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About six months ago I vowed to keep THIS Web Page as free of partisan politics as America’s Front Page will allow me to. I’m still holding to that vow… as much as America’s Front Page will allow me to. When the full blown street riots and neighbor vs neighbor cul de sac battles commence, I may have to disavow that vow but we will burn that bridge when we get to it…. probably next Spring or early Summer. There will be ample notice given… I promise.
Before we get into today’s juicy title subjects shown up top… Are you wondering what BobLee Says about …
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Selling Alcohol at College Sports Events…
Disclaimer: I am neither a Proponent nor an Opponent as regards Selling Beer at College Sports Events. Since I no longer attend College Sports Events, I care only because I do enjoy cashing in my I Told You So chips.
The Official BobLee I Told You So on this one is ….
It will have about the same effect on College Sports Events as my no longer attending them does which is No Noticeable Effect Whatsoever.
Proponents of – We gotta sell beer at ACC sports events in order to survive – pushed for legislation permitting this for Two Reasons….
(1) It might curb the very noticeable drop in on-site attendance everywhere not named NC State and Clemson. … in other words, folks who used to attend football games will start doing so again despite the fact that – because I can’t buy watered-down over-priced beer there – has never been anyone’s reason for not attending. So, it won’t curb anything.
(2) It will increase concession revenues. It won’t to any noticeable amount. They might say it does but even superficial forensic accounting will expose that BS. If the amount of beer sold IS a noticeable revenue boost then IT will risk creating the #1 concern that Opponents fear…
Opponents fear that…
(1) Being able to buy beer at college ballgames will surely result in wholesale drunken rioting in the stands. Women and children will be in grave danger as over-inebriated hooligans will roam the stands leaving mayhem in their wake. 
Yes… the same sort of unfettered hooligan rioting that women and children now endure each Sunday at NFL games. BUT… BobLee, unfettered hooligans aren’t a problem at ….. . Yeah, I know.
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A little history lesson here … 5-6 years ago, college sports observers noticed more and more empty seats at games despite VERY strong TV ratings and other interest-measuring methodology. … So focus groups and brain-storming sessions were held all across The Fruited Plain about What To Do?… What To Do?.
A long forgotten junior staffer in some innocuous college athletic dept said “We need to have More Better WiFi…”. That immediately became a nationwide mantra …. More Better WiFi … More Better WiFi … More ….
Athletic Directors googled More Better WiFi ‘R Us and spent A Buncha $$$ on Star Wars-esque gizmos that guaranteed More Better WiFi in their stadiums… so NOW…
Coed Susie can text Coed Terri 30′ away to tell her that… Coed Luci is wearing really gross lip gloss..
But, alas, the number of empty seats increased.
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Plan B was two-fold …. (1) Gotta sell beer in the stadiums … and (2) Shorter skirts on the cheerleaders.
College Sports is now in Phase One of Plan B. Meanwhile cheerleader uniform manufacturers are hard at work designing the next generation of skirts that are basically dental floss thongs and glitter.
OK, I know what you’re thinking. BobLee, if you’re so smart, … WWBLD…. What Would BobLee Do?
Not that complicated buddies and babes. It simply involves answering One Question…
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Who is Most Important – The TV Fan … OR … The Galoot Spending Several $100s Attending The Game?
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Whatever THAT answer is… design your product to appeal to Him/Her … and “the other guy” can like it or lump it. Alas, what appeals to one does NOT appeal to the other.
Kickoff Times that accommodate the seasonal comforts of on-site fans DO NOT allow TV Fans to watch multiple games continually from Noon to Midnight from Labor Day thru Thanksgiving. … and vicey versy.
Games in sweltering hot weather should start in the early evening. Games in cold frigid weather should start during the warmest part of the day. What part of THAT does College Football not understand?
They DO understand, they simply don’t care.
Oh… and on-site fans HATE those interminable TV Timeouts. On-site fans don’t care that “lots of commercials” are necessary to have the games on TV that make the Mega $$$ for the conference TV contracts.
TV fans don’t care about commercials because they simply switch to another game… or go pee… or open another bag of chips… or …
The on-site fan twiddling his thumbs and cussing the TV TimeOut guy on the 20 yard line MIGHT be appeased / distracted by the cheerleaders wearing the glittery dental floss thongs… but that has yet to be test-marketed.
I recently discussed all this with my pal of multi-decades Little Ricky Packard – LRP. LRP played Linebacker for Bill Dooley alongside Burly John Bunting… but up and married a Wuffie-gal (Miss Diane) PLUS he is a Clintonian and frat bro with “Mr Wuff” Bobby Purcell. LRP has conflicted loyalties but, like me, is pretty cynical about the whole Hated Rivalry foolishness.
LRP and I played out the following scenario of an NC State loyalist deciding WHAT TO DO with beer being sold within the confines of Carter-Finley Stadium. If it offends you, be assured that LRP doesn’t care …
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”Lets see here… I can walk a coupla 100 feet out that gate over yonder to my Wuff-Red SUV with the 26 Wuff flags flying off of every window and drink my beers and likker and eat my BOJ’ chicken all of which I bought at normal retail prices … OR … I can stand in that line over yonder with all them meth-head yahoos for 30 minutes to buy one beer that will cost me twice as much as that BOJ’ Family Pack AND that case of Coors waiting out yonder in my Wuff-Red SUV… Etc Etc Etc … WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO?”
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Will Boo Corrigan fulfill Dave Doeren’s Heart’s Desire … which is, of course, to Lock The Gates at Carter-Finley and Not Let Anyone Out at HalfTime? I’m betting Boo Won’t Do That. It’s easier to replace a Head Coach than replace 60,000 fans.
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OMG… I’ve run outta room and… I haven’t told you what I think about Women’s Soccer and The Nike Shoe Brouhahas. OK… real quick
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Women’s Soccer Brouhaha…
If Megyn Rapinwhozit had JUST NOT SAID “F****** White House” she would been “just another constipated angry Trump-hating Lesbian”. Lord knows there’s plenty of them. Yawn.
Her original issue about gender pay equity for USWNT versus USMNT actually had validity. Go figure … that validity was BLOWN TO BITS when she said “see above”.
But she DID SAY “F******” and – VOILA – she became a constipated potty-mouthed angry Trump-hating Lesbian. That ONE WORD caused 50% of America to really Not Like Her & the USWNT a LOT.
There’s a lesson in there. But that lesson will be ignored… and future such incidents will be forthcoming.
Alex Morgan – AKA… “the Really Pretty Heterosexual Soccer Girl”- said she doesn’t like “Trump” either. When asked why, Alex said:
“… I don’t know. That’s what I was told to say or all my angry lesbians teammates will beat the crap outta me… Our team showers are awkward enough as it is without me getting beat up over whoever “Trump” is.”
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The NIKE “Betsy Ross Shoe” Brouhaha…
Most of you reading this REALLY don’t like Colin Kaepernick. I don’t either but I don’t think about him or his ilk all that much.
But this is TOTALLY A NIKE DECISION. Kaepernick called Whoever replaced Phil Knight and said…
“My Radical Islamo-fascist girlfriend Nessa says I’m suppose to tell you I am offended by some “Betsy something” shoe you are getting ready to release. So I’m telling you…”. 
At that point Whoever Replaced Phil Knight coulda/shoulda said…
“That’s nice Colin, now you and your Radical Islamo-fascist girlfriend Nessa Go Pound Sand.” … But NIKE didn’t say that.
NIKE’s prime market is “Urban Youth”. That is a euphemism for “Black kids in The “hood who buy $200 shoes endorsed by NBA guys”. Risking losing 63,000,000 “mostly NOT urban youth” customers was not a risky risk for NIKE.
“Urban Youth” have no clue who Betsy Ross was unless she was that 3rd gal in Destiny’s Child. … You know Beyonce – Kelly Rowland – & Betsy Ross. You didn’t think I knew about Kelly Rowland did you… and without googling too. Sometimes I amaze myself.
Posting social media “threats” to Boycott NIKE over this is kinda like a New Year’s Resolution… it might last about a week. 96% of those saying they will Boycott NIKE weren’t buying NIKE stuff anyway. NIKE knows that.
Wonder what local “NIKE Boy” – Ol’ Roy Williams – thinks about all this. Ol’ Roy gets paid more $$ by NIKE than Kaepernick does. Ol’ Roy likely has no idea who Betsy Ross (or Kelly Rowland) is or was.
Ol’ Roy cares a LOT about “Urban Youth” though… at least ones with at least 4-stars.
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A Lot More BobLeeSays Columns … LINK
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USWNT demanding more money from a fixed budget operation means someone or something will take a funding cut to free us cash. the National Women’s Hockey League players said they will stop playing due to low pay and unbearable conditions and the league folded. It quickly became a “tree in the forest fell and no one heard it” situation. Not every league has stupid NBA owners who will fund a losing business entity. If arbitration decides to pay USWNT players more then do the men take a cut. Would be interesting how that falls out, but who really cares. .… Read more »
LRP is now living in North Myrtle in semi-retirement with a kayak and an attitude and a LOT of opinions. LRP IS NOT PC!
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I have no clue who generates what income between the USWNT and USMNT … and caring which one does doesn’t concern me.
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Good Point on the Carter-Finley Pass Outs. I betcha Bobby Purcell and Boo both wish DD would find another pet project to complain about. He ain’t gonna win that one.
Pro owners have been able to cater to the TV market, then get handouts in the way of stadiums/arenas with the illusion they are catering to the in person crowd. They have been able to play both sides of the equation extremely well. All of that is possible due to the faint threat they can uproot and move. I guess it only takes one or two to actually move before that threat is real. College AD’s don’t have the backpocket chip to play the TV/in person fan off each other. You can’t pick the Hokies up and move out of… Read more »
Some terrific phrases in there…. “the cache of Saturday in _____ …” !!! To appeal to both fan markets could lead to lowering ticket prices to fill seats as, yes, a raucous stadium is a recruiting must. Regardless The TV Gods will rule in the end by simply adding zeros on the end of the checks. Not necessarily bad … just a reality.
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At least the days of endless stadium (and arena) expansions has ended as we see with Kenan Jr. shrinking.
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GREAT comments Former!
Although I’m less than two miles from DFS my last game was in 2014 and it has nothing to do with the poor record. I’d stay away if it was 11-0. I’m just more comfortable watching and flipping through channels with better matchups at home on TV. The “new” conference expansion/alignments were not done with fans in mind.
Nike has some slick marketing folks. $10’s of millions in free publicity for not doing, but not doing, something. Brilliant. Even got the Internet Legend to comment.
Can’t beat a Big Screen on a Fall Saturday … a stocked refrigerator … snack food of choice … a few good friends … and a remote with fresh batteries.
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I wonder of Nessa will be alerted that I mentioned her?
No country for old men like you and me! JWilkins
Not ready to give it up just yet, Jim. Just watched The Salute To America … those military hymns really get the blood flowing.
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Tell Sue I have Blind Your Ponies next up in my reading queue.
BobLee, I have to tell you that your concise analysis of THE QUESTION for College FB to answer is brilliant.
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Who is their primary market … the TV audience or the on-site audience. Either answer is fine but just Be Honest who they are really most interested in attracting. I think we all know what that answer logically is – TV.
Seems very simple to me. You can apply that answer to virtually every aspect of every school’s GameDay Marketing & Promotion. . If, for instance, UNCCH wants to have a “Full House” to look good on TV, then set aside 10,000 seats and Deep Discount them to community groups at like $10/each … churches, civic clubs, youth teams, etc etc… put bodies in seats. $10 is better than $0 and you have a body to show on TV. . TV studio shows offer free seats just to have an audience for a live reaction. . TV IS going to dictate… Read more »
Happy Fourth to all readers and the BL Brood. Hope it is cooler where the young ‘uns are than here. EDITOR NOTE. Took me 3 times to get ‘uns as my iPad kept autofilling ‘UNC. . Beer. No opinion or interest. Have had Champions Club LTR for Wuf games for 13 years. Only visits to bar were for a couple of freebie ginger ales to calm my stomach. Boo ain’t gonna change the rules….or that is MHO. . Nike. Bought a nice pair of walking shoes last week. Did not even try on Nike. DW was pulling stuff for me.… Read more »
Wonder if this latest USWNT “incident” will replace “Brandi Chastain’s sports bra” as the Highlight of US Womens Soccer. The HUBBA HUBBA HUBBA that created 20 years ago set back the IQ of American males by 30 years. The pervs that got excited over that probably kept a copy of a Sears catalogue under their pillow. Geeezzz.
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Between now and Fall 2020 there will be an ongoing series of these We Hate Trump & We Hate His Deplorables Too incidents. Get used to’em. … sigh.
Great article as usual! I have a kid at VT so having attended many games at State and VT I’d say substitute VT for NC State in your opening comments. I’m a lifelong State fan and alum but I much prefer gameday at VT. At a Wolfpack Club meeting I pointed the same things your friend did and the school should look into other things to enhance the gameday experience along the lines of VT but it always came back to “DD says…” He gets paid millions so he must know more about sitting in the stands than me. Count… Read more »
I enjoy “watching college FB”. I ignore the student-athlete hypocrisy and just enjoy the entertainment of the game itself. I rarely if ever invest personal emotion in the results. The results do not have Life-altering after-effects for me. PLUS, there is the restroom and refrigerator aspects too from my Home Theater. . I did watch about 10 minutes of the USWNT game w/ France. I’ve gotten beyond the patriotic aspects of “Us versus The World”. Not like the Miracle On Ice emotions from the early 80s. My daughter and S-I-L are BIG soccer fans. He follows the English Premier League… Read more »
The next round of drama will be the USW soccer team refusing to attend the White House photo op.. I have become burned out on this tradition for some time now even more so since Trump took office..Beer sales at ECU football games might help alleviate the pain of Pirate Football these days, however the Trump rally scheduled this month in Greenville will draw a bigger crowd than the football team will this year.
I AGREE. If Donald asked me I would say Scrap The Whole Sports Team Thing – College & Pro. Send them all lapel pins or something. The whole “give POTUS a jersey with his name on it” is soooo lame!
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Have they announced the actual site for The Trump Rally? I don’t know any “venue” in GVille that seems right size. They don’t use FB Stadiums.
I had that same thought when the Colin/Nike story broke. Kaeper… is not in a position to FORCE Nike to do anything. It was totally Nike’s choice. I guess Nike just wanted to let Kaepernick’s peeps know they are all in for him …
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Is BK looking forward to Sharia Law being The Law of The Land in 6-10 years?
Believe it or not … BK and I NEVER discuss “politics” except when he brings it up here. I made that rule YEARS ago if we were be acquaintances. I’m sure BK has justified whatever he needs to to be comfortable with his political leanings. We all do to various degrees. I wish President Trump wouldn’t tweet…
“… our team showers are awkward enough as it is. I don’t need…” … OMG! Didn’t get it at first then it hit me! LOLOLOLOLO….
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“Coeds and the lip gloss” was BOFFO too.
This one has several multi-layered zingers. It takes about 3-4 reads to catch them all.
Well Happy Fourth, BL !!!! The usual outstanding writing and interesting points of view except it’s again obvious you don’t like college sports, soccer, Colin, lesbians; and you don’t mind alcohol or TV access. . Don’t have a lot to say. Never even got around to previous article touting my black Timex forever watch ($29.99 at Kohl’s sale). . Alcohol sales don’t bother me near as much as legislative inaction on Medicaid statewide, . Don’t notice cheerleader short skirts anymore. . Wife has had tough couple of weeks with falls, and I wrote essay on my lifetime heroes to understand… Read more »
Actually I do “enjoy watching” College FB and College Baseball. I would enjoy Soccer if I knew “how much time is left in the freakin’ game”. I could live with all the other goofy rules except the timekeeping silliness. Actually “lesbians” don’t bother me except the angry potty-mouthed ones that aggressively “recruit” not-lesbians. Somehow I stumbled on this video recently with these three lesbians who were … oh, never mind. Colin is/was a one-trick pony. “TV access” is fine with me??? . We agree on Cheap Watches !!! Go figure! . Saw where Governor “Restroom Roy The Baby Butcher” vetoed… Read more »