What's more entertaining this time of year than football? How about dragging politics into America's fall pastime? Couch potatoes and armchair quarterbacks are riled about missing their favorite games and have sought help from, of all things, government.

Two new networks have raised the blood pressure of the gridiron faithful: the NFL Network and the Big Ten Network. Wisconsin fans were upset earlier this season when they couldn't get two key Badgers games on their local cable outlet. Bucky lost those two scrums anyway, sparing fans tearful afternoons. And now the Packers Nation is outraged that most of the state won't be able to see the "Duel in Dallas" on Nov. 29. The game is being broadcast on the NFL Network, which is not offered as part of the standard cable package on Time Warner or Charter. It will be aired in Milwaukee on Channel 12.

The Arena Strategy Group -- headed by Mark Graul, former campaign manager for Mark Green's 2006 gubernatorial race and current spokesman for John Gard's congressional pitch -- has taken out a radio ad encouraging listeners to send messages urging elected officials to step in and require cable companies to include the NFL Network on basic cable. Sort of strange that for football conservatives ask for government intervention.

The Web site www.football247wisconsin.com provides all the tools for the fan to get involved in the political process, such as pre-written letters and quick access to their local legislators.

On a related front, the Big Ten Network has politicians grabbing the ball and trying to score points over its controversy. The BTN, Time Warner and Charter cable have failed to come to an agreement over whether the cable franchises should offer the BTN as part of basic cable packages. The cable companies prefer to feature it at a premium price.

State Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and state Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson) have proposed the sloganesque Fair Access to Networks, which would bring in an arbitrator to select among competing proposals when an impasse occurs between independent programmers and cable providers.

And state Reps. David Travis (D-Madison), Frank Boyle (D-Superior) and Mary Hubler (D-Rice Lake) have asked the Legislature's Joint Audit Committee to look into how much money UW-Madison is getting from the Big Ten Network, as well as other contract details. Travis told a Madison newspaper that he viewed it as a personal foul that basic cable customers couldn't see Badgers sports and when he inquired whether the state public television network could broadcast the Badgers football game against Ohio State he was told that the contract didn't allow it.

"How did Wisconsin get in the position that its public university can't televise its own games on public television?" he asked.

Out of the Obscure: Tim Michels, former GOP candidate for U.S. Senate and current construction magnate, has emerged from obscurity to become state chairman for the presidential campaign of Mike Huckabee. Better known around the country for losing 100 pounds than being governor of Arkansas, Huckabee called Michels "a highly-motivated manager, distinguished military veteran, and a strong supporter of common sense, conservative values."

Huckabee may be under the radar for now, but some pundits think if he could get a leg up with a good showing in Iowa, his views cross over all the factions of the Republican Party and he is not as divisive a candidate as Rudy Giuliani or as cloudy as Mitt Romney.

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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by MILWIRISH on Nov. 27, 2007 at 8:41 p.m. (report)

IN REFENCE TO YOUR ALDERMAN FROM THE THIRD WARD....DID HE FORGET TO MENTION HE WAS LEAVING THE CITY??

Posted by MILWIRISH on Nov. 25, 2007 at 10:21 a.m. (report)

the NFL, the BIG TEN, MARQUETTE BASKETBALL are all screwing the tv and radio fans. green bay could care less. they are always sold out. wisconsin is doing a good job of making sports for the rich only. if you do not have cable tv or season tickets you can get screwed. marquette forgets that not so long ago they were a terrible team to watch. now they are only on TWS TV. the golden eagles should try to sell some more tickets by showing their product to the public. greed is the answer!!!!!