David Frum was doing the rounds on CBC radio this morning as I drove to Muskoka. I heard him speaking first with Matt Galloway as the reception faded then to Wei Chen about 45 minutes later. He feels that the gun control issue in the US is so sensitive that it probably can not be dealt with by elected politicians in the current highly polarized environment. If the President were to initiate gun control legislation, the NRA and the Republican party would dig in and success would be virtually impossible. He is hopeful, however, that a citizens group could succeed in building a broad, non-partisan consensus in the US around this issue which could then lead to legislative changes down the road. He used the example of Mothers Against Drunk Driving which was able to effect significant change in the 1980's not only in law but in creating full public consensus for stronger laws and stiffer punishment around drinking and driving. The difference in this case is that there is no organization which speaks for the constitutional rights of drunk drivers the way the NRA does for American gun culture.
Yesterday at the Rogers Centre, the Buffalo Bills gave up points Gangnam Style (sorry, had to use it) as they clinched their 13th consecutive non-playoff season and their 8th straight losing season. Chan Gailey is now officially on the hot seat and Bills management probably realizes that bringing him and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick back for a fourth season would alienate a significant chunk of the fan base and put a serious dent in season ticket sales. Unless something remarkably positive takes place over the final two games, it seems likely that a new head coach and quarterback will be headed to Buffalo in 2013.
PSY took the stage at halftime yesterday and performed his signature (and only popular) song, Gangnam Style. He is a good showman with a catchy Korean charisma (from the alliteration department) and a commanding stage presence. I don't know what he was paid, but for four and half minutes work, it's probably pretty lucrative for him. May he ride it as long as he can.
Yesterday also marked the sad conclusion to the ill-fated "Bills in Toronto" series. When it was announced in early 2008, I thought that it would be hugely popular and highly successful in this, North America's fifth largest market. So obviously did Rogers Communications. That's why a friend and I jumped on the chance to pay more than $3,500 for two 500 level tickets to all eight games in the series. It ended up being only seven games and I can't recall the total amount of the rebates we received after the first year. I do remember that the face price of the tickets to the two games in 2008 was $255 and the same tickets yesterday had a face price of $95. Even with the steep price reduction, there were significant chunks of empty seats in the top corners of the 500 level for yesterday's game. So, what is the lesson for the Bills and for Rogers? First, the Bills relationship with Toronto is not the same (or even close to being the same) as the Green Bay Packers relationship is with the city of Milwaukee - the example that Rogers probably looked to when the idea was conceived. And, Toronto is home to many NFL fans but not as many fans of the Buffalo Bills as Rogers had assumed. And, the Rogers Centre atmosphere, even if it were sold out, is so different from that of Ralph Wilson Stadium that it is barely comparable. If the Bills in Toronto deal is renewed, Rogers and the Bills will have to come up with a different way to promote and sell the games in the Toronto market. The league is probably not pleased with the take-up of these games in Toronto but if there is any organization in North America which is capable of harnessing its marketing machine to come up with a way to make these games more compelling, it is the National Football League itself. If the NFL can't help to figure out a way to make it work, then it simply can not be done.
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