Tearing down monuments lately? Spray paint statues?
How to learn history when it is no longer taught? How do we learn from history when it has been eliminated?
Last week, Adam Silver continued on his way by providing proof that he is more populist than hardline commissioner, more flattering public relations man than true gatekeeper, one who protects the NBA on the basis of choice. good over evil – like, oh, Maurice Podoloff did.
Last week, the NBA announced that it had “renamed” its MVP award from the Maurice Podoloff Trophy to the Michael Jordan Trophy.
While it doesn’t rise (or fall) to the level of beheading a statue of Christopher Columbus or vandalizing Abraham Lincoln, the demotion and eventual elimination of Podoloff as an important figure and founder of the NBA nonetheless stinks.
On top of that stench, here’s this: The guy who designed the new NBA MVP trophy in Jordan’s honor also works for Nike’s Jordan brand, so it smells like an inside job too.
Podoloff, according to the Basketball Hall of Fame, “was a man of impeccable character, who was instrumental in the development and success of the NBA. On June 6, 1946, Podoloff was appointed commissioner of the new Basketball Association of America.
As if that weren’t enough to keep Podoloff’s legacy and memory on Silver’s watch, he was – you should excuse Pollyanna’s almost dismissive expression – living proof of the American dream.
Fleeing deadly pogroms in Russia, Podoloff’s Jewish family emigrated to New Haven, Connecticut, where Podoloff, in his early teens, learned English and, in 1915, earned his law degree at Yale. Along the way to establishing the NBA, he served as commissioner of the American Hockey League, thus a chosen leader of two sports at once while also serving as a distinguished advocate.
It was Podoloff who brokered the 1949 merger with his league and the National Basketball League to create the NBA.
In his 17 years as president of the BAA and NBA, he expanded the league, negotiated his first TV deals, helped introduce the 24-second clock to liven up the pace and action of games and bars those convicted in college point-saving scandals from playing in the NBA.
Podoloff served as NBA commissioner until 1963 and died in 1985.
Podoloff, the Basketball Hall of Fame’s NBA history reads, “was fair to all teams and owners, regardless of power.” Through his foresight, wisdom, and leadership, he sparked fan interest and improved the overall well-being of the NBA.
And this week he was fired — let go — by the NBA, his only enduring annual public connection with the NBA suppressed. There was no better way to remember him than to remember him. But it was erased.
Deebo showed no compassion before the injury
It takes all of us,” continued: Deebo Samuel, star receiver for the 49ers, is just another obviously self-interested act that makes it harder to watch, let alone enjoy, NFL games.
Last Sunday on Fox, he scored a touchdown after taking a pitch and running inside the right pylon. As he was tackled, too late, he undermined a kneeling photographer, sending the man sprawling. With the game stopped, Samuel could have – should have – checked with this photographer to indicate that he at least cared if he was okay.
Instead, Samuel returned to the pitch arrogantly and ruthlessly stepping over the fallen man, never even looking at him as he didn’t want to delay his self-love TD celebration. Impossible to miss it.
Presenters Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen claimed they didn’t see it, so we must have missed it too. They kept throwing bouquets at Samuel.
Soon, Samuel would be driven off the field with, as fate would have it, knee and ankle injuries.
Staying with the Buccaneers-49ers, a 68-yard TD pass, Tom Brady to Mike Evans, was recalled on a hold call by left tackle Donovan Smith. On Fox, Burkhardt said, “Wow, that takes away a 68-yard touchdown! »
And it is a cause and effect that is often poorly applied. As the replays made clear, Smith’s hold violation was committed as Brady prepared to pitch, inches away from being sacked blind, so the hold call didn’t cost a TD to the Bucs, he allowed a TD that was recalled.
There are calls on hold, then there are calls on hold.
On Monday night, another Roger Goodell special “It’s all about our fans” – Rams at Packers. The weather forecast predicts a daytime high of 22 degrees and a nighttime low of 12.
As one reader once wrote of Goodell before a TV night in freezing cold Green Bay: “If he let his dog out on a night like this, he’d be arrested.” »
The football press passes
Alex Yannis, one of the quietest members of the late 1970s New York Cosmos Pele/Chinaglia Era press corps and international traveling circus of scoundrels, died Wednesday at age 85.
Yannis, like all of us, was a character, but he often didn’t know it. When he was with the NY Times, we shared beats all year – the Nets Cosmos and NBA Piscataway.
Born and raised in Greece, as evidenced by his accent, Yannis knew football much better than basketball. He once confused Nets forward Wilson Washington when he asked him, “Are you fit?” »
And he once brought me a piece of baklava, which is still my favorite dessert. Rest in peace, philosopher.
Still curious how much due diligence Rob Manfred and his team did before accepting a big buck to promote the FTX scam with prominent patches on MLB umpire uniforms. What did MLB see in FTX smoke-in-a-crypto-bucket that it was a credible investment for fans?
Or did Manfred just sell MLB’s license to operate FTX at the financial peril of fans, without asking good questions?
It had to be the latter, right?
In her expressions of gratitude for coming “home,” Brittney Griner continues to intentionally sidestep or miss the mark.
She has yet to thank her country for securing her release from a nine-year sentence in a Russian labor gulag, for not letting her rot despite her expressions before her arrest and her displays of disaffection for the United States.
She has not yet recognized that her “home” to which she was gratefully returned, is also the home of the free.
Curt Simmons – 20-year-old major league pitcher, mostly with the Phillies and Cardinals – died last week at age 93. As kids, we knew the baseball card pictures of Simmons as the man with the 6 o’clock shadow. The one-season edition, if you looked closely enough, you could see his beard growing.
NHL Network’s studio shows, especially with Stu Grimson and former Rangers goaltender Kevin Weekes on shows and stories, remain, as the toy commercials boasted, “fun and educational!” »
Golfer to golfer: “What did you shoot? Golf Media to Golfers: “What did you card?” »
Either way, while you’re watching on Sunday, remember to stay ahead of the channels! (Whatever that means.)
