Chris Webber’s Legacy

Links (5)

Cashing in on Nostalgia. Cashing in on the New.
Published 4/2/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network
In America, the marriage of baseball and nostalgia can make for an intoxicating blend, and rightfully so. Baseball seems to bring us back to days with family and friends, and “the good old days.” And when it comes to saying goodbye to a ballpark that is revered, well, people far and wide will make the pilgrimage to say their final farewells. So, it should come as no surprise that MLB owners look to cash in on stadium swan songs, if they have longevity and rank something above the Kingdome. Ballparks are sliced and diced and sold to those that wish to put a piece of history in their home or office. Along with the selling off of history, ...

See Them All: 239 Players In MLB Born Outside US
Published 4/2/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network
MLB announced yesterday that a total of 239 players on Opening Day rosters and disabled lists were born outside the 50 United States. Overall, 28.0 percent of the 855 Major League players (749 active 25-man roster players, 106 disabled or restricted Major League players) on March 30th rosters were born outside the 50 United States, representing 16 different countries or territories. In 2007, a record 246 players were born outside the United States, amounting to 29.0 percent of players on Opening Day rosters and disabled lists. The highest percentage of foreign-born players occurred in 2005, when 29.2 percent of those on Opening Day rosters and ...

Max Headroom: MLB.TV Doubles Activity Levels
Published 4/3/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network
MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, announced today that its out-of-market video package, MLB.TV, reached unprecedented Opening Day levels by delivering over 1.7 million live game video streams and adding nearly 36,000 individual subscribers during the first two days of games from March 31-April 1. Both figures represent increases more than double the comparable activities from the same time period in 2007. The traffic increase comes on the heels of the largest product launch in MLB.com's history , including "High-Def" streaming. Source: MLBAM Press Release ...

Jeter & Ortiz Throw Caps in the Ring for XM Campaign
Published 4/3/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network
Getting tired (already) of Obama, Clinton, and McCain talk? Want new fresh faces on the campaign trail? How about Derek Jeter and David Ortiz as new candidates. Both Jeter and Ortiz have tossed their caps into the ring to campaign for XM Satellite Radio. The "race" is the new multimedia marketing campaign from XM that will run throughout the course of the season. A new XM TV spot offers a parody of election ads with Ortiz campaigning for the "Every Game" platform, while Jeter stumps for "Every Team." The TV spot and online ads are premiering this week. ...

Back in Black: Extra Innings and MLB.TV Blackouts
Published 4/3/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball :: Business of Sports Network
As sure as the swing of the bats and the crack of the ball signify the Boys of Summer are back, fan dissatisfaction at MLB’s television blackout policy arrives in full bloom. The range of emotions run from bewilderment, to outright rage, and all points in-between. This topic has become a well worn topic here at The Biz of Baseball for me, so much so that during negotiations for Extra Innings last year, and the announcement of the upcoming MLB Network set to launch next year, we devoted an entire section to the site. Looking back through the comments made by customers will find many new to this topic shaking their heads in bewilderment. ...