I heard that. When I was younger, they tried to put some sort of small potatoes hockey team in Memphis called the Riverkings. Don't know if it's still around, but what a joke.

Brandon Brooks

With all due respect, what were you expecting? Playing St. Louis, Columbus and the fighting Wirtzes 90 times a year will do wonders for your regular season record--but it's no measure on how you'll do in the postseason. That said, I'm one of the few in Chicago who doesn't dislike the Red Wings.

(Well, at least I didn't do the "I live in a market without a NHL team" joke.) :)


I'm not a big fan either. Wasn't he doing lesser games on ESPN/ESPN2 back when they had the games?

Aside to Matt O.--sorry, I know you're not a big hockey buff.

Doug

Pretty much what he sorta does for OLN...he's middle of the road, hence I said he isn't bad...there are worse and there are better.

Ah, but watching Tenneseeans try to drive on ice is a spectator sport. :-)

Not far fetched in sports either...wasn't there some frozen precipitation during a race at Bristol this year?

Are you implying that you'd like to benninate him?

Adding to my "pleasant surprise," Clement got off a terrific line in the Update wrap before they threw it officially to the Preakness. On voicing the highlight of Michael Barrett's cold-cocking of A.J. Pierzynski during the Chi. Cubs/Chi. White Sox tilt, Clement cracked, "Folks, that's a hockey punch."

The guy gets it. Wouldn't mind seeing him have a regular role behind the sports desk after the NHL season ends.

Doug

Sorry to interrupt this sports discussion for just a moment...

Why are they holding off the Syndie until '07? (OK, I'm sure no one here KNOWS but any good guesses?)

They have a set, a host and (probably) hundreds of potential contestants. Those are, I assume, are the 3 biggest time-factors in mounting a show.

Considering how fickle the US viewing public is, Deal might either cool off considerably (or even be cancelled) which could/would kill a syndie version. Isn't it best to capitalize on the mania while it's still hot?

I'm guessing you let the prime time version run its course for as long as it can before you launch a syndicated one. Adding a stripped daily show, even one with a different host (Howie? No way.) and lower payouts, seriously dilutes what we all know is a pretty thin game to begin with. Best to milk all they can out of the prime time show first. The seventies model of daytime + syndication really isn't relevant anymore.

I don't believe anybody thought it would be the phenomenon it has become. NBC didn't have time to make a push at NATPE so they were shut out of fall '06. I do think they should get it off the ground sooner, but syndication does not work the way it used to. Barter plus cash is the rule, so both sponsors and a large station list must be obtained. It's not like 1974 where WML? was a go with just 43 markets, now you have to have virtually every market committted just to get it off the ground.

Because by the time the network suits realized during the December run that the show had legs, it was too close to the January NATPE programming convention to make a decision. NBC/Universal's 'selections' for daytime had already been researched,focus grouped,hired, and made.

They can wait until next january for Fall 07, or begin to make deals for January 07 as a stop gap if one of their shows fail (Megan Mullaly, can you hear me?), but other than that, nothing...contracts for programming have long been signed sealed, and delivered.

I'm yours, MS