Tournament ending does not live up to great start

It has been a pretty dull finish to what started out as a spectacular NCAA Tournament on both the men’s and women’s side.

The men’s Final Four had a pair of blowouts, including a 44-point win by Villanova Saturday night, while on the women’s side no one is going to stop Connecticut from winning yet another title.

I really had high hopes for both tournaments, including spending Sunday and Tuesday in Indianapolis watching the Notre Dame Fighting Irish play for a title.

When I saw the four teams that reached Houston for the men’s final, I was less than impressed with the exception of North Carolina, of which I have been a fan of for many years.

Still, the drama and excitement seems to be gone in both Houston and Indianapolis unless your are a fan of the four teams that remain.

Maybe it is the fact that the games are being shown on pay television instead of CBS like the men’s tournament has been for years.

I do not understand putting it on TBS, TNT and TrueTV.

I know it is 2016, but there are still a lot of people out there who do not subscribe to cable or satellite TV.

But that is the way of the world.

I have the same problem with NBC and Fox Sports shuffling NASCAR to its “minor league” substations.

I just do not understand the logic of putting something on the main channel that most of America could care less about watching and forcing fans to shell out more money to watch their favorite sport on FS1 or NBCSN.

Maybe sports television has become too saturated. Perhaps there are just too many sports channels and not enough sports to go around.

I know it seems ridiculous to most sports fans, but I was perfectly happy with NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN.

Now everyone thinks they need to have a spin-off channel as if they were a successful sitcom, which needed to “spin-off” one of its characters.

Trust me, we do not need four of five “Law & Orders” or “CSIs.”

My parents once told me that less is more. Maybe we should take that into consideration with our sports networks.

 

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com.

SportsPlus

News

Brandywine volleyball falls to Bridgman in D3 district opener

Community News

Santa, live reindeer to visit Niles Nov. 23

Business

Dowagiac to welcome the holiday season with festive event lineup

Dowagiac HS

Edwardsburg, Dowagiac spikers sweep district foes

Community News

SMC Founders Day celebrates 60th anniversary

Berrien County

MDHHS warns Michigan residents about increase in whooping cough cases

Crime/Court

Niles man gets probation for Joey Armadillo’s disturbance

Community News

Junior Farm Bureau presents plaque to Berrien County Youth Fair Association

Community News

Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant kicks off 84th year

Brandywine HS

Buchanan’s McBeth all-state at cross country state finals

Edwardsburg HS

Eddies control clock, use big plays to derail Beavers 29-8

News

Niles routs Paw Paw 42-14 in D4 playoff opener

Crime/Court

Dowagiac men get prison time on drug charges

Community News

Pat Ham student appointed honorary member of Dowagiac City Council

Crime/Court

Arrest made in connection to fatal Keeler Township home invasion

Community News

Dowagiac Chamber honors Anderson with Lifetime Achievement Award

Buchanan

New Buchanan tattoo parlor ‘a dream come true’ for owner

Dowagiac

Teacher/Staff Spotlight: Dara Killarney, Dowagiac Union Schools Transportation

Buchanan

McCollum Livery project added to Buchanan’s social district

Cassopolis

2025 Miss Cassopolis Pageant set for Nov. 9

Brandywine HS

Area cross country runners qualify for state meet

Crime/Court

Area men get prison time

Brandywine Education

Brandywine to host annual Veterans Day breakfast

Business

Fernwood Botanical Garden announces new Executive Director