Friday, November 18, 2005

Hockey Takes Center Stage over 'Dogs-Trojans in Cali, FSN You Suck!

It is very sad that the biggest game of the weekend will be a national broadcast by Fox Sports Net. Not so much because USC homer Petros Papadakis will be the color commentator, but because the two biggest Fox Sports Net affiliates in California will not carry the game live.

Fox Sports Bay Area will broadcast a San Jose Sharks game, and Fox Sports West will carry a LA Kings game. That means only a select few who have Fox Sports West 2 or those who have satellite or digital cable sports packages will be able to see the game live.

FSBA is the local FSN affiliate in Fresno, and last week the Sharks took center stage over the Oregon-Washington State national TV game. However, the folks at Comcast will broadcast this weekend's Fresno State-USC game on the local community channel 14 for the Fresno Area.

What about the rest of the state? FSN has always looked like a second rate broadcast. All 18 affiliates nationally have access to the game, but the two biggest ones in California will not show it due to contracts to show hockey. Nothing against hockey, but the boys on the ice sat out last year due to monetary issues. How do these money hungry athletes get dibs over the greatest sport in the country, college football.

Hockey contracts over college football is just plain stupid, and that just makes the network look even worse. The Bulldogs and Trojans deserve better than a 10:15 ET kickoff on FSN. This game should have been at least a regional ABC telecast with Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts calling the game.

Many who would what to tune in and watch the biggest game of the week will not be able to from the confines of their own home, including those who live in San Diego County.

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