Thursday 9-13

I HOPE IF YOU PLAN TO WATCH THE BADGERS TAKE ON THE CITADEL THIS SATURDAY THAT YOU HAVE A TICKET--BECAUSE A VAST MAJORITY OF YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND IT ON T-V. OH IT WILL BE TELEVISED--BUT ONLY ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK. ON THE FACE OF IT, THE BIG TEN NETWORK SOUNDS GREAT--EVERY GAME OF EVERY SCHOOL ON T-V. THE PROBLEM, THE NETWORK HASN'T SIGNED ANY DEALS WITH THE MAJOR CABLE PROVIDERS IN WISCONSIN. IN FACT, THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND THE BIG TEN NETWORK IS ON SATELLITE T-V. AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE HANG UP IS MONEY.

THE BIG TEN, CHARTER AND TIME WARNER ARE REPORTEDLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS APART ON HOW MUCH IT SHOULD COST TO GET A SPOT IN THE HUNDREDS OF AVAILABLE CHANNELS. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE BIG TEN ENDS UP IN ANOTHER PREMIUM LEVEL SERVICE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. WOULDN'T WANT TO BUMP THE JEWELRY SHOPPING CHANNEL TO MAKE ROOM IN THE STANDARD PACKAGE. OR EVEN WORSE, IT COULD BE PAY PER VIEW LIKE THE BASEBALL SEASON TICKET OR HOCKEY CENTER ICE PACKAGES.

YOU MAY THINK "BIG DEAL, ITS JUST THE CITADEL". BUT THE BADGERS--INDIANA GAME WILL ONLY BE ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK AS WELL. AND YOU WON'T HAVE THOSE "ESPN PLUS" GAMES ON CHANNEL FIVE ANYMORE--THOSE GAMES ARE ALL ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK--SO NO KEEPING AN EYE ON OTHER TEAMS IN THE CONFERENCE EVERY SATURDAY. THE FIRST GAME ON THE "CAN'T SEE IT HERE NETWORK" WAS APPALACHIAN STATE'S HUGE UPSET OF MICHIGAN.

THE REAL IMPACT ON BADGER FANS WILL COME DURING THE WINTER SPORTS SEASON. AS PART OF THE BIG TEN DEAL--ALL CONFERENCE GAMES NOT ON ESPN OR CBS WILL BE ON THE BIG TEN CHANNEL ONLY. THAT MEANS NO MORE WEEKNIGHT OR SATURDAY AFTERNOON BADGER GAMES ON CHANNEL 32 IN GREEN BAY. THE DEAL EVEN COVERS BADGER HOCKEY--WHICH MEANS VERY FEW GAMES ON FOX SPORTS NET--EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO BIG TEN HOCKEY CONFERENCE!!!!! TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION CAN'T TAPE DELAY ANY OF THE BADGER SPORTS FOR REPLAY ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHTS.

ONCE AGAIN COLLEGE SPORTS IS CUT DOWN BY MONEY GRUBBING SCHOOL PRESIDENTS AND MONEY GRUBBING CABLE COMPANIES--AND IT'S THE KIDS AND THE FANS THAT LOSE OUT. MY HOPE IS THAT THE CABLE NETWORK FAILS MISERABLY--AND THAT THE CONFERENCE IS FORCED TO ADMIT THAT GAMES ON FREE T-V AND BASIC CABLE ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SCHOOLS.