Gymnastics analyst Tim Daggett is hopeful of change after abuse case.
Gymnastics analyst says he’s ‘beaten myself up’ for missing warning signs
Super Bowl Sunday looms in just over a week, but we begin today with the words of Tim Daggett, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist who has spent more than two decades as NBC Sports’ lead analyst for gymnastics.
Daggett’s words on Twitter bear repeating in the wake of this week’s sentencing hearings for former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.
He said the testimony of more than 150 survivors at Nassar’s hearing “has opened our eyes to the desperate need for critical changes to be made in our sport. We can never forget the evil that has occurred in our community, and we must never rest to eradicate it from every corner.
“I like others, wonder how I could have not seen the warning signs? I’ve been at nearly every national and international event for the past 25 years … believe me, I’ve beaten myself up for not seeing it.
“I was speaking with my daughter about that and she said to me, ‘Remember Dad, the devil is always a gentleman.’ And though it is a terrible thought, it is often very true. We must always be vigilant, watching and listening at every turn if we are to truly root out that kind of evil.”
Daggett went on to say that he is hopeful of change under new leadership at USA Gymnastics and that “one day we will once again feel proud of our sport.” Of those who testified at the sentencing hearing, he said, “Your bravery has spared countless women and girls from exploitation.”
We presumably will hear next from Daggett when NBC Sports televises the American Cup international event March 3 from Chicago. In another example of what the Nassar case has meant to gymnastics, the event was known as the AT&T American Cup, but AT&T on Wednesday suspended its sponsorship of the federation.
“The terrible abuse suffered by these young women is unconscionable,” the company said in a statement. “We remain committed to helping these young athletes pursue their dreams and hope to find other ways to do so. We stand ready to step back in when USAG has fully addressed these tragic events.”
ESPN’s ‘Two Bills’ doubly fascinating
If you’ve ever doubted that Bill Belichick possesses a spooky mastery over people, places and things, tune in next Thursday night to the ESPN/NFL Films documentary “The Two Bills” to see how he can melt machinery with a single glance.
I will spare you the details, but it’s one of many riveting moments in the 77-minute film that airs at 8 p.m. Thursday on ESPN, documenting the 40-year relationship between Belichick and his former mentor and opponent, Bill Parcells.
My favorite line of the film, directed by NFL Films’ Ken Rodgers, is, “Sensitivity wasn’t really in play very much. That led to our success with the Giants.” I forget which Bill said it, but it doesn’t matter.
The highlight of the film is an interview with the two sitting side by side at a table in the MetLife Stadium locker room. They engage in a relatively frank and open discussion of their relationship and their “period of silence” during the early 2000s, when Parcells was coaching the Cowboys.
Both provide entertaining moments of their time as teammates and opponents, bolstered by testimony from such longtime associates as Lawrence Taylor, Curtis Martin, Harry Carson, Pepper Johnson, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Scott Pioli, Al Groh and Robert Kraft.
Woods watch
Presuming he makes it to the weekend, expect considerable focus on Tiger Woods as CBS begins its PGA Tour coverage Saturday and Sunday with the Farmers Insurance Open from Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif.
“He’s the most compelling story in golf, maybe in sport,” said analyst Nick Faldo. “… Something about golf, it keeps dangling the carrot in front of you. You might have a good week, and then you have to do it again. It’s like running a marathon every week.”
Jim Nantz, meanwhile, is setting the bar low for Woods. “I expect him to make the cut,” Nantz said. “That would be a pretty good start.”
Four DVRs, no waiting
Former Astros pitcher and broadcaster Jim Deshaies will return to Houston on Feb. 8 for the Harris County Houston Sports Authority’s Houston Sports Awards at the Hilton Americas. Deshaies will join former on-air partner Bill Brown among a dozen current and former broadcasters who will share host duties. … Matt Hasselbeck will get a thinly disguised audition alongside Sean McDonough for the “Monday Night Football” analyst’s chair vacated by Jon Gruden during the ESPN/ABC Sunday afternoon simulcast of the Pro Bowl. … ABC had 4.46 million viewers for its Warriors-Rockets telecast last Saturday, up 24 percent from the 2017 season opener. The game had an 8.1 Nielsen rating in Houston on KTRK (Channel 13) and rated 13.6 in San FranciscoOakland-San Jose. … CBS had 44.1 million viewers for its Patriots-Jaguars AFC championship game while Fox had 42.3 million for Eagles-Vikings. The 86.4 million total was down from 94.3 million last year and 91.9 million in 2015.