Courage behind the Mic

 God bless play-by-play announcer Pat Foley of the Blackhawks.  I’ve waited years for any Chicago baseball announcer to grow a pair whenever Commissioner and Grand Poohbah Bud Selig would drop in for a visit, and all I heard was, “May I lick your shoes soles-first, your Commissionership?” or words to that effect.    

But during Thursday night’s playoff game with the St. Louis Blues, Foley remarked to partner Eddie Olczyk, “Eddie, we’ve had a tremendous series between two great teams, and it has been compelling theater.  The two teams have been tied or [in] one-goal games 96 percent of the time so far.  But this is the third time in five games that a start time of 8:42 [PM] local was mandated.  I can say with certainty plyers cannot stand these late starts; coaches cannot stand them.  Most importantly, the fans can’t stand them.  So, as we approach midnight, AGAIN, on a work night, a school night, a simple question:  An 8:42 puck drop—” at which point the broadcast cut to commercial.

NHL Commissioner Gary “What concussions, I don’t see no concussions” Bettman said that Foley “didn’t have his facts straight” because everybody was fine with the starting times.  Do you think Bettman regrets the NHL HOF giving Foley its broadcasting award in 2014?  By the way, the game went into double overtime before the Hawks won 4-3 at 12:36 AM. 

A note to Commissioner Bettman:  It is against the law to contract for someone’s murder.