Chester R. Simmons
The man who helped create the media mega-monster ESPN and was the founding commissioner of the United States Football League died yesterday of natural causes at the age of 81.
A native of Pawtucket, RI and a graduate of the University of Alabama, Simmons was a visionary and a risk taker. He left the comfort and security of NBC Sports to structure a foundling 24 hour sports network in the then pioneer wilderness of cable television. Once the wobbly idea took hold and was able to stand on it's own, Simmons took on the daunting task of challenging the NFL and headed the USFL in 1983. His television contacts brought the league immediate credibility hammering out deals with ABC and ESPN that provided the shaky football foundlings an IV bag of financial support.
Chet Simmons was a man of rare courage and commitment. I am grateful to him for his hand in helping the USFL survive for three glorious years......and he will be missed.
Notes.....
Dwight Gooden was arrested for drug possesion and child endangerment. This one time superstar with the unhittable fastball has had his life spin out of control since he left the game. I would hope the NY Mets would step in and give him the rehabilitation support he obviously desperately needs.
Butler over Syracuse......K State over Xavier in 2 overtimes.....this NCAA tournament is one for the ages.
Andy Reid's comments about Sheldon Brown were borderline shocking...."The good news is Sheldon is under contract and has been able to make a living over the past years?" To me Brown has always been a class act and deserves better public treatment.
Donovan McNabb's tenure as an Eagle is about to end. In my opinion McNabb has been an above average talent but was inconsistent as a passer and seemed to come up small in big situations. We don't know what Kevin Kolb can do.....but McNabb has had ample oppotunities to win the big game and has usually come up short. The Eagle's desire to move McNabb has little to do with winning and everything to do with not paying him another mega contract.
The fickle nature of life was aptly represented this morning when I read that one time QB superstar Ryan Leaf pleaded guilty to drug and burglary charges and received 10 years probation. Leaf and Peyton Manning were neck and neck in the draft ratings coming out of college. Manning's career path has included a Super Bowl victory and a certain induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now Leaf has a criminal record and will have a tough time getting a job coaching a high school team. Unbelievable.....
No comments:
Post a Comment