When I became the managing editor of SA国际影视传媒, one of the things I stopped doing out of necessity due to time constraints was Sports Talk. Some of you missed it, some of you didnSA国际影视传媒檛 and some of you were brave enough to take to social media, namely X (formerly Twitter) where I donSA国际影视传媒檛 post, and let me know how you felt. Nothing beats the keyboard tough guy.
But here we are and ISA国际影视传媒檝e been thinking about it: why not bring it back? So here we go again. The rebirth of whatSA国际影视传媒檚 been called an angry rant, the place where ISA国际影视传媒檒l say what youSA国际影视传媒檙e thinking or where James McCarthy is so cantankerous and aggressive, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know why heSA国际影视传媒檚 allowed to do this (yes, someone from Nunavut did write in and say that about me).
LetSA国际影视传媒檚 pick up where we left off, shall we?
Some well-deserved cheers and tears
The Detroit Lions won a playoff game for the first time since 1991 last weekend when they beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 24-23. It was a wonderful moment for a team that has suffered through horrible coaching, terrible management and just awful performances for more than three decades.
But there was one moment that caught the eye of so many, including this writer. It was a clip of a Lions fan crying in the stands, which many thought was a lovely way to close out the game. Turns out there was much more to it, though. The fan was identified as Arron Wikaryasz, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 a iron worker in Detroit. He spoke to a TV station in Detroit and told the story of how he and his dad never got to experience a playoff win together.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 because his father was killed in a car crash in 2003.
SA国际影视传媒淲e buried him in his Detroit Lions letter jacket, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how much he loved them,SA国际影视传媒� said his son.
And hereSA国际影视传媒檚 something that makes the story even better: his father was also an iron worker and helped build Ford Field, home of the Lions.
If your team is out, consider jumping on the LionsSA国际影视传媒� bandwagon. I have and ISA国际影视传媒檓 not ashamed to say it. My Denver Broncos sucked large this season, so why not join the Cinderella squad? And yes, Wikaryasz will be there on Sunday when the Lions host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
What did you expect?
It has to be said that people love sports promotions. No matter what it is, fans will show up to take part in whatever is on offer. So it should come as no surprise that when the University of Connecticut offered $2 Beer Night for one of its recent home games, you knew it would be gold.
It happened on Wednesday night when UConn hosted the Creighton Blue Jays at home and there were 12 oz. beers on sale for the American version of a toonie. Imagine the promotion it took to get people to come out:
SA国际影视传媒淐HEAP BEER AT THE HUSKIES GAME!SA国际影视传媒�
Sure enough, several people SA国际影视传媒� probably frat boys looking to enjoy some swill for the cost of a box of Kraft Dinner SA国际影视传媒� started lining up hours ahead of the contest. And it went down exactly the way you thought it did. Hell, 21-year-old James McCarthy wouldSA国际影视传媒檝e shown up to partake in a contest to see how many he could hold before bursting the seal.
I saw some of the footage from the night that was. No one in that clip was in class the next day, especially when you consider someone standing behind the bleachers aimlessly kicking a gaggle of empties on the floor. And you know the UConn faithful are good and crocked when the DJ starts belting out Taylor Swift on the speakers and everyone joins en masse to sing You Belong To Me. No one under the age of 15 and female would ever sing that in public sober.
Alas, the promotion was only available until the end of the first half, which didnSA国际影视传媒檛 faze these kids one bit. ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure their parents were very proud to know the emergency food money was being spent wisely.
The only thing missing? A special appearance by Stone Cold Steve Austin.
And finally SA国际影视传媒�
Good Idea: Reporters doing research on relevant subject matter.
Bad Idea: Reporters not doing research on a subject they should know off by heart.
Reporters make mistakes sometimes. It happens. But thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no excuse for not knowing the subject matter when you enter a press conference.
We take you to a presser held by the Buccaneers in advance of their playoff match-up versus the Lions on Sunday. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was meeting with the gathered scribes to talk about what he thought was going to happen and lay out what the strategy would be. One reporter thought she would talk about the weather SA国际影视传媒� it is rather chilly in the Motor City right now and it could be a factor.
HereSA国际影视传媒檚 what she asked him:
SA国际影视传媒淭oday (Monday), itSA国际影视传媒檚 13 degrees (Fahrenheit) in Detroit, which doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 compare to some of the temperatures (inaudible). Any special plans to acclimate the team to not only endure, but perform in those kind of frigid temperatures, should you face them in Detroit?SA国际影视传媒�
Bowles had the perfect answer:
SA国际影视传媒淵ou do know we play indoors, right? They got a dome. I donSA国际影视传媒檛, no, nothing planned. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e indoors and only have to be outside for 20 seconds, getting off the bus, going under the thing. So, weSA国际影视传媒檒l be okay.SA国际影视传媒�
If youSA国际影视传媒檝e done any research on the home of the Detroit Lions SA国际影视传媒� Ford Field SA国际影视传媒� you will know that itSA国际影视传媒檚 a domed stadium. The elements wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be an issue.
Now, the weather was a factor in last weekendSA国际影视传媒檚 playoff games, such as the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins in Kansas City. That featured wind chills as low as -30 C at times. And we all saw the snow bomb which befell Buffalo ahead of their playoff contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It caused the game to be delayed a day because the clean-up took a very long time.
What have we learned here, kids? Knowledge is key, as are landmarks.
Until next time, folks SA国际影视传媒�
