TK Posted November 4, 2003 Share Posted November 4, 2003 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/133478p-119024c.html NY Daily News Deion spins, Reeves twists by Bob Raissman On Sunday, during CBS' "The NFL Today," panelist Deion Sanders said he wanted to be the next coach of the Atlanta Falcons. "This is not a joke. This is serious. I do want a chance," Sanders told viewers. Over on Fox's "NFL Sunday," after he had just finished torching Redskins boss Dan Snyder, Jimmy Johnson admitted, after an inquiry from Terry Bradshaw, that Snyder had telephoned him for advice. "And he'll be picking that phone up to call you again," said Howie Long. Long's inference was clear. Someday Snyder may be calling with a job offer for J.J. Instead of saying something like, "Dan would be wasting a dime because I'm not coaching again," Johnson played it coy, laughing and grinning. Here's the deal. While Sanders has no coaching experience, and no shot at coaching the Falcons, he knows they already have a coach - Dan Reeves. By using his national TV forum to campaign for Reeves' job, no matter how fruitless the campaign, Sanders showed no respect for Reeves or the plight of any coach under fire. The same holds true for Johnson. By not directly challenging Long, Johnson put another coal on Steve Spurrier's hot seat. So much for all that baloney about a "coaching fraternity." Long ago, there came the realization that, for former coaches, TV is the equivalent of an exclusive employment agency. Johnson milked that situation before and he could do it again. As for Sanders, his gratuitous pitch for Reeves' job was sleazy. However, I don't totally blame him. Nor do I lay all the blame on Johnson. The suits at CBS and Fox Sports are Sanders' and Johnson's enablers. They had to approve the segments. They too show they have no respect for coaches who are struggling to succeed. Owning up The Cowboys defense put mucho hurt on Skins QB Patrick Ramsey. It wasn't half as bad as the verbal butt-whipping Fox voices administered to Snyder. He was ripped during Fox's pregame, but the real venom wasn't spilled until Joe Buck, Cris Collinsworth and Troy Aikman splattered Snyder during the Skins-Cowboys telecast Sunday. ... ESPN-1050's Don LaGreca had to be rehearsing standup shtick on Jets postgame Sunday. LaGreca had me rolling as he ripped Doug Brien for a lack of "accountability." The talkie was ticked because Brien wouldn't take the rap for the Keystone Cop routine leading up to that blocked OT FG. Please. LaGreca, or any sports talkie for that matter, has no right to even use the word "accountability." Most of these bozos are never held accountable for anything they say. Political football Was it halftime of Giants-Jets on the MSG Radio Network? Or was this a Yankees radiocast? After all, a voice was interviewing a politician, but it wasn't Rudy Giuliani and John Sterling (he did a fine job calling the Dartmouth-Harvard football game Saturday on YES). No, it was Jets radiocaster Bob Wischusen playing bobo for Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who was shilling for some Meadowlands construction project. It might as well be a garbage dump. That's just what this waste of airtime was - garbage. ... After Florida's Matt Leach hit a 33-yard FG, basically sealing a 16-13 win over Georgia Saturday, CBS' Todd Blackledge ripped into Gators fans who want coach Ron Zook fired. "And whoever the coward is who won't even say his name, and has the FireRonZook.com, better just go away somewhere and disappear," Blackledge said. Now, it appears the "coward," with the fire Zook Web site, is having trouble hearing. On the site, he is blaming - and hammering - play-by-play man Verne Lundquist for Blackledge's "coward" remarks. Working overtime Major kudos to ESPN2's Bill Curry and Dave Barnett for their call of Arkansas' 71-63, seven-OT win over Kentucky Saturday night. The mikemen had it all together for a game lasting 4 hours, 55 minutes. ... HBO's Larry Merchant freaked when the ref stopped action with 23 seconds left in the seventh round, after the area over Derrick (Smoke) Gainer's left eye was busted wide open by Juan Manuel Marquez. "What's he (Gainer) complaining about?" Merchant asked. "He got hit in the eye with a punch." Merchant repeated the line again. He should have waited for the replay, which showed the cut was caused by an accidental head butt. And when he saw the replay Merchant should have said: "Whoops. My mistake." He didn't. Originally published on November 4, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.