Chargers first exhibition game against Seahawks blacked out for local TV viewers

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The long wait is finally over you boltalholics — it’s time to get on that game face, strap on that Charger cap, and crack open a nice cold one for the Bolts. Saturday night, they’ll take on the Seahawks at the Q to kick off the ’09 season. It’s first pre-season game for both teams at Qualcomm Stadium, and only the fourth time the public has been able to see the Chargers all year.

Now, an unfortunate piece of news for all you Charger fans out there. Due to standards set by the NFL, which specifically state that if a game does not sellout within 72 hours prior to kickoff, the game will result in a blackout.

As the game did not sell enough tickets before the deadline, Saturday’s game against the Seahawks will be blacked out, meaning the game will not be televised within a 75-mile radius of the stadium. The 6,000 tickets left unsold were the main cause of the decision to blackout the game.

Hopefully sports bars and local joints will have the ability to retrieve the game and play it for the fans. If not, the only other way to catch the game is at the stadium itself, or to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket, and install a satellite system in one day. Hopefully in the future ticket sales will increase so regular season blackouts can be avoided.

With the starters playing in the first half of the game, the Chargers are looking to start their preseason off right. With the LaDainian Tomlinson looking to make up for a shaky and injury-ridden 2008 season, and Shawne Merriman back in the mix, the Chargers

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are looking to come out strong on this Saturday’s game. Who knows, maybe they’ll even run the wildcat offense they’ve been practicing at the training camp this summer.

In the sports world, many people have been questioning LaDanian’s choice to participate in the Chargers preseason this year. Simply put, many fear that he could sustain another injury, which could increase the possibility of another disastrous season. However, LT is a true football player, keeping that pigskin in his heart, and boyish love he had for the game with him. He wants to play a game at home and get a couple of toss backs in the city he loves. So, this Saturday he will play in the game, and hopefully show a good showing for the fans.