Stormin Norman Rumack

I’ve mentioned many times over a number of years on the radio, and probably a time or two in this blog, that one of the nicer professional athletes to deal with from a media perspective, is Detroit Tigers DH, Johnny Damon. From the first time I met him, and that was probably was when he was still with Kansas City, he was always one of the more approachable baseball players, and would almost always find time for an interview. During the discussion, he would provide intelligent answers, and not rush through it, as though it was the last thing he wanted to do. As opposed to an arrogant athlete, Damon actually seems to be a sensitive individual, who does care about people. The former Yankee comes across, as though he can still relate to the average working man. He speaks as though he has an understanding, for the day to day struggles of the average person, to pay bills, and make it through life’s ups and downs. His personal wealth from being a star athlete, has not clouded his perspective on the real world. Maybe...

Read More »

It was so inspiring on Monday, to read that veteran broadcaster Vin Scully, will be returning to the broadcast booth in 2011. Now 82 years of age, Scully is one of the very few play by play voices that fans will go out of their way to listen to, even if they are not fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team whose games he has been calling since 1950, going back to when the team played in Brooklyn, New York.

 

There are some broadcast outlets,where the trend has become one of going with much less experienced journalists, regardless of the fact that in some cases, they have nowhere near the knowledge and perspective, of the more mature broadcasters. This does not occur everywhere in the industry, but it does happen in some places.

There is no “young” person anywhere, that could now or ever replace Vin Scully, but somewhere, there might be some poorly researched executive, who might be inclined to try and replace a legend like him. Their misguided and sure to fail rationale, would be that they...

Read More »

As a sports journalist, and one with around five thousand Facebook friends, I sometime end up in some lively debates about teams that I like and openly cheer for. There are some sports journalists who claim that they aren’t and never were fans of any team. Yeah, right………can you spell LIAR ? Anyone who believes that, is about as naive as can be. I have my biases, but I have always been very open about them. It would be great if everyone else in the business did the same.

One of those colorful chats on my Facebook page, revolved around my support for the Chelsea Blues of the English Premiership. Like many teams in professional sports, they have a few players who have had issues that created negative headlines. Fans of other teams in soccer, like to use that as part of their debate material, to put down my support of the team. Whether it is team captain John Terry, and his alleged involvement with a former girlfriend of former England teammate Wayne Bridge, or striker Nicolas Anelka, and his verbal tirade...

Read More »

So who was right, between New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and former Colts and Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy, as to whether or not it matters if a professional coach in any sport, not just football, uses foul language for any reason during practice or a game ?

I certainly admire Tony Dungy for all that he has accomplished with both Indianapolis and Tampa Bay. He should and does get a lot of credit, for the Buccaneers team that went on to win a Super Bowl under Jon Gruden (2002 season), especially it’s defense ( known as the “Tampa 2”). Dungy has always conducted himself with class and distinction. I remember how the Colts players were all in admiration when their coach was eulogizing his son, Jamie, 18,  who took his own life on December 22, 2005, and how even in that most tragic of circumstances, he used his own sorrow as a teaching tool for his players, so they might gain something from his loss.

It certainly would be difficult to live up to his standards, the way Dungy carries himself, in both words...

Read More »

Baseball professionals and those who follow the sport closely, frequently refer to this time of the season, as the dog days of summer. The reference deals with what is psychologically, the toughest part of the season to get through, as the schedule has another six weeks to go, before the playoffs begin in October. It is not unusual to see some of the best teams in the sport go through slumps at this time of the year. For the teams that remain in contention for a post-season spot, it frequently becomes like the law of the jungle, where it is a question of avoiding major injuries to key players, especially the pitching staff. The games might also become mentally tough, as the top teams might be already thinking ahead to the playoffs,even though they need to be focused on the day to day schedule.

 

Conversely for soccer, their very long season is just getting underway, and for the elite players who competed in the World Cup, it is a real marathon, as there was only about a month of down time, if that....

Read More »

France stole the headlines at this summer’s World Cup, and of course their attention grabbing moment had nothing to do with skill, and everything to do with striking a practice, and staging a mutiny against their coach at the time, Raymond Domenech, who has since been dismissed, and should have been after the France failed miserably at the 2008 European Championships. France gained only one point in the group stage of that tournament, and only scored one goal in the three games, against Romania, Netherlands,and Italy.  Although they didn’t quite steal any front pages outside of France, everyone now knows the French Football Federation has taken action against some of the players, and made an example of Les Blues and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, by suspending him for 18 games, after he cussed out his coach at the half, of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico, at the World Cup, and then was sent home by the Federation. All of this preceded his team-mates taking strike action against their coach the next day, just before a...

Read More »

When it comes to the English Premiership, I am quite happy to be a fan of the Chelsea Blues, not only because of their “Double” championship last season, winning both the Premiership and FA Cup titles, but it is also the fact that they have a billionaire owner, who will spend whatever it takes to keep the team at a highly competitive level. Roman Abramovich is an ideal owner for any fan. As detailed in Wikipedia, he is listed as the 50th most wealthy person in the world, and since his purchase of the team in June 2003, the Blues have won 3 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and 2 League Cups. That accumulation makes them the most successful English team over the last seven years.  He is just like a fan in reality,as most owners are, but the difference is that he has all the money he needs to find the players that are required to get the Chelsea Blues to the top, and keep them there.  The owners of North American professional sports teams that I would compare him to, would include Mike and Marian Ilitch, the owners...

Read More »

With the news that professional mixed martial arts, will finally be legalized in Ontario starting in 2011, as detailed by the Canadian Press this past Saturday, I put out a note on my Facebook page, that fans of the sport should thank  Mic and Martin McNamara, owners of Twin Dragon Kick Boxing And Kung Fu, for their significant and historical role in helping this to become a reality. Most of the current fans and practitioners of the combat arts, weren’t even alive when the Belfast, Ireland born twins, were laying the groundwork for the evolution and eventual arrival of this now very popular form of sports entertainment. For those who want to discount what is being written here,they should get in touch with Marc Ratner, the current Vice President of the Ultimate Fighting Championships, and ask him if the McNamara’s have made some significant sacrifices, financial and otherwise, so that the most popular forms of fighting, might be legalized in Ontario.

As an 18 year old, in 1973, I began training with the...

Read More »

It’s amazing how often I’ve spoken with people who work for large corporations or are in positions of power with successful organizations, and how often accomplished individuals have pointed out that the largest part of being successful, is being able to manage people and communicating effectively. This may not exactly seem like the stuff of genius, but I’ve been offered this advice going back to the days of taking out canoe trips at summer camps in Ontario, more than 30 years ago. It’s true at that rather simple level of work, and it obviously plays out in the high pressure, big bucks world of professional sports as well.

 

Fabio Capello, the manager of England’s national soccer team, announced after the Lions had eked out a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, that David Beckham, England’s most capped outfield player with 115 appearances, would not be involved in any more competitive matches. Capello said he  hopes that Beckham can play in a November match with France,...

Read More »

When I read the ESPN story that detailed the comments from LeBron James on his Twitter account, about how he has been “ taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone.”, I sure hope he was including me on his list of editorials that he’s read since his televised infomercial, announcing his departure from Cleveland for the Miami Heat. I would be honored if he took note of my reaction to the formation of the NBA’s version of the Premiership, where are their are a few elite teams, and many more average or sub par teams.

I’m not quite sure why LeBron expects everyone to agree with his decision, or to compliment him on his move to Miami. Outside of Florida, I haven’t come across very many positive commentaries, in reaction to the three Miami multi millionaire mega stars joining forces. Isn’t it way too early for anyone in the NBA to be trying to use the ‘me against the world’ speeches,the way LeBron is, as motivation for his particular goals ?

The Akron, Ohio native,...

Read More »