THIS WEEK:
- Romo's no-no's
- Bob's back
- Rising Stars, Falling Stars: Who's hot and not in Boston sports media?
Sympathy and compassion do not fit this Bill
This past Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," former NFL tough guy Bill
Romanowski pouted and purged. Known for his dirty methods and pharmacological
diet, Romanowski showed regret for his brutal play and admitted to taking
steroids and human growth hormone provided by Victor Conte of BALCO infamy.
Romanowski's performance was from the Lawrence Taylor school of
thought. Step 1: Show a sensitive side preferably accompanied by tears. Step 2:
Admit to character flaws. Step 3: Drum up interest in your soon to be released
book, "Romo. My Life on the Edge."
In the interview, Romanowski talked about breaking the finger of Dave
Meggett during a game. "All I could get was a finger and, at the time, I
thought it was his, but whatever it was, I just snapped it and I could hear a scream
at the bottom of the pile," he stated. How nice.
We learned that Romanowski's hard-hitting style has resulted in twenty "
documented" concussions and possibly permanent brain damage. According to
CBS, Romanowski's brain shows "profound slowing of cognitive function."
In truth, Romanowski's brain functioning was questionable long before
now. Throughout his career, he was a cocky, swaggering ass. He regaled anyone
who would listen about his gross intake of a smorgasbord of pills and
supplements. His teary admissions of using steroids and feeling regret for his past
are about as sentimental as a Motorhead concert.
"I compromised my morality to get ahead, to play another year, to play
two more years, to win another Super Bowl," the ex-Niner, Bronco and Raider
said in an almost heroic tone. Please. This interview was completely
laughable.
The fact is that Romanowski is being utterly Cansecoesque, cashing in
on the steroid scare and feigning regret for his cheating ways. It won't be
long before he gets a spot on some celebrity reality show and a high-five session
with the boys from FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
Shame on me for even calling attention to this smarmy degenerate, but I'
ll use my indiscretion to outline my school of thought. Step 1: Don't feel
sorry for Bill Romanowski. Step 2: Don't believe one word he says. Step 3:
Please, don't buy his book. You've already heard the story.
Norton news
The return of college hockey signals the return of a voice that has
become synonymous with sport in New England, but ESPN hockey analyst Bob Norton
has traveled a long and winding road to notoriety. The longtime principal at
Woburn High School quit playing hockey after his freshman year at Watertown High
School to pursue baseball and football.
"I didn't play hockey again until I joined the club team at Rutgers,"
said the 62-year-old Norton. "(Current New Jersey Devils GM) Lou Lamoriello
played on a Providence College team that beat us 20-1 and set a record for most
points scored by one line in a game."
Norton graduated from Rutgers in 1965 and went to Washington, D.C. to
work for the CIA. He eventually got into coaching. "I was hired at Bergen
Catholic High School in New Jersey. We started the hockey program literally on a
nearby pond," says Norton. From Bergen, Norton moved to Holy Cross as an
offensive line coach, and then to UNH as an assistant in both football and hockey.
By 1977, UNH had arrived as a national power. Norton was instrumental
in recruiting the likes of Rod Langway, Bob Gould, Bruce Crowder, Ralph Cox and
Bob Miller. UNH reached the Frozen Four in 1977, 1979 and 1982. Norton's
media odyssey began at New Hampshire Public Television in 1976 doing color
commentary alongside Jim Jeanott for UNH hockey.
He also did radio color for Dartmouth hockey, but a larger audience was
just down Route 93. "Dave Shea and Sean McDonough were calling Hockey East
games on NESN," Norton explains. "Around 1985, Dave joined Fred Cusick and
Derek Sanderson on Bruins telecasts. "(Hockey East commissioner) Lou Lamoriello
and (NESN executive producer) Bob Whitelaw asked me if I would join Sean for
college hockey games."
By the late 1980s, Norton was a much sought-after college hockey
analyst for NESN, NCAA Productions and ESPN. He's been in the booth for eight Frozen
Four telecasts and has worked for ESPNU as a studio analyst. His love for the
game is based more on people than pucks.
"The friends I've made and the people I've been associated with is
what makes the game special," says Norton, who has won two Emmy Awards. "I grew
up idolizing Fred Cusick and I got a chance to work with him. Fred sent me a
note praising me for my preparation and effort. I cherish that."
Despite his success and immense popularity, Norton remains humble. "It'
s not about talent," he says. "I just try to get along with the people in
the booth, the truck, the whole crew. I try to show everyone respect and not act
like I am the show. No one is indispensable. I've been lucky to work with the
best people in the business."
Rising Stars
Steve Burton, CBS4: Burton broke the story of Tedy Bruschi's anticipated
return and deserves kudos for getting it first, getting it right and getting it on
the air, in that order.
John Carchedi, CN8: His recent package previewing Hockey East was top notch
including coaches' interviews and insights on the smaller schools in the
conference. Known for his off beat style, Carchedi played this one straight and it
worked.
Greg Dickerson, FSNE: His courtside work during Celtics' telecasts brings
professionalism and credibility, and serves as a nice segue to announcers Mike
Gorman and Tom Heinsohn. Willie Maye is likeable, but Dickerson is a more
polished presence.
Falling Stars
Fred Smerlas, WEEI: Smerlas was over the top saying that the Pats' loss at
Denver wasn't really a loss. The fact is that the Pats sleepwalked through the
second quarter and David Givens and Deion Branch had key drops in a potential
game-tying drive. Ease up on the pom-poms, Fred.
ESPN Radio Boston: It doesn't matter who is on the air if you cannot hear
what is being said. ESPN Radio has shown lots of promise, but the station's AM
890 and AM 1400 signals aren't doing it justice. If the signal issues remain
unchanged, the station will suffer the same fate as AM 1510, i.e.- a frustrated
listener base that finds it more satisfying to just stay at WEEI.
Theo Epstein Boosters: Glenn Ordway, Joe Amorosino and others need to ask
themselves a question. Would you give more than $1 million per year to someone
who is simply carrying out the corporate plan? Theo Epstein might be a
talented GM, but he'll never reach his full potential under Larry Lucchino's
rather large thumb.
John Molori's columns are published in The Boston Metro, Patriots Football
Weekly, The Providence Journal, Boston Sports Review, New England Hockey
Journal, New England Ringside Maga
zine, ColdHardFootballFacts.com, TheRemyReport.com,
PatsFans.com, BostonSportsReview.com, BostonPressBox.com,
BostonSportsMedia.com and MethuenOnline.com. Email John at JOMOL3@aol.com.
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