Is it just me or is this the worst time of year in sports? The two days after the all-star game, I was so bummed without any major sports to watch, a bunch of guys and I met up at a local pub because we didn't know what to do with ourselves. Hockey and basketball are officially over. Baseball is just past the midway point. There's still a month left until football season starts, and until that point, sports commentators will spout about stories (or non-stories) they wouldn't even think about discussing during the course of the season. In recent days, I've heard talk show hosts speak about the following topics:
1) Johnny Manziel wearing his hat backwards - Have I ever been one to wear my hat backwards? No, because I think it's kind of silly and defeats the purpose of showcasing a team I'm rooting for, but others disagree, and see it as a fashion statement. Do most professionals whom regular appear in front of the camera typically wear their hat backwards? No, but then again, there's quite a difference between a 45-year-old person helping to enact laws in a state and a 21-year-old person playing a game. Would it be nice for Manziel and others like him to show how proud they are of their teams by wearing their hats the "right way"? I suppose, but is it the end of the world if they don't? Only according to the Colin Cowherd's of the world. If Manziel produces for the Cleveland Browns, I guarantee you not one Browns fan will car if he wears his hat forward, backward, sideways, as a rally cap, or even sports a Cincinnati Bengals cap.
2) How does Michael Jordan feel about LeBron James picking number 23 over number 6? - Who cares? James has worn the number before. He's not the first player since Jordan to wear the number 23, and won't be the last. What does the media expect Jordan to say in response? "He can be whatever number he wants to be, but I'm still #1, so I guess he can be any number besides that one, or something"? Now, if James had gone to Chicago and tried sporting the number 23, that'd be another story, but he went back home to Cleveland, so it's as much of a story as Beyonce and Jay-Z splitting up. Wait - I take that back; the latter is the bigger story...
3) Geno Smith: "I'll be a top 5 quarterback soon" - Sure, from a statistical and probability perspective, it's about as likely as Tim Tebow coming back to the Denver Broncos and getting the starting nod over Peyton Manning, but what was Smith supposed to say about his poor numbers from a year ago and looking ahead? "I stunk as a rookie last year, and even though I worked hard in the off-season to improve my game, I just don't think I've got what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. My money's on Michael Vick to start on opening day"? While the media and most fans may not believe in Geno Smith, if he doesn't believe in himself, then he's really screwed.
4) Carmelo Anthony: "I don't care about the money; I care about winning!" - The media criticized Anthony's comments with regard to his recent contract. In the grand scheme of things, it may have come across as a rather bone-headed comment, but again, what was the guy supposed to say? "The most important thing to me is winning, and to prove that, I'm going to play for the New York Knicks for the league minimum. While I think I'm one of the best in the game, I don't want to be paid like it and get teased by players all around the league. My ego means nothing to me and I think this gesture proves that." As Steven Tyler has sung, "Dream on..."
Well, I think that about does it for recent pointless sports stories, for the time being anyway. When hearing seemingly non-stop gab about such stories, one question keeps coming to mind, "Are you ready for some football?" Yes, please...
1) Johnny Manziel wearing his hat backwards - Have I ever been one to wear my hat backwards? No, because I think it's kind of silly and defeats the purpose of showcasing a team I'm rooting for, but others disagree, and see it as a fashion statement. Do most professionals whom regular appear in front of the camera typically wear their hat backwards? No, but then again, there's quite a difference between a 45-year-old person helping to enact laws in a state and a 21-year-old person playing a game. Would it be nice for Manziel and others like him to show how proud they are of their teams by wearing their hats the "right way"? I suppose, but is it the end of the world if they don't? Only according to the Colin Cowherd's of the world. If Manziel produces for the Cleveland Browns, I guarantee you not one Browns fan will car if he wears his hat forward, backward, sideways, as a rally cap, or even sports a Cincinnati Bengals cap.
2) How does Michael Jordan feel about LeBron James picking number 23 over number 6? - Who cares? James has worn the number before. He's not the first player since Jordan to wear the number 23, and won't be the last. What does the media expect Jordan to say in response? "He can be whatever number he wants to be, but I'm still #1, so I guess he can be any number besides that one, or something"? Now, if James had gone to Chicago and tried sporting the number 23, that'd be another story, but he went back home to Cleveland, so it's as much of a story as Beyonce and Jay-Z splitting up. Wait - I take that back; the latter is the bigger story...
3) Geno Smith: "I'll be a top 5 quarterback soon" - Sure, from a statistical and probability perspective, it's about as likely as Tim Tebow coming back to the Denver Broncos and getting the starting nod over Peyton Manning, but what was Smith supposed to say about his poor numbers from a year ago and looking ahead? "I stunk as a rookie last year, and even though I worked hard in the off-season to improve my game, I just don't think I've got what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. My money's on Michael Vick to start on opening day"? While the media and most fans may not believe in Geno Smith, if he doesn't believe in himself, then he's really screwed.
4) Carmelo Anthony: "I don't care about the money; I care about winning!" - The media criticized Anthony's comments with regard to his recent contract. In the grand scheme of things, it may have come across as a rather bone-headed comment, but again, what was the guy supposed to say? "The most important thing to me is winning, and to prove that, I'm going to play for the New York Knicks for the league minimum. While I think I'm one of the best in the game, I don't want to be paid like it and get teased by players all around the league. My ego means nothing to me and I think this gesture proves that." As Steven Tyler has sung, "Dream on..."
Well, I think that about does it for recent pointless sports stories, for the time being anyway. When hearing seemingly non-stop gab about such stories, one question keeps coming to mind, "Are you ready for some football?" Yes, please...
Comments
Post a Comment