Super Bowl XLV Sketch Blog: Heading to Dallas

Tuesday, 01 February 2011 06:19

Written by Rob Rogers

As I was packing for Dallas I was considering all the important questions. Will the Steelers be able to pull off number seven? How many people will ask me if I am related to Green Bay's quarterback (I'll explain I don't have a "d" in my name.) Does everybody in Texas carry a gun? Should I pack my Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Calendar in case I run into them and can get it signed?

Of the thousands of journalists traveling to the Super Bowl this year, I'm guessing I'll be the only one worried about getting through security with India Ink in my bag. Will I need to put it in a one-gallon plastic bag along with my other toiletries? I can hear the conversation at airport security now. TSA AGENT: What's this pen with the dagger-like point on it for? ME: Oh, that's for vivisecting greedy CEO's and corrupt politicians. TSA agent: Cavity search on aisle three!

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written by jayare, February 01, 2011 - 07:32 AM

all i have to say is that i'm glade that the lib. dems. don't run football.because to be fair we would have to give everyone a trophy so that no one would feel bad about themselves.and there would be no way that they would allow the stillers back in the super bowl until everyone else had their shout at it.how in the world is it fair to allow us to have maybe seven of them when their are a allot of teams out there that don't have one,

-7

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written by Yinzerati, February 01, 2011 - 08:36 AM

Actually, Jayare, football is run on the socialist principle of sharing revenues from the game -- including TV contracts -- equally among all league teams.

The last TV deal between the NFL and CBS, ESPN and Fox was $8 billion over 6 years. In addition to ticket sales etc, the money was shared equally among 32 teams, rather than distributed on the basis of market share.

Until last year, a salary cap existed to prevent richer teams from just buying up all the best players and unfairly dominating the game.

That is why the Steelers have been in the Superbowl more times that the New York Jets, who have a far larger share of TV revenue because of their far larger market.

The contrast between the popularity of football and what used to be "America's game" - baseball -- shows in order to have a real competition you have to have some ground rules and make sure everyone gets enough share of the profits to stay in the game so it benefits everyone. In baseball, the richest teams just buy up the best players, making it dull and predictable.

With thanks to Bill Maher for pointing out these self-evident truths in his show last weekend.