Apathy and I-vo-reee

A couple things from Wednesday nights NLCS Game 1 between the D-backs and The Rockies:

TBS is now in HD. I am picturing Steve, The Cox eCare specialist (see below), running through the halls, arms flailing, screaming like an 8 year old girl after The Programming Department took action on my comments he passed to them (again, as if no one else had), thanks.

The Diamondback fans are no longer apathetic. After being accused by ESPN of having "dry apathy" here in the desert, the fans rebelled at an umpires call - with empty water bottles. Right or wrong, good call or bad call, at least the fans reacted like a true east coast angry stadium crowd would. Except only here in the desert would you be nearly taken out - by an empty water bottle.

I read that stadium operations immediately stopped all alcohol sales. Ummm, shouldn't they have stopped all bottled water sales??

Colbert knows who started the war!!

Cox Sucking Update

Well, Friday, 2 days after I sent my why-no-HD-for-the-playoffs query to Cox eCare I got a response:

Thank you for your recent e-mail to Cox Communications regarding your interest in TBS HD.

We appreciate you taking the time to advise us of your interest in the TBS HD channel. We understand that TBS may be advertising high definition (HD) offerings. We do not have any plans at this time, though, to add TBS HD to our line-up in Arizona.


Although this channel is not currently available, we have notified our Programming Department of your interest in seeing it added to our line-up. We value your feedback and strive to offer a variety of channels to meet the needs of our customers. We are especially interested in providing programming specifically requested by customers like you.


We must consider a number of factors, though, when choosing to add or delete programming. These factors include programming costs, program ratings and the effect that the addition or subtraction will have on theremaining line-up.


Please be aware we are planning to add some new HD channels after the first of the year. We are always looking for unique HD programming.


Thank you again for contacting us via e-mail. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.


Sincerely,

Steve
E-Care Specialist
Cox Communications
www.cox.com

Hmmm ...not until 2008?!?! I wonder if this is how long it took to determine that the "Mojo" channel met their "number of factors". What are those magical factors that Mojo channel shows Three Sheets (a show about drinking) and Beer Nutz (another show about drinking) meet that The Diamondbacks/Cubs playoffs fail??

Pretty cool that Steve, the eCare specialist (I imagine it's much like a gastro-intestinal specialist but with less scrubbing) has notified the Programming Department of my interest, as if no else has yet. Hopefully they will take it under advisement first thing in '08, if they can tear themselves away from a Beer Nutz marathon.

This is for the Chicago Cubs fans:

Cox Sucker??

This is just dumb.

For the first time TBS has the rights to the MLB playoffs. The Diamondbacks are in the playoffs. Cox Phoenix doesn't offer an HD channel for TBS. I have HD.

Now I've seen plenty of rants on boards filled with expletives about Cox Communications, how people have called and written canceling services. I too wrote Cox customer service early Wednesday, a nice email asking where they would be assigning the HD broadcast of the hometown Diamondbacks. I got an automated response from "eCare" stating they have my message and a customer service rep would be responding ASAP. I'm still waiting.


I'm sure the really smart guys at Cox (you know, the MBA and CEO types) have enough on the ball to whip up crap about negotiations and rights and allocations and whatnot. I mean, I'm sure it can't possibly as simple as adding another channel like they did for the NFL preseason or throwing the game on The Mojo Channel as they have done so many times in the regular season. Nope, far too complicated I'm sure we'll learn. And as far as DNA mate TNT HD, can you imagine the outrage if Cox insisted on covering a Jerry Orbach-era rerun of Law & Order with a local sports franchise in the playoffs? (Something that WILL happen if game 4 is needed BTW).

Look, the wizards at Cox Oklahoma City managed to duct tape a TBS HD Channel in their lineup. The Einsteins at Comcast in Cleveland even figured it out.

The Diamondbacks themselves deserve some of the blame for not pressuring the MLB or TBS or Cox to figure out a solution. The problem is The Diamondbacks are the most disrespected team in the playoffs, they can flex about as much muscle as an Olsen Twin.

I don't have too many options, to get HD in my condo I must have Cox and as inept Cox may be as far as doing the sensible thing, I'm not getting rid of it.

I am a true Cox sucker.