing.”
Yeah, but after seeing a guy in his Wonderjock, wouldn’t it be disappointing to see the real thing?
(OK, I know this has nothing to do with sports, but I couldn't resist.)
Dye, Crede, Zambrano Win Silver Sluggers
The off-season awards keep coming for White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye. After being honored with the Players Choice Award earlier this week, Dye was awarded a Silver Slugger Award, which is determined by MLB managers and coaches. Silver Sluggers were also awarded to Dye’s teammate, third baseman Joe Crede and Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who hit six home runs and drove in 11 RBIs.
Rock, paper, scissors world title in Toronto
Ever played Rock, Paper, and Scissors? Most women I know haven’t, and I’m not quite sure why it’s so appealing to young men who do play it. But apparently it’s very popular internationally. The world championships are taking place this weekend in Toronto for a prize worth $10,000 in Canadian currency.
Despite losing, Cubs still a valuable asset
The Sun-Times business writer Mary Wisniewski writes that despite the Chicago Cubs’ losing record, they still have a strong market value. She says analysts have estimated the team’s value at between $500 million and $650 million. The Chicago Tribune bought the franchise in 1981 for $20.5 million, an increase of 2000 percent. By comparison, the value of the White Sox after winning the 2005 World Series was estimated at $300 million.
The team’s value is important as the Tribune Company is considering selling off many of its assets, including the Cubs. Being free of the Tribune Company may be the best thing to happen to the Cubs organization, according to Andrew Zimbalist, an economist and author of The Bottom Line: Observations and Arguments on the Sports Business who was quoted in Wisniewski’s article. “The record of the Tribune has been woeful. They’ve neither assembled the best front office people nor given them the resources they need to build a consistently winning club. It’s not simply bad luck the Cubs never win. If you don’t win and you don’t win and you don’t win, after a while, you say there’s something more systematic going on here, and the management isn’t doing its job.”
Zimbalist hits the nail on the head. When your perennial losing team is selling out home games, drawing three million fans a year to the ball park and earning millions in TV revenue, there’s no incentive by management to put a good baseball team on the field. Why bother? They’re already making money with a losing team.
I don’t know who is more stupid – the Cubs organization for mismanaging resources and not being able to put together a consistent winning team, or their fans for continuing to pay top dollar for an inferior product on the field. If you got a defective product at the store, you’d take it back and request a refund, wouldn’t you? Or if you didn’t like the service at a restaurant, hotel or airline, would you go back to the same place? Probably not.
If you don’t like what the Cubs are doing on the field, you have to do more than boo the players. Just stay home. The empty seats will speak for themselves.
The team’s value is important as the Tribune Company is considering selling off many of its assets, including the Cubs. Being free of the Tribune Company may be the best thing to happen to the Cubs organization, according to Andrew Zimbalist, an economist and author of The Bottom Line: Observations and Arguments on the Sports Business who was quoted in Wisniewski’s article. “The record of the Tribune has been woeful. They’ve neither assembled the best front office people nor given them the resources they need to build a consistently winning club. It’s not simply bad luck the Cubs never win. If you don’t win and you don’t win and you don’t win, after a while, you say there’s something more systematic going on here, and the management isn’t doing its job.”
Zimbalist hits the nail on the head. When your perennial losing team is selling out home games, drawing three million fans a year to the ball park and earning millions in TV revenue, there’s no incentive by management to put a good baseball team on the field. Why bother? They’re already making money with a losing team.
I don’t know who is more stupid – the Cubs organization for mismanaging resources and not being able to put together a consistent winning team, or their fans for continuing to pay top dollar for an inferior product on the field. If you got a defective product at the store, you’d take it back and request a refund, wouldn’t you? Or if you didn’t like the service at a restaurant, hotel or airline, would you go back to the same place? Probably not.
If you don’t like what the Cubs are doing on the field, you have to do more than boo the players. Just stay home. The empty seats will speak for themselves.
Slutskaya not retiring after all
Well, this is embarrassing.
It turns out skater Irina Slutskaya is not retiring from competitive figure skating after all. I shared that piece of news a couple of days ago based on a Reuters news story, which got their info from the Russian News Agency. It seems the writer who reported this story in Russia had not confirmed the information with Slutskaya herself. The 27-year-old former World and European champion said it was all news to her, and insisted she was not done yet. “If I’m retiring, I forgot to tell my coach,” she joked.
On a similar note, Russian teammate and Olympic gold medalist Evegeny Plushenko is also remaining in competitive skating despite initial rumors that he would retire. A Canadian news article last spring quoted Plushenko as saying he planned to retire to focus on his family. He said at the time that he wanted to skate for his family, not for the Russian federation.
It seems a lot of skaters are putting retirement on hold indefinitely. There wasn’t nearly as many retirements after the Olympics and Worlds as there usually is. The fact is, once these skaters retire from competition, there aren’t many opportunities for them to perform, with the exception of Champions on Ice. There used to be a lot of professional competitions and ice shows during the height of popularity in the 1990s, but they have shrunk considerably. And I think, for Russian skaters especially, competitive skating is more lucrative than going pro.
For the last 15 years or so, Russia has churned out strong singles skaters. But now, the well is beginning to run dry. Beyond Plushenko and Slutskaya, there aren’t many Russian singles skaters coming up through the ranks. I suspect that Plushenko is remaining competitive to allow younger Russian skaters to develop and perhaps because of potential compensation or financial incentives from his skating federation. Lord knows, he has nothing to prove otherwise.
It turns out skater Irina Slutskaya is not retiring from competitive figure skating after all. I shared that piece of news a couple of days ago based on a Reuters news story, which got their info from the Russian News Agency. It seems the writer who reported this story in Russia had not confirmed the information with Slutskaya herself. The 27-year-old former World and European champion said it was all news to her, and insisted she was not done yet. “If I’m retiring, I forgot to tell my coach,” she joked.
On a similar note, Russian teammate and Olympic gold medalist Evegeny Plushenko is also remaining in competitive skating despite initial rumors that he would retire. A Canadian news article last spring quoted Plushenko as saying he planned to retire to focus on his family. He said at the time that he wanted to skate for his family, not for the Russian federation.
It seems a lot of skaters are putting retirement on hold indefinitely. There wasn’t nearly as many retirements after the Olympics and Worlds as there usually is. The fact is, once these skaters retire from competition, there aren’t many opportunities for them to perform, with the exception of Champions on Ice. There used to be a lot of professional competitions and ice shows during the height of popularity in the 1990s, but they have shrunk considerably. And I think, for Russian skaters especially, competitive skating is more lucrative than going pro.
For the last 15 years or so, Russia has churned out strong singles skaters. But now, the well is beginning to run dry. Beyond Plushenko and Slutskaya, there aren’t many Russian singles skaters coming up through the ranks. I suspect that Plushenko is remaining competitive to allow younger Russian skaters to develop and perhaps because of potential compensation or financial incentives from his skating federation. Lord knows, he has nothing to prove otherwise.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Dye is the Players’ MVP
When the Chicago White Sox acquired outfielder Jermaine Dye before the 2005 season, my immediate thought was that this was a great pick-up for the team. The acquisition received very little media attention or fanfare, even in the Chicago market however. Dye was just coming off a serious leg injury and had a subpar year in 2004, and many baseball insiders wrote him off, saying his career was done. But the Sox desperately needed a right fielder when Magglio Ordonez left for greener pastures in Detroit.
The move proved to be one of the best the Sox made that season – and they made several good ones. JD, as fans like to call him, was the MVP of the 2005 World Series, and went on to have one of his best seasons as a pro in 2006. He led the Sox in batting average (.315), home runs (44) and RBI (120). The rest of the league also took notice. Dye was selected as the American League Players Choice Winner by fellow baseball players, an award comparable to the MVP. Even if Dye is not selected as the AL MVP which is chosen by the baseball writers, he’s still number one to his peers and Chicago fans.
The move proved to be one of the best the Sox made that season – and they made several good ones. JD, as fans like to call him, was the MVP of the 2005 World Series, and went on to have one of his best seasons as a pro in 2006. He led the Sox in batting average (.315), home runs (44) and RBI (120). The rest of the league also took notice. Dye was selected as the American League Players Choice Winner by fellow baseball players, an award comparable to the MVP. Even if Dye is not selected as the AL MVP which is chosen by the baseball writers, he’s still number one to his peers and Chicago fans.
American Women Missing in WTA Action
For the first time since 1972 when the WTA championships were first held, the WTA championships taking place in Madrid this week will not include any American players. That’s because the top three American women — Lindsay Davenport, Venus and Serena Williams — are still recuperating from injuries. Of the top eight players who have qualified to play in this tournament, four are from Russia, two from Belgium and one each from France and Switzerland.
Beyond the top three players, the American cupboard seems bare. Several of the European players who are participating in Madrid weighed in on the void left by the American women.
The number one player, Amelie Mauresmo, thinks high expectations have taken their toll on young American players. “It is tough for the young ones because Americans have such a big history with players like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport. So it is hard for the young ones to have the confidence to succeed.”
Elena Dementieva, who is ranked number eight in the world, believes the younger players from Russia and Eastern Europe are more hungry for success. “We are all very motivated and our parents were really involved in our tennis lives,” she says. “It’s really strange with all the system and the great practice conditions that they have in the United States. It is really amazing why they don’t have these players right now,” she adds.
Nadia Petrova, ranked number five, agrees saying that younger players are more hungry for success and tennis is seen as the road to fame and fortune. “Many players start with nothing at all and tennis gives them opportunities.”
Beyond the top three players, the American cupboard seems bare. Several of the European players who are participating in Madrid weighed in on the void left by the American women.
The number one player, Amelie Mauresmo, thinks high expectations have taken their toll on young American players. “It is tough for the young ones because Americans have such a big history with players like Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport. So it is hard for the young ones to have the confidence to succeed.”
Elena Dementieva, who is ranked number eight in the world, believes the younger players from Russia and Eastern Europe are more hungry for success. “We are all very motivated and our parents were really involved in our tennis lives,” she says. “It’s really strange with all the system and the great practice conditions that they have in the United States. It is really amazing why they don’t have these players right now,” she adds.
Nadia Petrova, ranked number five, agrees saying that younger players are more hungry for success and tennis is seen as the road to fame and fortune. “Many players start with nothing at all and tennis gives them opportunities.”
Atlanta Named Worst Sports City
In an inaugural survey, the folks at Sportsbook.com named Atlanta the worst sports city because of “unenthused fans, perennially bad NBA and NHL teams, a dearth of team championships and the misuse of the most electrifying player in football.” Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Houston rounded out the top five.
The list was compiled by a panel of experts made up of sports writers, experts and bloggers (but alas, not me). The following criteria was used to rank the cities:
* Recent successes on the field or court
* Passion and/or intelligence of fans
* Condition and appeal of local stadiums and arenas
* TV, print and radio coverage
* Hurtful and inaccurate stereotypes
* Eligible cities must have at least one major professional sports franchise (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL)
In addition, Sportsbook also asked their members to cast their vote for the worst sports city. Their answer? Los Angeles because the second largest U.S. city does not have an NFL team.
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