About KC Star sports scribe Sam Mellinger’s new blog, “Don’t Kill the Mellinger”…
Mellinger’s impressive debut as columnist continues to impress but his highly promoted blog is off to a sleepy start.
And that’s being charitable.
Take Mellinger’s lead item this morning suggesting that the Chiefs consider adding iPads to each and every stadium seat (at Mellinger’s estimated price of $150 per) so fans can catch other scores and games and watch unlimited instant replays.
Hold it right there…
Even if Mellinger’s ridiculously low cost estimate could be realized, there are other concerns that transcend the initial purchase price.
Like how to squeeze the computer screens into ultra tight seating spaces that barely allow for cupholders. There’s the cost of rewiring of the entire stadium. And how to protect the screens against sloshing brewskies and unruly fans – let alone the elements. Speaking of which, how about the maintenance cost?
So somehow the ability to fumble with freezing fingers on a tiny screen bolted to your seat is supposed to make up for the loss of the creature comforts of home, giant plasma screens, home theater sound systems, perfect weather and cheap eats?
My hunch, Sam’s a little taxed here starting off but he’ll come around.
Robertoe
yeah that was a pretty lame-ass idea way to start. That’s the problem with blogs. Sometimes one needs an editor/veto function.
Cell phone technology is evolving to the point that what Mellinger is proposing here is gonna happen but not via this cockamamie Arrowhead scheme. We’re all gonna be bringing our own IPadish updaters. He’s hair-brained proposal would be outa date before its installed.
Maybe a blog isnt such a good idea Sam!
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HC: Thanks, Robertoe. For putting it into the exact correct perspective. Perhaps Sam doesn’t own a smart phone yet and may not realize that sports enthusiasts who want to check scores, etc. can and are doing so now on their cell phones or iPads – $500 iPads, I might ad (Apple doesn’t discount).
smartman
Blogs are like assholes. Everybody has one and most should not be viewed in public. Seems Sam is already getting too big for his britches. He’ll probably have a reality show on E pretty soon.
jojo
do i sense jealousy again by hearne…
still carrying around that chip on your
shoulder heanre?
this was a joke…and everyone but you realized
it.
maybe you need to get with glazer and get some
of that “happy” dust soyou won’t be so negative!
Burman Dinstow
Mellinger did a good job blogging when he was the main dude on the Ball Star baseball blog on the Star’s website. He provided good baseball info and had a conversational tone that foreshadowed the distinctive voice he has carried over into his columns. And he wasn’t afraid to go off into other topics–an item on his hamburger preferences a couple of years ago gave me an early head’s up about Five Guys (when just one or two had opened in the area). Thanks for that, Sam.
Ptolemy
While the practicality of such an idea is silly on its face, the concept is doable if one advances technology slightly to modify the polymers used in stadium chairs. It can be done….albeit in a few years.
The idea beats the hell out of touting idiotic windmills on contractor buildings along 435.
kctacomonday
The blog looks terrible, almost as bad as this site. But other than that, I think it’s fine for what it is, a blog.
_______________
HC: it’s not about the look, it’s about the content. Mellinger’s pouring his all into his column, and it shows. He’s pouring very little into the new blog – and that shows, too. Oh yeah, thanks for the compliment!
Steve
How long till the Star demands Mellinger spend most of his productive time tweeting on twitter instead of doing real writing is the real question.
chuck
I just called Ted Kacynscki, he has a fuckin smart phone.
CM70
Hearne, do you know what an iPad is?
You don’t have to rewire a stadium to use a PORTABLE device. There’s nothing in Mellinger’s post about “bolting” iPads to anything.
Yes, it might be a somewhat silly idea to give high-tech gizmos to drunk mullet-wearing technophobes. Heck, they probably wouldn’t want them anyway. But for those who like stats and understand technology, his idea is a good one – use a little bit of money to make the game experience better for those fans. Of course, I think this idea is a much better fit for baseball, and would be a real success if used on the other side of the parking lot.
I don’t think they need to give EVERY fan an iPad – they just need to make the Truman Sports Complex more tech-friendly so if fans want to bring their OWN ipads or iPhones to the game, they can use them to enhance their sports-watching experience.
hearne
You’re right, the bolting was my interpretation. But read it again, CM. Mellinger says the iPads should be within every fan’s reach. What, you think they’re hang ’em from overhead? Or let the drunken masses rummage around with $500 high tech toys that belong to the Chiefs? How about maybe they just get wireless internet if they don’t have it already?
Oh yeah, I own an iPad.
JimmyD
To me Mellinger is just BLAH. Sure his columns are ok but I think he’s a little overrated. It’s hard to consider his stuff “must-read” when we were spoiled by JoPo and Whitlock for many years
Zack
I just returned from Miami where several people had Fanvision handheld devices. Perhaps this is is what Mellinger invisions.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/fanvision-handheld-makes-nfl-nosebleeds-far-more-bearable/
hearne
Interesting, Zack. But the broader market is already supplying a lot of this wirelessly already. But do you think the Chiefs are gonna drop $10 million for even 50,000 of these babies, then turn em loose on the unwashed at Arrowhead? Sam wanted the screens to be within reach. That doesn’t sound like he was thinking of something being handed out at the gate.
Cliffy
The Chiefs wouldn’t distribute the fanvision devices. The fans would have to buy them. I believe I saw where the NY Jets are including such devices with their higher-priced season tickets.
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