Speeches, boycotts and sports
The intersection of sports and society is complicated stuff. There are no universal "Right turns on red" or "Car to the right has the right of way at a stop sign."
It's complex for a lot of reasons, but primarily because we as humans are complex beings dealing with complex situations.
In the days after the shooting of another black man by police in Wisconsin, familiar faces in sports have addressed the issue. Among the most poignant was Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
We're way past the stick to sports point. Yes, we normally focus on sports around here - or at least we did before the pandemic changed everything - and there are some of you who would prefer that I only talked sports.
But beyond our sporting allegiances and interests, the only thing that truly binds us is the same race we all participate in - the human race.
And it's impossible not to hear Rivers' passion and pain about loving a country that too often does not appear to love him back.
It's impossible not to ponder the next step for the Detroit Lions, who as a team - coaches and players - decided to replace Tuesday's practice with a four-hour team gathering to share stories and talk about social justice.
It's impossible not to wonder what the fallout could be if the Toronto Raptors boycott Game 1 of their playoff series against the Celtics.
Part of the Lions message that was addressed to their white teammates and coaches was to start by listening.
Well, I am listening, and I am heartbroken listening to Doc's words.
But I also, when asked for my view, not only would want action, but would seek for true police changes. As Rivers said, you don't have to be Black to be outraged by a video of a man shot several times in the back in front of his kids.
We need to find change that would benefit all of us. Transparency. Charges against cops who break laws. Review measures with teeth and outcomes.
But I also, when asked for my view, would offer that violence and looting at protests are counterproductive. I would offer that the missions of the "Black Lives Matter" organization are far beyond true police change and more pointed at defunding if not abolishing police departments.
But right now I'm listening. I have been listening and will continue to with hope for better and a willingness to help find the path to justice.
For everyone.
Day 2 of the RNC
OK, well, welcome to "the Wednesday, not exactly sticking to sports are you" 5-at-10. And when the captain turns on the 'Buckle your seat belt' light please comply.
Let's stay with our spaghetti Western review of the RNC, Day 2. There was a lot to cover, and I have been Tweeting during these proceedings (you can follow along at @jgreesontfp if you are interested) and plan to again tonight.
The good: I wrote earlier this week about the questionable decisions to hand the mic to everyone named Trump this side of Trump card, but adding Daniel Cameron to the role was brilliant. The young Attorney General of Kentucky was aces and at 32 looks like a prominent young fixture of the future of the GOP. (Or at least the GOP that I grew up with that is not this ReTrumplican movement we are experiencing. The human voice of the lobster fisherman and the dairy farmer scored points and made a lot of sense that resonates in the real lives of people in the real daily grind of making a living. The diversity and youth of the future of the Republican party gives me great hope, friends.
(Side note: There is a clear trend starting here, and that's Trump is campaigning against two parties in this election. He is clearly going to continue the 'Sleepy Joe' schtick and we all know that. But watch for Trump and his hench-folks to ratchet-up its war against the mainstream media too. That way he slings shots at his foes and can discredit the retorts/reports against him. Cue Nick Sandmann and the message he shared last night.)
The bad: We're running short on time, but there was a mixed bag last night, which can be said about almost every night of all these virtual conventions, which truly miss the crowd and the interactions and the energy. The first bad was Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who railed on Biden and his questionable actions/influence with his son abroad. Uh, Pam - who is 54 years old, and I would have guessed much closer to half that age - it's kind of tough to hit your opponent on nepotism with the next three speakers all being family members of Trump. Nepotism is the one talking point both candidates bring unquestionably sketchy résumés. Speaking of the Trump tots, that his daughter Tiffany was the only speaker that spent more than a sentence on the Corona seems at best short-sighted and more likely an attempt to dodge the topic in general. Leadership is not pretending problems are not there or mistakes were not made; leadership is addressing them - even late - and moving toward a solution.
The ugly: Lots of people are talking about the Secretary of State making an appearance form China. Whatever. Lots of people are questioning the pardon Trump issued during the convention and the citizen ceremony. OK. My biggest takeaway was two-fold: The extreme meanness around this campaign - and yes, both sides are slinging flaming spears in all directions - is sad. And scary. I thought the First Lady did fine, but the way several were mocking her was sad to see. And to take the cake, Stephen Colbert - I know he's a comedian and every joke is not going to land - was unbearably mean in his satire on his show Tuesday. Hey I have think skin and I know a lot of folks mock the President, but wow. I know this, if Colbert mocked anyone other than affluent white people - the way they look and the way they talk - he would have been the talk of the morning. Seriously. I'll never watch his show again. That's how just mean it was. Again, seriously.
Saban speaks
One of the strengths the Greeson clan has always embraced was recognizing people's strength and leaning on them in those areas. Sure it sounds simple, but apparently it's way more difficult than most think. (See: Masks, wear them.)
Is there a bigger expert in terms of the professional world than Nick Saban on college football? We'll wait.
"This is really about providing that opportunity for the players," Saban said about the questions about the motivation of trying to play a college season amid the pandemic.
"Now, is it more important than public safety? No, I don't think so. Is there a way that we can do that and keep people safe? I think a lot of people are trying to do that, and if we can do that, I think we can play. If we can't do that, then I think someone will make the decision that maybe we shouldn't play. But I don't think that we should not try."
Any questions?
No one in the leadership roles of the SEC, the ACC or the Big 12 has come out with the "We are 100 percent playing, Corona be danged." Explore every avenue, as Saban referenced, and do it for the players.
Will we enjoy watching it? Absolutely. Because last Friday night at Weathers Field at Red Bank Stadium was the most normal I've felt since early March.
Again, this is not about me. Or you. Or JTC and the Gators or Jules with the Dogs to Chas with the Cats or Intern Scott and the Vols or Spy and the Jackets/Eagles or Fat Vader and the Bengal Tigers or Doc and the Dores or any of the other folks and their allegiances.
This is not about the businesses in Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Starkville and everywhere else in between. They are still going to get crushed financially if we are fortune enough to have fractionally filled stadiums.
This is not about the schools, who were still going to cash TV checks and are wondering how to make the holes of having only 20 or 25 percent of their gamely customers buying tickets and concessions and everything else, never mind going from seven or eight home Saturdays to five.
Sure, everyone one of those groups above will benefit - as will guys like Saban and Kirby and Dabo and Lincoln who get to dominate the platform and lead the narrative - because of the efforts and if the action comes to fruition.
But seeing those kids play Friday night - and talking to Chris Brown and Justin Barnes - the feelings I have shared in this space about truly believing in making every effort to play were strengthened 10 fold. And, like Saban said, it was because of the players.
Sure, Saban's speech Tuesday came amid the news that in the last week there were 560 new cases as the Tuscaloosa mayor closed bars and said the fall was being threatened. (The number includes three campuses in the Alabama system - 531 were at T-town - and does not include how many were tested or the positivity rate.)
The mayor's right - the threat is real and it's hard to see 530-or-so new cases every week will make it tough for Saban and the players to get on the field.
But, like the best college football coach ever said Tuesday, we owe it to the players to do everything we can to try.
This and that
- Speaking of college football experts, here is TFP college football sage David Paschall on UT planning to have 25 percent capacity this fall and Georgia's OC's hopes and views on the dudes in his QB room.
- Speaking of college football, schools are suspending students over protocol violations. Among them is THE Ohio State, which has dropped interim suspensions on 228 students for violating rules against large gatherings.
- Speaking of Saban, who can occasionally slip into some big-time coach-speak, especially when the questions are lazy, how's this for an old-school coach-speak cliché from Bruce Arians on Tom Brady? "He's like a second-coach on the field." Man, the "coach on the field" is right there among the most tired of them all.
- Lucas Giolito of the White Sox threw a no-hitter Tuesday. He struck out 13. While we are here, it's the best time to link to Mike Leach's amazing Tweet related to a no-hitter. Leach tweeted a screenshot of the details of Ray Caldwell, an Indians pitcher from 1919-1921 who pitched a no-hitter 17 days after making his major league debut. And, oh yeah, in that major league debut, Caldwell was struck by lightning in the ninth inning. He had to be revived - on the mound - and got up and finished the game. Big question is who gets the save?
Today's questions
Which way Wednesday starts this way:
Which way would the world react if LeBron boycotts a playoff game?
Which way do you prefer: Virtual school for Hamilton County, two days a week or back every day?
Which are you more excited for - Ronald Acuña Jr. returning to Ian Anderson making his debut - tonight as the Braves face the Yankees?
As for today, Mother Teresa and James Harden have birthdays today.
Also, Macaulay Culkin is 40 today. Yes, 40.
Rushmore of movies with a child as the lead actor, because Home Alone is going to be there.
Go and stay safe. And listen.