Sez Me …
Can you the first time you saw fans storming a court or playing field?
I can. Hopefully you weren’t among them.
I bring this up because, last weekend, Wake Forest’s basketball team upset highly ranked Duke, and Wake’s home fans stampeded onto the court. In the process, Kyle Filipowski, the Dukies’ best player, got caught in the traffic and injured his knee (at least it wasn’t as serious as it appeared).
It was a while back when I saw my first one. I was a viewer in the stands, not a participant in the storm, which would have taken too much effort (and back then I valued my looks).
It was Nov. 5, 1966. Don Coryell’s coming-out party. San Diego State’s football team was ranked No. 2 in the small college polls. And the Aztecs played host to North Dakota State, ranked No. 1, in Balboa Stadium.
The crowd at Balboa, a stadium which stupidly would be torn down a decade later by the brilliant Ham & Eggers, was 35,342 (yes, Aztecs fans used to go to games when its football teams were capable of scoring), which remained the largest in the historic building’s history.
SDSU stampeded the Bison 35-0 and would go on to finish 11-0 with a mythical small college national championship on its résumé. Balboa, a saloon that night, would have flunked the breathalyzer, and thousands of patrons rushed the field, ripping down the goal posts and ing the remnants around as though they were beach balls.
I’ve been listening to pundits expound on storming. Most of them want it outlawed. And so do I. They’re another stupid reason for drunks to have a half-assed reason to be stupid.
Wake fans acted as though the Demon Deacons never had beaten Duke, when they have — 38 times, which includes better Blue Devils teams than this one.
The overwhelming problem is prevention. Most storms come in college basketball, because they’re easier. But policing thousands of people in a small space would seem to be a labor Hercules would turn his back on. (Did you know Merriam-Webster now says it’s OK to end a sentence with a preposition?)
Telling the fans there will be a forfeit if they rush the court might work. But that ain’t happening.
Ordering the players to remain in the bench area after a game might work. But in most cases, stormers get to the court before the players have a chance to skedaddle. Useless.
Ringing the court with cops not only wouldn’t do, but it would be cost prohibitive and could create more risk.
As with homelessness, there are millions of answers to a seemingly unanswerable problem.
So my answer is: Go back to COVID Law and don’t let the fans in. No? …
——————————————————————USC freshman Bronny James, son of LeBron, will make $6 million in NIL money. It’s a great story, Bronny overcoming his heart issues. But dad is a billionaire, and nothing at all against the kid — I wish him the best and hope he becomes a mega star — but he’s averaging 5.5 points a game. If he gets drafted by an NBA team, it will be the one that employs his father. …
A.J. Smith always said the most important thing at the NFL combine is medical evaluation. Well, presumptive No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams has refused to be examined or provide medical history. It tells me he either doesn’t want to play for the Bears, or for anybody, because John the Baptist wouldn’t get drafted without a physical. …
Caleb made $10 million-NIL in the two years he played QB for USC. So, after draft day, he can announce his retirement. …
The Vikings could be making ace receiver Justin Jefferson available. His extension may run $150 million over five years. Modern diva wideouts do not win Super Bowls. …
Miami paid big money for Tyreek Hill, who I cannot stand but nevertheless is the most dangerous receiver. The Dolphins’ last playoff win? Dec. 30, 2000. …
The Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls without a No. 1 receiver and a bunch of drop artists, and when they won their first one with Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl MVP should have been a San Diego-grown running back, Damien Williams. …
The Vikings reportedly are in talks with the Patriots about trading up to get New England’s No. 3 overall draft pick — and, thus, a quarterback. The Pats want at least three No. 1 picks. Please. The lottery should be treated like booze. Draft responsibly. …
Bears GM Ryan Poles says there’s no firm plan on what to do with quarterback Justin Fields as the NFL Draft approaches. And I always thought April was Liars Month. …
At 46, Tom Brady recently ran a faster 40 than he did at the 2000 NFL combine. So he now is in-between three-toed sloth and continental drift. …
The 49ers have hired Brandon Staley as their fourth-and-short coach. …
The Lakers are complaining about inconsistent officiating. What’s wrong? L.A. players are upset refs are giving them too many calls. …
The NCAA is thinking about elevating its basketball tournament to 80 teams. Soon, coaches will be fired for making it. …
Richard Sherman. Stanford grad. Two DUIs — one in 2022, another two weeks ago. Another case of the smart being remarkably stupid. Try thinking outside the classroom. …
Jerry Jones has been ordered to take a DNA test in the paternity case filed against him. I thought presidents were immune to this sort of thing. …
Russell Wilson says, for him, it’s “all about winning.” After what he accomplished monetarily in Denver — $39 million this year for basically stinking it out — he obviously can achieve his lifetime dream of becoming a banker. …
Where were you on Feb. 22, 1980? Miracle on Ice. I was at the Sports Arena for the Jack in the Box Indoor Games. It was OK. I got to watch a terrific track meet and later heard Al Michaels’ call. …
One of the greatest Hollywood quotes, from Betty Grable: “I became a star for two reasons — and I’m standing on them.” …
RIP, Richard Lewis. So funny he made you want to be self-deprecating and neurotic. …
Just to further embarrass coaches who can’t tell time, college football has added the two-minute warning. …
Macy’s is closing its 400,000-square-foot San Francisco store on Union Square, one of my favorite destinations. Since 2020, at least 17 retailers have left the best shopping area west of Manhattan. I am saddened. …
If I own a top Kentucky Derby contender, damned if I’m skipping it because its trainer is banned from Churchill Downs. Loyalty only goes so far. Is an NFL owner boycotting the Super Bowl because his head coach is suspended? See ya at the Preakness, Bob. …
Source: Mitch McConnell will leave the Senate in November to become the Padres’ next hitting coach.
