Is the Washington Freedom America's team? Why does it feel that they are on more live games than anybody else?
Los Angeles and Washington do have more FSC games than anyone else, but the disparity isn't as great as in other sports, like say the New York Yankees or the LA Lakers. The most for any team is 7 and least is 5. Saint Louis has a lot of Saturday games and most of the FSC games are on Sunday, so my guess is that's one of the reasons less of their games are televised. To the American public, Wambach and Marta are the biggest names. FSC is probably trying to take advantage of that and you really can't blame them. The television schedule was actually a lot more balanced than I thought it would be. I figured we would be seeing LA every other week.
Well OK i accept that but when you are trying to build a league you need to take a look at all particpants...its not just about Marta & Wambach or the Freedom & the Sol.Every team is exciting & have talented players we need to showcase them as well.
I understand the reason for LA, but Washington?. I thought maybe someone more like Red Stars would get more.
Taken from a March 18 press release: Code: Appearances Home Away Total Los Angeles Sol 3 3 6 Washington Freedom 3 4 7 FC Gold Pride (Bay Area) 4 2 6 Chicago Red Stars 3 2 5 Boston Breakers 3 2 5 Sky Blue FC (NY/NJ) 3 3 6 Saint Louis Athletica 1 4 5 Yes, the Freedom get an extra game or two than everyone else, but ... The way y'all were talking, I thought it was 10 matches Freedom, and maybe 2 or 3 for the others.
Exactly. I really don't get what the big fuss is here.... WPS is not promoting any team(s) or player(s) above any others IMO, the differences here showing probably because of the uneven schedule and feasibility issues.
It would be nice if FSC could somehow do regional coverage and we could get the games of the team closest to our area. The same way the do it for NFL football and hockey on NBC on the weekends. It would only be 2 more games since there can only be a max of 3 games a weekend. If not then WPS should get other viewing options including online because we'd end up missing any visual from most of our team's road games and you can't expect people to attend all home games either. Bottom line is WPS needs to expand viewing options and I hear they are trying to do that which is good.
I have to admit, I was extremely disappointed that there wasn't some kind of video of the opening game. It was history. The first game of our franchise, the first professional outdoor soccer match in Saint Louis in years. And basically, all most people are going to have of the game is 2nd hand accounts from people like me. It's something I would have loved to have had, both to see things that I missed by watching in person and just to keep as something to remember.
The FSC times of three games have been finalized, one non-FSC as well... http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4801-NY-Soccer-Examiner~y2009m4d10-Press-Release-Times-of-three-Sky-Blue-FC-games-finalized
I know what you mean because we are so used to seeing highlights of our sports teams but you could see highlights though they were only on Channel 2. It was field level but they did show Solo make a save, Lori charging down the right side, and Tarpley's goal. The problem with the highlights was it was only one camera and on field level so it wasn't the normal angles we're used to when we watch sports on tv. You really couldn't tell depth perception very well in some clips BUT it's better than nothing. Channel 5 led their 10 PM broadcast with the first women's pro game ever but they didn't show game highlights but interviews with players and fans. Channel 4 royally SUCKED since they didn't mention a WORD about the Athletica. That's the reason I started that local tv highlight thread in the Athletica section because it's so difficult for us to see highlights. Another black mark for WPS is they STILL don't have highlights of Marta's 2 goals on their site and if they don't have it by now they probably won't have it at all.
I saw Bay Area CBS channel 5 cameras at the game, but never got to see their coverage. Based on your comments I checked back today, and this is the clip they ran on Monday, April 6. Not FSC, but great none the less. The autograph alley was pandamonium after the game and the team staff had to drag the players away after about 90 minutes, Chastain, Sinclair, Milbrett, Eriko, and Lilly from Boston were out there the whole time.... http://cbs5.com/video/?id=48487@kpix.dayport.com
That is great coverage you got there. Our CBS affiliate didn't mention a WORD about the Athletica on their debut day but our other stations covered them though not that well since you got interviews after the game and great highlights. You should be thankful they cover your team so well since I don't know how many other teams get covered like that. P.S. You said "not FSC" but that IS FSC since the highlights are from FSC.
Can we have your CBS affiliate? On a normal night, ours does about 60-90 seconds of sports. It will be lucky if Athletica gets a 5 second mention. I take it that was a Sunday night broadcast when a lot of local sports shows have half hour shows? That was a very nice report and that station should definitely be complimented for their coverage.
I thought Channel 5 (our local NBC affiliate) would definitely cover their Athletica during their one hour Sunday night Sports Plus show but they only had a half hour and then a half hour Cardinals special. If they had a one hour show I'm sure they would've covered the Athletica. I guess that's another reason I follow the Athletica because I find baseball HORRIBLY boring and during the summer there is no other sport until now. Watching people stand in place 95% of the time is boring as hell and I'll never get why people even like baseball. Ball.............strike...............foul...................ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ LOL!
Channel 5 has definitely led the way locally. They have several reports leading up to the season. Channel 2 has also been good. As for Channel 4 (CBS), I don't really think it's their sports department's fault. When the news director of a station says, "Okay you've 60 seconds to cover sports and you have Cards and the Blues fighting for a playoff spot and the NCAA Women's Final Four in town, etc, they couldn't possibly fit it all in.
I actually talked to Steve Savard, the sports director of our CBS affiliate, and he said they try to get camera crews out to SIUE when they can but couldn't get it done for the home opener. He said they already had the Athletica on their Sports Sunday show 2 times but I never saw it so I don't which players were on there. But I doubt Channel 4 would show highlights of road games but I'm pretty sure either or both Channel 5 and Channel 2 will show highlights of the Athletica/Breakers game tomorrow.