“He was a man, take him for all in all. I shall not look upon his like again.” – Hamlet, Act I, Scene II

Everyone should have heard by now that broadcasting legend Vic Scully died yesterday at the age of 94. You do not need me to rehash all of the stories: broadcasting 67 years from Brooklyn to L.A.; Jackie Robinson to Clayton Kershaw. Every story will tell you that Mr. Scully was the same kind, gentleman that he was on the air. I have a story to add to the millions.
Being an Andy Frain back in the 1970s and 1980s gave you access to all kinds of famous people: entertainers, rock musicians, athletes and broadcasters. It was a tremendous added perk to the job. In the early 1980s, I was in charge of the Club Boxes at Wrigley Field, which in those days, before the added seats on the field, were the first ten rows by the field – the best seats. Working there everyday, I met many season ticket holders, players, players wives, and broadcasters. At the time, pre-cable, the big game on Saturday was the NBC Game of the Week and the broadcast team was Joe Garagiola and Mr. Scully. In those days, pre-lights, all Cub games were daytime games which made them a staple of the weekly broadcast.
Also like his on-air persona, Mr. Garagiola was a funny, outgoing person. I also like to joke around, so we started some good-natured barbs at one another when they were walking between the field and the press box. To be honest, I don’t remember how it started or what we joked about (I think it was my large size and Joe’s baseball career), but the part I do remember was how Mr. Scully would prime the pump, making little comments to Mr. Garagiola and I to start us going at one another. These were the 1980s, so this was pretty much G-rated material, but it was fun and we often got good zingers off each other, and in the background, smiling slyly and laughing, was Vin Scully.
Mr. Scully always remembered my name and was very gracious to all, especially fans who would say hello and ask for an autograph (so did Mr. Garagiola for that matter). It was a nice little personal touch when I watched them doing other games.
When it rains, it pours. We all must die, and despite medical advances, the great and famous live longer, but their time comes also. That is why over the past two weeks we lost: actor Mary Alice; the great basketball center and activist Bill Russell; actor and activist Nichelle Nichols; and now Mr. Scully who always stood up for Jackie Robinson and other Black and Latino players. We will never see their ilk again.

It truly saddens me that, as we mourn and celebrate the life of Bill Russell and Nichelle Nichols, I have to write about a decision that is so against what each of these people stood for. It is being reported that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will receive a six-game suspension for sexual misconduct against over 25 female massage workers when he played for Texas.
Long time readers know that I am very old fashioned – I hate to see Black men behave badly. Maybe it doesn’t “reflect on the race” like it once did, but in the minds of many, it still does. Here is a young, very talented, photogenic man who is one of the best players in football at an early stage in his career. Realistically, he could have nearly his choice in female partners, consenting female partners. No, Deshaun Watson liked massages, and he thought they meant sex. This isn’t sex, this is power and control over these women.
Worse, that does this say about women and the NFL? The six-game suspension is three times the punishment the league handed out to then-Ravens running back Ray Rice when he punched his fiancée in an elevator, a suspension only given when video tape of the incident became public. Rice ended up never playing again. Now, we have many more women who were violated and he gets six-games? Most people, myself included thought that he would be banished for the entire season, and to my mind, still not an adequate punishment.
This entire incident has been a sad indictment on the NFL and Texas justice. Two Grand Juries in Texas refused to indict Watson on criminal charges. Settlements have been reached with 20 of the 25 or so women who sued Watson. It says that women, especially Asian women have no value; one would think that a Black man would be in a similar position, but the man can play football. Will there be no punishment of the Texan owner and front office people who tried to cover for Watson and looked the other way? It looks like the owners of the Cleveland Browns, Jimmy and Dee Haslam will get their star, despite the ludicrous statement that the pair had conducted their ”own investigation” into Watson, but arranged Watson’s contract so that he would lose approximately only $60,000 per game in the first year of his contract when he could be suspended. Will they be willing to cover up for Watson in the future?
The most important question is – has Watson learned anything in this situation? I’ll bet that he will never see the inside of a massage parlor in Cleveland, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t be hiring women to come to his house or elsewhere. Can he start to treat women with respect or will he continue to disrespect women, consider them like property? One hopes that he finds redemption, but it will take a serious effort. Does Deshaun Watson have that determination?
One thing is certain – the NFL once again shows its true self, and it’s ugly.

For years, I have written here that I am no fan of Eddie Olczyk on hockey broadcasts, especially Blackhawks broadcasts which he has been doing for 16 years. Yes, I am very happy that he overcame cancer, and not as a horse racing enthusiast, I ignored his horse passion. As much as I love Pat Foley, the Hall of Fame Blackhawk announcer, honestly, I did think that he and “Edzo” got away from the game to tell jokes and shout out to people (but maybe that’s because we are no longer Stanley Cup contenders).
In the midst of backing up the truck on the ice (gone are Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Kirby Dach, and nearly anyone who cost more that $1.50 for the season except Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Seth Jones); reportedly, nearly 1/3 of office staff have been severed, a new Head Coach hired in Luke Richardson, other coaches shuffled around, and of course the “retirement” of Foley, you really can’t tell the Blackhawks without a scorecard. (I write “retire” about Foley because he reportedly wanted to still do home games, but the team suddenly retired him. Pushed?)
At first, the news yesterday that Foley’s longtime broadcast partner Olczyk would not be returning to the booth; at least, not here in Chicago anyway. He is going to join the broadcast team in Seattle for the second year Kraken. The team appeared surprised because there have been reported that the Hawks had a verbal deal with Olczyk weeks ago that just needed to be formalized and signed. They all seemed shocked by Olczyk’s announcement. Once it became public, there were tons of fans unhappy with the move, and at first, it was blamed on the team, but that does not appear to be the case as we know things now.
As always, I was one of the few people who will not miss Olczyk at all. I knew that I was tired of hearing him go on and on about players having an “active stick” (most of the time, I had a good idea where I wanted to place Edzo’s active stick). I also tired of his telestrator replay “for all the young hockey players out there.” While it was sometimes informative, I just didn’t like that. Until last night, when in a conversation with a friend on Facebook, it finally came to me. Besides being a bloviating blowhard, it finally occurred to me that he was always auditioning to be a head coach in the NHL. That was why he drove me crazy.
Then, another thought came to me and it’s kind of depressing for a Blackhawk fan. Perhaps, Olczyk didn’t want to broadcast basically an AHL team that will be getting its asses kicked by most of the teams in the NHL. It is abhorrent to me to “tank” to get a high draft choice, but that appears to be the plan. We have seen it before – the Cubs have done it twice in a decade and so far are batting .500 – one World Series and lots of bad baseball; the White Sox have done it too but with nothing but frustration to show for it. One could say that Blackhawks did it too, but that wasn’t tanking, it was the cheapness and pure obstinance of late owner “Dollar” Bill Wirtz.
What does it say that Olczyk would rather call a second-year expansion team that his home town team where he played? Do they have better prospects? Will they at least be more interesting? I don’t know, but my joy in not having to hear nearly as much Eddie Olczyk (he’ll still be on TNT national broadcasts), may be overwhelmed by really bad hockey.

The Truth Hurts
While I have always been amazed by LeBron James’ talent, I have been less enthused by his methods of changing teams and acting as GM. However, I have appreciated his social comments and advocacy. Unlike Michael Jordan and so many other famous athletes, LeBron has put his money where his mouth is in terms of his various philanthropic efforts, especially supporting schools. He has also been forthright in speaking out in favor of Black Lives Matter, against income inequity, police brutality and other issues. To that end, it shouldn’t be surprising that he commented on the Brittney Griner situation, and I guess the pushback should have been expected and he backed down a little bit, but on the latter, I wish he hadn’t because he was absolutely correct.
HBO has been broadcasting a 34 second trailer for season five episode five of his program “The Shop” in which James questioned how he would feel about returning to the United States if he were in Griner’s situation. “Over 110 days, now how could she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?'”
As expected, there was backlash on the comment sufficient for James to issue a clarification on Twitter: “My comments on ‘The Shop’ regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc. inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome.”
Over time, I have been very open on how, as a thinking adult African-American, I am often ambivalent about the United States of America. There are many positives about this country, but at the same time, there are so many negatives that it is hard to unequivocally love the country. There is the famous quote (who I’m not sure to whom it can be attributed) that sums this feeling up – it is very hard to love a country that doesn’t love you back.
James’ comment is straight-forward and honest. It is the feeling of many Americans – people of color, LGBTQ+, and women. The hard right turn of abortion laws, failure to push for even more common sense gun control, income inequality, the system of structural racism, the attempt to whitewash history, at almost every turn, it is easy to be angry, disappointed, frustrated. More than almost anyone, Brittney Griner has every right to question her country, that has left her in a Russian prison for over 150 days, just for bringing legal medical marijuana. Being held as a political pawn between major countries can be fun. Meanwhile, she has missed her Russian basketball season, has missed the WNBA season, not to mention being with her partner and their baby.
If I were LeBron James, I wouldn’t have clarified my statement on Ms. Briner and the United States. When asked, I have never shied away from the ambivalence I have for this country. It’s long past time for people, especially white men to understand that not everyone will drink the “America is perfect” Kool-Aid.

With the complete teardown of the Chicago Blackhawks this week: Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach traded; Dylan Strome and Dominick Kubalik not given offers as restricted free agents, there are three remaining players who have no trade contracts: Patrick Kane, Jonathon Toews and Seth Jones. Jones was just acquired and is a player that can be built around (the same that could be said for DeBrincat), the last link to the 3 Stanley Cup Championship teams are likely out of here.
There are hardly any of the players from last year’s team, which already didn’t make the playoffs, leading Kane to request a trade effective tomorrow when NHL free agency begins. His preference, the Rangers, where he would be reunited with another former line mate Artemi Panerin. Other teams are apparently interested like the defending champion Avalanche. Nothing has been said about Toews, who would not command a very high return and still has one more year on a huge contract. Taking into account his injuries and illness, one has to wonder if Toews might hang them up?
With that, the Blackhawks’ championship tenure is over. I remember being at the United Center the night a very young Toews skated through 3 Avalanche defenders and the goalie to score – still one of the most amazing goals I’ve ever seen live. The Hawks already had Duncan Keith and Brett Seabrook, but we got lucky and drafted number 1 in the 2007 draft and we able to get Kane. Then came Marian Hossa, who appeared to be a carpetbagger – just looking for a Cup having played for the Red Wings and Penguins in Cup Final losses the previous two years. Annti Niemi, Corey Crawford, Ray Emery and Scott Darling in goal.
The Hawks surprised many in the 2009 playoffs, beating Calgary and Vancouver 4-games-to-2 each in the first and second rounds. They lost to Detroit in the Conference Final and even I was optimistic. The Blackhawks last won the Cup in 1961, I was a toddler and don’t remember it. I always liked hockey and was a fan through the Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito years. By the time I reached high school and university and was able to work Hawk games, I was truly hooked. Despite a few close calls, I had never seen the team win the Cup. It became a bucket list thing – something that I wanted to see once in my life, but maybe never would. The penny-pinching mismanagement of owner “Dollar” Bill Wirtz almost guaranteed failure. He spent so little money on the team in the late 1990s and early 2000s that he couldn’t give tickets away.
Wirtz died and his son Rocky took over and helped bring the team into the 21st Century. The 2010 team was truly amazing, giving up the fewest shots on goal in the whole league. I was in Boston on business when the Hawks played game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals in Philadelphia. I couldn’t stay in my room; I looked for a bar that didn’t have a band or a musician (difficult for some reason that evening). When I finally found a bar where I could concentrate on the game, I was texting (early level flip phone) back and forth with friends in Chicago. When Kane scored in overtime, I remember yelling – we did it, we did it!! (Yes, I know that I scored no goals and can’t even skate, but it was “we” dammit). When Toews held up the Cup, a tear came to me eye on a barstool in Boston.
The 2011 and 2012 teams were good, but couldn’t get past the conference finals. Finally, a lockout delayed 2012-2013 season started (on my birthday that year) and the season will be remembered for the 24 game point streak (21-0-3); the 3-1 game deficit in the second round against the hated Detroit Red Wings before coming back to win, and the 2-goals in 17 seconds in game 6 against the Bruins for the Cup. Honestly, I didn’t think we were all that great in 2015. I thought we would do respectably, but the experience, grit and toughness of that team led them to their third Stanley Cup in 6 years.
They had a great 2015-2016 season, but the wheels completely came off in the first round against the also hated Blues, losing 4 games to 2. In 2017, the Hawks were completely outclassed by the also now hated Nashville Predators. That was pretty much the end. The salary cap forced GM Stan Bowman to have to reconfigure his roster every year. Bowman was pretty good at bringing in older guys to help the core, but his draft picks for the most part were busts, especially defensemen. Only Panerin and DeBrincat were standouts.
Of course, we cannot say goodbye without mentioning the shameful, detestable behavior of the team in allowing the video tape coach to abuse young players just starting. They’re all long gone – Joel Quenneville, who had been unnecessarily fired, but had continued success in Florida until the situation was publicized. Stan Bowman, already under fire from the fans for firing Quenneville and his lousy draft picks, was also shown the door. Rocky Wirtz didn’t help things by having a major melddown when a newspaper reporter asked what measures the team had made to prevent such a thing from happening again.
And now the teardown. Once again, Hawk fans will be asked to watch has-beens and never-wases play in the best hockey league on the planet. Keeping DeBrincat seemed like a smart move since he was still young, but they decided that the contract he would be looking for after next season was just too rich. I have to decide whether to keep my ¼ season tickets. But I will always bask in those seven years, three Stanley Cups, seven playoff appearances between 2009 and 2015. I have t-shirts, and hats and replica championship rings that I will always cherish. I have autographs from Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Keith, Andrew Shaw. They will remain with me for as long as I live. And if I know Chicagoans, none of those guys will ever have to buy a beer in this area for the rest of their lives!

The big story in sports this week was last Friday’s announcement that USC and UCLA would be joining the Big Ten, giving the conference the first sea-to-shining-sea conference. All this of course is in light of Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC. The ripple effect continues with the remaining teams in the Big 12 and Pac 12 looking for a possible merger. And all of this is driven by money – how to keep the most of it in the Name-Image-Likeness world of College Sports, especially football.
This will be headline grabbing for the next several months to years: the Big Ten and SEC are the big powerhouses generating the most money and will be duking it out for control. Control? Of what, you ask? Well, several months ago, I wrote that college football is going to be one big “conference” with a whole bunch of divisions based on geography. Maybe it will turn into a league like European soccer – different levels with promotion and relegation – teams move and up and down among levels depending on who’s the best or worse in levels? It will take stages and some growing pains. The SEC and Big Ten will battle for supremacy in the eventual national conference structure, but they will find common ground ($$$$) and there will be one major college football league.
Stay tuned.

I have avoided commenting on the Brittany Griner hostage situation in Russia, mostly because I had hoped this would have long ago blown over. WNBA star Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after Russian officials claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage. A Russian judge ordered Griner, the Phoenix Mercury center who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, to remain in custody. The Biden Administration classified her as “wrongfully detained” and assigned a “hostage envoy” to work on her case. There has been a general outcry from the WNBA, teammates, coaches, press and fans to get Ms. Griner released.
A tempest in a teapot perhaps? She brought in a fairly innocuous substance into Russia and because Russia and the U.S. are battling on every front except physical war over Russia’s attempted invasion of the Ukraine, this young woman became another sparring situation? The war has cost Russia in many ways: many losses on the battlefield; no quick victory; war crimes being performed by Russian soldiers; sanctions against the country and its billion-dollar oligarchs; athletes being banned from events. What was a major country to do? That’s right, arrest a lesbian African-American woman’s basketball player and hold her indefinitely. Now, Finland and Sweden may be about to join NATO – not a win for Vladimir Putin.
Anyway, last Friday, her “trial” began and today she pled guilty to drug possession and smuggling charges, telling a Moscow court she brought marijuana into the country by accident. “I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me, but I had no intention on breaking any Russian law,” she said in court. “I was in a rush packing and the cartridges accidentally ended up in my bags.”
If convicted on drug smuggling charges, Griner could face 10 years in a Russian prison, but this may all be for show. It is said that the “guilty” plea could bring the verdict in her case closer, which would then allow her defense team and U.S. officials to start proceedings to try and secure her release. Russian media had speculated that Griner could be a part of a prisoner swap similar to the one U.S. and Russia arranged in the spring, exchanging former Marine Trevor Reed with pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was jailed years ago on drug smuggling charges. A high-ranking Russian diplomat signaled earlier Thursday that Moscow would be prepared to negotiate Griner’s fate, but only after the court hands its verdict.
Again, Ms. Griner is probably lucky that she has the notoriety of being a professional basketball player. If she’d just been an African-American tourist, we would never see her again (although she probably not be a very attractive hostage/exchange candidate). Of course, if she were LeBron James or a famous male athlete, he’d have been long ago released, if arrested at all. Also, if it had been a big male star, the entire American Consular Service would have been brought in – just another of the many injustices of being female and of color in America.
Let’s hope this whole sad business ends very soon. There has been enough phony gestures and saber-rattling – let’s get this woman home.