I Want My Big Ten Sports

I recently wrote some of my thoughts about the standoff between Comcast and the Big Ten Network about bringing the network to the largest cable provider in the United States.

As a Comcast subscriber I truly feel like I'm missing out on some of the best games the league has to offer, and as a three-time Indiana University graduate I am truly sorry that I haven't been able to watch IU football on TV this season.

I took the time to contact Comcast about the situation, asking if they will ever pick up the network. Here is their response.

Thank you for sharing your opinion with us. We too are fans of Big Ten schools and college sports.

We want to bring The Big Ten Network to you and other fans of Big Ten schools in a way that is fair to all of our customers. We’ve offered to make the network available on our digital sports tier within Big Ten markets (and as a subscription service for customers outside of the Big Ten eight-state region), so that fans of Big Ten schools can watch the games without burdening all of our customers with the Big Ten’s costly fees – which amount to a $13 “Big Ten Tax.” Unfortunately, the Big Ten is insisting that all consumers subsidize the network – whether they want to watch it, or not – and will not allow us to offer it to the fans who want it most like you. That’s just not fair.

On behalf of all of our customers, we will continue to work to reach a fair agreement that would let us begin carrying the network for you this fall.

First, this is obviously a canned response. But I can't expect a personalized response from a big corporation, can I?

But I hope to get one because as soon as I got this response I had to send them another e-mail.

I first don't like the characterization as it being a tax. That is ridiculous. Is part of what I pay every month a CNN tax or an ESPN tax? No, it obviously is not. This is just language used to inflame some subscribers.

But what I really have a problem with is the idea that we are "subsidizing" the Big Ten Network, including those who would be paying for it but not watching it. Don't all cable and satellite subscribers do this? I'm sorry but I don't watch the Style Network, A&E, or the Disney Channel yet I pay for them in my basic cable service. Am I subsidizing them as well?

I think it's time for Comcast to settle this dispute with the Big Ten Network and finally bring the network to their subscribers that want it. Otherwise all they are doing is punishing us.

Halloween is Coming

Next week is Halloween. A time for ghost, goblins, and some of the campiest entertainment out there.

If you get a chance, check out a midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's unlike anything you'll ever do.

He is one of the iconic film's most famous songs - Time Warp.

Classic Calvin & Hobbes

I've been so busy as of late. My stress level has been pretty high. Teaching and being on the job market can take a lot out of a person. But then I ran across this classic Calvin & Hobbes comic strip today. It made me laugh out loud, and I hope it makes someone else's day a little happier too.

One New Series Officially Over

We now have our first official cancellation of the 2007-2008 television season.

I recently posted that Fox had pulled the reality drama Nashville, but it was not officially cancelled. Fox is still saying that Nashville will be coming back sometime this season.

So, the honor of first cancellation of the new season goes to the CW’s Online Nation. This program, from it's first week, could barely get one million viewers. That spelled death for it from the beginning.

Maybe it’s me, but if we want to see videos from online sites such as YouTube, won’t we go to YouTube? What’s the extra appeal of seeing them on television?

But some congratulations should go out to some freshman series that have received full season episode orders. These are definitely the shows to look out for since they appear to be succeeding. Shows that will definitely be with us until at least next May are the CW’s Gossip Girl, ABC’s Private Practice, and CBS’ The Big Bang Theory.

Go see NASCAR, Get a Disease?

I freely admit that I know very little about NASCAR. It may be the sport that currently has the second largest fanbase in the United States, but you can’t count me among them.

But I read a news story this morning that had to deal with NASCAR that I just knew I had to write about.

Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson from the state of Mississippi recently advised staffers that had attended a recent race at the Talladega Superspeedway and were planning on attending a Nextel Cup race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that they should be vaccinated before going. Vaccinated for what you might ask? To protect them from Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Influenza.

Now I understand that when you get any large group together that there is a possibility of illness being spread. But vaccinations?

What does this government official from the state of Mississippi really think of NASCAR races? He must believe that they are just breeding grounds for viruses that are easily spread by the dirty and sick people that attend them.

What a horrible opinion.

Finally Something Funny

I have been a long time fan of Saturday Night Live. When the show and its writers are churning out good stuff the show is hilarious. But I must admit that so far this season I've found nearly all of it pretty lame. I sat through the premiere episode with host LeBron James and found virtually nothing funny in the entire episode.

This week's episode was hosted by Seth Rogan. I sat through the first half of the episode and again didn't laugh. It wasn't until Weekend Update hit that this aired.



I think this sums up a lot of what many of us were thinking when it came to Senator Craig's recent exploits in an airport bathroom.

I also have to say that the last sketch of the show was funny too, but very racy and kind of gross. Too bad that's not up on YouTube yet.

A Long Time Coming

I arrived to Indiana in 1997, but didn't start paying attention to their football team until I became an undergraduate student in 1998. Unfortunately they've never been a very good team during that time, though some years are better than others. And they seem to be on an upswing.

But today is the first time that I remember ever seeing them get a vote in any poll. Granted it's only 1 vote, but the Hoosiers did get a vote in the USA Today poll. Now if they keep winning maybe they'll actually get a Bowl Bid this year or actually get ranked. Now that would be historic!