NFL Making Play for Extra Games

Dear National Football League… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Over the past few weeks, talks of adding additional regular season games have been all the buzz around NFL headquarters and this past week’s owners’ meeting in Dana Point.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has been adamant in his support for raising the amount of regular season games from 16 to 18.

Dear Roger Goodell… if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The NFL is the country’s most successful and most popular professional sports entity, raking in billions from advertising and continuing to supply a product that keeps fans dishing out their money for tickets, television packages, and merchandise.

Of course the thought process is… two more games equals more money. But making the switch based on this thinking would be greedy and irresponsible.

Companies pay millions to advertise during NFL games and at stadiums. While the economy has been struggling and advertising money has been low, football seems to have shown immunity. The NFL did exceptionally well this season and figures to do fine next year as well.

But would adding two extra games really be fair to the advertisers? Would there be enough advertising money to support two extra games? All signs in today’s economy lead to no. Plus, auto manufacturers have traditionally been the biggest advertisers for the NFL and there’s no telling when they will be back on their feet and ready to support even a 6-game season.

And if the advertisers struggle, then its obvious the networks won’t be too quick to jump at the idea of more games. CBS, NBC, and Fox, whose contracts cover the next three seasons, would a larger schedule if they believed it would increase ad dollars. But again thinking in terms of the recession, common sense says they won’t.

Plus, adding games to the schedule means more meaningless mid-season games between inept teams. Bad games = nobody cares = nobody watches = BAD ratings.

It doesn’t seem to care that anybody is worried about how the players thoughts regarding the expansion. And it doesn’t seem to be likely that the NFLPA (Player’s Association) will be jumping for joy at the thought. Two more grueling, bone breaking, body bruising, put your life on the line games.

The health of NFL players, both current and retired, is a big issue and the NFL is trying to take new steps to protect its most important asset. Adding more games is sure to increase the wear and tear on players’ bodies and injuries are sure to go up. This would be no way to protect players.

And what about the record books? Does anyone remember when the football season used to be only 14 games? As we add games to the schedule, players have greater chances to boost their numbers and will eventual dwarf the earnings and achievements of those great players who dominated when the seasons were shorter.

Just imagine how angry retired players will be when they hear about how the accomplishments of today’s athletes are more impressive because they were able to compete at such a high level throughout a much longer season.

And as easy as it would be to break records, it would be almost impossible to go undefeated. The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the only team to achieve a perfect season and they went 17-0, including the playoffs and the Super Bowl. Now, teams would be playing more regular season games than the ’72 Dolphins did during that entire season.

The NFL puts a great product on the field week in and week out. More games equals more chances to mess it up.

It’s not broken, so pretty please, don’t fix it.

The 'Mazin Madness

When it comes to sports, is there anything better than March Madness? Absolutely not.

65 teams battling for one title. More than 60 games in a span of three weeks. The best of college basketball on the grandest stage.

It is without a doubt the most wonderful time of the year. (My apologies to Andy Williams and Harry Connick Jr.).

So as this annual sports spectacular inches oh so close, it is time to recognize sports media, who have made March Madness what it is today.

Sure, the basketball is exciting. But sports media has made this event into so much more.

In just a matter of days the madness begins, sure to bring surprising upsets, newborn heroes, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows… not just for the athletes, but for the fans as well.

Thanks to a few marketing geniuses, the NCAA Tournament is just as much a competition for the fans as it is for the players. Come Thursday, the adrenaline will be pumping, the nerves flowing, the mind racing, and the bodies sweating for every fan watching.

Bracket pools, scoreboard watching, wall-to-wall basketball coverage, and a chance to witness some of the most exciting moments and improbable upsets in the history of sports. Just thinking about it is sure to make even the halfhearted sports fan tingle.

The mere setup of the tournament gives college basketball the most ingenious playoff in all of sports.

65 teams from all over the country getting a fair chance to play for the national championship. Each one deserving that chance. Take notes college football.

In no other sport can a fan be as much a part of the action as in college basketball. No matter who is playing, fans pay attention to each game and each team.

How did they get them to care so much? Bracket pools. A chance to compete against peers, not for a national championship, but the ever-important bragging rights. Basketball players compete to show which of them has jump-shot or left-handed dribble, fans compete to prove which of them is the most knowledgeable about sports. This is there chance.

In the days between selection Sunday and the first tip the bracket frenzy takes over. Fans all over the country filling out multiple brackets, changing their selections, second-guessing their picks, flooding sports websites to read and take notes on the expert opinions. As each second passes, college basketball remains deeply engrained in their thoughts.

Then comes Thursday and Friday. Round One.

The action begins with action packed days filled to the brim with college basketball. Multiple games occurring all over the country.

CBS Sports (buying the NCAA Tourney rights was the smartest move they ever made) televises every game, every shot, every rebound, every buzzer=beater. Talk about must-see-TV.

But the great coverage doesn’t stop there. Fans can watch every single game on cbssportsline.com for free. Free!

At work? At school? No problem. Not only can you watch the games with great quality picture and sound but the program also comes equipped with a boss button. Feel the boss or teacher creeping up over your shoulder? Click the button and the game turns into an Excel spreadsheet.

So while you are having the best time of your life watching, following, eating, and breathing this year’s NCAA Tournament don’t forget to give thanks to those who made such an experience possible.

Sports media has come a long way and this tournament is a celebration of not only basketball, but everything sports media has accomplished. A yearning to bring the fans the ultimate experience.

That’s exactly what the NCAA Tournament is… the ultimate experience.

So be sure to join in on the celebration because it’s sure to be filled with heart-pounding excitement, adrenaline packed games, cheers, tears, and most of all… fun.

They don’t call it the Big Dance for nothing.