By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette, Sports Editor
If you’re a professional football fan, particularly a Philadelphia Eagles diehard, then your antenna is already on alert regarding a proposal by an anonymous NFL team to consider eliminating the “Tush Push” AKA the “Brotherly Shove” as an offensive weapon or scheme. For novice it’s merely an almost impossible-to-stop quarterback sneak perfected by the Eagles’ offensive staff and players. The inherent advantage is based on leverage, technique and timing. Having an athletic quarterback like Jalen Hurts who has squatted over 600 lbs gives the Eagles a decided advantage.
The one argument to abolish the ploy is based, I assume, on player safety or serious injury, and there simply is little or no evidence to support that position. I would be shocked if the competition committee ruled in favor of its abolishment.
The NHL, intentional about avoiding a high scoring, non-competitive all-star game, opted for a 4 Nations week long tournament with international implications involving Finland, Sweden, Canada and the United States. Increased fan interest, placing the best NHL players with their countries and highly competitive games were accomplished goals. The fact that the USA lost an exciting overtime final to Canada didn’t detract from the tournament’s success.
Hockey is a great game that could used more diversity to attract minority fans.
The NBA is in full swing after the all star break. The saga surrounding the bombshell trade between the Lakers and Mavericks involving superstars Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis continues Saturday in LA. Doncic probably wants to show Dallas that they made a mistake, but the absence of Davis and other frontline players because of injury negates the game’s significance. The trade presently favors LA because the LeBron-Luka marriage has been nothing short of perfection, including their complimentary styles. Plus they are winning. We’ll know more about Dallas once the injured players return to action.
The NFL Network should be applauded for their coverage of Black History Month. Features on NFL pioneer Fritz Pollard, the league’s first Black coach and the 1984 Alcorn/MSVU epic battle featuring Leslie Frazier and Jerry Rice along with iconic coaches Marino Casem and Archie Cooley are timeless treasures worthy of viewing 365!
Norfolk State University’s Christian Ings, a graduate student playing basketball, put on a dunking clinic at home against Morgan State. If you haven’t seen it, please Google as his 2 spectacular dunks were equal or better than any this year, college or pro.