|
Good day to all.
Question to my readers today. Is it sinful that I, the sports editor of a major Canadian daily newspaper, couldn’t come up with the names of five current NFL players?
I’m not kidding.
Advertisement
On Thursday night, during a visit with close friend Ted Wyman (who just happens to hold the same title as yours truly, albeit with the crosstown rival Winnipeg Sun), we were watching the Jets dump the Blues 5-2 on the tube.
As an aside, Ted is truly one of the finest humans on the planet. We’ve been buddies for the better part of three decades and nary a harsh word has ever been spoken between us. We talk too loudly and laugh a lot. That’s our schtick. Ask anyone who’s shared space with us on the media bench of a provincial or national curling championship since about 1995.
Anyway, Ted flipped the channel to Thursday Night Football right after Cole Perfetti’s empty-net goal sealed the deal for surging Winnipeg in St. Louis.
If my short-term memory serves, the L.A. Rams were trailing the Raiders 16-3 with just over 12 minutes left in the final quarter. I’m somewhat embarrassed to reveal here that I asked Ted if the Raiders were the home squad in this all-California battle. He was kind — as is his character — with his response: “The Raiders play out of Vegas now.”
I had a vague recollection of that franchise move. But I immediately Googled it to get the details.
Apparently, neither the Raiders nor Rams is doing all that well in whatever division each competes in. But it was cool watching the guys with the yellow horns on their helmets (the sight of which always makes me think of Warren Beatty’s character, Joe Pendleton, in the late-70s movie Heaven Can Wait) storm back to post a 17-16 triumph, guided by a quarterback named Baker Mayfield who was claimed off waivers just days ago.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Thursday. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP Photo)
I’ve added him to the very short list of players in the league I can name, as well as receiver Van Jefferson who snared the decisive touchdown grab with something like 10 seconds left in the game.
Earlier, I had informed Ted my NFL knowledge was frightfully limited, and that it would be difficult for me to name 10 active players. Turns out I had four: Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson.
With some encouragement, I was able to add Aaron Rodgers to the list.
So, for the record, “NO, I DON’T FOLLOW THE NFL!” Or, the NBA, for that matter.
Snort at me with derision if you must.
Conversely, I have a firm grasp on the NHL and can add some insight into just about any conversation regarding the CFL, MLB and pro golf.
I have extensive knowledge of all things curling, going back decades. That matters in my position as Free Press readers totally dig their ice bowli …I mean curling. And it matters at home, which I share with a two-time Scotties provincial champion. (There is currently no Wikipedia page for Allyson Bell but she’s, indeed, the celebrity of the family.)
So, here’s to all the rabid NFL supporters out there. Watch as many games on the gridiron as you can tackle Sunday. Me? I’ll be tuning in to the finals of the Masters, a Grand Slam of Curling tour event in Oakville, Ont., instead.
Kerri Einarson, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jennifer Jones and Chelsea Carey are definitely in the mix in women’s play, while Reid Carruthers and Matt Dunstone are struggling to survive on the men’s side.
Look at me dropping names.
|
