We live in a small town about 40 miles south of Salt Lake. We moved here from Yorba Linda 9 1/2 years ago and have continued to watch and support the Angels My wife made it a condition of us moving here that we subscribe to either Extra Innings or MLB.tv. Of course I don't mind because I am just as big a fan as she is. Every summer evening we sit down and watch our Angeles--except this weekend. You see the Diamondback games are blacked out in our area.

I can't explain why. Our local cable and satellite providers broadcast the Rockies' games so last weekend we could watch them on the local sports channel. Not so with this weekend. I called Dish Network to find out if I added their sports package including Arizona's regional sports channel would let me see the games. They told me the game would be blacked out on that channel also. How stupid is that?

I know for me it is only a few games every four years but what if I were an Arizona fan living here. There is no way for them to watch their team. I would understand if the games were being shown on a locally available channel but they aren't. It's just a stupid rule for no practical reason.

I am sure there are other areas with stupid blackout restrictions. I just wish there was more I could do about it than yell at some flunky who answers the phone at MLB.tv or rant about it in the Internet. If anyone has a good way to protest this stupidity, let me know.