A shame when such a tragedy happens. My prayers go out to his loved ones. Now why this is revelent to soccer (MLS) in the US. Dick Ebersol was the head of NBC sports. Dick Ebersol was also a soccer hater. Ebersol had done a lot of work trying to bring the world cup, 86 or 90, to NBC. Ted Turner along with FIFA pulled some last minute shenanigans to air the cup on TNT and TBS and NBC lost a ton of money. Ebersol swore soccer would never air on NBC as long a s he was in chrge, as evidenced by the lack of soccer coverage during the olympics. Anyways Ebersol was seriously injured in a plane crash this weekend along with two of his sons, one is presumed dead. Ebersol is married to Susan St. James. Sorry if this offends anyone but if Ebersol cannot continue at NBC could this open the door for MLS or other soccer to be broadcast on NBC. The fact NBC lost football and baseball and basketbal to the other networks, and now with the NHL lockout NBC seems to out of the team sports business all together. They got Notre Dame Football and NASCAR. MLS should really pursue this outlet even if they make a deal like the NHL had where MLS only gets paid after production costs. A weekly MLS match on network TV would be a big deal.
Disappointed that MLS doesn't have more than just the championship match of its post-season on ABC (free TV). One game from each round on the previous Sundays would be good... and might even spark some general interest (well, maybe, if you live in a TV market with a sorry NFL team, or you're not into NECKCAR). Guess they figure it would be a potential ratings disaster with limited sponsor interest, so, why bother. As much as I like MLS, they need IMO to do a better job showcasing their post-season. But where and when? If NBC was willing to show the NHL for little of nothing, roller-derby-type football, and curling (not to knock curling, but...), could MLS be out of the question? PS: For the record, I recall World Cup matches on NBC during '86. Remember Charlie Jones having fun with some of the Italian's names... "BOO-ra-cha-ga BOO-ra-cha-ga BOO-ra-cha-ga."
And not to knock you, but shaddap. Let's try this again... IIRC, arena football has more television network history than MLS, and at the moment NBC signed with the NHL, I figure they had to imagine that a strike was all but a sure thing. Also, from a money standpoint, "We'll split the profits after production costs" (NHL and AFL) is a far cry from "You are responsible for selling the commerical spots" (MLS). That said, my dream of MLS Cup in primetime has an NBC logo in the corner of the screen. I read somewhere that it was NBC that screwed with FIFA, which forced WC '90 to Turner (sorry, I don't know, it was before my time, so to speak), but whoever did what, if NBC had given the same quality treatment to soccer as it has to the Olympics, who knows where MLS and US Soccer would be now.
NBC is not going to pick up MLS. Reasons: 1. Besides the cars that make 1,000 left turns, all other sports have stoppages that allow for commercials. Over the air broadcasters MUST sell commercials. Even then, car racing has commercials. The cars are also whoring products down your throat with every close up. 2. NBC really doesn't need team sports. It has these nice little niche sports called golf and tennis which fill their programming all summer and fall. Even then, they will put on exteme sports or triathalons or gymnastics. They make money on this stuff. 3. Without stoppages for 45 minutes, soccer is best suited for cable TV in the US. Why? First, the consumer has to pay to have ESPN or FSW, so there is the initial revenue stream that these networks need. Then they can small the commercials and corner ads to fill out their revenue stream. Second, most people really don't want to watch it. It is not the "Candy Everbody Wants" to quote 10,000 Maniacs. Third, besides the cars and Arena, much of NBC's sports go thru some form of editing. It is much easier to take the extreme sports and edit it into a 1-hour special, or edit a beach volleyball match into a 90 minute show for over the air TV. Lets first get ABC/ESPN to treat US Soccer (especially USMNT) with the respect that they give to Poker, WNBA or a college basketball game of the week from the Biggest of Little Sky Middle American Conference. When MLS games are not pre-empted for beach volleyball or WNBA on ESPN 2, maybe I will begin to think of the games on over the air TV.
Yeah, well, I'm sure you're sorry, but you offended me. I know his son Charlie from high school and I think this is pretty crass and oportunistic. It seems really shallow and repulsive to try to be making soccer hay out of Dick Ebersol's injuries and the horrific death of his youngest son. I don't know why I'm even bothering to address the arguments in this statement, but Dick Ebersol's injuries aren't life threatening and he should make a full recovery in a month or two. I'm pretty sure he's not going to leave for health reasons. NBC will air MLS when it makes financial sense. I never thought I'd see the day when NBC televised NASCAR, but money talks, and they listened. It won't happen just because a terrible tragedy removed someone who's a "soccer hater", and it is shameful to hope for that. This thread should be closed.
I agree using this accident to mention his past decisions, is not good. His decisions about NBC and Soccer should've been discussed much earlier and in other active threads. Close this please.
I know Ebersol has a lot of responsibility for soccer's lack of exposure during the Olympics and I dispise him for it. I also thought of the link between soccer and the tragedy yesterday as soon as I found out. Having said that, I think this thread is totally inappropriate. I feel terrible for Mr. Ebersol and his tragic loss. May his young boy Rest In Peace.