This Week's Newsmakers: "Costas Now" Highlights HBO, Bissinger
THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of people and entities in sports business. Here are this week’s newsmakers.
WIN: HBO -- The net begins the week by taking home eight trophies at the Sports Emmy Awards, the most hardware for any single net. It might even be a blessing none of the trophies are for "Inside the NFL," the long-time critical favorite HBO canceled after this '07 football season. However, heads really started turning to HBO when its controversial "Costas Now" special examining the sports media landscape sparks animated discussion about whether traditional media “gets” the blogosphere and citizen journalism.
LOSE: BUZZ BISSINGER -- If bloggers like WILL LEITCH are the future, as Bissinger relents on "Costas Now," the "Friday Night Lights” author will have many uncomfortable years in front of him. Bissinger fumes at the Deadspin.com founder and his ilk for "dumbing down" society, but his outrage only brings into question his -- and mainstream media's -- understanding of the new media landscape. While Leitch takes the high road in the confrontation, Bissinger's antics make him look out of touch with society and a relic for a time long since passed.
DRAW: BCS -- It comes as no surprise the D-I conference commissioners reject a proposed plus-one postseason format, but their overwhelming opposition indicates college football's power players may hold the status quo in higher regard than anticipated. The current system preserves the importance of the regular season, which the Chicago Tribune's TEDDY GREENSTEIN calls "outstanding." But coming off a season which sees a handful of teams lay claim to deserving a shot at the title, will the BCS ever consistently produce a "true" national champion?
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