For the Rams game, Kraft insisted that the “talent’’ wear red shirts with Patriot logos. This was done in the interest of promoting the Patriot “brand.’’ Affable Steve Burton plays along, calling the diminutive Kraft “Mr. Big.’’ What’s next for Burton and Dan Roche — propeller beanies with Flying Elvises and Pat Patriots? Pom-poms, megaphones, and Patriot letter sweaters?
It’s one thing to insist that broadcasters spread the gospel of the team, but when you make them wear team garb, you’re telling the world that the station is in the bag. “All Access’’ becomes All Suck-Up. The station can’t be trusted to report anything real or remotely negative about the team. Channel 4 is deeper in the tank with the Patriots than WEEI is — no small achievement.
If your eyes and ears don’t confirm this, here’s an interesting item: After Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was badly injured in a motorcycle accident in 2006 (riding without a helmet), he promised he would always ride with a helmet in the future. According to Sports Illustrated, the CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh, KDKA, subsequently shot footage of Roethlisberger riding without a helmet but did not air the tape because it did not want to damage its relationship with the Steelers. The station’s news director at the time was John Verrilli, now the news director at Channel 4 in Boston.
In Sports Illustrated, Verrilli denied the tape existed. He did not return my calls.
■ Here’s hoping Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph gets some snaps for the Giants against the Patriots tonight.
■ Hard to summon much sympathy for Roger Clemens when you see him appear in federal court, then catch a private plane for Myrtle Beach so he can play 18 before sunset. One more instance of the Rocket flipping the bird at the US government and everyone else. Clemens’s trial date is April 5, 2011, which will be Opening Day in some major league cities.
■ Anybody else notice that Carl Pavano looks like W.B. Mason?
