John McCain vs The NFL.... Am I Wrong Or Is This A Big Issue For the GOP?

[aaaaaa5a]

This issue came up during the Chris Mathews Show. And as a big NFL fan I can't believe I overlooked it.

The Republican convention is slated to begin the first week of September. This is also the opening week of the NFL. On Thursday John McCain is scheduled to give his acceptance speech. The problem? The NFL opens the same night. The Giants are playing the Redskins. They are both popular teams and will generate a huge TV audience. NBC is CONTRACTED to broadcast the football game. It's scheduled to start at 7:00pm EST. Even under the most unbelievable "best case scenario" NBC will not be able to switch over to the Republican Convention until at least 10pm. And when was the last time an NFL game ended in exactly 3 hours?

What is John McCain going to do?

Is his convention speech only going to be carried by two networks?

Does he wait until 10:30pm or later to begin his speech and finish out of prime-time?

Does NBC simply join the McCain speech "already in progress" or show it "tape delayed?"


I would appreciate any feedback or more information on this issue.


Right now, to me this is a real big deal. And a tremendous mistake by the GOP.

The Republicans WILL NOT win a TV ratings war against the NFL.

Why hasn't there been more reporting on this tremendous tactical mistake by the Republicans?

[babylonsister]

1. They know the schedule; now they have something to blame the

low ratings on. :think: How pathetic is that? Someone has foresight!

[islandmkl]

2. why does m.c.johnny hate America? why does he hate football?

[Oceansaway]

3. its as big of blunder as having the convention

in the state where 'wide stance' was busted....just plain idiots....

[NattPang]

4. Maybe he'll give his speech at half time.

[billyoc]

5. He can't make a speech to save his old ass. The fewer people that see it, the better.

Another brilliant RNC strategy. Sometimes they really scare me.(well, all the time).

[rinsd]

6. And that is after they moved the game up from 8:30 EST.

All I can say about that is

LET'S GO BIG BLUE!

[opihimoimoi]

7. Bwahahahaha...dats whot they get when using Cronies/Peters

If this is an example of how them Pubs solve things...we should really VOTE BLUE

Them Reds are so bad, they fuck up their own Convention....

All the Higher ups approved the date and Place.....no one to point to....Bwahahahaha

I love it

[sasquatch]

8. Only thing I know about the RNC convention is there are going to be some exhausted hookers afterward

There gonna need a month off after easing all of that sexual repression.

[ihavenobias]

16. There was actually a story about that

Apparently hookers love Republican conventions, all joking aside.

[bluestateguy]

9. Isn't there some rule about the networks having to broadcast the whole game

Ever since the infamous "Heidi game" in 1968?

BTW, what kind of offense would make the game go slower? ;)

[islandmkl]

11. Redskins will take care of that...

[aaaaaa5a]

12. Yes... The Jets/Raiders game in 1968, it's called the Heidi Bowl.

Since that game, all NFL games are broadcast to their conclusion. It's hard to see how NBC is going to telecast the GOP convention until AT LEAST 10pm Wednesday night. And 10:30 is probably more realistic.

Maybe this will help McCain because some of the huge NFL audience can become a "lead in" to his speech. I don't know.


I just think this issue deserves more coverage and more explanation.


Has anyone heard what NBC has said about this? How do they plan to cover both events?

[Faygo Kid]

10. Finally - a reason to cheer the Giants and Redskins.

My team never does very well. To put it mildly.

[tishaLA]

14. and can you tell me how the FUCK Millen still has a job?

I don't care about the Lions. At all. But I'm amazed that he manages to escape relatively unscathed from a million blunders--from his homophobia to his incompetence. Is ownership of the Lions just a bunch of whipped assholes?

[Faygo Kid]

17. Yes. This has been going on for 50 years.

The last Lions championship was in 1957.

They have won exactly ONE playoff gone since that time. ONE.

The constant? William Clay Ford has owned the team since 1962. Doesn't take a genius to figure out the problem. A parade of incompetent and venal general managers and coaches, but they have all buddied up to Bill Ford. No wonder Barry retired early.

You know your team has been horrible when you long for the glory years of Wayne Fontes.

[jobycom]

28. But you guys haven't had any decent players in all those years.

I mean, would any team have been able to win a Super Bowl with the likes of Barry Sanders, Hermann Moore, Brett Perriman, Roy Williams? Not likely. I mean, if Wayne Freakin' Fonts couldn't win with Sanders, no one could, right? (I don't really need the sarcasm smiley, do I?)

[baldguy]

13. McCain's ratings will be lower than the rerun of "Hazel" on Nick-At-Nite.

[Drunken Irishman]

15. GOOD! I hope McCain's speech isn't even aired.

[Seen the light]

18. Wow, that's failure on a historic scale

Gee, in a choice between a droning boring guy talking about politics and opening night of the NFL regular season, I wonder which one most men will choose......

[grandpappy]

19. Let's hope for over time

 and a lot of passes that are incomplete should extend the
game until after 11:30.  Actually anything after nine and the
Mc Cain crowd will be yawning and ready for bed.

[AllentownJake]

20. I'll watch it

E-A-G-L-E-S

No love for either teams playing. Of course I'll watch it to see how horribly bad he is. That man's biggest fear is the podium.

[bbinacan]

21. My guess is that the game

will air on NBC and the convention on MSNBC.

[Seen the light]

22. By the way, the game won't start until AFTER 7

Opening night games usually start AT LEAST 20 minutes after their scheduled times because of all the hoopla surrounding it. Almost like a mini-playoff game if you will.

And let's not forget that there will be at least 15 minutes spent after the game is complete.

The absolute BEST case scenario for McCain would be for NBC to switch over at 10:35pm EST. Depending on the length of the game, pregame, and postgame, it could stretch to as long as 11:30pm EST.

[dsc]

23. they should cover the speech or lose their licence

They get free licences to serve the public interest, which news is.

[rufus dog]

24. who is the Redskins QB?

I am hoping for 50 pass attempts with 20 completions. That will stretch the game out to four hours. A nice 45 to 38 game would be a huge bonus, more time and a lot of excitement to keep the fans tuned into the game.

[tritsofme]

25. Is NBC airing a Thursday game nationally or just in the home markets?

I know NFL Network usually gets Thursday games, is this one different since its the season opener?

[aaaaaa5a]

27. Yes!

The game is slated to be on NBC. It is a national prime-time slot. This is not a regional telecaast and is not being shown on the NFL Network.

[Hawaii Hiker]

26. No one in New York or Washington, DC is voting for McBush anyway,

& NY with the biggest market, will be glued to the game...

Also, the NFL Sunday night game 2 days before the election is (arguably) the league's best match-up - New England vs. Indianapolis....Expect to see political ads on every commericial break...