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It's always amusing to watch the media lecture fans on not putting too much stock into preseason games, and then turning around and breaking their own rules.
Usually this happens when things are looking good in the preseason -- the media feels the need to crack down on the optimistic fanbase by telling them that preseason games mean nothing.
Well, unless those games go badly, apparently. See, good preseason performances mean absolutely nothing. Poor preseason performances are cause to move to DEFCON 4. A bad performance is essentially the end of the world.
Unless, of course, you are this bastion of objectivity:
This has been a bad one for the Patriots. But I wouldn't get overly concerned ... Just like I wasn't gaga like so many others after Atlanta.
Albert Breer albertbreer
Outside of Breer (and I sensed he did it a little too), I've seen and heard a number of media members significantly downgrade their outlook for the Patriots following the third preseason game, against the Rams.
But I thought it was important not to put too much stock into these games?
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Dan Shaughnessy's Sept.2 column caused quite a stir as he blasted WBZ-TV for selling its soul to the Patriots. Naturally, Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti loved the column, and praised Shaughnessy for being able to write about how WBZ-TV and WEEI do nothing but provide advertising for the Patriots.
Shocking that these two would jump aboard something negative about the Patriots.
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How crazy are the Celtics going to be to watch or cover this season? Consider the characters that will be coming off the bench: Shaquille O'Neal, Nate Robinson, Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels and now, Delonte West. Combine that with coach Doc Rivers, new assistant Lawrence Frank, and Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and HBO should come up with an NBA version of Hard Knocks, and cover the Celtics training camp.
Speaking of Hard Knocks, I simply can't not laugh whenever the "Lets go eat a goddam snack" clip is played.
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While NESN has been sending out releases about their new, um, "Lifestyle" programming offerings (see below), rival CSNNE sent out a couple of releases this week announcing actual sports programming. They announced their college football schedule, which includes a lot of small-college Colonial Athletic Association matchups, but also some Big 12 and Pac 10 games. The biggest news in that release was the fact that CSNNE will be re-broadcasting all but one Boston College football game this season. It's a great idea to put BC on at a time that might be more convenient for viewers. I'd actually be interested in comparing the viewership of the live versus recorded broadcasts.
The next day, CSNNE announced New England Football Night, every Thursday starting September 9. The night will offer three shows based on the Patriots -- Quick Slants at 7:00 P.M. with Tom E. Curran, Patriots Football Weekly, starring the writers of PFW at 7:30 P.M., followed by New England Tailgate, with Glenn Ordway, Fred Smerlas and Steve DeOssie.
It's encouraging that these shows don't feature the usual Patriot-bashing likes of Michael Felger and Ron Borges, which already make them worth checking out in my opinion.
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I was always disappointed Jay Mariotti did not use his formidable writing skills in a positive way. But he chose to be the ultimate contrarian and seemed comfortable taking on coaches, players, owners, and sometimes other members of the media. And now there is a great deal of people reveling in his downfall. I was once suspended for a foolish remark for a month and I was heartened and gratified by the tremendous support I got from people in the business, both male and female. It got me through that much easier. I only regret Jay does not enjoy that same support but he’ll have to start rethinking about how he’s going about his business.
That's the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan on ESPN's Around The Horn, talking about the situation that Jay Mariotti finds himself in among his colleagues following his arrest. (Transcript from SportsNewser.)
Links Of The Week:
ESPN can't just bigfoot its way into local markets
The Los Angeles Times looks at ESPN's efforts to create local sites. SB Nation makes its way into the conversation as well.
The Globe (no conflicts here) takes a look at new "lifestyle" programming options from NESN.
Comcast, NESN battle with lifestyle shows
Well, maybe I was too quick to praise CSNNE for sticking to sports and avoiding the "Lifestyle" genre.