NFL draft ratings slip
Player interest in NBA draft dips
Good morning, all and happy Tuesday!
Just a brief note. The newsletter over the next two weeks will not be as consistent. Between broadcasting baseball games and some personal obligations, I will miss a few days. If I get the chance, I will try to pump out some content, but no guarantees. Thank you for your understanding and for being a subscriber.
NFL sees some slippage
It’s not enough to cause a major concern, but you can be certain the suits at the NFL office on Park Ave. are taking note, that TV ratings for this year’s first round of the draft last Thursday were down. Televised on ESPN’s numerous platforms, the all-sports network reported the ratings dropped 3% from 2025. Still, 13.2 million people tuned in, a healthy number.
From my vantage point, I found the coverage good and thought the NFL’s reduction of time between picks from 10 minutes to eight minutes was a smart move. Look for more tweaks for next year’s draft.
As a host venue, Pittsburgh did a superb job as more than 800,000 turned out over the three days of the draft. Next year’s host city will be Washington, D.C., and it is expected more than one million people will attend.
More troubles for LIV Golf
Maybe LIV Golf will be around next season, maybe not. Louisiana officials have announced they want to postpone the LIV Golf tournament slated for New Orleans in late June, according to several reports.
It was reported yesterday that when word emerged two weeks ago that the Saudi-backed golf tour might be experiencing financial difficulties, state officials contacted the tour, seeking verification of some financial guarantees LIV had promised the state. When LIV could not back up its original promise, the tournament’s chances were jeopardized. An official announcement could come today.
Now the Yankees are the target
These sports websites love to write about the New York Yankees just to generate clicks. Remember, content is king, even if there is not a story. Now the Yankees, who are off to a terrific start, are going to have problems, some of these websites are reporting. Why? Because the first place Bombers have gotten to the top rung with some of their top players injured; namely shortstop Anthony Volpe and pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. We are reminded, with these three due to return within a month, this is going to create “problems” for the Yankees.
Trust me. If these are the “problems” confronting the Yankees this season, they are going to be in great shape. But you’ve got to love the internet. A player might have played just a nano second for them and it is a lock “Ex-Yankee…” will headline the story just to get those clicks.
I was wrong
I thought for sure the Mets would make some major changes yesterday. I was wrong, unless you consider the release of outfielder Tommy Pham and the claiming of infielder Eric Wagaman and sending him to AAA Syracuse major. But changes are coming, unless they can reel off a huge winning streak.
Enough with the ads
I get that these teams have to uncover revenue streams wherever they turn, but the Texas Rangers are reaching new lows. Anyone watching last night’s Yankees-Rangers telecast had to notice the ad painted on the back slope of the pitcher’s mound. I’ll give you the ads painted on the field in foul territory but fair territory too? Enough already!
NIL has impact
We do live in interesting times. Sixty college basketball players have declared so far for the upcoming NBA draft. That is the lowest number since 2003. Can you blame them?
With the NIL many of these “student-athletes” are being paid handsomely - sometimes millions - to play collegiately. Why ruin a good thing by committing to a longer season and a more rigorous travel schedule, when in some cases you are making the same amount of money or even more, playing in college?
And you thought these players weren’t getting an education in school.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Thank you for being a subscriber and have a terrific Tuesday!
DAN