YSMISB in the Future?

While new episodes of You Say Maize, I Say Blue are always great to watch here on the show's official blog or on campus/local television, have you ever wondered where we'll be able to catch the show 20-30 years down the road? Six years ago when founder Chris Hall began producing YSMISB, the show could only be seen two nights a week at around 12-1am on TV sets in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. But now, in what seems like a totally different technological era, YSMISB can actually be seen from around the globe at any time: you'll see it on YouTube, you'll see it on Facebook, and it even has this snazzy blog to go with it. Just think, if this show's reach has grown that much in six years, where will it go in the next six? That's when I begin thinking of the future...

Scary is the first word that comes to mind when I sit back and think of what the future likely holds for the world's media consumption. Truth is that I can wonder all day what the future of media will look like, only to realize decades later that I completely wasted that day! I mean c'mon, we really have no inclination as to what the next big thing will be. Do you remember anticipating the arrival of the World Wide Web?

One thing we do know is that we are in the middle of chasmic shift in how we consume media. I believe the television to be the greatest media advance of the previous century, and so far into this one it looks like the internet is next. As the world has collectively decided to hook up to the internet, and consequently almost eliminate the need for paper, we are beginning to see the deadly effects on the print media industry. In this day and age, folks would much rather read information off their laptop screens than deal with the hassle of walking to the end of the driveway to pick up the newspaper.

I personally don’t pay much attention to newspapers anymore, and after all, why should I? Why should I put down my sterling laptop and pick up some grimy, recycled paper with ink coming off on my hands? Most people seem to feel this way today—with a few simple clicks of the mouse, one can find all the information they need and much more. Except for the possibility of a Sunday edition in large markets, I do see the extinction of newspapers on the horizon, likely faster than we know.

But this only makes sense, no? With the rapid pace technology seems to be on, I can’t even imagine what this world will look like. I think television will always be there, radio too as long as people are still driving cars. However, as we are already seeing, the internet is where media consumption will be at in the future—wireless communication and information sending. I’m thinking we will see an expansion of what we’re beginning to see today with cell phones carrying live footage of sports events, televisions in automobiles, etc. It’s almost overwhelming for me to picture what I’m imagining, but I think we will see a world where media consumption is a vital part of everyday life, and people will see it that way too.

So 30 years from now I imagine a society in which one is never separated from media, nor separated from others as well. Want to watch a baseball game but you’re away from a TV set? Flip open your cell phone. Want to know what your brother in Japan thinks of the umpire’s strike call? Start a conversation with him on your phone while you both watch the same thing. In the end, that is where I think we’re headed in sports media—every event will be available to anyone who wants it, anywhere in the world at any location.

Not so fast my friend!

Three years ago when the almighty Super Bowl came to Detroit, local media praised the attraction as an event that would enlighten the entire city, bridge its communities, and help jumpstart a movement to clean up the Motor City’s filth in general. I still remember Detroiters claiming this ‘was exactly what Detroit needed’ and ‘this is our new beginning.’ Really?

I found it difficult to keep myself from laughing this week when I began hearing the same sentiments as the Final Four trotted into town. I guess the most watched sporting event on television didn’t do its job three years ago, eh? Drive into Motown today and it still looks the same as it did then, same as it did ten years ago, same as it has for decades—rotting, depressing, embarrassing. Nothing has changed, nothing is changing. So why do I keep hearing these high hopes from Detroit locals only when a national, mega-bucks championship swings by?

The whole idea of the Super Bowl or Final Four making a change in the local community is hogwash to me. I’ve been to Detroit before and after Super Bowl XL—nothing too different to me. I’m guessing the same to be true in 2009. All the hype surrounding the Final Four and the promotional events leading up to the weekend’s games, what for? On a national level, little coverage (at least from what I saw) of the youth clinics, or the charity walk, or the college all-star game was to be found. Local media covered only some of the more notable events (like the college all-star game), but even then the coverage was light and limited. While these may have given smiles to little kids or been for a good cause, what did they really do to revitalize Detroit? People are still missing jobs, autos, homes, etc. City streets are still filled with garbage and bums.

I feel these ancillary events and the Final Four should just be reported for what they are, not blown way out of proportion by media folks trying to create a feel-good story out of nothing. Yes media, we know Detroit is struggling, we know of all the problems facing the city and its citizens, but how does a couple basketball games change any of that? Sure the games and promotions gave local families a chance to smile, but are they still smiling today? Don’t get me wrong here: it was great having such a widely covered and followed event come to my hometown. But it should have been left at that!

As for the nut-heads making up such media, this past week only continued to cement in my mind that I don’t want to make a career of being on television. Sure it’s nice to see yourself on national television and sure the gig might land you a gorgeous babe or two, but I don’t think any of that makes up for the times you put yourself in a position to look like a jackass. Take Bobby Knight for example, one of the greatest jackasses of all-time in sports, and oh-by-the-way, one of the best basketball coaches this land has ever seen. I remember before the start of last year’s tournament hearing Coach Knight rant and rave that Pittsburgh (coming off a hot streak during its conference tournament) was the best team in the field and would win the national title. Ha! The Panthers lost to Michigan State in the 2nd round! Then take this season, when Knight (and just about everyone else) picked Michigan State to lose twice, and twice was dumbfounded! You’re doing a great job over there at ESPN Bobby! (Joking, joking of course Coach, put down your seat)

But that last sarcastic line is exactly why I want to be inside the action and making it happen instead of sitting on some fancy set and making myself sound like I know what I’m talking about. Being involved in sports media puts a person under a lot of focus, focus that regular people watching often mistake for divine powers to predict the future. No matter how many wins Bobby Knight racked up in his career, I’m still pretty sure he is no genie! And that’s just sports—unpredictable—the reason we all watch. We want Coach Knight to be wrong; we want to see the underdog win. Unfortunately for those (bravely) sitting in your TV sets, they are going to be wrong from time to time and consequently, we ridicule them. I suppose that’s the price for the pretty redhead and cute blonde.