Jerry Seinfeld called in the 1990s with his "cheering for the clothes" routine on the television show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-L7w1K5Zo
My letter to the Atlanta ‘chopless’ Braves
As a longtime fan of the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball, I have to draw the line and say enough is enough. Sports and baseball, in particular, were meant as an escape from the world around us. Including diversity, gay rights, and now black lives matter, I will no longer tune in, turn on or purchase any Atlanta Braves items. I paid over $400 in tickets to the last game of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals, plus I spent over $300 in dinner, drinks, and sports paraganglia that night. Consider the fact that I also went to over a dozen games last year, subscribed to MLB TV and actively listened to the Braves on the radio. Now multiply that times 10s of thousands of fans who feel the same way as I do. I hope that it hits you and every team in the pocketbook.
I work too hard for my money to get punched in the face by an organization that I supported for so many decades. Getting rid of the “Chop” cost the Braves a chance to beat the Cardinals and now you are continuing your losing ways by completely removing it altogether. It may not be an important thing for you, but for fans like me, it most definitely is important.
I pray that none of the Atlanta Braves players kneel during our National Anthem.
Regards,
Thank you for reaching out and for your support of the Braves. We will share your feedback with our leadership team and sincerely appreciate you sharing. Our organization has not abandoned the tomahawk chop, and feedback from fans, players, and the Native American community are top of mind while evaluating the game day experience.
Again, we appreciate you sharing your thoughts and will pass them on.
Atlanta Braves
Guest Services
“The decline of televised major league sports was definitely in full swing by the 1990s. These recent anti-American outbursts are nothing more than the owners, broadcasters, and carriers trying to get a financial bounce out of a dead cat.”
Maybe not so much with baseball
https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2002255
After a long layoff, and amid some scheduling issues due to COVID-19, Major League Baseball’s TV ratings are improving.
Through the third weekend of MLB action, 39 million unique viewers have watched 59 telecasts (661,017 per game), compared to 26 million over 45 broadcasts (577,777 per game) through the same period in 2019, according to Nielsen data MLB provided to Stephen Battaglio of the Los Angeles Times.
While that shows slight growth, ESPN’s national MLB telecasts are averaging 1.2 million viewers, Battaglio notes. That’s up 29% from last season’s numbers.
Perhaps most encouraging is the rise in viewership among the 18-34 age group. ESPN has seen a 64% increase among men and an 83% uptick among women in that demographic.
Additionally, four million viewers watched the first game of the shortened MLB season on July 23 - Washington Nationals vs. New York Yankees - the highest regular-season total on any network since 2011.
Fans still aren’t allowed to attend games, though there have been some rumblings about opening ballparks before the end of the season.