Colts Football

John Farson asked:


In Indianapolis we used to get the Purdue and IU games for free on one of the local stations. Now, practically every basketball game is exclusively shown on the Big Ten Network. What’s worse, no cable stations carry the Big Ten network. The Big Ten demands that it be a part of the basic package, so they can charge more. It would also be the second most expensive cable channel (behind only ESPN). The Big Ten will not allow it to be a part of sports tier package, which it should be.
I’m pleased with the cable companies for not giving in to the Big Ten’s demands on this. This would drive up the cost of cable for everyone, not just the people who want the Big Ten network. On top of it, the Big Ten is the firs conference to have their own network, so this will set the precedent. If the cable companies give in, maybe everyone’s cable bill goes up $2. What happens when the ACC, PAC10, and Big 12 all have their own networks? They’re going to look at the precedent established by the Big 10 and follow that model. What happens when the SEC starts their own network and claims they should get more than the Big Ten? Pretty soon your basic cable package has doubled (at least) in price, and the average American can no longer afford it. Is it fair that my grandmother, who couldn’t care less about sports, should have her cable bill doubled because she’s forced to pay for networks she has no interest in? She’ll have to cancel, as she simply cannot afford it. More importantly, she shouldn’t have to.

I’m pissy with the Big Ten for doing this at all and taking my basketball and football away.

Real nice. That’s a great way to treat your fans. Your fans are the ones who made the Big Ten what it is. We are ones who support the teams. It’s revenue from the fans, and the support of the fans that allow the teams to build better facilities, hire coaches, and give student-athletes scholarships. Without the support of the fans, the Big Ten wouldn’t even exist, let alone be what it is today.

So this, then, is how the Big Ten rewards their fans? To hold the games hostage and demand more, more, more? When is it enough? How much is too much? Shame on the Big Ten for doing this to their fans.

In the words of Tom Petty - "As we celebrate mediocrity, the boys upstairs want to see, how much you’ll pay for what you used to get for free."

John Farson is a regular contributor to live sports talk forum, a site specializing in MLB fan forums, information on college recruiting, and clean sports jokes.



DEXTER

Julie Cudney asked:


There has been a lot of drama surrounding Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson lately. What is more surprising is that Peterson is a 10 year veteran who was named one of the team captains at the beginning of the season. After the dust settled, it ended with coach Jack Del Rio making Peterson the backup and promoting Daryl Smith to the starting position. It all began during week nine’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game, Peterson celebrated a sack during the game by flexing his muscles. At a team meeting the next week, the Del Rio expressed his disapproval of the display. When Peterson tried to argue, Del Rio sent him home for insubordination. He was sent home again later in the week, and then coach Del Rio fined him $10,000 for his actions.

Peterson first came into the league when he was selected in the second round of the 1999 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. That season, he started all but three games of the regular season and tallied 110 tackles and three sacks. He started every game of the season in 2000 and led the team in tackles with 160. He played only half of the season in 2001 because of a knee injury. He still had 65 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Peterson roared back in 2002 to start every game, tallying 137 tackles, six passes defended and three interceptions.
Peterson signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in the Spring of 2003. The next three years, he started every game of the season. He had 100 tackles in 2003, 126 in 2004 and 131 in 2003. In those three years, he also tallied a total of 12 sacks and six interceptions. In 2005, he also tallied his first defensive touchdown as well. He tore a pectoral muscle in early October of the 2006 season, limiting his stats. He played and started in 10 games the next season before breaking his hand, tallying 70 tackles, two sacks and one interception. So far this season, Peterson has started in eight games and had 49 tackles and one sack.

Although Peterson is a great linebacker, his loss may not mean that fewer people go to http://www.stubhub.com/jacksonville-jaguars-tickets/ to guy or sell Jacksonville Jaguars tickets. His replacement, Daryl Smith, is doing incredibly well so far this season. He has been with the Jaguars since they drafted him in the second round of the 2004 draft. He started 13 games his rookie season and had 37 tackles two sacks and one interception. He started all 16 games the next two seasons, tallying even bigger stats for the Jaguars. In 2007, he started all but one game and also two playoff games. He had 117 tackles that season as well as 1.5 sacks and a touchdown off of a fumble recovery. If Smith is filling it and Del Rio is set on it, it doesn’t seem like Peterson will be able to get his starting job back anytime soon. During week ten, Smith had seven tackles and 1.5 sacks against the Detroit Lions.

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WALTER