Red Cross and MNF

I was watching Monday Night Football on ABC on what esle? Monday night. Next week, for the first time that I can remember, there will be two, count 'em, TWO, NFL games on ABC Monday night. Both of them are part of the Monday Night Football program. This is in conjunction with ABC's campaign for the Red Cross and Hurricane relief. This is a pointless act. All this is doing is giving a reason for ABC to sell twice as much air space to advertisers at the inflated MNF rate (and maybe even a premium of that rate if advertisers believe the Red Cross campaign will boost ratings more). The hurricane has come and went. Yes, they still need money to relieve, recover, and rebuild, but there is no reason to wait an entire week to begin donations. Essentially, coupled with the promotion of internet donations, the only feasible method will be a telathon, a.k.a. people will call in their pledges. I guess I'll have to tune in to find out. First of all, the Red Cross only allows a minimum of a $25 donation (which I as a college student cannot afford). I've tried calling my donations on numerous Hurricane relief phone lines, including the Red Cross'. Every time I have called I have gotten a busy signal. With ABC and MNF promoting their phone lines, even more donators should be calling in, making it virtually impossible for me to donate at in conjunction with the function. ABC needed to begin their Red Cross campaign this past Monday night during Eagles/Falcons, or even their Thursday night broadcast of Pats/Raiders. Waiting a full week to begin is only evidence that ABC is NOT using their MNF clout to promote the Red Cross, but that ABC IS using the Red Cross' clout to promote MNF. Pathetic.