THIS WEEK:
- Big-time Bobby
- Say what?
- Ten to Watch
Carpenter blazed a trail for today's sports phenoms
Pittsburgh Penguins top draft pick Sidney Crosby has been labeled "the
next Wayne Gretzky." In truth, he is not yet even the first Sidney Crosby.
Gordon Edes has referred to Red Sox farmhand Craig Hansen as "the phenom."
Hansen has been impressive in Maine, but so is a house with indoor plumbing.
Remember Ted Cox, the Red Sox rookie who hit safely in his first five
Major League at bats in 1977? He would get just 184 more hits over a
five-year career. Remember Sam Horn, another Boston baseball hopeful who was
supposed to destroy Red Sox home run records? The only thing Horn is destroying is
the English language on NESN.
The media all too often saddles many young athletes with premature
praise. Just ask Peabody, MA native Bobby Carpenter. As a senior at St. John's
Prep in Danvers, MA in 1981, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated with
the caption "The Can't Miss Kid." Before he reached 20 years of age, C
arpenter went from student to superstar, but he never saw it that way.
"I just loved to play," says the 41 year-old Carpenter, now an
assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils. "I never thought about the NHL until
after I played well in the World Junior Championships in Germany my senior year."
Carpenter considered enrolling at Providence College. He may not have
been thinking about the NHL, but the NHL was surely thinking about him. In
1981, he became the highest drafted American born player in history when the
Washington Capitals selected him with the fifth pick. Two years later, he
became the first American-born player to score 50 goals in a season, netting 53
for Washington.
Carpenter enjoyed an 18-year NHL career and has been a pro coach for
the past six seasons, but it was his jump from pupil to pro that made him a true
media sensation. "I've never considered myself a phenom and I was never
nervous or felt pressure to succeed in the NHL," he states. "I did recognize
that if I didn't score 30 goals right away, the media would call me a bum."
Before turning pro, Carpenter played in the competitive College League
in Danvers with UNH star and current NESN analyst Andy Brickley, and in the
rugged South Shore League with tough guy Chris Nilan of NESN's "Roughing It."
"Those experiences prepared me for pro hockey," he says. "At first
in Washington, we had a great group of helpful veteran players and a super
coach in Rick Green, but the bottom fell out. Rick was fired and Bryan Murray
was hired as coach.
"All the vets were gone by Christmas and the new younger players tried
to one-up each other. They and the media were like, "Who's this American kid
think he is?' We won more games, but the team had a bad attitude."
Carpenter credits his father, Bob, Sr., for keeping his outlook right
amidst all the media fanfare. "He was instrumental in keeping me on an even
keel. He never mentioned the NHL even when it was going to become a reality.
That was the most valuable part of my development. "I see kids today who
play to the cameras and think they're awesome. I just wanted to play hockey.
That's why I didn't get along with the media."
With multi-million dollar contracts, the Internet and a myriad of media
outlets, Carpenter recognizes that youngsters like LeBron James and the
aforementioned Crosby and Hansen live in a very different world. "Kids today want
to be on TV," says the extremely low-key Carpenter. "I would not change
anything about my past, but I wish I had a better rapport with the media."
Carpenter tallied 320 goals and 408 assists for the Capitals, Rangers,
Kings, Bruins and Devils, but his lasting image is that legendary Sports
Illustrated cover from February 23, 1981. He says, "I thought it was great, but
also that it was time to move on from it. To this day, I've never even read
that article from start to finish."
In 1999, The Boston Globe named Carpenter one of New England's Top 100
all-time athletes. While Carpenter eschews any talk of individual glory, he
does recognize and cherish what hockey stardom has given him.
"The key is how you interact with your teammates," he says. "I couldn
't understand why the media made such a big deal about me going to the NHL,
but as I got older, I realized how special it was to do something that no one
else had ever done."
Say what?
Drew Bledsoe to ESPN.com's John Clayton: "I've had guys (Tom Brady and J.P.
Losman) picked ahead of me. I don't think it's the right decision and I still
don't." Where has Bledsoe been for three years, Buffalo or Bangladesh? The
jury is still out on Losman, but after three Super Bowl wins, it's a given
that making Tom Brady the Pats' permanent starter was the right call.
Steve Spurrier in the August 22 edition of Sports Illustrated: "Usually, the
owner hires the G.M., and he and the coach work together on personnel. We
didn't have a G.M. where I was (Washington). The owner was making those
decisions." Who did Spurrier think he was working for, Dan Snyder or Mr. Rogers?
Spurrier knew what he was getting into. He took Snyder's $25 million offer.
He should take full blame.
Joe Theismann at a recent speaking engagement: "Randy Moss is simply a jerk.
He doesn't go over the middle. He is not physical and he refuses to block.
Joe Gibbs told me it takes three things to be successful: character,
intelligence and ability. Randy Moss only has the third." Theismann is right on
the money. Moss may catch a few passes in Oakland, but the Raiders will
continue to live in the past, i.e.- no championships since the Reagan
administration.
Ten to Watch
With the NFL season upon us, here are Media Blitz's "Ten to Watch"
national gridiron gabbers.
10. Rich Eisen: NFL Network host has a wry sense of humor, but his real
strength is getting insightful input from a number of ex-player co-hosts.
9. Nick Bakay: His "Tale of the Tape" and football picks on ESPN strike a
funny nerve with the frustrated small-time bettor. Wife Robin is terrific
alongside her tortured husband.
8. Glenn Parker: The smartest analyst on NFL Network is fearless in his
opinions and adept at dissecting the inner workings of the game.
7. Sal Paolantonio: Hard working ESPN reporter breaks stories and has
developed a great on-air presence. Much better than the more ballyhooed Chris
Mortensen.
6. Sean Salisbury: Ex-NFL QB makes the list by never shying away from
controversy. His debates with fellow ESPN'er John Clayton are terrific.
5. Mark Schlereth: Another ex-NFL lineman who has found his niche on the
small screen at ESPN. Just the right mix of grit and glibness.
4. Terry Bradshaw: Fox's "NFL Sunday" takes its laid back, easy-going cue
from Bradshaw. He plays the clown for laughs, but has a pedigree (and four
rings) to be totally respected.
3. Howie Long: Brads
haw's Fox partner played the game in the trenches, but
explains it like a college professor. With whom would you rather talk football
over a couple of beers?
2. Andrea Kremer: ESPN reporter is the best NFL interviewer in the business.
Kremer brings emotion, strength and style to all her stories.
1. Ron Jaworski: ESPN's "Jaws" explains the NFL, from the X's and O's to
dealing with the media to the ups and downs of life in football, better than
anyone in the business. It is shear joy to sit back, listen and learn.
John Molori's columns are published in The Providence Journal, The Boston
Metro, Patriots Football Weekly, Boston Sports Review, New England Hockey
Journal, New England Ringside Magazine, TheRemyReport.com, PatsFans.com,
BostonSportsReview.com, BostonSportsMedia.com, ColdHardFootballFacts.com and
MethuenOnline.com. Email John at JOMOL3@aol.com.
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