Fan v. Fan: New England v. D.C. United 8/26/2005 2:14:00 PM "Things are tight in the Eastern standings, with New England holding a precarious lead over D.C. United and a couple other sides. Ahead of Saturday's clash we asked Revolution fan Monty Rodrigues and United uberfan* Ed Morgans to set the table." *I thought an 'uberfan' is something you buy at IKEA, or perhaps a Screaming Eagles tailgate? Here's the link: http://www.goal.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=82039&idSez=19
Bill Griffiths' weekly sports media column: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2005/08/26/patriot_shows_are_gearing_up/ There's some discussion of the Revs <1.0 TV ratings. The channel 56 guy points out the "bright-side" among the low numbers, that the percentage of younger viewers is pretty good - boding well for the future.
In news of Revs' relatives, Luke Vercollone's younger brother Stephen gets a mention in a Pembroke Reporter article about local kids who have taken up surfing. Sorry, no links for this one. Go and buy the paper.
From the Boston Globe article: ''You see it at our games and in the [rating] numbers," said Feldman. ''The growth is slow but sure.... Sorry, but I don't see it at the games, Brad. While this might be what you have to say to the media outlets, I hope it isn't what they really believe.
The big news from the Boston Globe article is that, "WNDS (Channel 50) in Derry, N.H., has put its popular 'Stars & Strikes' candlepin bowling show 'on hiatus,' pending a summer-long evaluation of all station programming." What will I watch now?
"Uberfan" sounds like something you'd find at a FC St. Pauli tailgate...I'd call Monty a superfan but I know he's a Lowell man.
Baghdad Brad has no credibility Very accurate. Very funny. And very sad, all at the same time. No wonder he is such a poor announcer. He broadcasts the games while in a dizzy state from all of the spin. Revolution fans may be small in number, but we aren't stupid. The general public and non soccer caring media may fall for this spin, but Revolution fans know better. It is one thing to have the team's public relations director putting on the spin. From a broadcaster we should expect at least some truth. Another reason why it is not good to have the same person doing those two jobs. I'd say he is a lot closer to Baghdad Bob than he is to Martin Tyler.
Spme other news for today: My dad works at a printing company and they got an order from The Boston Globe for 1,000,000 Revs posters of Noonan, Shalrie, Twellman, and Ralston. Like the Pats and Sox, they will be handed out each week with the Sunday Globe.
Re: Baghdad Brad has no credibility This is true and it only serves to make them look foolish to their own fans, who obviously know better. This has always been a problem of doing these two jobs, and here is another example. A PR person is expected to put spin on a bad situation. We expect some truth from a broadcast journalist, even if it is only a pseudo-broadcast with the team paying for the air time. If "Baghdad Brad" had spouted those twisted lies on the air during an away match, Revolution fans would have choaked on their beverages or laughed in amazement. The team is doing well and needs to be taken seriously to move forward. The spin is so obvious that it is laughable, and it does nothing for Btad Feldmen's credibility as a pr director or as a broadcaster.
I guess you have all made your point about Brad but let me ask a serious question----is their really any PR person or media system that isn't actively trying to "SPIN" things every time they open their mouths or print a word? IMO, Media in this day in age-----IS ALL SPIN.
Re: Baghdad Brad has no credibility My God, take it easy on the guy! He was just pointing to some evidence that shows the Revs fan base seam to be getting younger, what’s wrong with that? What would you expect him to say to a reporter "yeah, these rating suck hairy goat Ba$$s" geez!! let me give you some prospective, when i first moved here to San Antonio in 2001 the Spurs had a team build around dumping the ball to Duncan and Roberson. Pretty typical basketball, but the Spurs broadcasters would rave on air "the spurs have REINVENTED the way basketball is played!!!!!"
Don't laugh. It's usually in the Top 10 in ratings. It most likely has 5X the number of Revs viewers.
Is this the proof of the age old philosphical question: If a 1000 Monkeys sit and type for a 1000 years will they write a great poem?