Even by the abnormal standards of the Cleveland sports world, it was an interesting day today.
First off, the Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona was arrested in the Dominican Republic for using a false identity.
Turns out Carmona’s real name is allegedly Roberto Hernandez Heredia and he is allegedly 31, not 28 as originally believed.
Disappointing – but not surprising – news that English football analyst Andy Gray has been sacked by Sky Sports for a string of sexist comments.
The Daily Mail quoted a Sky Sports statement saying that: “Sky Sports has terminated its contract with Andy Gray. The decision which is effective immediately was made in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour.
“The new evidence relating to an off-air incident that took place in December 2010 came to light after Andy Gray had already been subjected to disciplinary action for his comments of 22 January 2011.”
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis added: “Andy Gray’s contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour. After issuing a warning yesterday we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today.”
Gray was originally in trouble for criticizing Sian Massey, a female assistant referee, off the air during Saturday’s game between Liverpool and Wolverhampton.
It got worse though when video footage surfaced of Gray making lewd comments to fellow Sky Sports personality Charlotte Jackson. According to published reports, the video shows Gray asking Jackson to tuck a microphone pack down his pants, saying “Charlotte, can you tuck this down here for me love … Tuck this down here.”
It’s disappointing because we enjoyed Gray’s work on ESPN during the 2008 European Championship and on Fox Soccer Channel during last summer’s World Cup.
Gray’s dismissal comes just a few weeks after ESPN fired announcer Ron Franklin after Franklin called a female colleague “sweet baby.”
This leaves us wondering how something like this happens in 2011. Haven’t we reached the point where people realize you can’t talk to co-workers like that? Even if you are an ex-athlete like Gray?
Apparently not.
For more, check out Martin Samuel: Listening to Richard Keys and Andy Gray was like a visit to a 1970s cabaret club
and Laura Williamson: Do me a favour, love … Sky duo’s attack was no joke
We don’t know if it is the cold weather or the piles of snow that have driven some people to the edge, but it is apparently stupid time in Cleveland sports.
First off was the report from WKNR* “contributor” Sabrina Parr (she’s not listed on the station’s website so we’re not sure what she does) that Browns coach Eric Mangini is done after the season regardless of how the team performs in its final three games. The station’s Chris Fedor, who is listed on the WKNR website as a producer, also claimed that the Browns can’t find a new offensive coordinator because no one is willing to work with Mangini.
Wait a minute, if there are coaches out there who don’t want to work with Mangini, why would it matter since the Browns are going to fire him anyway? Doesn’t the presumed removal of Mangini make the alleged reluctance of someone to work with him a moot point?
More importantly, if any of this were actually true, doesn’t it seem likely that one of the beat writers or columnists who cover this team on a daily basis would have come up with this news?
And doesn’t all this speculation actually run counter to what team president Mike Holmgren, the only person (other than owner Randy Lerner) who actually has a say in all this, said all along, that “The important point there I think is any coach, any staff where I am in the position I’m in, will be judged at the end of the season.”
Moving on.
The Plain Dealer‘s Tony Grossi and Bill Livingston must be dizzy from riding the quarterback carousel if their recent stories are any indication.
First off Grossi tries to sell us that the evolving Browns quarterback situation is somehow a case of the same old Browns:
“It’s Week 14 for the Browns and we’re still asking who’s the quarterback. Isn’t that the perfect metaphor for another Browns’ playoff-less season?”
In a follow-up article Grossi then painted the necessary quarterback switches as some kind of flaw on Mangini’s part:
“Naming Colt McCoy the Browns’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season might not be a bombshell announcement. But it truly was out of character for Eric Mangini to commit to anybody at the position for longer than one game.”
“All that aside, the Browns, now out of playoff consideration, have had an unstable quarterback situation this year, which has been coach Eric Mangini’s norm.”
So let’s review: Jake Delhomme was the starter coming out of training camp, Seneca Wallace was the backup and Colt McCoy was No. 3. No mystery, no questions.
When Delhomme was injured Wallace took over as starter. When Wallace was injured McCoy took over as starter. There’s little reason to doubt that McCoy would still be the starter if hadn’t been injured. Just as there was little reason to rush him back before he was fully healed.
This hasn’t been a case of switching quarterbacks because they are not playing well; the Browns have a clear picture of the depth chart and acted accordingly when injuries hit.
Is that so hard to see?
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We were going to include this gem from The PD’s Greg Kozarik, but it would be hard to top what the good folks at Two One Six Sports put together. Give it a read, you won’t be disappointed.
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More on the silliness that is currently blowing through Cleveland sports can be found at Cleveland Frowns, and Waiting for Next Year.
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*Full disclosure: Sirius is Red Right 88’s preferred official radio source. We haven’t listened to local sports talk in six years. Hearing that these are the types of “breaking news” stories the local stations put out just solidifies our position.
Red Right 88 