The view from here

Good day folks,

The top story this week is the shocking death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair. It turned out that he died in a murder-suicide by his 20-year-old girlfriend. Steve played a 13-year career, most with the Tennessee Titans in Nashville. Steve will be remembered for being one of the toughest QBs ever to play in the NFL. In the Super Bowl in 2000 Steve led Tennessee within a foot of a game-winning touchdown. I hope people remember Steve as a great QB and not the strange way he died. This is the same I hope for all celebrities, like Michael Jackson as well.

My comment this week is on Manny Ramirez. As you may know, Manny was suspended 50 games for using a women's fertility drug. My questions are, why was Manny allowed during his suspention to workout at the Dodgers' spring training facilities with Dodger coach Manny Mota? He was also allowed a short rehab stint in the minor leagues to get back into playing shape. He played two games with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He also played several games with the Single-A Inland Empire 66ers. I don’t remember any player who was suspended getting this kind of preferincial treatment before! As of this week the Commissioner is looking this kind of treatment in the future. Manny came back during the July 4th holiday. During his suspension there was a movement by Dodgers’ fans to get him voted into the All-Star Game. I’m glad to report this was not allowed and he is not in St. Louis this week. During the Press Conference to anounce his suspension, Manny stated that he had seen a physician who unknowingly prescribed medication that is banned under the MLB drug policy. He is a professional athletle, he should know what the doctor is prescribeing him, its not the doctor’s fault that he gave him a banned drug. Since he came back Manny has been cheered every place he has been, WHY? He is a drug cheat and he should be treated as such. Barry Bonds was a drug cheat who was never caught, but was a hated figure. Manny should be in the same boat.

Media Notes

The big sports media story is that the US Olympics Committee is setting up it’s own TV network next year. I have three questions about this: How are they going to compete with NBC’s Universal Sports Network? How are they going to get live programming? Universal Sports has most of the Olympic sports rights to broadcast these events. How will this development affect Chicago’s hopes to get the 2016 Summer Games? The International Olympic Committee is objecting to the network and said that the USOC had not authorized the use of the Olympic name or television footage. I will monitor this developing story.

The week’s ESPN watch is that the “Worldwide Leader” is truly becoming the worldwide leader in sports after getting a piece of the English Premier League package of games and thus a foot hold in the UK. On this side of the pond we are getting converge of some soccer with Spain’s La Liga League this fall. This is good news; after ESPN lost the Champions League rights to FOX, I thought there would be no soccer on the ESPN family of networks.

Speaking of ESPN, I was glad to see they have coverage of Indoor Volleyball’s World League. I enjoy Indoor volleyball much more than beach volleyball, there is more action and the ball is in the air with six players each side to two per side for beach volleyball. I hope they do more volleyball in the future.
In other ESPN news, they have hired a new Ombudsman in legendary TV Exec Don Ohlmeyer. This is a controversial choice because the first two Ombudsmen for ESPN were newspaper people and respected journalist but Ohlmeyer is the best producer, not just in sports but also TV sitcoms. Don will start in August, we will see then.

What to watch for

Tuesday July 14th was the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on FOX. This will be the seventh year in which the All-Star Game determines home field advantage in the World Series. By the way the American League win 4 to 3 over the National League. It was the 12th straight win ( one tie) for the American League in the Mid Summer Classic. I enjoy the All-Star Game because it’s the best of the best in baseball. I think interleague play should determine the home field in the World Series. I think this is a great way to update the interleague play which is getting boring the way it is now.

This weekend is the third Major of the golf year, The Open Championship (British Open). The Open is played on links course that are right on the sea, so the wind will be a factor. It is also the oldest major championship which was started in 1860. All of these factors are why it’s my favorite golf major. TNT will have Thurday’s and Friday’s coverage for the last time, ESPN takes oover next year. Coverage is live starting at 7 A.M. each day. TNT has some weekend coverage before ABC takes over 7 to 9 A.M Saturday and 6 to 8 A.M. on Sunday. ABC takes over Saturday 9 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. and Championship Sunday 8 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Enjoy, I know I will.

Talk to you all soon

Jamie Lazaroff