Madden Monday: Odd coverage of Ben Roethlisberger’s addictions; defending NHL draft lottery
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When Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger admitted addictions to alcohol and pornography last week, it took a long time for that story to gain traction.
Particularly on a local level.
I wrote a column immediately after I found out about the news. But I found coverage of Roethlisberger’s mea culpa to be disproportionately light in Pittsburgh. It was so clear that when I went on air with Sports Radio 810 WHB host Soren Petro in Kansas City, that became a topic of conversation.
It was surprising that a future Hall of Fame quarterback would say something so newsworthy, and it generate more news out of market than in his home city.
That was my view. Mark Madden adds his two cents worth in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.
We also talk about the screwy NHL draft lottery drawing. It’s getting panned internationally. But Mark defends the odd format. He’ll tell you why.
This weekend’s rollback of covid-19 privileges from city and county leaders signals a bad omen for putting fans in the stands of NFL games at Heinz Field. Mark and I have a lousy feeling about not only football but all sports moving forward. We explain why.
If there’s one sport that stands out to Mark as having the best chance to succeed in its current setup, it’s the NBA. He thinks the longest shot is hockey. And for a hockey fan like Mark, that’s an ominous statement.
At least Mark got to see Liverpool win an EPL crown during the pandemic. We get into why European soccer leagues have managed to survive while the American sports have hit a rut.
All that plus Sidney Crosby’s maniacal details to avoid coronavirus spread, his watermelon crushing quest, and the Pirates have a great option to fill up PNC Park during the covid-19 shutdown.