As if it matters, there is now a debate as to whether a couple NBA guys should be disciplined (see fined or suspended) for throwing a punch or two at each other during a game.
It depends on how one views such things.
Like Major League Baseball, and even the rock-em sock-em NFL, the players talk a lot of trash, but are notoriously wimpy when it comes to actual physical confrontations.
There is nothing more pitiful to watch than Major League relievers being woken up in the bullpen, then running all the way across the field to huff, puff, and threaten, but basically act like your proverbial pansies when it's "show time" with the fisticuffs and other mayhem. I mean, what's the point?
In the NFL, it's equally pitiful to watch some idiot take his helmet off and start swinging at an opponent that had the basic common sense to keep his helmet ON. How dumb is that?
Yet the debate rages on as to when an NBA player has "crossed the line" regarding on-court no-nos.
With apologies to the Bard and his fictional character Hamlet -- To discipline or not to discipline. That is the question.
Actually, it's a simple one to answer.
There are two choices.
1) If NBA players want to duke it out on the court, by all means let them, like the officials do in the NHL. When one guy has sufficiently pummeled the other and taken him to the court, then step in and break it up.
Or the polar opposite.
2) Any player that throws a punch, even if it misses, should be suspended for not one, not two, but ten games -- without pay. A second offense will result in a twenty game suspension. Considering the ridiculous salaries these guys make, that gets into the millions. THAT would get their attention and the wimpy pseudo-fight nonsense would stop.
To boot, any player that comes off the bench, like the above-mentioned relief pitchers -- and the subs in Major League dugouts -- gets a ten game suspension without pay as well.
If they are not even in the game, they have absolutely NO business jumping into a confrontation between players that are. This is thug behavior, not that of a professional.
The NHL solved this problem long ago. Sure, they'll let guys fight fair and square on the ice. They'll both be given five minute "major" penalties for doing so, but everybody knows the rules.
More importantly, the hockey folks saw the wisdom in dropping the hammer super-heavy on the head of any fool that was the "third man in", let alone benches clearing.
And trust me, the NHL players are far more formidable fighters than any NBA wimp.
But at least they do it as the testosterone filled men they are -- on skates no less -- instead of like the tattooed Urkels that seem to be everywhere in the NBA.
So there you go Mr. Peanut Head, sometimes known as NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
Make a call, dammit, and stick to it.
Either let them fight, with the on-court refs staying out of the way until it's over -- even though it would be a pitiful showing -- or start handing out ten and twenty games suspensions every time somebody throws a hand at the face of an opponent. Groin kicks --hello Draymond? Make that thirty games.
This wishy-washy policy of nobody knows where the line is in any given situation just isn't cutting it.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Super Bowl odds
This coming weekend is one of my favorite times all year. As a rabid NFL fan, we're not only getting down to the nitty gritty of the season, having weeded out the riff-raff, but both Saturday and Sunday will feature two games.
Tis glorious.
Yet some more wheat has to be separated from the chaff. A look at the upcoming games....
Jax @ Pitt. True, the Jags put a thumping of the Steelers way back in October, in Pittsburgh, no less. But does anybody really think Blake Bortles and that crew, despite a terrific defense, will defeat them again? Three words. Not a chance.
Tenn @ NE. The Pats are favored by about two touchdowns. It ought to be more. This will be a blow-out.
Nawleans @ Minn. An interesting contest with the Vikes slightly favored. Down to his third-string quarterback, and with his star running back out as well, head coach Mike Zimmer has worked wonders with the purple gang. Yet it's tough to underestimate what Drew Brees is capable of. If he gets hot -- lookout. But when in doubt, go with the home team. Vikings prevail.
Atl @ Philly. Another toss up, but likely doesn't matter. Once starting QB Carson Wentz went down with a blown ACL, so did their chances of getting far in the playoffs. Despite their monumental collapse in last year's Super Bowl, the Falcons should prevail in this one.
At any rate, the winner of that game won't get by the winner of the above-mentioned Saints/Vikings contest.
But the game most fans want to see most is a rematch of the Patriots and Steelers. Yes, the Pats knocked off the black and gold crew in Pittsburgh a while back -- barely. And yes, if this game comes to pass, and it likely will, it would be in New England. But never underestimate Mike Tomlin, Big Ben, a healthy Antonio Brown and LaVeon Bell, along with the usual stout Pittsburgh defense. I smell an upset brewing the following week in Foxborough.
My early prediction?
The Steelers and the Vikings meet in Super Bowl LII. And even though it's going to be played in Minnesota's home stadium, the first time a team will get to host it, the Minnesota faithful will leave mighty disappointed. It's only a matter of time before Case Keenum eventually chokes.
Just please. Please, please, please, don't let it turn out to be Tennessee and Philly meeting for all the marbles.
Take about a ratings disaster.
Even I might not watch that.
Tis glorious.
Yet some more wheat has to be separated from the chaff. A look at the upcoming games....
Jax @ Pitt. True, the Jags put a thumping of the Steelers way back in October, in Pittsburgh, no less. But does anybody really think Blake Bortles and that crew, despite a terrific defense, will defeat them again? Three words. Not a chance.
Tenn @ NE. The Pats are favored by about two touchdowns. It ought to be more. This will be a blow-out.
Nawleans @ Minn. An interesting contest with the Vikes slightly favored. Down to his third-string quarterback, and with his star running back out as well, head coach Mike Zimmer has worked wonders with the purple gang. Yet it's tough to underestimate what Drew Brees is capable of. If he gets hot -- lookout. But when in doubt, go with the home team. Vikings prevail.
Atl @ Philly. Another toss up, but likely doesn't matter. Once starting QB Carson Wentz went down with a blown ACL, so did their chances of getting far in the playoffs. Despite their monumental collapse in last year's Super Bowl, the Falcons should prevail in this one.
At any rate, the winner of that game won't get by the winner of the above-mentioned Saints/Vikings contest.
But the game most fans want to see most is a rematch of the Patriots and Steelers. Yes, the Pats knocked off the black and gold crew in Pittsburgh a while back -- barely. And yes, if this game comes to pass, and it likely will, it would be in New England. But never underestimate Mike Tomlin, Big Ben, a healthy Antonio Brown and LaVeon Bell, along with the usual stout Pittsburgh defense. I smell an upset brewing the following week in Foxborough.
My early prediction?
The Steelers and the Vikings meet in Super Bowl LII. And even though it's going to be played in Minnesota's home stadium, the first time a team will get to host it, the Minnesota faithful will leave mighty disappointed. It's only a matter of time before Case Keenum eventually chokes.
Just please. Please, please, please, don't let it turn out to be Tennessee and Philly meeting for all the marbles.
Take about a ratings disaster.
Even I might not watch that.
Detroit Lions new head coach is...
Well, nobody knows yet. As usual, the Lions are sitting on their hands while other teams snatch up new head coaches, and will probably be left with the proverbial leftovers to choose from.
That was the case a few years ago. After head coach Jim Schwartz deservedly was shown the door, the coaching carousel went round and round again, and the Lions wound up with Jim Caldwell.
The very same Caldwell that had inherited a terrific team in Indianapolis from Tony Dungy, and would go 14-2 in his first year at the helm, including a Super Bowl (loss) appearance. Alas, within two years, he had run that team into the ground and was deservedly fired himself.
This is the guy the Lions wanted. If it wasn't so sad, it would be comical.
Back around the turn of the century, the Lions were in pitiful shape and needed somebody to step in, take charge, and turn it around. It should be noted that a guy named Bill Parcells was out there and potentially available at the time.
So what did the Lions do? Hired a guy named Matt Millen to a long term bazillion dollar contract. Worse, they stuck with him for eight -- count em -- EIGHT years as the franchise became more of a laughingstock every year. Eight years to realize the obvious?
Just today, one Jon Gruden was announced as the new head coach of the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders.
Few would doubt Gruden knows pro football. Every aspect of it. He was a player, learned at the knees of Mike Holmgren and Ron Woolf in Green Bay, and a former head coach of those same Raiders. He didn't want to leave, but was traded, to the Tampa Bay Bucs, where he promptly won a Super Bowl in his first year there. After years of being a TV analyst, he's had access to every venue in the league and was able to watch -- and learn -- from how other teams conducted their business. Add it all up and throw in the fact he's obviously a very bright guy and terrific motivator, and the Raiders got the perfect guy to lead them.
Thing is, Gruden's always been a Raider at heart. It just fits his maverick style. And don't be surprised if the black and silver crew improve immensely, and quickly.
Could the Detroit Lions have wooed him into their camp? Not a chance. It's not always about the money, and, besides, Gruden had a pretty sweet financial gig going on at ESPN lately. It's not like he's hurting for dough. Oakland was likely the only head coaching job he would have taken.
So who will the Lions wind up with?
They've floated rumors of interest in New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The chances of him coming to Detroit? Like zero. Same with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The only way they leave the most successful professional sports franchise over the last two decades would be to go to a team where they had an opportunity to shine for themselves.
Detroit is not that place. It's long been a graveyard for head coaches. No head coach in Lions history has ever gotten an equivalent job elsewhere. And Caldwell won't either.
Though hailed as some sort of savior in Detroit, Bob Quinn, currently their general manager, was just another example of Lions buffoonery. They thought because he came from the Patriots, he was a genius.
Thing is, while with the Pats, Quinn was no more than a head scout. For another team to elevate him to their general manager position would be like promoting a second lieutenant to full bird colonel. That's a heck of a leap-frogging act. A shavetail to an eagle? Only the Lions could see fit to do such a thing. Not only that, but be proud of it.
Somewhat predictably, yon former junior louie has pretty much botched things since being put in charge of the Lions personnel. Sure, he's making a ton of dough, and good for him. But's he missed on his first two drafts, getting nobody of consequence in the first couple rounds, and seen free agents leave, only to be replaced by less talented free agents at more money.
It should be noted that either Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels, if hired as the next head coach of the Lions, would report to -- yep -- the very same Bob Quinn -- who was their underling by several slots in New England. Besides the foibles and/or curse that always seems to come with being the head coach of the Lions -- why, pray tell, would either of them put themselves in such a ridiculous situation?
So forget that. The Lions aren't getting either one of those guys. Or anybody else that puts success, reputation, pride, and brains over taking millions of Ford bucks. They can afford to wait for a much better opportunity, which is pretty much anywhere around the league not named Cleveland, and that's a close call. At least in Cleveland, the fans expect their team to lose and have come to accept it. Not so in Detroit. They keep thinking year, after year, after over-hyped year, that the next one just might be THE one. It never is, of course, and won't be any time soon, given the nature of the team. Besides Matthew Stafford, a good field goal kicker, and a couple of fairly decent defensive backs, the entire roster is basically a train wreck.
The Chicago Bears just filled their open head coaching position with basically a nobody, but that's Da Bears. The NY Giants, winners of a couple recent Super Bowls, are still looking. As are the Indy Colts and Arizona Cardinals.
Yet in the end, here's a prediction. All those teams will get their new head coach, and some of them might just work out rather well.
But the Lions, per usual, will twiddle their thumbs, dilly-dally around, and settle for whoever's left. Just like they did Caldwell.
Tis the nature of the beast.
Always has been.......
Monday, January 8, 2018
Alabama champs again
Nothing against Bama, but I've never had much use for the ever arrogant and pompous Nick Sabin. So a begrudging congrats on winning another title.
A couple thoughts on that.
Given his spastically poor performance throughout the game, no doubt Bama will be on the hunt for another place kicker. Missing a couple "chip shot" field goals that almost cost them the championship just isn't acceptable. This dude can return to campus safe and sound, though he would have been the all time goat, see potential lynch mob, had his errant leg resulted in a loss.
Not sure who the corner or safety was for Georgia that got burned on a simple fly pattern in overtime that brought a sudden end to the game. The Dawgs had the Tide backed up in overtime, well out of field goal range to even tie it. Everybody knew they were going to go deep, except perhaps that defensive back. Duh.
But I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when he has to go slinking back to campus in a couple days either. All the TV folks will show that replay over, and over, and over again. And each time, Georgia nation will wince.
He's in a heap of trouble with the student body.
And well he should be.
Hey, if a player can reap the praise for making a game winning play, then he should also suffer the humiliation when his bonehead moment cost his team a game -- especially the national championship.
What's good for the goose......
A couple thoughts on that.
Given his spastically poor performance throughout the game, no doubt Bama will be on the hunt for another place kicker. Missing a couple "chip shot" field goals that almost cost them the championship just isn't acceptable. This dude can return to campus safe and sound, though he would have been the all time goat, see potential lynch mob, had his errant leg resulted in a loss.
Not sure who the corner or safety was for Georgia that got burned on a simple fly pattern in overtime that brought a sudden end to the game. The Dawgs had the Tide backed up in overtime, well out of field goal range to even tie it. Everybody knew they were going to go deep, except perhaps that defensive back. Duh.
But I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when he has to go slinking back to campus in a couple days either. All the TV folks will show that replay over, and over, and over again. And each time, Georgia nation will wince.
He's in a heap of trouble with the student body.
And well he should be.
Hey, if a player can reap the praise for making a game winning play, then he should also suffer the humiliation when his bonehead moment cost his team a game -- especially the national championship.
What's good for the goose......
Sunday, January 7, 2018
NFL chokers
"Choking" is a highly politically incorrect term -- which is exactly why I relish using it. PC is for wimps that are afraid to speak the truth, lest they hurt someone else's precious feelings.
Well, guess what? It hurts MY feelings when others try to stifle my freedom of speech, and tell me there are certain words I can't say. Rest assured, given such provocation and/or repression, I'll go out of my way to use them any way.
On to the chokers.
The Kansas City Chiefs, at home, no less, had a 21-0 lead over the Tennessee Titans and choked it away in the second half.
The LA Rams, on paper, and throughout the season superior to the Atlanta Falcons, choked away a playoff game in their own stadium.
The Buffalo Bills can be excused for getting trashed (choking) in Jacksonville. The Jags are pretty good this year, and Buffalo hasn't been worth four dead flies since that OJ guy was carrying the ball many years ago.
The best playoff game was between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. And what ultimately happened? Cam Newton choked it away -- again.
It seems every time Cam gets on the big stage -- he gags.
True, he made it all the way to the Super Bowl not long ago, but choked.
Even in the press conference afterwards, while an opposing player on the winning team was being interviewed, Cam was within earshot, and choked. He stormed off the stage, like a little boy that just got spanked (which he figuratively was) and was slinking off to his room in shame. Some refer to this phenomenon as throwing a temper tantrum.
It is interesting that both visiting teams won their playoff games on Saturday, but both home teams prevailed on Sunday.
So what do we have to look forward to?
The Saints get to go to Minnesota to face the Vikings next week. The chances of Drew Brees and Co. pulling an upset over the purple gang? Not good, but they've got a shot if everything falls their way.
The Falcons will head to Philly to face the Eagles. Though Atlanta pulled the ultimate choke in last year's Super Bowl, blowing a 25 point third quarter lead to lose to the Patriots in overtime, yours truly would hardly count them out against the Eagles. With starting QB Carson Wentz out for the season with a blown ACL, it's likely only a matter of time before his replacement Nick Foles pulls his usual choke act. History doesn't lie. Over his career, Foles has gagged more often than your average rookie porn actress.
In the AFC, the NE Pats will host the Tenn Tits. Forget this one. Hey, any team that has a head coach named Mularkey can't be taken too seriously. Unless Tom Brady comes down with a serious case of retardation, thereby forgetting how to get to the stadium, this game is a lock. And when it comes to the chances of choking, who would you put your money on? Marcus Mariotta or Brady?
The Jacksonville/Pittsburgh game -- in Pittsburgh -- is interesting for one reason. Back in October, those same Jags put a thumping on the Steelers. Few saw that coming. And if Mike Tomlin and his crew ever needed motivation -- they definitely have it in wanting to avenge that embarrassment. This game could get ugly, choke city, for the Jags.
Besides, other than their own fans, nobody wants to see Jax or Tenn move on. Everybody is awaiting the big showdown between the Patriots and Steelers, with a Super Bowl trip on the line.
Me? Since my beloved Packers -- no, I don't live anywhere near Green Bay, but adopted them years ago -- lost the services of Aaron Rodgers, I've taken a liking to the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Mike Zimmer has undergone some severe trials and tribulations in his personal life and emerged to whip the Vikes into a very good team, even though their top two quarterbacks, and star running back, have gone down for the season.
Besides, New England and Pittsburgh have won a slew of Super Bowls between them over the years. The Vikings have been there four times in the past and yet to come away victorious.
With any luck, and will likely take a lot --- this will be their year.
I just hope they don't choke.
Well, guess what? It hurts MY feelings when others try to stifle my freedom of speech, and tell me there are certain words I can't say. Rest assured, given such provocation and/or repression, I'll go out of my way to use them any way.
On to the chokers.
The Kansas City Chiefs, at home, no less, had a 21-0 lead over the Tennessee Titans and choked it away in the second half.
The LA Rams, on paper, and throughout the season superior to the Atlanta Falcons, choked away a playoff game in their own stadium.
The Buffalo Bills can be excused for getting trashed (choking) in Jacksonville. The Jags are pretty good this year, and Buffalo hasn't been worth four dead flies since that OJ guy was carrying the ball many years ago.
The best playoff game was between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. And what ultimately happened? Cam Newton choked it away -- again.
It seems every time Cam gets on the big stage -- he gags.
True, he made it all the way to the Super Bowl not long ago, but choked.
Even in the press conference afterwards, while an opposing player on the winning team was being interviewed, Cam was within earshot, and choked. He stormed off the stage, like a little boy that just got spanked (which he figuratively was) and was slinking off to his room in shame. Some refer to this phenomenon as throwing a temper tantrum.
It is interesting that both visiting teams won their playoff games on Saturday, but both home teams prevailed on Sunday.
So what do we have to look forward to?
The Saints get to go to Minnesota to face the Vikings next week. The chances of Drew Brees and Co. pulling an upset over the purple gang? Not good, but they've got a shot if everything falls their way.
The Falcons will head to Philly to face the Eagles. Though Atlanta pulled the ultimate choke in last year's Super Bowl, blowing a 25 point third quarter lead to lose to the Patriots in overtime, yours truly would hardly count them out against the Eagles. With starting QB Carson Wentz out for the season with a blown ACL, it's likely only a matter of time before his replacement Nick Foles pulls his usual choke act. History doesn't lie. Over his career, Foles has gagged more often than your average rookie porn actress.
In the AFC, the NE Pats will host the Tenn Tits. Forget this one. Hey, any team that has a head coach named Mularkey can't be taken too seriously. Unless Tom Brady comes down with a serious case of retardation, thereby forgetting how to get to the stadium, this game is a lock. And when it comes to the chances of choking, who would you put your money on? Marcus Mariotta or Brady?
The Jacksonville/Pittsburgh game -- in Pittsburgh -- is interesting for one reason. Back in October, those same Jags put a thumping on the Steelers. Few saw that coming. And if Mike Tomlin and his crew ever needed motivation -- they definitely have it in wanting to avenge that embarrassment. This game could get ugly, choke city, for the Jags.
Besides, other than their own fans, nobody wants to see Jax or Tenn move on. Everybody is awaiting the big showdown between the Patriots and Steelers, with a Super Bowl trip on the line.
Me? Since my beloved Packers -- no, I don't live anywhere near Green Bay, but adopted them years ago -- lost the services of Aaron Rodgers, I've taken a liking to the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Mike Zimmer has undergone some severe trials and tribulations in his personal life and emerged to whip the Vikes into a very good team, even though their top two quarterbacks, and star running back, have gone down for the season.
Besides, New England and Pittsburgh have won a slew of Super Bowls between them over the years. The Vikings have been there four times in the past and yet to come away victorious.
With any luck, and will likely take a lot --- this will be their year.
I just hope they don't choke.
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Kansas City blues
The KC Chiefs of the NFL were mighty hard to get a line on this year. Were they good? Mediocre? Overrated? A disaster waiting to happen?
They came out of the gate by putting a 15 point beatdown on the New England Patriots -- in Foxborough. Definitely an eye opener.
Then they reeled off four more wins in a row to get to 5-0. Yessirree, the Arrowhead version of the Big Red Machine was definitely on a roll.
Until the wheels fell off.
They would lose 6 of their next 7 games, to come thudding back to .500. Ouch.
Was head coach Andy Reid (formerly of the Phillie Eagles -- who look pretty good these days) in danger of getting fired? Maybe.
But the Chiefs recovered nicely, winning their last 4 regular season games, claiming the AFC West division title, and marched into the playoffs with a home game to start with. All was well in KC.
That very playoff game turned out to be against the Tennessee Titans, which the Chiefs were highly favored to win.
[Idle thought. If the Patriots can be called the Pats, the Jaguars the Jags, the Buccaneers the Bucs, etc., what should we shorten the Titans pet name to? Would anybody dare?]
And it sure started off well for the home crowd. KC was clobbering Tenn up and down the field, racing off to a 21-0 lead. The Titans were only able to put one measly field goal on the board towards the end of the first half. Oh yeah, Arrowhead, arguably the loudest stadium in the entire NFL, was rocking and rolling.
And then the same wheels mentioned above did a repeat act.
Not only would Tennessee rally in the second half, they would score 19 unanswered points while shutting out the Chiefs for the entire half.
Final score. Tennessee 22, Kansas City 21.
And just like that, the Chiefs have been eliminated. Outta here.
Which has to come back to the same Andy Reid.
Given the disaster, see fold, choke, whatever you want to call it, his team displayed in front of a national TV audience when all the marbles were on the line, against a club they were supposed to defeat easily -- it just might be that Andy Reid's head will be the next to roll in the annual NFL coaching purge carousel.
The ownership/front office of the KC Chiefs are likely not amused one little bit by how things played out. And the talking media heads will likely crucify the Chiefs in the next few days, adding the proverbial insult to injury. How do you blow a 21 point lead, at home, and get shut out in the second half against a team that was supposed to be inferior to yours in the first place?
Good luck with that press conference.
Yep, dear Andy just might wind up being the latest head coach "casualty" in the NFL.
Nice guy and all, but like they say -- it's the nature of the business.
They came out of the gate by putting a 15 point beatdown on the New England Patriots -- in Foxborough. Definitely an eye opener.
Then they reeled off four more wins in a row to get to 5-0. Yessirree, the Arrowhead version of the Big Red Machine was definitely on a roll.
Until the wheels fell off.
They would lose 6 of their next 7 games, to come thudding back to .500. Ouch.
Was head coach Andy Reid (formerly of the Phillie Eagles -- who look pretty good these days) in danger of getting fired? Maybe.
But the Chiefs recovered nicely, winning their last 4 regular season games, claiming the AFC West division title, and marched into the playoffs with a home game to start with. All was well in KC.
That very playoff game turned out to be against the Tennessee Titans, which the Chiefs were highly favored to win.
[Idle thought. If the Patriots can be called the Pats, the Jaguars the Jags, the Buccaneers the Bucs, etc., what should we shorten the Titans pet name to? Would anybody dare?]
And it sure started off well for the home crowd. KC was clobbering Tenn up and down the field, racing off to a 21-0 lead. The Titans were only able to put one measly field goal on the board towards the end of the first half. Oh yeah, Arrowhead, arguably the loudest stadium in the entire NFL, was rocking and rolling.
And then the same wheels mentioned above did a repeat act.
Not only would Tennessee rally in the second half, they would score 19 unanswered points while shutting out the Chiefs for the entire half.
Final score. Tennessee 22, Kansas City 21.
And just like that, the Chiefs have been eliminated. Outta here.
Which has to come back to the same Andy Reid.
Given the disaster, see fold, choke, whatever you want to call it, his team displayed in front of a national TV audience when all the marbles were on the line, against a club they were supposed to defeat easily -- it just might be that Andy Reid's head will be the next to roll in the annual NFL coaching purge carousel.
The ownership/front office of the KC Chiefs are likely not amused one little bit by how things played out. And the talking media heads will likely crucify the Chiefs in the next few days, adding the proverbial insult to injury. How do you blow a 21 point lead, at home, and get shut out in the second half against a team that was supposed to be inferior to yours in the first place?
Good luck with that press conference.
Yep, dear Andy just might wind up being the latest head coach "casualty" in the NFL.
Nice guy and all, but like they say -- it's the nature of the business.
Friday, January 5, 2018
ESPN's Patriot fairy tale
Don't get me wrong. As a sports junkie, I love ESPN -- well -- most of the time -- and watch the various feeds a lot.
Sure, Tony Kornheiser of "Pardon the Interruption" is the most interrupting talking head I've ever seen. Poor Mike Wilbon can't seem to get through a single sentence without the Kornster jumping in with another of his inane rants. And let's not forget dear Tony has been repeatedly suspended from the station for, shall we say, politically incorrect dialogue over the years. Dude just doesn't know when to shut up.
And Stephen A. Smith has to be the most annoying, with Max Kellerman not far behind, TV "journalist" -- and I use that term VERY loosely -- in recent times. Honorable mention to Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. This unholy foursome could probably cause the Pope to go on a murderous jihad if he watched enough hours of their programming.
But most of the time, ESPN serves up some pretty good stuff.
[It should be noted that while most cable subscribers think the four letter network has always been a "freebie", they have been mistaken. Depending on the local affiliates, ESPN typically constitutes about seven bucks worth of the "basic" cable bill/package viewers receive every month.]
Yet this time, they seemed to have totally botched a story.
Yes, those lovable reporters will go to great lengths to get a "scoop", the more sensational the better. See the sacred ratings/cha-ching god they all worship.
This time around, they have New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, head coach/GM Bill Belichick, and all time best QB Tom Brady in some sort of a family feud.
OMG, quoth the pundits, there's "a palpable sense in the building this could be the last year together for the group".
It could be indeed, You never know. Maybe one of them drops dead from a heart attack, stroke, or other fatal affliction. Or somebody retires. Or a plane crashes. Anything could happen, but there's a major problem with that "story" as is.
Namely, Bob, Bill, and Tom have all joined hands (hear the melodic notes of kumbaya in the background) to refute that very story.
Well then. If all three of them disagree with the story, it logically follows the story was wrong to begin with. After all, who would know more about it than the very participants who have been living through it for the past 18 (very successful) years?
And that's where the reporters and media talking heads have a problem.
They cite "dozens" of Patriot staffers as their sources, but all remain anonymous.
Sure, I get it. People wish to remain anonymous for fear of retribution if their names become public. As in being fired.
And reporters certainly have the right not to give up such "sources", else Big Brother would stampede all over them in the future. Not only that, those very sources, snitches, whatever, would never confide in that reporter again. That's truly being on the proverbial "horns of a dilemma".
But there's the rub. Until and unless the reporters that generated this so far pseudo-story to begin with can offer up credible evidence from "real" people willing to go on the record, it remains no more than a fairy tale like those once generated by the Brothers Grimm.
Tough job being such a reporter. You think you know, you're pretty sure you know, you're almost positive you know, but you can't offer up any solid evidence to back up your story, other than phantom "sources".
And when the three co-stars of that very story come out and jointly deny it, all of a sudden it just might begin to look like tabloid fodder to objective people.
Like me. Personally, I couldn't care less if Bob, Bill, and Tom have long been sniping at each other behind the scenes in Patriot world.
But I'm not going to believe it until you prove it.
And so far, you've got about as close to that as the Detroit Lions have to winning a Super Bowl.
Which, BTW, the Patriots have seemed to do quite often in recent years.
Sure, Tony Kornheiser of "Pardon the Interruption" is the most interrupting talking head I've ever seen. Poor Mike Wilbon can't seem to get through a single sentence without the Kornster jumping in with another of his inane rants. And let's not forget dear Tony has been repeatedly suspended from the station for, shall we say, politically incorrect dialogue over the years. Dude just doesn't know when to shut up.
And Stephen A. Smith has to be the most annoying, with Max Kellerman not far behind, TV "journalist" -- and I use that term VERY loosely -- in recent times. Honorable mention to Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe. This unholy foursome could probably cause the Pope to go on a murderous jihad if he watched enough hours of their programming.
But most of the time, ESPN serves up some pretty good stuff.
[It should be noted that while most cable subscribers think the four letter network has always been a "freebie", they have been mistaken. Depending on the local affiliates, ESPN typically constitutes about seven bucks worth of the "basic" cable bill/package viewers receive every month.]
Yet this time, they seemed to have totally botched a story.
Yes, those lovable reporters will go to great lengths to get a "scoop", the more sensational the better. See the sacred ratings/cha-ching god they all worship.
This time around, they have New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, head coach/GM Bill Belichick, and all time best QB Tom Brady in some sort of a family feud.
OMG, quoth the pundits, there's "a palpable sense in the building this could be the last year together for the group".
It could be indeed, You never know. Maybe one of them drops dead from a heart attack, stroke, or other fatal affliction. Or somebody retires. Or a plane crashes. Anything could happen, but there's a major problem with that "story" as is.
Namely, Bob, Bill, and Tom have all joined hands (hear the melodic notes of kumbaya in the background) to refute that very story.
Well then. If all three of them disagree with the story, it logically follows the story was wrong to begin with. After all, who would know more about it than the very participants who have been living through it for the past 18 (very successful) years?
And that's where the reporters and media talking heads have a problem.
They cite "dozens" of Patriot staffers as their sources, but all remain anonymous.
Sure, I get it. People wish to remain anonymous for fear of retribution if their names become public. As in being fired.
And reporters certainly have the right not to give up such "sources", else Big Brother would stampede all over them in the future. Not only that, those very sources, snitches, whatever, would never confide in that reporter again. That's truly being on the proverbial "horns of a dilemma".
But there's the rub. Until and unless the reporters that generated this so far pseudo-story to begin with can offer up credible evidence from "real" people willing to go on the record, it remains no more than a fairy tale like those once generated by the Brothers Grimm.
Tough job being such a reporter. You think you know, you're pretty sure you know, you're almost positive you know, but you can't offer up any solid evidence to back up your story, other than phantom "sources".
And when the three co-stars of that very story come out and jointly deny it, all of a sudden it just might begin to look like tabloid fodder to objective people.
Like me. Personally, I couldn't care less if Bob, Bill, and Tom have long been sniping at each other behind the scenes in Patriot world.
But I'm not going to believe it until you prove it.
And so far, you've got about as close to that as the Detroit Lions have to winning a Super Bowl.
Which, BTW, the Patriots have seemed to do quite often in recent years.
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