Poll
Weekend poll: Where will the Kings finish in the Pacific Division in 2012-13?
Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.
Northern California sports fans sure love the Giants, don't they?
Good luck trying to have a quiet dinner in any restaurant with a TV during the World Series. Those cheers aren't for the Awesome Blossom down at Chili's, baby.
But as for the rest of the nation loving the Giants? Not so much.
The first two games of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers produced record-low TV ratings.
In the Giants' 8-3 win in Game 1, Fox drew a 7.6 rating with only 12.2 million viewers – the lowest total for any Series opener.
Thursday's 2-0 Giants win drew a 7.8 rating with 12.3 million watching – also the lowest figure for a Game 2.
Unfortunately for Fox Sports, expect the trend to continue spiraling downward – and the blame can be put squarely upon the Giants, who seem to have as much national prime-time TV appeal as a "Jersey Shore" rerun.
Rewind the tape:
The 1989 World Series between the Giants and A's drew a then-record-low rating of 16.4 (24.5 million viewers). The 1988 Series (Dodgers-A's), by comparison, drew a 23.9 rating.
In 2002, the Giants-Angels Series averaged a rating of 11.9 (19.3 million), and in 2010 the Giants and Rangers averaged an all-time-low 8.4 rating (14.3 million).
So what is it about the Giants, America?
The low figures after the '89 earthquake and the country snubbing Barry Bonds in 2002 made sense.
But these Giants have star power with guys named Buster and Panda. It doesn't make sense that while NorCal baseball fans are tuning in, the rest of America is tuning out.
What to watch
World Series, Game 3: Giants at Tigers, 5:07 p.m., FOX40: Ryan Vogelsong gets the start for the Giants.
Weekend poll
Where will the Kings finish in the Pacific Division in 2012-13?
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Vote above or leave your comments in the comments field; or go to www.sacbee.com/sports
Poll results
Who will win the World Series?
• Giants: 78%
• Tigers: 22%
Total votes: 428
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• Read more articles by Victor Contreras
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