Sez Me …
At my age, “streaming” should have a different physiological meaning and not be as entertaining as simply watching over-the-top-video-on-demand.
But the 2025 connotation cannot be avoided. Streaming has left the bathroom and parked in my living room. It is not for everybody, because it costs more money to add to cable and thus, naturally, much more than free TV.
But it’s huge. Netflix, the immense streaming service, has more than 302 million subscribers, or a bit less than the population of the United States, including Canada, Greenland and the Gulf of America.
That’s double what Disney gets. With a market cap of $443 billion, Netflix is the 20th largest corporation in the world. Prime Video is America’s No. 1 streaming service, Netflix the largest in the world.
But that isn’t enough. It wants more of our money, and to do so, it hopes to tap into the largest TV keg in man caves — the NFL.
Word is Netflix plans to negotiate with The League to take over the Sunday afternoon game schedule from either CBS or Fox. It’s already paid the NFL $150 million to stream the only two Christmas games. Two measly games.
Just think, Fredo Spanos, doing nothing, picked up $4.7 million after opening the ties his sons put under the tree.
If you’ve been following this through the years, then you know there was inevitability painted onto it. As the NFL grew more and more powerful, it got itself richer, and richer begat avarice at the expense of product, which isn’t close to what it once was.
The “F” in NFL certainly doesn’t stand for Fan Friendly. It was mistakenly typed in before G, for Greed.
The League does care about its fans — their money.
Its machine is a printer of both cash and propaganda. There is a deep green fog it hides below the bottom line that has become its mission.
I doubt if it will matter much. The NFL is propelled by gamblers, gamers, from high rollers down to fantasy chump-changers. There is no other reason for its immense popularity.
But it has to protect its shield, and now, with so many people crying foul over the officials playing favorites and affecting outcomes — right or wrong — you can bet the NFL gendarmes are going to be looking seriously into this.
If gamblers figure games aren’t on the level, The League is in danger of losing its meal ticket.
Netflix no doubt would raise its rates, maybe lose subscribers. But an estimated 44% of legal bettors — and only a higher authority knows how much is wagered illegally — make six figures, so there will be no problem paying for the service. Fewer viewers, perhaps. More money. And the NFL has become a cow that chews cash rather than cud (whatever the hell that is).
The NFL survives everything from plagues to brutal sexual assaults to DUI arrests. The salary cap will go up $22 million next year, to around $280 million. Big deal. Like I say, there’s only one thing that can really hurt it — the bookies getting wary.
I don’t gamble. But I will watch streaming in between streams. …
Fredo’s Judases re-g safety Elijah Molden to a new, three-year deal is good. Because he’s good. …
Terry Bradsaw rarely gets enough love. He won FOUR Super Bowls. Patrick Mahomes, the greatest QB since the first signal caller crawled out of a swamp, has three.
Think Dallas fans care much about sports other than football? On the day the Rangers signed A-Rod to the largest contract in baseball history, the story finished seventh among the most hits on The Dallas Morning News website. The first six were Cowboys-related, including notes. …
Retiring after 11 seasons with Dallas, guard Zach Martin made more All-Pro teams (nine) than he had holding calls (seven). …
It appears as though the collegiate powers could move on changing the way they go about seeding the CFP. They should. It’s the one big flaw. These people put far too much stock in conference championship games. And that goes double for basketball. …
Guy Fieri visited the SDSU men’s basketball team. Inspired, they outcooked him. …
When I think of the NBA All-Star Game, I’m reminded of the Hubert Vogelsinger quote on English soccer: “Isn’t worth the time I don’t spend watching it.” …
From ESPN: Since becoming a Laker, LeBron is 1-for-29 on game-tying/go-ahead field goal attempts in the final five seconds of regulation or OT. As boss, only he can stop it. …
The surprise isn’t that the Bucks’ Bobby Portis has been suspended 25 games for substance abuse. It’s that the NBA actually tests for drugs. …
Broadcasting genius Don Orsillo’s contract has been extended by the Padres, but only after he proved to GM A.J. Preller he can play left field. …
The Pads have signed Yuli Gurriel, who played baseball at Hoover High School with Ted Williams. …
In 2005, all 30 MLB teams batted at least .250. Last year? Five. …
Have you seen Padres pitcher Braden Nett’s immoral slider? Nobody has. Hard to evaluate. …
No matter how screwed up the game becomes, baseball diamonds are forever. …
No, there will not be 50 total laughs in the next 50 years of “Saturday Night Dead.” Writers don’t like that kind of pressure. …
Happy 85th, Smokey Robinson. The poet laureate of soul. …
Happy 75th, Dr. J. The most accommodating international superstar ever. …
RIP, Jerry Butler. The Iceman. One of soul’s greatest voices. Imagine, he and Curtis Mayfield formed the Impressions. …
If they get rid of the penny, what will Jerry Jones have left to pinch? …
Amazon MGM is taking over creative control of the James Bond franchise. No word yet on the return policy. …
The Yankees have not allowed players to have facial hair for 50 years, but now will allow well-groomed beards. The last Yankees barber was Sal Maglie. …
When he was batting, Lou Piniella once asked umpire Steve Palermo: “Where was that pitch at?” Palermo replied: “You shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition.” Replied Piniella: “OK, where was that pitch at, ass—-…?” …
Piniella once told George Steinbrenner that Christ had a beard and long hair, so why couldn’t the Yankees? George told him: “You see that pond over there? Walk across it and you can have a beard and long hair.” …
College football coaches are wi. Nebraska, USC, Ohio State and others are canceling spring games to keep transfer portal poachers from spying and seeing their up-and-comers or culls. The Cornhuskers, who have sold out 391 consecutive regular season games, traditionally sell out their spring games. That’s 85,000 seats. …
Is it really going to happen? Is the U.S. giving Alaska back to Russia? Looks like we threw $7.2 million down the Bering Strait. …
Putting golf courses in Gaza could be rough. Think of the hazards. …
There’s a rumor going around that Joey Bosa may end up ing brother Nick with the 49ers. That is one long ambulance ride. …
If the Judases lose Bosa and Khalil Mack, there is a rush shortage and work to do. …
Is there a Head Coach In Waiting at UCSD?
