WHO CARES? IT WAS A MEANINGLESS FINAL PRESEASON GAME, RIGHT?
Some opinion, Mostly fact … briefly told (at least we are going to try) ...
BOY, DID YOUR Washington Commanders look (fill in
negative description of choice), or what? They fumbled the ball
away on their first snap, and things never got better in a 41-3
mauling in Baltimore Friday night against the Ravens.
It was the final preseason game for both teams … which meant
few regulars got on the field, much less dressed … like QB’s
JAYDEN DANIELS (Washington) and LAMAR JACKSON
(Ravens). Commanders’ backup MARCUS MARIOTTA also
sat this one out. The visitors didn’t convert a third down until
fewer than three minutes remained against a team that won 30-
3 in last year’s final exhibition played in Landover, Md.
SOME THINGS never change … like the networks keep hiring
brain-dead sideline …ahh, reporters who are anything but …
Thursday Night Football on ESPN (on ABC) via The NFL
Network and Prime Video provided yet another twist on the
Cleveland Browns’ much-discussed and cussed QB debate …
when No. 3 DILLON GABRIEL had a banner outing against
New England, completing 12 of 15 passe for 187 yards and
three touchdowns IN THE FIRST HALF for a 27-13 lead en
route to a 37-13 final.
“What impressed you?” ESPN sideline fluff-ball KAYLEE
HARTUNG asked new Browns’ coach TODD MONKEN
who said, “I’ll get back to Dillon,” but first he wanted to
congratulate ABC play by play veteran AL MICHAELS and
wife LINDA on celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.
“How cool is that?” Monken said.
“Now, Dillon Gabriel … What a great high! I’m happy for him.
The guys played well around him. He certainly took advantage
of the opportunity.”
That was it, beginning and end. Hartung couldn’t find another
question or two … like? Oh, I don’t know … uhh how about:
“Does this complicate your very unpopular decision to open
with DESHAWN WATSON? Any chance you could change
your mind?”
Instead, she smiled and said, “Thank you so much, Todd.”
“You bet,” said Monken who had to be laughing. Remember, he
receives a healthy amount of money to do TV, such as it is,
although the Browns, we’re told, would rather nobody know
how much … but it doesn’t get much easier than this, now does
it?
AS CRAZY AS it might sound … what if the WNBA
orchestrated all this nonsense about transgender males and
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM’s popular crusade against them
playing in the women’s pro league? You know … straight out
of the Any Publicity, Whether Good or Bad, is Good Publicity
playbook.
Now it appears a lawsuit is forthcoming to keep the league
from harassing fans who bring signs in support of Cunningham
who, like Indiana Fever teammate CAITLIN CLARK, has
been subjected to uncommon abuse … that, truth be told, has
elevated the WNBA from nowhere to somewhere in the
sporting world’s consciousness.
MEMO TO MICHAEL PHILLIPS, whose The Richmonder
on-line local news-gathering operation is non-profit and, most
assuredly, not leaning to the right or left: In its mission
statement, the Associated Press makes much ado about its non-
profit status and also would have us believe it does not have an
agenda. Surely it jests.
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice went after William & Mary last
week for violating federal admission’s law … that says “thou
shalt not allow race to affect
who is admitted (or not admitted, for that matter) … The feds
found alleged discrimination in scholarships and student
programs that favored certain students based on race and
enthnicity.
… The State School That Thinks (and Acts) Like It’s Private has
until Sept. 8 to respond or … Or else.
ADD CRAZINESS … and who better than Hartung? Before
game’s end she started her interview with Watson … “Todd
Monken is putting his trust in you. What has he done to earn
your trust?”
“Just giving me a fair shot … He builds that confidence in all of
us. We have a relationship starting … and it’s been good.
“And, he doesn’t sugarcoat things, does he?”
Now she’s really smiling, so is he … just two old friends.
Who says you can’t get along with the media, Deshawn?
“Not at all. Everything is straight forward. It’s not what I’m
used to … but everything is good in the neighborhood,“ Watson
said.
Until next time ...
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