Jared Max: I'm In Sports Purgatory — How About You?
By Jared Max
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Since the Rangers lost Game 7 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night, I have been in a funk. A sports malaise. It feels like somebody close to me died, and no amount of loving support can make me chipper. I am grieving for the loss of hockey season — not ready to start dating again. Not yet. I am in sports purgatory.
Thankfully, this period will be brief. I think all this rain has been helpful in washing away the pain. As Peter Gabriel wrote in his 1992 musical diamond "Washing of the Water," I need something to turn myself around.
A classic case of falling off a horse and needing to remount, I foresee that by Saturday's post time at the Belmont my summer sports goggles will be in place. For now, though, I am largely disinterested in who will win the NBA Finals or the Stanley Cup. I am blasé about early-June baseball. The FIFA scandal is salacious but predictable.
Again, I turn to Peter Gabriel. "River, river carry me on. Living, river carry me on."
Like a dog who heard the words "walk" or "treat," there are a few stories sent by the sports gods since the Rangers lost that have served as medicine that Gabriel described as "something to take the pain away."
Johnny Manziel
Every time I hear a broadcaster announce that "Johnny Manziel threw a water bottle at a fan," I question if the broadcaster questioned himself before choosing to perform in "rip and read" style. Clearly, the word fan is inappropriate here. It is incorrect, falsely misleading, etc. It exposes laziness. Manziel threw a water bottle at a heckler. A baiter. In my rendering, a punk.
Of course, Manziel has maturity issues. Though harmless to his sport, his unbuttoned behavior does not mesh with the image that the multibillion dollar NFL tries to portray, in vain.
While I doubt that "Johnny Football" will be around the NFL long enough to earn fans by helping his team win, I greatly appreciate the transparency of his actions. It draws light on a subject that needs to be reckoned — an enforceable code of conduct between spectators and athletes. Ideally, this latest chapter of "The Manziel Chronicles" yields this important dialogue, instead of focusing solely on what appears obvious.
Adrian Peterson
I am thrilled that the greatest running back in the history of my favorite team is back wearing purple. Prior to joining Vikings teammates at a voluntary practice on Tuesday, AP wrote to The Associated Press, "I've been away from the game for an entire season. I wanted the chance to be around the players and coaches, the guys that really matter to me." Mazel Tov! One big, happy family again.
For Peterson, this is the best scenario, I believe. Not only does he stand to prove that open wounds can be sealed without reconstructive plastic surgery, staying in Minnesota gives him the strongest chance to resume his career as a premier running back. There are no baggage fees that would accompany his traveling to another city. He is a Viking. The only question for me is: Is he still a warrior?
Mats Zuccarello
It fascinates me that there is such a disparity among our pro sports leagues regarding forthrightness in reporting injuries. Unlike the NFL, NBA or MLB, the NHL allows its teams to withhold details about player injuries.
Since the Rangers were eliminated, we learned that captain Ryan McDonagh played the last couple of games with a broken foot he suffered in Game 4. Marc Staal played through the playoffs with a hairline ankle fracture. Dan Girardi had an injured ankle. Keith Yandle played through a shoulder sprain, endured in the opening round versus the Penguins. Mats Zuccarello suffered an injury in the clinching Game 5 against Pittsburgh that kept him from playing again. The Rangers described it as an "upper body injury." Translation: fractured skull and brain contusion.
Three days after the Rangers were eliminated, Zuccarello disclosed his condition that hospitalized him for three days and left his left arm numb and speech nonexistent.
"I couldn't talk for a while, had a contusion, some blood in my brain. That affects a lot. Now I go to speech therapy. I'm getting much better. I couldn't say a word for four days. I feel much better," he said.
While Zuccarello is expected to make a full recovery and play next season, I am left to ponder if the NHL has the best or worst policy on disclosing injuries. I have yet to hear anybody bark at the Rangers for being sore losers citing excuses — as a howling mob seemed to attack Manny Pacquiao after he spoke of an injured shoulder, post-Mayweather fight. Maybe if we paid $100 to watch every Rangers game, we may feel differently. I do not know.
NBA Playoffs vs. NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Stanley Cup Playoffs proved its worth again among our major pro leagues as sporting the most exciting, tightly contested postseason. The NBA has reaffirmed its personae as a league of superstars -- not teams -- which has translated to a least interesting postseason, until now.
Among 14 completed playoff series, there were five NHL matchups that went the maximum seven games. Five series lasted six games. Among the NBA's 14 series so far, only two have gone the distance. Five series have been pushed to six games. There have been four NBA sweeps, including the Eastern Conference finals, compared to only one NHL shutout — in the opening round.
For the first time in the NBA playoffs, I am intrigued. On paper, the Finals look exciting. The Finals have become a microcosm of an NBA game and season. Everything comes down to the last couple of minutes. The rest, by and large, is a look-at-me-fest. I hit the snooze button a long time ago.
As for rooting interest, I guess that I will pick the Warriors because I like Stephen Curry. But, I have seen enough of his daughter, so, I might switch to the Cavs if cute little Riley distracts me. Still, I am grateful for the distraction of the NBA Finals. Anything to keep me from thinking about the Rangers.
And now that one of my favorite Peter Gabriel songs has been playing on my internal speakers since my brain made the connection with this sports story, I am going to crank up my external speakers and try to complete my Rangers cleanse. Incidentally, if you do not own Gabriel's "Us" album, please consider this a strong recommendation to purchase a copy. It will get you through sad sports times like this. And other losses, too.
By the way, all the talk here about healing of wounds and shedding new skin might be a result of the hedge trimmer accident I suffered last Wednesday. A small portion of the inside of my left hand — between my thumb and index finger — was shredded when the power tool slipped from my right hand and caught the skin of my other hand that was holding back a delicate Japanese Maple.
Jared Max is a multi-award winning sportscaster. He hosted a No. 1 rated New York City sports talk show, "Maxed Out" — in addition to previously serving as longtime Sports Director at WCBS 880, where he currently anchors weekend sports. Follow and communicate with Jared on Twitter @jared_max.
