Football show pluggery ahoy
Published by punkass marc March 12th, 2008 in Punkass!, A Punkass Original Production, Sports for non-idiotsHey punkasses! So, uh, I guess I really like football, because I’ve made yet another show about it. Draftguys TV profiles over 40 players who’ll be selected by the NFL in April, giving football fans access to exclusive interviews, practice footage, expert opinions from Russ Lande of the Sporting News, and more. We’re focusing on the guys who are flying under the radar at this time of year but could become household names once they get a chance to make their mark.
For me, this was a whole ‘nother level of challenge. I’m the producer, director, co-writer, editor, and cinematographer, which has translated into some insane work weeks so far in ‘08. We’ll be releasing 51 episodes between now and the end of April, so I’ll continue to be a little erratic here at PAB, but soon this show will be done and I’ll be back to ranting and raving with regularity.
In the meantime, anyone who likes football should check out our shows at ON Networks or here.
The introduction to Draftguys TV:
A profile of Appalachian State’s star WR Dexter Jackson:
And feisty Rutgers DT Eric Foster:
Thanks for checking it out, and if you liked what you saw, please pass it on to your friends and check the ON Networks site for 2 new profiles every weekday.
great stuff, marc. football nerds everywhere should eat this shit up.
Wow, Marc, those are pretty slick. I was never into football– I got pretty turned off by the culture of it in school and so whenever I catch a bit of football talk, it tends to sound like gibberish to me. But both of those profiles are clear, precise, and engaging, even to a know-nothing like me. And it’s nice that you guys are backing up your commentary with specific video evidence. It gives it all a real feeling of concreteness.
Are there many sports shows now that offer this kind of specific analysis, or is what you’re doing somewhat unique?
Thanks gents! Kind words are much appreciated.
Quin, to your question, there are shows that do things like this that break down the NFL teams and players, but nobody’s doing this to this level of detail on college prospects. Basically, we’ve taken the best stuff people apply to the pro game and tried to break down some of these guys the same way.
You’re dead-on about the problems of football culture, too, but I have to say, most of the guys we interviewed were really nice, warm, funny dudes who’re just busting their asses to try and make it. It was really refreshing.
I’m trying to reconcile the unpleasantness of football culture with the refreshing pleasantness of most of the young athletes you interviewed… old anti-jock biases die hard.
What do you think accounts for the disparity? Do you think it might be a circumstance of being at the draft itself? I wonder if maybe these guys who are used to being at the top of the heap are feeling that “first day of school” feeling again. They’re painfully aware that they’ve just placed on foot on the bottom rung of a much shinier ladder, and, for the time being at least, a more likeably modest part of their personality starts to shine through.
But, I’m just speculating of course. How does it look to you from the trenches? Do you think you’d find it so refreshing a feeling if you did this kind of coverage at the pro level?
We also had the chance to hang out with some pro players, along with the college guys, and once again, the guys we met we very nice, very laid back, very decent-seeming people. In nearly all of these cases, you genuinely got the vibe that what you see is what you get — they weren’t preening for the camera, they were just being themselves. And the pro guys weren’t on camera, they were just working out most of the time.
I’m sure there are plenty of a-holes, just like any big business/celebrity culture, but we were honestly impressed by most of the players we met. Definitely shook some stereotypes.
Always nice to have stereotypes shaken, not stirred. So, as a real sports lover, what do you think accounts for the disparity between the ugliness of so much sports culture and all these nice people doing it?
well, there are plenty of a-holes doing it, i’m sure. i already made the athlete and celebrity culture connection, and i am sure that there are plenty of similarities. the institutions and some of the social values of those cultures are sexist/macho/greed-driven/whatever and serve to make for an ugly scene overall, but inside that scene are probably plenty of decent folks mixed in with the asswipes.
and really, a lot of the high school jock mentality comes from low self esteem, and most of the biggest pricks weren’t actually professional prospects, right? these guys didn’t necessarily have to beat up dudes in the hall to feel good about themselves, you know?
I’ll just say that lots of people who are total pricks in one context are the nicest guys in another.
In my freshman year in Miami, I had the strangest relationship with a football jock on my floor. Half the time he absolutely terrorized me– one memorable night, I kept my door locked while he pounded on my door for over a half hour straight saying that I had to come out so he could beat the shit out of me– and the other half (I think when he wasn’t around his other jock friends) he would be really nice to me, trying to talk seriously and gain my respect. And in the nice moments of this schizo relationship, I really think he was being genuine. But, in a different way, the freaked out ‘roid rage part was genuine too.
Although one time he held me down and threatened me, he never actually did physically harm me, so I guess he must have actually been a nice guy after all! Okay, fine, I’m rolling my eyes when I say that, but I do wonder where he’s at, actually…
Obviously, he was just one guy– I’m just saying that if you only saw him in the context of, say, training, where he was taking it very seriously and being respectful and friendly to everyone, you would have no clue what a prick he could be.
I get what you’re saying about being a professional prospect changing your esteem level. But with being at the top of the pack comes privilege, and with privilege all too often comes abuse of privilege.
So I suppose I’m still a little bit skeptical, is what it all comes down to. I guess I’ve got my own issues to get over here, don’t I! Well, anyway, I’m happy for you that you’re having a great time, doing such great work, and meeting such nice people [or at least encountering their nicer sides!
].
congratulations! it looks great!
I get what you’re saying about being a professional prospect changing your esteem level. But with being at the top of the pack comes privilege, and with privilege all too often comes abuse of privilege.
No argument there, that’s for sure.