Here’s something to think about on the economy angle: If the weak economy were driving people to watch more sports, wouldn’t sports ratings be up disproportionately in the areas where the economy has been hit the hardest? ie, Michigan, Arizona, California, maybe Florida? But there is no such trend. It’s just lazy guesswork backed up by no data.

My dad finally picked one up, and now he DVRs all sports events at all times, just in case he wants to watch that game from six weeks ago during down time, and he never even used his DVR functions a single time prior to getting the plasma.

So, purely anecdotal, as I said, but it would surprise me not at all if HD is at least some factor in the increased ratings. Ditto the economy, which may be pure supposition (which isn’t even as concrete as something that is purely anecdotal), but nevertheless is not something that deserves scorn and derision.

Do you think Bill’s hair trigger has gotten finer the longer he’s been running a web site? Perhaps he’s reacting to all the great unwashed out there who rant and rave at him when they disagree with one of his posts? Sort of a dirtier version of the old if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?

The Redskins blame people not showing up to games (they still bought tickets, they just aren’t using them or selling them to people who do use them) on the bad economy and it blames LOWER ratings locally on lack of compelling matchups. they were down over 100,000 per game on average through late October.

I’d guess both are more due to the Redskins sucking (AKA “lack of compelling matchups) than the economy. If the Redskins were 7-1, I’m pretty sure those seats would get filled and the ratings would be better.

At least there’s no line for the bathroom at your house. There are probably also fewer drunken slobs cursing near your kids.