Apparently angry at the NFL replacement referees, Bryant Gumbel lashed out tonight and gave them his parting shot on HBO’s Real Sports. I mean, he really went all out to trash them.
Let’s check out what Bryant said.
BRYANT GUMBEL CLOSING COMMENTARY
REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL
EPISODE #186
AIRS TONIGHT (9/18) @ 10:00 PM ET/PT“Finally tonight, with a few words about The Replacements. That’s the title of a comedy Hollywood produced 12 years ago about some inept fill-ins for striking football players. The film was no masterpiece but it was kind of funny. Unfortunately, there’s nothing even mildly amusing about the NFL’s current version of the replacements starring real scabs as inept officials.
By now you know the league’s veteran crews are on the sidelines, forced there by a labor dispute over a relatively small amount of money. I know telling other people how to spend their money is rude but the reality of guys who are worth billions risking the health of players worth millions in order to save just thousands of dollars is downright silly. Especially for a league claiming to care about player safety.
On screen Keanu Reeves and the other replacements made a mockery of the game, something the NFL wants fans to think its replacements haven’t done just yet. But we’re only two weeks into a five-month season and as the growing number of complaints by coaches and players would suggest, there is every reason to fear the worst is yet to come from subs who are clearly in over their head.
For the record, the movie Replacements found a way to come together and prevail under the guidance of Gene Hackman. But that stuff only happens in Hollywood. Roger Goodell is no Gene Hackman, and real life is no movie. Trying to learn on the job while presiding over a game that’s inherently violent is serious stuff. The NFL’s replacement refs have already lost the respect of the players and lost control on the field. Thinking they might regain either? That’s really make believe.”
That’s all.
