FanPost

This was the season that was


Just checked the TV guide. Habit. I knew the Wolves game wasn't being broadcast on local TV tonight but I checked one last time and now it's official: NOT ONE WOLVES GAME WAS BROADCAST ON LOCAL TV THIS YEAR. Not one.

George Mikan wept.

Sure there was a lockout and the season started late, but the awful truth is local TV stations can make more money showing infomercials than they can broadcasting feeds from the multinational conglomerated swine who own the cable network that showed (most of) the games.

This is the 14th largest TV market in the country. Local broadcasts are shown throughout the state and in parts of Canada. But not one local station was willing to show Ricky Rubio's rookie season in the NBA. Not one station was willing to let local fans see perennial All-Star Kevin Love (who will be getting superstar votes for the game long after his knees are shot to hell). Not one station gave a crap about the local fans because no one paid them to.

This reflects incompetent ownership. Ur-Republican owner, Glen Taylor, is happy to let Fox Sports Network carry all the games and screw the fans without cable. Hard to see the logic there since fans who can't afford cable are the last ones to buy tickets to see games live. No, this isn't about driving fans to attend games, this is all about the love affair between a billionaire and a rightwing sports network. That encapsulates the two worst things about American sports: billionaire owners and corrupt cable companies.

TV is digital now. Any station in town could create a new frequencies devoted to Minnesota sports, but the money folks want all that action on cable only because nothing maximizes revenue like making fans pay to see games AND have to watch commercials.

Professional sports, like the United States of America, exists solely for the benefit of the 1%. You can't buy into a team (like Green Bay does with the Packers). No, you can only rent a seat at the game, or pay to get cable/dish or put up with the massive clusterfrack that is League Pass.

Worst set up ever but don't worry — next season is coming soon so get ready to bend over for yet another season of whatever they decide to give us.