tk13
12-15-2005, 02:24 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/13409858.htm
L.J.’s gesture may require further review from the NFL
JEFFREY FLANAGAN
Kansas City Star
About that other gesture, the “Diamond Cutter” one that Chiefs running back Larry Johnson flashes after he scores a touchdown: Don’t be shocked if the NFL eventually steps in and starts issuing fines for that, too.
The “Diamond Cutter,” or “Flashing the Roc” as it also is called, has become the symbolic gesture for anyone associated with the clothing line Team Roc, which has an endorsement deal with Johnson.
The gesture itself — holding both thumbs and index fingers together to form a diamond shape — is embroiled in controversy because Team Roc’s founder Jay-Z is being sued for copyright infringement for using the symbol (a wrestler claims he was the first to use the symbol in the 1990s.)
As for the NFL, it already has a business relationship with Nike and Reebok, both of whom happen to be on Team Roc’s list of competitors. Reebok makes the NFL’s uniforms, while both Nike and Reebok have shoe licensing deals with the league.
That might make Johnson’s “Diamond Cutter” gesture a conflict of interest with the league, sort of like wearing an insignia other than Reebok or Nike. As of now, the league is taking no action.
“There is no existing language that would ban it,” said Steve Alic, manager of AFC information for the NFL. “Right now, there’s no rule against it.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean the league — always protective of its business associations — won’t examine the situation further.
“It’s not an obscene gesture, and it’s not taunting the other team,” Alic said. “Right now it would be considered a personal gesture or expression.”
Right now.
***
Continuing on the subject of gestures, the latest on Fingergate, the obscene gesture flashed by Gunther Cunningham during the Chiefs-Cowboys game on Sunday:
Yep, it’s there. You were right.
It’s an obscene gesture, although it looked like Gunther was simply signaling in his new defensive alignment, The Bird Defense.
We looked at the game tape in our office Wednesday, frame by frame, like we were all examining the Zapruder film (“Back, and to the right … back, and to the right”).
It’s there, in a millisecond, too quick for the eye at normal speed. But it’s there.
League officials knew nothing about the gesture before we talked to them Wednesday, but now don’t be surprised if it comes back later in the week and removes any excess green in Gunther’s wallet.
Thanks go out to the dozens of readers who say they, too, believe they have the gesture on freeze frame, including Channel 4’s Frank Boal (otherwise known as Jim Garrison).
***
There’s one other housecleaning item to take care of.
It’s about that implication from Kevin Kietzman that the reason the Chiefs sold the radio rights to Dick Vermeil’s weekly news conference to KCSP was because WHB asked the tough questions at these news conferences, which may have upset the Chiefs.
This, of course, implies that everyone else in town is too frightened to ask Vermeil a tough question. That’s hardly the case.
The truth is, if these news conferences wind up sounding soft, it’s sometimes by design.
Good reporters don’t ask delicate or tough questions in front of a room of two dozen other reporters. Why give your best stuff away to every other media outlet in town? Good reporters find a way to talk to their source in private and then ask the hard question.
***
A few highlights from the roast of Star columnist Jason Whitlock on Tuesday night at the Gem Theater:
■ “Jason is the only guy I knew who would take his lunch money to school in an armored car.”
■ “Jason was very active in his high school homecoming. He was voted best float.”
■ “Jason was born on July 4th, 5th and 6th.”
L.J.’s gesture may require further review from the NFL
JEFFREY FLANAGAN
Kansas City Star
About that other gesture, the “Diamond Cutter” one that Chiefs running back Larry Johnson flashes after he scores a touchdown: Don’t be shocked if the NFL eventually steps in and starts issuing fines for that, too.
The “Diamond Cutter,” or “Flashing the Roc” as it also is called, has become the symbolic gesture for anyone associated with the clothing line Team Roc, which has an endorsement deal with Johnson.
The gesture itself — holding both thumbs and index fingers together to form a diamond shape — is embroiled in controversy because Team Roc’s founder Jay-Z is being sued for copyright infringement for using the symbol (a wrestler claims he was the first to use the symbol in the 1990s.)
As for the NFL, it already has a business relationship with Nike and Reebok, both of whom happen to be on Team Roc’s list of competitors. Reebok makes the NFL’s uniforms, while both Nike and Reebok have shoe licensing deals with the league.
That might make Johnson’s “Diamond Cutter” gesture a conflict of interest with the league, sort of like wearing an insignia other than Reebok or Nike. As of now, the league is taking no action.
“There is no existing language that would ban it,” said Steve Alic, manager of AFC information for the NFL. “Right now, there’s no rule against it.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean the league — always protective of its business associations — won’t examine the situation further.
“It’s not an obscene gesture, and it’s not taunting the other team,” Alic said. “Right now it would be considered a personal gesture or expression.”
Right now.
***
Continuing on the subject of gestures, the latest on Fingergate, the obscene gesture flashed by Gunther Cunningham during the Chiefs-Cowboys game on Sunday:
Yep, it’s there. You were right.
It’s an obscene gesture, although it looked like Gunther was simply signaling in his new defensive alignment, The Bird Defense.
We looked at the game tape in our office Wednesday, frame by frame, like we were all examining the Zapruder film (“Back, and to the right … back, and to the right”).
It’s there, in a millisecond, too quick for the eye at normal speed. But it’s there.
League officials knew nothing about the gesture before we talked to them Wednesday, but now don’t be surprised if it comes back later in the week and removes any excess green in Gunther’s wallet.
Thanks go out to the dozens of readers who say they, too, believe they have the gesture on freeze frame, including Channel 4’s Frank Boal (otherwise known as Jim Garrison).
***
There’s one other housecleaning item to take care of.
It’s about that implication from Kevin Kietzman that the reason the Chiefs sold the radio rights to Dick Vermeil’s weekly news conference to KCSP was because WHB asked the tough questions at these news conferences, which may have upset the Chiefs.
This, of course, implies that everyone else in town is too frightened to ask Vermeil a tough question. That’s hardly the case.
The truth is, if these news conferences wind up sounding soft, it’s sometimes by design.
Good reporters don’t ask delicate or tough questions in front of a room of two dozen other reporters. Why give your best stuff away to every other media outlet in town? Good reporters find a way to talk to their source in private and then ask the hard question.
***
A few highlights from the roast of Star columnist Jason Whitlock on Tuesday night at the Gem Theater:
■ “Jason is the only guy I knew who would take his lunch money to school in an armored car.”
■ “Jason was very active in his high school homecoming. He was voted best float.”
■ “Jason was born on July 4th, 5th and 6th.”