Cutting the cable: Buh-bye Time-Warner, hello Roku!

My new best friend

Well, for TV shows and movies, that is. I came to the decision more than a year ago that, while TWC provided good service, they were just charging way more than I wanted to pay. I was paying for more than 200 channels, but watched only five or six with any regularity. Seems kind silly to subsidize the rest, no? But, being a NFL football addict —and my 49ers are good, again!!— it was hard to cut back to Internet only. I mean, I could catch the shows I like through streaming services or their web sites, but… football. (Said in a slack-jawed, caveman voice.) Then I did the math and realized I could save $85-$90 per month.

Football isn’t worth that much to me.

So, yesterday I “downgraded” my service and returned the DVR box to my local TWC office. And the choice to do so is no reflection on Time-Warner; I’ve had almost nothing but great service from them. And there was no hard sell yesterday to keep me, just a couple of offers and then making the change I asked. Returning the equipment was no questions asked, out in ten minutes, tops. So, well-done, TW.

My replacement is the Roku streaming video box pictured above. Because my TV is older (no HDMI), I had to get a switcher box so I could also connect the DVD player to the TV, but, overall, the set up, both physical and online, was very easy. Video playback and sound is excellent, and I’m impressed with the breadth of channel offerings. (1) I’m now linked to my Amazon Instant Video and Cloud Player accounts, so I can keep current with the shows I watch (2), paying only for them and not for channels I’d never watch.

So far, I’m very happy with the change.

Now all I need is a live streaming option for the NFL…

Notes:
1. Okay, some are on the level of public-access cable, but, you never know when you’ll find a gem. I mean, I found a channel for military miniatures enthusiasts! How cool is that?
2. Currently: Grimm, Justified, The Americans, Person of Interest, Sherlock, The Black List, and Covert Affairs

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If I were NFL Commissioner…

Well, first thing I’d do is move the kickoff line back to the 30 and then rescind the Emmitt Smith “No taking off your helmet when celebrating rule.” Things like that turn the NFL into the No Fun League.

But, my major project would be divisional realignment, trying to keep divisions as compact as possible, which is hard out West, and to take advantage of what seem to be natural rivalries. One thing I’d do is eliminate the Conferences, which are just holdovers of the NFL-AFL merger. Instead we’d have eight divisions of four teams each. The eight division winners plus the four teams with the best records that did not make the playoffs would enter the “tournament.” I’m sure some sort seeding plan could be worked out, but I’m too lazy. 🙂

Anyway, here are my suggested divisions, with their startlingly original names.

Pacific Division
Seattle
San Francisco
Oakland
San Diego

Southwest Division
Arizona
Denver
Dallas
Houston

South Central Division
New Orleans
Tennesee
St. Louis
Kansas City

North Central Division
Minnesota
Green Bay
Detroit
Chicago

North Division
Cincinatti
Cleveland
Buffalo
Indianapolis

Southeast Division
Tampa
Miami
Jacksonville
Atlanta

East Division
Charlotte
Washington
Baltimore
Pittsburgh

Northeast Division
New England
NY Giants
NY Jets
Philadelphia

I would rather have had Pittsburgh in the “North Division,” because the rivalries there feel natural, but then placing Indianapolis becomes a problem. Regardless, this is my gift to you, Commissioner Goodell.

Just make sure I get credit. 😉

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Dear Redskins and Coach Zorn

WTF was that??

I think new GM Allen would be insane not to fire the lot of you after that stunt.

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The ten worst owners in sports

Some of these I quibble with and some I can’t say one way or the other (I’m not much of a baseball fan and I lost interest in basketball several years ago), but Number One is spot on.

And that picture – hah!

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At last…

Sure it was only the Hall of Fame game, the first and most meaningless of the NFL pre-season games, but, still it was football, and the regular season is only a month away.

And that is a good thing.

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Hope in a loss?

Tonight my 49ers lost 29-24 to the Arizona Cardinals, yet I’m not upset. Why?

Because, for the first time in six losses, they actually made a game of it and had a chance to win in the last couple of seconds. Yes, the players blew it at the end and Coach Singletary’s call wasn’t the smartest one, but they played hard, beat the crap out of the Cardinals, and left the NFC West leaders sweating bullets until the very end.

And I think all credit goes to the new coach, Mike Singletary. He’s demanded they play with passion, toughness, and a will to accept nothing but winning, and it looks like he’s getting through to them.

Next week, we play the Rams, our ancient arch-rivals. They’re even worse than we are, so we should be able to beat them if we play anything like we played tonight. If we do, or even if we lose but still play hard, I’ll start thinking tonight wasn’t a fluke, but instead a trend.

It would be a nice change after all these years.

Technorati tags: 49ers, NFL, football

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