May 14 2008
“Cry, Bob! CRRRRYYYYYY!”
Apparently, NBC needed Bob Costas to show emotion after the Derby.
What th– are we now such a logically void, entertainment-dependent nation that we now need our sports anchors to give us the cue to choke up? The mere news wasn’t enough? “Yep, whole rafts of little kids just scarred for life here at Churchill Downs. Let’s see if we can’t find a bit of footage with some good double snap audio!”
A good man, Bob Costas, the dudest of dudes. But I sure don’t need him to tell me when to cry.
And anyone who’s been following the Derby aftermath could easily say there’s been nothing but emotion. Lots of accusations, plenty of screeching, no shortage of histrionics.
What there hasn’t been is clearheaded analysis from the mainstream press on on what to do about it. You haven’t seen any here. And that’s because I’m no expert on equine physiology, track surfaces, or training programs. I’m just a blonde with a program in her hand who wants the pretty grey one to win.
But I trust the sport to sort it out. And I trust the average Derby viewer to know what’s tragic and what’s not.
(NOTE: You’re supposed to be provoked to some sort of thought by this issue. I mean, just to make sure you know how to feel, and all.)
