NFL Picks

Did I ever mention I hate the N.Y. Giants? Mainly because I don’t like Eli Manning. I think he’s one of the most overrated quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. Yeah he puts up big numbers, yeah, the Giants are always contenders, and yeah, they pulled out the game and justified me making them a best bet. I admit, I have no solid reason to dislike Eli but every time I make them (the Giants) a pick and watch the score updates on the ticker they have to make me queasy. They just don’t have it to control a game they way you think they should.
Speaking of “tickers”, what the hell is wrong with Fox sports? Who’s the fucking genius that puts the score updates on the same line as the game stats? Does anybody there realize that football is a gamblers game? Right now I’m watching the Seahawks play the Cardinals (I have Seattle as a best bet) and at the top of the screen is the game stats. Crammed into that line (from left to right) is NFL, something unreadable, FOX, the current score, the down and distance, and then the score updates. The update gets wiped out every time there’s a flag, a punt or a timeout. They also disappear every time there’s a replay or some statistical update (like the current drive stats). I’m trying to catch the current score of Denver versus Kansas City (I picked KC), and have yet to see it. Last I knew Kansas City was leading 3-0. I finally went to NFL.com and see that the game is tied 6 to 6 in the fourth quarter. Since KC is getting ten and a half points I’m feeling pretty good about it…no thanks to FOX.
Okay, here’s some free advice to FOX sports. Hey jackasses, I know I’m watching the NFL! And, I’m pretty sure I’m watching FOX. I know you feel obligated to keep your name out there since hardly anybody who watches football is aware that your network carries the games. I have no idea what the white blob is between your logo and NFL. Maybe I need HD TV to read it. Thanks for keeping the score and current stats up there. Now, the gist of your problem…the game ticker (or whatever creative name you want to give it).
Guys like me (that make up 99.9% of people watching football) are also interested in the score of other games (for whatever their reason). By my reckoning each score is up there for less then five seconds. Good chance I’m going to catch it if I’m even remotely interested in the game being played. Right. Meanwhile I notice that at the bottom of my screen the editing whizzes at FOX can put Major League Baseball scores and promo’s in decent, readable print. Hey, I got an idea! How about running the score updates at the bottom of the screen?! And, while you’re at it make it big enough to read and keep it up long enough to be read! That way, you can sell the unused space on the stat line at that top to Subway or somebody and make a few bucks…you greedy bastards!