| ||||||||||
|
Monday, September 15th, 2008
The Information Not So Super- Highway
I understand that There are legions of Cubs fans who have followed this storied Baseball Team for much longer and much closer than I have. In fact, I am only 25 years old, and have only been a Cubs fan for a little over a decade... (August 97' Actually, my entrance into cub-dom is a subject for another blog).
With that said however, I certainly consider myself a die hard. I generally try to catch every game in some form or fashion, read as much as I can about my team all year... set most of my pre-sets to Sports talk radio, don cubs apparel with great regularity... you get the picture.
Anyway, I wasted away a genrerally lazy Sunday with a few minor tasks, and suffering through a disappointing Bears loss, all in anticipation of spending my evening glued to the Tv watching the Cubs inch closer to their second consecutive division title. But when seven o'clock hit... i realized that due to some programming rights held by the evil empire of ESPN... the Cubs/Astros game would only be televised on WGN chicago, not the superstation as I had assumed. How disappointing!! but i took it in stride.
So i checked in with the game periodically via the internet, and about the sixth inning... it appeared that something special may be brewing (no pun intended).
I ran into my bedroom and struggled to tune in my very cheap, alarm clock radio to the game. I managed to get a very poor, yet audible signal. With every out that was recorded, I became more anxious and excited for Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs, who were about to record their first no-hitter since 1972.
My roommate, who is a yankees fan, but whom I believe is slowing transitioning to a full fledged North Side supporter, joined me in my bedroom, to listen to the game. As excited as I was, it struck me as sort of funny. I noted to Ben how ironic it was that in the age of High Speed Internet, GPS, cell phone, and digital TV, the only real-time account of this historic sports event was made available through a fuzzy radio transmission from an alarm clock.
Luckily, during the 9th inning, ESPN cut away from the televised White/Sox tigers game, and televised the Cubs/Stros'. Two ground balls to the shortstop and a down and away swinging strike out later, Carlos Zambrano etched himself into the record books in a rather peculiar way. Not only did Big Z retire 27 batters without allowing a hit, he did so at a ballpark that neither team called home. (Hurricane Ike forced the scheduled Astros home game to be moved to Miller Park in Milwaukee).
And even more peculiar, most of the nation, which would have been privy to the broadcast via the WGN superstation, were largely snubbed out of this bit of history.
I understand that rules are rules, and baseball broadcasts, as are most things in life, are a money grab. Still I cant help but feel a little cheated, as myself and legions of other DIE HARDS... were forced to miss a moment of greatness!!
The Information Not So Super- Highway
I understand that There are legions of Cubs fans who have followed this storied Baseball Team for much longer and much closer than I have. In fact, I am only 25 years old, and have only been a Cubs fan for a little over a decade... (August 97' Actually, my entrance into cub-dom is a subject for another blog).
With that said however, I certainly consider myself a die hard. I generally try to catch every game in some form or fashion, read as much as I can about my team all year... set most of my pre-sets to Sports talk radio, don cubs apparel with great regularity... you get the picture.
Anyway, I wasted away a genrerally lazy Sunday with a few minor tasks, and suffering through a disappointing Bears loss, all in anticipation of spending my evening glued to the Tv watching the Cubs inch closer to their second consecutive division title. But when seven o'clock hit... i realized that due to some programming rights held by the evil empire of ESPN... the Cubs/Astros game would only be televised on WGN chicago, not the superstation as I had assumed. How disappointing!! but i took it in stride.
So i checked in with the game periodically via the internet, and about the sixth inning... it appeared that something special may be brewing (no pun intended).
I ran into my bedroom and struggled to tune in my very cheap, alarm clock radio to the game. I managed to get a very poor, yet audible signal. With every out that was recorded, I became more anxious and excited for Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs, who were about to record their first no-hitter since 1972.
My roommate, who is a yankees fan, but whom I believe is slowing transitioning to a full fledged North Side supporter, joined me in my bedroom, to listen to the game. As excited as I was, it struck me as sort of funny. I noted to Ben how ironic it was that in the age of High Speed Internet, GPS, cell phone, and digital TV, the only real-time account of this historic sports event was made available through a fuzzy radio transmission from an alarm clock.
Luckily, during the 9th inning, ESPN cut away from the televised White/Sox tigers game, and televised the Cubs/Stros'. Two ground balls to the shortstop and a down and away swinging strike out later, Carlos Zambrano etched himself into the record books in a rather peculiar way. Not only did Big Z retire 27 batters without allowing a hit, he did so at a ballpark that neither team called home. (Hurricane Ike forced the scheduled Astros home game to be moved to Miller Park in Milwaukee).
And even more peculiar, most of the nation, which would have been privy to the broadcast via the WGN superstation, were largely snubbed out of this bit of history.
I understand that rules are rules, and baseball broadcasts, as are most things in life, are a money grab. Still I cant help but feel a little cheated, as myself and legions of other DIE HARDS... were forced to miss a moment of greatness!!
2 Comments
1) I have witnessed on many occasions my husband listening to a mostly static filled radio broadcast of a baseball or football game. I never have been able to figure out why he bothered. I guess you have to be a true die hard to go to such extreme lengths. If you can come up with a solution you'll become a very rich man.
Leslie Monday, September 15, 2008
Leslie Monday, September 15, 20082) I am relieved that I was able to watch that game last night. Did you see how far Ted Lilly took a no-hitter today? Bill Monday, September 15, 2008
Bill Monday, September 15, 2008Leave a Comment
