This edition of Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel has the controverial interview with Gary Sheffield, but also has three other stories, one on former Detroit Pistons Nasty Boys, McFilthy and McNasty, Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn, who are now coaching the Detroit Shock of the WNBA, another on a five year old golf prodigy and an update on Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
Let’s review what we saw tonight.
Story #1 – Gary’s World
Saying a lot of his problems can be blamed on women, that steroids are something you shoot in your butt and the New York Yankees treat African American players differently than Caucasians, this story got Real Sports off to a big bang. Andrea Kremer tried to get Sheffield to admit that he took steroids, but he would have none of it. This was an interview that I couldn’t stop watching. Sheffield talked about his former relationship with Barry Bonds saying he didn’t know what Bonds was giving him (the clear). In addition, Sheffield went after Joe Torre for not treating him like a man and singling him out in team meetings. It was here where Sheffield said Torre treated blacks differently than whites. And while Kremer tried to bring up Derek Jeter was being black, Sheffield says he’s half white and there’s a difference. Fascinating stuff. I give this an A. Andrea Kremer is one of the better sports journalists today.
Story #2 – Who’s Bad
They were known as the Bad Boys when they played. They’re shaping the Detroit Shock into the Bad Girls. Bill Laimbeer went from being a Bad Boy to eventually coach of the WNBA Champions. And through it all, he’s done it in the same manner as when he was a player, bullying, scratching, clawing and molding the Shock into his own image. Plus, he brought in his partner-in-crime, Rick Mahorn. You get the sense the players don’t like Laimbeer, but they respect him because he’s won two consecutive championships as a member of the Pistons. But the girls have a “Fuck you, Bill” jar because the players talk back to the coach. Jon Frankel did the segment. It was entertaining, but something was missing, perhaps interviews with his family. I give this segment a C.
Story #3 – Wonderboy
Five year old Kyle Lograsso is a golf prodigy. Frank Deford reports that Kyle picked up playing golf from watching television starting at 18 months! But that’s just part of the story. He had a rare form of eye cancer that caused him to lose his left eye. After surviving cancer, he underwent chemotherapy and another scare, but he survived that as well. Through it all, all Kyle wanted to do was play golf. His swing is a mirror image of Tiger Woods, but unlike many parents who see dollar signs, Kyle’s parents just want him to be a kid and if he continues on to play golf, great. They’re just happy to see him alive. Wonderful segment. A all around.
Story #4 – Without Limits
Sir Rannulph Fiennes ran seven marathons in seven days on six different continents. He’s walked across the Antarctic continent, fought Marxist rebels, explored the North Pole and he’s truly a man’s man. He’s in the Guiness Book of World Records as the World’s Greatest Living Explorer. And that’s not all. He ran the seven marathons in seven days on six different continents just four months after suffering a heart attack. This is a guy who doesn’t know the term, “settle down”. Last month, Mary Carillo updated the story on Team Hoyt, the father and son team who run marathons and triathlons together. This month, she updated her story from three years ago on Fiennes who looks for the next great adventure. He’s almost reached the summit of Mount Everest. He’s a father of a young daughter at 63, but he still managed to climb the north face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps. And he still plans to climb Everest. I respect Fiennes who’s cousin is actor Ralph. Mary has this tendency to find amazing stories. I give this an A-.
Closing Comments – David Beckham
Gumbel wonders why the American sports media is xenophobic when it comes to David Beckham. Gumbel points out that with silly contests like hot dog eating contests and rock, paper scissors being shown on TV, it’s time that American sports columnists welcome David Beckham. Bryant says he hopes Beckham can convince us that there are two types of football, but he doubts it will happen. But he welcomes Beckham to America nonetheless.
Overall grade, A. Another stellar effort by the Real Sports crew.
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