Tiger Woods
Good Morning, everyone!!! It's Friiidddaaayyy!!!
The world continues to change, before our very eyes. One minute, after watching his interview with Jim Nantz, we are hoping that Tiger Woods will be recovered enough to play in The Masters; the next minute, we do not know if he will ever golf again.
After reading several stories, quoting doctors about his chances of returning competitively to the sport he loves, you are left wondering about his professional future. Most importantly, of course, you are thankful that he survived a crash, that most experts claim would have been fatal, had he not been wearing his seatbelt and been in the interior of an SUV constructed like a Sherman Tank.
If anyone can return from such a crash, it is Tiger. However, the flip side, as the medical experts remind us, is that his age (45) and numerous back operations (9) hinder a recovery that will return him to the elite status he has enjoyed.
Suffice it to say, Tiger has plenty more to give, following his recuperation. Now more than ever for this golfing great, however, it is literally one step at a time.
The new norm?
Our pandemic continues to lead to more remote broadcasts. According to David Halberstam on his website Sportsbroadcastjournal.com, Jac Collinsworth and Ron Thompson called two college basketball telecasts from the NBC Sports Network studios in Connecticut on Saturday. They were at the studio all day.
The era of showing up on location to broadcast a sporting event is on the wane, accelerated by a virus that has compelled many entities to reexamine the employment paradigm. Now it is show up at the office and put in a day's work by broadcasting games off of a TV monitor. Those who thought being a sportscaster of games meant not having to punch a clock may be in for a reality check.
Michigan-Ohio St., move over
Think Ohio St. and immediately you think Michigan. The archrivals battle on the gird-iron each season for bragging rights and a trophy. Indeed many a coach’s future has ridden on the outcome of this game. Now a trophy will be up for grabs, when the Wolverines lock horns with Northwestern each football season. And it is a great move.
The two schools will compete for the George Jewett Trophy. The trophy is the first one named after an African American player, according to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel.
Manuel, by the way, is the former athletic director at the University of Connecticut.
Not too smart
Kevin Mather is now the former CEO of the Seattle Mariners. Let's just say his synapses were not firing on all cylinders, when a video speech he delivered to the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club had him admitting the service time for players in the Mariners' system was manipulated to the organization's advantage. He offered critical comments about specific players too.
Once the story went virile, Mather apologized. But it didn't take a law degree to conclude Mather's apology would have to be accompanied by a resignation.
Not surprisingly, the MLB Players Association jumped on this episode. Manipulating service time has been a bone of contention among players and it will occupy a portion of negotiations, when players and owners discuss a new working agreement at season’s end. Expect the talks to be contentious.
Quiz answer
In Wednesday's newsletter, I wrote about New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling, 82, who has been calling Yankees games since 1989. I asked you to name the radio team that immediately preceded Sterling. If you answered Hank Greenwald and Tommy Hutton, you would be correct.
Well, that is it for this week. As always, thank you for your support and have a tremendous weekend!
SPORTSCASTER DAN