As a company, the Jets have their share of media circuses going again to the summer time of 1969 and Joe (Willie) Namath’s tearful press convention “retirement” over the Bachelors III controversy.
There was additionally craziness over the approaching of Brett Favre, Tim Tebow, Rex Ryan and others. Now, if a deal will be reached between the Jets and the Packers, Aaron Rodgers is not going to solely change into Gang Green’s subsequent quarterback however its microphone potentate too.
Rodgers doesn’t want any of the Jets PR consultants or in-house spin medical doctors. In his personal thoughts, he’s the de facto boss of his personal media store. After 18 years with Green Bay, Rodgers has change into a grasp of controlling his personal content material. It might be about soccer, darkness retreats, immunization or the impact of ayahuasca. There is sufficient proof to say he’s obsessive about managing the message.
Rodgers found out methods to put a wide range of media platforms to work for him. The manner he orchestrated the timing of his Wednesday revelation (on Pat McAfee’s YouTube present) of his intention to change into Jets quarterback was simply the newest instance of his savvy.
As the Free World waited whereas he was actually at nighttime, Rodgers constructed suspense earlier than lastly offering his personal timeline of what went down with the Packers and the way he arrived at his determination.
The build-up labored. Almost 500,000 viewers watched McAfee’s interview — on a nationwide platform — with Rodgers. It’s uncertain he would’ve had the identical variety of listeners if he determined to restrict his attain and delivered the phrase on one in every of NYC’s native sports activities speak stations. Nor would he get the commercial-free, one-hour, of interview time McAfee gave him.
While McAfee has reverence for Rodgers, the previous punter requested the fitting questions. This wasn’t a Twinkie Munch. At least till one in every of McAfee’s colleagues, close to the tip of the interview, paid his respects by verbally kissing Rodgers’ tuchis.
Yet Rodgers’ Wednesday stylings additionally strengthened his need to manage the media. Rodgers bristled when a “rumor” about him asking the Jets to accumulate sure gamers was raised by McAfee. Rodgers known as the rumor “ridiculous” earlier than chiding two ESPN NFL reporters, Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini, for texting him searching for affirmation.
Rodgers mentioned he responded (kind of) to Schefter however not Russini as a result of he didn’t know her. He mentioned he would have instructed Russini the identical factor he texted Schefter: “Lose my number. Nice try. I’ll speak for myself.”
This is to not counsel Rodgers may have an adversarial relationship with the native media together with boss Jets scribes if he comes right here. They have offered ample proof that gratuitously stirring the pot, is just not a precedence. And Rodgers’ historical past suggests he’s greater than prepared to meet the NFL’s media necessities.
Considering how effectively it really works for either side, there may be each cause to anticipate Rodgers will proceed doing his weekly McAfee spot. That would seemingly imply he is not going to seem on ESPN-98.7 or WFAN to take part in a paid weekly interview the place Gasbags wish to improve their very own reputations by taking part in the sport of “gotcha.”
Surely, that’s not part of Rodgers’ media plan.
HATING ON THE ‘CLASSIC’
On Twitter, two normally righteous commentators, had self-serving, I-told-you-so moments, after Edwin Diaz suffered a season-ending harm Wednesday night time celebrating a Puerto Rico win within the World Baseball Classic.
Both voices are harsh WBC critics. Howie Rose, the veteran radio play-by-play man of the Mets, tweeted: “Thank you, WBC.” The different mouth, WFAN/SNY’s Sal Licata, launched a video calling the WBC “a stupid worthless exhibition tournament” and chiding Diaz for “getting hurt celebrating.”
Not as soon as did both man specific any compassion for Diaz, the Mets nearer, or present any concern for him and his well-being after the harm he suffered.
They had been blinded by their hatred of the WBC and, in Licata’s case, Diaz’s harm messing with the Mets “World Series or bust” aspirations.
FORGOT THE FREAKOUT
James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan is busy with facial recognition, the Sphere, the State Liquor Authority and the Garden’s annual property tax break however he can take some solace realizing his MSG Network remains to be masking up for his Knicks.
Happened final Saturday through the Knicks’ 106-95 loss to the Clippers in L.A. Late within the third quarter Julius Randle acquired known as for a technical foul after elbowing Mason Plumlee within the face. Then, Randle flipped out on the bench, yelling at coaches and staff safety whereas Tom Thibodeau tried restraining him.
On the published, the Randle incident was replayed. Yet on the postgame present, that includes Ed Cohen, Alan Hahn and Bill Pidto, it was not mentioned or replayed. The solely time the Randle freakout was even talked about on the postgame present was by Thibodeau throughout his press convention.
TIERNEY TIRADE
Could it’s all of the hours ready, and speaking about, the potential for — and the machinations surrounding — Aaron Rodgers being traded to the Jets acquired to Brandon Tierney?
For there isn’t any different cause (a minimum of one we will manufacture) why he would — out of the blue — launch right into a Monday WFAN rip-job on the self-deprecating Cooper Manning, Eli and Peyton’s older brother.
“Why so much Cooper [Manning]?” Tierney, on the air, requested. “Those [comedy] bits he does are painful enough!”
Tierney won’t ever be referred to as Mr. Laughs, however on this event a minimum of his Manning riff was semi-funny.
But why?
AROUND THE DIAL
Steve Cohen, senior VP of sports activities programming for SiriusXM is transferring on to extra charitable pastures. He will concentrate on “Shaina’s Wish,” a charity he and his spouse based after their daughter Shaina died in 2017. The charity reaches out to folks with psychological well being points and substance abuse issues. Cohen will even function a advisor to SXM. Eric Spitz, Cohen’s long-time colleague, will transfer into the senior VP function. … As anticipated, Michael Kay on his Thursday radio present, mentioned he can be staying put at ESPN-98.7 after agreeing to a brand new deal. Kay wasn’t convincing whereas beforehand dangling the potential for radio “retirement.”… MSG is again within the diamond enterprise airing 10 Fordham ladies’s softball video games and 10 males’s baseball tilts this Spring. … Actually thought Adam Schein was going to interrupt down and cry whereas paying tribute to not too long ago “retired” Jim Boeheim on CBS Sports Network’s “Time to Schein.” He did strive injecting a little bit of stability into his soliloquy however with strains like “I absolutely love him” and “From every Syracuse fan, coach, thank you” we thought Schein’s subsequent transfer can be introducing the unwashed plenty to his Boeheim blow-up doll.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: ROB MANFRED
Hold the confetti. We’re not getting carried away and organizing a parade for the commish. Yet give him credit score for driving house baseball’s new rule modifications which are re-energizing MLB play.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: GALAXY MEDIA
For firing veteran ESPN Syracuse talkie Brent Axe final Sunday. Listeners say he performed it straight whereas speaking Syracuse Univ. sports activities, however administration says Axe not too long ago turned too unfavorable, calling his tone “dark.” Just questioning if not too long ago “retired” SU hoops coach Jim Boeheim, who owns 21% of Galaxy Media, is a collaborator in Axe’s demise?
DOUBLE TALK
What Rick Pitino mentioned: “In terms of coaching, I probably have the same passion that I had as a 30-year-old.”
What Rick Pitino meant to say: “I still have what it takes to leave Iona for a bigger school and a larger paycheck.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
