To: Los Angeles Times sports department
From: Ian
Re: Thanks for the memories
You are awesome.
The "Where are they now?" photo gallery spotlighting the 1988 Dodgers sent chills down my spine. Now, if only they can pull out three straight wins, I'll be able to fully tap into that Dodger Blue that I once bled.
The questions you asked the members of the team (well, the ones you were able to reach) were perfect. What are you doing? What's your most memorable moment from that season? What went through your mind when Kirk Gibson hit that Game 1 homer? Where do you keep your World Series ring? They actually elicited some pretty smile-inducing responses.
These days, I feel little connection to the Dodgers. I blame the sale of the team to News Corp., which totally ruined the home game experience. Since then, the Dodgers lost their soul, as many could say about their own teams as the sport has tried to become more corporatized.
But back to 20 years ago. What a season that was. Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale's scoreless inning record. Vin Scully, Ross Porter and Drysdale were in their broadcasting prime. The O'Malley family still owned the team. Tommy Lasorda was all about the SlimFast.
And then there were the playoffs. Jay Howell gets suspended in the NLCS for the pine tar incident. Hershiser coming into Game 4 against the Mets to notch a save. Kirk Gibson's fist-pumping homer. Pitchers shutting down the Bash Brothers. Hershiser winning two against the all-powerful A's. Lasorda running onto the field, two fists in the air, just beaming.
Oh, the memories. Thank you.
Showing posts with label memo from a fan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memo from a fan. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Memo from a fan (a couple days late)
To: NCAA football rules committee
From: Ian
Re: Timing changes
It's taken me half of the season, but I finally understand this year's changes to the game and play clock. What I fail to grasp is what, exactly, you were smoking when you created the rule.
I support the play clock change. It keeps the game moving. Fantastic.
But the out-of-bounds change is simply bizarre. Call me crazy, call me traditional, but shouldn't out of bounds mean out of bounds and an actual stop of the clock? (In case you failed to read the rules before you approved them, the game clock restarts when the ball is set, making an out-of-bounds play equivalent to a first down clockwise. Except in the final two minutes of each half, when the clock restarts when the ball is snapped.)
Yes, you want to shorten games. I understand. But the way the clock runs just confuses people, including timekeepers. So change it.
From: Ian
Re: Timing changes
It's taken me half of the season, but I finally understand this year's changes to the game and play clock. What I fail to grasp is what, exactly, you were smoking when you created the rule.
I support the play clock change. It keeps the game moving. Fantastic.
But the out-of-bounds change is simply bizarre. Call me crazy, call me traditional, but shouldn't out of bounds mean out of bounds and an actual stop of the clock? (In case you failed to read the rules before you approved them, the game clock restarts when the ball is set, making an out-of-bounds play equivalent to a first down clockwise. Except in the final two minutes of each half, when the clock restarts when the ball is snapped.)
Yes, you want to shorten games. I understand. But the way the clock runs just confuses people, including timekeepers. So change it.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Memo from a fan
To: ABC Sports
From: Ian
Re: High Def
We here in the middle of the country feel left out.
I personally don't have HD (give me a year), but it still saddens me to see your regional coverage maps each week. East Coast and West Coast each get HD coverage in your afternoon games, but, alas, the middle of the country does not.
The issue, it seems, is a technological limitation. You can't put out more than two HD streams at once. Surely this has to do with the cost. But you're a big media company. Invest a little. After all, you're missing out on the No. 5 DMA (Dallas-Fort Worth) and the No. 10 market (Houston). Last week, you even subjected the No. 2 (Los Angeles), No. 6 (San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose), No. 12 (Phoenix) and No. 14 (Seattle-Tacoma) markets to SD.
Sure, we're smaller than New York. But, if you hadn't noticed, people in Texas are big sports nuts and big spenders -- we like our investments in HD televisions to pay off, and it's disappointing to see SD broadcasts Saturday afternoons.
In short, we hope that in the next year this issue is resolved, as you continue to invest in your broadcast infrastructure. Until then, we'll just have to grumble. And switch over to CBS.
From: Ian
Re: High Def
We here in the middle of the country feel left out.
I personally don't have HD (give me a year), but it still saddens me to see your regional coverage maps each week. East Coast and West Coast each get HD coverage in your afternoon games, but, alas, the middle of the country does not.
The issue, it seems, is a technological limitation. You can't put out more than two HD streams at once. Surely this has to do with the cost. But you're a big media company. Invest a little. After all, you're missing out on the No. 5 DMA (Dallas-Fort Worth) and the No. 10 market (Houston). Last week, you even subjected the No. 2 (Los Angeles), No. 6 (San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose), No. 12 (Phoenix) and No. 14 (Seattle-Tacoma) markets to SD.
Sure, we're smaller than New York. But, if you hadn't noticed, people in Texas are big sports nuts and big spenders -- we like our investments in HD televisions to pay off, and it's disappointing to see SD broadcasts Saturday afternoons.
In short, we hope that in the next year this issue is resolved, as you continue to invest in your broadcast infrastructure. Until then, we'll just have to grumble. And switch over to CBS.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Digging a hole
TO: June Jones, Pete Carroll
FROM: Ian
CC: Bob Toledo, Mike Riley
DATE: Sept. 26
RE: Last night's games
In case you've forgotten, football games are four quarters long. Not one, not two. Four. All four of your teams' performances demonstrate a need for some reminders.
June, I'm worried about you. You've put all your eggs in the hands of a kid who last year was more worried about how big a mum he was going to have to buy than he was about getting embarrassed on national television. Don't worry, though. I'll still keep sipping your Kool Aid. Please, however, find a secondary over the next year. And your lines could use some bulk.
Pete, you know I can't lecture you too much. But now you're down to wishin' and hopin' for nine weeks of upsets. Gonna be watching a little more of the Big 12 and SEC than you had planned, I'm sure.
Here's the problem -- and this applies to Bob and Mike, as well. All four of your teams essentially played a half last night. Tulane and Oregon State each won the first half, while SMU and USC won your second halves. Thankfully for the home crowds, that first half provided a big enough edge.
The work plan: More tape for all of you, especially SMU and USC. You're not going to be able to rely on the halftime adjustments all year. Especially you, SMU -- holding Tulane to just a field goal in the second half? Impressive. Four touchdowns and a field goal in the first? Not so much.
Finally, a special note for you, June: To run an offense based on the pass, your receivers have to catch the balls thrown to them. Especially the ones that hit them in the hands. I'm sure you run plenty of drills, but throw in a few more. You've got an extra couple days this week to get ready for Central Florida, so good luck.
FROM: Ian
CC: Bob Toledo, Mike Riley
DATE: Sept. 26
RE: Last night's games
In case you've forgotten, football games are four quarters long. Not one, not two. Four. All four of your teams' performances demonstrate a need for some reminders.
June, I'm worried about you. You've put all your eggs in the hands of a kid who last year was more worried about how big a mum he was going to have to buy than he was about getting embarrassed on national television. Don't worry, though. I'll still keep sipping your Kool Aid. Please, however, find a secondary over the next year. And your lines could use some bulk.
Pete, you know I can't lecture you too much. But now you're down to wishin' and hopin' for nine weeks of upsets. Gonna be watching a little more of the Big 12 and SEC than you had planned, I'm sure.
Here's the problem -- and this applies to Bob and Mike, as well. All four of your teams essentially played a half last night. Tulane and Oregon State each won the first half, while SMU and USC won your second halves. Thankfully for the home crowds, that first half provided a big enough edge.
The work plan: More tape for all of you, especially SMU and USC. You're not going to be able to rely on the halftime adjustments all year. Especially you, SMU -- holding Tulane to just a field goal in the second half? Impressive. Four touchdowns and a field goal in the first? Not so much.
Finally, a special note for you, June: To run an offense based on the pass, your receivers have to catch the balls thrown to them. Especially the ones that hit them in the hands. I'm sure you run plenty of drills, but throw in a few more. You've got an extra couple days this week to get ready for Central Florida, so good luck.
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