Here’s the review of Real Sports that aired on HBO tonight.
Bryant Gumbel interviewed Adam “Pacman” Jones, currently on suspension from the NFL. Jones denies any involvement in the Las Vegas strip club shooting that took place during NBA All Star Weekend in February. Jones has had a record of trouble since entering the NFL. I can’t believe Jones continues to deny any wrongdoing in any, any of the things he’s accused of. Gumbel asked Jones about Darryl Moore, a known drug dealer. But Jones denied knowing him despite allowing Moore to stay in his house and borrow his car. Jones was never charged when Moore was arrested transporting cocaine and pot in Jones’ car. Wiretaps show that Jones asked Moore for drugs as recently as a year ago even though Pacman has denied using drugs for three years. Here’s a guy who won’t own up to anything. And Jones maintains that the Las Vegas Police are making up charges against him in regards to the Minxx shootings. Someone from Jones’ entourage allegedly shot the club bouncer who’s now paralyzed. The whole thing is whether Jones was involved or just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I listen to this interview and just wonder where Pacman’s head is. He’s in a situation where his entourage has done him a lot of harm. Gumbel sat there looking incredulously at Pacman. I am as well. Good segment. Grade B+.
Reported by Bernard Goldberg, this focused on the phenomenom known as dogfighting. Goldberg talked to a trainer involved in this detestable part of society. Tapes were shown of dogs fighting. Really sick. And the trainer says a dog that fights to the death is a true warrior. Goldberg reports that dogfighting is a $500 million business which is really hard to believe, but this would not have come to light after Michael Vick’s property was found to a breeding ground. This segment showed an underground video demonstrating the way to build a dog’s strength and eventually, how to train the dog to fight. In addition, to train the dogs, sparring partners are found by kidnapping pets from homes, literally stealing them from backyards. This is a sad story, but to see that some people actually believe in this is just plain sick. But it’s a story that needs to shown for us to understand and to get this wiped out. As a pet lover, I can’t believe that this type of brutality is condoned by a sick part of society. While I winced at many pictures of dogs bruised, batteredand beaten, this was an important story to watch. It was sad to see one of the fighting dogs rescued from a breeding ground euthanized because they were deemed too dangerous for society. As you probably know by now, dogfighting is banned in all 50 states. Goldberg does good work on this type of investigative story. Grade A.
Andrea Kremer talked with Denver Bronco Javon Walker about his friend and teammate, Darrent Williams who was shot outside a nightclub just hours after they played in their final regular season game last year. Williams and Walker were riding in a limousine when the shooting occured. Walker held Williams in his arms as he died. Apparently two men who were kicked out of the nightclub were the same men who caused later trouble and started shooting at the limo. Walker did not attend Williams’ funeral, but he told Kremer by going, it just bring back memories of the fateful night. The people who could identify the shooters did not thus, no one has been charged with Williams’ murder. While Walker did not want to return to the Broncos at first, he is back with Denver and says he’ll play for Darrent. While Walker did not cry in the interview, Kremer says he feels he’s cried enough. The story was good, but I felt some things were missing including some reaction from Williams’ family. Grade B.
The First Family of Tennis, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi were interviewed by well-known tennis analyst Mary Carillo. People who know tennis feel this marriage was one of the stranger unions as Graf and Agassi have different personalities, but for some reason, it works. They have two beautiful children. Both have their share of Grand Slam titles and seemed to have different temperments, but Steffi and Andre say their marriage makes perfect sense. Mary says it seems weird to her. Steffi is a private person, Andre loves the spotlight and even revels in it. Even though the marriage seems weird, Steffi and Andre seem to be perfect for each other. They’re comfortable with each other, they’re in business together and they’re in love. I can’t begrudge them. It’s a typical Mary story. I give this a B-.
Final Words
In his comment, Bryant Gumbel condemned using the word “privilige” to describe those who play football. Gumbel racked off the many players who have lingering effects from their “glory” days like Roger Staubach who trembles due to suffering so many concussions or Jim Otto who had to have his leg amputated after 40 operations on his knee. Gumbel says sportswriters and fans misidentify playing football as a privilige. He says it’s not. Playing football is a hard job and while players are well compensated, the effects of their days are not “priviliges”. Good comment and certainly not like last month’s when he went after NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw. Grade B+.
Overall grade for this edition of Real Sports – B. Solid as usual.
