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JONES: Hog mediocrity, sports on TV |
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Tuesday, 16 October 2007 |
I love sports. Always have. But I find it increasingly difficult to follow sports without being frustrated.
It wouldn’t be as frustrating if the Razorbacks were doing better. But being forced to accept mediocrity isn’t fun. It’s like little Johhny being forced to eat his green beans. He’ll do it because he has to, but it doesn’t mean he has to like it.
We have to accept mediocrity with the Hogs. We can’t change the coaches or call the plays or do anything else to help stop the march to mediocrity.
We can complain, which in itself is a great American sport.
Used to, you could complain and actually ignite a debate. So many people are complaining now, however, that complaining to someone is like preaching to the choir.
Complaining does make us feel better. Misery does indeed love company sometimes, so we should be a state united.
I’m a college junkie. I love college football and basketball, and sometimes baseball. College sports is unquestionably more exciting. Part of it is the unpredictability — witness this college football season — and part of it is the atmosphere.
Professional teams don’t have bands. What kind of atmosphere can there be without a band?
Maybe if this were in a major metropolitan area, where there is a pro team, there might be more attraction to and affection for the pro game. But I doubt it.
Look at the last few weekends in college football. The pro game has done nothing to rival that kind of excitement.
Take just one example: Two college teams played Sunday night opposite a pro football game featuring two hapless teams. The pro game wasn’t real close. It was boring. The college game went into four overtimes before there was a winner and the teams combined for almost 120 points.
 Whit Jones
Sports in general has entirely too many tattoos. It’s more bearable in football because the uniforms cover a lot of the tattoos. Some of the basketball players, particularly in the pros, look like breathing paintings.
I don’t like tattoos. Even the ones people think are pretty are ugly. If I had one, it would be hidden. Really hidden. But I don’t want anything that won’t wash off with soap and warm water.
You know the best way to protest if you don’t like something in sports, such as the way the Razorbacks are performing? Don’t wear black T-shirts or T-shirts proclaiming the passing game a mere rumor. Don’t carry signs to the games. Don’t fly banners over the stadiums. Don’t boo until you lose your voice.
Just don’t go to the games and don’t buy the team’s merchandise. Empty seats and dwindling merchandise sales are real attention-grabbers. And you don’t wake up hoarse on Sundays.
Why do Arkansas watch parties have to be wakes? Isn’t there enough sadness in the world?
TV networks have entirely too much control over sporting events. That isn’t going to change. But when do the advertisers realize that the network telecasts sometimes aren’t doing the advertisers any favors?
Take the Major League Baseball playoffs, for example. Yes, the playoff games that are not producing good ratings numbers. Have you noticed what time a few of the extra-inning games have ended? I read where the game Saturday night ended after 1:30 a.m.
Who but the most loyal fan is going to be up after 1:30 a.m. watching a playoff game?
The professional games start too late. Just one more reason I don’t watch much professional sports. Never mind that free agency has made team loyalty a memory. Never mind that the athletes are grossly overpaid these days. Which means that if you attend a professional game, be prepared to dig deep into the pockets.
The exciting, unpredictable college football season has provided more frustration. By default, teams that don’t deserve to be ranked high will be ranked high because other teams have lost.
Maybe it will all work itself out by season’s end and the best teams will end up in the big bowl games. No, Arkansas won’t be one of the teams.
Then again, maybe justice would be served with this Bowl Championship Series mess if teams like, say, Boston College and Arizona State ended up playing for the national championship.
No one would care. But I suppose it would still be more fun than staying up until 1:30 a.m. to watch a pro game.
Whit Jones is editor of the Courier. His column appears occasionally.
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