Remember that thing called the NFL lockout? Neither do fans.
Numbers released by the NFL and Nielsen Media show an average of 36.6 million viewers watched the four playoff games last weekend, the most ever for an NFL Divisional Weekend and a four percent increase from last season’s previous record (35.1 million).
Sunday’s New York Giants-Green Bay Packers game on FOX drew and average of 45.1 million viewers to rank as the most-watched Divisional Playoff game ever topping the record set last year by Jets-Patriots (43.5 million viewers). Giants-Packers is the most-watched show since Super Bowl XLV.
Saturday’s New Orleans Saints-San Francisco 49ers on FOX (35.6 million viewers) and Denver Broncos-New England Patriots on CBS (34.2 million viewers) respectively ranked as the most watched Saturday early and late Divisional Playoff games ever.
All four Divisional Playoff games averaged more than 30 million viewers for the second consecutive year and accounted for the four most-watched shows on television last week (chart below).
Most-Watched Shows on Television, Week of Jan. 9-15, 2012
Program
Average Viewers
1. FOX Sunday Divisional Playoff (Giants-Packers)
45.1 million
2. FOX Saturday Divisional Playoff (Saints-49ers)
35.6 million
3. CBS Saturday Divisional Playoff (Broncos-Patriots)
You, I, or politicians, every decision we make comes with consequences. Good or bad, there are outcomes to what we choose to do. The big difference is, politicians are constantly being watched by the media and taxpayers for missteps.
Controversial subjects are often sidestepped, and the funding of new stadiums or arenas for professional sports teams are often in that category.
Whether it’s a new home for a sports team or some other topic sure to grab the headlines, what government leaders always look for is political cover, and a new home for the Minnesota Vikings is no different.
It starts with constant overtures by the Los Angeles area to bring back an NFL team after the Raiders and Rams left there in 1994, leaving the market devoid of an NFL franchise since. Then, last year the weather played its part when Minneapolis/St. Paul is pounded with a massive snowfall, which caused the Metrodome’s roof to collapse. Throw in that the Vikings lease on the Metrodome expires at the end of the season, and it’s all a politician likely needs.
The inference is clear by the NFL and many the cover them in the media: if the Vikings don’t get a new stadium, they’re relocating to LA. It’s leveraging, as it always has been in the new facility game.
Here’s where the political cover comes into play.
Peter King announced on NBC last night, and reiterated today in his Monday Morning Quarterback column that funding for a new stadium is likely in the offing due to the club being a “free agent” when the lease expires, and the threat of relocation to LA hanging over Minny/St. Paul’s head. King writes:
About six weeks ago, NFL CFO Eric Grubman went to Minnesota not to badger local politicians and the governor but to state a fact: If they waited until after the season to hammer out a deal with the Vikings, they'd risk losing control of the decision-making process. The implication was clear: The Wilf Family is not from Minnesota, and ownership had already pledged $425 million to the stadium effort, and if that wasn't going to be good enough to get a deal done, the family might have to look elsewhere. Now it appears the deal will get done in Minnesota, and as they should, the Vikings will stay in the great north.
The cost for a new stadium that would keep the Vikings in Minnesota would cost $870 million, if a roof is installed, something that will surely be sought (for those asking, the roof is projected to cost $100 million). If the Wilf family sticks to $425 million, taxpayers are on the hook for $445 million, possibly more depending on infrastructure costs.
Blogger Kevin Seifert, who covers the NFC North for ESPN writes, “King's report accurately depicts a growing sense of optimism that Gov. Mark Dayton's leadership on the issue will bring it to a successful conclusion in the coming months…. What a late Christmas present that would be for all involved. “
King had it right when he said the Vikings should stay in Minnesota. Seifert should have never added, “What a late Christmas present that would be for all involved.”
When the lion’s share of a facility for private enterprise is developed by the majority of public dollars, it’s never good for “all involved”. Remember, taxpayers just got dinged in 2006 for $320 million for the Twins new baseball-only stadium, Target Field. It’s “good” for the Vikings to stay. It’s “bad” for the taxpayers (again).
Welcome to a new edition of Bizball Radio with Seth Everett and Maury Brown!
Just how marketable is Tim Tebow and why the fascination with him? In this edition of the football podcast, Seth and Maury talk the sensation and ask why the Broncos' quarterback is so popular. They also delve into technology that could mean bringing your favorite game to your device so you can watch it anywhere, including air travel.
Welcome to a new edition of Bizball Radio with Seth Everett and Maury Brown!
The Sandusky sex scandal at Penn St. has Seth and Maury talking about how sports institutions could be covering up the truth in this latest edition of Bizball Radio. Seth has ideas on how to punish Penn St. while not hurting the kids in the football program. Along the way, the two talk about the timing of allegations of sexual abuse by Syracuse University assistant men's basketball coach Bernie Fine, the timing of it, and whether the accuser is looking for a money grab. As Syracuse is Seth's alma mater he has key insights.
Full disclosure: I'm not a lawyer. I did go to law school for a year, so I'm familiar with reading legal documents, looking for holes in stories and asking questions. While reading the grand jury report on Jerry Sandusky, I noticed something that hasn't been touched on by the mainstream media.
The following passage begins on page 6 of the grand jury report:
"He (McQueary) saw a naked boy, Victim 2, whose age he estimated to be 10 years old, with his hands up against the wall, being subjected to anal intercourse by a naked Sandusky...The next morning, a Saturday, the graduate assistant telephoned Paterno and went to Paterno's home, where he reported what he had seen."
"Paterno testified to receiving the graduate assistant's report at his home. Paterno called Curley to his home the very next day, a Sunday, and reported to him that the graduate assistant has seen Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy."
See the distinction there? McQueary, whose testimony the grand jury found to be "extremely credible," testified that he told Paterno he had witnessed Sandusky having intercourse with the child. Paterno testified that McQueary told him Sandusky was "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature." If McQueary told Paterno that he saw Sandusky having intercourse with the boy, why would Paterno tell Curley that McQueary had seen Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature?" Why didn't Paterno just tell Curley exactly what McQueary had told him?
At best, it was a needlessly vague relay of what McQueary had told Paterno the day before. Maybe Paterno simply misremembered (as Roger Clemens might say) what McQueary told him. At worst, it comes across as Paterno trying to shield Sandusky by making the accusations against him seem less serious than they actually were. I'm not accusing Paterno of trying to protect Sandusky. And just because the grand jury found McQueary "extremely credible" doesn't necessarily mean he is telling the truth, either. The legal process is far from playing itself out, no matter how anxious all of us are to get some answers. There's no way to know exactly what Paterno was thinking until he explains himself, which probably won't occur until he's in a courtroom testifying. But when he does, he needs to explain why he told Curley something different than what McQueary told him.
Welcome to a new edition of Bizball Radio with Seth Everett and Maury Brown!
A 62-7 beatdown didn't help, but it was worse than that: the World Series beat the NFL in the ratings on two consecutive games. To add, for the first time since the NFL began playing regular season games in London, the league didn't sell out the event (although, 76,981 is nothing to scoff at, capacity at Wembley Stadium is 90,000).
Seth and Maury talk about the ratings tanking on SNF and MNF, whether expansion into Europe is a good idea, and more
Welcome to a new edition of Bizball Radio with Seth Everett and Maury Brown!
While the lockout in the NFL is over, the business of the league saw a news around the Raiders this past week.
Seth and Maury talk the death of Al Davis, look at his legacy and how he compares to George Steinbrenner. The podcast also talks about Carson Palmer going from the Browns to the Raiders and how the powers of the NFLPA have changed over time.
Along the way, Seth and Maury have fun as "uniform police"
The Biz of Football has been updated with a new document….
When it comes to understanding how ownership in sports leagues is guided, each one’s constitution is the template.
For the public, access to such docs are hard to find. Today, the Business of Sports Network is happy to make one available to you.
The site has been updated with a copy of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws. This 292 page document is interesting for the fact that unlike other leagues, the NFL simply updates its Constitution with amendments within – it is a living document from year to year.
A handful of interesting notes....
On page 2, under Article II (Purpose and Objectives), article 2.2 reads, “The League is not organized nor to be operated for profit.” As a note, gross revenues for the NFL in the last full season were $9.3 billion. By Forbes accounting, operating income – a measure of profit – the Dallas Cowboys pulled in $1.19 billion in profits pre-EBITA.
On page 10, under Membership Covenants and Obligations (3.11A), “They, and each of them, shall be bound by and will observe all decisions of the Commissioner of the League in all matters within his jurisdiction.
On page 12, under Rights within Territory (4.1, B), “The ‘home territory’ of the Green Bay Packers shall extend to and include all of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin despite the fact that portions of County are outside the 75 mile limits from the exterior corporate limits of the City of Green Bay.”
On page 67, under Player Contracts (15.1), “All contracts between clubs and players shall be executed in triplicate and be in the form adopted by the member clubs of the League; such contract shall be known as the ‘NFL Player Contract.’ Subject to the provision of Section 9 (C) (8) hereof, a club may delete portions of or otherwise amend the NFL Player Contract subject to the rights of the Commissioner to disapprove the same, as provided by Section 15.4 hereof.”
You can add Hank Williams, Jr. to the list of human beings who have contracted hoof and mouth disease.
Williams rammed both of his flashy cowboy boots into his wide-open mouth during an interview on Fox News when he invoked the name of Adolph Hitler in reference to President Obama. Williams’ exact words were that when Obama played golf with House Speaker John Boehner last summer, it was akin to “Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.” When an obviously shocked commentator asked Williams to clarify his reference, he didn’t hesitate. “They’re the enemy,” adding that by “they,” he meant Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. The singer then referred to the president and vice president as “The Three Stooges,” proving that in addition to being a Neanderthal, he never learned his addition tables.
ESPN immediately issued a statement saying it was “extremely disappointed” in Williams’ comments and pulled his song, “All my Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” from the opening of that night’s Colts-Buccaneers game. The song, which had served as an introduction to Monday Night Football for over twenty years, was more a red-neck anthem than a tune suited for MNF’s sought-after demographic. Three days later, the network announced that Williams and his song were being placed on permanent leave.
Williams accused ESPN of trampling on his First Amendment rights. Any first year law student could have explained to Williams that because ESPN was a private entity, the constitution didn’t apply, unless it was used to demonstrate why he was free to make a fool of himself. But ESPN and ABC, which first introduced the song to MNF, didn’t hire Williams for his cerebral traits, but rather for his raucous voice and edgy lyrics, neither of which has ever been G-rated.
It’s doubtful that the good folks in Bristol, Connecticut were offended by Williams’ Hitler analogy. ESPN employees Jemele Hill and Lou Holtz have famously invoked the exterminator’s name, the former in writing, the later on air when he referred to the Fuhrer as a “good leader.”
Williams’ offense was making what could be interpreted as racial comments, something that understandably terrified the self-proclaimed World Wide Leader. A number of viewers and advertisers were obviously offended, not to mention the concern the network had for how Williams’ remarks played in the NFL where approximately 70% of the players are black. If Williams had substituted former President George Bush for Obama, it’s doubtful he would have been handed a pink slip. But Williams joins such luminaries as Rush Limbaugh, Jimmy the Greek, Don Imus and Al Campanis who were terminated for committing the cardinal PC sin: Making disparaging comments towards blacks.
Williams and Limbaugh lost their gigs at ESPN. Jimmy the Greekwas summarily terminated by CBS. Campanis lost his job with the Dodgers. Imus’ radio show was terminated, although later resurrected.
What seems patently obvious is that violations of the PC code are not treated equally. ESPN briefly suspended Hill from writing her column on ESPN.com and Holtz received…absolutely nothing in the way of discipline from the network.
It should be noted that while comments which violate PC standards are inappropriate, insensitive and ignorant, they don’t in and of themselves brand the speaker as a person without redeeming social value. Williams, for example, has donated his own money to and raised millions more for tornado victims of Alabama and Mississippi. Imus raised tens-of-millions of dollars and spent millions more of his own money to give disadvantaged children a once-in-a-lifetime experience at his New Mexico ranch. Campanis was Jackie Robinson’s roommate in the Minors and was one of the last people in baseball you would ever accuse of being prejudiced prior to his infamous appearance on ABC’s Nightline.
In statements issued after his faux pas, Williams acknowledged that his Hitler comparison was “extreme.” But the singer added, “When both sides are high-fiving it on the ninth hole when everybody else is without a job – it makes a whole lot of us angry.” While Williams’ additional comments were another example of extreme – not everybody is without a job – nonetheless, those are words that most Americans can relate to. Williams should stick to that message when he runs for governor of Tennessee in 2012.
Jordan Kobritz is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network. He can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network. He is a former attorney, CPA, and Minor League Baseball team owner. He is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Eastern New Mexico University and teaches the Business of Sports at the University of Wyoming.
Al Davis, who was the GM and Coach of the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League in 1962, went on to become managing partner of the club in 1972, and was part of the NFL’s landscape since, has died at the age of 82. The Raiders confirmed the death on the website and said a statement would be forthcoming.
Davis, who at one point was the commissioner of the AFL, when hired by the Raiders general partner F. Wayne Valley in ’62 as GM and Coach, was the youngest to hold such a front office position in the league.
Under Davis’ tenure, the Raiders had one of the most successful runs in AFL/NFL history. From 1967 to 1985 the Raiders won 13 division championships, one AFL championship (1967), three Super Bowls (XI, XV, and XVIII) and made 15 playoff appearances.
Davis was also nothing if controversial. He was involved in several lawsuits with the NFL, including relocation the Raiders to LA (which was initially blocked by a court injunction), and eventually moved the club back to Oakland in 1995. Davis tried suing the league before the move saying that the NFL had purposely tried to derail efforts to get a new stadium built in Inglewood.
In 2007, NFL Films chose the feud between Davis and the NFL and Pete Rozelle as their number 1 greatest feud in NFL history on the NFL Network's Top Ten Feuds.
Davis instilled a hard-nose form of football in his successful years, and was famous for saying, “Once a Raider, always a Raider,” and "Just win, baby.”
Remember that thing called the NFL lockout? Neither do fans.
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Full disclosure: I'm not a lawyer. I did go to law school for a year, so I'm familiar with reading legal documents, looking for holes in stories and asking questions. While reading the grand jury report on Jerry Sandusky, I noticed something that hasn't been touched on by the mainstream media.
You can add Hank Williams, Jr. to the list of human beings who have contracted hoof and mouth disease.
