We've just recently switched to Comcast from DirecTV. Having done so, I've gotten my first taste of the NFL Red Zone channel. I'm not sure if it's an introductory thing (and will be turned off at some point), or if it's something that comes with the package I've signed up for. All I know is that on DirecTV, you had to pay for the NFL Sunday Ticket package ($300 a year) to get it.
It's the ultimate in short-attention-span football coverage. They put up whatever game happens to have a team in the best scoring position at that moment. No commercials, no bullshit.
It's a wonderful alternative to being stuck watching nothing but the Raiders or 49ers most Sundays around here.
Update It turns out it was a free preview for this weekend. Bummer.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hey Scott...
Here's a clue for Scotty Lago:
Dude! If it was a gold medal, then maybe I'd say you could dangle it from your johnson for the chicks. But you do it with the bronze and you're just going to get bitch-slapped by the guys with silver and gold.
Dude! If it was a gold medal, then maybe I'd say you could dangle it from your johnson for the chicks. But you do it with the bronze and you're just going to get bitch-slapped by the guys with silver and gold.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
NFL - final week 2009
The ability to receive KCBA has given the biggest benefit of the season today.
Because the Raiders are playing at home today, KTVU cannot air the Eagles / Cowboys game, which is one of the really pivotal games being played today. The winner largely determines the seating order for the NFC playoffs - never mind the fact that Eagles / Cowboys is a storied rivalry.
On behalf of everyone in the bay area who cannot get KCBA, I'd like to send a message to Al Davis:
Please, please, please for the love of God, move your pile of shit team back to LA. Or Reno. "Reno Raiders" - that has a great ring to it.
If you don't like that, try Montana or Wyoming. Just anywhere but here.
Because the Raiders are playing at home today, KTVU cannot air the Eagles / Cowboys game, which is one of the really pivotal games being played today. The winner largely determines the seating order for the NFC playoffs - never mind the fact that Eagles / Cowboys is a storied rivalry.
On behalf of everyone in the bay area who cannot get KCBA, I'd like to send a message to Al Davis:
Please, please, please for the love of God, move your pile of shit team back to LA. Or Reno. "Reno Raiders" - that has a great ring to it.
If you don't like that, try Montana or Wyoming. Just anywhere but here.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Really, NFL?
We're close to the playoffs. And of all of the games this weekend, there is one that is the most important.
The Chargers are hosting the Bengals at home. The Chargers are one game ahead of the Bengals in the drive for the 2nd AFC playoff seed - which means a first round bye.
In the latter part of the season, the NFL and the networks have the opportunity to "flex" the schedule - to make a more important game the Sunday night game, relegating what was scheduled in the pre-season back to Sunday afternoon (or morning).
So it didn't occur to anybody that this crucial game is worthy of being played on Sunday night? They think Vikings - Panthers is more important somehow? Really?! The Vikings are almost assured of either the #1 or #2 seed in the NFC and the Panthers are all but mathematically eliminated. Who gives a shit?
The only other game even close to how important that game is is the Eagles and 49ers. The 49ers need a win to even have a chance at a wildcard spot, while the Eagles are almost assured of the number 3 seed in the NFC. Of course, since the 49ers are the home team here, it'll be on Fox for sure.
The wrinkle is that the weather has screwed up the game schedules on the East coast. So potentially, the CBS morning game might have been the Chargers', but now that game will be played at the same time as the Raiders @ Broncos. Another "who cares?" game. But it's moot - Fox got the doubleheader today anyhow. Their rejiggered schedule today will give us the 49ers game in the afternoon, and of all of the remaining morning games to show us, they picked... Cardinals / Lions?! Does anybody honestly think the Lions have a shot at their third win this week?
Perhaps the single most important football game of the entire season. None for you!
The Chargers are hosting the Bengals at home. The Chargers are one game ahead of the Bengals in the drive for the 2nd AFC playoff seed - which means a first round bye.
In the latter part of the season, the NFL and the networks have the opportunity to "flex" the schedule - to make a more important game the Sunday night game, relegating what was scheduled in the pre-season back to Sunday afternoon (or morning).
So it didn't occur to anybody that this crucial game is worthy of being played on Sunday night? They think Vikings - Panthers is more important somehow? Really?! The Vikings are almost assured of either the #1 or #2 seed in the NFC and the Panthers are all but mathematically eliminated. Who gives a shit?
The only other game even close to how important that game is is the Eagles and 49ers. The 49ers need a win to even have a chance at a wildcard spot, while the Eagles are almost assured of the number 3 seed in the NFC. Of course, since the 49ers are the home team here, it'll be on Fox for sure.
The wrinkle is that the weather has screwed up the game schedules on the East coast. So potentially, the CBS morning game might have been the Chargers', but now that game will be played at the same time as the Raiders @ Broncos. Another "who cares?" game. But it's moot - Fox got the doubleheader today anyhow. Their rejiggered schedule today will give us the 49ers game in the afternoon, and of all of the remaining morning games to show us, they picked... Cardinals / Lions?! Does anybody honestly think the Lions have a shot at their third win this week?
Perhaps the single most important football game of the entire season. None for you!
Monday, October 26, 2009
NFL: feast and famine
So what's happened to football? Week 7 just went by (yes, there's one more game tonight, but I don't think it will have any impact on my point) and there are still 3 undefeated teams! The Broncos, Colts and... The Saints?! And to go along with that, there are still two oh-fer teams: the Rams, and... the Bucaneers?! The Lions managed to win one, so this ends motor city's dream of a repeat.
But when the standings just shy of half way through show such disparity between the top and bottom, something about the competitive balance isn't tuned quite right. This isn't supposed to be Pop-Warner, and people shouldn't seriously ask whether or not a mercy rule is appropriate for the NFL.
Why didn't they schedule a Lions-Raiders game? I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall of the CBS sports scheduling meeting to hear them argue about who would have to go cover that game. Bonus points if it would have been in December and in Oakland (meaningless, cold, outdoors, maybe 10,000 really scary Raiders fans in attendance, unquestioningly blacked-out... What a hoot!)
But when the standings just shy of half way through show such disparity between the top and bottom, something about the competitive balance isn't tuned quite right. This isn't supposed to be Pop-Warner, and people shouldn't seriously ask whether or not a mercy rule is appropriate for the NFL.
Why didn't they schedule a Lions-Raiders game? I'd have loved to be a fly on the wall of the CBS sports scheduling meeting to hear them argue about who would have to go cover that game. Bonus points if it would have been in December and in Oakland (meaningless, cold, outdoors, maybe 10,000 really scary Raiders fans in attendance, unquestioningly blacked-out... What a hoot!)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Make your own NFL doubleheader!
I'm watching the Giants and Saints game right now. It's on KCBA. Yay!
KTVU's scheduled to air the Cardinals-Seahawks game at 1. Last I heard, the Raiders hadn't sold out, so that game may not air. That would be our punishment, I guess, for not buying tickets to see JaMarcus throw picks and incompletes. Frank Caliendo said it best today - he called the Raiders "Clippers bad." Word.
Anyway, CBS's game today is Ravens-Vikings. So I am flipping back and forth between two games featuring teams off to a 5-0 start. Can't complain much about that! If KTVU indeed airs the Seahawks game this afternoon, well, I'll have gotten to see 3 games instead of 2. And thus, the antenna gambit pays off!
KTVU's scheduled to air the Cardinals-Seahawks game at 1. Last I heard, the Raiders hadn't sold out, so that game may not air. That would be our punishment, I guess, for not buying tickets to see JaMarcus throw picks and incompletes. Frank Caliendo said it best today - he called the Raiders "Clippers bad." Word.
Anyway, CBS's game today is Ravens-Vikings. So I am flipping back and forth between two games featuring teams off to a 5-0 start. Can't complain much about that! If KTVU indeed airs the Seahawks game this afternoon, well, I'll have gotten to see 3 games instead of 2. And thus, the antenna gambit pays off!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Maybe it's you, Al
Over the course of the last, oh, 30 years of near constant suck, the Raiders have had countless coaches (head and assistant) come and go, and moved twice.
Through all of it, the two constants have been Al Davis, and the aforementioned sucktitiude.
The problem is, you can't fire an owner.
Well, the league some years ago did take extraordinary action against Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., but that was after he was convicted in a corruption scandal. Even then, all the league did was suspend him from an active ownership role for a year.
But the prospect of anyone being able to force Al Davis to hand over the team to someone who can simply do a better job is dim.
But they've tried damn near everything else.
Through all of it, the two constants have been Al Davis, and the aforementioned sucktitiude.
The problem is, you can't fire an owner.
Well, the league some years ago did take extraordinary action against Eddie DeBartolo, Jr., but that was after he was convicted in a corruption scandal. Even then, all the league did was suspend him from an active ownership role for a year.
But the prospect of anyone being able to force Al Davis to hand over the team to someone who can simply do a better job is dim.
But they've tried damn near everything else.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
JaMarcus Russell
That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure throws a mean football.
Seriously, I'm a Chargers fan and Russell embarrasses me.
Seriously, I'm a Chargers fan and Russell embarrasses me.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Football blackout rules?
I guess I don't understand the NFL's blackout rules. CBS has the doubleheader this week, and we will get 3 games here in the bay area - meaning CBS will put on a competing game against the 9ers @ Vikings.
Well, I thought that KPIX wasn't allowed to compete with the home team's away games. Is that not the case?
Meanwhile, I can't wait for Fox to get the doubleheader. Perhaps then I'll get to test out the KCBA extra game theory.
Update: Well, the schedule on the TV was wrong. We didn't get the 2nd game. Instead, we got an infomercial. :(
Next week will be the first big test. Fox has the doubleheader and the morning game on KPIX will be Radiers & Texans. If I am right, that means that there will be no competing game on KTVU, but there will be one on KCBA.
Well, I thought that KPIX wasn't allowed to compete with the home team's away games. Is that not the case?
Meanwhile, I can't wait for Fox to get the doubleheader. Perhaps then I'll get to test out the KCBA extra game theory.
Update: Well, the schedule on the TV was wrong. We didn't get the 2nd game. Instead, we got an infomercial. :(
Next week will be the first big test. Fox has the doubleheader and the morning game on KPIX will be Radiers & Texans. If I am right, that means that there will be no competing game on KTVU, but there will be one on KCBA.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Football season next year is going to be AWESOME!!!
You've heard me bellyache before about the situation football fans face in the San Francisco bay area. The NFL's rules say that whenever the home team is playing, no other in-market TV station may air any out-of-market games. For us, that is tres suck, because we have two teams. The Sunday morning game is usually the 9ers and the afternoon game is the Raiders, or vice-versa. The only time we get to see potentially 3 games is when either team plays on Thursday, Sunday or Monday night or has the week off.
The good news, at least for us here at chez Sayer, is that next February, they turn off the analog TV stations and we go 100% digital. What does that have to do with anything? Well, KCBA-DT is on (RF) channel 13, and we should be able to get that with our VHF-hi beam pointed to Fremont Peak! We get it today, except that it gets co-channel interference from KOVR-TV in Sacramento. Fortunately for us, since KCBA is in the Salinas/Monterey market and is a Fox affiliate, they're going to air the Cowboys game opposite KPIX's coverage of the Raiders. Now, since the Raiders are playing the Chargers this week, I'll probably watch that game, but if it turns into a laugher, I have somewhere else to go... except for the fact that KCBA probably won't come in today over KOVR. But this at least proves the point that if you can pull in KCBA (or if you could pull in the Fox or CBS affiliates from Walnut Grove), you'll once again get your choice of 3 games.
Of course, if I could pull in KION-DT (the CBS affiliate in Salinas/Monterey), then I'd have a choice potentially of 4 games, but unfortunately KION is UHF, and even if I had a UHF antenna pointed the right way, I probably couldn't pull in a signal good enough for a digital tuner to decode. Oh well.
The good news, at least for us here at chez Sayer, is that next February, they turn off the analog TV stations and we go 100% digital. What does that have to do with anything? Well, KCBA-DT is on (RF) channel 13, and we should be able to get that with our VHF-hi beam pointed to Fremont Peak! We get it today, except that it gets co-channel interference from KOVR-TV in Sacramento. Fortunately for us, since KCBA is in the Salinas/Monterey market and is a Fox affiliate, they're going to air the Cowboys game opposite KPIX's coverage of the Raiders. Now, since the Raiders are playing the Chargers this week, I'll probably watch that game, but if it turns into a laugher, I have somewhere else to go... except for the fact that KCBA probably won't come in today over KOVR. But this at least proves the point that if you can pull in KCBA (or if you could pull in the Fox or CBS affiliates from Walnut Grove), you'll once again get your choice of 3 games.
Of course, if I could pull in KION-DT (the CBS affiliate in Salinas/Monterey), then I'd have a choice potentially of 4 games, but unfortunately KION is UHF, and even if I had a UHF antenna pointed the right way, I probably couldn't pull in a signal good enough for a digital tuner to decode. Oh well.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Football sucks around here
I would really, really enjoy watching football on TV if it weren't for the fact that we live in the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose TV market.
The problem comes about because of the NFL blackout rules. The rules say that if the 49ers or Raiders play a road game or a sold-out home game, no other local station may air a competing game. That means that we never see a game that doesn't involve the Raiders or 49ers except for the Sunday and Monday night games and weeks where either team has a bye week.
And if you haven't been paying attention, this is not the same 49er team that was helmed byJoe Bill Walsh [ed: how'd I get that wrong?!] back in the day. And I'm not sure the Raiders have ever been worth watching. The most memorable Raiders moment I can recall was seeing a fan with a paper bag over his head with the words PSL HOLDER written on it.
It's almost worth signing up for the DirecTV NFL package, but that's $180 a year. I don't like football quite that much.
Maybe if we're lucky folks will realize just how bad the 49ers and Raiders suck and they'll stop selling out their home games. Then we'd at least have a 50:50 chance of a choice.
We can but hope.
The problem comes about because of the NFL blackout rules. The rules say that if the 49ers or Raiders play a road game or a sold-out home game, no other local station may air a competing game. That means that we never see a game that doesn't involve the Raiders or 49ers except for the Sunday and Monday night games and weeks where either team has a bye week.
And if you haven't been paying attention, this is not the same 49er team that was helmed by
It's almost worth signing up for the DirecTV NFL package, but that's $180 a year. I don't like football quite that much.
Maybe if we're lucky folks will realize just how bad the 49ers and Raiders suck and they'll stop selling out their home games. Then we'd at least have a 50:50 chance of a choice.
We can but hope.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Go Cats, 2007 AFL premiers!
Just finishing up watching the AFL Grand Final for 2007 between the Geelong Cats and the Port Adelaide Power. Geelong thoroughly pwn3d. The final score was an incredible 24.19 163 to 6.8 44. I've never even heard of a margin even half that wide, much less in a Grand Final. Wow.
Alas, that means that there's no more footy until next year. Sigh.
Alas, that means that there's no more footy until next year. Sigh.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Aussie Rules Football on KCSM!
I remember watching AFL (back then it was actually VFL) games on ESPN back when I was in college. I missed them when they went off the air. Well, they are available on the Setanta satellite TV channel, but fortunately for me, they're also showing a match of the week on KCSM! We're picking up their digital over-the-air signal, and I believe it's on the -2 stream, but I'm not sure. Through the magic of TiVo, I don't actually know when it gets aired. I have a season pass, so I don't actually worry about such things.
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