John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thinking out loud…and wondering if the heart of rock ‘n roll is still beatin’…
• It’s been 30 years since the debut of Huey Lewis & The News’ “Sports” album, a former #1 on the Billboard charts and with so many hit singles, it helped push Lewis and the band into international fame. 30 years! The News hit the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, played at Foxwoods and Hyannis this week…and the “Sports” songs remain a popular listen today. The trip down memory lane, right in the heart of rock ‘n roll, was hard to beat…
• Love is colorblind. Hate, apparently, is not. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer now has a rule enforced on campus for media, scouts and anyone else in attendance…thou shalt not wear the color blue. Which also happens to be the color of arch-rival Michigan. At a recent practice, at least two NFL scouts were told to change their shirts, or leave the field…with players even yelling at them. Is this some kind of a team/emotion-building exercise for the Buckeyes, or just plain silly? I’d say…stupid is as stupid does…
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST• Tired of the so-called exploitation of little leaguers every August by ESPN? It’s not going away any time soon. In fact, it’s making good money. ESPN has finalized a deal with Little League International that will pay LLI $7.5 million per year – about double what they were getting previously. Need us to trot out the kids and their emotions? Need us to tweak the heart strings of American sports fans? Sure. Just keep those checks coming…
• Now, I’m a former LL coach and umpire, and have been involved in baseball at different levels for the better part of the last 25 years. I don’t look at the Little League games as exploitation of children, although I know some do. What I’d like to see is LLI make certain a good chunk of this windfall gets back to the kids – for the kids – that otherwise might not have the chance to play where they live. If this is part of the deal, then by all means…bring on the August drama. Our children need to learn how to compete, how to win, how to lose…and how to handle it all. Even on the biggest stage of all – national TV. There’s simply too much political-correctness (everyone wins a trophy!) in youth sports today…
• Bad is Bad…maybe the Houston Astros know what they’re doing, after all…Forbes reported this week the Astros are on pace to make $99 million this year. That might seem like a drop in the bucket by today’s standards, until you consider that’s more than FOUR TIMES their payroll…
• I don’t really care for Dodger fans. Or Laker fans, for that matter. Now, I think I know why…
• Tweet of the Week I – from Brian Lowe of Patriots.com (@_BLowe): “Interesting that last year, most of Pats’ cuts to 75 were vets (Gaffney, Stallworth, G Warren). This year, mostly undrafted rookies.”
• The Patriots’ back-ups put on a solid showing against the NY Giants this week, but I can’t help but think the game served as an audition for other teams for most of them. As for Tim Tebow, the organization REALLY wants to keep him…
• So Rolling Stone magazine is trying to win back the hearts of New Englanders with this? After practically glorifying one of the Boston Marathon bombers with a cover piece a month ago, now comes an expose on Aaron Hernandez, that among other things alleges he was using “angel dust” and carrying a gun with him everywhere he went…and that Bill Belichick told him to lie low or he’d be cut. Now, we all think we know how that turned out…
• Speaking of the marathon, the accepted field for the 2014 race will be larger, with more than 9000 extra runners allowed into the race as organizers make room for the 5000 marathoners stopped on the course after the bombing…and for those who wish to run as a tribute to the victims. Registration opens September 9th…
• The early returns on ESPN’s Keith Olbermann revival? Surprisingly, good. His new late-night show on ESPN2 – competing directly opposite SportsCenter and FS1’s Fox Sports Live – is full of the “old Keith” we saw back in the ‘90’s when he was paired with Dan Patrick. And that’s the “good Keith.” Funny. Irreverent. Not a jerk, like he was/is/has been on MSNBC and elsewhere…
• Walkin’ On a Thin Line…an excellent piece on what ESPN means to college football, and to college athletics overall was written in the New York Times this week. It said, basically, what I’ve been saying for a few years now…that college sports are quickly turning into the “haves vs. the have-nots,” thanks to television dollars and the subsequent realignment of conferences. ESPN has literally fed the voracious appetite for football in this country…and the monster the sport has grown into can no longer be tamed…
• I spent the better part of 11 years working for the self-proclaimed World Wide Leader, and there are some talented people involved in putting together the things you watch and listen to almost every day. But there are also a choice few individuals “upstairs” hell bent on maximizing the investment on TV rights, traditions and cost-to-the-fans-be-damned. Two thoughts on this – one, what goes around, comes around. And two, Mickey Mouse is one tough rat to work for…
• Even former Disney executive Michael Eisner has said if it weren’t for ESPN, Disney wouldn’t exist today. Now that’s saying something. How much power and influence is too much?
• ESPN and Mickey, er, Disney, have taken to Washington to begin heavy lobbying efforts to protect their more than $6 billion in cable fees…which could come unglued if anti-bundling laws are signed into law. Seen on the Bristol, CT campus…lawmakers jockeying for position like little kids looking for autographs from some serious sports personalities and athletes. ESPN Exec Chair George Bodenheimer said, "I was proud to call on senators, congressmen, FCC commissioners, staff and talk about ESPN." I’ll bet…
• And I’ll bet you didn’t know that you’re paying $5.54 per month for ESPN on your cable or satellite bill, even if you don’t watch sports. That’s more than four times the fee for the next most expensive single national channel. Isn’t that kind of like paying for movies you don’t go to see in theaters? And if you don’t like what their channel(s) is (are) offering, tough. ESPN says without bundling, they’d be forced to increase the monthly fee for viewers who DO watch to about $15 per month…
• You Crack Me Up…I was accused of trashing ESPN by a reader last week, simply because ESPN is no longer the network of record for the Big East. Trashing ESPN? Why? I’m merely a supplier of what’s already out there, and will leave it up to you to decide if the network is fair to consumers…within its rights to conduct business as it sees fit…or simply too big for its’ breeches and making millions (billions) off of the backs of consumers who don’t know it. Just sayin’…
• Oh. One more thing on ESPN, thanks to the New York Times…king-makers, indeed: "Louisville’s (athletic) ascent is a case study of how an institution of higher learning can become all but inextricably conjoined with ESPN, an institution of higher profits. It illustrates not only ESPN’s power to make kings among athletic programs, but how profoundly its presence can affect an entire university and its institutional priorities. Louisville made exposure on ESPN the centerpiece of a campaign to rise above its commuter-school roots and become a powerhouse in college sports." Did someone say sell-out? And I’m not talking stadiums, either. Whoa…
• Speaking of selling out, of a different kind – Time Magazine did a recent piece on how easy it is for college football fans, particularly those of schools on TV all the time, to stay home and watch rather than actually attend the games. It’s beginning to have an effect on some major programs that can’t sell tickets to non-marquee events. Who wants to go see Florida vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga? This leads me to believe the escalation of sports/TV rights/cable/selling tickets is going to crash HARD, someday…
• On the other hand, smaller schools are using sports more than ever to help increase awareness, which is leading to increased enrollment. Ask Bryant what moving into Division I has meant to their school, athletics notwithstanding…
• Speaking of Bryant, Al Skinner’s arrival as an assistant for Tim O’Shea is not just a home run hire. It’s a grand slam. Long overdue, Skinner’s hiring by the Bulldogs’ program shows they’re serious about making headway going into their 2nd full-time season as a Division I program…
• PC and URI are rivals, right? Did you know they’re now “teammates,” with something in common they both hope makes them money? Nelligan Sports Marketing, a NJ-based company which has been selling PC Athletics in the local and regional community for nearly 10 years, just signed a marketing agreement with URI (and the Ryan Center, plus the Boss Ice Arena) this week. Nelligan now owns marketing rights for PC, URI and Brown athletics…
• Paschal Chukwu’s verbal commitment to PC this week, while never a sure thing, was generally expected. Two Top 60 players in the 2014 class of recruits, with two more expected to make their decisions on (or about) September 7th. Getting 6-8 Abdul Malik Abu and 6-2 Jared Terrell, also Top 60 players that may be leaning elsewhere, could make the Friars something special. With Chukwu and Jalen Lindsey, PC’s class is already considered Top 10 nationally…
• Don’t look now…but we’re actually less than 30 days from the start to the college basketball season – remember, practicing begins earlier this year – and still, no league schedule from the Big East. ESPN reports it will be next week, with a “rivalry” game saved for the end of the regular season. For the Friars, who would that be? Guess putting it together is not as easy as it looks…
• Btw, in case you were wondering what it really costs you to watch sports on TV…the NFL Network costs consumers $1.34 per month, whether you watch it or not. And that’s UP from 2012, when the cost was only .39 cents per month per subscriber. The average cost per channel per consumer? Basic channels are about .29 per sub per month. Pro sports league channels like NBA-TV, Golf Channel, NHL Net and MLB-TV average about .47 per sub per month…bargain-basement Filenes-type prices compared to the NFL and ESPN. And you know what happened to Filene’s, of course? Closed its store doors, pushed into bankruptcy…
• Can we twerk this out? Why so much (gasp) outrage over Miley Cyrus’ “twerking” performance at the MTV VMA’s last week? Really? Black hip-hop artists have been dancing like this for years. Is it because she’s white, or because she’s still Hannah Montana to millions? Both, I think…
• Just remember…it’s one thing to “borrow” from another culture. It’s another thing entirely…not to. That could be called segregation…
• Cyrus knew exactly what she was doing. She knew that in order to forever shed the teen idol image, she had to do something radical. But to the millions of teens and pre-teens who looked up to Miss Montana at one time, may I suggest another star to twerkship from afar? Perhaps a Mom and/or Dad could help here…
• My buddy Statbeast sez he’s not sure what all the fuss was about over Cyrus. Just another “jive twerkie” trying to be somebody she’s not…
• Workin’ For A Livin…A Canadian TV reporter tried to prove a point as part of an “equality day” with the mayor of a Canadian town by going topless during a recent interview. I don’t know about you…but there’s nothing equal here…
• I really don’t mean to make light of what could be a troubling, serious situation…but why do I get the feeling that Lamar Odom’s “disappearance” this past week is going to be a future Kardashian story-line?
• Did you see where the #5 overall hoops prospect (6-5 Emmanuel Mudiay) in America picked Larry Brown’s SMU Mustangs to play for? SMU? Either the 73-year-old Brown is building himself a nice team in Dallas that the American Athletic Conference will need to reckon with, or he’s finally building himself a nice retirement story to go out with…
• The Power of Love? Why all of a sudden do the Red Sox look like a true playoff threat again? National League opponents? They’re running out (Colorado awaits). Starting pitching? Improved. Pitching has been the key, sure…but to insure the post-season, some reasonable facsimile of pre-injury Clay Buchholz would help…
• Four starters have an ERA under 4.00, as of mid-week. The team ERA is 2nd in the American League, behind Detroit. At one time prior to the trading deadline, there was some concern over having too many guys available to throw the same ball. Seems kinda silly right now…
• Pitching…pitching…pitching. Did I mention pitching?
• So much talk in the past week about the one-year anniversary of “the trade” with the LA Dodgers, and how it certainly seems to have worked out for both sides. Not as much time has passed, but what about the early returns on the three-team deal between the Red Sox, White Sox and Tigers that brought in Jake Peavy? I didn’t like losing Jose Iglesias, and he has been a life-saver for the Tigers…but Peavy has also been solid, at least as good as advertised. Guess I’m warming up to it…
• Heart and Soul…the true hero of the Sox pitching staff, however, isn’t a starter. Koji Uehara has not just turned into a serviceable stopper; he’s been a major reason the Sox are fighting for the division flag. Got this bit of info from the Boston Globe’s Chad Finn, and it’s a doozy…right now, Uehara is one of four pitchers since 1901 who has made more than 55 appearances, with an ERA below 1.40, a WHIP below .75, and a strikeout/per nine ratio of 11 or higher. That would have to rank his 2013 season as one of the greatest ever by a relief pitcher…
• Not for nuthin’…but so what if Texas A&M’s Heisman Trophy QB Johnny Manziel’s “penalty” is sitting out one half of the first game? It’s in the schools’ – and the NCAA’s – best interests to have him on the field. He’s a headline-grabber, and a money-maker. Now, if someday in the future (near or far) we learn he DID take money for autographs, will this serve as that “moment in time” where things change – forever? A tipping point? There are 60-some “big time” football schools who want to do their own thing. You may not care much about college football around here (and you are in the distinct national minority). But this bears watching…
• I Want a New Drug…the gift that keeps on giving…NY Jets head coach Rex Ryan. Plays Mark Sanchez with scrub linemen, nearly gets his shoulder torn off. Explains self, without much explanation. Yells at reporter. Rumors of front-office intervention (playing rookie Geno Smith over Sanchez) surface. I’m begging the Jets…please do not let this man go. Yet…
• The NFL’s settlement with the players over concussions and head injuries is definitely a win for the league. While the players are also getting what they want, they could have had much more…if they had been able to prove the league KNEW that concussions could lead to the problems many have faced in retirement. Perhaps they could have. Unfortunately, many of the retired players wouldn’t be able to benefit from those additional monetary gains…because they wouldn’t be alive to receive them. For those guys, it’s now or never…
• I’m not really much for the so-called PGA “post-season” (FedEx Cup Playoffs), which is anti-climactic to the end of the major events. But there is some intrigue this weekend in Norton, MA at the Deutsche Bank Championship, being played at TPC Boston. Having Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson – arguably the three best golfers on the planet, and coincidentally ranked 1, 2 and 3 respectively in the FedEx rankings – play in the same group is a stroke of genius, standings notwithstanding…
• If This Is It…you’ve played in those charity golf events and maybe taken a shot at a hole-in-one for a car? Or even cash? But you’ve probably never seen anyone win the big prize, right? Now, you have…
• Uh oh. Tweet of the Week II – from @samfbiddle: “Twitter just hired the CEO of the most anti-consumer companies in existence to head up the way Twitter makes money.”
• Twin River (formerly Lincoln Park) looks as if it could have some new competition soon, as Suffolk Downs in Boston this week signed a deal with casino developers which could bring in $32 million annually to the city coffers. They’ll be competing for the sole Greater Boston casino license, with a Foxwoods project beginning in Milford…
• Hip To Be Square…Arnold Palmer gave a golf lesson this week. Not big news, until you see who it is. And that it’s not their first time together. Arnie, you sly ol’ dog…
• This week also marked the 20th anniversary of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. It’s morphin’ time! Say what? Go look it up…
• Good grief…in some instances, it pays LESS to work in Rhode Island than receive welfare? Think about this when you wonder why you can’t get ahead around here…and wonder why such a beautiful place as the Ocean State is mired in a morass of endless mediocrity…
• Back in Time…Huey Lewis and the News sold 10 million copies of the “Sports” album that debuted in 1983, because it was full of solid pop, blues and rock ‘n roll. The show they staged in Boston this week was toe-tapping, foot-stomping fun, especially with long-time Newsmen Chris Hayes and Johnny Colla on guitar. The entire Sports album took 42 minutes to play through (including the “flip” side, and if you don’t know what that means, ask someone)…and after several other favorites, a 40-minute encore ensued. 40 minutes? For an encore? Say whatever you want about these guys, but you also have to say they remain showmen of a first-class variety…
• From the mailbag this week – Adam in Perth, Western Australia writes via Facebook: “Hi John. Are you doing Patriots Playbook again this year and if so, when does it start again?” Adam: Nice of you to ask! Yes, for a 13th straight season, I will host Patriots Playbook on Patriots.com Radio…beginning Wednesday, September 4th. The show will air from 2:00 to 4:00 pm ET every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the season, and will be available via podcast for later playback if you can’t make the live show. It’s all football – with some great NFL guests, plus some of the fun stuff with your calls, emails and tweets! Hope to hear from you!
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
• Don’t forget to join us for GoLocal Sports on 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am! Call in (401) 737-1287, or text us at 37937…and send email to the show - [email protected] .
• The recently released “Rhode Island Radio” from Arcadia Publishing is available for sale, and the book tells the story of the 91-year history of radio in our state through photographs, clippings and memories from many of the personalities who have graced our airwaves. If you’re in search of the gift that says “Rhode Island,” you’ve found it. Or, find it in local bookstores and online right here…
