In 2004, when Ebersol was mourning the loss of his 14-year-old son, Teddy, in a plane crash, Goodell got Paul Tagliabue and then-NFLPA head Gene Upshaw to each fund a suite in the dormitory the Ebersol family had donated to Teddy's private school in Connecticut. Dick Ebersol was overcome with emotion when he toured the dorm and saw little plaques outside the two rooms, side by side, noting the NFL's and NFLPA's generosity. It's a gesture from Goodell the Ebersol family will never forget.
Fast-forward to the 2009 negotiations for a two-year extension, through 2013, to NBC's contract with the NFL. The NFL, according to Ebersol, was stuck on a rights fee of $600 million year for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, though NBC wasn't getting a Super Bowl in either season. Ebersol and Goodell had a few back-and-forth discussions, and Goodell finally said the NFL wouldn't accept a dime less. "There was a coldness and a 'that's it' kind of tone in Roger's voice that was chilling,'' Ebersol said.
"Tonight: Successful business men tend to be hard negotiators, even if they sometimes show compassion. News at 11."
You know, I think this really gets down to Peter King's naivete. Fucker just doesn't get how the world really works. That's why he's so shocked when things deviate from his view of how they should work.
Peter King really doesn't believe that people can have two sides to them. He doesn't understand how Bill Belichick can be a great coach but can't be bothered with the press. He doesn't understand how a successful business man can not only be a hard negotiator (i.e. do his job) and also have a soft side. He doesn't understand how a player can be a really good guy, but also a shitty player. He doesn't understand how a player can be an all-time great yet still be derided by fans across the country. He doesn't understand how it might come across as tone-deaf to be complaining about bad hotel food when the hotel in question is next to a footbal stadium during the AFC Championship game, because, hey he's a
good guy. He's not like those
selfish rich people. His world is black and white, just like football. It's win or lose; home or away; legal or foul. And that's why, when he's forced to change his mind about something (like Bill Belichick), he takes it so hard. He's 100% invested, and he has to not simply re-think his position, no, he has to slow down, stop, fill up the gas tank, turn around, look both ways, slowly accelerate, and then head in the new direction. It's work for Peter King to change his mind, because his mind is only capable of going in one direction at once.
That's why we've got him this week thinking that Gregg Williams is the reason for everything bad that's happened in the last 3 years. From Peyton to Favre, it's all Gregg Williams' fault, and that's the end of it.
I really hope, somehow, proof comes out that Steve Gleason threw a $20 on the bounty table, just so King has to eat shit.
Is it my imagination, or is no politician in the history of the world in favor of the college football season ending the way it does right now?
King is wrong here. Nero actually supported the BCS system. As did (little known fact) Mankato, MN city councilman Fred Larsson before he died in 1943. Napoleon himself stated: "American college football will face a trying time in the early 21st century. By selling the Louisiana Territory, I hope to avoid France's entangelment in such a needlessly divisive issue", which is inconclusive.
Really, though:
Who. The fuck. Cares. What. Politicians. Think. About. The. BCS.
Mr. Starwood Preferred Member Travel Note of the Week
Thursday, 5:20 a.m., JetBlue Terminal, JFK Airport, New York: Hundreds of travelers, maybe 2,500 or 3,000, snake around the kiosks in the terminal until they reach the labyrinthine maze to get to the open X-ray portals. It is a stunning sight. Only once in my travels -- at the airport in Paris a few years ago -- have I seen a security line like this. People enter the terminal and jaws hit the floor. The JetBlues scurry to open more security lines, and finally, after maybe 35 minutes, the line starts moving pretty well. Time to get through security: 66 minutes.
Friday, 5:25 a.m., Baton Rouge (La.) Airport: I am ninth in line for the morning rush (four early planes) at the lone security gate. There is nothing noteworthy to report. No jousting with TSA people. Nothing. Time to get through security: five minutes. The time from my rental-car drop to sitting at the gate: 13 minutes.
1) I've been in the JetBlue terminal at least 6 times, and unless things have changed in the past 3 years, there's no fucking way it accommdates 2,500 people. 500, maybe, sure. Maybe even 1,000.
2) Is Peter King surpised that Baton Rouge has a short line? I don't get it. He even says himself that there's nothing noteworthy. Huh.
"I got a very big statement to make tomorrow at 1 o'clock.''
--@ChrisJohnson28, the Tennessee running back, who had an off-year in 2011, at 2:13 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
"Statement is I'm gonna lead the league n rushing this year save this''
--@ChrisJohnson28, at 1:15 p.m. Saturday.
Stop the presses.
What a
clueless fucking hypocrite.
f. RIP, Davy Jones. Third and fourth grade, Enfield, Conn., saving allowance to buy 45s of Last Train to Clarksville and I'm a Believer and Valleri. I never got into the silly TV show, but the music for little punks like me was gold. Gold, Jerry!
1) I love how King was too cool for the tv show...as a 3rd grader!
2) I love how he backs this up by referring to himself as a "little punk" (that listened to "I'm a Believer"!)
3) That Seinfeld quote is 100% misused, unless he's referring to his stupidity as comedic gold.
