Former NFL star rips Gumbel

Sports Illustrated ^

[Lunatic Fringe]

In a scathing rebuke of Bryant Gumbel's recent comments on HBO's Real Sports last week that NFLPA head Gene Upshaw is a "personal pet" of outgoing NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, former Minnesota Vikings running back and longtime player rep Robert Smith accused the TV host of both desperation and jealousy.

[skaterboy]

the nfc i should say..edge lead the afc and league

[TYVets]

Bryant Gumball is an intolerably and excessively arrogant liberal broadcaster,

and as a result, he doesn't have much audience charisma.

Didn't CBS hire Gumball to hike up the ratings on their morning TV show?

As I recall about 1/2 of their minute audience left within a short period of time.

He is a real winner./s

[shoedog]

Robert Smith is an intelligent articulate Black Man who has a future after pro football. I would not rip him for making the statements. We need more athletes of his intelligence.

[Lawgvr1955]

Whenever I hear or see anything about Gumbel, I think of the Chappele Show's Negrodamus skit where he says "Wayne Bradey makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcom X".

[clearlight]

Direct hit!

[dfwgator]

And he made some great records with "The Cure."

[ChessExpert]

I remember Gumball opining on the Today Show that car racing was boring. Cars just going around in circles. The cast looked a bit shocked. (Why alienate some of your audience.) He smiled and said "what?"

I wish someone had joked in turn: Basketball is boring. Men run down the court, throw the ball. Men run back, throw the ball. Boring.

Do you think he would have laughed?

[Richard Kimball]

Good article. The NFL is by far the most popular and successful professional team sport in the US. I suppose it could follow the wildly successful hockey model, or the NBA with it's declining ratings.

Upshaw has gotten a good contract for the players, while avoiding a strike or lockout that would seriously damage fan loyalty. I'd also mention that Upshaw may be getting up in years, but I don't think Gum Ball would want to say that to Gene's face.

[Rummyfan]

Yes it's THAT Robert Smith, formerly of OSU and the Vikings.

[Rummyfan]

0.4FTE?

[MikefromOhio]

NFL PING

FReepmail scott says to be added to, or to be taken off the NFL Ping list...

This is a fairly high volume ping list




College Football Ping.

Freepmail me to be added to this list.

[ChessExpert]

In my previous post, I should have mentioned NASCAR racing and NBA basketball. That might habe been more clear.

[VeniVidiVici]

Bryant Gumble is still around?

[InvisibleChurch]

Yahoo Football Pick'em 2006 (NFL)

[MikefromOhio]

Yep that's it.

Since he decided to play football, stick your nose up in the air because he decided to NOT go to medical school.

FWIW, Craig Krenzel did the same thing. Guess he isn't any good either.

[A message]

One season, BFD.

That's one more season than I and about 4 billion other people ever had.

[misterrob]

The players work with contracts that are not worth the paper they are printed on. A club decides they want to go younger/cheaper you are out on your ass.

The owners are the ones with all the leverage and really asset value.

[misterrob]

Whoraldo

[misterrob]

I met one of the owners of the Vikings about 3 years ago. He seemed to think that Smith was a damn good player who made some smart decisions in life that allowed him to go out on his own terms.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

we got it, but gumball doesnt.LOL