Ron Zook Will Be a Reality Television Star

It's pretty sad when I think about it, but I have to tell you, I'm excited to know that in a few months I'll finally have the Big Ten Network. The White Sox and Cubs are in first place and play again this weekend? That's cool. The NBA Draft is tonight and the Bulls have the first pick? Neat. The Blackhawks will be playing a game at Wrigley Field? That could be fun.

I'll have the Big Ten Network on August 25th? WOOOO HOOOOO!!!

Finally, after following from afar my entire life, I'll be able to see the rivalry that is Minnesota/Wisconsin Lacrosse. My eyes are watering up just thinking about it.

Seriously, though, I'm very happy to know that I'm going to be able to see any Big Ten football or basketball game I want to this season. No longer will I have to watch Michigan or Ohio State every Saturday this season if I don't want to.

I'll be able to see every Illinois game as Ron Zook tries to keep his program on the path to becoming a Big Ten power. Of course, it's not only the games I'm going to be able to follow, but the entire path leading up to the games.

BTN officials plan to announce Thursday the Illini will be featured in Season 2. Minnesota and its first-year basketball coach, Tubby Smith, were the series' guinea pigs.

"I talked with Tubby and he was impressed with their professionalism," Zook said. "He had the same fears in the beginning as I do."

Chief among those fears?

"This will be like having someone in your bedroom," Zook said.

The first installment of "Illinois Football: The Journey" will air Sept. 2 and last an hour. The series is slated for 10 to 13 episodes, most 30 minutes long.

So it's kind of like HBO's Hard Knocks (which I love), but with Illinois football instead of the Dallas Cowboys. I don't know about you, but I'm already setting my DVR.

It's Official: Comcast and Big Ten Network Finalize Deal

It's been a long time coming, and after reporting that a deal was nearly complete earlier this week, it was announced on Thursday that Comcast and the Big Ten Network have finally reached a deal. That means starting August 15th of this year, I'll be able to watch all the women's lacrosse I ever dreamed of!

Oh, and of course football and basketball too. Here are the particulars.

The BTN and the Philadelphia-based cable carrier announced a multiyear agreement Thursday for programming that starts Aug. 15 on expanded basic cable in states with Big Ten schools: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Comcast doesn't have any subscribers in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.

Outside these states, Comcast has the option to move the channel on its Sports Entertainment Package and other tiers. After the 2008-09 basketball season ends, Comcast has the option to shift the network to its digital service in Big Ten states. Outside of the region, Comcast has the option to not offer the channel at all after the upcoming basketball season or to put it on its sports and entertainment package or other tiers of service.

Blah blah blah, I finally get to watch what I want. The deal seems pretty simple to me, basically people that live in Big Ten country get the channel as a basic channel, and those outside of the Big Ten can pay for it if they want it.

It took them two years to figure that out? The Great Compromise this was not. Though I heard that Comcast was trying to put in a clause that said African-Americans would only count as 3/5 of a viewer in the Nielsen ratings. The racist bastards.

Big Ten Network and Comcast Finally Have a Deal

There have been quite a few times over the last two years that we've all been told that the Big Ten Network and Comcast cable are close to making a deal that will allow Comcast subscribers (like yours truly) to watch the BTN from the comfort of home.

Then, that deal never comes. This did not please me, because I missed damn near an entire season of Big Ten basketball (though that may have actually been a blessing this season) and quite a few Illini games during the football season.

Well, I think I'm going to be able to see every game this fall as Comcast and the BTN have come to an agreement, and I think they mean it this time.

Comcast and the BTN are prepared to put nearly two years of bitter negotiations aside to announce a long-term partnership, the Tribune has learned.

"For all intents and purposes, it's done," one source close to the negotiations said Sunday.

Technically, it's not done. But sources expect the deal will be completed and unveiled this week.

Cross your fingers, people.

The BTN actually seems to be getting what it wants out of this deal, because as it's currently structured, the network is going to be added to the expanded basic cable instead of being added to a sports package like Comcast wanted. Still, there's a possibility it could be moved to one after a few years.

Of course, I don't really care where the channel is, just as long as I have it.

Have Comcast and the Big Ten Network Finally Reached an Agreement?

I've always been a huge college basketball fan, but this year has felt a lot different. I haven't really been into the college hardwood this season, but not because I've grown tired of the sport, but because I haven't been able to watch the games that interest me most.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the ACC, the Big East, and the Pac-10 as much as anybody, but my true love is and always has been the Big Ten. Well, while not having the Big Ten Network didn't really affect my Big Ten football season since ABC and ESPN generally aired all the major games, it killed my basketball season.

All year I've had access to about three Big Ten games a week on my television. Now for those of you who have been able to watch the Big Ten all season, you may say that the network was doing me a favor, but still, I'd have rather found that out for myself.

So why am I rambling on about this right now? Well, because it looks like maybe, just maybe, the Big Ten Network and Comcast cable have finally come to terms and I may have the Big Ten Network by this fall.

After a flurry of backroom deals, the Big Ten Network appears poised to land its most significant carriage deal to date, as top executives from Comcast and Fox have agreed on the framework of an agreement, according to sources from both sides.

A signed deal could still be weeks, or even months, away, as lawyers from both sides hammer out the specifics. Snags still could develop, but sources are optimistic that a deal will get done.

Given the history of interaction between these two sides over the last year, I suggest you pay special attention to the "snags could still develop" part of that quote. No matter what these two say, I prefer to believe it when I see it.

As for what kind of compromise was reached to finally settle the impasse between the network and cable giant, here's the plan.

Comcast agreed to launch the conference network on expanded basic through most of the Big Ten Conference’s eight-state region, as much as 94 percent of it, according to one source. Previously, Comcast was adamant against launching on expanded basic to a such a wide area.

Meanwhile, Big Ten Network relaxed its demand to launch the channel on expanded basic everywhere in the eight-state market. The channel will allow Comcast the flexibility to place it on digital basic in various markets within the footprint, including Philadelphia.

Which makes so much sense it's no wonder why it took them a year and a half to figure it out.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

The Big Ten Network Is Starting To Cave

I don't feel like talking about last night's Ohio State loss and what it means for the Big Ten here today, but if you're really interested in what I have to say about it, I'll probably be writing something over at FanHouse on the subject later.

I will say that last night's Buckeye's loss is a huge blow for the perception of Big Ten football across the country.

Another huge blow for the Big Ten's perception as a conference this season has been directly related to the fact that most people can't see the Big Ten, at least not in Chicago. That's because the Big Ten Network and Comcast have been at war since the summer about how much cable customers should pay for BTN and yadda yadda blah blah blah.

If you're a sports fan in this town, you already know the story. You can't turn on the radio for more than 15 minutes without hearing an ad from one side of the debate telling you what assholes the other guys are being.

Well, after the football season ended, the talk kind of died down a bit. Now though, we've reached the Big Ten's conference schedule in basketball, and guess what, people would like to be able to watch it.

And it also seems the BTN is finally starting to relent on it's demands, and may actually show up on Comcast sometime in our lifetimes.

Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said Monday he was "cautiously optimistic" an agreement could be reached with Comcast, the largest cable distributor in the area. The parties began having "productive conversations" in December, Silverman said.

"We're cautiously optimistic because we've addressed what we were told were their concerns," Silverman said. "We've been consistent all along. We want to get a deal done. We're looking forward to hearing from them, hopefully shortly."

Comcast spokesman Richard Ruggiero confirmed that discussions were ongoing. "We have continued the dialogue," he said. "We've said all along we're trying to work out an agreement that makes sense for all of our customers."

There is a different tone to what both sides are saying now as compared to what it was before. The key there is Silverman saying the BTN is addressing Comcast's concerns, which means they may finally be relenting on their insistence that customers pay $1.10 a month for the network.

The BTN also realizes that if they don't work out a deal with Comcast now, the cable company has no reason to even consider negotiating with them again until the summer before football season starts again.

Hopefully the two sides will get something hammered out soon, because I have to tell you, it's really hard for me to cover both football and basketball in the Big Ten for FanHouse when I can't see 75% of the games being played.

Don't get me wrong, I can get by on my good looks and charm for another 5 years, but I wouldn't mind actually knowing what I'm talking about as well.

Foul Balls

Joe Gibbs Is Retiring....Again - After honoring the memory of Sean Taylor with their 21-point loss to the Seahawks this last weekend, the Redskins will be saying goodbye to their head coach Joe Gibbs yet again.

Joe will be announcing his retirement later this afternoon.

After the toughest season of his Hall of Fame career, one that tested his leadership like never before, Joe Gibbs is stepping down.

He retired as coach and team president of the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, three days after a playoff loss ended an inspirational late-season run that followed the death of safety Sean Taylor.

Gibbs will remain as a special adviser to owner Dan Snyder and was to discuss his retirement at an afternoon news conference at Redskins Park.

Gibbs was never able to recapture the magic formula that he used in his first time around with the Redskins, but he did manage to get them to the playoffs twice. He even won a playoff game.

Still, there were too many instances during his return that showed the NFL game may have passed Joe by during all those years he spent on NASCAR infields, and getting out is probably the best thing for him and his legacy.

As for who will replace Gibbs in Washington, my money is on defensive coordinator Gregg (The second G is for victory.) Williams or Tom Cruise.

Blah Blah Roger Clemens Blah Blah - Ok, so I have no idea what to make of the phone call that Roger Clemens played at a press conference yesterday between himself and Brian McNamee.

Nobody says anything in the call, and nobody denies anything either. All I know is that Roger is fighting this thing more than any other player I've ever seen before, which in a way makes me wonder if he just might be telling the truth. I doubt it, but I can't be sure.

Which in reality, is probably all Clemens wants out of the entire thing. All I do know is that the back and forth between Clemens and McNamee is incredibly entertaining. I feel like I'm in high school again watching two girls talking shit to each other in the hallway for five minutes before finally getting down to business.

I don't know when it's going to happen, but sooner than later the hair pulling will begin, and the linoleum will be covered in extensions and blood.

At Least One Good Reason LSU Won - I already posted this video over at FanHouse, but I enjoyed it so much I'm going to post it here as well.

I'm partially concerned about this kid's future seeing as how he's being raised by people who give him bottles of beer and take him to parties, but at the same time, the kid's a natural born entertainer. He's working the crowd at an 8th grade level.



Let's hope his life takes a different path than that of another Louisiana born and bred entertainer who got their start at a young age.

The Big Ten Network Reaches Chicago

If you're like me, you plan on watching a lot of college football today. Of course, after a while I'm going to need another game to watch, because Purdue should have a 30 point lead on my Irish any second now. I would like to switch over to the Illinois/Penn State game, but of course, I can't.

Because I don't have Big Ten Network. I have Comcast.

There is good news for me though, as the BTN has made some inroads into the city of Chicago, and it's going to put pressure on Comcast to work out a deal sooner or later.

BTN officials announced late Friday that they had come to terms with RCN Cable, which serves areas such as the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Streeterville, Hyde Park and Rogers Park.

The deal should apply pressure to Midwest cable giant Comcast because Chicago-area customers no longer have to select a satellite provider—namely DirecTV or the DISH Network—to get the network.

"This is a testament to the fact that deals can get done," BTN Vice President Elizabeth Conlisk said.

"If 140 companies can figure out ways to get a deal done, why can't Comcast, Time Warner and Charter?"

You know, you would think with all the times I've lost my television or internet for no reason-occasionally for days at a time-Comcast would figure they owe me a favor. Well, I'm calling in that favor, but unfortunately all I get is some guy named Sanji telling me his name is Clint and that I can't have the channel.

The Big Ten Network is now available in over 30 million homes, and not a single one of them is mine.

Comcast Is Mature

In the on-going battle between Comcast and the Big Ten Network, both sides have been slinging mud at each other in that same immature manner that's better reserved for third graders and our politicians.
Well, Comcast has taken it to a new level. I'll let Brian Cook from FanHouse explain.

...now Comcast (or, rather, an amateurish PR firm hired by them) has raised the stupidity stakes by running around to various Big Ten message boards posting transparent drivel.

"Victory4MSU20" (post count: 1) pops up on Michigan State Scout site GoSpartans.net to offer this:

I'm a big fan of State sports so I went to the Big 10 Network's kick-off party in East Lansing last week. Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delaney was there telling everybody how great this new TV package is going to be for college football and b-ball fans. WHAT A CROCK! Delaney is like the emperor who wore no clothes...the BTC has already sold its best games to ABC and ESPN. How delusional is Delaney and these other Big 10 greedmongers who want to charge us for the games we'd be able to see on our local cable station? If you want to learn more about the Big 10's big time rip off, I found a web site that explains a lot... www.puttingfansfirst.org VICTORY FOR MSU!!!

Good lord, this is getting retarded.

I understand both sides. The Big Ten wants to be in as many homes as possible, so they want to be just part of the basic cable package.

Comcast, meanwhile, says there's no reason that everybody should have to pay an extra $1.10 a month when only hardcore Big Ten fans such as myself are going to watch the channel.

Of course, I don't remember them sharing the same concerns when they added Home and Garden Television to the basic package.

All I know is, we're only a few weeks away from the start of the season, and they better figure it out soon. Yes, ABC and ESPN will still be carrying all the marquee games, but I want to watch Illinois too. And Indiana. And Purdue. And yes, maybe even Northwestern.

That's just football. When the basketball season kicks in, the station will really be worth it.

If you want me to pay an extra $1.10 a month, I'll pay it. If you want me to pay an extra $8 a month for a sports package that includes the NFL Network and NBA TV as well, that's fine too.

Just give me the damn network, please.

Comcast Isn't Budging On The Big Ten Network

Yesterday in the High Five I linked to a story at We Are The Postmen about the Big Ten and their idea to expand to 12 teams in the near future thanks to their new network. Well the Big Ten is putting the cart before the horse apparently, because they still haven't struck a deal with most of the cable operators around the midwest.

Of course, I don't care about whether or not people in Iowa are going to be able to get the Big Ten Network, I just want Comcast to carry it in Chicago. The way things are going, it doesn't look like they will.

Comcast wants to put the Big Ten Network on a sports tier. The BTN says no way.

The BTN wants $1.10 per Midwest subscriber. Comcast says no way.

Back and forth they go.

But now the talk sounds like more than negotiation rhetoric. BTN President Mark Silverman said Thursday he's almost ready to recommend Big Ten fans dump their current provider in favor of DirecTV, the only major operator committed to carrying the network.

"We're at the point where I'd say if there's not movement by Comcast in the next two weeks, then it'll be time to switch," Silverman said by telephone from Iowa City. "I'm not surprised we don't have a deal done. I never anticipated having the larger deals done in July. But I did expect to be having some productive conversations on how to make it work as opposed to cable operators staking out such a drastic tier-or-nothing stance."

It's like baseball and Extra Innings all over again. I find it kind of annoying that the Big Ten just assumes all of us with cable can just switch over to a satellite dish. Nevermind the fact I use Comcast for television, internet, and the phone. Nevermind I live in an apartment building, and most of us apartment dwellers can't get a satellite.

Just get the damn satellite.

As any of you regular readers know, I've also had my issues with Comcast. I've had to go days without service for no reason that technicians could explain, so they're not exactly my favorite people in the world either, but all this fighting is stupid.

The Big Ten wants the BTN to be on the standard cable package, and charge viewers $1.10 a month for the channel. Comcast wants to add the network to it's sports package that features the NFL Network and NBA TV, and customers have to pay $6.99 for.

Well as most of us who are probably interested in the BTN, I already have that sports package, so having the BTN added to it won't change anything to me. I can also afford the extra $1 a month if that's the route they choose to go.

Just stop bickering about it and get the damn deal done. You're both going to make a ton of money off of this either way. The channel is set to launch on August 30th, and at this rate there aren't going to be many people watching.