Sunday books: Rick Telander’s unique look at football

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Rick Telander lives nearby. So instead of dropping the book and video in the mail, he decided to run them over to the house.

We chatted for a few minutes about various things. Then he pointed at his knees.

“Hey look,” Telander said. “First time my legs have been straight in 40 years.”

Telander recently had both knees replaced. His news badges from years of athletic pounding had their roots back to his football days.

The Chicago Sun-Times columnist wrote about his high school, college and very brief pro career in Like a Rose. The book, initially published in 2004, was re-released with a new introduction this fall to coincide with NFL Films doing the video version of Telander’s story.

Here’s the link. If you watch the video, you’ll notice Telander’s legs aren’t straight. It was done pre-operation.

The book and NFL Film piece recount Telander’s days as a high school quarterback in Peoria, Ill.; an All-Big Ten defensive back for Northwestern; and his experience at the Kansas City Chiefs training camp in 1971. It lasted only a few weeks as coach Hank Stram helped send Telander into sportswriting.

A quick and interesting read at 160 pages, Telander provides a unique look to a game that consumes its players and fans. He writes in his opening paragraph:

Football is the oddest, meanest, sweetest game. It is a conflict at its roots and at its surface. It pulls a sane person in two directions–anger and joy. At times, players literally fight one another, and at times they are bound together in a dance. Baseball, it has been said, is America’s pastime; football is its passion. Give me passion.

There’s plenty of passion in the book, as Telander tells his story. It includes passages about him as a father being conflicted over whether his son should play the game he loves.

As America dives into football mania this week, Telander’s book is a terrific reminder that there is much more to the game than the players who will be on the field next Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Super Bowl could be bumpy for Ray Lewis; Washington Post writes major story about 2000 murders

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It won’t be a complete celebration of the end of Ray Lewis’ great football career next week in New Orleans. The problem with reaching the Super Bowl is that the spotlight and scrutiny level goes up exponentially.

That means the off-the-field portion of Lewis’ life also will be examined. He has a dark moment in his past: His possible involvement in two murders in Atlanta in 2000.

The Washington Post isn’t waiting for New Orleans. The Post’s Kent Babb did a terrific piece of enterprise reporting with a long story about Lewis and the murders. Charges against Lewis were eventually dropped, although the Baltimore linebacker wound up paying millions to settle civil suits by the victims’ families.

Babb visited one of the victim’s families in Ohio. The family still believes Lewis was involved.

Babb writes:

Nearly 13 years after the incident, Lewis’s legacy centers on his outstanding career, his message of faith and giving, and the charisma that will no doubt be on display throughout next week before the Super Bowl.

Richard Lollar’s family in Akron, meanwhile, associates Lewis’s name with something far different, and they continue to struggle — with money and Priscilla’s mother’s illness and the impossibility, even so many years later, to find closure to a situation that has offered none. Some relatives have faced Richard’s death head-on, but his mother has dealt with it by ignoring the ordeal’s most elemental fact: that her son is dead.

Later, there’s this passage:

On Feb. 3, Lewis will be introduced in New Orleans and will play in his second Super Bowl. He said before the playoffs that he’ll retire after this season, and in five years, he will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is headquartered in Canton, Ohio, less than 25 miles from the home where Richard Lollar grew up.

In the years since Lollar’s death Lewis has become one of football’s most beloved figures. He speaks openly about his faith in God, and his No. 52 Ravens jersey is, according to NFLshop.com, one of its highest sellers. At the country’s most-viewed sporting event, most eyes will be on Lewis, who most assuredly will be compared with a warrior making his heroic last stand.

“I don’t want to hear that,” Faye Lollar says, “because he’s not no hero to me.”

Lewis will have numerous media sessions with the national media next week. Will the murders be brought up? How much will it be a part of the narrative for the stories on him?

Judging from the Post story, plenty.

 

Posted in NFL

Saturday flashback: CBS’ opening to the Ice Bowl; no hat for Frank Gifford

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If you’re feeling cold wherever you are today, here’s a reminder of what’s really cold. This is CBS’ opening to the famed Ice Bowl game between Green Bay and Dallas on Dec. 31, 1967.

Ray Scott, Jack Buck and Frank Gifford did the coldest open ever with temperatures at 15-below. “The Giffer,” though, wasn’t about the mess up his hair by wearing a hat. Vanity has no bounds.

Rachel Nichols leaves ESPN for CNN; will host weekend show, do work for Turner

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The interesting part of this move is that CNN is going to launch a sports show. At least on the weekends.

Clearly, the chance to host a show was a main why Nichols left ESPN. That and a lot of cash.

From CNN/Turner:

CNN and Turner Sports have hired veteran ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols, it was announced today by Jeff Zucker, President, CNN Worldwide, and David Levy, President, Sales, Distribution & Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Nichols will serve as a sports reporter for CNN and Turner Sports and will anchor a new weekend sports program on CNN/U.S. beginning later this year. Her CNN program will focus on the most interesting stories and personalities in the world of sports.

In her role with Turner Sports, Nichols will handle a wide variety of assignments across the division’s vast sports properties including the NBA and Major League Baseball. Additionally, Nichols will cover all major sporting events, including the Olympics for CNN. Her first assignment will be the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

“We’re just thrilled that a sports journalist of Rachel’s stature and expertise will now be a regular part of the CNN lineup,” said Zucker. “Her arrival, beginning next week, is an important step in expanding the range of programming and storytelling on CNN.”

“Rachel is a high profile talent and skilled reporter and we are proud to have her join the Turner Broadcasting family,” said Levy. “Rachel’s broadcast experience covering a wide variety of assignments including breaking news, major sports events, human interest features and investigative pieces will be a perfect fit across Turner Sports’ many properties and platforms.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the CNN and Turner Sports family,” said Nichols. “I believe in Jeff’s vision for CNN, and have always admired the great work of Turner Sports and what David has done there. I’m looking forward to getting started at the Super Bowl.”

Prior to joining CNN and Turner Sports, Nichols spent nine years at ESPN, working as a correspondent for SportsCenter, Sunday NFL Countdown, NBA Countdown and the network’s newsmagazine show, E:60, as well performing sideline duties on a number of Monday Night Football broadcasts. Earlier in her career, Nichols worked as a reporter for the Washington Post and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

A native of Potomac, Maryland, Nichols received a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

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Does Couric interview signal end of Manti Te’o saga?

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Is that it? C’mon folks, move on down the road. Nothing more to see here.

For more than a week, America has formed a massive gaper’s block over the Manti Te’o saga. But unless Te’o truly is found to be more than a naive victim of a hoax, I think the story ended with Katie Couric’s interview airing yesterday.

Really, is there anything more to say? As I watched the show, I couldn’t help think how sad this whole thing is. Bottom line: These are people with some serious issues here.

I thought Couric did a good job. Keep in mind, this is a woman who has interviewed presidents and other world leaders. Ask Sarah Palin how she feels about Couric. She knows what to do.

Will Leitch of Sports on Earth had an entertaining column, attaching numbers to the interview.

* Number of times Ronaiah Tuiasosopo was called a “Christian crooner:” 1

* Number of times Katie Couric asked a question and, before Te’o could answer, the show cut to commercial or a montage of more questions: 6

* Number of times Katie put on her glasses to ask a question: 2

* Number of times Te’o denied knowing anything about the scam: 1

* Number of times Te’o claimed there was something he “couldn’t fake:” 1

Now it’s over. Some people had a good laugh. Some people got to spout off about the sorry state of journalism. Many others just simply gawked.

But that’s enough. Time to move on to the next bizarre story.

 

 

50-plus hours of coverage: CBS Sports Network looks to be major part of Super Bowl party

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No truth to the rumor that New Orleans will be renamed CBS, La. next week.

This year’s Super Bowl network is bringing everyone, and I mean, everyone to New Orleans next week. It’s all about cashing in on the biggest show on Earth– or at least in the U.S.

CBS Sports Network is a big part of the plan. Like the other networks that travel in the ESPN-dominated cable sports universe, CBS’ entry faces quite a challenge for eyeballs.

CBS plans to use the Super Bowl to bring awareness, not to mention viewers, to the CBS Sports Network. Beginning Monday, the network will have more than 50 hours of live coverage from New Orleans (Full details below). The centerpiece will be a two-hour Super Bowl Live show hosted by Greg Gumbel, beginning Tuesday (7 p.m. ET), featuring plenty of big names.

Then after the big game and trophy presentation Sunday, CBS will continue its postgame coverage on CBS Sports Network President David Berson.

“We’ve never had (the NFL) before this year on the network,” Berson said. “Now we’re going from zero to 60. It’s an exciting time for us.”

And a crucial time. I asked Berson how important next week will be as far as increasing the visibility of CBS Sports Network.

“There’s no event as big as the Super Bowl,” Berson said. “We’re doing programming to better showcase everything at CBS Sports (through all its platforms). This is another piece of it. This is not the end. Frankly, we’re just getting started. The Super Bowl is the perfect showcase for what CBS Sports has to offer. It’s a good moment in time for CBS Sports Network.”

******

Here’s are the exact details of the menu from CBS Sports Network:

CBS Sports Network debuts its first-ever Super Bowl coverage with over 50 hours of original programming from New Orleans, La. surrounding the CBS Television Network’s exclusive broadcast of Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3.  The Network launches two new shows from New Orleans, SUPER BOWL LIVE and INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL, providing in-depth coverage throughout Super Bowl week.  Current CBS Sports Network programs NFL MONDAY QB, ROME, LEAD OFF and the TIM BRANDO SHOW will also originate from New Orleans.

For the first time, CBS Sports Network also will have extended post-game coverage.  When CBS Sports signs off its broadcast of Super Bowl XLVII, the post-game coverage continues on CBS Sports Network with James Brown, Bill Cowher, Boomer Esiason, Dan Marino and Shannon Sharpe on SUPER BOWL LIVE: POST GAME SHOW from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Hosted by Greg Gumbel, SUPER BOWL LIVE will serve as the Network’s prime time show, airing Tuesday-Friday (7:00-9:00 PM, ET) from CBS Super Bowl Park At Jackson Square. INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL airs Monday-Friday (4:00-6:00 PM, ET) from radio row with a three-hour Saturday edition (11:00 AM-2:00 PM, ET) from Jackson Square.  Both shows will combine the assets of the NFL ON CBS to provide coverage and commentary of the teams, news, events and buzz in New Orleans surrounding Super Bowl week.

Joining the two new shows in New Orleans are NFL MONDAY QB, ROME, LEAD OFF and the TIM BRANDO SHOW.  NFL MONDAY QB is the Network’s weekly NFL studio show, which brings together an elite roster of quarterbacks to provide analysis purely from a quarterback perspective.  The show features analysts Phil Simms, Rich Gannon and Steve Beuerlein, as well as other quarterbacks from the THE NFL ON CBS roster, including Esiason, Marino and Dan Fouts. Hosted by Adam Schein, NFL MONDAY QB airs live from Jackson Square on Monday, Jan. 28 (7:00-9:00 PM, ET).

ROME and LEAD OFF also will air from Jackson Square while the TIM BRANDO SHOW will be telecast from Radio Row.  Veteran sports personality Jim Rome tackles the day’s biggest sports stories with ROME, which expands to an hour during Super Bowl week (6:00-7:00 PM, ET).  The Network’s new late-night show LEAD OFF with co-hosts Doug Gottlieb and Allie LaForce airs Monday-Friday (12:00-1:00 AM, ET).   LEAD OFF features commentary and debate on the top sports stories and news with a focus on the next day’s conversation.

In addition, SUPER BOWL CHRONICLES, airing Monday, Jan. 28 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET) features NFL ON CBS announcers re-living their own Super Bowl experiences and memories.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK SUPER BOWL XLVII PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

(All Times ET)

Monday, January 28

9:00 AM-12:00 PM – TIM BRANDO SHOW

4:00-6:00 PM – INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL

6:00-7:00 PM – ROME

7:00-9:00 PM – NFL MONDAY QB

9:00-10:00 PM – SUPER BOWL CHRONICLES

12:00-1:00 AM – LEAD OFF

Tuesday, January 29

9:00 AM-12:00 PM – TIM BRANDO SHOW

4:00-6:00 PM – INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL

6:00-7:00 PM – ROME

7:00-9:00 PM – SUPER BOWL LIVE

12:00-1:00 AM – LEAD OFF

Wednesday, January 30

9:00 AM-12:00 PM – TIM BRANDO SHOW

4:00-6:00 PM – INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL

6:00-7:00 PM – ROME

7:00-9:00 PM – SUPER BOWL LIVE

12:00-1:00 AM – LEAD OFF

Thursday, January 31

9:00 AM-12:00 PM – TIM BRANDO SHOW

4:00-6:00 PM – INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL

6:00-7:00 PM – ROME

7:00-9:00 PM – SUPER BOWL LIVE

12:00-1:00 AM – LEAD OFF

Friday, February 1

9:00 AM-12:00 PM – TIM BRANDO SHOW

4:00-6:00 PM – INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL

6:00-7:00 PM – ROME

7:00-9:00 PM – SUPER BOWL LIVE

12:00-1:00 AM – LEAD OFF

Saturday, February 2

11:00 AM-2:00 PM – INSIDE THE SUPER BOWL

10:00 PM-12:00 AM – SUPER BOWL LIVE

 Sunday, February 3

9:00-11:00 AM – SUPER BOWL LIVE

10:30-11:30 PM – SUPER BOWL LIVE – Immediately Following Super Bowl XLVII

Posted in CBS

Shannon Sharpe goes off again on Belichick: Clay Matthews to be part of CBS’ Super Bowl coverage

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During a teleconference today, Shannon Sharpe was asked about ripping Bill Belichick Sunday for not speaking to CBS following New England’s defeat (video below). Initially, I thought Sharpe might not answer the question from SI’s Richard Deitsch.

“At this juncture, it’s a non-issue,” Sharpe said. “I said what I said.”

Thankfully, without any prodding, Sharpe quickly came out for an encore.

“The reason why I said it, you’ve seen over 12 years, five times the Patriots have been victorious. We saw (losing coaches) Tony Dungy, Rex Ryan twice (speak to CBS). John Harbaugh, after Lee Evans dropped a pass that would have sent them to the Super Bowl, he came outside the locker room and spoke to our Steve Tasker.

“What does Bill Belichick and the Patriots organization do? They send out Devin McCourty. Outside of New England, who knows Devin McCourty (he’s a DB, if you didn’t know)? They don’t give us Tom Brady or Vince Wolfork.

“I know it’s tough. We’ve been in this business a long time. (Sharpe’s CBS colleague Bill Cowher) went through it twice. When you lose, it’s always tough. As I said, it’s about being gracious in defeat. It’s part of the obligation of being a head coach in the NFL.

“I said what I said. I haven’t had any of my bosses tell me I’m out of line. If I see something I feel is wrong, I’m going to say it.”

Yes, he did. You’re probably cheering if you think Belichick is an arrogant jerk.

Meanwhile, Sharpe likely gave some bulletin board material to McCourty.

********

CBS has added Clay Matthews to its Super Bowl roster. I have a feeling Jay Cutler won’t be tuning in. Matthews can record three sacks just thinking about the Bears QB.

CBS Sports President Sean McManus said Matthews is so excited about the opportunity, he is going to buy a new suit for the occasion.

To be announced later: McManus said another current player will join Matthews. Perhaps Devin McCourty?

 

 

 

 

Stan Musial: Sports Illustrated honors legend with special cover treatment

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What a pleasure it was to receive my Sports Illustrated today. Stan Musial not only was on the cover, but there also were three additional covers inside. Note: This was a regional cover, as SI went with the Super Bowl theme in other areas. Thankfully, I got Stan.

From Inside Sports Illustrated:

“When we heard the news of Stan Musial’s passing, we recognized an extraordinary opportunity,” said Sports Illustrated Managing Editor Christian Stone. “Across a series of four covers with vintage images and accompanying quotes, we were able to better tell the story of an uncontroversial sports legend beloved by fans in St. Louis and baseball fans around the world. Who better to be the first person to ever be featured in four consecutive covers of SI than Stan the Man?”

 

New York Times sports editor departing for new job

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Joe Sexton, who recently made headlines by authorizing a controversial blank sports front as a commentary to recent Hall of Fame announcement, is moving on. The details from Propublica:

ProPublica editor-in-chief Stephen Engelberg announced today the appointment of Joe Sexton, a distinguished editor and reporter at The New York Times for more than two decades, as one of ProPublica’s senior editors. Sexton will manage a stable of staff reporters and oversee some of the organization’s major investigations. He will begin work at ProPublica in February.

Sexton, 53, joins ProPublica after having had a hand in three recent Pulitzer Prizes — for breaking news, feature writing and investigative reporting. Sexton, who most recently served The Times as its sports editor, ran the paper’s Metropolitan desk for five years. And once upon a time he was a pretty fair reporter and writer, his work as a sportswriter included in The Best American Sports Writing, 1992.

“Joe Sexton is one of the finest editors in the business,” said Engelberg. “His steady hand and inspirational leadership have been behind some of the biggest stories in New York and the world of sports in the past decade.

Via JimRomenesko.com, a portion of Sexton’s letter to the staff:

I’ve received a great offer; I leave you and the nyt burdened only by a great debt — of thanks and wonder. I’m in in the am. Available to chat, and I hope to sound sensible. I’m excited and sad. Hey, I’m Joe. What did you expect? With love, j

 

 

 

Jokes aside, NBC Sports Network has much riding on new Michelle Beadle show

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Michelle Beadle doesn’t do serious. During a teleconference to promote her new show, The Crossover, she couldn’t resist dishing out the one-liners.

“I think (the show will) be a little bit different on our lineup, you know, after hunting,” Beadle said.

It’s a good line to be sure. However, there’s more than tinge of reality to that statement, considering hunting shows still generate some of the highest ratings on NBC Sports Network.

So while the jokes were flying Wednesday, make no mistake, Beadle’s new show is serious stuff for a network that still is struggling to gain a foothold. The 30-minute Monday through Friday program debuts live from New Orleans Monday at 6 p.m. ET.

The NBC Sports Network needs to develop signature, go-to personalities if it ever is going to make an impact in the market. It is imperative. The addition of Dan Patrick’s radio show in the morning was a step in the right direction. Beadle’s show, though, represents an even bigger opportunity to serve as a key anchor going up against the 6 p.m. SportsCenter and into an evening of games at NBC Sports Network, ESPN, and elsewhere.

Beadle, funny and engaging, had a healthy following as co-host of SportsNation on ESPN. Will they follow her to NBC Sports Network? Network executives hope so.

Here are Beadle, her co-host Dave Briggs (an interesting figure in his own right), and NBC Sports Executive Producer Sam Flood addressing the key issues:

On the importance of NBC Sports Network developing go-to personalities:

Flood: It’s about personality. It’s about people you want to spend time with. It’s the people you want to be at the bar and hang out with, and these are the two people that you want to do that with. And that’s an important part of establishing them, and establishing the time at 6:00 (p.m. ET), Monday through Friday. And we’re going to re-air the show at 10:30 p.m. every night after our hockey coverage, and drive that puck audience over, and expose puckheads to Beadle and Briggs, which will be a fun opportunity to push a new audience and expose them to what will be a fun show.

On Beadle serving as an important piece of NBC Sports Network.

Beadle: I love the fact that the landscape of sports television has changed so drastically in the last two or three years. There’s not just one place to go anymore, and part of us coming here and doing this show is to bring a fun half hour, not take yourself too seriously. No contrived arguments where it feels forced or not organic.

I, personally, don’t watch sports through the eyes of a stats nerd or an anger monger. I truly love stories and characters and the flash and the sexiness of it all. So, for me, I want 22 minutes-a-day of that kind of talk. And we’re not going to be as funny or light-hearted as Costas, but we’re definitely hoping to try to bring that level of our A-game to every day of this. I think it’ll be a little bit different on our lineup, you know, after hunting.

On Briggs, a former host on Fox News, and if he will bring politics into the new show.

Briggs: We discussed all things 24-7 and did it in a very partisan manner. But I think the thing that you should take from Fox & Friends is that I can shift gears and do anything from current events, world events, to wars in the Middle East, to politics. Do I have a history of being somewhat political? Sure, but this is not a political show, and I don’t intend to steer it in that direction. I always try to bring balance to an issue, and even if I have a very strong opinion, I always welcome other opinions.”

Beadle: But we are going to do an hour special on Roe v. Wade anniversaries.

Briggs: I don’t shy away from talking about politics if Sam wants us to… I think that my past could allow us different discussions. We have a segment called ‘Head to Head,’ I could see myself saying, ‘Alright, who’s a worse dealmaker the United States Congress or the NHL?’ I think you could take things from my past that changes the discussion topic a little bit and steer it in that direction.

On developing chemistry on the show:

Beadle: We hang out. We go into rehearsal, we’re about to go into another one in a half hour, that’s just going to be part of it. In the next four days we are going to hang out as much as possible, get ourselves to New Orleans and practice and go to dinners. You just get a feel for working with each other and how the other works, and sometimes it clicks right away and sometimes it takes a little bit longer. I have no idea. I think that is kind of part of the nervous excitement of everything that’s going on over here.

Briggs: It’s tough to have to work with someone who has to sit in the makeup chair and worry about the hair, but Beadle will get used to the fact that I need those things.

Beadle: He does take a while.

On missing out on the sports-world wackiness during the last couple of weeks:

Beadle: The last 2-3 weeks have been gifts from the sports gods. Every day is kind of one more thing that we can talk about that’s fun. I’m just hoping that they have some more stories left in them come Monday because man, if I can get another dead, fake girlfriend who died of cancer out of this world, I think that we’re all winning.

Briggs: It has been very difficult this last week to 10 days to not have the show airing. There’s certainly no shortage of stories that are perfect for us. I wish we had Manti Te’o but there’s another fake girl just around the corner.

Beadle: Lots of them out there.

Briggs: Washington Redskins players just said that they too have been duped by a couple of fake online girls. There’s always a juicy story right around the next corner.