Friday, November 10, 2023

No World Series Watchers, Culture Problems in Chicago and Let's Energize Joe

The Schloss-Blog, like so many others, noticed that no one watched the World Series this past week. It was between Arizona and, uh - oh yeah, Texas.

Before the World Series, could you name three players on either team? The managers? The cities in which their home stadiums are located?

Yeah, I could, but I'm a lifetime sports reporter and sports journalism educator.

Plus, as Deadspin noted, the Series, for the first time, started on a Friday-Saturday for the first two games, on the weekend preceding Halloween, when a lot of people who might otherwise be hanging at sports bars watching the games were at - well - Halloween parties.

That huge degree of unfamiliarity with the players and the inconvenient starting days added up to record-low TV ratings.

The games were for the most part close and entertaining, but only for those in the Dallas and Phoenix markets who bothered to watch.

Time for Major League Baseball to reexamine start dates, promotion, playoff seeding, et al.

***

The Chicago Bears dismissed their running backs coach this past week, without explanation.

They dismissed their defensive coordinator two weeks into the season.

They say the culture is just fine in their headquarters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Bet Alan Williams and David Walker are not saying that.

***

Torey Lovullo, the Diamondbacks manager, says he'll die trying to win a World Series for the fans in Arizona.

After the "bullpen" game he managed, which they lost 11-7 (game 4) and trailed 10-0 in the third inning, he has one foot in the grave.

***

Just a quick word to Joe Biden: survey after survey shows that voters, including Democrats loyal to him and his policies, would rather have a younger version running for president.

He does carry himself in a somewhat feeble manner, including his speech delivery.

He is 80.

Trump is 77 but carries far less of a negative perception in that dimension.

So, Joe, I'll pop for you to get a hair coloring and a new doo, for a subscription to Balance of Nature Fruits & Veggies, for weight training to pump up the bod' and for anything else that will add some zip to your step.

You've got a year - do it. That seems to be your only negative, but it's a biggie - do it. Even if Trump's in jail by then, do it,

Send me the bill, because we can't have Trump in the White House again.

***

The National Association of Realtors is reeling in the wake of being found liable to inflate realtors' commissions and a sexual harassment charge against its CEO, who has stepped down.

A PR nightmare for the industry's backbone association.

I could've worked there in PR. Was offered a position there just before I accepted my position on the faculty at Columbia College Chicago.

And stayed there 23 years.

Whew!

***

R.I.P. Walter Davis (North Carolina, Phoenix Suns).

A true pro and a great one.

He was 69.

***

Good night, Mrs. Calabash. Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson.

More Sunday night on my Radio Free Phoenix rock 'n' roll show.




 

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