Jordan J. Caron
New member
With Tiger's demise and everyone all over 22 year old Rory McIlroy in hopes that he will be the game's next great, I still see a lot of people in golf media crying that the game needs more exposure. I don't know if that's because they feel they're jobs aren't secure or the fact the game has other issues that they're trying to mask up but it's time for big bad HBO to to inject some new blood into the game. I'm not talking about coverage of events but the hyping of such events. Sorry but inside the PGA Tour isn't cutting it!
Being a fringe boxing fan I have always anticipated HBO and their 24/7 episodes that hype big fights. 24/7 is a raw, up-front and in your face look at each fighters preparation for the upcoming fight. They're really a back stage pass and it's incredible to see the work the fighters put in. The production level is through the rough and a big budget will do that along with a continued commitment from HBO to stamp their name on only quality stuff (they're shows and mini series are amazing).
Here's a clip from the first 24/7 that hyped the fight the was supposed to save boxing. *There is swearing in this video so just a warning if you don't like those words.
http://www.youtube.com/v/W2JAh-4n4Vo
They sure made me want to tune in and cheer for De La Hoya and hope he beat the crap out of the ultimate villain Floyd Mayweather!
This past December though they used 24/7 to hype the NHL's Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins and I walked away with a better idea of what it's like to be a NHL player. HBO was able to dive into many players back stories along with their lives and how they acted like when they were of the ice. Being a fringe hockey fan now days I know there was no chance I was going to watch the Winter Classic but after viewing the 24/7 episodes, I was eagerly awaiting the game.
More swearing in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztlCjdkKKmk&feature=related
Not only did HBO go in depth on the players but also the games leading up to the Winter Classic. They sure made regular seasons games more exciting just by the recaps they aired.
This years ratings were good enough that NHL Commish Gary Bettman announced soon after the game that teams wishing to play in future Classics to participate in the 24/7 episodes. That's speak to the power of what HBO did in bringing awareness to the game.
What if HBO were to do the same with golf and produce 24/7 episodes leading up to each of the Majors? They could go in depth on some of the cool storylines leading up to the Open Championship.
A few examples:
Re-live Ben Curtis' 2003 shocker at St. George's
What's all the media attention like for Rory and how is he really handling it?
How the course will be set up and the work to get it set up by the R&A along with the superintendent and their staff.
Does Tiger actually have a chance to come back and play?
Profile some of the home country men like Donald, Westwood, Poulter, Fisher or Casey.
The history of winners at St. Geogre's.
How hard the Royal and Ancient work in putting on this event each year.
Those are just a few things that I have thought of in 20 minutes so I am sure the brains at HBO could find some others! The main point is to show us some behind the scenes stuff. Even though we get a slight glimpse of what some of these guys are like behind the scenes via their twitter accounts, we still get cliche answers in interviews and a lack of connection with who the truly are. HBO could go there and give us a greater appreciation of the event and it's venue as well.
What does everyone else think? Do you really buy into the media hype saying professional golf is lacking viewers?
Cheers!
Jordan J. Caron
Being a fringe boxing fan I have always anticipated HBO and their 24/7 episodes that hype big fights. 24/7 is a raw, up-front and in your face look at each fighters preparation for the upcoming fight. They're really a back stage pass and it's incredible to see the work the fighters put in. The production level is through the rough and a big budget will do that along with a continued commitment from HBO to stamp their name on only quality stuff (they're shows and mini series are amazing).
Here's a clip from the first 24/7 that hyped the fight the was supposed to save boxing. *There is swearing in this video so just a warning if you don't like those words.
http://www.youtube.com/v/W2JAh-4n4Vo
They sure made me want to tune in and cheer for De La Hoya and hope he beat the crap out of the ultimate villain Floyd Mayweather!
This past December though they used 24/7 to hype the NHL's Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins and I walked away with a better idea of what it's like to be a NHL player. HBO was able to dive into many players back stories along with their lives and how they acted like when they were of the ice. Being a fringe hockey fan now days I know there was no chance I was going to watch the Winter Classic but after viewing the 24/7 episodes, I was eagerly awaiting the game.
More swearing in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztlCjdkKKmk&feature=related
Not only did HBO go in depth on the players but also the games leading up to the Winter Classic. They sure made regular seasons games more exciting just by the recaps they aired.
This years ratings were good enough that NHL Commish Gary Bettman announced soon after the game that teams wishing to play in future Classics to participate in the 24/7 episodes. That's speak to the power of what HBO did in bringing awareness to the game.
What if HBO were to do the same with golf and produce 24/7 episodes leading up to each of the Majors? They could go in depth on some of the cool storylines leading up to the Open Championship.
A few examples:
Re-live Ben Curtis' 2003 shocker at St. George's
What's all the media attention like for Rory and how is he really handling it?
How the course will be set up and the work to get it set up by the R&A along with the superintendent and their staff.
Does Tiger actually have a chance to come back and play?
Profile some of the home country men like Donald, Westwood, Poulter, Fisher or Casey.
The history of winners at St. Geogre's.
How hard the Royal and Ancient work in putting on this event each year.
Those are just a few things that I have thought of in 20 minutes so I am sure the brains at HBO could find some others! The main point is to show us some behind the scenes stuff. Even though we get a slight glimpse of what some of these guys are like behind the scenes via their twitter accounts, we still get cliche answers in interviews and a lack of connection with who the truly are. HBO could go there and give us a greater appreciation of the event and it's venue as well.
What does everyone else think? Do you really buy into the media hype saying professional golf is lacking viewers?
Cheers!
Jordan J. Caron