Football Blackouts

The Belle of Ballast Point, a rabid football fan, was wondering if the Bucs game this weekend was blacked out. Well, as a public service to her and anyone else who cares, the Oracle is tickled pink to present the following link:

http://www.the506.com/temp11.html

The 506.com website has an interactive map showing where NFL televised games will appear around the country.

Yes, the Tampa Bay v. Houston game is blacked out in Tampa and surrounding areas.

The Oracle is not a fan of Sen. Mike Bennett (what can I say, he's a Republican), but Bennett says he's found a little known section of Florida law that requires pro stadiums to be used as homeless shelters in order to receive taxpayer revenues.

"They have to use it for a homeless shelter when it's not being used for a professional sports franchise," Bennett told a Fox affiliate in Tampa. "Not during a hurricane, but anytime. That's exactly what the law says."

I think the state needs to start enforcing that law if for no other reason than "pay-back" to the NFL and the team owners for the blackouts and doing nothing to mitigate the hardships placed on fans who are already reeling from the economic downturn.

It pains me to say it, but another Republican in Florida has come up with a dandy idea. Sen. Mike Fasano, wants to revoke a tax break for any NFL team that blacks out a home game.

To Bennett and Fasano, the Oracle says, "More power to ya! Let's stick it to these bastards."