JonCJG
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POSTED 12:18 p.m. EST; UPDATED 12:37 p.m. EST, November 2, 2006
SALISBURY SUSPENSION WAS KEPT HUSH-HUSH IN BRISTOL
As we continue to hear more details about the recent suspension of ESPN football analyst Sean Salisbury, two things are becoming more and more clear to us: (1) it definitely happened; and (2) not many people knew that it had occurred, even within the building in Bristol.
His absence was, as we understand it, abrupt and unexplained. Chris McClain of WFNZ in Charlotte told us on the air on Wednesday that Salisbury simply wasn't available for a recent weekly spot that he does on the "Mac Attack" show every Friday, and there was no explanation for his absence. Review of the archives of The Dan Patrick Show reveals a couple of Tuesdays in October in which Salisbury did not appear for what otherwise appears to be a weekly visit.
Is it a big deal? Given that hardly anyone noticed that Sean was gone, it's not. And that tells us that these second-tier NFL talking head positions are extremely fungible, and that the networks can replace a guy without missing a beat.
What amazes us about the issue is the secrecy that has applied to Salisbury, especially at a time when the removal of ESPNU's Brian Kinchen for uttering the words "kinda" and "gay" consecutively resulted in a proclamation on SportsCenter that he'd be yanked from the airwaves.
So why was Salisbury suspended? We've heard the reason from multiple sources, but we're deciding for now to keep it to ourselves. Although truth is a defense in any defamation claim, it likely would be hard for us to gather the evidence that we'd need, if Sean were to attempt to raid the PFT coffers.
With that said, we found the reason to be pretty darn funny, and we don't think that it merited the punishment he received. In fact, we were so surprised when we heard the news that we wish we'd taken a picture of our reaction with our Sprint phone, so that we then could show it to some of our friends.
CINCY RADIO HOST FIRED AFTER SPAT WITH HOUSHMANDZADEH
A guy who didn't fare as well as ESPN's Sean Salibury in connection with a recent employment matter was Andy Furman of WLW radio in Cincinnati.
Furman was fired on Wednesday for calling Bengals receiver T.J.
Houshmandzadeh a "racist" on October 6.
Houshmandzadeh a "racist" on October 6.
The problem arose when Houshmandzadeh skipped out on a paid appearance on October 5. Furman had some choices words for T.J. on the air, and then Furman claimed the next day that Houshmandzadeh had called him a "punk-*** white boy."
Houshmandzadeh admits to a verbal exchange with Furman, but denies calling Furman a "punk-*** white boy."
"I told him, 'Andy Furman, you can [f--k] yourself.' That's the bottom line. And he twisted it into all whatever he wants to," Houshmandzadeh said after the incident.
Furman, in our view, should have known that nothing good will come out of sharing publicly the inflammatory details of a private conversation. Even if Houshmandzadeh said it (and as a punk-*** white boy, I've got to say I'm not really offended if he did), it's too easy to deny it. With no recording of the discussion and no witnesses, Furman took a huge risk.
And it blew up in his face.
Stupid-*** white boy.
POSTED 10:03 a.m. EST; UPDATED 11:05 a.m. EST, November 2, 2006
"DEFINING MOMENT" FOR PACMAN WAS YEARS AGO
Titans coach Jeff Fisher calls the one-game suspension of cornerback Pacman Jones the "defining moment" in his football career.
Though Fisher intends (we think) to convey that this is Jones' final opportunity to decide whether he will conform his future actions to the expectations of the team, the NFL, and the penal code, we hardly think that it is the "defining moment" for Jones.
Though Fisher intends (we think) to convey that this is Jones' final opportunity to decide whether he will conform his future actions to the expectations of the team, the NFL, and the penal code, we hardly think that it is the "defining moment" for Jones.
Pacman's defining moment, in our opinion, occurred when he saw fit to hit a guy in the face with a pool cue in a Morgantown bar during his time with the West Virginia Mountaineers. It was in that instant, in our view, that Jones demonstrated that he is incapable of controlling his urges and impulses, regardless of the potential consequences.
And he has adhered to that pattern since that evening in 2002.
So Jones already has been defined. The question going forward is whether he will be able to keep the tiger in the cage until he chooses to retire from the NFL.
So Jones already has been defined. The question going forward is whether he will be able to keep the tiger in the cage until he chooses to retire from the NFL.
Our guess? It won't happen. He won't change. He is what he is, and he won't be the first guy to get kicked off of a football team because he was accused of doing things he is convinced that he didn't do.
What if the Titans dump him? There are 31 other NFL teams. Up to 30 can say "no"; all it takes is one to say "yes".
And surely someone out there will take a chance on the highly-talented Jones. Quality cornerbacks are in short supply, and every football coach thinks that he's the guy who can turn a turd into a tulip.
Write it down. Jones will not change. He might want to. He'll likely try to. But the spots are on this leopard, and no amount of soap will wash them off.
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