“Never forget” is a common vow. But the expiration date of the “never” depends on how long it takes you to forget what you’re reminded of. It could take decades, years, months, or even weeks to fade away.
But in sports, there are minutes between the next pitch, punt or power play.
There was a lot of solemn national attention last weekend after Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left Thursday’s game with a concussion for the third time during his shift, and calls for him to retire because he may suffer lifelong neurological damage rang out like a shout from the mountaintops and echoed down into the valleys.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) lies on the field with a concussion. AP
Let’s say together: “Now everything is clear!” Yes, of course.
Sunday’s Jets-Giants game saw at least six blows to the head, with only one recorded, leaving CBS and FOX announcers and studio commentators silent.
But what else is new? They don’t want to upset Roger Goodell, whose concerns for the mental and physical health and welfare of NFL players have led him to persistently push for more regular-season games to make way for bigger TV rights fees and affiliated unfavorable-betting operators.
So what we missed, which couldn’t be missed without considering Tagovailoa’s plight three days ago, was ignored at best. Next!
While Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center continues to report cases of NHL boxers who have been disabled or committed suicide after suffering multiple league-sanctioned head shots, local media and fans were quick to embrace Rangers one-trick player Matt Rempe as their BFFN (best friend for now) last season.
At the same time that Rempe was being embraced and celebrated as a pug, former Ranger Chris Simon, who was hailed for his professional zeal in blocking and landing punches to the head, was unable to live with the brain injury chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and committed suicide at age 52. It was his final act.
The competition is between Islanders left winger Ross Johnston (32) and Rangers center Matt Rempe (73).
So never forget, and if you do remember, don’t talk about it.
TV voice avoids something without saying anything
The endless stream of pointless chatter from fellow TV buddies on NFL payrolls, with no escape except for the mute button.
From the CBS studios, Nate Burleson reports that lifelong misanthrope Tyreek Hill had a “pregame incident” and then went back to being empty filler. It’s a show that’s easily ignored for its lack of content, but the Jaguars-Dolphins game was a CBS game and had a crew in place, so when it came time to report real news, nothing was gained.
Malik Neighbors had ‘best day of his career’ in just his second game. AP
On Sunday, Fox’s Mark Schlereth was so caught up in another lengthy discussion that he overlooked the absence of Giants 2022 first-round draft pick Kayvon “Snow Angel” Thibodeau throughout the game. Thibodeau is no longer an every-down defender and often sat on the bench, as if he couldn’t play because he was wearing his school uniform.
At the end of the broadcast, Fox’s Chris Myers said the Giants lost despite WR Malik Neighbors having “the best day of his career” in just his second NFL game.
College football, pardon the lame expression, is at least just as bad.
With 4:05 left in the first quarter and Kansas leading 14-6, ESPN play-by-play announcer Anish Shroff declared, “It was a low possession game.”
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Did he think we weren’t watching the game? Or did he not know what we were watching? This game had four drives that nearly expired. Two of them were touchdowns, two were field goals. This was a game where we held the ball for a long time.
Hey Roger Goodell, you sycophant faker, what do you say to these emails (at least 150 of them) suggesting that P. Diddy would be perfect for what you y’all approved as Super Bowl halftime family entertainment?
Do you want me to send them to you or put them on the record as testimony that “it’s all for the fans” and “gambling on NFL games is bad for society”?
By the way, “kids are our number one priority” Rob Manfred and Steve Cohen, why not buy discounted tickets at no extra cost to Mets Fan Appreciation and Amortization Day on Sunday night, when the final home game is moved from 1pm to a nighttime slot to benefit ESPN?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell signs autographs before an NFL football game. AP
As of Thursday, I had heard from seven readers, all parents, who said they had purchased roughly 60 tickets for Sunday’s game. With school and work the next day, those tickets are no longer worth anything.
Saints running back Alvin Kamara scored three points on Sunday against the Cowboys. Hooray Alvin! Made all the highlights.
But some viewers may be wondering why Kamara, who served a short suspension in 2023 to settle and plea bargain for nearly stomping an innocent man to death, is still allowed to make millions in Goodell’s “Stop the Hate” NFL.
Vols fans will be paying a “talent fee”
The University of Tennessee will add a 10% “talent fee” to football ticket prices to entice football players to come to scrimmages instead of to college games.
That’s right, now UT fans can join the wealthy yahoos in helping out by loaning players!
Add to that the two must-buy, must-win games (a combined 140-3 win over Chattanooga and Kent State this season) and it’s more important than ever for season-ticket holders to root for the Volunteers as a mouthpiece for the Volunteers.
The Tennessee Volunteers celebrate after defeating the Kent State Golden Flashes. Image by Randy Sartin
I’m kind of surprised that the Mets TV crew is continuing the ridiculous, impressionable, childish, pointless “latest tradition” of ripping off the jerseys of teammates who stage game-defining at-bats. I wonder if they’ll do the same thing after the game-defining hitter scores on an error?
Why the Mets would find a way to stage an unpleasant demonstration during or after a game seems, well, frowny to me.
And SNY’s tendency to show unpleasant scenes in the stands, which is obviously often a waste, could be replaced with something more worthwhile, like alignment shots of the outfield.
Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo holds up New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez’s jersey, which was stripped off after he hit the game-winning home run against the Orioles. By Gregory Fisher – USA TODAY Sports
Incidentally, after SNY’s PitchGraphics and Gary Cohen claim that his last pitch was a “96 mph sinker,” maybe Ron Darling can explain how to throw a 96 mph curveball.
Life isn’t fair. I’ve known Ed Cohen since he was 16 years old. He worked hard to become a polished sportscaster, keen for action and advice. After a stint in the minor leagues, he worked his way up to becoming the Knicks’ radio play-by-play announcer.
His vocal cords began to deteriorate this season after six-plus years at the Garden. At 41, married with two children and once with a fine voice, he’s retired, at least for now. He continues to search for a cure.
Judging by what I saw on NBC Sunday night, Texans QB C.J. Stroud is special. He made some sprinting, thread-the-eye-of-the-pin passes down the sideline with ease.
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud attempts a pass that is blocked by Bears defensive end Darrell Taylor. Troy Taormina Imagine Images
It’s also worth noting that Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth gave the game some breathing room.
Collinsworth, who said he usually knows what’s going to happen, brought back the good old days with his emphasis on proper blocking by the tight end: a nice, useful show-and-tell.
I am still baffled by the people who are chosen as heroes on TV and in advertising.
Bill Belichick, who played a pathetic villain as coach of the Patriots, is portrayed and elevated as a sportsman that Americans genuinely love, as is Deion Sanders, a proven con man and self-proclaimed God-approved braggart.
