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SPORTS Thursday 3 augusT 2017

Monday Night Football gig a

lifetime goal for Beth Mowins

By ARNIE STAPLETON and certainly the Monday and Phyllis George was on
AP Pro Football Writer Night Football franchise is there, and that was prob-
ENGLEWOOD, Colorado one of the biggest in TV his- ably the first time I had
(AP) — Beth Mowins is tour- tory,” Mowins said. “It’s def- seen a woman in that mo-
ing training camps this initely something as a kid ment, on television, cover-
month ahead of dry runs at you watch Monday Night ing football, talking with all
a pair of exhibition games Football and you hope these players and report-
as she prepares to become maybe one day you could ing,” Mowins said. “And
the first woman in 30 years be there.” To prepare, Mo- that was something I asked
to call an NFL regular sea- wins teamed up with Ryan my mom if I can do and she In this Saturday, July 29, 2017 photo, broadcaster Beth Mowins
son game. The 50-year-old to call the Florida State said, ‘Yes, you can.’ chats with a reporter while watching the Denver Broncos run
former college basketball spring game. The pair will “And between my mom through drills at NFL football training camp in Englewood, Colo.
player who joined ESPN work the Buccaneers-Jag- patting me on the back Associated Press
in 1994 and began call- uars preseason game Aug. and my dad giving me a Mowins isn’t focusing on sue that dream and put in
ing college football for the 17 and the Giants-Browns little kick in the backside what her future holds as a lot of sweat equity to get
network in 2005 will handle game four days later for to make sure I was fight- far as NFL games go. Nor the opportunity,” Mowins
play-by-play duties when practice — their calls will be ing for it every step of the is she concerned with the said. “And I don’t worry too
the Los Angeles Chargers taped but not broadcast. way ... I had some wonder- pioneering aspect of her much about any place in
visit the Denver Broncos Mowins also has visited the ful encouragement to get assignment, she said. history. I’ll let other people
on Sept. 11. She’ll team Chargers’ and Broncos’ there.” Her father was a “I understand the signifi- handle that. My focus is on
with former NFL coach Rex training camps. basketball coach and she cance of it and the impor- the day to day and while I
Ryan for the late game in a Growing up in Syracuse, would go on to play hoops tance of this moment and know it’s new to everybody
season-opening “Monday New York, with sports- at Lafayette College in I hope there are a lot of else, it’s not new to me. I’ve
Night Football” double- minded parents and three Pennsylvania before get- young girls and young boys been calling Monday Night
header. The last woman brothers, Mowins realized ting her Master’s degree out there who not neces- Football games for my fam-
to call an NFL game was she could combine her two from Syracuse University. sarily see me as a play-by- ily sitting in the living room
NBC’s Gayle Sierens in 1987. greatest loves — sports and She began her journalism play announcer but as a kid for decades. So, hopefully I
“I think all of us want bigger talking. career in 1991 as sports and who had a dream and had can be just as entertaining
and better games and big- “I used to watch the NFL news director at WXHC-FM wonderful support from in the booth as I have been
ger and better moments Today show all the time radio in Homer, New York. family and friends to pur- at home.”q

Jets’ Adams: ‘die on field’ comments simply about passion

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. NFL Commissioner Roger Twitter .
AP Sports Writer Goodell at the team’s fa- “Here’s an idea. Instead
FLORHAM PARK, New Jer- cility, one of the approxi- of “DYING” valiantly for
sey (AP) — Jamal Adams mately 150 Jets season- football” take some of the
meant no disrespect to ticket holders asked the earnings, create your own
players and families deal- panel, which also included business (and) “LIVE” com-
ing with the effects of con- running back Matt Forte, fortably,” former NFL run-
cussions. He simply loves about player health and ning back Thomas Jones
football. safety. Adams, who never tweeted .
The New York Jets rookie mentioned concussions or Adams’ comments came
safety drew sharp criticism chronic traumatic enceph- with the news relatively
from some fans, media and alopathy, spoke about fresh that Boston Univer-
former and current players how much he and others sity and VA researchers re-
when he said Monday that enjoy the game. ported in the Journal of the
if he had the choice, the “Literally, if I had a perfect American Medical Asso-
field would be the “perfect place to die,” Adams said, ciation last week that they
place to die.” In light of the “I would die on the field . I found signs of the disease
backlash, Adams tried to would be at peace. Liter- in nearly 90 percent of 200
clarify his comments Tues- ally. That’s not a lie.” New York Jets’ Jamal Adams takes questions from fans as part brains examined, including
day after practice. The comment drew ap- a of fan forum during an NFL football training camp in Florham 110 of 111 from NFL players .
“Honestly, I really didn’t see plause from many in the Park, N.J., Monday, July 31, 2017. “My comments were simply
it getting that far,” Adams crowd, a curious response Associated Press for passion, nothing else,”
said. “I was speaking about considering the strong fo- pick from LSU, said during Some former and current Adams reiterated Tuesday.
being passionate about cus in recent years by the the forum that he wasn’t players took to social me- “Not one time did I say any-
the game that I love. I un- NFL on concussions and in- so fond of the NFL rules dia to question Adams’ thing about CTE or say any-
derstand that some fami- juries. that often protect offen- choice of words. thing negative. I respect
lies were affected by this “I can’t control what other sive players. But he added “I hope all these young it. I understand what the
disease and I definitely people, how they viewed that he understands why cats that are willing to die outcome of it is and I know
didn’t mean it in any type it,” Adams said of the they’re in place, and then for the game of football there’s families that are af-
of way.” cheers he received. “All I talked about his passion for find a higher purpose in fected, but at the same
During a question-and-an- can do is give my point.” the sport before then mak- life,” Green Bay tight end time, everything’s about
swer session that included Adams, a first-round draft ing his critical comments. Martellus Bennett wrote on passion, what I said.”q