The Not-So-Brotherly Shove
Nov. 4, 2024
In the course of one memorable weekend, a Philadelphia columnist got shoved in the neck and collarbone because he was the only sports media person in this city doing his job, and the Brotherly Shove got some pushback of its own by the only coach who ever won us a Super Bowl.
First things first. Marcus Hayes, the last media member standing after the rest of them chose to kneel or lie down to the teams they cover, was the victim of an attack by Joel Embiid on Nov. 1, in what is believed to be the first actual physical act by the lazy superstar since the Olympic Games.
Joel Embiid is a terrific player, but he should be doing commercials for kitty litter because he is as soft as a kitten and what he says belongs in a litter box. Never has this city pampered so much a superstar who delivered nothing in return.
Need I remind everyone that the Sixers, who tanked for four seasons to get the big center, haven’t even made it to a conference final with the physically and mentally brittle Embiid in (and often out) of the lineup.
We got to see the most vivid proof yet of his love to play the victim in an ill-advised news briefing on Oct. 31. In it, he whined about having his will to play questioned, even though he has missed the first six games for “left knee management” – whatever that means.
“I’ve done way too much for this city, putting myself at risk for people to be saying that,” he sobbed. “I do think it’s bulls–. . . . I’ve done way too much for this f–king city to be treated like this.”
Embiid conveniently left out a couple of facts in his embarrassing attempt to defend his fragility. First, he is making $51 million to play this season, or rather to not play. That’s more than any player has ever made here for one season. By a lot.
Also, what he did for this city so far is . . . . nothing. As I mentioned above, he has not only won nothing in a decade as a Sixer, he has not gotten close to winning anything. What he did for the city this season so far was to cost fans hundreds of dollars in tickets bought in anticipation of seeing him play.
Marcus Hayes wrote several strong columns about all of the Embiid drama so far this season, and he started his most potent one on Oct. 23 with these words:
Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er. . . . . Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work.
Marcus went to the game on Nov. 2 to apologize to Embiid for bringing up the player’s son and late brother to illustrate the (valid) point that Embiid is not working hard enough on conditioning and is leaving himself vulnerable to injury.
Joel was waiting for him. According to a report on Inquirer.com, Embiid struck and shoved Hayes, and then issued this threat if the writer ever brought up his family members again: “You’re gonna see what I’m gonna do to you, and I’m gonna have to (bleep) live with the consequences.”
Hayes’ shaming of Embiid through his family members was not a good idea, but the response was outrageous. I think I can explain it, though. Joel has led an exalted existence in Philadelphia, rarely being held accountable for his reckless play on the court and his disdain for staying in shape off it.
Other than Hayes, has anyone ever written anything negative about him?
I felt similarly alone on many occasions when I worked at WIP because I lashed out many times at his immature and woe-is-me style. From the time he missed two seasons getting treatment for foot ailments, he has been an enigma. I’m sure he was offended by the references to his son and brother in the column, but there’s a lot more to his reaction than that.
The most interesting part of the incident, at least to me, was the attempt by the PR staff of the Sixers to squash the story. According to several reports, the PR people asked the media in the locker room on Saturday night not to report what had happened.
The biggest sports star in the city physically attacked one of the most prominent columnists, and these flaks thought everyone would look the other way? Are the media usually that compliant? Do the people covering the Sixers often do the bidding of PR people? I hope not.
Stories like this can go in two different directions. They can lead to a more journalistic approach, the old way of holding players and teams accountable. Or it could intimidate an already soft media corps into an even more timid approach.
I’m pretty sure I know which direction it will go.
And it disgusts me.
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Speaking of not-so-Brotherly Shoves, it appears that Doug Pederson finally found a way to counteract the most effective short-yardage play in recent Eagles history. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Pederson was better at that than at calling plays in the red zone, and especially late in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles nearly blew a 22-0 lead because coach Nick Sirianni couldn’t figure out when to take easy points and when to put his inferior opponent out of its misery. The Jags were awful for most of the game, but they still had a chance to win, down 28-23, with the ball on the Eagles 13-yard line with 1:42 remaining.
That’s when Doug Pederson dialed up the fatal play, a pass in the end zone intended for Collin Johnson. That had to be the dumbest play-call of the NFL season. Even if it worked, the TD would give the Eagles 90 or so seconds to work back into field-goal range and win the game.
Instead, Nakobe Dean made an amazing play, snagging the overthrow with a full-extension leap in the end zone. Between Dean and his linebacking partner Zack Baun, the Eagles finally have some people in the middle of their defense who can make big plays. Imagine that.
Dean’s grab was the last in a game filled with stunning athletic plays by Howie Roseman’s talented roster. Saquon Barkley dazzled all day, and especially on a run where he made three tacklers miss with jukes, cuts and spin moves that defied description. Jalen Hurts was brilliant all day, including a 17-yard TD run early in the game. DeVonta Smith made one of the wildest TD catches ever with a one-handed grab near the back of the end zone. And even Johan Dotson gained 36 yards on an incredible catch near the sideline.
This may be the most talented roster in Eagles history.
And Nick Sirianni may be the dumbest coach in their history.
For once, I won’t belabor the point. You know by now how I feel about the head coach, who continues to act the fool on the sidelines in between decisions that often sabotage the team. He needs to go. By now, I have to believe even Roseman realizes that.
Hey, how about the Eagles bringing back Pederson next season? Doug is a lock to leave Jacksonville, and soon, with his 2-7 record and the perplexing failure of quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Pederson did figure out a way to stop the Brotherly Shove, or Tush Push, by having two layers of defenders squeezed against the line. The lower linemen slide under the blockers, and the upper tier prevents Hurts from burrowing through a crevice.
Doug is still my favorite coach because he is so innovative, so bold, so human. But no thanks on a return here next year. As much as we will always embrace the 2017 NFL championship, there’s no turning back now. Encore performances never work in sports anyway.
But there’s no question what needs to happen to Nick Sirianni as soon as the 2024 season ends.
Even at 6-2, the Eagles should be planning one last Brotherly Shove for Sirianni the day after this season – a shove right out of town.