My dad always used to say, “…when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail”. Seems like this is true whether your a carpenter, or the world’s biggest software company. Could it be true of the worlds most popular sports league?
Here’s the quote - pay special attention to the stuff in bold
From Business Week article (April 2, 2007): Where is Microsoft search?
“…Microsoft’s search problem reflects its approach to new markets in general.It spends little time on timy, ermerging niches…but these are precisely the markets that can quickly blossom on the Net into meaningful businesses…”
“Bill (Gates) and Steve (Ballmer) and the leadership don’t undertsand the value of small things,” says Robert Scoble, a former Microsoftie whose blog recently took the company to task for its Web missteps. “That cripples their entire Internet strategy from the start.”
When I read that quote I thought of Clayton Christiansen’s, “Innovator’s Dilemma, when new technologies cause create firms to fail.”
And I thought of the NFL.
At the risk of sounding like a back seat driver, if Scoble is right about Microsoft (and plenty of people would question his statement), if Microsoft can really be “bested” by Google (a relatively young company started by a couple of grad school hackers), then isn’t it possible that the NFL, which has lived off TV revenue, could be threatened by a media landscape that isn’t focused entirely on TV?
I’m not saying that the NFL won’t end up winning both the battle (short term) and the war (long term). I have no idea what they’re planning at 280 Park Ave. I’m just hoping we’re not blinded (or perhaps paralyzed) by the “mass media” mindset.
It’s great to see you back in action! So sorry about the trouble we’ve had the last few days with your site. Momentum is so important for a site and I’m sure we’ve got some catching up to do now. I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you!
You already have done enough…not your fault…thanks for your dedication! Never thought I’d miss writing my blog so much!!
The bigger problem is for the NFL is to not bite the hand that feeds. Many policies have come out to curb the media interaction with players, coaches. Sideline camera were limited last year, access to coaches video could be banned this upcoming year.
It’s a delicate balance between protecting IP and using what you have as PR.
I don’t think such a decline is likely with the NFL in particular, but I do think there are opportunities in other sports to innovate in new ways that wouldn’t work for theNFL. Major League Soccer fnally realized what a potential gold mine an alliance with the Mexican soccer league is - think of all the spanish speaking fans north of the border, and how many would pack a stadium to see, say, a game in Dallas.
MLS and other niches sports leagues IMO should focus on secondary & tertiary markets like Portland and Idaho. If the NFL started today, they wouldn’t dream of putting a franchise in Green Bay, yet think how important it is to their tradition.