NFL return a TV hit
Good morning, all!
Maybe it’s me but I am finding I don’t miss the crowds at the sporting events I have been watching on television. There is nothing like the roar of the crowd, I know. And as a broadcaster, there is nothing like the crowd roar, when you make a call. That said, I find, whether it’s baseball, football or golf, I have been so absorbed in the action, that I am not missing the crowds, as much as I thought.
Years ago, I remember the so-called experts predicting someday, sports would be made-for-television events that did not require crowds. Inadvertently, at least for the time being, that day may have arrived. That said, from a revenue standpoint, the owners of franchises need the crowds to return. The question becomes, once crowds are permitted to return, will they?
As for the television ratings for the NFL, the season opener last Thursday between the Houston Texans and defending champion Kansas City Chiefs garnered 19.3 million viewers, down 12.3 percent from 2019. However, the game had to contend with NBA and NHL playoffs and baseball.
The big game turned out to be the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Bucs against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Turned out the game got a 16.2 rating for FOX, the highest Week 1 rating in four years. So much for an NFL boycott.
Fallout begins
The Atlanta Braves announced they are laying off dozens of their employees on both the baseball and business side of their operation because of the pandemic. They will lose their jobs at the end of the month. Expect more fallout, as baseball clubs are swimming in red ink because of the virus. More announcements could come by month’s end, which coincides with the end of the third quarter.
Did you know this about Brooks Koepka?
Brooks Koepka will not be competing in this weekend’s U.S. Open. Sidelined by a knee injury, the two-time PGA player of the year gave a great interview to David Flaherty on the Golf Channel. But who knew that Koepka’s love was baseball or that his uncle was Dick Groat? Koepka told Flaherty he would have probably been a minor league baseball player, who never made it to the majors, had he not turned to playing golf professionally. He mentioned how much he loves baseball, and he added how Groat, who won a World Series with the both the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, was his uncle. Incidentally, Groat was also a star basketball player at Duke University.
Joe Judge has the quote of the day
Quote of the day belongs to New York Giants football coach Joe Judge. After his first game as a head coach - a loss to Pittsburgh, 26-16, Judge stated:
“I’m proud of the way the team fought for 60 minutes. We’ve gotta stop with the turnovers, eliminate the unnecessary penalties, do better at the end of the half and in the red (zone).”
Translation: the Giants are in store for another losing season.
Say what?
As I put this latest newsletter together on Tuesday night, the Yankees lead the Toronto Blue Jays, 16-3, in the sixth inning. In the first four innings of the game, Blue Jays pitchers threw a total of 135 pitches. Putting it into perspective, Yankees starter Deivi Garcia had thrown 76 pitches in six innings and Yankees commentator David Cone, when he pitched his perfect game for the Yankees against the Montreal Expos in 1999, threw 88 pitches.
Interviewing Terry Tata
I dug into my archives for my latest podcast episode of The Baseball Beat to play an interview I did with former Major League baseball umpire Terry Tata. We covered a lot of ground, when I interviewed Terry a few seasons back. Hope you enjoy the interview.
And the Tweet of the day belongs to?
Who knew there was a Green Monster in right field at old Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.?
Have a great Wednesday!
SPORTSCASTER DAN