"The Masked Bishop" wrote in message gy.com...
I can't think of much that would be more boring that watching chess on
television.

Have you ever seen some of the other things shown on ESPN2? Unknown
lumberjacks sawing and chopping arbitrary amounts of wood in some sort
of a race. Other unkown people lifting a carying various heavy items.
Teens skateboarding in front of crowds so small it must entirely
consist of family. For cryign out loud. Chess is of much more
interest. Kids are playign like crazy so their households should be
interested. Gary just shows up(not even to play chess) to a book
signing and a Barnes and Noble is swamped. If propperly promoted this
can be a hit for espn2. Many people have played computers in chess
and have gotten completely stomped. They may want to see if someone
cna really beat one.

And if anyone out there thinks that broadcasting chess games is
going to spark some kind of membership drive, or make you look cooler
because you've foolishly told your normal friends that you play the game,
then pass me some of that weed you're smoking.

It can help or hurt the sport depending on how it is done.


Were I in charge of ESPN, I'd broadcast the games at 2am, as a favor to
insomniacs desperate for a snooze. And I wouldn't bother hiring a breathless
Maurice Ashley or an over-enthused Yaz Sierawan to provide color commentary.
The last thing I'd want to do is torch what little ratings this silly
programming decision will generate by getting those guys on to ramble about
openings, or worse, the US chess scene.

It has to be able to edge out Lumberjack Larry.


No, I'd prolly hire some hot babes to move the demo pieces and run plenty of
beer commercials. And then never do it again. Think America is ready to
watch a dour, saturnine Russian hunch over a chess board for two hours?
Think again, and then switch over to the Buffy reruns...

Sounds like you would be a big supporter of XFL!


TMB