Belichick’s playing the same games
If, as the grapevine reports, the New England Patriots love what they’ve seen of fledgling quarterback Jarrett Stidham, why bring in Cam Newton, albeit at a bargain-basement price? Perhaps Stidham really isn’t all that. But whatever inscrutable reasoning is behind the move, Bill Belichick’s decision to sign Newton is having the additional effect of messing with a lot of minds — the media’s, especially.
Caveat emptor: The
NFL, which plans to have fans in the stands, reportedly has broached the idea of requiring customers who attend games to sign liability waivers absolving the league of responsibility for contracting COVID-19.
This could open the way for a new NFL slogan: “On any given Sunday … you might go home with coronavirus.”
On their marks: The strongest baseball teams that would have benefited the most from a full season will need to quickly get into gear under the 60-game setup. The importance of a fast start adds urgency, so there’s that to look forward to.
Money matters: Bobby Bonilla Day rolled around again this week, with the 57-year-old former Met collecting $1.19 million from his old club — as he has and will every July 1 from 2011 through 2035. In an unhappy postscript, it was reported the same day that the Mets had laid off 25 employees.
Hoop du jour: You can add an asterisk to this NBA season if you want, but I agree with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo that given the circumstances and uncertainties of the inside-the-bubble restart, this year’s title quest will result in “the toughest championship you could ever win.”
Leaking talent: After losing a key player
when guard Avery Bradley elected to sit out the rest of the season, the Lakers worry that they may also be without Dwight Howard. The backup center is caring for his 6-year-old son, whose mother died in late March. “Basketball isn’t needed at this moment and will only be a distraction,” said Howard. After such an expression of enthusiasm, are the Lakers sure they want him back?
Tracking: In these nervous times, the name of Sunday’s NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 — is a little too on the nose.
Up front: When Rick Pitino says the start of the college basketball season should be pushed back to January, with teams playing only conference games, the new Iona coach is amplifying what many others are thinking.
Uh, oh: Doleful words about a problematic football season from SEC commissioner Greg Sankey: “On June 1, I was really optimistic … but I’m less optimistic today about a normal start.”
Vacancies: It’s doubtful that college football at most schools will be played in front of full houses. It’s also not too soon to visualize empty gyms for basketball — if there’s a season. We must always include the disclaimer.
He’s special: With every roster slot at more of a premium than ever, the Mets say they may add Tim Tebow to their 60-man training-camp pool. Besides, what franchise wouldn’t promote a 32-year-old .223 career minor-league hitter?
Be gone: By all means the baseball writers should remove the name of former baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis from the MVP plaque. How often does such an easy, uncontroversial fix come along? Nobody will miss what we didn’t know was there in the first place.
You don’t say: Johnny Manziel recently acknowledged that his football career is “in the past.” This is not what we in the newspaper business would call a scoop.
Meat wagers: Three states — New Jersey, Colorado and New Hampshire — now allow gambling on the July 4 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest from Coney Island. Feel free to supply your own hot dog pun.