By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers

For years, I’ve been trying to find the perfect example of what modern sports has sadly become. Less than a minute after Sunday’s championship match at Wimbledon, I had found that example.

ESPN’s Chris Fowler, despite seeing an epic match between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, did the most ESPN thing there is. Thankfully, my man John McEnroe was there to put the kibosh on it.

Djokovic was toweling off and hadn’t yet caught his breath when the breathless Fowler couldn’t wait to start talking about who had how many titles and where it placed each of them in the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) discussion. Is Djokovic going to catch Federer in major titles? Does this hurt Federer’s legacy?

McEnroe basically said “can we hold off on all of that and just appreciate what we just saw?”

This is the NBA-ing of all sports and nobody does it more (or worse) than ESPN. Rings, legacy, titles … all most be discussed as soon a possible. Forget the actual competition.

That’s why it was nice to hear McEnroe call Fowler on the verbal carpet (which you rarely hear from members of the same broadcast crew). McEnroe, a tennis legend himself, knows what competitors are thinking and feeling in moments such as this. He knows that Djokovic was probably thinking “I just played one of the greatest matches in Wimbledon history against a 37-year-old who wouldn’t quit.” 

He wasn’t thinking “I wonder where this puts me in the pantheon of tennis greats?”

You have the NBA to thank for all of this. Now that the money has gotten so crazy that the amounts don’t seem to make much difference anymore, the airwaves are filled with is-this-team-a-dynasty talk or the where-does-he-rank topics to fill air time.

Sunday’s match was neither the time nor the place for any post-match discussion other than what Djokovic and Federer had just done for 4 1/2 hours. This was why we watch sports — to see competitors like these two go at it in the highest level of competition.

It speaks for itself, even if ESPN doesn’t want it to.

Designated Contributor Doug Ireland, pictured here in all his Doug E. Fresh glory, has retired as the SID (Stud/Sports Information Director) after 30 years of faithful, beyond-the-call-of-duty service to Northwestern State in Natchitoches, the university and town he loves. He is deeply loved in return.

Today is, in theory, the final day to get a spot for the Diggin’ Dougie Retirement Roast & Toast in honor of our friend.

Seats for the Friday event can be reserved online at nsudemons.com/diggindougie. You can also go to this address to learn more. https://www.facebook.com/events/626627184504702/

The roast is 6-9 p.m. at Friedman Student Union on the NSU campus. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

At 6, everyone will go through the line for BBQ, then the fun starts.

This from Designated Contributing Newspaper The Natchitoches Times:

The cost is $25, which will help send the Western Pennsylvania native on a trip to see his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and to start an endowed scholarship in his name.

Ireland’s fashion sense suggests NSU/Dougie casual (T-shirts/polos with shorts) as a Dickey’s Barbeque buffet will be served.

A pair of NSU VIP football season box tickets will be auctioned courtesy of Jack Brittain. The proceeds will go toward the Doug Ireland Scholarship Fund. To make a bid, visit nsudemons.com/auctions.

Brittain will be part of an all-star roaster lineup that includes emcee Teddy Allen, former NSU baseball coach and current Mississippi State athletics director John Cohen, LSU sports information director Kent Lowe, NSU football coach Brad Laird, former Lady Demon tennis stud Vicky Simms Newsom, voice of the Demons Patrick Netherton, childhood friend and State Farm representative Tag Rome and NSU supporter and fellow State Farm agent Buddy Wood.

A “post roast” celebration will take place at Cane River Brewing (108 Mill Street) immediately after the event.

People who have personal or professional connections with Ireland are encouraged to write notes, record short video messages and/or send photos of the SID in action (work or play) to be shared at the event. Photos can be sent to Matt Vines at vinesm@nsula.edu.

Those unable to attend the event are also welcome to donate toward Ireland’s retirement trip and endowed scholarship.

In his esteemed career, Ireland took home 33 Louisiana Sports Writers Associations honors just since 2000, including the 2017 LSWA Story of the Year.

The majority of those honors came from telling the stories of Northwestern State athletes, coaches and support staff members.

Ireland’s career has had many branches and a vast impact, including his volunteer role as chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

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