Growing up a die-hard Dodger fan, I always used to get cards of the San Francisco Giant players so I could stick them into the spokes of my bike to make the motor noise when I rode. I'm afraid those days are long gone, however. (I couldn't waste the card of a Dodger player by doing that.)
The ratings to the 2002 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on FOX were the worst ever. An average of 14.65 million people watched at least part of the game. Ratings were down 9% from last year and were 1% below the all-time ratings low in 2000 when the game was on NBC. The cities with the highest percentage of viewers were Milwaukee (where the game took place), Boston and Phoenix.
Nobody asked me, and I don't have an MBA from Harvard, but I do have some free advice for the powers-that-be in MLB on how to improve the game for next year. That is assuming, of course, that common sense prevails and that players and owners can reach a labor agreement by then.
1) An actor shouldn't be hosting a tribute to the "30 Greatest Moments in Baseball." Next time, MLB should get somebody like Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell, Curt Gowdy or Bob Costas to host it - somebody with a connection to the "grand old game."
2) The game should be played on a Saturday afternoon so kids can watch it with their friends and family. By the time the game was called it was 12:30 a.m. on the east coast. This is not how you appeal to the children of today - and they will be the ticket buyers of tomorrow.
3) Renaming the All-Star MVP Award in honor of the late Ted Williams was a great idea. Too bad MLB didn't see fit to give it out during the first game after his death.
4) Finally, as Tom Hanks might say, "THERE IS NO TYING IN BASEBALL." Ties are for soccer and hockey. Baseball fans want to see a winner.
Comi-Con fans converge on San Diego: Comi-Con, one of the premiere conventions on comics, science fiction, film and television, is almost here. Among other things, it is a great place to get information on science fiction, fantasy and horror television shows. They will have screenings, panel discussions and a huge dealers room.
Go To Page: 1 2
