Playing in the Bigs

I once asked Bobby Leopold, who played football for Notre Dame and later for the San Francisco 49ers, why he chose to go to school at Notre Dame. There were no platitudes about quality education or hallowed traditions from Bobby Leopold, who called himself Leroy Leopold at the time. It was a business decision. "For the pub, man," he said. "Notre Dame gives the best pub."

After that exchange, I became much more observant of the media that major college and professional sports generate, and the media business model they support.

Of course there is a similar symbiotic relationship between bigtime political players and the networks that feed on their performances.

As long as players make plays, as long as the competition is still keen and the outcome still in doubt, these networks can attract the audience's attention and make money.

As so, even as we hear calls for reconciliation and healing within the Democratic party...as good as some say it would be for Hillary to bow out of the race soon...the Clintons understand that as long as they can hang in, the more pub they're able to generate, the better it is for their business and their partners in the media — no matter what the outcome of the nomination process.

Looking ahead a couple of months in the political TV season...big networks have already greenlit coverage of the party conventions with budgets and promotion schedules like for a Spielberg movie.

The Republican convention is almost guaranteed to flatline in the ratings, with an outgoing leader everyone wants to just go away and a candidate who looks and acts like Charlie Chaplin when they let him back into the country to accept his honorary Oscar.

The only hope the networks have for a ratings success is the Democratic convention, but to do that, the competition and its storyline must stay alive until June. And so Bill and Hillary Clinton, the Leroy and Bobby Leopold of the Democratic Party, are obliging their media business partners. They're making news like it's their job. Because it is their job. Between now and the June convention, the Clintons are good for more storylines than a busload of hillbillies headed for The Jerry Springer Show.

Here are few headlines we can expect to see as Leroy and Bobby play hard through May sweeps and into 'The Duel in Denver'.... 'The Rumble in the Rockies" ...'The Mile High Miracle?'

• Obama Cousin Linked to Indonesian Mosque Linked to Muslim Radicals

• Catfight! Why Michelle Hates Hillary

• Pennsyvania Punchout! Hillary's Rocky K.O.'s Obama's Apollo Creed

• One Superdelegate's 'Obama Problem'

• Iraq Vets Applaud Clinton Plan

• Experts See Media Bias Against Clinton

• Clinton Fights to Save Boy Scouts from Atheist Assault

• Poll: Gay Muslims Come Out for Obama

• Family Fed Up with 'Senator Know-It-All', Says Obama Kin

• Monstergate! Inside Obama's Secret Plot to Win Nomination

• Shocker: Monica For Hillary!!!!!

• Death Row Inmates Support Obama

• Obama's Farrakhan Problem

• Iraq Soldiers to Obama: 'We Don't Wanna Come Home!'

• Former Obama Staffer: It's a Cult!

• Obama Buddy Rezko Arrested on Real Estate Scam

• Spitzer Says Obama 'My Kind of Guy'

Leroy and Bobby understand that the source of their wealth and what gives them status in their profession, is not, after all, their politics but their pub. Making news is their game, and they are fantastically good at it. As long as enough of us are buying their stories, they'll be pitching.

Mike Bonifer is the author of GameChangers — Improvisation for Business in the Networked World. His website is www.gamechangers.com.

Follow Mike Bonifer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Bonifer

Comments

[dadw5boys]

The MEDIA HAS MARCHING ORDERS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!

STOP HILLARY AND STOP NATIONAL HEALTH CARE -- that is the Media's marching orders.

Expect more of this "'BUS LOAD OF HILLBILLES CRAP'""!!!!!

[leftbehind2000]

We all want to laugh and make light of the fact that Clinton doesn't know when it's time to bow out.

The problem is that none of us will be laughing in November if her continued pestilence in the Spring costs us the election in the Fall.

[hopefulintexas]

It occurred to me while I was listening to HIllary give her "what-to-d­o-about-th­e-home-cri­sis"-speec­h yesterday that this could be all about money for the Clintons. Think about it: what will they do when this is over?

[indianadem]

McCain on Iraq is another story with the same problem!! Help!

[indianadem]

Attention moderators!!!

[AnninCA]

It is getting sort of ridiculous. When a tale on the trail turns into a major story, we've now officially entered into the "bored in the trenches" part of waiting.

[Hallucinocynic]

Ann, we do agree on a lot of things! Not just on making sure McBraindead doesn't win. Wouldn't it be more effective, in future campaigns, where the candidates don't even mention the other? Where the focus is strictly on issues? Is it possible? Probably not, but it's a pleasant notion.

[Indedave]

Nice try, and, I must admit, the busload of hillbillies image made my evening. But there are still enough reporters out there willing to sacrifice any body part they might deem extraneous in exchange for revealing a truth so loathesome about any candidate that it would cost that candidate his or her career. So let's not pretend that the Mighty MSM are in any fashion going to be able to choreograph this race and shepherd it down the great white way to prime time in order to drive up ratings. They are merely and merrily engaging in their normal self-indulgence until something new comes along, hence the label, "news." I can't help but wonder, though, whether the loops of Rev. Wright would be played differently were there more senior editors with darker complexions.

[Seattlelite]

The first paragraph of this article made me laugh my head off -- THANK YOU!

[BitJam]

You are correct that the race will be over in June when the majority of superdelegates back the candidate with the majority of pledged delegates but the convention is not until August. This will give the Clintons two and a half months to try to repair some of the damage they've done to the Democratic party.

[Turnow]

"Between now and the June convention"

[Bonifer]

Apologies for mis-dating the Dem convention. Wishful thinking on my part.

[Purple Girl]

As aPerson of Scotch Descent and who's ancestors supported William- I must call you Racist!! LOL

[DavidK08]

The Clintons aren't Democrats, they are just using the party to suit their needs. It is all about them.

[TheRebel82]

Wow couldnt agree with you more. Clintons are in the "Me" business.

[dadw5boys]

Hillary started studying Government in High School. She is the daughter most parent wish theirs would work to be.
I know I would love it if mine would drop the phone and pick up a book on the Constitution again.

[indie17]

Indeed! Love the list. "Poll: Gay Muslims Come Out for Obama" takes the cake.