Some things still have me confused

Yeah, I know things change. They have to. The world would make no progress – and it would be boring – if everything stayed the same. But just how much change do we think an old man like me can handle? As I age, I get more confused. Let me share a few examples of what I mean.

I am a very proud Michigan State Spartan fan. But this situation applies to Wolverines, Buckeyes or any other college sports teams. Back in my day, colleges played football on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. No noon, 3:30 or nighttime starts. We could look at the schedule and plan the whole season. Invite friends, go to the game, and be home before bedtime.

But now? This year, the Spartans open at home against Western Michigan on Friday, August 29 at 7 p.m. It will be televised on FS1. At least I can plan ahead with this information. Won’t be home before bedtime, though.

The next game is on Saturday night starting at 7:30 p.m. Even less sleep. It’s on NBC-TV. The following week, it’s a 3:30 start on BTN. Crazy. But, again, I can plan.

Yet, as I look at the rest of the schedule, I see several games with starting times listed as TBA (To Be Announced). TV coverage TBA also. How can I plan that way? I could invite out-of-town friends but when should they arrive and when will they leave?If you’re going to East Lansing or Ann Arbor for a night game it might be well after midnight before you get home.

Of course, it’s all determined by how well the Spartans are playing and whether there would be a good TV audience or not. Can’t predict that this far in advance so fans’ plans are TBA as well.

Another thing. Back in my day a real athlete might be offered a scholarship to attend college. He or she might get a “full ride,’ essentially getting a free education to rely on to make a living if the pros didn’t come calling or later if they did.

Now the athletes are paid. Name, image and likeness (NIL) it’s called. Some athletes make more in NIL money than the coach makes in salary. Plus, many of them still get the scholarship as well. Seems to me that if you make six or seven figure NIL money, you can afford to pay your own tuition and not stick the taxpayers with it.

Earlier I mentioned television coverage. Time was the games were on my cable TV somewhere. I could find the channel and tune in. It was included in the price I paid for the cable carrier. But now, the games may not be available in the old way. Now they might be streaming. I don’t even know how streaming works. And there are lots of streaming services, all at an extra cost per month. This week my game might be on Fubo, next week Apple+, then Hulu, Sting, etc., etc.

And often I have trouble getting the streaming service on my TV set. I mean, I have a TV set as big as a movie theater screen. I don’t want to watch a football game on my phone, tablet or computer. You younger folks know all this technological stuff but I’ll bet I’m not the only senior citizen who can be clueless.

I understand that change is inevitable. Technology advances. For years when I was younger, I worked in a television studio. I was reasonably tech savvy. But c’mon you tech wizards of today. Does it have to be this confusing for us Baby Boomers? Ease up on us a little. You’ll be a senior citizen, too, someday and we’ll see how nimble you are then.

Yes, life can be confusing, but I’ll keep trying.

Contact Rick at tct@pageone-inc.com