Today’s theme is “Encouraging the Courage of Convictions” or “Those Aren’t Pimientos, That’s Blood!”
Two weeks ago, despite an epidemic of concussions within traditional sports, the New York State Assembly voted, 113-25, to legalize cage fighting, so named because the guys and gals being punched, kicked, kneed, elbowed or otherwise being beaten senseless can’t escape; they’re caged.
The legislation was urged by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who acknowledged that cage fighting is violent, but added, “But football is violent, boxing is violent, politics can be violent. So I do support mixed martial arts because it’s also an economic generator.”
Gosh, I wish the governor and those 113 Assembly members had been with me — better yet, been in a public forum with large TV screens placed here and there — when FOX Sports 2 on Tuesday reran a match between Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir.
Mir was knocked flat by a punch to the head. As he was on his back, dazed and defenseless, dos Santos — playing by the rules — kneeled over him and punched him as hard as he could in the head. Again, all perfectly legal, even preferred.
That last punch — applied to the fallen and often defenseless — is known among cage-fighting aficionados as “a hammer fist,” evidence that they’re not uncommon.
Now, if the Assembly and governor, on a public stage, were shown tape of this match, then called to a roll-call vote on legalizing cage fighting, would the outcome have been the same?
Would 113 elected officials — 114, counting Cuomo — have attached their names, offices, responsibilities and senses of right from wrong to such an enterprise? With the tape of that match playing over their shoulders, would they have given their blessings, their approval and authority to such a business?
On which side would the courage of their convictions have landed, 113-25?
Comcast, having removed YES from 930,000 area subscribers — while raising subscriber fees as of Jan. 1 — has launched an ad campaign explaining that YES’s Yankees telecasts have been eliminated on behalf of the financial welfare of customers:
“FACT: Comcast was not willing to agree to [YES’s] unreasonable terms because that would have a major impact on your bill. The truth is these types of negotiations happen all the time and Comcast will only agree to terms that are fair to its customers.”
Okey dokey, then Comcast would have no problem displaying the courage of its conviction by making full public disclosure of how much it last paid to carry YES, how much it charged subscribers for YES, and then show how that savings (Comcast dropped YES in November) has financially benefitted its subscribers.
If this is about protecting customers from unfair financial hardship, why hasn’t the full savings from the loss of YES been passed to subscribers? Someone other than Comcast customers is pocketing a ton of dough in savings. Think it might be Comcast?
A final for the ages — but not the aged
NCAA finals: Pete Ruggles of New Fairfield, Conn., writes: “Since I have a job, what time did the winning shot go in?”
The game was advertised for a 9 p.m. start, Pete, began at 9:20 and ended at roughly 11:30. Having dozed off (that’s a lie; I’d fallen asleep for the night), I’m not sure.
Reader Harvey Jaffe: “Two teams playing exciting, team basketball, no ‘Look at me, I’m bad,’ junk, just natural, unrehearsed enthusiasm.”
As per next-day DVR viewing, Harvey, it was the kind of game fathers should have watched with their kids — and once could have. But the NCAA is another addicted to TV money; you can’t shame the shameless.
Special moments included Jim Nantz’s announcement, during a shot from a blimp, that “Aerial coverage is brought to you by DirecTV.” Aerial coverage from above an indoor stadium.
Then there was Tracy Wolfson’s question to Villanova coach Jay Wright before the second half: “Kris Jenkins, two early fouls. How important is it to get him back out there and keep him out there?”
Are you sitting down? Wright said it was very important.
In addition to Wolfson, at halftime CBS/TBS presented eight panelists. With three more calling the game, that’s 12!
By the way, if Jenkins doesn’t hit that buzzer-beater to win it, Wright might still be answering why Villanova didn’t foul before allowing North Carolina to tie it with a three, 4.7 seconds left.
As for the Connecticut-Syracuse women’s final, ESPN must have determined that we tuned in to hear Doris Burke talk (and talk and talk), relying on hackneyed phrases about the obvious. It’s TV! The self-evident needs no help!
And this “debate” as to whether UConn’s rule is good for the game, last we checked, its women’s program — unlike its men’s — has never been attached to financial, academic or social scandal. Given that it’s college ball, more power to it — not that UConn needs it.
MLB’s great at freezing out fans
Suzyn Waldman, during Tuesday’s Yankees opener, ridiculed MLB’s scheduling that had the game against the Astros being played in 36 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 25.
“But no one asked me,” she said.
At that moment, the weather in Houston was 80 and mostly sunny. The arctic, action-starved 5-3 opener ran 3:17.
Nevertheless, YES’s Michael Kay made it sound like light-jacket weather, describing the game as being played on “a sunny, chilly afternoon.”
Wednesday night, as the Yankees played the Astros in frigid conditions in mostly vacant Yankee Stadium, the weather in Houston was clear, in the 70s.
In the first inning of the Mets’ opener, Yoenis Cespedes helped gift the Royals a run when a fly ball rolled around in his glove, then fell. (In football, “He put it on the ground!”)
ESPN analyst Jessica Mendoza wondered why Cespedes didn’t use both hands, as his bare hand could have secured the ball to his mitt.
She’s new at this. She’ll learn. Such casual, stylish, take-it-for-granted professionalism is expected, explained and exonerated as, “The game has changed.”
Perhaps because Tiger Woods wasn’t playing or because the moon was in the seventh house, CBS/ESPN’s live coverage of the Masters on Thursday began with lots of live coverage of the Masters, not the usual 20 aggravating minutes of encouragement to watch.
Ernie Els’ first-hole six-putt — all from about three feet or closer — was excruciating, all players’ daytime nightmare. As Jim Nantz said, “Watch at your own risk.”
In the top of the first of the Mariners-at-Rangers season opener, Robinson Cano hit a homer. An ESPN graphic then noted that it was Cano’s first of the year. Hey, Moe!