You got to know the rules...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

BillyMac, you've given me a great idea for our local kids rec league. Next season, before each game, I'm going to have the two officials stand in front of the benches and address the teams and the spectators by announcing, "Everyone who cares which team wins this game raise your hand. Thanks. Please note that my partner and I were the only two people in the gym who didn't raise a hand. Remember that while the game is being played. Thank you." Actually, I may really do that - I'm not kidding.

I don't do the following every game, maybe a couple of times a season, especially before some of my big "rivalry" games:

Pregame meeting with coaches and captains, as the referee:
"Coaches, are you players properly equipped and do they know how to wear their uniforms properly? Coaches, and captains, my partner and I are going to emphasis good sportsmanship tonight. Look around the gym. The players, coaches, cheerleaders, and fans, have something in common. They all want one of the teams to win. Except me and my partner. We're the only ones in the gym who don't care who wins tonight, so we're going to try to be as unbiased in our calls tonight as we can. If we make any mistakes tonight, it will not be because we want one team, or the other, to win the game. Please remember this during the game. Partner, got anything to add? Coaches, and captains, got any questions? Let's all have fun tonight.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

BillyMac, you've given me a great idea for our local kids rec league. Next season, before each game, I'm going to have the two officials stand in front of the benches and address the teams and the spectators by announcing, "Everyone who cares which team wins this game raise your hand. Thanks. Please note that my partner and I were the only two people in the gym who didn't raise a hand. Remember that while the game is being played. Thank you."

Actually, I may really do that - I'm not kidding.

I have an idea.

Why don't you just tell your officials to work hard & do their absolute best & not worry about fans?

[lpbreeze]

on the tv ad thing briefly. I was once living with two friends from Europe and they couldn't believe the amount of ads during a football game and during tv shows. They just gave up watching American tv. Used to soccer I suppose.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

People can "rip" them all they want. CBS contracted to pay the NCAA so much to broadcast the games and they will sell an amount of ad space so as to make a profit. As long as the ratings hit certain numbers, this is how it will be in the future. I doubt the ratings will suffer because people think there's too many ads. Either there will be enough ads to make a profit, or no one will carry the games because they're not going to do it at a loss.

I think over the years, the public has developed a kind of "entitlement mentality" toward certain things. There's no "inherent right" to see sports on television. This is still a capitalistic society, thank goodness.

"The business of America is business".

OK - I'll get off my soapbox for now.

And I have the ability to do as I usually do.....set the PVR to record the game and start watching it about 1/2 way through....skipping all the commercials!! They have the right to put the ads in the show just as much as I have the right to not watch them.

Ultimately, I know that this viewing habit (when multiplied across millions) will have the effect of lowering the value per minute of commercial time but that is not my concern.

[biz]

Originally Posted by socalreff

If he did carry, it was because Rose was fouling him for 3 seconds before the pass to Chalmers. It looked to me like he was purposely fouling to send him to the line for 2 as opposed to a 3 pt. attempt.

socal I think we're talking about different possible carrying violations. I was referring to the crossover in the b\c, I agree that Rose was all over the dribbler in the f\c. Good job by the official to realize that Kansas wasn't disadvantaged by contact and allow the play to develop. I believe Calipari said the plan was to foul but they weren't able to foul before the pass to Chalmers.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

I have an idea.

Why don't you just tell your officials to work hard & do their absolute best & not worry about fans?

Because it's so much fun embarrassing a gym full of parents. DUH!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Hey - I found your pic on the web. I like the tie. Is that one of those Chinese ones from Wal-Mart?

Most of my wardrobe comes from Walmart, thank you.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Ultimately, I know that this viewing habit (when multiplied across millions) will have the effect of lowering the value per minute of commercial time but that is not my concern.

It will also have the effect of removing any profit from the business of broadcasting sports on TV...which will ultimately lead to it's disappearance.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

It will also have the effect of removing any profit from the business of broadcasting sports on TV...which will ultimately lead to it's disappearance.

If anything, the value per minute of sports programming should be up relative to overall programming, as people are much more likely to watch sports live as opposed to other programming. It's the sitcoms and reality TV that are most impacted by the TIVO craze (in which I'm happy to participate).

Sports programming won't go away - but expect to see more and more advertising injected directly into the broadcast, rather than in traditional commercials. That means superimposed images, more quick spots by the announcers, etc. Pretty soon we'll probably have "This travel brought to you by Coca-Cola!"

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

If anything, the value per minute of sports programming should be up relative to overall programming, as people are much more likely to watch sports live as opposed to other programming.

It's hard to make a case for higher value of ANY programming if advertisers know that commercials are not being seen. That's what "zapping" the commercials is doing...makes no difference if it's live sports or sitcoms or news programming for that matter.

Your point is valid about more eyeballs being drawn to sports...but that doesn't help me if I'm trying to sell Chevy trucks and people are whipping past my message. Product placement will increase as you described, but tests show that they're no where near as effective as 30 second commercials.

Bottom line...watch the commercials...they're the reason the network is able to broadcast the game.

(off my soapbox now...back to your regularly scheduled thread)

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

It's hard to make a case for higher value of ANY programming if advertisers know that commercials are not being seen. That's what "zapping" the commercials is doing...makes no difference if it's live sports or sitcoms or news programming for that matter.

Your point is valid about more eyeballs being drawn to sports...but that doesn't help me if I'm trying to sell Chevy trucks and people are whipping past my message. Product placement will increase as you described, but tests show that they're no where near as effective as 30 second commercials.

Bottom line...watch the commercials...they're the reason the network is able to broadcast the game.

(off my soapbox now...back to your regularly scheduled thread)

I don't know where we got so off-topic , but while I agree with your points overall, TV isn't going away...and if the "zapping" of commercials happens at a higher rate in sitcoms than in sports (which it does), then the value (to advertisers) of sports is going to be greater relative to the value of sitcoms.

That doesn't mean the overall value of television advertising isn't going to decrease - it probably is - but we shouldn't worry about zapping the commercials. It's a fact of life now and they aren't going to stop showing sports...in fact, I'll argue there will be a higher frequency of live television because it's less likely to be zapped.

This is fun...

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

Pretty soon we'll probably have "This travel brought to you by Coca-Cola!"

Or "This 'over-the-back' brought to you by Viagra."

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Because it's so much fun embarrassing a gym full of parents. DUH!

I was afraid you would say that. Oh well.. :shrug:

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Or "This 'over-the-back' brought to you by Viagra."

This 3 second call brought to you by viagra

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Bottom line...watch the commercials...they're the reason the network is able to broadcast the game.

Maybe not watching the commercials will simply lower the amount the network is willing to pay for the games. I doubt the NCAA tournament (or the NFL, or MLB, or even the NHL) will disappear from TV, even if they get paid less for the rights.

I heard that Monday Night Football was a continuous money-loser for ABC in terms of what they could sell the ad time for. But it was incredibly valuable in promoting the rest of the network's programming and building an audience for other ABC shows, and that's what made it worth the rights fees. Is that anywhere close to being true?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett
Because it's so much fun embarrassing a gym full of parents. DUH!

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

I was afraid you would say that. Oh well.. :shrug:

Actually, here's my point. In that league, we try to achieve a sportsmanship level of 100%. If we can get the crowd to not yell at the refs regarding calls, it has that much more of a positive impact on the players. That's why we are "quick on the trigger" to admonish and even eject unruly spectators. The structure of this league mandates the following:

1) kids having fun
2) player safety
3) sportsmanship
4) respect for authority
5) improving skills

Parents yelling at refs is in conflict with numbers 3 and 4 and is not tolerated. BTW - the motto of the league is "Do Sports, Not Drugs". This league is for boys and girls in grades 3-12.