Norvell is letting them talk
Running off at the typewriter. … I don’t know how successful new football coach Mike Norvell will be at FSU, but I do know this:
Most every member of the state media is secretly rooting for him.
At a time when many paranoid college coaches have used the COVID-19 crisis as a convenient way to cut off public access to themselves and their players, Norvell has made FSU the most media-friendly program in the state. Even when some FSU players have publicly taken to social media and criticized Norvell and the school administration for concerns involving social justice and COVID-19 testing, Norvell has signed off on those same players
being interviewed by the media to discuss those issues. At last count, Norvell had made 47 different players available a total of 59 times for Zoom interviews. He’s also made every assistant coach available for interviews and has made himself available on an almost daily basis. This guy holds more press conferences than Kayleigh McEnany.
Meanwhile, right here in Orlando, UCF is the only program in the state that hasn’t made a single player available for interviews during the weeks leading up to the season.
Tsk, tsk.
I believe Norvell is doing it the right way and teaching his players the right lessons. He has said that he believes communicating is a life skill that players can develop during their time in college. Additionally, he believes if the media has more access then they can understand what’s going on and develop informed reporting/ opinions.
Not only that, but during times like these when few fans and boosters are able to actually attend games, college programs should be engaging their fans bases and keeping them interested through TV, newspaper and radio interviews.
With apologies to Steve Spurrier, FSU now stands for Free Speech University.
Short stuff: Speaking of media issues, “booooo” to the Orlando Magic for laying off their entire radio broadcasting team of Dennis Neumann, Richie Adubato and Joey Colon. Yes, I admit to being somewhat of a dinosaur, but I love listening to Magic games on the radio. Neumann is one of the best play-by-play broadcasters in the business and Adubato, the colorful, storytelling former Magic coach, always provided insight and entertainment. Colon did the Magic’s Spanish-speaking broadcasts and made the team viable to Central Florida’s thriving Latino community. As far as I can tell, the Magic are the first NBA team to eliminate their radio crew during the COVID-19 crisis, but I fear they won’t be the last. It’s probably only a matter of time before the Magic’s cost-cutting plan of simulcasting their local TV broadcasts onto the radio will become a pro sports trend. It’s no secret that in this YouTube era when every game is available on TV and video streaming that fewer and fewer people are actually listening on the radio. Even so, as somebody wise once said, “I love listening to games on the radio because you can’t see what’s going on and so you have to imagine it.” …
Mikey likes: FSU over Georgia Tech by 14, Saints over Tompa Bay
Gronkaneers by 5, Patriots over Dolphins by 3, Colts over Jaguars by 14, Football season over COVID-19 by social distancing, wearing face masks and flattening the curve. We can do this! … Why did Florida Gators legend Billy Donovan choose not to re-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder? Because he was not on-board with GM Sam Presti’s planned rebuilding “process.” Essentially, Billy D. told the Thunder, “Tanks, but no tanks.” … ESPN hot-take artist Stephen A. Smith said the Brooklyn Nets recent hiring of Steve Nash, who has no NBA coaching experience, is an example of “white privilege.” Yes, there is still white privilege in this world, but this certainly isn’t an example of it when many black head coaches have also been hired without any coaching experience (see Doc Rivers, Jason Kidd, Derek Fisher, Magic Johnson, etc.) Nine of the last 16 people who have become NBA coaches despite not having any prior experience are Black. But, hey, never let facts get in the way of a hot take. By the way, isn’t there enough racism in the world without Stephen A. trying to create it where it doesn’t exist?. …
In honor of the late, great Arnold Palmer’s birthday on Friday, three of my favorite Arnie quotes: (1) “The road to success is always under construction.” (2) “What other people may find in poetry, I find in the flight of a good drive.” (3) “I have a tip that will take five strokes off anyone’s golf game. It’s called an eraser.” … Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo was tossed from the ballpark for yelling at umpires from a luxury suite in Atlanta earlier this week. Said longtime ump Joe West: “Enough is enough. I wouldn’t take that from a player. I wouldn’t take that from a manager. If it was Donald Trump, I’d eject him, too. But I’d still vote for him.” … In case you were wondering who won the power struggle between Tom Coughlin and Jalen Ramsey, the results are now officially in. Coughlin got fired months ago by the Jaguars, while Ramsey forced his way out of Jacksonville and just signed a five-year, $105 million extension with the L.A. Rams — the largest contract ever signed by a cornerback. Final score: Ramsey 105 (million), Coughlin 0. … Did you see where the Braves scored 29 runs against the Marlins the other night? We haven’t seen Atlanta on fire like that since General Sherman marched through town. …
Louisiana Tech had cancel Saturday’s season opener against Baylor because of a recent increase in positive COVID-19 tests. Tech had just one positive test in the three weeks prior to when its players were sent home as Hurricane Laura moved through Louisiana recently. But when they got back to campus, there was a rash of positive tests. This, ladies and gentlemen, is “Exhibit A” as to why college athletes are actually safer from COVID-19 in the controlled environment of a football program than out on their own. … In today’s socially conscious times, EA Sports announced earlier this week that it has included Colin Kaepernick in its latest Madden video game for the first time in four seasons. Not only that, but EA has rated Kap as the No. 1 free agent QB on the market and an elite top 15 QB with a rating higher than players such as Cam Newton and Kyler Murray. Ridiculous rating, but brilliant marketing. … A moment of silence, please: Lou Brock has just gone to That Big Leadoff Spot in the Sky. …
Last word: On the 19th anniversary of 9/ 11, let us never forget the words of Captain Patrick Brown, a firefighter who was climbing the stairs of the North Tower just before it collapsed: “Numerous civilians in the stairwells, numerous burn victims are coming down. We’re trying to send them down first. … We’re still heading up.”
God bless you, Captain Brown.