Football fans don't want Oprah
2007-08-14 09:38
Charles Smith
Washington - American football fans are livid about the ESPN sport channel's plans to broadcast an interview with talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey during a football match.
"I think it'd be more interesting to clean toilets, than to watch Oprah," a female football fan told the discussion forum NFL Media Watch.
A male viewer thought getting matrons of 40 to 85 to suddenly start watching football, was all part of "the sissyfication of America".
ESPN's Monday night football matches draw millions of viewers but the station wants to reach even more people who never watch the game, by including entertainment stars in the package.
The invitation has been sent to Oprah, but a date has not yet been set.
For fanatic sports fans who have to bear with countless advertisements and jokes when they really just want to watch football, the idea borders on high treason.
Disgruntled fans
"Football rules. Stop outdoing yourselves and let the game provide the magic. Americans are crazy about it. If it's going to grow, it won't be the entertainers who make it grow. It'll be the players on the field," said another viewer.
Most of the fans are disgruntled. A certain Dorothy even says she plans to destroy her satellite dish with an axe.
The discussion forum is riddled with remarks such as "awful idea" "please no,no,no!" and "I'll stop watching if that happens."
"What the heck is wrong with ESPN? Who'll be next- Rosie O'Donald (sic)?!" another viewer asks.
- Beeld