Sports on TV
Yes, we miss it. It's clear.
In fact, I'm of the belief that, not unlike 9/11, we need sports to return more for the sense of normalcy than the entertainment value. (Here's today's A2 column on that very thing.)
Well, there are actually a couple of sports-related TV options today, and a bit of promise for sports viewing in the immediate future.
First, the announcement that the 10-part documentary "The Last Dance" on the final Bulls championship team with MJ and the crew will be moved from June to mid-April. Here's more from excellent TV writer Richard Deitsch of The Athletic. The series will start Sunday, April 19, and air two episodes each Sunday through May 17.
(Side dose of bad news with that, though, is it seems pretty clear that everyone at ESPN - which has the Sunday baseball contract, remember - believes that there will be no live sports at least through May 17.)
As for the two options for tonight, well, we spoke briefly Monday about "The Scheme" about the FBI investigating college basketball recruiting. (Here's another look at TFP college sports guru David Paschall's excellent preview with the director of that HBO documentary.)
But there's another option, too, as ESPN is offering one of the best classic rewind games I can possibly think of right now.
ESPN is going to show the Braves-Mets in the first game in NYC after the 9/11 back in 2001, and man, was that game emotional. And special. And moving.
And needed.
In fact, Chipper Jones was on "Golic or Wingo" on Tuesday morning and he called it the most memorable game of his career, and that dude played in a few World Series games, too.
"It was one of the coolest losses I ever had in my entire career," Jones said.
It was so much more than that for all of us. (And sorry for the spoiler alert, but I believe we all won that night no matter who you pull for.)
"We were scared to death, to be honest with you," the Braves Hall of Famer said Tuesday morning on ESPN. "We played the night before in Philadelphia and the bus ride to New York seeing the haze over the city and Ground Zero. It was really an eerie sight to see."
He talked about the security - "Snipers on the roof - it felt like a war zone," Jones said - at Shea Stadium, a place that Jones loved so much that he named his son Shea. But that night I got chills thinking about the connection we all shared on that day.
Jones famously often was serenaded with the "LAR-RY, LAR-RY" by the Mets fans, and not in a sign of appreciation.
"I remember everyone stopped to sign autographs and how appreciative all the fans were," Chipper told "Golic or Wingo." "They all said, 'You're not Larry tonight, you're Chipper.'
Extra year, extra cost
The NCAA voted to give spring sports athletes an extra year of eligibility.
Winter sports athletes - like men's and women's basketball players - who were denied the chance to finish their seasons will not get an extra season of eligibility, however.
But in typical NCAA fashion the decision is half-baked and not without holes.
There was no discussion of extra scholarship money to the schools, many of which are going to be facing shortfalls because of the impact of the corona and the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournament, which forced the NCAA to drastically cut back how much it sends each school.
Committee chairwoman Grace Calhoun, the AD at Penn, offered this, via the AP story: "We had long discussions around the fact that this does not avoid substantially difficult circumstances, but what we felt was important was to localize that decision-making and to ensure that we were as permissive as possible. At the end of the day, each institution is going to have to figure out what it can do."
Kind of feels like the NCAA is washing its hands of this decision, no? Kind of a "Hey, the student-athletes can come back, but the schools are going to have to come up with the funds to support it."
There will be expanded rosters, and scholarship limits will be lifted, but little clarity.
A prime example is baseball. With the MLB draft being cut to five rounds this year, how many more draft-eligible baseball players will be looking for spots on college rosters?
And will baseball teams who can afford to offer more than 12 scholarships be allowed to, or are they going to have split those 12 more finely? And if they get more scholarships is that a Title IX issue?
So yeah, we got a decision. Now we need some clarity.
In the kitchen
As for our weekly Tuesday cooking discussion, well, this was not the best thing we've ever made, but it feels like a timely share.
First, this caveat: In these shut-in times, we're simply trying to make do with what we have in the pantry. More on this in a moment.
Another quick raid-the-pantry recipe we tried for the first time over the weekend was something we'll call Buffalo Cheeeburger Pasta.
We thawed and cooked some ground buffalo meat to put on top of a homemade pizza we did with the kids on Saturday night. Well, we had more than a little left over, and in these days of corona, we're not wasting anything at the 5-at-10 compound.
Boil your noodle of choice - or noodle you have available - until tender. (Spy, the instructions are normally on the box, but if you need, it's about 12 minutes after getting the water to a boil and putting the pasta in. Salt the boiling water to add flavor to your noodles.)
We used penne pasta. Shells would work, too, but again, availability - and limited store trips - are in play here.
We brought a 15-ounce can of tomato sauce to a boil. We added a tablespoon or two of Italian seasoning. (Some easy subs depending on your cabinet and your palette could be a pinch of basil, a little oregano and even some thyme. Again, try to make do with what you have.) And stir in 3/4 cup of sour cream to the sauce.
We add the noodles and beef to the tomato sauce and stir. Add a cup of shredded cheese (we used cheddar because it was what we had, but you can be creative here) and
Viola.
If you got any requests or want to share some of your pantry clean-out success stories, you can comment below or email me at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.
This and that
- Holy BLEEP. This Tweet from Rex Chapman with a fast-forwarded video of a doctor suiting up to fight COVID-19 is simply a must-see.
- And again. Holy BLEEP (and again from Rex Chapman) as we learn Jack Black is on TikTok - and likely is out of breath after this little dance routine.
- Speaking of Drew Brees, he took a walk with the family over the weekend and took a photo of a baby rattlesnake and posted it on social media. Sean Payton's response was a) hilarious and b) typical coach-reaction. "Let's find a different route. OK?" the Saints coach tweeted. Perfect.
- The NBA looks to be trying to follow NASCAR's lead. And yes, that someone is following a "popular" example from NASCAR is news to itself. The NBA is going to get current players to square off in an NBA 2K video game tournament starting Friday. Here's betting that gets a major spot on ESPN - or even ABC - depending on the holes in the broadcast schedule.
- Billy the Kid rides again. Chas' least favorite former UK coach Billy Gillispie has parlayed his coaching skills (or lack thereof) all the way from Lexington to Tarleton State.
- Looks like NBC and CBS will land the extra wildcard NFL playoff games next January, provided there is an NFL season later this year. From Awful Announcing comes this story, and with ESPN failing to land another playoff game, you have to wonder how much the failed attempts to add Peyton Manning - or even the report ESPN has already approached Drew Brees for his plans after his playing career is done - played into those decisions. (Never mind the lack of funds at Disney's disposal considering that reports have the potential loss/almost assured shortening of the NBA season and playoffs will cost ABC/ESPN around $700 million.)
- Another excellent story in the TFP sports section from all-around ace David Paschall. Here's a look at some of the creative things baseball may need to explore considering the ramifications of the delay because of the corona. Jayson Stark, who joined us on Press Row late last week, is among the best in the business of covering baseball nationally.
Today's questions
True or false Tuesday. True. That one is always so easy.
True or false, you would watch NBA, MLB or NFL stars play each other - and talk smack - in sports-specific video games.
True or false, you know which state Tarleton State is in.
True or false, this March has been the longest month in the history of the world.
As for today, March 31, let's review.
The Eiffel Tower opened on this day in 1889.
Gordie Howe would have been 92 today.
Isaac Newton died on this day in 1727. Jesse Owens died on this day 40 years ago today.
Christopher Walken is 77 today.
Rushmore of cameo characters in SNL history - non-cast member in all-time classic skits - has to include Walken's "More cowbell" guy, right?