In a climate where some folks seek to want to root out and reverse anything that looks like “DEI”, I think there was some “collateral damage” done in the aftermath of the Dianna Russini/Mike Vrabel “scandal”. Somehow, there was coalescence around the idea that Mina Kimes did not/does not deserve her position at ESPN. I have wondered about why she specifically derived as much notoriety in this narrative as she has but I have never arrived at an explanation that I find satisfactory.
A standard and self-evident argument regarding her “non-qualification” for her job at ESPN is that she reports specifically on the NFL and she clearly and obviously has never played professional football. I would need to be a high order imbecile not to concede that point, but I wonder if it is germane here:
- Stephan A. Smith never played in the NFL – – or football at any level as far as I am aware – – and he comments on the NFL.
- Maria Taylor never played in the NFL – – or football at any level as far as I am aware – – and she comments on the NFL.
- Colin Cowherd does not show up in Pro-Football-Reference.com and he comments on NFL football.
- Mike Greenberg seems proud to acknowledge that he never played football, and he comments on the NFL.
So, why is “lack of participation” such a big deal with Mina Kimes and not those others? My short list here covers men, women and minorities; Mina Kimes is of Korean extraction which to my knowledge is not something that is anathema to many folks. The only explanation I can come up with is pretty flimsy:
- About a year ago when the current Administration removed an article from the DoD website that honored/recognized Jackie Robinson’s service, she said on ESPN that was taking “anti-DEI activities” too far.
For the record, if indeed that is the fundamental reason why anyone would call into question her capabilities as a journalist/reporter/analyst, that person needs to take a deep breath and get out in the world just a bit. I do not tune into ESPN hoping to hear from Mina Kimes nor do I listen to her daily podcast, but on the occasions when I do hear from her, she seems as cogent and competent as the other “talkers” on the programs. So, what am I missing when it comes to the venom directed at her?
Moving on … Mina Kimes never played pro football, but Brett Favre did. And maybe now at an early age, Favre is experiencing some of the aftermaths of his career. Brett Favre has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and because he is not in the public eye on a daily basis as he was before, it has become clear to observers that his Parkinson’s is progressing very rapidly for someone his age – – 56 years old.
Favre did a promotional for Cheeseheads in general and for Packers fans in Mexico more specifically. The message was straight out of “Public Relations 101” but the thing that struck people who saw the video was that Favre looked much older than he is and that his speech was less clear than before and had some stuttering episodes. Favre does not try to hide his condition or deny its presence; here is what he has said previously about it:
“I have absolutely not given up, and I am fighting till the end. Yes, I have progressed a little faster than I would have hoped at this point, but I’m extremely thankful and blessed.”
There is data correlating Parkinson’s with concussions; some research says that even one concussion can increase the chances of Parkinson’s onset by more than 50 percent. Brett Favre played in 302 NFL games in his career; he was sacked 525 times and was involved in other collisions with large human beings at least as many times. So, how many concussions did he suffer in days before there were “protocols” and examinations and removal from games?
Finally, a closing remark from Brett Favre:
“I can’t believe I survived, not only my life, but I am still playing football ’cause half of those eight or nine years I don’t even remember.”
But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………