“I can’t get no respect.” Perhaps Rodney Dangerfield was a fan of the Indianapolis Colts because that is exactly how it feels around here sometimes. We see a lot of the same with the Pacers. A small market kills a team’s chances at nationally televised games, regardless of how good they may be. It’s worse in the NBA, but the Colts are on the docket for only two primetime games. That is straight up disrespectful when compared to the rest of the league.
The Downs brothers, Josh and Caleb, have a podcast
on which Cam Newton was a recent guest. Caleb was drafted by the Cowboys, so you know they are going to get a disproportionate number of games under the lights no matter how good they are. With six games set for primetime, Newton quipped, “Caleb … you’re walking into a Netflix special. Josh over there went to a team that’s barely on Tubi.” It may sound rude on the surface, but it’s a joke that rings true. Even the 4:25 slot is barren for the Colts this year. Unless you live in the area or have NFL Sunday Ticket, the chances of seeing a Colts game are low.
It’s hard to yell foul completely on this one for a few reasons. The Colts had a great start to the year, but a rough finish. They missed the playoffs. Should that type of team be rewarded? Additionally, the NFL cares about money and not much else. Wherever LeBron James goes, so goes the money. That is why Adam Silver can’t make the schedule. I have watched some horrible Christmas Day Lakers games while much better, small market teams sat at home. Exact same concept in the NFL. Just like a Thunder-Pacers Finals wasn’t as lucrative as a Knicks-Spurs Finals, the NFL prefers huge markets on its biggest stages. Indianapolis, as great as it is, just can’t compete in that arena.
There aren’t many teams with fewer primetime games than the Colts. You’d have to scrape the bottom of the barrel of teams to find some with less. Here is the good news. With success, games can be flexed, and what time the Colts play doesn’t matter much. Winning is all that matters. The Colts, just like the Pacers, have to force their respective leagues to have no choice but to put them in the national spotlight. It isn’t easy, but if the Colts win and continue that in future seasons, expect more big time games in big time spots. They have to earn it first.
