Gumbel weighs in on Ricky

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/26/gumbel_weighs_in_on_ricky.html

Gumbel weighs in on Ricky

By Edgar Thompson | Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 01:51 PM

During his closing commentary on the new edition of HBO’s Real Sports, host Bryant Gumbel had a few words to say about running back Ricky Williams.

Gumbel gets a little too cute at the end, but had some kind words to share on Williams’ willingness to be different.

Here’s what Gumbel said:

“Finally tonight a few words about Ricky Williams…that miscast, misunderstood, complex running back with a fondness for marijuana. A former No. 1 pick who has yet to fulfill his potential, Williams has missed most of the past two NFL seasons due to violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. Well now he’s back and when he opens the regular season with the Miami Dolphins a week from this Sunday, I for one, will be rooting for him.

“I like Ricky for all the reasons most NFL hardliners don’t. He’s complicated, publicity-shy, free-thinking and he doesn’t buy the idea that football’s all that important. If you’re tired of typical jocks you’ve got to like someone like Williams, who doesn’t drink the league’s Kool-aid, and who’s capable of saying, as Ricky did, that he loves to play football but he hates being a football player.

“While that statement drew odd responses from those who don’t do nuance, it actually fits Williams perfectly. His unwillingness to never be seen as only a character in the ongoing soap opera of sports is admirable. That he and his drug appetite never quite fit in in a league that punishes players for lesser transgressions was predictable.

“Ricky’s comeback this season is no sure thing … far from it. But truth is Williams can’t afford to be an idealistic kid who digs getting high anymore. He’s a 31-year-old-man with a family to support and football’s not only his best way to do that, it may be his only way.

“Which makes his story all the more ironic. Ricky Williams, a talented guy with a capacity for cannabis, finally comes back to football because he found that grass wasn’t greener. Now there’s a morality tale even a hardliner could root for.”

[DZA]

B- Bumble is a Douche 

[Phishfan]

He and Costas have two of the best sports shows on TV.

[yuppi]

thats grade a commentary

[Defense54]

B- Bumble is a Douche 

I agree.  I can't stand him or his brother.

[DZA]

I hated when was on CBS commenting on Fin Games.. My god I never hear more Dolphin bashing from anyone else