PONDERABLES
How many fans really believe that Blue Jay first baseman Guerrero Jr. has lost forty-two pounds?
THINGS I FIRMLY BELIEVE
Whoever approved the federal government’s hotel quarantine program is the personification of why the statement “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you” has always been laughable.
Because of Trudeau’s cover-up, there’s much that’s still unknown about the WE charity’s improprieties.
JEOPARDY! HOST AUDITIONS
After Ken Jennings, Jeopardy!’s winningest contestant, completed his six-week stint as guest host, the show’s executive producer, Mike Richards, took over for three weeks. Based on fan reaction, both were immensely popular. Apparently, broadcasters Katie Couric and Dr. Oz, as well as Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, have each taped two weeks of shows, which will begin to air next week. It’s been announced that broadcasters Anderson Cooper, Savannah Guthrie and Bill Whittaker, actress Mayim Bialik, and CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta will also record two-week stints, which will carry the program to its summer hiatus.
The show’s producers have said that not all the guest hosts are being considered for the permanent slot; but there’s no doubt that Jennings is, and that Richards may be. The new host will kick off the next season in September. It should be Jennings, not just because he did an outstanding job during his six-weeks of hosting, but he represents an important, recognizable link to both the late Alex Trebek and the franchise itself.
THE TRUMP CONUNDRUM
It’s difficult to explain the sheep-like reverence so many Republicans have for Donald Trump. He’s a repulsive, repugnant, vindictive, psychopathic liar with no redeeming virtues. And because his political record is actually quite pitiful, their belief that swearing loyalty to him is necessary to win 2022 mid-term primaries is equally puzzling. The only election he’s ever won was the 2016 Presidency, and then only because the Democrats ran Hillary Clinton, the only candidate he could beat. He even lost the popular vote to her. He lost the House of Representatives in 2018. In 2020 he lost both the Presidency and the Senate, and was demolished in the popular vote.
ROGERS BLOWS IT
By not having their media arm, Sportsnet, produce any spring training games, and even worse, not having a dedicated radio broadcast during the regular season, Toronto Blue Jays owner, Rogers Communications, has demonstrated an inexplicable disdain for Blue Jay fans. Rogers’ excuse, that the decision was driven by COVID-19 considerations, is beyond pathetic.
Regarding the spring training games, all you had to do to fully understand the problem with this decision was watch last Sunday’s game against the Yankees. Because it was a Yankee telecast, early on, while the Jays were batting, we were subjected to an entire half-inning interview with Yankee manager Aaron Boone, during which there was not a single word about, or image of, what was happening on the field. It happened again later during an interview with Yankee first baseman Luke Voit. Also, during the last half of the game, when a spate of substitutes is the norm in spring training, hardly a word was spoken about the Blue Jay players, some of whom are hardly known at all. This is not a knock on the Yankee broadcasters, they were just doing their jobs.
As bad as the spring training situation is, the decision to simulcast radio and TV is incomprehensible. A lengthy article could be written about the problems, but suffice to point out that the main job of radio play-by-play broadcasters is to paint detailed word pictures for their listeners. On the other hand, TV play-by-play broadcasters avoid word pictures because the audience sees what’s going on and adding word pictures would not only be redundant, but also annoying. The result is bound to be both disgruntled radio listeners and TV viewers. Baseball’s best broadcaster, Dan Shulman, might be able to pull it off, but Rogers hasn’t announced how many games he’s going to do. The thought of Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler doing a simulcast borders on unbearable.
NOT JUST BACK-TO-BACK SHUTOUTS
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4-0 and 3-0 wins against the Edmonton Oilers last Saturday and Monday weren’t just back-to-back shutouts, they were incredibly unlikely back-to-back shutouts. Consider that: both games were in Edmonton; one of the shutouts was by the Leafs’ back-up goalie and the other one was by the back-up’s backup; the Leafs were missing their leading scorer, Auston Matthews; and they blanked the best player in the world, Connor McDavid.