This Ought to Be Good: NFL to Look Into Itself

September 11, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Thursday thoughts (or reasonable facsimiles thereof): So let’s see if we have this correct. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has hired former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III to be in charge of an independent investigation into how the league handled its investigation of a domestic-violence issue regarding Ray Rice. Overseeing the NFL investigation of owners John Mara of the New York Giants and Art Rooney of Pittsburgh, both considered strong supporters of Goodell. Anyone wanna take a wild guess whether the investigation finds any culpability on the part of Goodell in particular and the NFL in general?

Loop Rock Girl Shannon Ihrke is focused on football.

* Before the announcement Wednesday of the NFL investigation of the NFL, there was word that the league indeed had received a second video of Ray Rice hitting his then-fiancee in an elevator and knocking her out. A law-enforcement official the NFL received the video in April. Goodell has remained steadfast in insisting no one at the NFL had seen that second video before Monday. Not sure how Goodell can be telling the truth if the Associated Press report is accurate.

* And now a word — many, actually — from NOW (National Organization for Women). NOW president Terry O’Neill issued a statement: “The NFL does not just have a Ray Rice problem, they have a violence against women problem. NOW continues to ask for Roger Goodell to resign, and for his successor to appoint an independent investigator with full authority to gather factual data about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking within the entire NFL community — not just regarding the Ray Rice incident — and to recommend real and lasting reforms.”

* Before we move on to more sports-themed material, let us all take a moment to remember Sept. 11, 2001, and the terrorism that hit in the United States — in New York, in Washington, in Pennsylvania. Let us remember those who died that day and the lives that were shattered. Let us remember an avoidable war that cost thousands of more lives and shattered so many more. And let us all hope we live long enough to see a world in which peace prospers.

* Speaking of peace (sports variety), Chicago Bulls fans might find some after guard Derrick Rose had 12 points and five assists in a Team USA victory Wednesday against Slovenia in the FIBA World Cup. Said Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski: “I think the lid came off or the jar was open or whatever you want to say. He had his look.”

* Speaking of having their look. the Cubs appear to have theirs. Which is to say they lost again at Toronto. The 11-1 defeat was their sixth in a row and assured the Cubs (64-82) of their fifth consecutive losing season. Jorge Soler did homer for the Cubs run. Shortstop Javier Baez (.171 batting average) and first baseman Mike Olt (.151) each went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara (.205) was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. Baez has struck out 65 times in 146 at-bats (45 percent). Olt has struck out 91 times in 205 at-bats (44 percent). And, yes, the Cubs lead the National League in striking out (1,296) with Miami second at 1,285.

* Speaking of striking out, White Sox first baseman Andy Wilkins whiffed three times in four at-bats in the team’s 2-1 victory against visiting Oakland. In 23 at-bats, he has struck out 12 times (52 percent) with zero home runs.

* If this is Thursday (which seems incredibly likely because yesterday was Wednesday — provided that today is Sept. 11, 2014, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time once more for “Sports & Torts” at noon Central time on Talkzone.com with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris. The highly acclaimed interview show (well, it is held in that regard in the Spada and Harris households, as well as reportedly elsewhere) has broadcaster and former big-league ballplayer Tim McCarver and former Kansas University, AFL and NFL quarterback John Hadl as this week’s guests. The show also will be available via podcast later Thursday at the Talkzone.com web site.

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Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):