The operator arrives early so as to get the lay of the land. He surveys his vantage and where he presumes his target(s) will first appear within his sites. The operator removes his weapon from its supple leather case, the deadly device's cold steel exterior shimmering slightly amid the dimmed lighting. He assembles and enables the weapon, fixating its blinking cursor on his target. There has been no discussion of failure or contingency planning for it. The client is far too fussy. David Bloom, a professional media trade columnist, goes to work.
DANIEL FRANKEL: Happy Friday, Big D. Tremendous Super Bowl pick last week when you predicted the Chiefs winning 25-22, my friend. Hope you had money on that bet. As I get ready to travel north straight into the storm next week, listening not so voluntarily to a barrage of my sullen teenager's country-music playlist as he embarks on yet another round of Division II/III athletic meet-and-greets, I'm a bit baffled by the so-called "Spulu." With pay TV operators and the U.S. Justice Department pushing back on the joint streaming venture, and Roger Goodell cheesed off that he wasn't brought into the loop sooner, it doesn't appear as though Disney, Fox and Warners thought this all the way through. In fact, it feels like it could possibly not even happen. And yes, I suspect Conroe, Texas' own Parker McCollum will be played over and over during our 460-mile journey.
