Crowd Control

10 thoughts on “Crowd Control”

1. I’m just an old man, which means I bailed on the NHL when they expanded. Eight teams meant great rivalries and solid play. If they wanted more teams, they should have set up separate divisions and stayed away from each other until the playoffs, like baseball used to. And as for baseball, I could take my kids to a Bears game for a couple of bucks and we’d have a great time. Today, I’d need to take out a second mortgage just to go alone. And I never much liked basketball.

   I’d probably be more of a year-round sports fan if I didn’t know what greed had done to sports. Witness the current NFL, which I would still enjoy if they’d go ahead and have a season.

   Not to mention those darned kids playing on my lawn. Wait, no — that’s the only sports I still enjoy.

2. Dear Drew,

   I look at the attendence problem in baseball and yet how the Colorado Rockies are doing well currently and I wonder a few things.

   Is the attendance problems because some teams are just so bad (see Washington Nationals) that nobody wants to see them play? Could it be an after effect of the steroid issue? Could it also be that tickets could be so darn high nobody wants or can’t afford to pay it anymore (a.k.a. supply but no demand) like in your other cartoon about unemployed fans who can’t afford tickets.

   At least for the Rockies the team is winning and that helps. Also those Rockpile tickets are a blessing for those on tight budgets. Perhaps other teams might want to take a look at Colorado and see what we’re doing right.

   All the best,

   Louis

3. I heard on the radio the other day that the “post-steroid” stats show that hitting is down compared to the time that steroids were prevelant, and they made the comment that hitters are not just going up to the plate and hitting homers left and right. They said that “true” fans of baseball were embracing this, whereas the weekender was likely to lose interest in the game, since there was not as many hihglights. I think that this is true for the most part. This fact combined with the rising ticket prices and the economy as it is, works to drive people to sit at home and follow the game on the tv or radio.

   As far as doing more to make less, I totally understand. These days I work twice as hard as I did just 5 years ago, but end up making less, since they eliminated my job. Oh well, I guess things work that way for a reason.

   Keep up the great work and know that it is appreciated.

   Bryce

   Casper

4. Good Morning from Omaha,

   I can relate to your working harder for less but as the economy has re arranged itself there has been a shift in employers attitudes toward their employees, as in “your lucky to even have a job, so shut up and work.” The job market was/is so tight that even the burger kings in Omaha are getting applications from people with doctorate degrees. Its almost like a slave/master( i understand that is kind of an extreme example) mentality.

   To be honest except for reading the denver “past” and the kc star on the web I haven’t followed much sports. I’ll see around the horn with woodrow and that bunch and the sport reporters on sunday AM but if the attendance is down its probably because of the general dearth of talent in the league and the length of the season, which seem to go on forever. The price of the tickets and concessions almost might be a factor as well as the price of gas to go to ballpark.

   The KC slayoR are playing over .500 ball this year, so far but its a long season. The roxs are on fire which is great for denver fans. Might be out to go to a ballgame this summer its all up to what happens. Hang in there Drew, your reward is coming around that big corner of life.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

5. I don’t think that there are fewer fans, just better options. I can watch the game at home, not have to worry about paying to park, the beer is cheaper, the food is better and the bathroom is just around the corner. The owners got their wishes with exclusive local TV deals, now they must live with it.

6. I think what all sport fans should do this summer is boycott all professional sports and start spending their time out at the thousands of youth sport fields around the Metro area. Any given weekend there is soccer, baseball, softball, and lacross games being played by players that play just for the love of the game, no big dollar contacts, no owner/player disagreements, no over priced tickets. Just kids playing because they want to play.

7. Drew,

   As to your employment/work/earnings situation I can identify. Politics ended my 20 year career in law enforcement and the steady income and benefits. Finding employment with similar income, stability and benefits has been thus far impossible. Doing piecemeal work with various part-time jobs is frustrating and often mentally fatiguing. I hope things turn much better for you.

   Regarding following sports year round; For me, no, not really. I am in Baton Rouge so of course college football is king. College baseball is often a close second. Season tickets for LSU football and baseball are sold out every year. Actual attendance, however, is seriously impacted upon the success, or lack thereof, of the team. I imagine it is that way with almost all sports teams and their fan attention. Winning breeds interest and increased attendance.

   Other factors such as the economy and ticket prices certainly come into play. I believe free agency and salary chasing by the players has a negative impact as well. I used to follow a couple of MLB teams when I knew who played for them year in and year out. With rosters changing so often in all sports I think many folks wind up following players instead of teams.

8. Drew–

   I would LOVE to see a Rockies game in Coors Field. Problem is, I live two time zones away. 🙁 That makes things a little complicated and a lot more expensive.

9. Here in Texas, the Texas Rangers attendance is actually one of the few teams that are up. The Rangers have always drawn well as a stop gap until the Cowboys started up. Last year, with the Rangers making the World Series for the first time ever, this city is going crazy for the Rangers.

10. I haven’t been following sports all that much lately. I used to follow quite a lot of sports, simply because that is what was on daytime, weekend television (when I had a television). These days, I only know what I read or hear from others; or see, because I happen to be at my favorite “watering hole.”

    Here in Minnesota, with Target Field enjoying its second year, the crowds have been decent to standing room only. Fans come to experience the new stadium, with the hopes that the Twins will win one. On occasion, they will get to witness magic – such as Jim Thome blasting one into the stands, or a team-effort shut out. Things have been shaky, performance-wise, in Twin’s Territory. Too many injuries, too early in the season. Francisco Liriano’s no-hitter against the Chi-Sox, and beating the Bo-Sox at Fenway have been this week’s bright spots.

    Drew, I empathize with you. I don’t make as much money as I once did, either. The amount of work you have to put out, the time spent in doing research, coming up with ideas, and then creating them on paper (and hoping to God they are approved by editors), is astounding. People who are not in your line of work, really have no clue. So, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the blood, sweat, tears, and time, it takes – just to make me, a fan, smile when I see the finished product. You are the best at what you do!

    peg