Just to add to that whole baseball is regional...

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

...and even the worst teams in the league the average fans knows something about them.

Peace

Hardly. I'm an avid NFL fan. It's a close second to baseball in my heart, but I confess: I cannot name ONE player on the Oakland Raiders, the Buccaneers, Titans, Chiefs, and probably a couple more. I kid you not. I have the NFL Sunday Ticket, too, and still can't name a single player on any of those aforementioned teams. And I consider myself a sports nut!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Hardly. I'm an avid NFL fan. It's a close second to baseball in my heart, but I confess: I cannot name ONE player on the Oakland Raiders, the Buccaneers, Titans, Chiefs, and probably a couple more. I kid you not. I have the NFL Sunday Ticket, too, and still can't name a single player on any of those aforementioned teams. And I consider myself a sports nut!

I'm pretty sure UmpLarryJohnson plays for the Chiefs!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Hardly. I'm an avid NFL fan. It's a close second to baseball in my heart, but I confess: I cannot name ONE player on the Oakland Raiders, the Buccaneers, Titans, Chiefs, and probably a couple more. I kid you not. I have the NFL Sunday Ticket, too, and still can't name a single player on any of those aforementioned teams. And I consider myself a sports nut!

Donte Culpepper went to the Raiders after being at Miami for a year after he was released. And Jamarcus Russell was their first round draft pick this year.

The Buccaneers has Jeff Garcia that was with the Eagles when Donavan McNabb was hurt

Vince Young is with the Titans and was a first round draft pick last season and is on the cover of Madden 08.

The Chiefs have Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes which came back a neck injury about 2 years ago.

Now that was without looking. Stop calling yourself an avid if you cannot name some of these names.

And the Patriots-Redskins game had more viewers in the middle of the season (52-7) at a different time than the World Series later that night when the Red Sox won the WS. The NFL game received over a 14.0 Nielsen rating and the World Series was around a 10.0-11.0 rating.

I worked my first round playoff game on last Friday for the IHSA Playoffs. It rained 30 minutes before the game until the game ended. There were more people in the stands and on the sides of the fences in that one game then there was all my Class A and AA Post Season Baseball games combined during the 2007 season. And the weather was much nicer during every game and with the sun out most of the time as well. And this is an avid baseball town.

Peace

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I worked my first round playoff game on last Friday for the IHSA Playoffs. It rained 30 minutes before the game until the game ended. There were more people in the stands and on the sides of the fences in that one game then there was all my Class A and AA Post Season Baseball games combined during the 2007 season. And the weather was much nicer during every game and with the sun out most of the time as well. And this is an avid baseball town.

Peace

Now you're just being ridiculous, JR.

A. Football stands have FAR greater capacity than do baseball stands, especially at high schools. Duh. (And I don't think the schools play a schedule composed of 20, 30, 40, or more football games. Of course, you didn't know that.)

B. Autumn in Chicagoland has, for the last several years, been much better weather-wise than has spring, when baseball plays. I guess that's baseball's fault, too, huh?

Really. Your posts when attempting to make a "point" have truly gone beyond illogical; they're downright stupid.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Now you're just being ridiculous, JR.

A. Football stands have FAR greater capacity than do baseball stands, especially at high schools. Duh. (And I don't think the schools play a schedule composed of 20, 30, 40, or more football games. Of course, you didn't know that.)

Of course they are far greater capacity. Because more people attend those games on a regular basis. You better create a way to have a few thousand attend a game. They do not need that kind of accomidations during baseball season.

Originally Posted by UMP25

B. Autumn in Chicagoland has, for the last several years, been much better weather-wise than has spring, when baseball plays. I guess that's baseball's fault, too, huh?

For the record the baseball post season I worked this past season the weather was in the 70s and the sun was out pretty much every game even during those Sectional semi-final games that were after 4:00. Even the Sectional Final the sun shined the entire day and it was quite hot. The game was during a Saturday morning (June 2) with no more than around 400 people at most. My game on Saturday the temperature was in the 40s, 7:00 at night and people were willing to sit outside in the rain for several minutes before game time to watch a blowout game that was decided after the first couple of plays and hardly anyone left. Even the losing team's fans were pretty much staying most of the game.

Originally Posted by UMP25

Really. Your posts when attempting to make a "point" have truly gone beyond illogical; they're downright stupid.

You decided to post this with my name to try to make a point. I did not and have not tried to talk about ratings or this issue since it was put to bed over a week ago.

This seems to be your issue whether baseball is falling off the map or not. I loved baseball as a kid and I played it the longest. There was not even football offered until I was in 8th grade and that was the first year of that league. I played baseball in the backyard more than any other sport and if I could have been the next Willie Stargell I loved that possibility. I played varsity baseball the longest and baseball was the only sport I was a starter over some time compared to my other sports I played. I even spent a summer in Natchitoches, Louisiana because my Mom who was a college professor was doing a sabbatical for some research and she had to find me a baseball team to play for during the summer to keep me preoccupied. It was one of the most fun times of my life. So I am speaking as a fan of a game that for some reason has lost some luster. I even remember when the World Series was on it was constantly the topic of conversation when I was younger. Now the most talk I hear about is on places like this from people that work baseball.

You seemed to be having a harder time dealing with those facts than I am. And when I look at schools that have great athletes in the other sports, they choose not to participate in baseball at all. So the best athletes at the younger levels are not playing baseball. And teams that once had a cut, need to take every player they can get. Even look at the Major Leagues and many of the better younger players are coming from outside of the United States.

You have every right to disagree; I am just saying something is wrong. When the people my age and in their 40s, 50s and 60s are gone, will there be anyone younger that will get to those ages that will support MLB.

All you seem to be talking about is emotion and what once was and what it should be. Nothing wrong with that but stop trying to assume that this conversation is only about what our emotions are.

Peace

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

For the record the baseball post season I worked this past season the weather was in the 70s and the sun was out pretty much every game even during those Sectional semi-final games that were after 4:00. Even the Sectional Final the sun shined the entire day and it was quite hot.

Note the time of the year to which you're referring. The greater majority of the baseball season is played during a time of the year that, quite literally, sucks weatherwise around here--that being April and early May. You're being illogical, as usual, by focusing on the traditionally warmest part of the season, that being the postseason.

This is my 30th year of umpiring, and I can honestly say the spring was the worst I have ever had for games lost due to cold and/or snow. I lost 17 games in April alone--17! Heck, I had several D-I games wiped due to cold, and we know that D-I games don't get banged unless they have to. And this was in April. Heck, I awoke the morning of April frickin' 11th to find three inches of snow on the ground. My Easter break saw 4 of its days completely wiped due to snow and slush and cold, wet conditions--not anywhere near your "hot" June days.

This takes a toll on baseball, a sport NOT intended to be played under such conditions. It has become so serious that the NCAA beginning in 2008 pushed back the start of its college's schedules to accommodate the colder schools' weather troubles and schedules.

[UMP25]

I wear long sleeves more often in April and early May than I do in early June, bub.

[UMP25]

Uh, last time I checked, our high school baseball's postseason is in June, son. Perhaps you're in the southern hemisphere.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Note the time of the year to which you're referring. The greater majority of the baseball season is played during a time of the year that, quite literally, sucks weatherwise around here--that being April and early May. You're being illogical, as usual, by focusing on the traditionally warmest part of the season, that being the postseason.

This is my 30th year of umpiring, and I can honestly say the spring was the worst I have ever had for games lost due to cold and/or snow. I lost 17 games in April alone--17! Heck, I had several D-I games wiped due to cold, and we know that D-I games don't get banged unless they have to. And this was in April. Heck, I awoke the morning of April frickin' 11th to find three inches of snow on the ground. My Easter break saw 4 of its days completely wiped due to snow and slush and cold, wet conditions--not anywhere near your "hot" June days.

This takes a toll on baseball, a sport NOT intended to be played under such conditions. It has become so serious that the NCAA beginning in 2008 pushed back the start of its college's schedules to accommodate the colder schools' weather troubles and schedules.

Yep, it is all the weather's fault. The interest or excitement (lack of interest or excitement) has nothing to do with it.

Peace

[UMP25]

Well, if you had an ounce of simple meteorological and mathematical knowledge, you'd understand. But I won't hold my breath.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The Chiefs have Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes which came back a neck injury about 2 years ago.

Don't forget veteran linebacker, Donnie Edwards whom the Chiefs picked up in the off season amongst others .

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by msavakinas

the phrase sports nut obviously doesn't mean as much as it used to. hate to break it to you but you need to start watching your NFL ticket or just give it to me... because you're obviously not putting it to any use

Oh, I put it to use. I consider it money well-spent for one reason: the Pittsburgh Steelers. I subscribe to the package for the Steelers alone. I don't watch anyone else but the Steelers and Bears, save for an occasional matchup that isn't carried by CBS or FOX as a national game or isn't carried on one of my Distant Network Signal (DNS) feeds.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by UMP25

Oh, I put it to use. I consider it money well-spent for one reason: the Pittsburgh Steelers. I subscribe to the package for the Steelers alone. I don't watch anyone else but the Steelers and Bears, save for an occasional matchup that isn't carried by CBS or FOX as a national game or isn't carried on one of my Distant Network Signal (DNS) feeds.

In all fairness to those who don't consider you to be an "avid NFL fan," from what you are saying here it appears you are merely an avid Steelers and Bears fan.

I consider myself a voracious NFL fan, and I can name a good many starters and reserves on every team in the league. I watch every single game available in my area each Sunday. I always watch Monday Night Football. I play in two fantasy football leagues on NFL.com and ESPN.com and I closely monitor all of the star players and worthwhile bench players. That is what I consider to be an avid NFL fan.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

In all fairness to those who don't consider you to be an "avid NFL fan," from what you are saying here it appears you are merely an avid Steelers and Bears fan.

I consider myself a voracious NFL fan, and I can name a good many starters and reserves on every team in the league. I watch every single game available in my area each Sunday. I always watch Monday Night Football. I play in two fantasy football leagues on NFL.com and ESPN.com and I closely monitor all of the star players and worthwhile bench players. That is what I consider to be an avid NFL fan.

Fantasy sports is the biggest waste of time I can think of. It doesn't make you a voracious NFL fan. It only makes you a stat junkie who tries to forecast who will score, throw or catch the most touchdowns. Who gets to kick the most field goals. What defense might play well that day. It has nothing to do with winning or losing an actual game. Your player might have a great game statistically, but their team can still lose the game. You can be a fan of one team and have a fantasy player on one team competing against each other. Which do you want to do well? You don't have to know a bunch of silly stats to be a big fan. I know a few people that know little about football and do well in fantasy leagues. Fantasy football has become one of the biggest wastes of man work hours. Why do you think companies are having domains such as these blocked?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Fantasy sports is the biggest waste of time I can think of. It doesn't make you a voracious NFL fan. It only makes you a stat junkie who tries to forecast who will score, throw or catch the most touchdowns. Who gets to kick the most field goals. What defense might play well that day. It has nothing to do with winning or losing an actual game. Your player might have a great game statistically, but their team can still lose the game. You can be a fan of one team and have a fantasy player on one team competing against each other. Which do you want to do well? You don't have to know a bunch of silly stats to be a big fan. I know a few people that know little about football and do well in fantasy leagues. Fantasy football has become one of the biggest wastes of man work hours. Why do you think companies are having domains such as these blocked?

I agree that one should not be playing fantasy sports on the company dime. I certainly was not condoning using company computers and work hours to do so.

I am a voracious NFL fan, college football fan, and baseball fan. I am not a stat junkie, but I do like to play fantasy football. It is only one of several factors which make me an avid fan, not the only factor. Are you ignoring the part where I said that I watch each and every available NFL game telecast in my area? You merely singled out one facet of my comments and are concentrating on it.

I know the game and the players and have known them since long before fantasy football was ever invented. I have been a huge NFL (and AFL) fan my whole life. I have watched every Super Bowl ever played. I watched Hank Stram's Chiefs matriculate the ball down the field against the Packers.

Which do I want to do well? That's the dilemma. It's also what makes it fun. I often must root for a player to do well against my team. I do happen to own LaDainian Tomlinson in both of my leagues. I did well in the draft and I'm doing just fine. Brady is working out pretty well for me too. This week I had 119 points in the NFL league and 112 in the ESPN league. By far the most of any team in either league.