MASN -Rammed Down My Throat

Nats320
Unlike most everyone else in the Greater Washington, DC area, I have been able to watch every single Washington Nationals Game on television, since the very beginning in 2005, courtesy of DirecTV. But, that doesn't mean I appreciate The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.

Created by Bud Selig and his minions at MLB to appease Baltimore Orioles Owner, Peter Angelos, on moving The Montreal Expos here after the 2004 season--MASN is set up to be a CASH COW for Peter The Great, with the current 20 year franchise agreement only giving Our Washington Nationals a 10% current stake in the profits, reaching a nadir of 33% toward the end of this terrible agreement. And, make no mistake about it, I wanted Comcast to win their lawsuit, if only to get the Nationals TV Rights control, out of Angelos's hands, and back up for grabs to the highest bidder.

I'm not going to re-hash all the truly absurd arraignments with this contract again--we all know about it, basically accept it, and for many--Nationals Baseball Fans--They just want to watch the games--and the vehicle for its viewing--MASN, is just as well as Comcast Sports Net. We want to see Our Nats, that's the bottom line.

Before Comcast began showing MASN last September, MASN basically showed The Nats game and nothing else. That was fine with me--its all I really wanted to see. Since the Nationals 2006 season end, I haven't watched it once. Today, its a supposed 24 Hour Programmed Channel with alot of local College Basketball, Orioles and sometimes Nats Game Replays and a ton of Baltimore Sports Shows. I don't watch it and I haven't cared.

But, yesterday, I came across this article in The Examiner Newspaper, throwing fire, once again, on all my disgust with MASN.

The fact that MASN, erstwhile--Peter Angelos--wants to program Nationals Pre & Post Games around The Baltimore Orioles Games, with all Baltimore Talent,is nothing short of ludicrous.



I don't now who Amber Theoharis or Anita Marks are, or anything about their backgrounds. They may be talented. But, I do know they are BALTIMORE PERSONALITIES. They have NOTHING to do with Washington, DC. As much as I love Rick Dempsey, supposedly the Pre/Post Game Show Analyst--decent player during a fabulous run by The Orioles, and drop dead funny in person--he is closely associated with Baltimore.

Washington needs to find and build its own local talent--not have MASN continually tap their, easily found and used, Baltimore Folks--produced on the cheap.

And--RAM BALTIMORE DOWN MY THROAT--AGAIN!!

Still today, I follow The Orioles. The African Queen and I attended 6 games last season at Camden Yards--3, of course with The Nationals. But, when I am at home watching MY Washington Nationals on the road, I want to hear and see knowledgeable input from reliable sources that cover Our NATIONALS--FULL TIME--nothing short of that is acceptable.

Alot about this Examiner article may well have to do with its writer, Jim Williams. I've work in the media, at the top of the playing field for over a quarter of a century, right here in Washington, DC--never in my life, had I ever heard Jim Williams name--not once. Every time I read one of his articles, he's kissing up to whatever media outlet he's preening for. It always gives me a feeling, Williams is looking for someone to hire him as a Media MegaGod for a team. Whether its Peter Angelos, Daniel Snyder, Abe Pollin, Ted Leonsis--never a discouraging word is written.

Alot of the crap that Williams has posted up in the past has been just that--CRAP! None of it true. And, I am hoping that is the case, again, today in this Examiner article.

But, if there is an inkling of truth to it--Mark Lerner and Stan Kasten better be on their Blackerry's setting up the meeting to discuss this outrage right now.

Sohna and I support THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS--Not The Washington Nationals of Baltimore. I am sick of it.