FROM BAD WORDS FROM OUR SPONSORS TO LANE KIFFIN TO CLUELESS SPORTSCASTERS TO ...

 I Don’t Know About You, But I’m Tired Of …

… really dumb sports commercials, like: “Two minutes to 

go, let’s check in with coach Freeman on the field.”

“’We’ve got to be smart, we’ve got to be quick, we’ve got 

to be pro-team factor.”[Cut to puzzled looks by his 

players, which could be the highlight.) We’ve got to serve 

up the ultimate drink Factor,’” says Notre Dame football 

coach MARCUS FREEMAN.

There’s more, unfortunately. Wonder if Freeman had right 

of refusal. No amount of money should be worth the 

potential embarrassment … especially when you are 

getting the really big bucks to coach the Fighting Irish. 

His compensation for 2025 is $7.5 million … but could 

exceed $9M according to an agreement announced in 

December of 2024.

… LANE KIFFIN: It’s unlikely more has been 

written/said/”reported” in such a short time about one 

coach … with next-to-nothing new other than he chose 

LSU, which offered the most money. Surprise!

For the most part, the media has used the opportunity to 

put down MONTE KIFFIN’s kid, much like it’s been 

open season on BILL BELICHICK, 73, for having a 24-

year-old girl friend.

… the Mannings, Peyton and Eli.

… sportscasters who either don’t pay attention, don’t know 

what they’re talking about or both, like:

STEVE SCHLANGER and JOHN GIANNINI, who 

called Saturday’s Old Dominion/George Mason 

basketball game on USA cable.

After Mason’s RILEY ALENSBACH scored his team’s 

first 17 points (for a 15-point lead after six minutes), the 

Patriots apparently decided they didn’t need him any 

more.

A transfer from Samford, he went to the bench for a 

long while and, on returning, was pretty much ignored 

despite being perfect from the field and at the line. A third 

three pointer gave Alensbach 20 points (of Mason’s 28 in 

a 20-point lead) but he didn’t scratch again until after 

halftime when the Monarchs had cut a 23-point deficit to 

nine.

With little more than six minutes remaining, it was a four-

point game, and we long since knew neither Schlanger 

nor Giannini had a clue. The latter was crediting ODU’s 

man defense … which hadn’t bothered to double-team 

Alensbach until late in the first half, leaving him one on 

one against over-matched defenders en route to a career 

scoring day.

And, Schlanger kept noting Alensbach’s production had 

fallen off … without ever mentioning that the agile 7-

footer was a victim of his own team’s making.

JIM LARANAGA, who coached Mason in 2006 to its 

only Final Four appearance, was in attendance … and the 

former UVA assistant had to be squirming in his seat. 

After all, the current GMU coach is TONY SKINN, who 

was a key member of that team 20 years ago.

In spite of itself, Mason (10-1) survived 73-61 after the 

visitors evened the score at 58 with some five minutes to 

go. Alensbach, whose previous best (at Samford) was 21 

points, finished with a game-high 26. ODU lost its fifth in 

a row to fall to 3-8.

… bogus claims, like: “RVA’S NUMBER ONE

SPORTS STATION”

Fox Richmond?

… exaggerated headlines that have become commonplace 

on-line, like:

This one … “Angry Soccer Fans Destroy Stadium” … 

that appeared recently referring to reaction to LIONEL 

MESSI’s too-brief appearance at a venue in Kolhata, 

India.

Well, the fans, paying as much as $130 to see one of the 

world’s all-time futbol-playing greats, did get upset when 

a large VIP group surrounded him, and the cash 

customers couldn’t see his face.

After a while, some began throwing things from the 

stands, and when many in a crowd said to be about 

80,000 began to storm the field, security whisked Messi 

away after only 20 minutes, which further infuriated the 

fans.

In the chaos that ensued, some seats were thrown onto the 

field, and there were other acts of vandalism. But few, if 

any, people were hurt, and Salt Lake Stadium suffered a 

few bruises, nothing major and, from all reports, was not 

destroyed but left standing, waiting for the next angry 

mob.

… annoying voices, like:

NFL Network’s JAMIE ERDAHL (high-pitched, nasal); 

and DENISE SALCEDO, on SiriusXM radio’s Channel 

156 devoted to pro rasslin’ 24/7.

It’s not what they say, it’s how they say it.. The sound 

makes scratching a blackboard favorable by comparison.

Click!

… and, mostly, annoying people, like (to mention just a 

few for now):

GUS JOHNSON (although we’re warming up if slowly, 

to college football-on-Fox lead play by player); DAVE 

LaGRECA and “BUBBA RAY” DUDLEY, co-hosts of 

SiriusXM’s Busted Open (but we haven’t decided who is 

more obnoxious) and NFL-on-Fox sideline reporter

 ERIN ANDREWS.

(You will note we left ESPN’s STEPHEN A. SMITH  

off the list … because, frankly, he lives alone in the world 

of annoying, obnoxious and downright insufferable.)

NEWS UPDATES: 

-- Although he insists he isn’t going anywhere, Freeman 

is Las Vegas’ choice to become next coach of your New 

York Football Giants.

-- In the wake of a losing first season (4-7) at North 

Carolina, Belichick fired two assistants, with more staff 

changes to come.

-- NASCAR wisely settled with plaintiffs (including THE

 MICHAEL JORDAN and DENNY HAMLIN) who 

brought a long-overdue anti-trust law suit against the 

stock-car racing organization.

Until next time ...