Follow-up: One day’s breaking news story, the biggest thing to happen ever, gets lost in tomorrow’s headlines and we never hear – are you ready, Paul Harvey? – the rest of the story.
Thought a couple of follow-ups on matters mentioned in this column might be worthwhile.
The release of Marcus Vick from the Virginia Tech Hokies football team last month was questioned in this column. There was reason to release him last year, but the school held on to its star quarterback to get to the Gator Bowl, its coaches getting new contracts, and trivial traffic tickets were cited as the final straw.
The school has announced it will investigate how the matter was handled. There were reasons for Vick to be let go, but was he “used” by the school to reap benefits rather than the school acting to protect not only itself but to try and do what was right by Vick?
When Theo Epstein slithered away from the Sox due to his personal problems with team president Larry Lucchino, we wondered how long that would last. Theo is, of course, back, and back as GM.
The unending news interviews with the two feuding front office men, done separately and all over town, was an attempt to convince the public that wounds had been soothed over, but it was obvious all is not soothed. These two will have to work out the grounds of their relationship on the job.
Where was Sox owner John Henry in this latest installment of “As the Sox Turn”?
He was the one who let the initial disagreements explode and wondered aloud if he was worthy of his position. He obviously had to be extensively involved in Theo’s return, but has said little.
Perhaps he is becoming a worthy owner by staying away from the cameras and taking care of business.
Epstein now finds himself in the precarious position of being a beloved sports icon in Boston. Watch out, Theo. He is viewed as the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-answers man of the Red Sox.
Let’s hope he doesn’t have to slither out of Fenway in a Halloween gorilla outfit any time soon, the way he did when he left the first time.
Finally, after hurricane Katrina, this column noted how some sleaze-filled schools were calling athletes of affected universities and trying to entice them away. The NCAA did step in and call a halt to such offensive acts.
Further, the NCAA let loose the tight reins of control over what athletes can receive, permitting “institutions and conferences” affected by the storm to provide “such necessary expenses and benefits to accommodate immediate needs” of athletes as was appropriate.
Nice work. As a result, schools have provided groceries, expense money, lodging, and family help to student athletes affected by the hurricane. That also helps keep the kids at their respective schools and away from the wolf schools making the calls.
So, for the moment on those three fronts, that is the rest of the story.
Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.
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