It used to be, years and years ago, in order to be a sports journalist — or any kind of journalist for that matter — you had to have talent, skill, and heaps of personality. But that was before the invention of the diversity hire, where the only qualities one must possess in order to get hired for a job in practically any field is to be anything other than white, straight, and a biological male. I have a prime example I’m just dying to share with you guys.
On Tuesday, a female sports reporter asked the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Todd Bowles, what plans he was going to put into action to help his players deal with the inclement weather and frosty temperatures in Detroit, as the Lions are set to take on the Buccs in a divisional round at Ford Field this coming Sunday.
“Looking forward towards Detroit,” the reporter went on to say, “the weather has been a factor in some of the playoff games, even for the most prepared teams.”
What she say sis true, right? Weather most definitely plays a huge role in the outcome of games. You’re probably think I’m just a sexist jerk at this point, but please, allow me to take up a few more moments of your time. We haven’t gotten to the good part yet.
“Today, it’s 13 in Detroit,” the reporter continued, according to The Western Journal. “Any special plans to acclimate the team to not only endure, but perform in those kind of frigid temperatures, should you face them in Detroit?”
For a few moments, Bowles appeared to be totally taken off guard. He sort of looked around the room waiting for something to happen, as if he were on one of those reality prank shows or something. Fortunately for the reporter, Bowles was able to maintain his composure and not burst out laughing.
You do know we play indoors, right? They got a dome,” he responded to the reporter.
Here’s more from the report:
Barstool Sports pounced on the opportunity to point out the obvious on X. “Here’s the thing…..the game is being played in a dome. Just like every Lions game has been played for the past 50 years.”
A reporter asked Todd Bowles how the Bucs are preparing for the weather in Detroit this weekend.
Here’s the thing…..the game is being played in a dome. Just like every Lions game has been played for the past 50 years. @BSMotorCity pic.twitter.com/ipbQBHIFWo
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 17, 2024
Bowles had to stop himself from laughing at the reporter.
He continued, “I don’t…” before shaking it off and answering the question directly, “No. Nothing planned. We’re indoors, and we only have to be outside for twenty seconds getting off the bus.”
He then stated, “We’ll be okay.”
A tiny bit of research — Googling the Detroit Lions — could have saved the reporter from a lifetime of embarrassment. For example, according to Sports Illustrated, professional football has been played in a dome in Detroit since 1975. That’s going on 50 years.
Even a casual professional football fan knows that Detroit’s Ford Field has a dome. If you’re someone who writes sports for a living, especially with a focus on the NFL, there’s absolutely no reason not to be in possession of this knowledge. And, I mean, she obviously wrote out this question beforehand. As noted above, doing a quick bit of research would have informed her of this and thus prevented her from becoming a laughing stock in her field.
The Lions have played at Ford Field since 2002. This is hardly new. On top of that, the team previously spent almost four decades in the Pontiac Silverdome. Which, you should have gathered from the name, has a dome.
The Western Journal provided a possible explanation for the mistake, saying, “Maybe the reporter was a DEI hire — you know the drill, Diversity Equity and Inclusion — and doesn’t even like sports but happened to fit the open NFL Sports Reporter position.”
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