SPORTS NOTES
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- JANUARY 20, 2024
The weird weather means many of us have been sticking close to home. If you're like me, that means watching a lot of televised sports. Luckily, the NFL playoffs have helped to rescue us from cabin fever.
In that regard, there has been a bit of a controversy related to the playoffs. Oddly, this has nothing to do with anything that has happened on the fields of play. A CNN headline read: “Peacock’s NFL game is the real talking point of America’s favorite sport.”
I am not much of a streamer, so I defer to experts in the industry. “The NFL may have finally gone too far in a move that many critics are calling greedy. ESPN analyst and famed sports radio host Chris Russo says the league has actually committed to doing something that will likely ensure that far fewer people watch a playoff game.”
Here's what transpired. It involved the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Miami Dolphins game. The contest was not on the major broadcast networks. “People (had to) tune in to the $5.99 a month Peacock streaming service to enjoy the game.”
So why would the NFL opt for this? “The NFL is getting paid $110 million to allow this game to be exclusively streamed on Peacock. That’s a lot of money for one game, so you can understand why the NFL is willing to lose viewers and “experiment.”
(https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/13/sport/peacocks-nfl-game-analysis-spt-intl)
I know what you're thinking. Who cares? I can live without watching the Chiefs vs. Dolphins. I feel no compunction to subscribe to any streaming service just to watch a game that means nothing to me.
Ah, but there's something closer to home that may be of interest. “Recently NBC has moved some sports to be Peacock only and struck a deal with the Big Ten to bring some of its games to Peacock.” In fact, thirty Big Ten games will be only on Peacock. Four of those involve the University of Michigan and five involve Michigan State University. (https://cordcuttersnews.com/peacock-is-struggling-because-it-lacks-must-see-tv-no-fix-is-in-sight/)
More to the point, you will have to subscribe to Peacock if you want to watch the Wolverines vs. the Spartans on January 30. That sort of ups the ante, eh?
How about another curveball added to this situation? Both NBC and the NFL point out that streaming is the way to go because it appeals to young people. Really? “According to a 2021 study, only 23 percent of Generation Z describe themselves as passionate sports fans, as opposed to 42 percent of millennials, 33 percent of Generation X and 31 percent of baby boomers. Further, a sizable 27 percent of Gen Z describe themselves as anti-sports.” How this all plays out will be fascinating to observe. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/01/07/gen-z-disinterested-sports-nfl-college-football-championship/72117123007/)
Pretty much every sports program and sports report offers highlights of special moments. Top “plays of the day” are common. For me, the most boring highlight is an NBA dunk. A highlight should be something rare and out of the ordinary. According to NBA Blast, every player in the NBA can dunk (with very few exceptions). So, an NBA dunk is is not rare. Those dunks are common and mundane and do not fit the highlight requirements. For highlights, stick with high school and college dunks. (https://nbablast.com/can-all-nba-players-dunk/)
Another thing. A what point did every single dunk become a slam dunk? I mean, some dunks a barely dunks. Some are tip-ins. Every dunk should not automatically be called a slam dunk.
By the way, did you know there was a time when dunking was illegal? “From 1967 to 1976, high school and college players were outlawed from dunking the ball through the rim. Instead, they would have to lay the ball up or simply drop it through the hoop as they soared through the air. The dunk wasn’t considered a highlight. Rather, it was often seen as a sign of disrespect to your opponents.” (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/feb/17/slam-dunk-banned-college-basketball-high-school)
Finally, tomorrow is the big NFL playoff game between the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans are going crazy. A Lions souvenir leather jacket is selling for $600. Reports of $500 parking spaces are in the news. Tickets to the game are going for astronomical prices. “The biggest price as of Tuesday morning on TickPick was for four tickets at $12,453 each in Section 106, Row 36 for a $49,812 total.” You can take your family to the game or buy them a house! (https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/01/16/detroit-lions-playoff-tickets-tampa-bay-buccaneers/72240359007/)
Just like everyone else, I loved that they finally won a playoff game last week. I want the Lions to win tomorrow. However, I am “seasoned” enough to remember Detroit Lions history. Part of that is the “Curse of Bobby Layne.”
According to the Bleacher Report: “Bobby Layne seethed with anger as he emptied his locker. The Lions had just traded him—one of the NFL's greatest players, a quarterback who helped them win three championships. They were two games into the 1958 season. The Lions were the defending NFL champs. The trade was simply inexplicable. As he left the Lions locker room for the last time, Layne delivered a parting shot at his foolish former employers. 'This team will not win for another 50 years,' he said. The team spent five decades wandering in a wilderness of losing seasons, playoff failures and quarterback controversies.” (https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2652877-urban-legends-the-curse-of-bobby-layne)
Well, that curse has apparently been broken. However, we “experienced” fans know that every game should be approached with caution. So, here's what I am not going to do. I am not going to bet on the game, pick them in any pool, or purchase any team gear. This will give me the freedom to root for the Lions with all my might and with no strings attached. Go Lions!
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.
