Distinguished Senators, the Washington Nationals Blog That Is Great

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Hijinks, Tycoons

Here's something I just thought of: I can't watch the Nationals. They're not on TV. I don't know if you heard anything about this, but it's true. Channel 20 is some nonsense with Tyra Banks. Channel 10 is some kind of basketball exhibition. Channel 3 is showing the sitcom hijinks of Bernie the Entertainer or Cedric the Mac or someone. The Nats, according to the Internet, just came back from a five run deficit, and I can't watch it. With the result that I don't care.

We've got some owners, but I can't watch the Nats so I don't care. I'm finding it hard to take personal joy from some millionaires who wouldn't hire someone to piss on me if I were on fire paying millions to some other millionaires for the right to pay the salaries of a bunch of millionaires who happen to wear a W on their heads when they play baseball. And seriously, I don't have anything against millionaires. I ain't a commie. But when I can't watch the Nats, I honestly don't give a damn who's signing the checks. And when I'm selling plasma and any other fluid anyone's interested in buying to pay for my home, away, alternate, spring training, and 2001 Giants Livan Hernandez jerseys, I don't find myself rooting for the real estate tycoons who are supposed to fix everything.

You may have noticed a lack of posting here lately. Guess why. That's right, I can't watch the goddamn Nationals. I notice, thanks to the Internet, that Jason Bergmann pitched well over one inning for the Nats tonight. Who's Jason Bergmann? Beats the hell out of me. I can't watch the Nationals, so I couldn't pick the dude out of a lineup.

Pretty soon, either the Nationals or the team they're playing (Padres, maybe? I dunno) is going to win the game. As for me, I'm going to bed. I'd stay up if there were anything good on TV, but . . . you know.

11 comments:

Cathie said...

Am I the only one in DC who doesn't get the games blacked out on MLB.TV? Since the second game of the season, I've been able to watch every one. Tonight it was the MASN feed.

You didn't miss much - it was disheartening in the end.

Harper said...

I can't watch the Nationals and I live 4 1/2 hours away (on a slow traffic day). Of course that Mariners fan in Billings is going to laugh in my face...

Farid Rushdi said...

You know, when the Nats first started playing last season, I got sooooooo ticked that my living way out here in Idaho meant that I never got to see them play on TV, where you guys on the other hand, had a 24/7 lifeline to the boys.

I had no idea that D.C. was blindfolded because of you-know-who. Then I started paying the $14 dollars a month, and low and behold, I get to see every game here in the mountains in the middle of nowhere.

And you guys can't watch the games.

Talk about things being totally screwed up!

Anonymous said...

Ditto on Basil's post. I'm an hour north of Philly (Comcast Country, oh yay!) and still get TBS broadcasts of Braves/Nats blacked out. MASN? Might as well be a fictional entity as far as I'm concerned.

By the way, nice use of the phrase "to piss on me if I were on fire." It made me think of my long-gone grandmother, who used that phrase often. She dipped snuff too, so I guess you get an idea of what kind of granny she was.

Harper said...

Here is baseball's dream scenario:"Ok DC is 6 hours away, Cincinnati is 5, Atlanta is 7... guess I'm a Reds fan! I demand to see them on TV! Storm the cable company!"

It's ridiculous to believe that "baseball regions" extend until the next region. Some areas simply aren't baseball regions and shouldn't be treated as such. And this plan can only backfire as you can't create an interest in your team by NOT showing them on TV. Local news won't cover them, there won't be a radio station with them on, basically you are hoping MAPQUEST will get you new fans.

Hey Farid, who are you blacked out of? How far are you from them?

Chris Needham said...

This is a map of MLB's blackout zones based on the zipcodes from the websites. Sucks to live in Iowa.

It predates the Nats, but I'm pretty sure that they just share the O's area.

Anonymous said...

What surprises me the most is that Kasten spoke at length about improving the farm system but barely touched on the TV situation. Yes, he helped build up the Braves to the position they hold today, but throughout that whole time they never had to worry about the fans not being able to catch a game on TV. No matter what he does with the Nats farm system, it won't do any good if the fans he's trying to please can't watch games on TV.

Anonymous said...

Look at the bright side, Ryan. If this insane standoff between Comcast and Angelos goes on until next year, in 2007 YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO WATCH BIRD GAMES ON TV, EITHER!!!!

Anonymous said...

That's not a bright side. I like baseball.

Anonymous said...

Though I don't know, I think I can see all the games. The only questions might be the Rockies and the Mariners (Rockies are 8 hours away and M's about 14) -- that said, I've never seen the "B" for blackout listed on my schedule except for the Nats' Sunday night game two last week.

Anonymous said...

Angelos will cave by 2007 if the O's don't have a deal. Stick to your guns Comcast.