Big Ten awash in excess

THURSDAY in the Big Ten Tournament — played this season at Madison Square Garden despite the conference’s overwhelmingly Midwestern membership, and despite the Big Ten now having 14 members — was a study in standard TV excess, as well.

At halftime of Northwestern-Penn State, four on-site Big Ten Network analysts appeared on a courtside set to talk things over. Is there a greater inducement to turn the channel than to see and hear four people prepared to preview the next game or “break down” the first half ?

Sure, when there’s five instead of four.

But that’s the all-networks formula — it’s both expensive and mostly worthless.

Ex-Jet Antonio Cromartie, according to N.J.’s Star-Ledger, is selling his three-acre, 20-room, 9,650square feet home in Kinnelon, N.J., for $1.7 million.

Cromartie, the father of 14 children with eight women, last played in 2016, his current wife claiming he was cut by the Colts for demonstrating his social consciousness by protesting the national anthem.

Mr. and Mrs. Cromartie now star in “The Cromarties,” described as a “reality show,” on NBC-owned and ironically named USA Network. Back to Don King: Only in America!

Steiner Collectibles last week offered Odell Beckham Jr.- autographed photos, “Normally $250,” for “just $99 today, only” and “limited to the first 50 customers!” An online countdown clock was attached to add to the come-on and, I suspect, excite the easily excited.

I don’t know how “normal” prices are established for autographed photos of pro athletes. But if one can “normally” get $250 for Beckham’s, why sell 50 for $4,950 when they’re worth $12,500, thus incurring a $7,550 loss in value?

Has the value of a Beckham autographed photo declined? Or is the advertised “normal cost” just a rough estimate of what the gullible will believe?