Same thing here although my interest really began waning when they signed Artest. I used to religiously pay for NBA League pass just so I could watch the Rockets - a team I'd followed since 1971. But the PR-BS of the Less Alexander era began to wear on me with that Artest deal being the final straw. I still continued to get League Pass but found myself watching the Rockets less and less until it became obvious that I was throwing away money. Which is why I haven't gotten it this year even though I'm fully onboard with their finally deciding to rebuild (and only three years too late at that). I probably would enjoy watching the young players develop (even though I consider McHale to be a joke of a head coach and don't believe his BS) but the burning desire to watch their games is simply not there any more.
I feel so disconnected from the team these days. I don't have any emotional investment to this year's team and I don't care if they win or lose any more than I would the Knicks, Kings, Thunder, etc... I feel like the Rockets got their money upfront from Comcast and put little effort in to assuring that their fanbase would not experience any loss of access to their team. When I say "their" team I mean Alexander's team because it sure as hell doesn't feel like it's our team unless you are a Comcast Subscriber. We were a casualty of doing business.
it does seem strange given that last season, all we heard about was the drop off in TV ratings...and that the Rox had one of the lowest in the league. Not show games to 60% of your fan base will do precious little to help those numbers improve
Called and b1tched to directv a few weeks ago and got free Sunday ticket (6 games) and $10 off per month (already got $20 off for the Nickelodeon fiasco) This is *****ing ridiculous. I just want to watch the team I have supported for 25 years.
So, is it a generational thing? I suspect most folks on this BBS have grown up with almost 100% access to televised games. I have just never sacrificed my fandom due to my (in)ability to follow a team on TV. While TV is certainly the preferred method, when I haven't been able to follow on TV, rather than quit (or threaten to quit) following the team, I just turned to different avenues. Sometimes that avenue is listening to a radio broadcast. Sometimes it is following via ESPN Game Center. Sometimes it is reading the stories the following day.
I pay a fair amount for Uverse. I'm not really interested or motivated after a day of work, going over homework with kids, kids' sports practices, etc. to go hunt for an internet feed....and I very rarely listen to the radio at home unless it's music. But I don't feel like the burden is on me to hunt down their product. I still follow...and the Rockets will always be my team as long as their representing Houston....but why in the world is the burden on me to hunt them down? They're the ones with the product to sell.
Probably. I am in my 30s and I can't even remember what I did before the internet and everything I need being instantly available. The fact that it is 2012 and I can't see my local major sports team on TV is inexcusable in my opinion.
It's obviously more fun for him to slag the moderators for not spearheading a massive internet campaign that would eventually accomplish NOTHING. These corporate dickwads arent gonna reduce their demands cause online fans are raising a ruckus...they just arent...they dont give a rat's ass if we can see the games or not. If you guys honestly think some online editorials are the way to go, here's an idea for you...WRITE THEM YOURSELVES. Clutch has posted editorials/stories from contributors before...you dont have to be in the Crew to get your writing published on here. Aught to be right up your alley Batman...you're a writer...well write away. Slaggin on the Crew for not doing it for you aint gonna get you what you want, unless what you want is to piss off the mods. Clutch and JEff may be good at letting the insults roll off their back, but I aint...especially coming from someone I have defended when he went all psychotic on other members.
I apologize. My frustration and my disappointment was and is real but I ought to have used proper channels (like Clutch's email) instead of posting a bunch of passive-agressive junk. I'm not interested in solving a problem that Les Alexander created. I had only wished that more attention was being devoted to this enormous problem that affects more than half of Rockets fans. But I had not meant to in any way slag Jeff, Clutch, you, or any other moderator, though I realize that I have, in frustration, done just that. You all are the wrong targets for my ire. It ought to go to Les and Les only. He did this and he could still fix it if he wanted to; he doesn't want to. He got his and he could give a crap about fans. But that's not the fault of anyone that's put hard work into my favorite site on the internet for 15 years or more. I sincerely apologize and it won't happen again.
I just re-read R2K's post and saw the suggestion that I write something for the site myself instead of just complaining. That was a very good suggestion and I might submit something if I can find the time to write an editorial that might properly express my feelings as a jilted fan. I don't pretend I'm busier than the mods; I expect I probably am not. But you're right, R2K. Very. I could be part of the solution instead of lobbing bombs at the wrong people. Honestly, every day when I pull up the site, I'm surprised I'm not banned. That would have been an appropriate response. So thanks to you all for that and again I am sorry for misdirecting my anger.
That sums up my situation as well. I get off of work at 10:30 everyday. I have been relying on DVR for years to watch them. No streams for me. I want to care, but I don't. And the few games I might be able to watch on the weekend, I usually end up skipping as well. I don't see my daughter enough as it is. Im not going to piss away my time with her to go watch the game somewhere else with a group of ****ing strangers.
Same here and everyone I work with knows never to talk about the games at rehearsal because they know I've always watched the games as soon as I got home.
Called to b**** at DirecTV today. Last time I called, no dice. This time I threatened to cancel and asked them what my incentive was to stay with them. They gave me $15 off per month for a year, free Showtime for a year, and $50 off of NBA League Pass.
Seriously gents/ladies stop with the bellyaching, and do something. When is the last time you checked the CSN Houston Facebook or Twitter site? Say something, the bad press is near ubiquitous now. But want to be an apologist, sit idly by and do nothing and likely we are looking at Portland situation 6 years and counting no TV coverage. It's not a question of whether or not you're a fan it's a question of what are you doing to help the cause. 60% being left out, due to the teams and stations greed is wholly unacceptable, you paid for the stadium, you follow your hometown team, and by all rights you deserve to see them play without enduring a monopoly in the process. Sure discounts on your cable bill are nice but what does that accomplish when it comes to seeing your home team on your TV which you paid good money for along with the service. I for one say let conca$h know, it's well worth it and for heaven's sake Les Alexander caves to public opinion, and so I suspect the Astros new owner will as well given his obvious concessions.
If I get rolling on writing this weekend (who knows...I might), how would I submit it to the site? I think it's a great idea.
There's rumors going around that there will be a protest in front of Toyota Center on Dec 14th at 6pm
I will certainly miss great posters like yourself and so many others. Really enjoyed the years we chewed the fat around here. But, unless something happens soon, most of us will just drift away. I have never been a fan of Les, but I still can't believe the Rockets were so stupid as to let this happen. Short term gain, long term loss; how else can any logical person see this? What good can come from cutting out the majority of your fan base?
