850 the Buzz's Bomani Jones posted a blog entry on Sunday that referenced a recent survey of North Carolinians. The survey found that 18% of North Carolina residents don't know that the Carolina Hurricanes exist. Also, only 10% of 500 residents polled said that they'd accept free tickets to a Hurricanes game.
The story quotes Mike Sundheim, director of media relations for the Hurricanes, as saying that "in the Stanley Cup finals, a guy for ESPN that was based here in Durham basically ripped us and said nobody cares about us. Well, that guy must have literally not left his house during the two months of the playoffs that year to say that nobody here cares."
That article was written by....Bomani Jones. How convenient.
The poll was done by a "summer fellow" (intern) of Public Policy Polling, Curtis Labban, who is from the University of North Carolina. Looking at the in-depth statistics, I find that Mr. Labban's survey is seriously flawed. Let's hope he was an unpaid intern.
10% of respondents to this automated phone survey would have chosen a ticket to a Hurricanes game. Well, they had SIX choices: the Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers, NASCAR, Charlotte Bobcats, UNC basketball, and Duke basketball. Only 16% chose NASCAR...does that mean that NASCAR's popularity in NC is falling? No, it means that people like football (29%) and UNC basketball (28%). Duke basketball came in at 13%, the Bobcats at 5%. Oddly enough, that adds up to 101%. Somehow, I think Mr. Labban should have rounded someone's number differently so that his poll showed results for 100% of respondents.
I like the Hurricanes. A lot. I normally go to a few games each season. However, in this survey, I would have chosen the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers, for me, are more of a TV phenomenon. I understand that they are only a few hours from my house, and I've been to a few games, but it's expensive to go, and it would take all day, if not parts of two days. I just don't organize "Panther weekends" very often. However, for this phone survey, you're ranking teams in order of importance, not making "real world" decisions. For me, it would be Panthers, Hurricanes, Bobcats, and then NASCAR, UNC and Duke tied for last (unless the games happened to be against NC State).
I would have taken the Panthers tickets, but by the time the game came around, they could very well be on Craigslist. The appeal of "being there" is not that great to me, especially when I factor in all the time involved in getting there and getting back home. I know that the Hurricanes have well-managed traffic, and I can be home 30-45 minutes after the game ends. For a 7pm faceoff, I could leave home at 6:15 and be there.
The 18% that didn't know the Hurricanes existed is laughable. Could they name any hockey team? Do they follow any sports? You could have someone who knows the number and major sponsor of every NASCAR driver, but couldn't name a current NHL player for a million dollars.
There are over 1.5 million people in the Triangle. 23% of the people in the Triangle chose the Hurricanes tickets, second only to UNC basketball (27%).
If Mr. Jones wanted to talk about troubling statistics, he could have mentioned the Bobcats. They were only chosen by 5% of respondents as the free ticket of choice. In the mountains (828), 4% would go see the 'Canes, only 2% would take the shorter drive to Charlotte for the Bobcats. The only area code where the 'Cats reached double digits was 704, their home area code. And they only had 10% there. In the 910, NO ONE picked the Bobcats.
I guess everything doesn't really stop when the Bobcats play.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Greg Freakin' Norman
Greg Norman has a two-shot lead heading into tomorrow's final round the British Open.
That's the 2008 British Open. 53-year old Greg Norman leads Padraig Harrington and K.J. Choi by two shots.
Fifty-three.
It is an amazing accomplishment. No matter what happens Sunday morning (EST), this has been a phenomenal show by the Great White Shark. The Open Championship has been played under increasingly brutal conditions, and he has answered the challenge. The feat is made more impressive when you take into account the fact that he's been honeymooning for three weeks with his new bride, Chris Evert. Playing golf hasn't been his focus for some time now, and it has probably been even farther back on the list since the wedding.
I have read several articles claiming that this is a chance for Norman to "exorcise the demons" of his many failures in major championships. I don't necessarily think that is true. If he wins the Open, it won't change the fact that he lost the Masters even though he carried a 6-shot lead into the final round.
A win tomorrow, and he's the oldest player to win a major. A win tomorrow, and the first thing people talk about when they mention Greg Norman won't be the losses, the $100M+ divorce, the tennis legend new wife, or any of his business ventures. If he wins, the first thing anyone will say will be that he won the Open Championship at age 53. And that is all there needs to be to the story. No exorcism is needed.
That's the 2008 British Open. 53-year old Greg Norman leads Padraig Harrington and K.J. Choi by two shots.
Fifty-three.
It is an amazing accomplishment. No matter what happens Sunday morning (EST), this has been a phenomenal show by the Great White Shark. The Open Championship has been played under increasingly brutal conditions, and he has answered the challenge. The feat is made more impressive when you take into account the fact that he's been honeymooning for three weeks with his new bride, Chris Evert. Playing golf hasn't been his focus for some time now, and it has probably been even farther back on the list since the wedding.
I have read several articles claiming that this is a chance for Norman to "exorcise the demons" of his many failures in major championships. I don't necessarily think that is true. If he wins the Open, it won't change the fact that he lost the Masters even though he carried a 6-shot lead into the final round.
A win tomorrow, and he's the oldest player to win a major. A win tomorrow, and the first thing people talk about when they mention Greg Norman won't be the losses, the $100M+ divorce, the tennis legend new wife, or any of his business ventures. If he wins, the first thing anyone will say will be that he won the Open Championship at age 53. And that is all there needs to be to the story. No exorcism is needed.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Catching Up...
JJ Hickson was drafted 19th by the Cleveland Cavaliers. So, his decision to leave proved to be a good one. I don't think anyone should expect to see too much of him in the next couple of years, but I expect he'll be a contributor at some point. I wish him the best of luck.
Brandon Jennings is going to Europe to play. He was awaiting a third SAT result, attempting to meet NCAA qualification guidelines, but before the results were returned he decided to forgo college basketball. He is planning to sign with a European team for a year, then return to the US for next year's NBA draft. Jennings' success or failure will be an interesting case-study for future high school stars who may decide to take the same route. NBA and NCAA executives will all have interests/concerns about the outcome of Jennings' overseas adventure.
NASCAR had a race last week. They have another one this week.
The British Open is coming up soon, and for the first time in a long time, it's an absolute certainty that Tiger Woods will not win.
In other news, football starts cranking up at the end of this month. Most, if not all, NFL training camps open in late July, and most college camps open in early August according to the limited information I could find. Football is my favorite spectator sport, so I'm excited for the beginning of a new season. Both of my favorite teams (Carolina Panthers and NC State Wolfpack) are currently undefeated.
One other thing:
Josh Hamilton is the man.
Brandon Jennings is going to Europe to play. He was awaiting a third SAT result, attempting to meet NCAA qualification guidelines, but before the results were returned he decided to forgo college basketball. He is planning to sign with a European team for a year, then return to the US for next year's NBA draft. Jennings' success or failure will be an interesting case-study for future high school stars who may decide to take the same route. NBA and NCAA executives will all have interests/concerns about the outcome of Jennings' overseas adventure.
NASCAR had a race last week. They have another one this week.
The British Open is coming up soon, and for the first time in a long time, it's an absolute certainty that Tiger Woods will not win.
In other news, football starts cranking up at the end of this month. Most, if not all, NFL training camps open in late July, and most college camps open in early August according to the limited information I could find. Football is my favorite spectator sport, so I'm excited for the beginning of a new season. Both of my favorite teams (Carolina Panthers and NC State Wolfpack) are currently undefeated.
One other thing:
Josh Hamilton is the man.
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