ESPN 3-D, coming soon to a living room near you
posted by LW, Friday, March 05, 2010
If you're about to invest in a new HD television, might want to hold off.
ESPN apparently has something in the works that'll make hi-def go the way of 8-tracks.
That's a bit of an exaggeration, but Andy Staples of CNNSi.com is sold on ESPN's new 3-D technology that'll be unveiled at some point in the next few years.
As I stood there looking like a Roy Orbison impersonator in my specially polarized glasses, I made a mental note to call my wife and apologize for the money we'll be dropping on 3-D televisions in the next few years. Because, no matter how attached you are to your current HD flatscreen, you're going to want to throw it in the trash once you see sports in 3-D.
This is not meant to serve as an advertisement for ESPN or for any of the consumer electronics companies whose products I may mention below. I'm not receiving any promotional equipment or reward of any kind; in fact, I'd be fired if I were. This is just a warning for all of you out there who, like me, can't resist the lure of the Next Big Gadget.
Sometime between five and 10 years from now, most of us will watch our sports in 3-D, and we'll wonder why anyone bothers to actually attend the games.
Very, very interesting. The economy has led to some overall attendance slippage in college football, albeit by a very small margin. As the cost of attending games continues to rise -- and, God forbid, the spare cash in the pockets of fans continues to decrease -- will the dramatic advances in technology lead more fans to stay home and watch their favorite teams from afar?
Shoot, you can by a nice HD TV for less than what it costs some families to attend one football game.
With high-def, instant replay and the multitude of camera angles that you get with broadcasts today, the fan sitting at home on his couch is infinitely more informed than the fan sitting in the stands ... or the sports writer hack sitting in the press box.
When the news broke on Brandon Spikes gouging the eye of the Georgia running back last fall, it wasn't some eagle-eyed reporter at the game who spotted it. It was someone watching from home who put it on YouTube and created a national story.
When I'm at a game and there's a play or a call I'm not sure of, I call or text a friend who's watching from home to get a better account.
Fans are exponentially more empowered and more informed than they used to be. Kinda crazy, but also kinda cool.
Here's a very interesting study that examines the dramatic decrease in college football games between Top 25 teams.
In 1989, there were 106 Division 1A (now called FBS) teams. A total of 582 games were played between those teams, including 18 bowl games. 52 of the total games (8.9 percent, or about 1 in 11) were played between teams ranked in the Associated Press final top-25.
In 2009, 120 FBS teams played a total of 714 games against one another, including 34 bowl games. Only 38 of the total games (5.3 percent, or about 1 in 20) were played between Associated Press final top-25 teams.
And then...
The primary reason for the decline has been conference expansion. In 1989, 25 teams were independent, including AP final Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and six of the top-25 overall. In 2009, only 3 FBS teams were independent, none of which were ranked. Additionally, there were 94 FBS vs. FCS games played last year, 17 involving AP top-25 teams. Only 50 such games were played in 1989, two by AP top-25 teams.
It should be noted that teams have been permitted to play 12 regular-season games the past four seasons. The idea was to create more attractive cross-sectional matchups, but more often schools have used it as an opportunity to schedule a tomato can and get the revenue that comes from an extra home game.
To be fair, the ACC has some really compelling non-conference matchups set for 2010. Virginia Tech vs. Boise State. Miami at Ohio State. North Carolina vs. LSU. Florida State vs. Oklahoma. Clemson at Auburn. Duke vs. Alabama.
Clemson vs. Presbyterian...
Moving on to some Clemson stuff, Kyle Parker's future was the main story to come out of yesterday's press conference with Dabo Swinney.
Travis Sawchik of The Post and Courier says it's the most important question heading into the 2010 season.
Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail said it's understandable if Clemson fans get nervous every time KP steps to the plate.
Ed McGranahan of The Greenville News also writes about Parker.
I really wouldn't be too concerned at this point, even if Parker's baseball tear continues as the schedule grows more difficult.
My early odds on Parker playing football this fall: 90 percent.
Should be a fun weekend of baseball in Clemson, Greenville and Columbia.
This is the right way to do it, and kudos to the two schools for pulling it off and seeing the wisdom of moving away from those annoying mid-week games between the two rivals.
Ray Tanner says it's "what the series deserves" in this story.
Jack Leggett gives his thoughts in this story.
“We’ll give it a shot, see how it works,” said Leggett, the Clemson head coach. “I think it’s kind of exciting because it gets everybody into the flow early in the season, and then we can both concentrate on our seasons.”
Clemson's pitching starters: Casey Harman, Will Lamb and Scott Weismann.
USC's: Blake Cooper, Sam Dyson, Tyler Webb.
In the AJC, Mark Bradley takes a look at Paul Hewitt's, er, Blewitt's sweetheart deal.
Hewitt's buyout: A fat $7.1 million.
I'm guessing Tech AD Dan Radakovich curses Dave Braine in his sleep for saddling him with that baggage.
Bradley is guessing Tech can't make a move in today's economic climate.
At a time when the state legislature is seeking another $300 million cut from college spending, wouldn’t it look a bit odd to be paying someone $7.1 million not to coach? Even if much of the money is raised from private donations, this wouldn’t seem the time.
Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu says he can't explain his gruesome slump.
Considered a strong candidate for first-team All-ACC as recently as a week ago, Aminu has fallen into the deepest slump of his career at the worst possible time. The doldrums set in during Saturday's loss to North Carolina, when he made two of seven shots and scored only seven points.
Aminu said that nothing is wrong physically or personally.
"No, I'm cool," he said.
But his game is ice cold. He acknowledged the impact his drought has had on the Deacons, who were eliminated from any chance at a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament.
"They're relying on me to make shots, so I'm going to have to be more aggressive and start making shots." Aminu said.
Other than giving credit to Florida State's defense, however, Aminu could provide no explanation for his struggles.
"I don't know," he said. "It could be a mystery.
"But they're a good defensive team. They're long, and I just couldn't find my shots in the flow of the game."
What are the chances Oliver Purnell dusts off his 1-2-2 zone for Sunday's game in Winston-Salem?
According to Heather Dinich, N.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Archer says he's getting along just great with his cantankerous new LB coach, Jon Tenuta.
Give it time.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
If you're about to invest in a new HD television, might want to hold off.
ESPN apparently has something in the works that'll make hi-def go the way of 8-tracks.
That's a bit of an exaggeration, but Andy Staples of CNNSi.com is sold on ESPN's new 3-D technology that'll be unveiled at some point in the next few years.
As I stood there looking like a Roy Orbison impersonator in my specially polarized glasses, I made a mental note to call my wife and apologize for the money we'll be dropping on 3-D televisions in the next few years. Because, no matter how attached you are to your current HD flatscreen, you're going to want to throw it in the trash once you see sports in 3-D.
This is not meant to serve as an advertisement for ESPN or for any of the consumer electronics companies whose products I may mention below. I'm not receiving any promotional equipment or reward of any kind; in fact, I'd be fired if I were. This is just a warning for all of you out there who, like me, can't resist the lure of the Next Big Gadget.
Sometime between five and 10 years from now, most of us will watch our sports in 3-D, and we'll wonder why anyone bothers to actually attend the games.
Very, very interesting. The economy has led to some overall attendance slippage in college football, albeit by a very small margin. As the cost of attending games continues to rise -- and, God forbid, the spare cash in the pockets of fans continues to decrease -- will the dramatic advances in technology lead more fans to stay home and watch their favorite teams from afar?
Shoot, you can by a nice HD TV for less than what it costs some families to attend one football game.
With high-def, instant replay and the multitude of camera angles that you get with broadcasts today, the fan sitting at home on his couch is infinitely more informed than the fan sitting in the stands ... or the sports writer hack sitting in the press box.
When the news broke on Brandon Spikes gouging the eye of the Georgia running back last fall, it wasn't some eagle-eyed reporter at the game who spotted it. It was someone watching from home who put it on YouTube and created a national story.
When I'm at a game and there's a play or a call I'm not sure of, I call or text a friend who's watching from home to get a better account.
Fans are exponentially more empowered and more informed than they used to be. Kinda crazy, but also kinda cool.
Here's a very interesting study that examines the dramatic decrease in college football games between Top 25 teams.
In 1989, there were 106 Division 1A (now called FBS) teams. A total of 582 games were played between those teams, including 18 bowl games. 52 of the total games (8.9 percent, or about 1 in 11) were played between teams ranked in the Associated Press final top-25.
In 2009, 120 FBS teams played a total of 714 games against one another, including 34 bowl games. Only 38 of the total games (5.3 percent, or about 1 in 20) were played between Associated Press final top-25 teams.
And then...
The primary reason for the decline has been conference expansion. In 1989, 25 teams were independent, including AP final Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and six of the top-25 overall. In 2009, only 3 FBS teams were independent, none of which were ranked. Additionally, there were 94 FBS vs. FCS games played last year, 17 involving AP top-25 teams. Only 50 such games were played in 1989, two by AP top-25 teams.
It should be noted that teams have been permitted to play 12 regular-season games the past four seasons. The idea was to create more attractive cross-sectional matchups, but more often schools have used it as an opportunity to schedule a tomato can and get the revenue that comes from an extra home game.
To be fair, the ACC has some really compelling non-conference matchups set for 2010. Virginia Tech vs. Boise State. Miami at Ohio State. North Carolina vs. LSU. Florida State vs. Oklahoma. Clemson at Auburn. Duke vs. Alabama.
Clemson vs. Presbyterian...
Moving on to some Clemson stuff, Kyle Parker's future was the main story to come out of yesterday's press conference with Dabo Swinney.
Travis Sawchik of The Post and Courier says it's the most important question heading into the 2010 season.
Greg Wallace of the Independent-Mail said it's understandable if Clemson fans get nervous every time KP steps to the plate.
Ed McGranahan of The Greenville News also writes about Parker.
I really wouldn't be too concerned at this point, even if Parker's baseball tear continues as the schedule grows more difficult.
My early odds on Parker playing football this fall: 90 percent.
Should be a fun weekend of baseball in Clemson, Greenville and Columbia.
This is the right way to do it, and kudos to the two schools for pulling it off and seeing the wisdom of moving away from those annoying mid-week games between the two rivals.
Ray Tanner says it's "what the series deserves" in this story.
Jack Leggett gives his thoughts in this story.
“We’ll give it a shot, see how it works,” said Leggett, the Clemson head coach. “I think it’s kind of exciting because it gets everybody into the flow early in the season, and then we can both concentrate on our seasons.”
Clemson's pitching starters: Casey Harman, Will Lamb and Scott Weismann.
USC's: Blake Cooper, Sam Dyson, Tyler Webb.
In the AJC, Mark Bradley takes a look at Paul Hewitt's, er, Blewitt's sweetheart deal.
Hewitt's buyout: A fat $7.1 million.
I'm guessing Tech AD Dan Radakovich curses Dave Braine in his sleep for saddling him with that baggage.
Bradley is guessing Tech can't make a move in today's economic climate.
At a time when the state legislature is seeking another $300 million cut from college spending, wouldn’t it look a bit odd to be paying someone $7.1 million not to coach? Even if much of the money is raised from private donations, this wouldn’t seem the time.
Wake Forest's Al-Farouq Aminu says he can't explain his gruesome slump.
Considered a strong candidate for first-team All-ACC as recently as a week ago, Aminu has fallen into the deepest slump of his career at the worst possible time. The doldrums set in during Saturday's loss to North Carolina, when he made two of seven shots and scored only seven points.
Aminu said that nothing is wrong physically or personally.
"No, I'm cool," he said.
But his game is ice cold. He acknowledged the impact his drought has had on the Deacons, who were eliminated from any chance at a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament.
"They're relying on me to make shots, so I'm going to have to be more aggressive and start making shots." Aminu said.
Other than giving credit to Florida State's defense, however, Aminu could provide no explanation for his struggles.
"I don't know," he said. "It could be a mystery.
"But they're a good defensive team. They're long, and I just couldn't find my shots in the flow of the game."
What are the chances Oliver Purnell dusts off his 1-2-2 zone for Sunday's game in Winston-Salem?
According to Heather Dinich, N.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Archer says he's getting along just great with his cantankerous new LB coach, Jon Tenuta.
Give it time.
LW
Click here for the "Eye On The Tigers" blog archive.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
Donnie Patterson. Donnie Patterson is the founder of Patterson Tax Service, located in Easley, S.C. He has been active in tax preparation since 1970, and offers a full range of tax and bookkeeping services.
Larry Williams. Larry has covered the daily beat at Clemson since 2004. Williams, who worked for the Charleston Post & Courier from 2004-08, joined Tigerillustrated.com in November of 2008. He may be reached by email at ldubya08(at)gmail.com. Replace (at) with @.