I’ve always envied sports journalists. Sure, they’re sometimes forced to cover unpleasant or even tragic events, but for the most part every story they do is rooted in subject matter they truly love and with which they closely associate.
That’s not true in the news business, where few stories deal with the subject matters I truly love, which would include (in no particular order) family, golf, cold brew and lying on the couch.
So with all due respect to John Dudley, I figure heck, it’s my blog, so here goes:
--For Steeler fans, this season has been as torturous as last season was glorious. But if the Black and Gold win out (certainly no sure bet) they would end the regular season only two games behind their regular season finish of last year. That’s only the difference of a Big Ben interception here or there.
That record would probably also make the playoffs in the much-more-muddy NFC, proving that the difference in the league between the penthouse and the outhouse really is measured in inches.
--Who is Derek Anderson? How many non-Cleveland fans could even name the back up to Charlie Frye who came to the rescue in the second half by setting up 17 points to win the Kansas City game in overtime? Heck, how many Cleveland fans could?
Yea, yea, he’s a 6’ 6,” 230-pound Oregon State alum in his second year. I have Google, too.
--This point was made by Colin Cowherd of ESPN Radio this week but it crossed my mind as well. Honest. Why are steroid-tainted sluggers like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds vilified by the baseball public while equally tainted pitchers like Roger Clemens given a free pass? It also raises the question of how we’re ever going to be able to determine who, if anyone, should be excluded from the Hall of Fame who has the stats but played in the steroid era.
I can’t see voters moving to exclude someone because he is “probably” guilty, “suddenly” bulked up or his numbers “unexpectedly” soared late in a career. Picking and choosing based on scant real evidence strikes me as being unfair on its face. Innocent until proven otherwise in America, and that should be the standard for America’s Game, too.
--Finally, until a recent loss on the hardwood, Ohio State held the rare position of ranking number one in both men’s college football and basketball at the same moment. That’s somewhat rare because many schools concentrate on one sport (Pitt, Duke in basketball, Penn State, Nebraska in football) and the seasons overlap for only a short period.
A real sports journalist could tell you the last time that happened but I’ve learned something else from this exercise.
You can’t Google everything.
And I don’t know what John would think of my work, but I also know this.
He’s probably not too worried about his job.
Hey-We’re still striking out with the “Comments,” which are being spammed faster than a Nolan Ryan fastball. But you can step up to the plate by emailing me at scott.bremner@35wsee.com and tell me how you’d manage. Write “Comments” in the subject line so I don’t whiff on it.