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Zach Johnson Prep for Ryder Cup

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ROME – (Staff and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson and vice captain Stewart Cink have their team of 12, and now the time for scouting the course and penciling mock pairings has arrived.

There’s chemistry between teammates to consider, such as Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele’s dominance together as match-play partners. But what stands out to Johnson and Cink about this Ryder Cup in particular is the demanding nature of Marco Simone Golf Course.

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“It’s probably the most — the most demanding, physically, of any Cup course I’ve ever seen that I’ve been a part of,” Cink said Tuesday ahead of the PGA Tour’s Fortinet Championship.

“No question,” Johnson said. “In my time, for sure.”

Johnson headed to Rome earlier this month with nine of the team’s 12 players to scout Marco Simone. Only Jordan Spieth, Cantlay and Schauffele could not make the trip.

“We’re starting to get into some possible pairings to see what’s best for that golf course and what’s best for our team,” Johnson said.

“I think the golf course is going to solve some of that problem because it’s so hilly and the temperature could be pretty hot, too, that I think guys are going to be happy to probably rest,” Cink chimed in. “There’s not going to be a lot of disappointment for not playing.”

Johnson agreed, noting it was “a brutal walk.”

The host team gets to set up the course to its liking, and the United States has not fared well overseas, last winning a Ryder Cup in Europe in 1993.

Johnson and Cink will spend some time at the Fortinet Championship with two of their team members, Max Homa and Justin Thomas. Homa is the event’s defending champion, while Thomas is competing for points in the first-ever FedEx Cup Fall series.

When making their lineup decision, the captain and vice captain aren’t going to weight Homa’s and Thomas’ week in Napa, Calif., too heavily.

“Four days of stroke play is vastly different than five sessions of match play in three days,” Johnson said.

Cink already figures that whatever Homa and Thomas accomplish this week “will be overstated to the good or to the bad.”

“I hope they both win. I don’t think that’s possible, but I hope they both win,” Cink said. “That would be great for their confidence alone … I just think for us internally, it would probably be — we hope that they have confidence coming out of this week and that would be a great thing.”

–Field Level Media

Trotter Sues NFL

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report) – Longtime NFL journalist Jim Trotter filed a lawsuit against the National Football League Tuesday, alleging his departure from NFL Media was retaliatory and racially motivated.

Trotter, who is Black, claimed his employment at NFL Media ended earlier this year after he “challenged Commissioner Roger Goodell … regarding the NFL’s record of race discrimination and lack of diversity” at Goodell’s pre-Super Bowl press conference. NFL Media is owned and operated by the league.

NFL Network also is named as a defendant in the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The league has claimed Trotter’s contract was not renewed due to economic decisions.

“We share Jim Trotter’s passion for quality journalism created in and supported by a diverse and inclusive environment,” the league said in a statement. “We take his concerns seriously, but strongly dispute his specific allegations, particularly those made against his dedicated colleagues at NFL Media.”

While not named as a defendant, Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula is alleged in the lawsuit to have made racist comments about Black NFL players.

Trotter relayed a conversation with a fellow NFL Media reporter, who was not identified. That reporter was speaking with Pegula in 2020 about the Black Lives Matter movement and the NFL’s social justice programs, and Pegula said, “If the Black players don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is.”

Pegula denied making the comment in a statement Tuesday.

“The statement attributed to me in Mr. Trotter’s complaint is absolutely false,” Pegula said. “I am horrified that anyone would connect me to an allegation of this kind. Racism has no place in our society and I am personally disgusted that my name is associated with this complaint.”

Trotter’s lawsuit said that he took a complaint to NFL Media executives, who told him that the league office was investigating it.

Trotter also alleged that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told him in 2020 that, “If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire.” Neither Jones nor the Cowboys have commented.

Trotter, who now works for The Athletic, is seeking unspecified damages as well as an investigation into “discriminatory and/or retaliatory animus of all persons in position of power within the NFL,” per the lawsuit.

“The NFL has claimed it wants to be held accountable regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. I tried to do so and it cost me my job,” Trotter wrote on social media Tuesday. “I’m filing this lawsuit because I can’t complain about things that are wrong if I’m unwilling to fight for what is right.”

–Field Level Media

Sox, Yankees: Try to Avoid the “Cell-ah”

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BOSTON – The visiting New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, teams battling to avoid the cellar in the American League East, will meet tonight in the first game of a four-game series, weather permitting.

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The Yankees (71-72) are at the bottom of the division, two games behind the fourth-place Red Sox (73-70). Odds available HERE.

New York had lost three in a row until defeating the visiting Milwaukee 4-3 on Sunday. The Yankees prevailed when catcher Kyle Higashioka drove in Everson Pereira with a double in the 13th inning. New York had been no-hit through regulation.

“Really good at-bat,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously (Higashioka has) lost some playing time here of late, but, you know, another guy who’s just a pro. Ready to go. … Excited for him and happy we could pull one out on our way to Boston.”

The Red Sox ended a four-game losing streak by beating Baltimore 7-3 Sunday. Rookie Triston Casas hit a three-run home run — his 24th homer of the season — in the victory.

“Just happy to get a pitch over the middle of the plate to hit,” Casas said. “There were a lot of positives to take out of (Sunday’s win) — and this whole series. It’s really satisfying to at least salvage (one victory in) the series. We know that they didn’t play their best game. They made a couple key errors in some big situations that really could have put the game away, but that’s baseball. We were able to capitalize on those mistakes and come out with a win.”

The Yankees will send right-hander Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.54 ERA) to the mound for Monday’s game. Righty Kutter Crawford (6-7, 4.36) is Boston’s probable starter.

Schmidt had gone four appearances without a victory until he earned the win for throwing 6 1/3 innings during Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over Detroit. Schmidt allowed three runs on five hits, struck out six and had no walks. He retired 16 consecutive batters at one point.

Schmidt’s season got off to a rough beginning, as he had a 6.30 ERA though his first nine starts.

“On the whole, he’s just gotten to be a much better pitcher, more polished pitcher,” Boone said. “I think he’s proven that he can be a starter in this league. I think he’s really got a grasp of his arsenal and how to use it and when to use it.

“I think he’s really learned a lot from his experiences from start to start. … Certainly took his lumps the first month or so of the season, but learned a lot from that.”

Schmidt is 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox. He’s surrendered five home runs in 22 1/3 innings against them.

Crawford is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his career against the Yankees. He’s made five appearances against the Yankees (three starts) and has 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Crawford struggled with his command in Tuesday’s 8-6 loss to Tampa Bay. He gave up five runs on three hits, walked four and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings. Crawford has allowed 11 runs in his last two outings (6 1/3 innings).

The Red Sox are 2-7 in their last nine home games.

–Field Level Media

MNF Preview: Bills at NY Jets

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Week One of the 2023 NFL regular season comes to a close with a marquee “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Buffalo Bills at the New York Jets.

It’s a season-opening tilt between AFC East rivals who both harbor realistic Super Bowl aspirations.

QUICK PICK
The Bills opened as 1.5-point favorites and the line has held steady with Buffalo backed by 68 percent of the spread-line bets and 69 percent of the money. However, the Jets’ +110 moneyline has also been a popular play as it has drawn 63 and 60 percent of the action, respectively.

There are still a lot of unknowns in terms of how the Jets’ offense will exit the gates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm. But New York also has a stout defense that gave Bills quarterback Josh Allen fits in two meetings last year, so we’re taking the points with the Jets at home.

Prediction: Bills 23 – Jets 17

THE NEWS
Josh Allen was 9 years old when Aaron Rodgers was drafted by Green Bay. Allen said he’s mimicked a lot of Rodgers’ movements and looks up to him. Rodgers wants the Bills looking up at the Jets in the standings when the dust settles Monday.

At 39, Rodgers relocated for the first time in his career following a prolific run with the Packers. Unpacking Super Bowl and MVP credentials in New Jersey, Rodgers said he’s grown comfortable in a new shade of green in part because of the level of talent around him.

“I think we’re ready,” Rodgers said. “I played in a great spot for 18 years. We had a great home-field advantage, place was always sold out. I’m expecting a big crowd, a loud crowd. It’s going to be electric — ‘Monday Night Football’ — last game of the first week. It will be a pretty special moment to take the field against a division rival and a great quarterback, really good football team. It will be a special environment to start off my career with the Jets.”

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson was the 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and created a quick connection with Rodgers, who compared his new No. 17 — Wilson — to former Packers teammate and All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. The Jets also signed free agent Dalvin Cook to a one-year deal and added familiar Rodgers cronies Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.

There’s depth here, too. New York wants to co-feature running back Breece Hall with Cook and brought in wide receiver Mecole Hardman from the Chiefs.

KEY STAT
Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, a rare All-Pro selection at cornerback in his first season, and the Jets’ defense have an established track record of mortalizing Allen.

Gardner made sure Allen’s favorite target, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, didn’t have his hands full in their two matchups in 2022. Allen had 147 passing yards in the Bills’ 20-12 win on Dec. 11 — when Diggs was held to three receptions for 37 yards — and New York’s defense sacked him eight times with two picks in those two games. Allen had three rushing TDs.

In the Nov. 6 meeting, Gardner intercepted Allen and broke up a late pass on fourth-and-21 that ended Buffalo’s final drive and preserved the Jets’ 20-17 win.

“They’re a pretty good group — really good group for that matter,” Allen said. “They’ve got rushers that have motors, they sub those guys in and out so they’re fresh. Their DBs are smart. They game-planned pretty well for us the last couple times we’ve played them and we’ll have our hands full come Monday night.”

PROP PICK
Two of the most bet player props for Monday night involved Wilson, the Jets’ second-year wideout.

No. 1 has been Wilson at +145 to score a touchdown in the game, while Wilson topping 68.5 receiving yards at -115 is No. 4.

The Jets signed Hardman and long-time Rodgers running mate Lazard to help keep defenses honest. Wilson will still be the primary focus of Buffalo’s secondary, but the Bills will be hard-pressed to keep the playmaker in check for four quarters so we like the Over on 68.5 receiving yards.

INJURY REPORT
Despite safety Micah Hyde dealing with a back injury, the Bills are still expected to make Damar Hamlin inactive Monday night and go with Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis as the primary backups. Hamlin, 25, made the 53-man roster as the latest awe-inspiring mile marker of his progress returning from on-field cardiac arrest at Cincinnati in January.

The Jets are expected to be at or very close to full strength, with everyone taking part in Saturday’s final practice of the week.

THEY SAID IT
–“That first game, I feel like it’s also finding yourself, what kind of team you’ve got, figuring out your identity.” –Diggs on being ready for the Jets in Week 1.

–“Having a guy like Aaron come in, the type of caliber player and person he is, he elevates everyone. You have to elevate your standards and your level of play. And across the board, we have so much talent. It is probably the most talented team I have been on and a great mixture of youth and veteran leadership.” –Jets OT Duane Brown on Rodgers’ presence.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Rally Falls Short vs Philly

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott made good on three second-half field goals to help the Eagles ward off a comeback en route to a 25-20 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.

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Elliott’s final kick came from 51 yards out with 5:33 left in the game. It proved to be critical when Mac Jones found Kendrick Bourne for an 11-yard touchdown just under two minutes later to pull New England within five.

The Patriots (0-1) couldn’t convert the two-point conversion, but they ended up getting the ball back twice. On the second possession, New England drove to the Eagles 20, and Jones seemingly threw a first-down completion to Kayshon Boutte on fourth-and-11 with 25 seconds remaining.

But replay ruled Boutte didn’t get both feet in bounds, allowing Philadelphia (1-0) to hang on for the win.

Elliott also converted field-goal attempts from 56 and 48 yards following halftime to keep the Eagles in front.

Jalen Hurts completed 22 of 33 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown for Philadelphia. Kenneth Gainwell had 54 yards on 14 carries.

Jones threw for 316 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 35-for-54 passing. Bourne had six catches for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

After Elliott capped Philadelphia’s opening drive with a 32-yard field goal, Darius Slay came down with an interception on the Patriots’ seventh offensive play of the game. Jones threw wide of Bourne, who got a hand on the ball and deflected it up in the air. It fell right to Slay, who then took it 70 yards to the end zone for a 10-0 lead.

Ezekiel Elliott fumbled on New England’s ensuing possession, setting the Eagles up at the Patriots’ 26-yard line. Five plays later, Hurts found DeVonta Smith for a 5-yard touchdown, but Jake Elliott couldn’t convert the extra point.

New England flipped a switch in the second quarter, though.

Jones completed 14 of 17 passes for 128 yards in the period, connecting with Hunter Henry for a 9-yard touchdown with 4:34 left before finding Bourne for a 19-yard score just over four minutes later.

That surge allowed the Patriots to pull within 16-14 by the break.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Avoid the Sweep

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BOSTON – (Staff Report) – In a game delayed 42 minutes due to inclement weather at the start, and an additional 1 hour, 28 minutes in the bottom of the 8th inning –  a total of 2:10 delay – the Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-3, on the strength of Tristan Casas’ three-run homer in the sixth inning.

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Casas’ game-winner was his 28th home run of the season and tied him for most among MLB rookies with Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson.

Boston’s starting pitcher Brayan Bello earned the victory,  his team-leading 12th win, his fifth at home but first since a July 5th win over Texas. Bello allowed three runs in the second inning, but held the Orioles scoreless by retiring 10 of 13 batters aside from that frame.

Boston’s 3B Rafael Devers hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead. Devers is 12-for-37 over his last eight games.

The Boston victory snapped a seven-game winning streak of the Orioles, with all victories coming on the road. The Orioles finished their nine-game road trip with a 7-2 record (2-1 at ARI, 3-0 at LAA, 2-1 at Fenway).

Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez took the loss and is 5-4 on the year.

NFL: WEEK ONE PREVIEWS

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Week 1
NFL preview capsules for Sunday’s Games – Action via Betting Hero

Texans at Ravens: First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie QB C.J. Stroud lead Houston into Baltimore eyeing a turnaround for a franchise with 11 wins the past three seasons. The Ravens loaded up at wide receiver after signing QB Lamar Jackson to a five-year contract, adding Odell Beckham and first-round pick Zay Flowers. Baltimore won 10 games last season for the ninth time during the John Harbaugh era and even without Pro Bowl CB Marlon Humphrey (foot) brings a veteran-laden defense to this fight.

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49ers at Steelers: Second-year QB Kenny Pickett put up a brilliant preseason and graduates to a stern test from a San Francisco defense likely to have DE Nick Bosa in the fold. Bosa signed a monster contract on Wednesday and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year joined the team for the first time since minicamp. The 49ers reached the NFC title game behind rookie QB Brock Purdy, whose elbow injury in that game led to offseason ligament surgery. He threw multiple TD passes in each of the final six games (five starts) in 2022 as defenses locked down on RB Christian McCaffrey. With at least two TDs and a win this week, Purdy would become the only QB in NFL history to go 6-0 with multiple TD passes in his first six career starts.

Packers at Bears: Welcome Jordan Love to the stage. The Packers intercepted the torch from Aaron Rodgers, trading him to the Jets and inserting Love into the starting lineup. A rivalry game at Soldier Field pits two solid defenses and unproven quarterbacks. Justin Fields rushed for 1,143 yards last season, but the Bears want him to prove he’s a pro passer with new weapon D.J. Moore matched up with Packers CB Jaire Alexander in a popcorn-worthy pairing.

Eagles at Patriots: A coach for twice the lifetime of Jalen Hurts, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick appreciates the unique challenge the running quarterback presents as the engine of the Eagles’ multi-faceted offense. New England changed offensive coordinators, bringing back Bill O’Brien, who is tasked with getting greatness out of QB Mac Jones while matching wits this week with former co-worker Matt Patricia, an assistant with Philadelphia. The Patriots invested their top three picks on defense, including CB Christian Gonzalez, and expect big things out of other rookies (DE Keion White, LB Marte Mapu, WR Kayshon Boutte). The club will honor the retired QB and franchise legend, Tom Brady, in a halftime ceremony at Gillette Stadium.

Panthers at Falcons: Panthers OLB Brian Burns’ “hold-in” is a fancy way of saying he wants more money but plans to play as Carolina chases Atlanta first-round RB Bijan Robinson and QB Desmond Ridder around the dome Sunday afternoon. The Falcons put up a season-high 37 points and beat Carolina on Oct. 30 last season but lost 25-15 in Charlotte. No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young makes his first career start for the Panthers, who went 7-10 last season and hired Frank Reich as head coach in January. Carolina’s new look spans the roster. Active building the roster in the offseason, the Panthers added versatile RB Miles Sanders and veteran WR Adam Thielen and brought in SS Vonn Bell to anchor the back end of the defense.

Jaguars at Colts: A playoff team in 2022 with a 9-8 record, the Jaguars are widely expected to be the best in the AFC South. They split a pair of games with the Colts last season with a 34-27 loss at Indianapolis, then ended the season with a six-game winning streak, including the wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, before falling at Kansas City in the divisional playoffs. Indianapolis hit the reset button following a 4-12-1 season, hiring Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and drafting Anthony Richardson No. 4 overall to end a run of musical chairs at QB. The Colts won’t have RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle), who was inactive for the 2022 home date with Jacksonville.

Buccaneers at Vikings: No Tampa Tom Brady means something new, or at least not as old, at quarterback for the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield won the job over Kyle Trask and has a star-studded receiving corps, provided Mike Evans puts his contract rift with the club to bed. He’ll be operating behind a young offensive line. Both teams made difficult roster moves to work from under a growing salary-cap burden since they last played a game that counted. The Bucs also made a switch at offensive coordinator, hiring Dave Canales (Seahawks) to replace Bryon Leftwich and shuffling Rachaad White into the featured running back role. Minnesota, a winner of two of the past three meetings with its former NFC Central rival, has a new lead back, too. Dalvin Cook was released after four straight 1,000-yard seasons and replaced by understudy Alexander Mattison.

Titans at Saints: Tennessee tries to find its way back to a winning path on the heels of a season wrecked by injuries that ended with a seven-game losing streak. Two constants remain for the Titans: Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, who is attempting to bring balance to the offense after Tennessee ranked 30th in passing last season. DeAndre Hopkins joined Tennessee to make a trio of weapons and could help the new-look scheme establish balance. New is fitting for the Saints. They signed QB Derek Carr, RB Jamaal Williams and TE Foster Moreau and must cope with the three-game suspension of RB Alvin Kamara. Carr could be busy considering the Titans ranked No. 1 against the run in 2022.

Cardinals at Commanders: Arizona plans to contend, but likely down the road after a cleaning house in January and starting over from the top, down. The Cardinals are keeping Washington guessing as to who’ll start at quarterback with Kyler Murray (knee) shelved for at least a month. It could be Josh Dobbs, the journeyman with two career starts, or rookie fifth-rounder Clayton Tune staring across at a Commanders’ defense drenched with first-round draft selections. If Dobbs starts, it will be after just five practices since he was acquired Aug. 24 from the Browns. Washington put its chips behind QB Sam Howell, a second-year quarterback making his second career start with new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy planning to spice up the attack to highlight WRs Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin. McLaurin (toe) is expected to play.

Bengals at Browns: Perhaps the Bengals pulled the appropriate levers in the offseason and the offensive line woes exposing QB Joe Burrow to 100-plus hits the past two seasons are in the past. Nothing like a face-to-face with Myles Garrett to test that theory. Garrett had 16 sacks in 2022, 3.5 of them in two games against Cincinnati. Burrow’s lead receiver, Ja’Marr Chase (2,501 receiving yards, 29 games), can pass Hall of Famer Randy Moss (2,527) for the third-most receiving yards in a player’s first 30 games on Sunday. Cleveland turned the defense over to spicy veteran coordinator Jim Schwartz, who emphasizes pressure.

Raiders at Broncos: The Raiders (6-11 last season) have beaten the Broncos six straight times and aim to extend the streak under new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Denver is putting past history to bed, or at least that’s the plan under new head coach Sean Payton. The former boss of the Saints sat out last season and arrived with ideas on how to resurrect Russell Wilson from a serious downturn in 2022, his first with the Broncos. Injuries hit at wide receiver in preseason, but Wilson gets a reprieve thanks to a rebuilt offensive line and the return of RB Javonte Williams from an ACL injury. Garoppolo has two big-time playmakers to work with: RB Josh Jacobs and WR Davante Adams. Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards last season while Adams had an NFL-leading 14 scoring receptions.

Dolphins at Chargers: AFC wild-card playoff teams last season, the Chargers and Dolphins are connected by their 2020 draft decisions, when Tua Tagovailoa went to Miami ahead of Justin Herbert landing with L.A. Tagovailoa showed brilliance in moments but also experienced multiple frightening ones with two documented concussions. Tagovailoa was 10 of 28 for 145 yards in a loss to Herbert and the Chargers last season. Chargers RB Austin Ekeler needs one TD reception for 30 in his career, an achievement only five others at his position have accomplished. Marshall Faulk holds the all-time record for RBs with 36 TD catches.

Rams at Seahawks: Eastern Washington product Cooper Kupp was looking forward to returning home to play the Seahawks in Week 1. That won’t happen due to a hamstring injury in camp, putting the Rams in a hole after a 5-12 season and roster rebuild during the offseason. Gone are CB Jalen Ramsey, WR Allen Robinson, LB Bobby Wagner and DE Leonard Floyd. Wagner makes his homecoming by returning to the Seahawks and facing the Rams in the opener. Seattle re-upped with QB Geno Smith after his Pro Bowl campaign in 2022 helped make the Seahawks a surprise playoff entry. Seattle won two games by a combined seven points over the Rams last season. Smith was sacked seven times.

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Cowboys at Giants: New York crashed the playoffs thanks to a 7-2 start last season. But the Giants have only one win in the past 12 meetings with Dallas. The Cowboys roll with Dak Prescott, who faced criticism after throwing 15 interceptions last season, and expected the revamped offense with head coach Mike McCarthy taking over play-calling to be a boost. Tony Pollard replaces Ezekiel Elliott as the RB1 and adds a big-play dimension. Dallas relies heavily on defense and revealed plans to move pass rusher Micah Parsons into a more traditional defensive end role. He has nine career games with two or more sacks.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | Sept 10

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – In 1975, cable television was not available in our town, but was available one town to the north as CableVision and other wanna-be providers fought over territorial rights for pseudo-monopolies in a lucrative business to wire-up the five boroughs of New York City and all of Long Island.

On September 1 of this year, Benjamin Mullin, writing in The New York Times, shared his views from a shareholder’s meeting of Charter Communications. Mullin informed his readers: “One of the biggest cable companies in the United States has a message for media companies, its major partners in a decades-old business: The traditional cable-TV model is broken, and it needs to be fixed or abandoned. Cable TV has become too expensive for consumers and providers, Charter Communications said in an 11-page presentation to investors on Friday, adding that cord-cutters and rising fees are contributing to a “vicious video cycle.”

No shit, Sherlock.

A group of 14-and-15-year olds could’ve predicted that back in 1975.

A look-back into CableVision’s past beckons back to the 1960s when Charles Dolan, father of Madison Square Garden Center, and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers franchise owner, James Dolan, created Sterling Manhattan Cable for Manhattan Island tv viewers and launched Home Box Office as the first of many cable-only content purveyors.

Knicks and Rangers games quickly disappeared from “over-the-air” WOR-TV 9 and fans were quick to find good friends with cable. Just ask former New York Islanders forward – J.P. Parise – who, on April 11, 1975, scored the series-winning goal to eliminate the favored New York Rangers and begin a magical run for the Islanders in the ‘75 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs – all to be seen on Cable TV.

CableVision became Cablevision and it was sold, along with HBO, to Time-Life Inc. A few mergers and acquisitions later, Warner Communications got into the act and Time-Warner Cable accepted monthly checks from most of us Manhattanites. For the most part, Cablevision operated in New York and Boston until it purchased Cable TV systems in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming to enter the fray as Optimum West. The three year venture from 2010 to 2013 upped the ante on Optimum from $1.37 billion to $1.63 billion. The new system’s owners?

You guessed it – Charter Communications.

Looking back at Mullins and the paper of record – The New York Times informed readers: “Charter and the Walt Disney Company, owner of popular cable channels including ESPN and FX, which will not be available to Charter’s nearly 15 million pay-TV subscribers until both sides agree on how much Charter will pay Disney to carry its channels. Subscribers to Charter’s Spectrum TV service will be without access to the U.S. Open tennis tournament and college football games during (the Labor Day) holiday weekend.

“These so-called carriage fights are commonplace in the media industry, with channels going dark for days or weeks on cable systems while the two sides — cable providers and content creators — haggle over how much the channels are worth and how to bundle them. But Charter’s suggestion that parts of its own business model are in disrepair adds a new wrinkle to the crisis facing the cable-TV business.

“The fight comes at a time of declining subscriptions: More than five million Americans end their cable-TV subscriptions annually, according to research from SVB Moffett-Nathanson.

“Almost every traditional media company is trying to hold on to its cash-rich cable partnerships while building streaming businesses that will eventually replace those alliances. But investors in traditional media companies have also grown impatient with attempts to build new streaming businesses, saying they are not as profitable as cable TV used to be.”

Again – the NYT with the MONSTER revelations!

Mullin continued: “The pressure is forcing traditional media companies to wring cash from their businesses in other ways, including teaming up with competitors to bundle their streaming services.

“Adding to the challenges, tech companies like Apple and Amazon are willing to pay top dollar to acquire live sports rights, further driving up programming costs. Cable companies, for their part, have weaned themselves off depending wholly on traditional TV revenue, by offering services like wireless internet.”

Round and round it goes, and where it will stop? Nobody knows.

CableVision to Cablevision to Rainbow – add some adult programming, ahem. Then HBO, HBO West, and then SportsChannel to begin the trend of Regional Sports Networks the nation around.

In 2017, Cablevision went for a whopping $17.7 billion (including debt) to European telecom conglomerate Altice.

During the many transitions, there were carriage disputes du jour. From WABC-TV (NY) to the Food Network to FOX to the MSG Network (then owned by Gulf & Western) to YES Network to the NFL Network and Tennis Channel – all had their greedy fights to squeeze cash from every subscriber, one household at a time. Over decades, the services bundled programming to force subscribers to pony up one set for a multitude of sports even though they might only want Tennis or NBA TV.

The Cable TV companies had you by the billboards with their take it or leave it programming offers – never served a la carte.

Then came the cord-cutters!

YouTube, Sling Box, Hulu, FuboTV, and DIRECTV satellite dishes. They multiplied and content providers shifted strategies to look for the broadest of broadcasting opportunities. Sporting leagues, with the NBA taking the lead, embraced the new generational viewing habits – away from traditional TV, traditional cable and on to short highlights fit for mobile consumption. And, along came TikTok riding a wave of new programmers from Twitter (X), Tencent, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and every other content provider on the face of the earth – all able to go global with the flip of a switch.

Where does it leave us?

Nowhere Land.

Instead of studying the lay of the land, researching and grasping their future, television programmers, sports league properties, big-time communications conglomerates – shopping broadband – and even hardware providers – see Samsung TV – are all GUESSING what comes next, never KNOWINGwhat’s next.

The sports properties simply cash-in via the highest bidders and are rock-solid as the only real DVR-proof programming with live sports.

Marketers are utilizing newcomers, such as Samsung TV, to launch 24/7 FAST Channels like the deluge of infomercials being aired by DRAFT Kingsthis week, all in an effort to acquire sports gamblers.

Even Conan O’Brien found a new home.

In 1992, Bruce Springsteen performed his rock song, “57 Channels )and Nothin’ On),” but the truth is, the Boss is somewhere around 2,000 channels off in his pronouncement, but correct in his summation.

Everyday, it gets worse for the consumer, as it becomes more lucrative for the greedy cable and telecommunications companies – all with no resolution and no end in sight.

For those of us going month-to-month and pay check to pay check, the mounting expenses from a monthly cable-broadband-phone bundles are being supplemented by added offerings, like Netflix, Peacock TV (with its lure of Premiership soccer and PGA Tour event coverage amongst many other sports and original programming). Add ESPN+ or Paramount+, MAX(with original programming and motion pictures garnered from HBO) and a few others – you’re looking at a $200-a-month cable bill.

That’s a lotta boxes of pasta.

Today, they’ve got me at 1:00pm (ET) as I scream, “Give me my NFL RedZone or give me death!” And, the NFL Sunday Ticket is available to one and all on YouTube TV.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: It’s only fitting to kick-off this first weekend of the NFL regular season with a column-full of football notes, lists, and even some predictions.

THE GUYS YOU WISH YOUR DRAFTED IN YOUR FANTASY LEAGUES: Otherwise known as the best of the best at each position for 2023:

QBs:

  1. Patrick Mahomes
  2. Jalen Hurts
  3. Josh Allen
  4. Joe Burrow
  5. Lamar Jackson

RBs

  1. Christian McCaffrey
  2. Austin Ekeler
  3. Saquon Barkley
  4. Derrick Henry
  5. Bijon Robinson

WRs

  1. Justin Jefferson
  2. Tyreek Hill
  3. Ja’Marr Chase
  4. Stefon Diggs
  5. Garrett Williams
    • Cooper Kupp – injured

TEs

  1. Travis Kelce (injury or not)
  2. Mark Andrews
  3. George Kittle
  4. Tyler Higbee
  5. Darren Waller

NOTE: Although they decide almost each and every game, for sake of this column, screw the Kickers and Team Defense/Speical Teams listings.

Orioles Overpower Red Sox, 13-12

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore catcher James McCann hit two home runs to help the visiting Orioles stretch their winning streak to seven games by beating the Boston Red Sox 13-12 on Saturday. McCann belted a two-run home run in the fourth inning and hit a solo shot in the sixth. The homers were his fifth and sixth of the season.

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Justin Turner

Aaron Hicks hit his eighth homer, Jordan Westburg added his third and Gunnar Henderson belted his 24th for the Orioles (90-51), who maintained a four-game lead over Tampa Bay at the top of the American League East standings. Tampa Bay defeated Seattle 7-5 on Saturday.

Baltimore’s seven consecutive victories have all come on the road.

The Red Sox scored three runs against Yennier Cano in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run on third base.

Shintaro Fujinami (7-8) earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Boston (72-70) has lost four in a row overall and has dropped its last six home games. Wilyer Abreu collected five of Boston’s 23 hits in the loss.

It was 2-2 in the top of the third when Hicks hit a three-run home run against Boston starting pitcher Chris Sale (6-4), who allowed seven runs (six earned) in four innings. Earlier in the third, Jorge Mateo scored Baltimore’s second run on an Anthony Santander double.

McCann followed with the first of his two homers, which extended Baltimore’s lead to 7-2 in the fourth inning.

Justin Turner’s 23rd home run handed the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Orioles sliced that deficit in half in the second when Hicks scored on Trevor Story’s throwing error.

Boston added four runs in the fourth. Connor Wong got things going with an RBI single before Alex Verdugo hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Enmanuel Valdez. Wong scored on Henderson’s fielding error, and Rafael Devers made it 7-6 when he scored on a Triston Casas groundout.

Westburg and McCann added solo home runs in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-6, and Henderson’s three-run homer in the seventh pushed the lead to 12-6.

Boston answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Abreu hit a two-run double and then scored on a Devers single.

Ramon Urias drove in Austin Hays with a single in the ninth to give Baltimore a 13-9 lead before Story’s two-run double and Abreu’s RBI single pulled Boston within a run in the bottom of the inning.

–Field Level Media

Boston College Holds Off Holy Cross

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CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos threw for two touchdowns in his first game as starting quarterback, helping the Eagles hold off FCS No. 5 Holy Cross 31-28 on Saturday.

Castellanos was 17-of-23 passing for 204 yards and had 16 carries for 69 yards. George Takacs and Jeremiah Franklin were on the receiving end of the passing scores.

Kye Robichaux (19 carries, 94 yards) and Ryan O’Keefe also rushed for touchdowns for BC (1-1), which scored on all four first-half drives and led 24-14 at intermission.

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The UCF transfer quarterback earned the starting job after both he and returnee Emmett Morehead saw action in BC’s season-opening overtime loss to Northern Illinois last week.

Jordan Fuller and Matthew Sluka each rushed for two touchdowns for Holy Cross (1-1), which had won 18 consecutive regular-season games.

Sluka rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries and was 10 of 15 for 130 passing yards.

With Holy Cross set for a potential game-winning drive, a lightning delay halted play for over two hours with 1:58 remaining. Sluka opened the series with a 35-yard sideline run, but his fumble — recovered by Vinny DePalma — three plays later allowed BC to hold on for the win.

Sluka’s 8-yard run got Holy Cross in the end zone on five plays to begin the second half.

The Crusaders went on to force BC’s first two punts, but the hosts’ lead increased to 31-21 on Franklin’s 5-yard reception from Castellanos in the opening seconds of the fourth.

Fuller’s tough 15-yard run brought Holy Cross back within one score with 7:26 left.

A tidy first quarter featured just one offensive series — and touchdown — per team, but BC took a 10-point halftime lead after three combined scoring drives in the final 3:38 before intermission.

The Eagles strung together an opening 14-play, 85-yard series that ended with Robichaux taking a 3-yard run into the end zone, his third early carry.

Holy Cross’ response was a Fuller 2-yard touchdown run, capping a 15-play drive that spilled four seconds into the second quarter. To set up the score, Sluka ran for gains of 17 and 21 yards and hit Phoenix Dickson for a 17-yard completion.

On another 14-play series for the Eagles, O’Keefe found the edge for a go-ahead, 14-yard score with 7:06 left in the half.

Castellanos hit Takacs with a 2-yard score over the top to make it 21-7 BC, but two penalties set the visitors up at midfield and Sluka cut the deficit in half with an 8-yard run with 46 second left.