11/05/24
September 17, 2006
High School Football, Under Prime-Time Lights: From The New York Times. "What has been the stuff of hometown legends, high school football has suddenly become high-definition, low-cost programming for national broadcasters and marketers eager to woo men 18 to 34. This year, 13 games will be shown on ESPN networks, and 8 on Fox Sports Net."
There have been--almost always are--TV series about high school students so I wouldn't put FNL in the same batch. But there's no doubt in my mind that kids in America (not sure about elsewhere) are being pushed to deal with life as adults more and more every year while adults (and I'm not excluding myself) look to take less responsibility.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:45 PM on September 17, 2006
I for one am very concerned with the emphasis placed on prep football,Folkways. Here in Texas there is nothing bigger than the Friday night games.There is something amiss when football coaches make far more than other teachers in our high schools.We are sending a message that sports is the main thing in life.This is particularly unfortunate for some minorities, marginal students and others who put their future in a career in pro sports. Only a very few will make it to the pro level, leaving a large uneducated underclass with no future in our high tech world.
posted by sickleguy at 01:15 PM on September 17, 2006
(reg-free link)
posted by Ufez Jones at 02:47 PM on September 17, 2006
Thanks Ufez.
posted by Folkways at 02:55 PM on September 17, 2006
Make sure they stay away from car dealerships.
posted by igottheblues at 07:00 PM on September 17, 2006
Christine Brennan of USA Today makes some pretty good points in this column.
posted by mjkredliner at 01:08 PM on September 18, 2006
I am sad to see high school sports being dirtied up by the media. High school games, and some college's, are the only place you can find people playing for the right reasons, cuz they want to win...
posted by LaKeR4LiFe at 06:40 PM on September 18, 2006
“Friday Night Lights,” a fictional series whose roots trace to a disturbing 1990 nonfiction book about a team from Texas by H. G. Bissinger, will have its premiere on NBC on Oct. 3. The current MTV reality series “Two-a-Days” follows the exploits of the 2005 Hoover High School Buccaneers of Alabama. Needless to say Hoover High is not the most loved of football teams around here after all the publicity this past year. Adding even more pressure to both the Bucs who have to live up to the hype, but the schools playing them who feel slighted by all the media attention givin to Hoover. Should there be concern about how much importance is being placed on high school football?