Critics claimed it was inappropriate for Costas to make the comments during a football game. That’s a total smokescreen. This has everything to do with the fact they don’t agree with Costas’ position on guns.
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Somehow, Bob Costas draws ire of critics for a strong opinion that is relevant to the world of pro football.
Bob Costas has angered a lot of people. Good for him.
See, many moons ago the NBC Sports voice figured his audience had the depth and capacity to handle opinions on issues not entirely sports-related. Issues touching the world of sports, which is comprised of everyday people.
This fact is totally lost on those now calling for Costas to be fired. They say his pro-gun control commentary, at halftime of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” Cowboys-Eagles telecast, was totally out of place in such a venue. Guess they prefer the more traditional halftime fare: big-breasted cheerleaders, multiple beer ads and some screaming skull announcer narrating highlights of the afternoon action.
Everyone from presidential candidate Herman Cain (he called Costas’ commentary “sanctimonious drek”) to aged rocker Ted Nugent, to the gang on Fox News was appalled. Yes, they claimed it was inappropriate for Costas to make the comments during a football game. That’s a total smokescreen. This has everything to do with the fact they don’t agree with Costas’ position on guns.
Monday, Costas said, “The gun culture in some parts of this country has taken on almost a wild-west aspect, but people should be allowed to own and carry guns in reasonably controlled circumstances.”
On Sunday, the subject was Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher’s murder of Kasandra Perkins, the mother of his 3-month-old daughter, and subsequent suicide. Costas said if Belcher hadn’t had a gun, he and Perkins would still be alive today.
Make no mistake, this is what riled Costas’ critics. How dare he go on national TV and state what he believes in. Problem with that critique is Costas has been doing this for quite a while now. Maybe Herman, Ted and the Foxies haven’t been paying attention to Costas’ verbal stylings.
He never has delivered the predictable: Like, gee I’m doing a Cowboys game so my commentary will lend perspective to the age-old question of whether Tony Romo can lead Dallas to a Super Bowl title.
Over the years, many have taken strong issue with the stuff that exits his mouth. That’s part of the deal. But to call for his dismissal by hiding behind the transparent argument that he should not have taken an advocacy stance during a football telecast is totally disingenuous. His critics would have more credibility if they just came out and said Costas should be fired because he’s pro-gun control.
In case any of the gun advocates forgot, Belcher was a pro football player and the story of this tragedy was huge. Would they rather have Costas try and bury the story like CBS’ “The NFL Today” did? Or bring on a Victoria's Secret model at halftime like CBS did on its pregame to distract from the tragedy?
And did those so interested in seeing Costas get axed forget that when it comes to guns, the National Football League has a rich tradition. Just ask commissioner Roger Goodell. Did anyone forget how Plaxico Burress went into a packed Manhattan nightclub with a loaded gun and shot himself in the leg? And does anyone remember Costas’ rant in 2011 when he torched Buffalo wideout Stevie Johnson for pantomiming Plaxico’s gun move during an end zone celebration.
How dare Costas criticize an NFL player for carrying an imaginary gun into the endzone. His critics could’ve gotten mileage out of that one. Maybe even gotten him fired.
For what? Making viewers think about something other than a halftime score.
See, many moons ago the NBC Sports voice figured his audience had the depth and capacity to handle opinions on issues not entirely sports-related. Issues touching the world of sports, which is comprised of everyday people.
This fact is totally lost on those now calling for Costas to be fired. They say his pro-gun control commentary, at halftime of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” Cowboys-Eagles telecast, was totally out of place in such a venue. Guess they prefer the more traditional halftime fare: big-breasted cheerleaders, multiple beer ads and some screaming skull announcer narrating highlights of the afternoon action.
Everyone from presidential candidate Herman Cain (he called Costas’ commentary “sanctimonious drek”) to aged rocker Ted Nugent, to the gang on Fox News was appalled. Yes, they claimed it was inappropriate for Costas to make the comments during a football game. That’s a total smokescreen. This has everything to do with the fact they don’t agree with Costas’ position on guns.
Monday, Costas said, “The gun culture in some parts of this country has taken on almost a wild-west aspect, but people should be allowed to own and carry guns in reasonably controlled circumstances.”
On Sunday, the subject was Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher’s murder of Kasandra Perkins, the mother of his 3-month-old daughter, and subsequent suicide. Costas said if Belcher hadn’t had a gun, he and Perkins would still be alive today.
Make no mistake, this is what riled Costas’ critics. How dare he go on national TV and state what he believes in. Problem with that critique is Costas has been doing this for quite a while now. Maybe Herman, Ted and the Foxies haven’t been paying attention to Costas’ verbal stylings.
He never has delivered the predictable: Like, gee I’m doing a Cowboys game so my commentary will lend perspective to the age-old question of whether Tony Romo can lead Dallas to a Super Bowl title.
Over the years, many have taken strong issue with the stuff that exits his mouth. That’s part of the deal. But to call for his dismissal by hiding behind the transparent argument that he should not have taken an advocacy stance during a football telecast is totally disingenuous. His critics would have more credibility if they just came out and said Costas should be fired because he’s pro-gun control.
In case any of the gun advocates forgot, Belcher was a pro football player and the story of this tragedy was huge. Would they rather have Costas try and bury the story like CBS’ “The NFL Today” did? Or bring on a Victoria's Secret model at halftime like CBS did on its pregame to distract from the tragedy?
And did those so interested in seeing Costas get axed forget that when it comes to guns, the National Football League has a rich tradition. Just ask commissioner Roger Goodell. Did anyone forget how Plaxico Burress went into a packed Manhattan nightclub with a loaded gun and shot himself in the leg? And does anyone remember Costas’ rant in 2011 when he torched Buffalo wideout Stevie Johnson for pantomiming Plaxico’s gun move during an end zone celebration.
How dare Costas criticize an NFL player for carrying an imaginary gun into the endzone. His critics could’ve gotten mileage out of that one. Maybe even gotten him fired.
For what? Making viewers think about something other than a halftime score.
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com
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