Got a few things to get off my chest, bear with me, it happens, no matter what team you root for.
I live in small town America. Well, not so much small anymore, only 60,000 plus outlying communities. I've lived here all my life, and for as long as I can remember, i've always been a Raider fan.
This week, since the budget of our state have been a bit knotted, they have been looking for ways to add money to the pool. And one such source, is the belief that they should tax Internet sales. South Dakota would stand to make about $56 million in revenue should they do this.
Fine and dandy. But then a local radio station owner, Lia Green, says that these out-of-state businesses don't support your local soccer teams, and any money spent out of state doesn't come back.
Funny, ever hear of tourism?
But the one thing that gets on my nerves, is that purchasing out of state is the only way I can keep getting Raiders stuff. The local businesses overcharge for what little they can get in.
Added into the fact, why would I want two Darren McFadden Jerseys, when I already have one? It also doesn't help that the local selection is bad, when 90 percent of the stores, like Kmart, Walmart, Shopko, Sears, and Target, have all their merchandise picked from out-of-state distributors?
What markets do they follow? Broncos and Vikings, of course.
To a greater degree, you'd almost call it censorship. You could use the argument that they're bringing in teams that win, but considering they said the same thing last year when the Broncos finished below .500, and the Vikings have lost four Super Bowls...I think someone needs a class in NFL marketing.
- B/R Ticket Guide
So, I'll continue to send my money out of state and support my addiction to Raiderbilia, Lia.
Second topic, reflected on Sunday. Me and a few Raider friends went to our local sportsbar, A place called SportsRock. It's a decent place, kids can come in, mom and dad can have some chips or peanuts, and there's about a dozen TV sets in the place.
Now, we've gone to this place for the last five or six games. Me, two other friends, and about a half-dozen Raider fans all lined up on three tables, looking over at set two. Then, they turn the Raider game on, over at set 7.
No big deal, we figure we'd simply move over to the tables near set 7, only to discover an anti-social blonde, who said she was reserving this table, decided that "table" meant BOTH tables....of course, she isn't wearing any colors, and is only there to make sure her friends have their tables reserved.
And then she left the game, in the second quarter.
It was irritating, but to add to the insult, they were showing the Tampa Bay Bucs game, on two different TVs. One of the sets was on table two....and the other table, was covered with Bears fans, who could care less about the Bucs game.
After this happened, we decided to leave the SportsRock, no tip, and take the service elsewhere. It's a shame, but hey, if you don't want to discriminate, don't tick off six customers for one bubblehead.
Lastly, was a question tossed to me regarding the Raiders, the economy, and the NFL in general. Does anyone think the economy will hurt the NFL? After all, here is a league that prides itself on money, is run by money, and the fans have to shell out money to watch games...Where does it stand, if the fans can no longer afford the games?
A curious case in point surfaced after Invesco opened, for the Broncos in Denver. Sure, nice and new...But for those who were used to the cheap seats at the rock pile, paying 10 times the amount for bad seats far from the field, you have to wonder how it's affecting the fans now.
Making a choice between food and going to the game is kind of easy to make. It also comes full circle, when a team performs badly, that fans eventually won't want to buy tickets...granted, Raider fans have loyalists, but could the economy actually shut down the locals too?
And lastly, will the economy curtail contracts? After all, if the market starts to sink, revenues aren't flowing in, and teams start to lose money, how will it affect everything?
Is the NFL recession-proof?
To a degree, I don't think you'll see L.T. sign for $50,000, or a No. 1 draft pick get a signing bonus of $1 million. But to a degree, there might be more players who have contracts set up to affect deeper into the years, pro-rating the money, so that hopefully when the economy picks up, so will the revenues.
Otherwise, you're going to start seeing a lot of teams playing in the red...and it might cause a few clubs reason to either move, or become creative with the bottom line.
RCA, over and out.
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about 1 month ago
Raiders gear (and probably all NFL gear) is overpriced everywhere. A store called Vella's locker room (owned by john vella, former Raider) is right down the block from me. They have every raider item known to the world, down to a toilet paper holder with the logo. The prices are insane. It would cost me less to get what I want on ebay, it would still be cheaper than vella's even with tax and shipping!
a few months ago I wanted a decal for my truck and it was like $20 at vella's. I could get them for $2 on ebay.
about 1 month ago
steve, chill out.
First of all, it ticks me off when they overstock Vikings and Broncos stuff all over the place....and then you try to find Raiders stuff, it's still crazy. Al does have a point though, going via Ebay, you can find the bargains...ticks me off when you try to support the local community, and in reality, all they are trying to do is line their coats....especially when the owner is a bronco fan.
As for the bar issue, you'd think since we pay our money, buy the drinks, and put up with crap, they'd at least give us the game at a location we were already sitting at. After all, the Packer fans got their nice and cozy spot, and took up two tables, annoying the hell out of us. Sure, could have handled it, like tipping her car over, pouring a drink on her, or other things that would cause me to wind up in a jail cell, but it ticks you off when they want to show your game all the way across the building....for no reason.
And lastly, the economic point of view....sure, Al Davis can print up all the money in the world. Heck, he talked a couple of speculators into buying some of the team, not a lot, but enough for a spending spree. Do you think he'll be able to do the same trick next offseason? Doubtful.
about 1 month ago
dunno....but I did report the previous vulgaraties to the Bleacher report. What's kinda wacky, is that your comments are showing up on an account that only just now joined about an hour ago.... Did you have to reregister?
about 1 month ago
Good Job Card on the article!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
Thanks mike....As for the rest of the garbage, it seems someone used a email generator, dropped about 800 accounts onto the Bleacher Report, and then started spamming with insults and other vulgar actions.
A lot of this surfaced when I blew the whistle on some guy with the last name of Suso, who I suspected was Mike49er. Then the circus showed up.
BTW, What do you think of the Panthers and the Giants slugging it out in the playoffs? Obviously can't be a super bowl matchup, but would be fun for the NFC Championship.
from about 1 month ago
garbage in, garbage out.
from about 1 month ago
As far as Panther vs. Giants game that would be great but to be honest I'm not sure how good a team the Panthers have, they have won a few games by the skin of the teeth and Tampa and Minnesota were both more physical and out played them their next 6 games will so what they are made of so hopefully they are a Championship Contender
from about 1 month ago
Just remember the adage: You can be lucky and good, but luck will beat good when needed.
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