Where Has All The Cotton Gone

New Years Day football was a little bit different this year. I don't think the most sacred day in college football will ever be the same again. Over the last several years all the football bowl games have been stretched out over a one month period with the most important games played after New Years day. I've gotten used to watching the championship almost a week after college football's sacred day but I still miss setting up three televisions on New Years Day so I would not miss a minute of action.
Change is inevitable and I learned a long time ago that if you stand in the way of progress you'll get run over. But damn it, sometimes there comes a time to draw a line in the sand when the powers to be start tinkering with tradition. After 73 years the annual New Years Day Cotton Bowl game is no longer played on New Years day and to make matters even worse the game is not even played at Fair Park in Dallas Texas, the location of the the Cotton Bowl stadium. After 73 years, the kickoff in the house that Doak Walker built now takes place in the house that Jerry Jones built, the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington Texas. Doesn't Jerry Jones have enough already? Why did he have to take the Cotton Bowl away from us? He does not care, he's only interested in money and another act for Jerry's World. How long do you think it will be before he gets the main event? Not long if he has his way.
Next year Mr Jones will be the least of worries for millions of football fans. For the first time ever the College Football Championship will be broadcast on ESPN and not on free over the air broadcast. ESPN charges every cable TV company $4 a month for ever subscriber. That fee translates to $48 a year for each and everyone who subscribes to cable or satellite television. But I guess that really doesn't matter because those same fools pay $1000-$1200 a year for their television viewing pleasure or should I say television habit! I for one am not about to pay $1000-$1200 for a years worth of cable or satellite television just so I can watch the College Football Championship. I know what your saying "If you stand in the way of progress you'll get run over". Well I'll stand on the sidewalk and listen to the game on the radio which won't cost me a dime. While all you champions of progress are having to work a 40-60 hour work week just to pay your $1000-$1200 cable or satellite bill I'll be taking some free classes in multitasking. If I graduate I'll be able to set up three radios and listen to all the games simultaneously.
Never again will any of us be able to pick cotton on New Years Day but at least I won't be dragging a $1000-$1200 cotton picking sack as I travel down memory lane every New Years Day.