An Icon Steps Aside

Sports creates icons.  Most of the icons are for on-field/on-court accomplishments or antics; some icons are in the broadcasting booth some icons are mascots or fans who perform “above and beyond the norm”.  And then, there is Sister Jean.

Sister Jean was an Internet sensation back in the Spring of 2018 when Loyola-Chicago made it to the Final Four in March Madness; Sister Jean was a 98-year-old nun who was the team’s chaplain and mentor to the players and she became as much of a personality in that year as any player on the team that made the run to the Final Four.  [Aside:  Few if any folks thought Loyola-Chicago was a Final Four threat that year; they were seeded 11^th in their bracket.]

The Ramblers have not duplicated the same on-court success since that run in 2018, but Sister Jean continued to be a recognized figure.  If Loyola was playing, she was there to root on her young favorites.  Back in the Spring, Sister Jean was not “in the house” when Loyola was in the NIT raising apprehension for her health.  Yesterday came an announcement that Sister Jean – – now 106 years old – – “retired at the age of 106, ending more than six decades of service to the university and its students.”  The university President said in a statement:

“While Sister Jean is no longer able to be physically present on campus, she remains a beloved friend, trusted adviser and loyal Rambler — cheering for our teams and praying for us all daily.”

Bonne chance, Sister Jean.

Moving on …  Fans of the NY Giants will get their wish this week; Brian Daboll announced that he has decided to start rookie QB, Jaxson Dart against the Chargers this weekend.  Here is what I had to say about Jaxson Dart in my “Pre-Draft Analysis” back on April 21, 2025:

“Jaxson Dart – Ole Miss: “Big, strong and can throw the deep ball very well”.  Frankly, he might be the best pro QB from this year’s crop.  “First round pick.”

Indeed, the Giants got him with the 25^th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft which I consider to be a great value pick for the team given its need at the position.  Moreover, he played well enough in the meaningless Exhibition Games to create what is almost a cult of the fan base around his very existence.  With the Giants record at 0-3, the coach is ready to try anything…

Go back and read what I said in April about Jaxson Dart.  I am NOT a hater; I am not on record with anything that would indicate that I wish for him to fail.  And because I have no reason to want to see him fail, that is exactly why I think that starting him this week is risky business.

• The opponent this weekend will be the undefeated LA Chargers.  The Chargers’ defense has been violent and effective.  They play a more sophisticated brand of defense than the “plain vanilla” sort of defense that Jaxson Dart saw in the Exhibition Games.  The only plus that I see is that this is a home game for the Giants where the fans will be supportive and the Chargers will be adjusting to a 3-hour jet lag situation.
• If the Giants would only wait one week, the next opponent would be the winless Saints.  Yes, that would be a road game; but the opponent is far more likely to be “beatable” and the Giants’ fans want their new hero to be a “winner” and not another “loser”.
• If the idea is to expose Jaxson Dart to a “trial by fire” then wait for two weeks and throw him into a schedule that has him facing the Eagles, the Broncos, the Eagles again and the Niners in the “month” between October 9 and November 2.

Switching gears …  I read a report that the Browns victory over the Packers last week was more lucrative for myriad sportsbooks than it was for the Browns’ roster.  According to the report I read, the Packers attracted the most money in terms of Money Line bets in the history of betting stats; the report said that just over $1.1B was riding on a Packers’ victory – – which never came to pass.  Add to that revenue falling into the laps of the sportsbooks the fact that more than 75% of the money wagered on the game involving the spread had the Packers covering  8 points – – which obviously never happened.

Packers’ fans were distraught at the result; Browns’ fans were over the moon with the result; the sportsbooks breathed a sigh of relief and went to check their bank balances with smiles on their faces.

Finally, think about this advice from Laurence Peter – – “inventor” of the “Peter Principle”:

“If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………