I read this morning where this game is being played under the Crosstown Showdown banner and that Tom Gamble played some role in securing ESPN. Obviously this must be beneficial to both parties, so.....

 

- How does playing this game under the Crosstown Showdown banner benefit Highlands? Is it solely that Gamble was able to help get the game on TV or something additional?

 

- What is Gamble getting out of the deal?

It is my impression that the only reason that this game is going to be part of the Crosstown Showdown is the Tom Gamble connection to ESPN. In the Cincinnati Enquirer story (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130722/SPT030201/307220135/&nclick_check=1) it is stated that Gamble has wanted to get Highlands to be part of the Showdown for years but could not work it out. Then this game came along and the scheduling etc problems that he mentioned just sort of vanished. It is my opinion that Tom Gamble had the connections and used it to his advantage to promote his event, his company and himself. Yes, both Highlands and University Christian benefit from the exposure of national TV with the added financial that University Christian may recoup some of their out of pocket expenses.

 

IMHO, the Skyline Crosstown Showdown is way to large. The Showdown started as local Cincinnati Crosstown games held at Nippert Stadium and now includes games that are not just local games. Look at the schedule: CrossTown - ShowDown

 

1) How can you call Cincinnati Colerain vs Lake Worth (FL) Park Vista a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs Cincinnati St. Xavier a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Beechwood vs Lima (OH) Senior a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Highlands vs University Christian a CROSSTOWN game?

 

2) How can the CovCath at Dixie Heights be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for Dixie? How can the South Dearborn (IN) vs Lawrenceburg (IN) be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for Lawrenceburg? How can you call Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs Cincinnati St. Xavier be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for St. X? The same goes for the Walnut Hills @ Sycamore game.

 

IMO, the Skyline Crosstown Showdown has gotten away from its roots. It has expanded to the point that it is not what it once was. I feel that the event should be rethought and brought back to its roots.

It is my impression that the only reason that this game is going to be part of the Crosstown Showdown is the Tom Gamble connection to ESPN. In the Cincinnati Enquirer story (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130722/SPT030201/307220135/&nclick_check=1) it is stated that Gamble has wanted to get Highlands to be part of the Showdown for years but could not work it out. Then this game came along and the scheduling etc problems that he mentioned just sort of vanished. It is my opinion that Tom Gamble had the connections and used it to his advantage to promote his event, his company and himself. Yes, both Highlands and University Christian benefit from the exposure of national TV with the added financial that University Christian may recoup some of their out of pocket expenses.

 

IMHO, the Skyline Crosstown Showdown is way to large. The Showdown started as local Cincinnati Crosstown games held at Nippert Stadium and now includes games that are not just local games. Look at the schedule: CrossTown - ShowDown

 

1) How can you call Cincinnati Colerain vs Lake Worth (FL) Park Vista a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs Cincinnati St. Xavier a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Beechwood vs Lima (OH) Senior a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Highlands vs University Christian a CROSSTOWN game?

 

2) How can the CovCath at Dixie Heights be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for Dixie? How can the South Dearborn (IN) vs Lawrenceburg (IN) be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for Lawrenceburg? How can you call Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs Cincinnati St. Xavier be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for St. X? The same goes for the Walnut Hills @ Sycamore game.

 

IMO, the Skyline Crosstown Showdown has gotten away from its roots. It has expanded to the point that it is not what it once was. I feel that the event should be rethought and brought back to its roots.

 

So you think they should change the name of the event.

It is my impression that the only reason that this game is going to be part of the Crosstown Showdown is the Tom Gamble connection to ESPN. In the Cincinnati Enquirer story (http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130722/SPT030201/307220135/&nclick_check=1) it is stated that Gamble has wanted to get Highlands to be part of the Showdown for years but could not work it out. Then this game came along and the scheduling etc problems that he mentioned just sort of vanished. It is my opinion that Tom Gamble had the connections and used it to his advantage to promote his event, his company and himself. Yes, both Highlands and University Christian benefit from the exposure of national TV with the added financial that University Christian may recoup some of their out of pocket expenses.

 

IMHO, the Skyline Crosstown Showdown is way to large. The Showdown started as local Cincinnati Crosstown games held at Nippert Stadium and now includes games that are not just local games. Look at the schedule: CrossTown - ShowDown

 

1) How can you call Cincinnati Colerain vs Lake Worth (FL) Park Vista a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs Cincinnati St. Xavier a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Beechwood vs Lima (OH) Senior a CROSSTOWN game? How can you call Highlands vs University Christian a CROSSTOWN game?

 

2) How can the CovCath at Dixie Heights be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for Dixie? How can the South Dearborn (IN) vs Lawrenceburg (IN) be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for Lawrenceburg? How can you call Ben Davis (Indianapolis) vs Cincinnati St. Xavier be anything but what it is a regular season HOME game for St. X? The same goes for the Walnut Hills @ Sycamore game.

 

IMO, the Skyline Crosstown Showdown has gotten away from its roots. It has expanded to the point that it is not what it once was. I feel that the event should be rethought and brought back to its roots.

 

 

 

Amen! A few years back I went to a game at Dixie between two nky teams. It was just a regular season game in my mind but they jacked the price up to 10 or 12 bucks to get in. I'm still not sure why I had to pay that kind of price for a 5.00 game. Doesn't make sense to me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Dale/Highlands say they would NEVER play in anything associated with Tom Gamble??????

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Dale/Highlands say they would NEVER play in anything associated with Tom Gamble??????

 

I think you're right! But then I think he followed it up with "...unless he can get us on ESPN!"

I think you're right! But then I think he followed it up with "...unless he can get us on ESPN!"

 

He always has a back up plan. :lol2:

He always has a back up plan. :lol2:

 

It has a Machiavellian feel to it, doesn't it. Very smart. Both sides benefit here as opposed to Gamble's little enterprise being the only one.

He always has a back up plan. :lol2:

 

Great coaches always do.

 

I don't care what they call this event, top notch programs everywhere. :thumb:

So you think they should change the name of the event.

 

 

Certainly, let's call it what it is. "The In-Game Sports Invitational"

For those that do not know, In-Game Sports is Tom Gamble's company.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Dale/Highlands say they would NEVER play in anything associated with Tom Gamble??????

Sounds a bit like Gamble is trying to latch onto the exposure and prestige of the ESPN event with Highlands, in order to promote his otherwise not-so-exciting Crosstown games.

Just curious what the cost of a ticket is going to become since Gamble's company is now involved. Too high of a price will certainly have an effect on the casual fan that may come.

It is simple economics, Tom Gamble gives the schools a nice guarantee that is tough to say no to so the games are adopted as Crosstown Showdown games and the involved parties raise the ticket prices. In other words, Tom is laughing all the way to the bank and all the individual schools are complicit in fleecing their fans.

Unless your a student all tix are inflated now but ill pay 15 a tix for this game.

It is simple economics, Tom Gamble gives the schools a nice guarantee that is tough to say no to so the games are adopted as Crosstown Showdown games and the involved parties raise the ticket prices. In other words, Tom is laughing all the way to the bank and all the individual schools are complicit in fleecing their fans.

 

Yep, a $7 ticket becomes a $15 ticket. I think that most would be ok w/ paying that knowing that they were going to a game that was televised on ESPNU b/c they understand the trade-off for the exposure.