The Memo

[ssigman]

at least the posts went from novels to picture books...now i can follow along

whats going on?

[Ishkur]

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

Keep repeating it. It just shows what a hackneyed theory this is.

Not it doesn't. Stop making shit up.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

There's a secret memo, that is merely a metaphor, that encourages referees to favor one team over another, but in no way does it suggest who should win. The memo exists to appease the league's corporate partners, but only in the shorterm and only when it can benefit a large-market team, unless it's a small-market team like Tampa Bay that needs the league to boost its popularity. Oh, and the memo doesn't work all the time, except when it's needed for some half-assed fantasy black helicopter theory.

Wow. I can see you do not get the 'english comprehension' gene in the family.

I know my sportstrant articles require a little bit of critical thinking among readers, but this is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

Yes, Ish, the same league that trashes defensive hockey at every turn and then actually changes the rules to hinder the play of New Jersey's best player (re: the goalie trapazoid) "cherishes" a Devils run deep into the playoffs.

But, again, why should the facts matter in this debate.

Do you know what a strawman is?

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

What does this have to do with the Devils winning three Stanley Cups?

Keeping the Cup in large markets increases the propensity of getting one.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

Because your theories about markets falls apart in the NFL, which shares revenues more than any other league in American sports. From a team perspective, it can only benefit the league to develop franchises that aren't considerable draws already because they will increase the television audience against teams in their own conference. The Steelers would have been on MNF with or without a Super Bowl win; if the Seahawks had won, they would have been featured at least three times in prime time, no question.

Actually, this proves that the NFL would only want teams with large fanbases to win. It moves more product across the board. Why was everyone saying this was the most uninteresting and boring Superbowl in the week leading up to it? Because no sportswriter could even bring himself to care about 50% of the game. That ugly team from Seattle. And if that ugly team won, every sportswriter today would be saying this was the most uninteresting and unmemorable Superbowl in history, because the team no one cares about and even less people follow won.

Fan interest across the league would drop. No one cares about Hasselbeck and Holmgren, two guys they barely watched in the regular season and weren't about to start now. Alexander shirts would not be sold, and the league would find itself in a mini-recession, without a Brady-esque icon to drool over.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

What's a small market in the NFL? Seattle? Carolina? Tennessee? St. Louis? Should I just keep naming teams that have been to the Super Bowl more recently than New York, Chicago and Los Angeles?

Howabout this: A small market is any city in a state that has less than 15 electoral college votes and does not touch any state with more than 15 electoral college votes.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

This still doesn't explain why it isn't in the NFL's best interest to elevate Alexander or Hasselbeck to megastar status

Because they play for Seattle.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

Here, let me win this argument: there are more football fans that follow the NFL than Steelers fans that follow the NFL.

Prove it. Show me a guy who, every Sunday this year, is jumping up and down with a non-denominational league jersey shouting "WOO! GO NFL!! SCHEDULE THOSE GAMES!!! PLAY THEM AT 1PM (12 CENTRAL!)!! COME ONNNNN MONDAY NIGHT!"

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

I present instance after instance where your theory is wrong

No you haven't.

Originally Posted by Greg_Wyshynski

How do we know that the memo wasn't pulling for Seattle?

Because Pittsburgh would have gotten AT LEAST ONE FUCKING PENALTY AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAME!

[Gunnerman]

Capital letters and in bold, yep, sour grapes pure and simple.

Ummm, ssigs hope you can follow my post good man.

[ssigman]

thanks for the run down gunny...that has to be the longest post in rant history