Finally, some justice in Charlotte.
I didn’t post anything about FOX Sports’ low-down, dirty trick on the Carolina Panthers #1 fan, Greg “Catman” Good because, frankly, only a stream of profanity involving sharp objects and self-abuse seemed to apply.
Now that the Observer’s Scott Fowler — notice how the sports guys at the Uptown paper of record seem to be grounded in, oh, reality — has shamed FOX into giving the Catman the new ride they promised him, it is time for a reaction.
I blame reality TV.
Yes, the same quest for ratings that says it is OK to dare people to eat bugs or survive on an island or sing songs on national TV basically gives license to cold, snickering TV producers to do anything to “punk” the unsuspecting. Anything to provoke an unscripted reaction and give the camera and viewers a chance to reveal in someone else’s very real and unanticipated pain — why that passes for the height of modern creativity.
It is in fact sad, cruel, and nothing so much as a neolithic flashback to primal, uncivilized urges to celebrate your survival and the pain of some outsider. But enough of that.
The Catman is getting a new F-150. Now if he can just heal up Steve Smith’s sore hammies, we’ll be all set for the Falcons.
