>>One of the problems with American Football, is that since TV has had such a major financial role in its existance, TV commercials dictate much of "when the game is played". I have seen commercials run and then returned to the game which was in progress. Who cares about the plays anyway? I want to see the frogs singing and the .COM advertisements (may they rest in pieces). That is what American Football is all about! It does not need players or fans - just people to buy the products being advertised to keep the sport "alive and well".
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>>Tom
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>That's terrible - I knew (or think I know) that the game has 4 quarters (or is it eighths now?) for advertising, but I didn't know that they allow advertising to impinge upon the program. I hope that doesn't happen over here - although the TV companies (some of them) are already trying to have games scheduled to suit them.

Robert;

During the mid 70's (seems like last weekend) professional soccer found it’s way to the United States. We played soccer in school back in the late 1950’s, and I had friends that belonged to amateur teams during the 1930’s in San Francisco, so soccer has been around our country for some time, and introduced by people from around the world.

Around 1977 the New York Cosmos hired Pele, and Pele joined the team at once. His first game with the Cosmos was televised by ABC television and was shown all over the country. ABC was very proud of its technology – instant replay and all that. I worked for Ampex and we invented and supplied the television broadcast industry with such things.

What follows was what occurred during that first game. ABC began televising the game from its beginning and then went to a commercial (while the game continued). When they returned they said, “while we were away Pele scored a goal. But do not worry! We have it on instant replay”! The goal sequence was shown and then when it was over the voice said, “while we were showing the replay of Pele’s goal, he scored another goal”! . But do not worry! We have it on instant replay”! After returning from the reviewing of the second goal, the voice said, “And while we were showing the second goal scored by Pele, he scored a header. But do not worry! We have it on instant replay”!

I was screaming! I tried to support soccer by attending professional games here and in Los Angeles. The league fell apart for many reasons. Even trying to watch international soccer games on American TV is difficult, unless it is on cable TV and commercial free.

Tom