Bob Costas: Brilliance Concerning Perspective

As Hebrew National does with its hotdogs, I expect “not only higher” but truly exemplary “standards” from Bob Costas. Even in these times that are devoid of real sports passion, he so often meets and exceeds those “standards.” Bob, in my opinion, did it again in his halftime commentary this past Sunday. He did so before “halftime” of his commentary.

His comments about perspective and daring to say them during one of our sporting exhibitions was akin to Jimmy Foxx’ upper deck home run hit long ago, at Yankee Stadium. Bob really hit it “out of the park” with his commentary. Both Bob and for that matter, Jason Whitlock, are preaching to the choir about gun control as far as I am concerned. The constitutional amendment about the so called “right” to bear arms is as outdated as a zoot suit and unlike the former, has no place in our society. Yet to me the perspective about tragedies, the fact these stories dominate our local news and far deeper, our culture’s lust for such stories is a truly big issue.

Back to Bob and this is what he said about perspective. Concerning the events in Kansas City where a “linear” tragedy occurred: an innocent pregnant woman killed by a “troubled” man, who happened to play football. Bob Costas said “In the aftermath of the nearly unfathomable events in Kansas City, that most mindless of sports cliches was heard yet again. Something like this really puts it all in perspective. Well, if so, that sort of perspective has a very short shelf life since we will inevitably hear about the perspective we have supposedly again regained the next time ugly reality intrudes upon our games. Please, those who need tragedies to continually recalibrate their sense of proportion about sports would seem to have little hope of ever truly achieving perspective.”

He then went on to quote and paraphrase Whitlock’s column. Whitlock felt and I agree that with no gun involved the ultimate tragic circumstances that manifested last Saturday in Kansas City would have been prevented. There are many situations in which clearly a gun meant death and no gun would have prevented tragedy. I despise guns, the gun culture, killing innocent defenseless animals for “sport”—did I make my point?!!

Please read/listen/watch Costas’ comments about perspective. Most people will not commit violent acts. Far too many people do not have perspective regarding sports. Almost all of society says or does little to help improve it. Oh but the rage involving these type tragedies until the coach uses the “wrong” quarterback. Being blunt you think the guy or gal who lost his bet on Dallas hours after Costas’ eloquence, gives a damn about two dead people visa vi his bet. The answer is no.

Sadly, for the most part I avoid sound when watching sports and the main reason is I can not tolerate the pain of knowing how truly insulting almost all of the verbiage spewed by so called “announcers” really is. It is admittedly compounded exponentially by the fact “announcing” is what I wanted to do, had a great aptitude for and failed to do. That failure is exacerbated, also in exponential terms by knowing that the greats I could only aspire to be: Ray Scott, Harry Kalas and Marty Glickman to name three, have gone the way of the dinosaur.

There are a few good, younger ones and Marv Albert still excels but only Costas could inspire a younger me. He showed again in #3 of a div series (St.Louis/Washington) that he excels at play by play but it is in these type of messages, Costas displays the greatness that places him with the all time greats.

At a “NY Times Talk” last year, questioned by Bob Lipsyte, Costas talked of the violence in the NFL, the networks that promote it (one he pointed out had a feature “he got jacked up” celebrating the most violent “hits”) and most of all the inevitable gathering of players from both teams around an injured player. As with the tragedy in Kansas City, there is little done about it, little real perspective and a ridiculous process that will be repeated.

A third great Costas work is lighter but far from fluff. It never fails to inspire me and as Bob once joked about having a Mickey Mantle card, his eulogy at #7’s funeral should be watched as “a qualification for citizenship.” Great work, Bob and whether it is your dad, Mantle, or the “higher standards people” involved in making certain hot dogs, people from above are looking down and applauding you. I do so from my perch here on earth.