Ms. Ackermann,
I love St. John's basketball. It started in the 1978 ECAC Holiday Festival at MSG (I believe the year is correct) They were down by 17 points at the half. My father the alum, gave up saying the team was the worst ever and went upstairs. I stayed down and watched an incredible comeback as St. John's beat Duke in the 3rd place game of the tourney. I have rooted from highest to lowest points for my team and its conference. We have had a glorious ride.
But now I am scared for the Big East. ESPN and the ACC are trying to put the final notches in to ending the Big East. Brooklyn is now a site for their championship. You and I both know both Espn was the reason that Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Louisville left the conference. While the ACC may have a bigger war chest and ESPN. I believe its time to fight fire with fire.
1. Challenge them - Big East vs. ACC Challenge - We have the thing they want most- Madison Square Garden. And make it public. Our Top 5 seed vs. Their Top 5 Seeds at Madison Square Garden. The Saturday before the Super Bowl. All day basketball at the Garden. When they say no, make that public as well, that the mighty ACC is afraid of the challenge. If they say yes, what an awesome day of basketball.
2. Adding teams - There are 4 teams that the Big East needs to add- both in the Midwest and the East. Get them to sign an iron clad contract for all sports, but they can keep their football in the AMERICAN. UConn, Cinncinati, Temple and VCU. Gonzaga might be too far to add. Yes I understand that there may be bad blood - find a way to make this work. The conference needs these teams.
3. Contact the Pac - 12 to develop a conference vs conference challenge (on a yearly basis) - Three Games at UCLA and three Games in Philly or Omaha. Both conferences have FS1 as their television covereage. More national exposure for both leagues.
4. DO NOT GIVE GOOD GAMES to CBS Sportsnet - Creighton vs. Providence on the last night of the season wasn't on our flagship. It needed to be. Doug MCDermott's final home game needed to have been shown on our network. Let have a Saturday Night Main event. to counter Espn Game Day - Each team gets a home game to showcase the talent. Do the pregame on site. See if we can get Billy Packer to call our games. Hr would give the network and conference instant credibility,
5. Start Games on time - Many times games were scheduled to start at 7 and 9 PM. Many times fans come into the second game 5 to 10 minutes late (or more ) because the first game wasn't finished on FS1. Come up with weekly time slots and doubleheader on FS1.
6. Our referees could improve. Please watch the St. John's vs. Providence Big East tourney game. I will admit St. John's deserved to lose. But the referees were awful. I could also point out other games as well such as Marquette Providence (second game between them). Big Time basketball deserves big time referees.
7. For many years, Mike Francesa had a supporting role with CBS college basketball. Why can't FS1 develop a weekly segment with Mr. Francesa with you and coaches/players on his show. He is on their airwaves 25 hours a week - I am sure we could get a thirty minute segment each week during the regular season. Invite him to call a few games (he has in the past).
Ms. Ackerman, I wish you the best and look for you to captain the conference through this time. I look forward to the day ESPN has to eat crow with the Requiem for the Big East and produce a 30/30 on the ACC - America's Crumbling Conference. If you wish to respond I look forward to it. I will be posting this letter on Redmen.com
Sincerely,
Tim Clancy
I love St. John's basketball. It started in the 1978 ECAC Holiday Festival at MSG (I believe the year is correct) They were down by 17 points at the half. My father the alum, gave up saying the team was the worst ever and went upstairs. I stayed down and watched an incredible comeback as St. John's beat Duke in the 3rd place game of the tourney. I have rooted from highest to lowest points for my team and its conference. We have had a glorious ride.
But now I am scared for the Big East. ESPN and the ACC are trying to put the final notches in to ending the Big East. Brooklyn is now a site for their championship. You and I both know both Espn was the reason that Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Louisville left the conference. While the ACC may have a bigger war chest and ESPN. I believe its time to fight fire with fire.
1. Challenge them - Big East vs. ACC Challenge - We have the thing they want most- Madison Square Garden. And make it public. Our Top 5 seed vs. Their Top 5 Seeds at Madison Square Garden. The Saturday before the Super Bowl. All day basketball at the Garden. When they say no, make that public as well, that the mighty ACC is afraid of the challenge. If they say yes, what an awesome day of basketball.
2. Adding teams - There are 4 teams that the Big East needs to add- both in the Midwest and the East. Get them to sign an iron clad contract for all sports, but they can keep their football in the AMERICAN. UConn, Cinncinati, Temple and VCU. Gonzaga might be too far to add. Yes I understand that there may be bad blood - find a way to make this work. The conference needs these teams.
3. Contact the Pac - 12 to develop a conference vs conference challenge (on a yearly basis) - Three Games at UCLA and three Games in Philly or Omaha. Both conferences have FS1 as their television covereage. More national exposure for both leagues.
4. DO NOT GIVE GOOD GAMES to CBS Sportsnet - Creighton vs. Providence on the last night of the season wasn't on our flagship. It needed to be. Doug MCDermott's final home game needed to have been shown on our network. Let have a Saturday Night Main event. to counter Espn Game Day - Each team gets a home game to showcase the talent. Do the pregame on site. See if we can get Billy Packer to call our games. Hr would give the network and conference instant credibility,
5. Start Games on time - Many times games were scheduled to start at 7 and 9 PM. Many times fans come into the second game 5 to 10 minutes late (or more ) because the first game wasn't finished on FS1. Come up with weekly time slots and doubleheader on FS1.
6. Our referees could improve. Please watch the St. John's vs. Providence Big East tourney game. I will admit St. John's deserved to lose. But the referees were awful. I could also point out other games as well such as Marquette Providence (second game between them). Big Time basketball deserves big time referees.
7. For many years, Mike Francesa had a supporting role with CBS college basketball. Why can't FS1 develop a weekly segment with Mr. Francesa with you and coaches/players on his show. He is on their airwaves 25 hours a week - I am sure we could get a thirty minute segment each week during the regular season. Invite him to call a few games (he has in the past).
Ms. Ackerman, I wish you the best and look for you to captain the conference through this time. I look forward to the day ESPN has to eat crow with the Requiem for the Big East and produce a 30/30 on the ACC - America's Crumbling Conference. If you wish to respond I look forward to it. I will be posting this letter on Redmen.com
Sincerely,
Tim Clancy
