Twittering (9/14)

Because reception in the press box (not the rest of the media area, however) was non-existent, it was fruitless to try to converse with all as intended. However, being that we have a doubleheader for Monday Night Football, there's a doubleheader for Twitter... so long as the body makes it through the San Diego/Oakland contest.

Feel free to also ask questions and leave comments (via Twitter or this post) about yesterday's action, including the Redskins/Giants game. Since Monday's deadline night for the Beacon's sports section, I'll be polishing off two articles for the paper while the Patriots and Bills hold American television hostage. It's still the ideal time to chat as I'll be in such game mode that you'd swear I took a Jake Delhomme interception to the house.

By the way, never feel that it's going to be just about the NFL. As a subscriber the MLB Extra Innings, I would be the first to scream "turn to 432 RIGHT NOW! Blankety Blank is throwing a no-no!". For that reason, I ask that if there is something happening with your baseball team (non-northeastern teams, especially), you have permission to harrass us. Also, if you miss the NHL and NBA, cry with us, too.

twitter.com/asportsscribe

Hard

It doesn't take a phD in economics to know that "times are hard, son" as the kids say these days. With the exception of the Oakland Raiders - thanks in part to two astronomical short-term deals with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler - it seems as if every pro sports team is feeling of the plummeting economy.

While the NBA trading deadline was dwindling down and it was rather obvious that a few teams were paring payroll to lower costs, news broke out that the league was granting loans of at most $11.7 million to at least fifteen teams hoping to offset operating losses (the league itself being granted a $175 million credit from JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America).

Two weeks ago, Advertising Age reported that both the NBA and Major League Baseball were expanding their ad offerings to liquor and gambling (you read that right: baseball and gambling) to bring in revenue.

Yet, for a complete shocker, look below.

Now, if you live in this area, this should be VERY striking to see as the Yankees relied on their history alone to sell tickets. Is the economy tanking so badly - or at least are their usual ticket buyers reluctant to purchase seats in the brand new and pricey Stadium - that the Bronx Bombers have to hustle and bustle like everyone else in the league?

It's possible that every team in baseball is making some concerted effort to advertise ticket sales through what is known in the advertising and marketing community as behavioral targeting. Yet, this is the last team in the known universe you'd expect to use this avenue.

Could this be a result of the body shots that have crippled the financial sector (and beyond) that have taken away some of the usual suspects in ticket purchases for both New York teams? Could this be part of the potential public relations fiasco that may follow if the big wigs of some of the companies that receive bailout money happen to be seen on the YES Network  or YES Network-lite (FOX) during a game? Who knows, really.

All we can tell right now is that "times are hard, son."

Say What?!?!: Speaking of the Yanks, the financial sector and hard times, the Stanford Financial scandal (as mentioned recently on Scribe) actually affects a few players on the team. It may be nominal investments for these guys, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Nomadic

Last night at another New Jersey Devils game, I came to the conclusion that I've been spending more time in the wonderful (no sarcasm) State of New Jersey than the wonderful (some sarcasm) City of New York in the past month.

Sunday, obviously, keeps the trend going.

With that said, between the IZOD Center and the Prudential Center videos, you have an idea of why the New Jersey Nets want to move. However, hopefully, you have an idea of why the Nets should treat their Barclays Center plans like a juvenile record; seal them, file them and (hopefully) never revisit them.

There will always be a city/town and a team willing to play footsies with each other in order to attract not only major league audiences, but indirectly attract major league employers for spuring economic development. At least that's the idea.

There is always talk of teams that are not performing well financially relocating to seemingly fertile lands. There are rather public discourses about attracting any pro team to Kansas City's Sprint Center, the uncertainty of several NHL teams in the South (east and west) and bringing NFL team back to Los Angeles (because Al Davis is still trying to move the Raiders back to LA and rumors about the Jaguars are still in the air)

However, the resistance coming from some government officials, civic-oriented organizations, small business owners and others will keep the fight going until either the team's ownership gives up or the players start looking around town for real estate.

So from just a curiosity standpoint (leaving politics and community matters out of the equation for now), I pose this to you: if you had full autonomy and authority while not having to worry about financing a stadium/arena:

• Which teams would you move?
• Where?
• Why?
• Finally, would you build a new stadium/arena or renovate exisiting grounds?

Say What?!?!: This post was inspired by what you can find about yourself via Google. Many thanks to No Land Grab.