Jim Nantz Wishes ESPN Would 'Leave Something for the Rest of Us' Re: BCS Lease

ESPN made a pretty strong statement in recent weeks with their four-year contract to run the BCS Championship games, particularly since they laid down a bid that Fox was unable/unwilling to match in an attempt to protect their college football telecasting investment.

And it would make sense that "public" media types are a little thrown off by the WWL's decision to schmo-hog all off the good sports television. That includes Jim Nantz, in a recent interview with the dudes from Game On!

The over-the-air networks have got to hope that at some point ESPN runs out of program hours. Leave us a little something. Leave us a few windows.

[...]But I wish (ESPN) well. I know a lot of people in the business are saying, 'Hey, wait a minute, this isn't right.' Hey, it's their money. They can do what they want."

I dislike ESPN (the personalities anyway) as much as the next guy/gal, but Nantz is right on that second count -- it's their money, so they can spend it however they want. Although, as he later points out, it is in fact quite odd that Disney is deciding to air these games on ESPN instead of ABC.

Of course, that could have to do with putting the squeeze on most of America to cough up and purchase cable if they want to watch college football's championship. The reality is that -- at this point -- everyone should have at least basic cable. I'm sorry, and I'm not trying to be haughty, but when I see everyone and their brother cruising around town with a cell phone attached to their ear, I have difficulty not seeing how $29.95 a month isn't justified to get full sports coverage.