Pointless Pandering: Apple TV, the Phillies, Cheesesteaks, and the Rocky Statue
The Philadelphia Phillies destroyed the Washington Nationals yet again last night, hitting five home runs backed by a masterclass from Kyle Gibson. Did you miss the game? Probably. It was airing on Apple TV+, causing problems for anyone over the age of 40 across the Delaware Valley.Â
Apple TV+ reached an agreement with the MLB to carry a handful of Friday Night Baseball games this season, while Peacock, NBC’s streaming service picked up a bunch of Sunday baseball games. You might not like it and for those without smart TV’s likely find it difficult to watch games (even though it’s not) but unfortunately, that’s the direction all major sports are heading.
Watching the older crowd take to Facebook trying to find out how to watch the game is a treat in itself.
Regardless, the broadcast for streaming services needs to be better. Last night during the game, the Apple TV put Phillies fans through the ringer with the most basic pandering and Philadelphia stereotypes throughout the game.
First up, we have the cheesesteak ratings.
Look, we have been on record saying every Cheesesteak debate is outplayed and at this point, is just down right annoying. Unless it’s an outsider like Apple TV+ or the guys over at “Pardon My Cheesesteak” it’s probably for the best if we just stop doing cheesesteak debates in general, even more so when the only options available are Pat’s, Geno’s, and the Phillies clubhouse cheesesteak.
It was however, funny to watch the announcers claim that the Phillies clubhouse cheesesteak was the best out of the three. Talk about a backhanded insult to Pat’s and Geno’s.
Next up, we have every Phillies fan favorite, the Rocky Statue.
I think we should make a deal with every streaming service that’s going to broadcast Philly sports games in the future. The only time you are allowed to show the Rocky statue is when you are playing a video of the Minnesota fans standing on the Art Museum steps like a bunch of idiots before Nick Foles destroyed the Vikings in the NFC Championship game.
Trust me, I get it. This isn’t some “fake outrage” post. Apple TV+ streams basically a national broadcast of the game and when they travel to different cities, they want to display a few things that the host city is known for.
The issue I have is the fact that I find it hard to believe anyone outside Philadelphia fans are watching a Nationals-Phillies game on a Friday night in early August, which renders the cheesesteak debates and Rocky statue images pointless because these types of things have been shoved down our throats our entire lives.
I would much rather have the broadcast take us through the different neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Hit up the Italian Market, swing through Center City and out to 30th Street Station. Do a quick drive through each college campus and then head up to Northern Liberties, and Old City to Fishtown before making your way back to the stadiums passing by Penn’s Landing.
Take a stroll past Boathouse Row and run through Fairmount Park for all I care. There’s just so much more to a city then the 3-4 things that everyone in America already knows. I’ll be happy to support the new era of streaming professional sports, but the broadcast needs to step their game up moving forward.
Mandatory Credit: Apple TV+
