MY NBC letter

[Gregory Odegaard <grodeg@kalama.com>]

Here is my NBC letter sent to the address Benz gave us (thanks sir).  I can't use bcc so I sent it direct.  Now I wait for the polite response.  Maybe Bob will come to my house to apologize personnaly.  Don't bring the kneepads Bob.

I ask you all to consider taking a few minutes, even for those in NE, to get a few thinks off your chest and send a message.  It feels good, and hey we might as well all live under the dilusion that our voice makes a difference.  

Sad to think that the Celtics actually once rated as a Grade A team in this league just 10 years ago.  Let's get back to the glory days if for nothing else to show these NBC/NBA punks what they have been missing.

My letter:

Well I am just one 35 year old fan, who now is not only upset about the switching of games today, but more difficulty has to explain the world of big business, sports and how agents really do run the show to my furious 7 year son, who has watched your Celtics/Pacers promos for weeks and woke this morning anticipating the game.  

At only 35 I must be now too old to remember the good old days of a league run by gentlemen and broadcast by companies who respected their place in this world, by allowing equal coverage that didn't force the agenda of the league down the loyal viewers throat.  Just this week ESPN reported that the national coverage of exciting teams, with potential future superstars like Paul Pierce and Jason Williams, was non existent.  We fans have been hearing for years that the league sets the schedule before the season and the broadcast networks have little flexibility in the games to choose from.  Well here is an area that the other big 3 sports have down pat.  Just imagine the reaction if Fox had said we can't broadcast that important St. Louis/Cubs game back in September, because the league didn't schedule it or because a small Chicago cable company had the rights.  We all would have missed McGwire's 62nd homer.  Some things are more important than your petty little marketing goals.  I am convinced this is just an attempt to force the average fan into some kind of Direct TV annual league package, making the once free game, only truly available to those who can afford it.  

Yes I most blame Stern and his cronies with the league, who obviously had the best interests of the fans and small time team employees at heart when they locked out the players, then attempted to lockout the agents too.  Nice idea but it appears David Falk, and his new puppet Stepon Marbuy got the last laugh, and the league and your network are on the same strings. I hope you are proud of yourselfs.

I for one am giving up NBC sports and entertainment broadcasting PERIOD  This actually was the idea of my 7 year old son, who now "hates" NBC".  Does it matter if we are Celtics or Pacers fans living out of the local coverage area, or because we are sick of having the leagues so called elite teams being shoved down our throats every week.  I am sure you would rather have us hate the Lakers, Knicks, Nets, Heat and Magic, at least we are paying attention, but at this rate who we hate more is a toss-up; the Lakers and the ridiculous Kobe/Shaq/Rodman side show, or NBC and their pathetic homer Bob Costas making us sick to even want to listen, or of course the league itself, some proverbial keeper of the faith, while handling the NBA like it does the WBNA, a marketing tool at best.  I wonder if they will bring another #1 pick to NY or Chicago like they did in the first lottery with Ewing, bolster the position those media hungry markets.  I feel sorry for the other teams left to pick-up the wake.  It was a darn shame to see the Pacers and Jazz get abused last season by refs one more time, to get MJ is one last ring.  It is ironic to me that some call this years eventual champion a 2nd grade champ already because Michael is gone, well without the league and to a small degree NBC too, MJ would have probably won a couple less rings, making them the 2nd class team in my book.  Clearly NBC is a 2nd class broadcasting organization.  Poor Blazers, Sonics and Jazz, to be on the losing end of a marketing campaign.

I have long thought the Lakers suck, now I know it is the power brokers at NBC and the league and what is worse is you probably thrive under this connotation.

Good riddance, and now it is time for MUST NOT SEE NBC 1999.

If you want to reach me for a personal discussion, feel free to call me at 1-800-NBC-SUCKS,
Greg Odegaard