Stuff
*I think we've more or less made our point on NESN, but one more email, because this one made me chuckle. John in Kansas writes:
My version of Joe Castiglione and Jerry Trupiano doing Ned Martin’s famous final call from the end of the 1967 season:
C: There’s a long fly ball to left center. This could be gone. Lonborg looks up at it.
T: Way back! way back! The Twins may close the margin to three.
C: And it’s gone… wait… wait the wind has caught the ball and it looks like Petrocelli might be able to get to it from his position at shortstop. He reaches up and has it. Ball game over. Red Sox win their 92d game of the season.
T: Fans seem to be running on the field.
C: Well we have clinched a tie for the pennant Trupe!
T: We’ll be back with the Giant Glass play of the game after this….
So what did we learn from this NESN exercise the past few days? If the overwhelming response to Chile's NESN piece was any indication (and it might not be, because this was completely unscientific, as I didn't consult any focus groups or ask any professors at MIT for data), there's a huge level of dissatisfaction out there towards the Red Sox announcers and NESN's game presentation. But you'd never know it if you solely relied on mainstream traditional media.
I'm going to tell a story that at first isn't going to seem connected, but it is. Near the end of my stint at the Globe, there was a story about a seal that found its way from the ocean through an inlet or river and eventually ended up in a lake in Middleboro. It was the lead story on the local TV news, where it belonged. But it also ended up dominating the front page of the Metro section of the Globe, complete with maps and snazzy graphics. I got an email from a very sarcastic friend of mine, which read "Hey Dave, I'm so happy Flipper is safe. Now can you tell your bosses to please have their reporters look into why the price of gas is going through the roof?"
The point is, there's a real disconnect between what people want to see, hear, and read about, and what is being delivered. It is only going to get worse if there are fewer mainstream outlets to present the news.
*If you drive through Ohio and enter Miami, is there a sign that says "Welcome to Miami (Ohio)?" Because that's how it is always written in relation to sports. I understand why, but I think most of us can deduce, if we're looking at a ticker, that it isn't Miami of Florida that is losing to Western Michigan in football.
*What is the official cut-off for the title of "Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter on the Planet?" Bantamweight? Weltwerweight? Probably welterweight. I don't think I've ever heard of a light heavyweight being the BP-F-PFOTP in my lifetime, or even a middleweight, and that includes when Marvelous Marvin Hagler undeniably was the best fighter alive. But they were probably using that title for Greg Haugen at the time.
*And finally, WE HAVE A WINNER in this week's Dave's World contest, in which we asked readers what Keith Foulke's job would be if he worked at Burger King. Mike in New Rochelle, NY, replies: Since he lacks any cheese, I'd say he'd get fired and then works at Sbarro. His experience serving up meatballs is second to none.
And for that, Mike earns himself 2005 Seattle Seahawks pocket schedule.
*And finally, Larry Fleisher has a really well done Knicks blog. This ain't generally Knicks-fan territory, but Dave's World has room for everyone.
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