Two Randoms
It's county fair week. Every year, I'm expected to donate 24 hours of volunteer time to the Kiwanis Food Building. Twenty years ago, the requirement was arduous. I would often work two consecutive 12-hour days so I could get it over with. By the end of the second day, I was wiped out. It's not hard work, but it requires you to stand and walk on concrete all day. * * * * * * * Fortunately, my kids are grown-up enough to help. With my wife, Mom, and second daughter, I'll knock out my 24 hours in one day . . . and still be home in time for dinner.
The Fox
I've been watching the new Fox Sports 1. This is Fox's attempt to take down ESPN, just as it took down CNN.
I'm greatly enjoying the effort. ESPN has become insufferable in its arrogance. Like the self-important sportswriter who believes he has outgrown his craft and needs to comment on social issues, ESPN has increasingly become a sounding board for left-wing politics. On at least a dozen occasions over the past year, I've nearly thrown the remote at the TV while watching ESPN, yelling, "Just give me sports news, not Title IX gender equality b.s. and gays-in-sports updates." But, alas, ESPN doesn't care for fans like me, so I and people like me will gravitate toward Fox Sports 1.
My preliminary impression: It's very good, but there are two glaring problems.
First, too much NASCAR and ultimate fighting. I'm going to assume Fox knows its demographics better than I do, but for my tastes, there's way too much turning left and what St. Augustine described as "blood lust."
Second, the time slot for Regis Philbin's Crowd Goes Wild! It's not a bad show, but it's a lighthearted sports variety show that airs from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, which is when I want to hear hardcore sports news. Right now, I go over to ESPN during that time slot (for SportsCenter and Pardon the Interruption). Because I pretty much only watch TV at that time, ESPN still commands the bulk of my weekday television attention.
