So let's handle our business.
Side note: Have you heard the Paul Thigpen Chevrolet commercials on the radio? If not, well you clearly do not listen to country music. In history parlance, Paul is the U.S. troops; country music stations are the beaches of Normandy. And he has found a nice little catchphrase at the end of his jingle, which is forever important. Well done Paul (and Paul's marketing team). That jingle - which is what led me on this side note centers on coming to his lot and "let's do some BIZ, everybody else is."
With that, we'll lead into our first question
From Naive Era
Jay,
I am aligned fairly closely with your political viewpoints, not lockstep. but in the same lane. Here is what Chris Cuomo did for his brother, as far as I know.
This is from NPR which I know is fairly left of center.
"A trove of documents, emails and text messages released by the New York Attorney General's office, showed that the anchor used his contacts to dig into the governor's accusers. They also show he consulted with various sources to help the elder Cuomo manage the sexual misconduct scandal that led to his resignation in August."
If my brother was in a jam, and I had contacts that could help, I would use them. I am not a news person, so what is the problem? I realize the sharks are circling Chris, and I generally don't like his viewpoints, but?
Thanks.
Big Ern -
Not naive at all, and a fair question. One good enough for the bag if you are OK with that.
There are certain professional rules you can't cross, and it plays more into ethics than legality.
A Las Vegas Raider player can't bet on the NFL, even if it is completely legal in his city for example.
A newsperson can't manipulate the story or change the narrative for personal or family reasons.
I could give some political ones but they are all sadly ignored these days at this point anyway.
And while breaching the trust with your viewers and readers-- for you as a newsperson, for the network as a whole, and for forever fodder to your haters-- is bad enough, victim-bashing and shaming to protect your brother's sins and crimes is even worse.
Take the above blurb about Paul Thigpen Chevy in Lafayette. That was a personal observation, which is what the 5-at-10 is. A collection of my observations and the barrage of comments from you big-brained folks.
Now if I had recently gotten a good deal from Paul Thigpen Chevy, then that changes that voice of praise and extra publicity, right?
And that's just under-the-table business dealings. When you are bashing and/or making up stuff about people who claim to be victims of sexual assault, well, that is pretty immoral regardless of your profession.
And now, picture this conversation, and how very much Chris Cuomo knew what he was doing was wrong: If every single detail Cuomo leaked to other outlets were 100% ironclad, then why leak them to competitors? It's either because he knows the details are shady or he was trying to hide it from his employer.
Hmmmmmmmm.
And this is way worse on the outrage scale than anything he said or any position - left or far left - he has taken.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving Ernie.
From Mike B
Jay,
Do you think it would be a good idea to do away with the December signing period and just sign in February (or institute a much earlier signing date before the season starts)? It seems much of the chaos, coaching carousel is rooted in getting a guy in place before the signing date. Never mind, there are still important games to be played.
Mike B -
That's a great point that has been under-discussed in terms of the timing of these hires.
There used to be a form of a gentleman's agreement that the hiring news would not leak if at all possible until after the regular season ended.
Now with the timing of the December signing day, moving quickly is not only the new norm, it's smart. Heck, it's downright needed.
LSU could not whip completely on this December signing period without being able to say who would or would not be the next Tigers boss. And yes, moves by Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly are doubly painful for OU and ND considering the timing of the moment.
I think there is too much advantage to an early signing period not to go back to all of it being in February, even though February is now the after-Christmas shopping deals on ornaments and lights at the Wal-Mart compared to December.
I always felt that an August signing day for football - heck, most of the recruiting goes on during their junior years and these kids are committed for months in a lot of cases - made more sense with the calendar.
And selfishly, if the date was at the end of summer rather than the week before Christmas, it would also return some value to the first Wednesday in February signing day.
Which I would appreciate, because in truth the two biggest sports things I used to be gonzo nuts over that now I barely even follow are NASCAR and recruiting. Who knew right?
From Bicycle Bob
Hi Jay,
Rob Manfred says that the MLBPA's offer is bad for small markets. Sounds hypocritical. If Manfred and the owners really cared about smaller markets, wouldn't they implement a real salary cap, rather than the 'suggested' cap they have now?
BB -
It's a system built on hypocrisy to be honest, with each side claiming poor and each side making millions.
The owners are billionaires and have a full-proof money-making system. (One they enhanced too by strong-arming the minor league systems and taking a big chuck of that pie too.)
They are just unhappy that their money-making system does not generate NFL numbers which means they have regional TV deals rather than national ones. The length of season plays into that too of course.
So the owners cry poverty.
The players try to be the victim here - and the improvement and enhancements for minor league players should count in the owners favor in some regards, even if they were forced to do it by threats of legal action - but consider this:
In the year after the 1994 strike, the top baseball salary was a smidge more than the $9.2 million Cecil Fielder was making. Last year, Prince Fielder did not play and was paid $24 million in guaranteed money from previous contracts.
The average - average people - MLB salary in 2021 was $4.17 million.
And the hypocrisy that number generates is crazy.
Players will decry that an average of $4.17 million was down from the $4.43 average of 2020 and down from the all-time high of $4.45 million in 2017.
Of course owners will note that the average is up from $2.31 million in 2004 and has increased more than 33% in the last decade from $3.1 million in 2011.
All of this is about money, but they all miss the overall fact that of they make the game better (and faster), that will generate more money for all involved.
And labor strife as billionaires squabble with millionaires as the rest of the country deals with skyrocketing inflation is a black eye for all involved in my mind.
And no, the owners do not care about small-market teams, just like the players do not care about small-market teams. Care - unless you are discussing the care of coin - like what William Munny told Little Bill at Greely's about 'deserve' "got nothing to do with it."
From Peter W.
Hey Jay, hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving. Did you happen to see the Twitter question that was trending about who is funnier, Chevy Chase or Will Ferrell?
I would love to know your answer to that one and why?
Thanks, and thanks for all your great columns.
Peter -
Thanks for the kind words.
There are some questions that have no answer or have such a personal answer that it's uniquely individual and individually unique.
Meaning of life. Best albums. Greatest novel. Chevy or Will Ferrell.
You get the idea. I think Ferrell is funnier as a dude.
I think Chevy may have the single greatest comedy movie Rushmore - yes, with Eddie Murphy included - with "Caddyshack," "Vacation," "Fletch" and "Christmas Vacation" ever constructed. And that's leaving "Three Amigos!" and "Seems Like Old Times" off.
But Ferrell's skill set - and the depth of his catalog - is a bit better. Ferrell plays funny people. Chevy Chase plays Chevy Chase, and that's amazingly funny.
Not sure if I answered it, but man, those two dudes and Eddie are likely my three favorite comedy actors ever.
Let's handle our business - or Biz, as Paul would say - gang.
First, there's a bushel and a peck of prep football from Thursday's state title games, including McCallie's impressive three-peat. Check it out. Here's Paschall's prose on some surprising names that have helped the Georgia and Alabama march to Atlanta.
As for the Rushmores, let's go.
Rushmore of QB brothers. Yeah, the Mannings are there. Then probably the Hasselbecks, and I was unaware but Mattt is 26th all-time in passing yards. Who knew? The Carrs and then the Palmers. Extra points awarded to both being NFL dudes, and Carson's career far outpaced anything either of the Detmers or any of the Clausens did.
Rushmore of Richard Pryor movies. Before we get to the Rushmore, how disappointing was "Harlem Knights" considering the cast? Oh my. "Stir Crazy" is an easy pick. I'll add "Silver Streak" with the under-appreciated "The Toy" (want to talk about a movie that could never EVER be made today) and the always underestimated "Bingo Long and the Traveling All-Stars."
Rushmore of albums, and this one is next-to-impossible and decidedly personal, so feel free to disagree. "Red Headed Stranger" by Willie. "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd and "Revolver" by The Beatles. (And that's with monster apologies to a slew of personal favorites including "Joshua Tree," "Purple Rain," "Nevermind," "Appetite for Destruction," "Chronic" and too many to name. And know this, Jules was right about Adele's "25" and two more that are out currently that will age like fine wine are Taylor Swift's new one and "Dangerous" by Morgan Wallen.)
Rushmore of Chad. Chad (the country), Chad (the hanging edge of a partially completed ballot), Chadwick Boseman (better role, Jackie Robinson or Black Panther?), Chad Ochocinco.
Have a great weekend gang.
Jay Greeson