Ignoring The Bucs
October 16th, 2010
Joe hears it. Joe reads it. Bucs fans are screaming that their team is 3-1, yet the Bucs are getting scant attention compared to the current dregs of the NFL, Minnesota and Dallas.
Well, that’s what you get for watching BSPN (which Joe is proud to admit he has blocked on his DirecTV along with NBA TV, the glut of shopping channels, and LOGO).
Leave it to eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune to explain this to the masses Kaufman, in a recent TBO Bucs question-and-answer feature, details why network TV producers are not (yet) aroused by the Bucs.
Q: Why are the networks so high on teams that have losing records (Dallas, Minnesota, etc.) and pay little or no attention to the Bucs who are 3-1? I’m getting tired of watching Sports Center and only seeing highlights of big-name teams even though they keep losing! How can a team that is up and coming like the Bucs gain fan support if the media doesn’t help them?
Angelo Kotz, West Palm Beach
A: The networks are fixated on stars, and the Bucs don’t have much national buzz because they lack stars like Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Tony Romo and Demarcus Ware. They aren’t America’s Team like the Cowboys and they are not a traveling circus like the Vikings. Their time will come in the network spotlight if they keep winning. The league’s flex schedule could give them some nationally televised games down the stretch. Meanwhile, enjoy their impressive start under the radar.
— eye-RAH! Kaufman
Bingo. As Joe once heard a high school basketball coach tell his team whose players thought they were being ignored by local papers, “Win and the media comes around. It’s that simple and it’s all in your hands.”
If the Bucs win, so too will the glare of the national spotlight.
Beating the Super Bowl champs tomorrow will be a big leap forward in that respect.
October 16th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Not only that ask yourself this – which team is better, Tampa Bay or Kansas City? Both are 3-1 and KC leads their division.
Sure the Bucs are 3-1 but they could just as easily be 1-3. Given last year’s record and unimpressive stats they are nothing but a ‘blip’ on the NFL radar.
Win this Sunday and the ‘blip’ becomes a spark that garners some attention.
October 16th, 2010 at 9:12 am
I can’t believe you blocked Logo! That was home to one of the funniest and most original cartoons to come along since South Park, Rick and Steve. Plus my wife loves Ru Paul’s Drag Race. ESPN I can understand, but Logo?
October 16th, 2010 at 9:15 am
I could care less, when they do talk about the Bucs they get everything wrong anyway. They don’t watch the games, they have no clue what’s going on. I don’t know how many times I’ve corrected some stupid comment made about the Bucs. For example Merrill Hodge was talking about the Bucs Bengals game, he said the Bucs ran all over the Bengals and the Bengals didn’t get any pass rush. They have NO clue…..
October 16th, 2010 at 9:28 am
I agree with Chargedcbh. Maybe the Bucs should have kept D. Ward. At least that would draw some attention, as he will eventually have some sex tape released with a Kardashian.
October 16th, 2010 at 11:12 am
If they win, and if there’s the media “spark”, it will die shortly after. We play the Rams, and the Cardinals, and…. the list of weak opponents goes on (which is good, gives us a better shot at the playoffs). They’ll continue to ignore this team right up to the playoffs. If we make it, they’ll shine a little love our way, but show our weak schedule as the reason we’re there. If we don’t, they’ll probably be somewhat justified in not caring about our team the whole year anyway. Now, if they win a playoff game (quite a stretch, I know), then they’ll start giving us some love.
October 16th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Why cover a team who’s blacked out every home game? Take a look in the mirror Tampa Bay….
October 16th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
National media is national coverage, they shouldn’t care less if a teams games are blacked out or not. They’re supposed to report and give analysis of all teams, yet even they know that the nationwide fan base of the Cowboys is much greater than that of the Jags or Bucs. Even the Packers have a greater fan base nationwide, even though their market is fairly small. Also, much of the national interest is drummed up preseason through predictions of who will do well this year. The Bucs were not predicted to do well, so untill they’re in the playoff hunt in week 12 or 13, they’re still not a story. Then they’ll be a cinderella story, feel good report, but still not serious football story. Blackouts have nothing to do with national media coverage.