The NFL now has the single most valuable sports franchise on the planet, worth $1.5 billion. It's also the most profitable sport with a mean operating income in 2006 of $17.8 million on $204 million in revenue. Time to test my worst subject - rounding off the 17.8 to 18, let's see, zero, zero, six, twenty becomes 19 - that's a profit of $186 million. How come my computer doesn't have a math check??? Figures, except the last one, are compliments of Forbes newest NFL team values Top 32 list...
I won't go down the entire list of 32 but I will tell you that the Dallas Cowboys are number one, thanks to their new $1 billion stadium which opens in 2009. Their value has increased by 28%, the largest jump of any NFL team, to $1.5 billion. The Cowboys moved up from third to first in rankings, passing the Washington Redskins who are second with a worth of $1.467 billion, the rest of the top 5: 3) Patriots ($1.199 billion) (minus the $250,000 team fine - Belichick's fine was at his expense, makes it $1.197), 4) Houston (+$1 billion) and 5) Philadelphia (+$1 billion)...
The local Giants ($974 million) and Jets ($967 million) move to numbers 8 and 10 respectively because of the new Meadowlands stadium that they'll share in a couple of years (ground was just broken at the site). The Minnesota Vikings grab the booby prize for being worth the least of any NFL team. At number 32, the Vikes are worth a measly $782 million...
A sidebar to the popularity of the NFL which still beats the cowhide out of baseball and every other televised sport - nearly three out of four Americans watched an NFL game on TV last season...
10 Timeline Memories for September 14:
- 1814] Jose can you see: Francis Scott Key writes the 'Star-Spangled Banner', a poem originally called "Defense of Fort McHenry". Key had witnessed the British bombardment of the Maryland fort during the War of 1812. The song would become our national anthem on March 3, 1931. If I were a descendant of Key I would be upset because the media prefers calling it 'our national anthem' and never refers to it as the 'Star-Spangled Banner'...
- 1901] "Happy Trails": President William McKinley dies of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. McKinley, 58, is succeeded by 42-year old VP Theodore Roosevelt...1982] Monaco's Princess Grace a.k.a. Grace Kelly, dies from wounds suffered when her car plunges off a mountain road one day earlier. The Princess was 52...
- 1940] Selective on their part: The Selective Service Act is passed by Congress leading to the 1st peacetime draft in U.S. history...
- 1948] Breaking ground: A ground-breaking ceremony takes place at the site of the United Nations world headquarters in Manhattan...
- 1968] Breaking 30: The Tigers' Denny McLain becomes the 1st pitcher to win 30 games in 34 years. Denny finishes the season at 31-6. His career stats: 131-91...
- 1972] Premiered on this date: "The Waltons" which will enjoy a 9-year run...1978] "Mork & Mindy" which airs until June, 1982...1982] "Entertainment Tonight" and E.T. is still on...
- 1984] I want my MTV: Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler host the 1st MTV Awards at Radio City Music Hall. The 1st "Video of The Year" award goes to the Cars for "You Might Think". Here's the video featuring lead singer Ric Ocasek and his model wife Paulina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve3bfQ3K7xk ...
- 1994] Strike Three - you're out: Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig cancels the rest of the 1994 season after a strike continues after 34 days. No World Series this year...
- 1996] Record Breaker: Mets catcher Todd Hundley sets a season record for home runs by a catcher with his 41st home run (his total for the year)...
- 2001] Ground Zero: Using a bullhorn, President George Bush tells those gathered at Ground Zero at the WTC that we will get even for the attacks. On the same date, the FBI releases the names of the 19 suspected terrorists...
Music Memories:
- 1960] Number One on this date: "The Twist" - Chubby Checker (the only release to top the charts on 2 separate occasions (it repeats in 1962)...1970] "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Diana Ross (her 1st solo chart topper)...1974] "I Shot The Sheriff" - Eric Clapton...
- 1999] Free concert in Central Park: Sheryl Crow stages a free concert in C.P. with Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Eric Clapton, the Dixie Chicks, Keith Richards and Sara McLachlan. Two videos, two different singers - Sheryl Crow: then and now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CYN-iBkKGY , with Kid Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kskFvErnVQ ...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Joe Senkiewicz attached a video that I wanted to share with everyone but after viewing it I discovered I couldn't link it. This is a close second to that video. In this clip John Kanzius (yesterday's feature story on desalinization) demonstrates how salt water burns. He doesn't demonstrate how your radio station can be number one in ratings however: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kKtKSEQBeI ...Okay Belichick apologized, will comply by paying a steep fine and the Pats will give up either a number one (if they reach the playoffs) or number two and three draft picks. Now let's move on. The Sunday night game between the Patriots and San Diego Chargers should be a great one for all the reasons you think it will be...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Faith Ford (43), Jon "Bowser" Bauman (60), Joey Heatherton (63), Larry Brown (67), Former Yankees player and Hall of Fame Broadcaster Jerry Coleman (83...
Saturday-Sunday, September 15-16, 2007...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1630] Naming Rights and Redcoats: The original Native American name of Shawmut is changed to Boston (9/16)...1776] The Redcoats take over New York City, landing at Kips Bay and chasing George Washington to the banks of the New Jersey shore (9/15)...
- 1928] Medical miracle: Alexander Fleming discovers the antibiotic penicillin in the mold penicillium notatum (Latin 101)(9/15)...
- 1948] Musical call letters: WHN changes its call letters to WMGM. The call letters will be changed back in 1962 (9/15)...
- 1949] Premiered on this date: (all 9/15): "The Lone Ranger" (reruns keep it alive until 1969. It's revived in 1980)...1957] "Bachelor Father" (lasts 5 seasons)...1965] "Green Acres" (6 years) and here's the great show open and theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSAoBhoKtzI ...1965] "Lost in Space" (3 years)...1971] "Columbo" (22 years)...1971] "Greenpeace", the environmental organization is born in Vancouver, B.C...1982] "U.S.A. Today" today's highest circulated paper...The following premiered on 9/16: 1963] "Outer Limits" (2 seasons)...1964] "Shindig!" on ABC-TV - the first show featured the Righteous Brothers, Everly Brothers and Sam Cooke, seen here jamming at the close of that show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVOGGMCvwvY ...1965] "The Dean Martin Show" (9 years)...1966] The Metropolitan Opera opens its new opera house in Lincoln Center...1972] "The Bob Newhart Show" (6 years) and 1984] "Miami Vice" (5 seasons)...
- 1954] Curtains: Filming a scene for "The Seven Year Itch", Marilyn Monroe stands on a subway grating, her dress flies up exposing her underwear. This infuriates husband Joe DiMaggio and the couple will divorce in October after just 9 months of marriage and here are those scenes (9/15): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4QN8N61DYA ...1968] "The Andy Griffith Show" bows out after 8 seasons but will continue in syndication to this day (9/16)...
- 1958] "Happy Trails": A commuter train crashes through a drawbridge near Newark (NJ) taking 48 lives including Yankees second baseman George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss, only 39 years old (9/15)...1977] Marc Bolan (T. Rex) in a car accident at 29 (9/16)...
- 1968] Sock it to me: That's what Richard Nixon says on "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" (9/16)...
- 1978] Sock it to him: 36-year old Muhammad Ali decisions Leon Spinks in a rematch to become the 1st heavyweight champ to win the title 3 times (9/15)...
- 1981] Sock it to the 'Hitman": Sugar Ray Leonard rallies to beat Thomas Hearns, winning by a TKO to capture the welterweight title. It's Hearns 1st professional loss (9/16)...
- 2004] Freezing the puck: The National Hockey League (NHL) owners agree to lock out the players. There will be no hockey in 2004 (9/15)...
Music Memories:
- 1963] Released on this date: "She Loves You" - Beatles (9/16)...1979] "Rapper's Delight" - Sugar Hill Gang (recognized as the 1st rap song) (9/16). Here they do it live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diiL9bqvalo ...
- 1969] Number One on this date: "Sugar, Sugar" - Archies (9/15) Ron Dante was the singer and here he does it live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrgAdhBItLE ...1985] "Money For Nothing" - Dire Straits (9/16)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
(9/15) Britain's Prince Harry (23), Dan Marino, Football HOFer (46), Oliver Stone (67), Tommy Lee Jones (61), Football HOFer Merlin Olsen (68), Baseball HOFer Gaylord Perry (69), Norm Crosby (80) and Jackie Cooper (85)...
(9/16) Marc Anthony (38), Mickey Rourke (51), David Copperfield (51), Peter Falk (80), B.B. King (82) and Lauren Bacall (83)...
Timeline Countdown for September 16: 7 days until autumn in New York, 17 days until the MLB playoffs and 38 days until the first game of the World Series...
