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The problem with Obama's stimulus plan

Posted Nov 25th 2008 3:25PM by Jonathan Berr (RSS feed)
Filed under: Other Issues, Citigroup Inc. (C), Presidential Elections, Recession, Financial Crisis

In comments to reporters in Chicago today, President-elect Barack Obama indicated that he was going to push for a stimulus package -- a really big one.

"Not only do I want the stimulus package to deal with the immediate crisis, I want it also to lay the groundwork for long-term sustained economic growth," Obama said in a quote from The Wall Street Journal. "With our economy in distress, we cannot hesitate and we cannot delay."

To be sure, time is of the essence. The economy is in free fall and may not improve until the end of next year. Investors have as much confidence in the stock market as Philadelphia Eagles fans have in quarterback Donovan McNabb and head coach Andy Reid. (For non-sports fans, the Eagles are the NFL's answer to Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), careening from one disaster to another. It's too bad government regulators can't take over the Eagles for bankrupt football play.)

Continue reading The problem with Obama's stimulus plan

ESPN blows call with Joe Theismann

Posted Mar 27th 2007 10:45AM by Jonathan Berr (RSS feed)
Filed under: Other Issues, Products and Services, Consumer Experience, Television, Rants and Raves, Marketing and Advertising, Employees, Columns, Walt Disney (DIS), Business of Sports, Media World

Has ESPN been playing one too many games without a helmet?

That's the only reasonable explanation that I can come up with for the Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS) network's decision to dump Joe Theismann from its "Monday Night Football" broadcast. The New York Times says he will be offered another job at the network, but I wouldn't blame him if he walked.

Theismann's "problem" is that he doesn't have "chemistry" with co-host Tony Kornheiser, according to media reports. Replacement Ron Jaworkski, a former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, is going to have the same problem because Kornheiser usually has nothing of interest to say. During broadcasts Thiesmann often had to correct Kornheiser for saying stuff that wrong or just plain weird.

There's more at stake than just sports here.

ESPN is a cash cow for Disney and the company is counting on "Monday Night Football" to help bolster its bottom line. Ratings for the broadcast, which plunged when it was on ABC, did well last year on ESPN, according to the Times. That makes the move to replace Theismann baffling.

Why fix something that wasn't broken?

If ESPN wanted to reshuffle the MNF team, it should have gotten rid of Kornhesier, who is beater suited for shouting on "Pardon the Interruption." Theismann is a thoughtful analyst who deserved better treatment. I'm sure that other networks would be happy to have him.