ANOTHER REASON THE NFL IS IN TROUBLE (nofunleague)

a muse (or my mind?) | 9/30/02 | 1john2 3and4

[1john2 3and4]

What the football fan sees on tv is controlled. Unfortunately (for the fan) those who do the controlling, those who decide for us what (they think) we want to see, are graduates of “theatre arts”, or “media”- type courses. We know them well, having to suffer through their self-styled “expertise” for decades.

[1john2 3and4]

What the football fan sees on tv is controlled. Unfortunately (for the fan) those who do the controlling, those who decide for us what (they think) we want to see, are graduates of “theatre arts”, or “media”- type courses. We know them well, having to suffer through their self-styled “expertise” for decades. They are the ones who believe they REALLY DO know what’s better for us, the Rather/Jennings/Brokaw wannabe’s. TV coverage must be particularly galling for football coaches (they’re fans too!), because coaches specialize and excel in the art of seeing more than one thing at a time. But we all have to suffer with the director’s decision to fill the screen with a player’s face to the point where each drop of sweat can be observed. (Is nostril hair-counting part of the curriculum?) This invariably happens immediately after an (increasingly infrequent) exciting play. I can hear the director now; “Get the face camera two!” “Knowing” that this will make us “intimate” with the post-action player’s reaction, get us more “in” the game. Meanwhile, the real feel for the game is lost. The linebacker’s group-huddle? Fuggedaboudit! “Get the face!” Three players slow to get up? “Get the face!” One variation is; “Get the crowd!” This supposedly gives us the sense of “being there” ( it’s in chapter 2: “Theory”). Three defensive backs conferring after the touchdown? “Get the crowd, camera three!” The most popular variation seems to be the back of a jersey, most often seen during the offense’s huddle. This view is believed to get us “inside” the huddle, see Chapter 2, (unless it’s in the chapter on spelling, as in; “How To”) We never knew that the spelling of last names could be so interesting! Just kidding, we’re regularly inspired by such stupefyingly creative displays of camera work and the (mis)use of our viewing time. -as an aside, since the offense usually bends over in the huddle, (and they’re the biggest guys on the field), we get to see a lot of big butts. At this point, to thank the directors and give them their due, we’re grateful (well, I am) they are still aware of the existence of the “pan out” function, allowing us the spectacle of three or more butts at a time. (I assume that the sight of one big butt “up close and personal” is a bit, shall we say, obvious.) Would it be cynical to suggest the existence of intent to increase market share in “diverse” demographic groups? Or maybe it’s part of Chapter 6?

In this weekend’s Auburn and Syracuse triple overtime, Auburn’s star runner, “Cadillac” Williams, ended up face down in the end zone after an incredibly violent collision with a Syracuse defender, who also ended up “praying to the grass gods”. Did the camera linger, as if we were interested? Beyond the blathering of the announcers, who remarked NOT AT ALL, we instead watched crowd celebrations, nose hair, sweat drops, cleavage (they won’t abandon THAT demographic), and “quick! get me the spelling fix!” It’s too easy to “pick on” announcers, but I think they’re watching too much TV. While ESPN’s cameras (see? it’s not personal!) seem egregiously intent on “making it more personal” for the fan, they achieve the opposite result. Sound familiar?

The fix is simple, brush the rust off the “pan out”, (ok, first FIND it) use it, let the fan choose what part of the action to watch. Choice, what a concept!

[goodieD]

we were the victims of the worst type of network decision yesterday...at the beginning of the 3rd quarter of the Raider/Titan game, they switched over to the Charger game for the remainder. We called the local affiliate who admitted they'd been flooded with angry calls..we got a number for the network..but they were perpetually busy.

[1john2 3and4]

i wrote this whole thing because it seemed better than screaming at the TV.... i dont mind the occ. mistake/miscue, etc., but the overall idea that "WE (the ones who KNOW, and who are BETTER) are the arbiters" "WE know what's good for you" etc. is just makin me gnash my teeth lately. seems the older i get the LESS i suffer fools gladly. i wonder if they ever get yelled at for such a lousy product? (see: declining ratings...lol) its well known that the commercials promote hedonism, and i think the close ups are intended to narrow our view. i know a guy who served on subs, he said the strange thing was, that in that small world, his eyes became accustomed to the view, and when he got out, he needed glasses! this is what i think is happening. sorry you missed part of a game because gods (small g, mind you) are capricious. AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

[goodieD]

I know what you mean all the way around.. just let us watch the games.. like normal people do who are there..unemcumbered by cute pix and stats etc....

[dd5339]

"I know what you mean all the way around.. just let us watch the games.. like normal people do who are there..unemcumbered by cute pix and stats etc...."

Gee, can we get the top of the voice swearing, ranting, spewing, vomiting, screaming at parents to get their children out of the stadium when they complain about rude behavior on TV also? Or is that confined to the Chiefs games?

Semper Fi

[goodieD]

you think the Chiefs fans are bad..try the Raiders fans on for size..You'd think it was field trip day at the state pen.

[dd5339]

Actually, I shouldn't generalize like I did. I was mainly venting about a co-worker ranting that his, "game experience" was spoiled because of parents with childern at the game kept telling him to behave. According to him, it's his red blooded american, constitutionally protected right to stand up and, as he put it, "drop the F bomb" as much as he wants.

I guess some people have not heard of things like common decency and courtesy.

And yes, I've heard that about the Raiders fans. But at least it's the fans that belong in the state pen. For the Nebraska football team, half the team belongs there!

Semper Fi

[ThinkingMan]

2 items-
1) Why would you want to watch a Raiders game? (Unless they are getting smacked down by the Broncos!)

2) Get DirecTV Sunday ticket- as a Bronco fan in South Dakota, this is probably the single best entertainment money that I have ever spent! They will never cut out of a game, no matter how bad a whooping it is.

[goodieD]

I watch Raiders to watch all the other teams get their butts kicked soundly by Romo, whom the silly Broncs let go.

[goodieD]

Sounds like Fresno State's basketball team!

[gcruse]

Go to the game yourself, then you can
see what you want to see. Unless you're
like me, and get faked out by the players
a lot, and end up taking a radio to the
stands so I can hear a commentary on what
I am seeing. Otherwise, be amazed at
state of the technology and enjoy what
you are probably getting to see for free.

[ThinkingMan]

The Faders are welcome to him- he has slowed down too much for pass coverage, and he can't take as many "dietary supplements" any more. This will cause a loss of upper body strength and reduce his ability to tackle. Romo used to be good, but is now over the hill.

[goodieD]

"Faders"...bahahah..dang your funny "thinking" man.. just make sure there aren't any dogs on the field for your man to trip over.

[roballen]

Another Bronco Fan in exile, huh? I guess I should get the NFL package. Here in Mi we are forced to watch the Detwat pussycats, for the whole game, no matter how bad (normal) they are playing, and no matter how good a game is on the other stations. And I live on the other side of the state! The people who live in Detwat aren't even forced to watch the home games because they never sell out. It's so bad even c-bs won't play another game against them unless they have the double header.

Sorry for the rant.

[roballen]

Another Bronco Fan in exile, huh? I guess I should get the NFL package. Here in Mi we are forced to watch the Detwat pussycats, for the whole game, no matter how bad (normal) they are playing, and no matter how good a game is on the other stations. And I live on the other side of the state! The people who live in Detwat aren't even forced to watch the home games because they never sell out. It's so bad even c-bs won't play another game against them unless they have the double header.

Sorry for the rant.

[xp38]

But you have a wonderful new stadium. Don't you?

[Fudd]

At least you don't have to share the state with the Cincy Bungles. I lived/ worked in that corner of the state for a number of years, and had a coworker (who was a fan) tell me that the team was optimistic about their prospects for the coming year.

I told him that that just meant that Cincy would be 4-12 instead of 3-13, which is exactly what happened.

And now they have a new stadium with the worst turf in the NFL.