Masters VS NCAA TV Coverage
It was a pleasant experience to watch the Masters 4th round today without the constant barrage of commercials. I wonder what if would be like if the NCAA tourney, or at least the final four games were treated with as much respect. There would be time for meaningful replays, real input from analysists and just a better connection to the games. I think the network is kind of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs by over commercializing the television coverage. I don't know what most folks did, but I just muted all the adds anyway.
Every team time out, all the TV time outs, between fouls shots and at half were packed solid with commercials. Even when going back to the game, they still were determined to do a reprise of all the ads you just saw by placing icons in center screen. Why can't someone like Adidas or Nike come in and do what was done on the masters? How greedy are these TV execs anyway?
Augusta National and Duke
Not only was I delighted to watch my beloved Devils win the championship, I was able to attend the Masters for the first time Sunday as a guest of one of the members of Augusta National. It is a phenomenal event that is first class all the way. As someone mentioned earlier, with the wealth and power the club has, they can call the shots.
But I would caution against using terms like " old geezers" and "no love for the powers that be" and "using their wealth" to deride the Augusta National club. In some ways, there is a parellel to the postion that Duke occupies in the minds of some hoops fans.
There were plenty of people expressing their jealousy of Duke and it's large basketball budget and Coach K gets all the calls and CBS wants Duke to win, etc.
Sometimes, you have to admire success. Duke is success. The Masters is success. Both have wealth (relative), both have prestige, both do it the right way. I suggest that jealousy and envy are the root of derision that both entities receive. I choose to admire them both!