* Sure it was self-serving, but (Dallas Mavericks’ owner) Mark Cuban’s comments on the NFL’s seeming ubiquity on television resonates. I can watch some Bucs’ games because I live here and I like football. But as for watching many of those hundreds of NFL games routinely televised from September through the Super Bowl, no thanks.
I’m reminded that I’m watching a show-business product–from the talking-head shills to the show-boating players. But, then, I can remember when “Monday Night Football” seemed like overkill.
* Defending national football champion Florida State wasn’t overly impressive in its opening win against Oklahoma State. Maybe it’s more psychological than physical. Maybe it’s everybody fawning over the Seminoles as defending champions because of all that returning talent.
Maybe they need to focus more on head coach Jimbo Fisher’s slogan for 2014: “Don’t eat the cheese.” It’s a Joe Maddonesque way of suggesting that they deflect praise.
* Speaking of FSU, it recently (along with Ohio State) offered a scholarship to Peter Hayes of Orlando’s Avalon MIDDLE SCHOOL. It so happens that Hayes is the brother of Jacques Patrick, a running back from Orlando’s Timber Creek High School, who is ranked No. 2 in the nation at his position.
* One final postscript to the NFL’s recently revised domestic violence penalties. Sure, Ray Rice got off easy after being charged with assault when caught on video dragging his fiancee, Janay, off a casino elevator. That 2-game suspension “punishment” was criminal. And as for the victim? She is now Mrs. Janay Rice.