Pay Per View NFL Football Games Next?

This past week we all witnessed how far NFL owners are willing to go in order to make more money off the football games we all love to watch. The 'NFL Network' game controversy is just the first in an ever increasing move by the NFL to eventually take all games toward Pay Per View. No other sport in the United States comes close to the fan support of the various NFL football teams and NFL owners understand this fact well and they have every intention of profiting as much as possible with their various team franchises. I grew so tired last week as television and radio commercials were broadcast in an effort to blame the other side in last Thursday nights Dallas Cowboys/Green Bay Packers football game. My opinion remains the same and that is the NFL is strong arming cable companies right now in order to make even more money off of NFL games and merchandise.

In both Dallas and Green Bay, television ratings were almost at Superbowl numbers throughout last Thursday nights game. However, in the rest of the United States where over the air broadcast was not available, hardly anyone without a satellite dish saw one of the biggest games of the season. Next month, the Dallas Cowboys' once again face another big game against the Carolina Panthers which also will be broadcast on the 'NFL Network'. That means that millions of Dallas Cowboys' fans will miss not one, but two games during the 2007 NFL football season because of the ongoing money feud between the NFL and major U.S. cable providers. I really thought that last weeks dispute would have been settled before game time in Dallas, but I was wrong. I now believe that neither side in this dispute has the desire to settle their differences for the fans and now many good games this year will not be witnessed by fans that have supported these teams for decades.

The battle lines that are currently being drawn between the NFL and big cable companies is just the first step toward the eventual marketing of all NFL games via pay-per-view programming. Maybe nothing can be done to stop this progression toward fans having to pay for any game they watch on television, but something should be done so that the great sport of professional football is not ruined by greed. Just like with over taxation, if the NFL continues down the road of per-per-view - the public will work overtime to find a way to beat the pay-per-view coding and just steal these game and sell the hack codes on the open market. It is one thing to make good money off of a sport that millions of people enjoy watching every week, but it is entirely something different to become so greedy that only the wealthy can legitimately watch NFL football on television. When I first started watching the NFL back in the early 1970's, I never imaged a day when I could not watch my favorite team, 'The Dallas Cowboys' on free television. Now I am not sure sure that any NFL games will be free in the years to come and that vision is not something I am looking forward to witnessing.

Read more about the NFL:

NFL/Cable Money Feud Disappoints Football Fans
Packers/Cowboys 'NFL Network' Thursday Night Disaster
Tony Romo $67 Million Contract Pays Off
50/50 NFL Football Day - Cowboys' Win/Colts Lose
NFL Perfection Ends Sunday For Colts/Patriots

Daily Archives: | 02, 04, 07, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28

Oprah Works Hard To Elect Barack Obama President

Will Oprah make the difference for Barack Obama in Election 2008? Maybe, but it is still too early to say for sure and the fact that Barack Obama is running against the team of Bill and Hillary Clinton, he needs as many famous and rich supporters as he can find. For years, books and movies that have been recommended by Oprah have become overnight success stories. Now, with her visible support for Senator Barack Obama for President, we will all soon see if Oprah's golden touch can expand further than the entertainment industry and work just as well within the world of politics. I have my doubts as to whether Oprah has that much power when it comes to electing politicians. To me, there is a big difference in purchasing a book recommended by Oprah and electing a President of the United States based on her endorsement.

In the end, the democratic nomination will come down to a two person battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. While Democrats are lining up either behind Obama or Clinton, big named politicians and celebrities are also taking a stand on who they favor to be the next President of the United States. In recent days, Barbara Streisand has come out in favor of Hillary Clinton, which should come as no surprise to anyone considering she was the biggest support Bill Clinton had in Hollywood when he served as President. To be honest there is a big difference between an endorsements from Oprah and Barbara Streisand with Oprah winning by a mile in credibility. There is a risk for Oprah in taking such a strong stand in favor of Barack Obama, especially if he has skeleton's in his closet that have yet to be discovered. However, at this point in time I believe most people that enjoy watching Oprah's television show will make their own decisions on election day and will not be effected that much by her high profile endorsement of Obama.

At the present time, Democrats seem to have the advantage in the race for the White House in 2008. However, I have watched politics long enough to know that no candidate or party can be a sure thing this early in a campaign season. I believe the next two months will be similar to a fireworks factory exploding as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton go down and dirty in their campaigns to earn the democratic nomination for President. While the Republicans will also fight hard over that same period of time for their party's nomination, I believe the real fireworks will be between Obama and Clinton on the democratic side. What I would love to see is a debate between Oprah and Barbara Streisand defending their different choices for the democratic nomination. After all the dust settles the real reason that either Obama or Clinton earns the nomination will come down to the same factor. Are voters in the democratic party tired of the Clinton's or not. If they are not tired of them, then Hillary will probably win. However, if Democrats are looking for a new face with different ideas, then Obama will win. This should prove to be an interesting Christmas season with hardball politics mixed with peace on Earth and good will toward men.

Read more about Barack Obama:

Barack Obama Turns Up The Heat On Clinton
Barack Obama Wants Higher Taxes For Everyone
Barack Obama Decides To Take Direct Aim At Hillary
Barack Obama - Not Ready For Prime Time
Barack Obama Hillary Clinton's Vice President?

Paul Potts Readies For Performance Before The Queen

On Monday, British singer Paul Potts will preform before the Queen of England at the annual 79th Royal Variety Performance in London. Paul Potts has taken the world by storm with his fresh opera voice that often times bring goose bumps even to non emotional people. I fell in love with Paul Potts voice via rebroadcasts of his performances on 'Britain's Got Talent' via the Internet service YouTube. Talk about a rags to riches story, Paul's life and voice are the stuff legends are made of and it is amazing to believe that Paul Potts almost did not show up at that first audition. I wonder how many other people around the world have a God given talent and either don't realize how good they really are or they are too afraid to show that talent to people that could help get their career started?

One thing is for sure and that is 'Britain's Got Talent' has launched Paul Potts career in a way that few before him have been able to accomplish. Paul's first album, 'One Chance' has already sold over 2 million copies and that figure is being reported before the 2007 Christmas shopping season gets started in earnest. In previous posts I have speculated that Paul Potts management team seems to be giving the American public only a small piece of Paul's talent a little bit at a time. This move which is similar to the way Elvis Presley was promoted years ago could be the right move in promoting an opera singer in the United States. The other day my wife asked me what I wanted for my upcoming birthday and I told her that what I really wanted was a copy of Paul Potts CD called 'One Chance'. Since she usually buys me what I ask for, I look forward to sliding that CD into my car CD player and listening to Paul sing while doing my daily chores around town.

In a country as large as the United States, it will take over a year until most people have even heard the name of Paul Potts much less heard his wonderful voice via TV or radio. The millions of people that first heard Paul Potts via YouTube are the lucky ones that know a great talent when they hear it. As I find myself a couple of times per week revisiting YouTube to watch Paul sing once again, the expression on Simon Cowell's face when Paul sang those first few notes are classic and one of my favorite screen shots during that first audition. Inside of most of us there is a romantic that is dying to get out. However, we have all learned that it is wise not to show our inter self, over the years, because some people will see that as weakness and use it against us. When Paul Potts sings, his voice is able to bring out that inter romantic inside of us within the safety of our own home. There is a special power in Paul's voice that effects millions of people in a way they really don't understand or can explain. That power proves the real talent and staying power of Paul Potts well into the future.

Read more about Paul Potts:

From Wales To Manhattan - Paul Potts Rocks The World
Paul Potts Opens NYC Bloomingdale’s For Christmas
Paul Potts Voice Brings Smiles/Tears
Paul Potts' Makes 'Bonkers'/'Jelly' Household Names
Paul Potts Does November 'Oprah' Chicago Show

Carrie Underwood Gives Tabloids Little Trash To Report

Some major tabloids love to report the dirt on famous people like Carrie Underwood. However, ever since Carrie Underwood won the 'American Idol' contest, she has acted like a mature adult and those actions have given tabloid writers and TV reporters little to report that is negative about Carrie Underwood. In recent days, some media outlets have been trying to come up with an action line that says that Carrie Underwood can't keep a man. Someone should tell these reporters that Carrie might not want some man just to take home for the night, instead she just enjoys the company of men without the stress and turmoil of a Hollywood type of romance. My hope is that when Carrie Underwood really does fall in love, that man will be a real guy that wants to be faithful to her and treat her like the lady she really is.

When Carrie and Tony Romo broke up several weeks ago the tabloids started hoping that Carrie Underwood would fall for one of the front running Hollywood bad boys they have covered for years. Yes, it is true that Carrie Underwood has been looking at men in Hollywood, but from everything I have read she has far from fallen for any of them, instead she has just kept her distance and watched each one of them ping-pong back and forth with old girlfriends like they have done many times before. While some people love to read and listen to Hollywood gossip on television, more than likely the constant dribble of Hollywood's worse acting people has a negative effect on young people that are still impressionable and trying to find themselves. I have written before that Carrie Underwood is a breath of fresh air in an industry whose actors have chosen to act in real life like the same twisted characters they play in moves and television programs.

In recent years the difference between the moral values of the heartland and Hollywood has grown ever greater as people with traditional family values feel left out in television and movie production that seems to always glorify immoral behavior without showing the dark down side that often times engulfs the lives of people that make bad choices in life. Carrie Underwood has refused to play the Hollywood tabloid game and that is great news. Reports and some of their bosses are hoping against hope that Carrie Underwood's 'good girl image' will somehow get tarnished so they can place her with the likes of other Hollywood girls that can't seem to make good choices when it comes to men and personal moral choices. While Hollywood tabloid reporters frown at Carrie Underwood's 'nice girl image', I on the other hand praise her for being one of the only good role models left in the entertainment business today.

Read more about Carrie Underwood:

Carrie Underwood Favorite Female Country Artist - AMA
Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood Announce Co-Headlining Tour
Carrie Underwood Wins Again At CMA Awards
Carrie Underwood Starts Getting Bad Press
Carrie Underwood - 'Go Your Own Way'

Don Imus Fans Eagerly Await His Monday Return

In less than 48 hours, Don Imus will return to the airwaves for the first time in six months. Millions of fans are waiting on the edge of their seat to see what the I-man has to say on his new WABC morning show on Monday. There have been scattered protest in some cities, but by in large the Don Imus controversy has died down at least until Imus opens his mouth once again. Rumors surround the Internet about lingering anger from Don Imus toward long time guests on his show like Tim Russert for not coming to his defense when he was first attacked by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Some Imus loyalist claim that he will take direct shots at Russert and others on Monday morning when his show debuts on WABC.

My personal feeling is that Don Imus will not attack his previous friends for not coming to his aid during the problems that lead to his firing at WFAN, CBS Radio and MSNBC television. I might be wrong, but my thinking is that Don Imus will be looking at his glass as half full and not half empty on Monday morning which means fans will wake up to a positive sounding Imus and not a negative man obsessed over the past. Being a long time media figure, Don Imus knows better than most how jobs are here today and then gone tomorrow in the radio business. Just like the fair weather friends and fans of Don Imus, rating can go from fantastic to in the cellar in a very short period of time. In many ways, Don Imus is blessed not only to be given another chance, but also because his true blue fans never deserted him.

Monday morning Don Imus will begin the next leg of his career as the new morning show host at WABC in New York. Charles McCord will rejoin the I-man as news reporter and sidekick just like he has done for decades. To my knowledge, I will not be able to hear the Don Imus Show on Monday here in Central Texas and that is too bad. However, millions of 'Big Apple' fans will most certainly be tuning into WABC on Monday to hear Don Imus once again give his take on world events. Before Don Imus was fired by CBS Radio and MSNBC, his rating had slipped to some pretty low levels. Now with Don Imus' six month absence from the airwaves he has been given another chance to build his audience to high numbers and in that regard I wish him well.

Read more about Don Imus:

Advertisers Lining Up For Don Imus 'WABC' Return
RFD-TV Signs Don Imus - Smart Move By Rural Network
Will Don Imus' Return Create Ratings 'Gold' For WABC Radio?
Curtis/Kuby Get The Boot - Don Imus Returns To WABC
Don Imus Return - December 1st On WABC Radio

Hillary Clinton Praised For Remaining Calm

Never to miss a good opportunity to shine in the event of a crisis, Hillary Clinton is getting praise in some media circles for her news conference after yesterdays hostage standoff in Rochester, New Hampshire. Of course, Hillary Clinton did not do anything except hold a news conference when everything was over with, but some people in the media were quick to praise her demeanor during that news conference. If Hillary Clinton is eventually elected President of the United States she will be forced to make hard, life or death, decisions as commander-in-chief and last nights news conference just in time of the 11pm news was a joke to most people that are not completely in love with Hillary Clinton.

The police in Rochester, NH did an outstanding job yesterday at defusing a potentially dangerous situation and when everything was over, no one was hurt. The police and negotiators should be praised for their actions and not Hillary Clinton for remaining calm during a crisis. The Hillary Clinton campaign for President has been dogged here and by other media outlets because of Senator Clinton's lack of experience either in the private or government sector. I believe this lack of experience will hurt Mrs. Clinton at some future date. Comedians have turned the presidential election process in the United States into a standing joke, but in reality it is very important to elect a person to the office of President that has some kind of track record of leading others during a crisis situation. Yesterday's hostage situation in Rochester, NH does not qualify Hillary Clinton as a leader because she did nothing to resolve the crisis.

My skeptical thinking leads me to believe that Senator Clinton would have held a different kind of news conference if loss of life had occurred, yesterday. However, since no one was hurt and this hostage standoff ended peacefully - Hillary Clinton was able to calmly look into the camera last night and for appearances sake look poised under the heat of pressure. I have no idea how Hillary Clinton would handle a real life emergency as President of the United States because she has no real world experience for the rest of us to draw upon. She might handle stressful situations in a calm way or she might completely shut down and be unable to thinking when under tremendous life or death decision making. The fact that Hillary Clinton was given credit by some last night for appearing calm during a crisis should concern Americans, a great deal, that already believe we have been manipulated too many times by the Clinton's.

Read more about Hillary Clinton:

Does Bill Really What Wife Hillary Clinton To Win?
Hillary Clinton - Obama Personal Attack Could Backfire
Hillary Clinton Under Attack From Russert/Obama/Edwards
Hillary Clinton's Debate Mistakes Raise Concern/Questions
Hillary Clinton Will Promise Anything To Win

Balancing Safety With Higher Gas Mileage In Cars

Congress is getting ready to update the gas mileage requirements for new cars and trucks. Right now, automobile manufactures are required to average 25 MPG on their entire fleet of vehicles. Under the new standard that average miles per gallon number will be increased to 35 MPG. While these higher gas mileage standards will lower gasoline usage in the U.S., it could put greater numbers of Americans at risk of serious injury because to meet this new standard auto companies will be forced to build smaller vehicles. I have never been a fan of small cars, in fact I drive a Ford Taurus right now and I think it is too small. My personal choice in a vehicle is a mid sized SUV, but with gasoline prices current sitting at $3.00 per gallon - I cannot afford to drive the vehicle of my choice.

On the eve of Congress passing new automobile fuel standards, I wonder if the American roadways will soon be filled with very small cars and huge 18 wheeler trucks? That picture looks like a disaster in my mind because when people get hit by one of those huge trucks, very few people inside will survive the accident. Most of the time people do not consider the ripple effect of changing the law. Very few new laws are passed that are a win/win for the average person. In regards to raising the fuel standards for vehicles, consumers will win by getting higher gas mileage and they will lose when it comes to the personal safety of their families. Most of the fatal accidents that I am aware of, right now, involve a big rig truck hitting a small car on an Interstate Highway.

Another government decision, NAFTA, was also good and bad for consumers. The North American Free Trade Agreement was good for consumers in the respect of keeping prices low in retail stores, but it was bad because it filled our Interstate Highway system with more traffic than it could handle. Right now states like mine, Texas, are trying to figure out how to expand and maintain our current highway system as thousands of additional trucks are moving north to south because of NAFTA. My mental vision of highways filled with huge trucks and dotted with ever smaller cars is a recipe for disaster in upcoming years. In movies, people around here have laughed when some small European cars have been shown on the movie screen. However, that laughter might turn to tears as Americans are given even fewer choices of full sized cars and SUV's in the future.

Read more about the Energy Problems:

U.S. Dollar Plunge Leading To Higher Crude Oil Prices
$100 Per Barrel Oil - $3 Per Gallon Gas Prices
$90 Per Barrel Oil - $100 Price Next?
Crude Oil $85 Plus Per Barrel - Bleak Winter?
Gas Prices Jump To Almost $3.00 Per Gallon This Week

Childhood Hero Evel Knievel Dies At Age 69

As a young boy, no one was a bigger figure to me than a man called Evel Knievel. I remember following this mans career for many years as he used his motorcycle to gain fans at various events. When I was in juror high, I remember watching a movie about Evel Knievel and at that age I also bought many posters that glorified the accomplishments of this man that had no fear of death. On many occasions Evel Knievel broke almost every bone in his body after horrific crashes, but somehow he was able to beat the odds and stay alive. Now, at age 69 Evel Knievel has finally met his maker - but his eventual demise was due to old age and illness and not from injuries suffering in a motorcycle crash.

The power of the legend that was Evel Knievel has lived in the hearts of men and women that grew up in the 1970's. During those turbulent years, it was common for young people to find heroes in unlikely places and for many a motorcycle daredevil named Evel Knievel was the hero of choice back in the 1970's. At one point, Evel Knievel wanted to jump his motorcycle over the 'Grand Canyon'. However, after researching that idea it became clear to Knievel that such an attempt was impossible, so instead he decided to try and jump 'Snake River Canyon' which ended up being broadcast to millions of people via live television.

While Evel Knievel's jump over 'Snake River Canyon' was a failure which almost cost him his life - his legend never suffered and a small but loyal group of fans followed his career right up till the end. In modern day America they don't build the likes of Evel Knievel anymore and that truly is ashame. For young people that are trying to make sense of a messed up world, people like Evel Knievel who appear to be fearless in the face of danger, can touch a cord in a young person that feels there might not be a place for them in this world. While there might not be many people honoring the life of Evel Knievel during the event of his passing, I on the other hand still think foldly of a man that was willing to try almost anything in order to generate excitement among his fans. Evel Knievel will be truly missed by millions of fans that remember his death defying stunts over the years.

Read more about Hollywood Issues:

Hollywood Writers Strike - Will Anyone Really Care?
Ellen DeGeneres - Non Profit Animal Shelters
Lindsay Lohan Out Of Rehab For Good?
Kiefer Sutherland - 24 Star - Arrested DUI
Britney Spears Prosecuted For Hit And Run