Today, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will offer its four usual segments, but one that comes in just under the wire is Bob Costas‘ interview with former Yankees manager Joe Torre. Here is our real time review as it aired tonight. Usually airing at 10 p.m., tonight’s program is on at 9. Feels a bit strange. Here we go.
Our correspondent is Bernard Goldberg. He travels to Iraq to look at how sports still survives in the country despite war and death. In July, the people of Iraq celebrated the country winning the Asian Cup, similar to soccer’s Euro Cup. Athletes and coaches are being killed with frightening regularity reports Goldberg. The problem is the world doesn’t know about it. The son and wife of the President of the Iraqi Olympic Committee say he has been kidnapped and they don’t know where he is. Of course, they fear the worst, but people wonder as Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds can play together on one national team, it’s wondered why athletes and coaches are being targeted. Ahmed al-Hijiya took over the Olympic Committee after the ruthless Uday Hussein led the panel with fear, beatings and killings. Ahmed wanted sports to bring Iraqis together. But that message was disliked. During a speech to the national Olympic Committee, gunmen burst in and kidnapped al-Hijiya and many of the Olympic members. They haven’t been seen since. Imad Hussein tried to carry the torch. But as athletes try to train, many have been gunned down by sectarian violence. One wrestling coach has had to use an outdoor cafe to train his athletes, but many of his trainees including his own son were killed. The coach has herded his athletes and others to Kurdistan in northern Iraq which is relatively peaceful compared to the rest of the country. And many kids in that region are being trained to become athletes despite their ethnicity. But those who hate tolerance continue to target athletes. Hussein found out that the entire Tai kwan do team was murdered. And he’s thrown in the towel. He got a visitor’s visa to the United States and tearfully left his family behind. And al-Hijiya’s wife said she got a call from the kidnappers who said they have moved into her house. So she and her son have had to go into exile. She believes her husband is still alive. In the meantime, 37 people are still missing and the Iraqi government is doing nothing to find them. Goldberg says as of now, Iraq plans to send a team to the 2008 Olympics. Compelling story. A+.
Segment #2 – Teammates for Life
Reported by Frank Deford, this is the story about a bond between two former Dallas Cowboys, Ron Springs and Everson Walls. On opening night of the 2007 season, Walls and Springs were introduced to the crowd. This is a story about hope and love, but also about sadness and sorrow, and inspiration. Ron Springs was a strong fullback in the 1980’s, a team captain when he noticed a rookie in training camp, cornerback Everson Walls. The two became good friends as did their wives. They lived in the same neighborhood and became godfathers to each other’s children. After their playing careers, they remained friends, playing in basketball games across the country representing the Cowboys. But in 1991 at the age of 35, Springs began to develop Type II Diabetes. And because he did not get it diagnosed right away, Springs’ body began to break down. His kidneys failed and he had to go on dialysis. Once a strong fullback, Springs saw his body could no longer function as it could. It was said that Springs would need a kidney transplant. Two relatives volunteered to donate their kidneys, but were not a match. Ron’s son, Sean Springs, one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL with the Washington Redskins offered, but Ron said no. Walls then stepped up and said he would offer his. And once he was determined to be a suitable match, Walls decided to do it. Walls said there was no doubt in his mind that he would do it. In February this year, it was time for the operation. Walls was prepped first, then Springs. Five hours later, the transplant was a complete success. Springs said he felt like a new man and got a new lease on life. Six months later, both Springs and Walls went to the middle of the Texas Stadium field named as honorary captains and also to bring awareness to diabetes and kidney donations. But 10 days ago, Springs checked into the hospital for a regular surgery, but during an operation, he had a seizure and went into a coma. Right now, he has no or little brain activity and his family has been told he might not recover. But Walls feels that this is not the end. His family feels that Springs will resume his role as father, friend and loving husband. Walls says when Ron wakes up, he’ll tell him that he loves him. What a story. This grade gets an A+.
This segment reported by John Frankel focuses on Steve Clarkson, the man credited with developing NFL quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Leinart and Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen into prime players. And parents who want to develop their sons into quarterbacks, they’ll have to pay $3,000/hour plus expenses for his tutelage. Clarkson travels all over the country to teach kids how to throw, read defenses and the proper footwork. And he also teaches them to break down film. Some of clients are as young as 11 years old! Clarkson says he wouldn’t pay his price, but as we see, he has a lot of clients. Clarkson himself was a quarterback at San Jose State, but never took a snap in the NFL. After playing two seasons in the CFL, Clarkson never really got a shot in the pros. And he became a manager for a fast food chain. But after applying to become a coach for a youth football league, he noticed a cornerback and converted Perry Klein into a QB, and soon afterwards, Clarkson started his own Quarterback Academy. And now, private tutelage is a trend across the country. Yes, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer did go through some private training in high school. Even the Greatest QB in NFL history, Joe Montana, has recruited Clarkson to tutor his own sons. Montana says there things he can teach his sons, but Clarkson can teach them the entire package and how to develop good p
ractice habits. Clarkson went on tour for 9 QB camps this summer and he charged a mint for his tutelage. Interestingly enough, Clarkson who is African American has many clients who are white and can afford his price. But he’ll reach out more cities next year. And in an interesting turnaround, Matt Leinart wants Clarkson to teach his son. The kid is just a baby. Grade, B+.
Segment #4 – End of An Era
This is Bob Costas‘ segment with Joe Torre. Torre said because he was offered just a one year deal, he could not take the deal. Costas asked if the Yankees offered two years, Torre said he could have found a way to work around the deal even with a $2.5 million pay cut. As he flew down to Tampa to meet with the Yankees’ hierarchy, Torre said he told GM Brian Cashman that he didn’t know if he would take the offer. And as we know, Torre did not. Torre said he told Yankees owner George Steinbrenner that winning four World Series championships in his first six years had made a difficult standard to live up to. And despite getting to the playoffs every year for the following six seasons, not making the World Series was disappointing to the owner. Yankees President Randy Levine said the team offered incentives in the contract to Torre which would have upped his salary to as much as $8 million and have kicked in a one year option for the 2009 season. But Torre said he didn’t need incentives to manage and was insulted. Hank Steinbrenner was not happy with the “insulted” comment and told the media that Torre was nothing without the offer from his dad in 1995 and should not be insulted. Costas asked about George’s state of mind and if he was sharp and engaged. Torre said Steinbrenner has calmed down, but says he’s more interesting now then back in the 1990’s, but says his mind is still aware and alert. Torre said he was sad it had to end and shook George’s hand and still called him “boss” out of habit. Costas and Torre then reviewed his comments from his press conference last week. Torre says he’s not angry about the whole thing, but he’s sad his Yankees career is over. Torre said he would take his time to decide if he would come back to Yankee Stadium, but there’s no cold war between he and the Yankees brass. Torre says he’s uncertain if he’ll manage again, but he’s also downplaying going into the Hall of Fame as a manager. Good interview. Could have been better. I feel there were a few things missing from this segment. Might have been rushed. Grade, B.
Final Segment – Bryant’s Comments
Bryant talked about Randy Moss as he has seemingly turned his career around with the New England Patriots after being labeled as a malcontent with the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders.
Overall grade: A-
Good show as usual.
