For the past twenty years MLB has be trying to make the All Star game meaningful, but I argue that all pro sports all star games are a relic of the past. Then I will connect to most bowl games. I can only speak to my experience. In the 1970s we got One 1 nationally televised baseball game of the week. Since I grew up in Louisville we got mostly National league games. Since my dad worked at the CJ&Times, I learned to read box scores at a young age. I would read about Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew, but only got to see them in the WS or All Star games. Great players like Carew and Al Kaline never made the World Series during this time, it was exciting to see if Tom Seaver could strike out Dick Allen or if Johnny Bench could homer off of Jim Palmer. But since the turn of the century we get a choice of tons of games, YouTube Videos can show the latest and rookie sensation. Before 24 hour sports programming it was cool to see American League versus the National League, could Artis Gilmore and Dr J hang with the NBA? Just think of how much it meant to the players back then too. Or ask Ray Fosse (I still say Rose was right to plow him over, he was blocking the plate).
Pre BCS, there where a lot less bowls, of course the Louisville’s, Boise States, et al were left out of most good ones. Remember we only got the Fiesta Bowl invite because of Arizona’s refusal to honor MLK). But winning the the Cotton Bowl, Liberty Bowl, et al was a real accomplishment. Now with the four team playoffs, it makes no sense for NFL bound seniors to participate. Look at what is happening to Florida’s QB by having his top four wide receivers missing. just before the game I was thinking he could work his way up to the second pick, not three interceptions in the first half. What a joke of a game. Now with ESPN, Fox Sports, ACC network we get a lot of football all year. But if there is nothing in it for the players, why should they really care anymore. How about instead of giving them goofy gift bags with stupid swag from their sponsors pay them all $1000 and all players who dress for bowl season get their name put into a lottery for $1 million dollars.
Pre BCS, there where a lot less bowls, of course the Louisville’s, Boise States, et al were left out of most good ones. Remember we only got the Fiesta Bowl invite because of Arizona’s refusal to honor MLK). But winning the the Cotton Bowl, Liberty Bowl, et al was a real accomplishment. Now with the four team playoffs, it makes no sense for NFL bound seniors to participate. Look at what is happening to Florida’s QB by having his top four wide receivers missing. just before the game I was thinking he could work his way up to the second pick, not three interceptions in the first half. What a joke of a game. Now with ESPN, Fox Sports, ACC network we get a lot of football all year. But if there is nothing in it for the players, why should they really care anymore. How about instead of giving them goofy gift bags with stupid swag from their sponsors pay them all $1000 and all players who dress for bowl season get their name put into a lottery for $1 million dollars.
