From ChatSportsNut
Did you see the ESPN story about football and insurance? The NFL has a lot of issues that they need to figure out between player conduct on and off the field, injuries, officiating, etc. But is this the biggest threat to the NFL? If the smaller leagues can’t find anyone to provide insurance coverage and end up shutting down, will the supply of players eventually dry up?
CSN –
I did see that story, and it is simply amazing. This paragraph is eye-popping:
“People say football will never go away, but if we can’t get insurance, it will,” Jon Butler, Pop Warner’s executive director, lamented to colleagues after discovering that just one carrier was willing to cover the organization for head trauma, according to a person who was present.
And the story discussing the insurance issue is well-reported and we think your point is spot on – a long-term insurance plan is the biggest threat to the sport.
Maybe not for the NFL, which is clearing billions and can afford to cover its costs.
But the concert for Pop Warner leagues and high school associations are very real, and then think about the ripple effects that would have.
Not just for the feeder system of identifying football stars to feed college programs and NFL teams, but for athletics in general. I would venture a guess that the money from high school football events – not unlike at the university levels – fund a lot of the extra circular activities at a lot of schools.
The band sells concessions. The cross country team gets parking. The extra money from the souvenirs go into the general fund.
And without football, the entire system would have to be overhauled.
In the sport of football and in sports in general.
FILE – In this Sept. 4, 2013, file photo, Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz laughs with teammates in the dugout after hitting a double for his 2,000th career hit, in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park in Boston. The Red Sox prepare to honor Ortiz, retiring the No. 34 worn by “Big Papi” when he led the once-cursed franchise to three World Series titles. The ceremony is Friday night, June 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) From Spy
5, in three years, Big Papi is eligible. He was primarily a DH.
What are your thoughts on his candidacy?
Spy –
I am pro-Papi for several reasons.
First his numbers are worthy. He hit .286 for his career and he’s top 20 in homers (541) and top 25 in RBIs (1,768). He is the most productive DH of all time. (Now how Papi’s WAR is lower than Edgar’s is anyone’s guess.)
Side note on his stats: It’s hard to recall a 40-year-old slugger going out with a better season than Papi’s swan song in 2016. He hit .315, led the league in doubles, RBIs, slugging and OPS and intentional walks.
Also, Papi was a bona fide slugger but he was a throwback in that in most years his strikeouts-to-walks ratio was much closer to 1.5-to-1 than the hit-or-miss sluggers of today.
Next, Papi was regarded among the best of his generation. He finished top-six in the AL MVP voting six times, and regular dude was a beast in the postseason and that should count for something.
And dude very good in the postseason in general and a monster in the World Series, hitting .455 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 14 World Series games.
But the great riddle here is how will Papi – who was suspended for testing positive for PEDs in 2003 – be viewed under the microscope of the anti-steroid voters?
Because if Papi gets in and Bonds and Clemens never do, then the Hall of Fame as we know it can never be viewed in the same way.
And with his career path completely reversed, A-Rod’s candidacy will also be intriguing to watch.
Atlanta Hawks forward Taurean Prince (12) works against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)From Chas –
LeBron, The Brow, Durant, Curry, and Harden is a helluva roster! But the Illuminati chose otherwise. Paul George over AD on the All-Star team? NOPE! Crazy. What kind of screwy system gave us this injustice? UT has revealed an athletic budget deficit of $6.5 million. A year ago Rocky Top was running +$12 million. How long can they travel this rocky road?
Chas –
Fan voting is going to be fan voting. And considering that it was done online and the flood of international votes, Davis was clocked by that.
The Brow placed better than Paul George in the media and the player voting. The Thunder – George’s team – is supremely popular around the world. Heck Steven Adams placed six in fan voting right behind Davis.
Heck, Davis is right behind Giannis and Harden on most MVP ballots.
As for UT, well, no that budget plan is not sustainable.
But, and we have said this on multiple occasions: UT could not afford to go long term with Butch and Currie and that closet of crazy and mismatches of misfits.
UT, especially in football can not afford to be mediocre long-term, and spending more money and making every effort to make it better is smart business.
The deficit of last year is obviously the buyouts and still cutting a check for $100,000 to Butch at the end of every month until February 2021.
Guests attending a reception for the Clemson Tigers grab fast food sandwiches in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
From Justin S.
Thanks so much for the bowl contest and all the prizes. We enjoyed the gift card for sure.
I was really surprised to win because this is the first contests like this I have entered. Are you going to have more?
Justin –
Congrats my man. Great entry and strong pick of Clemson.
Glad you and yours enjoyed the meal and other stuff.
As for contests, we have always done the bowl challenge. We will have a March Madness event, a Masters pool, and an NFL draft contest (we love the draft; you know this) for sure.
We also mix in a few others here and there. And as always, they are free to enter.
And we are always open to any suggestions, so fire away.
From A Reader
OK Jay, I have a question if you are willing to answer one like this – rather than the normal butt-kissing, hero-worship stuff from your ‘fans.’
Why are you so arrogant? You talk on the radio like your great. You write in the paper and act like your super smart. You write to your internet fans and act like your so funny.
If you were as good as you think you are wouldn’t you be at a bigger market than little old Chattanooga?
Thought so. I dare you to answer that one.
A Reader –
Glad to. In truth we’ve had offers to interview in other spots, including one at a little place in Connecticut that you may have heard of.
Truth of the matter is, I have not pursued any other jobs primarily because my family really likes little old Chattanooga. (And having grown up right outside of the ATL, there’s something to be said about being bigger than a burg and smaller than super-city.)
And let’s be really clear: I do not act like anything. I am great and super smart and so funny. (Kidding. Mostly.)
That said, thanks as always for reading and listening, and that leads us to a a full mailbox of less-than-pleased customers.
Enjoy.
“After reading your article in today’s paper, I must admit, you have added insult to injury for the person you wrote about. It never ceases to surprise me how people in Chattanooga get a kick out making fun of others at that person’s expense. You could have written about 100 other things today; for example, the person who shot the victims in SunTrust Bank yesterday in Florida and what a horrible situation that was; the UT Men’s basketball team being Number 1 in the nation, after all, you call yourself a sports writer on other days. No, you chose to belittle someone who obviously felt very uncomfortable in an uncomfortable situation. Typical Chattanooga behavior from a typical Chattanooga.”
Not there yet
“How do you have a job? Serious question. Does anyone read your stuff and actually like it – other than your family I suppose?”
Almost home
“Who cares what a white, trust-fund, spoiled (bleep)hole has to say about Martin Luther King? Shut up and stay in your lane.”
Closer…
“I hate you.”
Enjoy the weekend friends.