Belicheat

HOW DO YOU FEEL TONIGHT PATRIOT FAN?
DISAPPOINTED. DISGUSTED? ARE YOU ANGRY. EMBARRASSED?
THE GREAT BILL BELICHICK, SUPER BOWL COACH, FUTURE HALL OF FAMER,
A CHEATER.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
THE PATRIOTS ARE GUILTY.
THEIR CAMERA GUY WAS SO INTENT ON GETTING OUT OF THE STADIUM WITH THE ILLEGAL CAMERA AND TAPE,
THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE HAD TO BE CALLED IN TO MAKE SURE HE DIDN’T LEAVE.
BELICHEAT, EEER, BELICHICK OFFERED A ONE PARAGRAPH STATEMENT TODAY SAYING HE WANTED TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED, MOST OF ALL OWNERSHIP, STAFF AND PLAYERS.
HOPING TO GET MORE FROM BELICHICK AT TODAY’S REGULAR AVAILABILITY WAS A WASTE OF TIME.

WE’RE GONNA FIND OUT WHAT COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL’S MADE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
HE’S COME DOWN HARD ON PLAYERS,
NOW HE HAS TO COME DOWN HARD ON MANAGEMENT.
I THINK THE PATRIOTS SHOULD LOSE THEIR FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK NEXT YEAR.
THAT WOULD HURT,
AND SINCE IT WOULDN’T BE PRACTICAL TO FORFEIT SUNDAYS GAME,
SINCE IT WAS ALREADY PLAYED,
FORFEIT THE ONE IN DECEMBER, THE NEXT GAME THE PATRIOTS PLAY THE JETS.
HOW DO YOU FEEL TONIGHT PATRIOTS FAN? ANGRY, DISAPPOINTED?
EMBARRASSED?

Asterisk

WHAT DO WE DO NOW THAT BONDS HAS THE HOME RUN RECORD?
HERE’S WHAT I THINK.
LIST IT WITH AN ASTERISK.
IT’S BONDS RECORD FOR NOW,
BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW HE GOT TO HIT SO MANY.
DO THE STEROID INVESTIGATION.
IF BONDS COMES UP CLEAN, REMOVE THE ASTERISK. HE’S THE MAN.
IF WE FIND OUT HE TOOK STEROIDS OR ANY OTHER ILLEGAL PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG,
WE TAKE THE RECORD AWAY.
WE GO BACK TO WHEN WE CAN PROVE HE FIRST STARTED TAKING THE DRUGS,
LET’S SAY, 2001 WHEN HE HIT 73 HOMERS, 24 MORE THAN HE HAD EVER HIT IN HIS LIFE.
TAKE AWAY EVERYTHING HE DID AFTER THAT.
THAT’S 272 HOMERS SINCE 2001.
WHAT EVERS LEFT IS THE WAY WE WOULD LIST BONDS IN BASEBALL HISTORY.
SO. IF HE STOPPED PLAYING RIGHT NOW, HE’D HAVE 484.
THAT’S HOW WE DEAL WITH THE STEROID ERA, NOT JUST WITH BONDS, BUT WITH ANY PLAYER WHO GETS CAUGHT CHEATING, IF AND WHEN,
THE STEROID INVESTIGATION FINALLY SHAKES OUT.

Vick makes me sick

I’m already on the record on my feelings about Michael Vick. Three days before the NFL told Vick to stay home, I went on the air here and said we can settle the whole thing right now by suspending Vick, not for a few games, not for the season, but for life.
What he’s accused of is appalling and disgusting. And frankly, I don’t care about innocent until proven guilty.
That’s great in a court of law and for sure, Vick deserves his day in court.
But he does not deserve to play football games. Not in a league that has already suspended players under the league’s personal conduct policy. Not in the real world where image is perceived as more important than substance.
Let me ask you something. If you were accused and charged of the crimes Michael Vick has been accused of, do you think your employer would let you come into the office and go to work?
I know mine wouldn’t. I have a responsibility, as one of the companies most visible employees, not to do anything that might put the company in a bad light.
A federal indictment that charges me with murdering dogs would be one of those things.
And I take issue with the NAACP of Atlanta’s position, which is defending Vick’s right to impartial and balanced reporting while the legal system sorts thru the facts.
The NAACP actually has the gall to cite the injustice in the Duke lacrosse players rape case as to what can happen when we judge people prematurely. Where was the NAACP when the Duke lacrosse players were getting their rights trampled on? Maybe I missed their press conference pleading for the Duke players rights to go to school, play lacrosse and live life, innocent, until proven guilty.
I appreciate the NAACP’s position, and I applaud its’ efforts in trying for an America where innocent people get a chance to be innocent.
But I don’t think you can ignore an injustice and then use it to make your case for another injustice.
Michael Vick, in my view, is despicable. He’s taken his abilities for granted, shirked his responsibilities, and forfeited the right to be a member of one of this country’s most exclusive clubs, the NFL. If I had my way, he’d be working sun up to sun down, sweeping out cages at the humane society, or filling up bags in a dog food factory.
Wouldn’t that be justice?

All Star Bonuses

Maybe it’s just me, but when you pay a guy 10, 15, 20 million dollars a year, I expect that guy to be an all star.
I have never understood bonuses for big money players who make an all star team. Isn’t that what a guy who’s making the most money is supposed to do? Be the best at his position. Be an all star?
I don’t know about you, but I expect Alex Rodriguez to be the All star 3rd baseman in the American League. Why should he get a bonus for doing that? Why should Alex Rodriguez get a hundred thousand dollars extra for doing what’s expected of him.
Derek Jeter doesn’t get a bonus. He figures that the millions he’s payed are enough,
and that anything extra for doing what’s expected is not right.
Most Valuable Player Awards. Cy Young Awards. Those are different. Some player do get extra money for winning those kind of awards, and that’s OK.
All star bonuses for big money pros are not OK.

Feeling Good About Duke Lacrosse

At 6pm tonight, I showed hi lights of the Division One National Lacrosse Championship.
Here’ the way I wrote the story, and the way I felt about the story.

ONE OF THE FEEL GOOD STORIES OF THE YEAR. THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN LACROSSE.
THESE ARE THE SAME DUKE PLAYERS WHO HAD THEIR SEASON SUSPENDED LAST YEAR AFTER BEING WRONGLY ACCUSED OF RAPE.
THEY CAME BACK THIS YEAR, GOT ALL THE WAY TO THE TITLE GAME BEFORE LOSING TODAY TO JOHNS HOPKINS 12-11.
GREAT CREDIT TO THOSE KIDS FOR HANGING IN THERE.

One viewer didn’t agree.
Here’s what Larry wrote:

Joe, I don’t think that this is a “feel good” story. True, this team did not play last season due to false charges being brought against them. However, these are not choir boys. The did have a party where alcohol was served to underage persons. They did hire strippers for entertainment. These are not student athletes to be looked up to or to hold in high regard. I have never heard any of them apologize for their actions. As a parent, I would not be very proud of them or ” feel good” about them.

Sincerely,
Larry

So as usual, I responded to Larry.
Here’s my return e-mail

I disagree. What was taken away from them. What they were accused of. What America thought they were. What we did to them was far worse than what they did. As college kids, I can give them a pass for some college kid behavior. I can not however, give society a pass, As a parent, I would be very proud of what they had to overcome. Speaking of apologies, I didn’t see Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson giving out any. As I recall, they were first in line behind the prosecutor already convicting these kids.

Joe Zone

And finally from Larry, this….

I appreciate your response. I think we will agree to disagree.
I agree that there is plenty of blame to go around to many people. I do not, however, think that you can dismiss what they did as typical college kid behavior. Not my college kids anyhow.

Sincerely,
Larry

I ask you, what do you think?

They do have a sense of humor

In my last blog, I published a number of e-mails from NASCAR fans who were upset with a comment I made about throwing beer at Jeff Gordon. They were all critical of my comments.
Then some more fans read the blog and that’s when we found out that some NASCAR fans do get it.

Here are two examples:

I just read all the negative comments on your blog from what you said about some NASCAR fans throwing their beer at Jeff Gordon. Those people need to get a grip (and a sense of humor). I thought what you said was hilarious! Keep up the good work. Francine Harris Manchester, CT

Dear Joe,
I just came across your blog and saw that a lot of people were upset about some comment you made about NASCAR fans wasting beer on Jeff Gordon.
I’m lucky enough to have track tickets to the spring race at Talladega every year and I will agree with you. 9 out of 10 people are drinking and the tenth person is usually the child with his dad. It’s fun, people have a good time and to be perfectly honest with you… the NASCAR fans south of the Mason-Dixon line are much nicer than the ones here up north. You made a joke out of the Talladega situation and it should have been taken as such. Anyone who took offense to your comments are probably the people who go no further south than Dover to see a race.
Keep up the good reporting.
Valerie Walker
Terryville, CT.

NASCAR Fans over react

Last week, when NASCAR fans pelted Jeff Gordon with beer, I said on the air that “I was a little surprised that NASCAR fans would waste beer like that”. The email floodgates opened.

Deana wrote:
You sir were completely out of line with your comment about Nascar fans. I have been a fan for many many years and that comment was crude and rude.
I am a professional, intelligent female and take offense at what you said. You sir are ignorant to the world as a whole. It would be like me saying all sportscasters are jerks…..now you know that isn’t true….right????
How dare you.

I replied:

Deana. I didn’t say anything about ALL NASCAR fans.
I only mentioned the ones who thru beer cans at Gordon. How can you possibly defend that
behavior?

Deana replied:

I am not defending that behavior but you should not have categorized all nascar fans.

I replied:

Deana. I just looked at the comment again and I think I’m on pretty
solid ground when I say “I’m surprised that a NASCAR fan would waste a
beer like that”. If the story had been about football fans, or
baseball fans, or basketball fans, it would’ve been the same comment.
For the record, I’ve been to a few NASCAR races.
I’ve spent a couple of afternoons tailgating on race weekend The one thing NASCAR fans, and
by the way, football fans, do is drink a lot of beer.

Deana replied:

I too have been to races. It may come to you as a surprise….I don’t drink and neither does my spouse and can still enjoy the race. Guess we will disagree on the way your comment was meant and/or taken.
Generalizing is dangerous business.

Then there was this from Hugo:

Mr. Zone,
Just because you don’t care for the sport of NASCAR Auto racing does not mean that you have to insinuate that us fans are beer drinking alcoholics! I am not a fan of Jeff Gordon or Dale Earnhardt Jr. and I don’t agree with the fans behavior this past weekend. But your comment about the fans having beer remaining to throw was lower than low, almost as low as you are on the WFSB web page! Do you think they can make your picture a little smaller? Believe me I don’t watch WFSB for the NASCAR coverage that’s for sure. Maybe I should make a change….–NASCAR Fan.

I replied:

Hugo. What are you talking about? My only issue was with the fans who thru beer at Gordon.
And I wouldn’t make assumptions about my like or dislike of NASCAR. I like NASCAR a lot. I watch every week and know enough to get by.

Hugo replied:

Joe,
You said you were surprised the fans had beer remaining to throw at Gordon! This sounds like the fans are beer drinkers! Not a problem, I know where your coming from.
If you like NASCAR so much why don’t we see more of it on WFSB? Hope to see you at Stafford Speedway sometime soon…
Hugo

And then there was this from Don:

Your condescending comment about NASCAR fans is the typical biased reporting I expect of our liberal media, a day late and a dollar short. The race was on Sunday your comment comes on Tuesday why didn’t you report it on Monday, and what lip service you do give the sport has to refer to a bunch of single minded fans and their love of their hero.

I am sure that here in the New England region there is a certain bias about Nascar and the fans,thoughts of even if it is a real sport. I ask you to carry a tire around your car place it on the hub, go get another on the other side of the car do the same all in less the 13.5 seconds and you have to worry about a car driving over you. as a driver you have to endure five hundred miles of bumper to bumper traffic at 190 mph in a loud hot machine, OHHHH and you get paid if you win and what place you came in and you have to split it with the owner, wonder if the players form the Yankees or the Red Soxs would like that. How many player have been killed by a baseball or football.

So as a devote fan of NASCAR and of Jeff Gordon I am glad we have people that have this much passion about their hero. Even if it means wasteing a Bud to honor Dale sr’s memory this is a sacrifice a Nascar fan is wiling to make.

Oh On a side note: Dale sr endured much of the same treatment in his day.
I would like you to report the sport on Mondays and leave the condescending comments out till you have earned the right I.E. check out Marty Bass from WJZ TV Baltimore MD a WEATHER MAN THAT KNOWS NASCAR better then any NE news station. I ask you report and treat the sport every week and maybe take a interest in the Nascar fans in CT.
There were more beer throwers at Talladaga then live in Hartford.

I don’t like those type of fans either but then I am a Nascar fan.

And I replied:

Dan. You couldn’t be more wrong about me. First. I covered the race SUNDAY night, when it happened, and mentioned the beer throwing then. I only mentioned it today because it tied in with another fans story about the Mets guy who was thrown in jail. Second, I’ve been following NASCAR before ESPN or CNN or anybody ever wanted to televise it. I was at the races at POCONO in the 70’s. I’ve been to Watkins Glen. I’ve spent an afternoon or two tailgating. I’ve been in the pits and on the track. I like NASCAR. Don’t preach to me about NASCAR. You’ve clearly lumped me in with many in my profession who don’t like the sport. I’m not one of them.

jz

How about this from Matt
Joe,

I listened with DISGUST at your NEGATIVE comments concerning NASCAR Fans at Talladaga because Jeff Gordon won and their throwing of beer cans onto the track. Fans were not happy to see a record broken that has stood for many years, about the same as when a home run record is broken by a player who has taken “PERFORMANCE ENHANCING COMPOUNDS.” I imagine that quite a pile of trash would end up on the playing field then also. I have been to many Hockey games where more beer containers and assorted other junk has been thrown on the ice. It also comes to mind that at Gillette Stadium they had to out law beer bottles and any other glass containers, so that the FANS would not throw them on the field.

Also your insinuation that ALL NASCAR Fans are beer drunks was way out of line. I have been to many professional sporting events(baseball, basketball, football and hockey) where I have had more beer and ? spilled on me than I have ever had a a local or national NASCAR event. NASCAR Fans are the same as any other sports fans, and fiercely supportive of their teams and drivers. It is also a sport that draws 75,000 to 150,000 fans every weekend. Professional baseball 30,000-40,000 maybe, Basketball, Hockey
Etc., maybe 20,000 if it is a really good playoff game.

Speaking of LOCAL NASCAR events, don’t you think it is about time that the sports news include
results from our LOCAL tracks just like you cover the LOCAL AA and AAA Baseball, after all there are
Consistently more fans at the weekly races at Stafford than the AA/AAA baseball teams draw.

Yes, if you cannot tell I am a NASCAR Fan, also a Patriots Fan, a Red Sox Fan, along with a number of other sports.

And my reply:

Mathew. I’ll bet you a pit pass to a NASCAR race than when Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s home record this summer, no one will throw beer at him. I never used the word drunk nor insinuated drunk. I said quote”waste a beer like that” end quote. I agree with you about local racing, but I’m pretty sure that’s about all we can agree on. Anyone who can defend throwing beer at someone has very little in common with the things I believe in.

Joe Zone

Character. Who Cares?

I HAVE NEVER SAT IN ON AN NFL DRAFT DISCUSSION AND I’VE NEVER TRYED TO EVALUATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS, BUT I HAVE TO WONDER HOW THE CONVERSATION WENT WHEN BILL BELICHICK WAS TALKING ABOUT DRAFTING BRANDON MERRIWEATHER.
“LET’S SEE GUYS. HE OWNS A GUN AND HE’S NOT AFRAID TO USE IT. WE KNOW HE’S SHOT AT A GUY.
AND THERE WAS THAT GAME AGAINST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL.
WHEN HE GOT INTO THE MIDDLE OF A BRAWL AND KICKED A PLAYER IN THE HEAD, WHILE HE WAS ON THE GROUND. HE WAS SUSPENDED ONE GAME FOR THAT,
BUT HEY, THE GUY CAN PLAY”.
BELICHICK EXPLAINED THE MERRIWEATHER PICK BY SAYING WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.
YES WE ALL DO. ONCE WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER,I CLIMBED UP ON THE ROOF OF AN OLD WAREHOUSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THE COPS CAME AND I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION WORKING AT THAT OLD WAREHOUSE.. FOR NO PAY.
CLIMBING ON THAT ROOF WAS A MISTAKE. THAT SAID, I HAVE NEVER SHOT AT A GUY AND I HAVE NEVER KICKED AN OPPONENT WHILE HE WAS ON THE GROUND.
SO HERE’S WHAT I WOULD LIKE.
LET’S JUST FORGET ABOUT THE PHRASE,
…….HIS ATHLETIC ABILITY FAR OUTWEIGHS ANY CONCERNS WE HAVE ABOUT HIS CHARACTER…..
IT’S PRETTY CLEAR TO ALL OF US THAT CHARACTER HAS NO PLACE AT IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
OF COURSE, I’M JUST SOME GUY ON TV, I MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT.

Wolf Pack Fans Complain. I respond

Hey Joe, Looks like the Wolf Pack will be here a little bit longer. Please do not make comments about them “leaving,”going” etc. When you know as well as I do this team is a great team even though you don’t cover them until the playoffs. I see you at all the UCONN Basketball games, you walk by me every game, I would call your name but I know you would have a million excuses why you couldn’t stop and chat, but you see I would be working also and would have time to chat a few minutes. Any way, how come you never come to a Wolf Pack game? Your station won’t let you cover AHL hockey? or you just don’t think it worthy enough. I know, you told me before how long you been covering sports and I guess the folks in Syracuse New York, I think that’s where you said you did ALL the hockey etc there, and I have spoken to some of the folks there about how they enjoyed your hockey sports casting, and they were not satisfied customers. Any way to get to the point, Get out of your shell man, come to the Wolf Pack games and enjoy some Professional Hockey in Hartford, and if you can’t afford a ticket or your station won’t spring for one send me an e-mail and I just might cover a ticket for you and extend some of the Wolf Pack Fan hospitality, we could even hang out during the game and discuss some of the things you miss about the Wolf Pack.
Looking forward to seeing you at a game
A Loyal Wolf Pack – Hartford Hockey Fan

Hey Bob. I covered hockey in Syracuse the same way I cover hockey in Hartford, and Chicago, and New York, and LA. Score and hi lights. You’re right. I have little interest in going to Wolf Pack games in person, but that has nothing to do with how we cover them as tv station. I have no interest in going to lots of things, but I still make sure they get the coverage they deserve. By the way, judging by the crowds, I’m not the only one who has no interest in going to Wolf Pack games. However, since you go to all the UConn games, you know there are many more thousand fans there. So I pick my spots. I go to the events, and since I can’t go to all of them, I go to the events where I can get the most exposure. That makes it UConn basketball, hands down. As far as stopping me for a chat. I always stop to talk with people. Unless I think that a person’s a little whacky, and judging by this email, you may qualify. Then again, unlike you, I try not to judge people without meeting them in person.

Joe Zone a loyal local sports TV sportscaster.

Joe,

I have to say that a lot of comments you made in a recent e-mail to a Wolf Pac fan were not very called for. How you can you come out in say that you dont‘ care about them, maybe not in so many words, but that is what you meant. It’s because of people like you that the team is in the situation that it is. I know the Wolf Pack leaves tape for you station to pick-up for highlights each and ever game. I know you are union, but you can still use these highlight, just have an Internet swing by and pick up a tape. If the union was an issue then you wouldn’t be able to get and highlights, I worked in the industry for a while and know almost all your highlights come from a highlight feed. Look at Fox 61 they do whatever they can to help the only professional sports team in Hartford. I know you feel that you do enough showing the score, but it’s not. The only time you come to the Civic Center is for UConn and if MSG or Wolf Pack are having trouble to stir it up. I also don’t appreciate that you call people wacky, you don’t know them. By the way those were get highlights you did last week, but make sure that you know the difference between hockey and baseball next time. I heard you do hockey highlights the same way you did in Syracuse, that’s why people from there complain about you, you don’t show anything. You are always there for Whaler rallies though again, just to get false hope up, you and I both know there will never be an NHL team here, only one team has to say no to it and the rangers or bruins will never let it happen. I don’t care if you don’t like hockey, but there are a lot of people that do like it and do me a favor when someone e-mails you at least make believe you care, you called a gentleman Bob when he clearly stated his name as Bruce.

Annoyed Wolf Pack Fan

Annoyed Wolf Pack fan.

A couple of things for the record, just so you know. First. I have never been to a Whalers rally. Never. Believe me, if there’s one hockey team I could care less about, it’s the Whalers. Second. Like you, I absolutely agree that Hartford will never have another NHL team. This is a minor league hockey town and should do well as one. Third. As a union station, we CAN’T use the feed tapes provided by the Wolf Pack. Some of us do on occasion, but we do so at the risk of union violations. We have been reprimanded in the past for doing so. Fourth. I like hockey a lot. I got my start in sportscasting covering the Syracuse Blazers in the 70’s. So you can blame hockey for me being on television. Those are the facts. Here are some thoughts. If I had 4 minutes for sports every night and a half hour show on Sunday night, I might also give hockey the same coverage as FOX 61. I have half the time, and I would say my coverage is about half of theirs. You need to get off your hockey high horse and look at the big picture. I put things on television that MOST of my viewers are interested in. Not what I like. What my viewers like.That is, in this order, UConn men’s basketball. UConn women’s basketball. High school sports. Yankees and Red Sox Hi lights, Patriots and Giants hi lights. Minor League baseball. Minor league hockey. Connecticut Sun hi lights…and whatever else is left.
I don’t make this stuff up. It comes from 30 years of covering local sports on television. You want to argue Hockey stats with me, you win. You want to argue local television sports with me, don’t even bother showing up.

Joe Zone

Safe Radio

YOU SHOULD FEEL A LOT SAFER TONIGHT. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO, WHEN YOU WATCH YOUR TV, YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY SO MUCH.
THERE WON’T BE AS MANY. INSULTS. NOT SO MANY COMMENTARIES, FEWER OPINIONS.
OF COURSE, YOUR RADIO AND TV WON’T BE AS INTERESTING OR AS FUNNY, WON’T WON’T MAKE YOU THINK OR REACT, BUT HEY, YOU’LL BE SAFE.
FIRING DON IMUS MADE SURE OF THAT.
I’VE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE IN BROADCASTING TRYING TO INSPIRE VIEWERS TO THINK, TO REACT, TO RESPOND, TO GET MAD SOMETIMES, AND NOT TAKE IT ANY MORE.
IN DOING SO, I’VE CROSSED THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT I THINK IS ACCEPTABLE AND WHAT OTHERS THINK IS NOT.
I HAVE A REPUTATION FOR SAYING STUFF EVERYONE ELSE IS THINKING, BUT NO ONE ELSE WOULD EVER SAY.
I EVEN WORKED AT A STATION ONCE THAT WANTED TO SEE EVERYTHING I WROTE BEFORE I WENT ON THE AIR WITH IT.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. IT’S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT CROSSING THE LINE ANY MORE.
IT’S ABOUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE LINE IS, WHY IT MOVED FROM WHERE IT WAS YESTERDAY, AND WHERE IT WILL BE TOMORROW, AND HOW THE HECK PEOPLE LIKE AL SHARPTON AND JESSIE JACKSON EVER GOT CONTROL OF IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.