Almost as good as a blackout

[sigma7]

If you're not a stateside football fan, you're missing out on a really interesting phenomenon of television watching: regional football coverage. Here's the deal: two networks (currently CBS and FOX) show games during Sunday afternoon at noon at 3 pm (our time). One network will show two games, the other just one, and which shows two varies -- doesn't alternate, but varies -- during the season. But if you want to know which games are shown in which regional markets, well, things get complicated.

How complicated? Google Maps complicated. This means I know I'm going to get to watch the Chefs lose to play the Eagles on CBS while flipping idly back to Niners/Vikings on FOX (I think? Is that the right color?) and then, for the late game, I get a Tom Clancy Bowl of Broncos/Raiders, teams I couldn't hate more if they traded for Terrell Owens, Lawrence Phillips and OJ Simpson. Still, the website is definitely bookmarkable if you're like me and can't buy the entire slate of NFL games via satellite (stupid frickin' trees fffptui).

Comments

[blemt.livejournal.com]

See now, I'm stuck with the damn Steelers and Bungles. I WANT Oakland/Denver and by all rights I should get Oakland/Denver. *sigh* I'm thinking my next move I may really have to look into an apartment/condo with Direct TV as an option.

It's wrong that I move closer to my home market and now see even fewer games that I want...WRONG.

[endersgame3.livejournal.com]

holy CRAP.

i get nfl network with my cable package now. i'm hoping that helps me out, cuz i'm sick of watching green bay and the bears all the freaking time.

[roseneko.livejournal.com]

Damn, things have gotten complex since I was growing up and my parents were fighting over the timing of the two or three games a week Anchorage's cable networks showed. ("That's right during dinner! Can't you tape it and watch it later?" "It's not the same if I don't watch it as it's happening." "The game is pre-recorded, it's already happened!")

That said, technology is fun, and although I may never truly understand football specifically, the human interest behind fandom is pretty much universally amusing to watch.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Curling actually got a lot less interesting once I figured out what was going on. The randomness of sliding and sweeping and screaming was just much more entertaining.

There's been a few neat little narratives in my corner of football fandom the last few years, things that can transcend knowledge of the intricacies of the game (one of the league's premiere players gets hurt, and suddenly the shortest man in the league finds himself the lead running back), and for that I'm grateful. The teams have either been pretty warm or ice-cold, however -- no huge successes, but some jaw-dropping abysmal franchise-crippling failures of seasons in there, too. Narrative cuts both ways.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Oh, neat, I may have to crash at your place for the Dec. 26th Bolts/Titans game. But I don't think it's going to help you except on those Thursday night (and one Saturday night) games.

I should just be happy that the Chargers get so many off-Sunday-afternoon games. I feel blessed.

[jb-helfrich.livejournal.com]

See, here I was thinking that moving back towards civilization, I would have more good games and less Broncos. But who was plastered all over my television last weekend? Ugh.

Bad enough the !grandfather has taught Kyra to say "Go Browns..."

[bedsitter23.livejournal.com]

Awesome link.

I do feel sorry for you as you probably are stuck with every Chefs home game.

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

The Chefs will always be a close #2 in my pigskin pantheon behind my beloved powder-blue Bolts. Part of that's probably Stockholm Syndrome, but eh, what'cha gonna do? I can't be a bandwagon fan. I can't be that guy.

And at least KC's jettisoned Carl Peterson, so they've made at least one stagger in the right direction, so...who knows? I just Todd Haley understands how overtime works.