From the coverage of the worst All-Star Game of any of the major sports, the Pro-Bowl, comes this nugget from game MVP DeAngelo Hall:
MVP DeAngelo Hall had one of his team’s five interceptions and returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown to help the NFC match a Pro Bowl scoring record in a 55-41 victory over turnover-prone AFC. He gets a new Cadillac for his efforts.
“I was just about to buy another SUV,” the Redskins cornerback said, “so to come out here and grab one for free, I like that.”
Yes, he really did brag that he was thinking about buying “another SUV” – not a “new” SUV, but another, as in addition to whatever car or cars he currently has in his fleet.
Clearly, Hall is missing a either a sense of context or the spirit of brotherhood with his fellow union members (and possibly both).
Even the normally-overkilled Super Bowl coverage seems to be overshadowed by news that the NFL labor situation may devolve in the same type of players-versus-ownership animus that has cost significant playing time – and even championships – in each of the other sports over the past 20 years. Matt Hasselbeck and Antonio Cromartie got into a much-hyped war of tweets over the potential lockout. (The football world remains shocked that a member of the normally stoic and reserved New York Jets got into such a verbal spat with a fellow player.)
The NFL Player’s Association needs to get their members on the same page or risk losing the important PR war that comes with high-profile CBA negotiations. One cornerback lashing out at the situation and another openly wondering how to arrange his fleet of cars won’t help it score points with fans.
Jim Eltringham 