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Remorseful Hub Arkush: will come out of NFL MVP voting saga
Remorseful Hub Arkush: had just finished three hours of what may be described as self-admonition.
“I was wrong,” Arkush remarked several times on his 670 The Score show on Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m.
The station’s NFL analyst kept apologising for the day before’s derogatory statements regarding Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. His words had gone global, reaching parts of the internet he had never heard about.
But for the majority of the broadcast, he was on the phone, anticipating a barrage of abuse for declaring he won’t vote for Rodgers for NFL MVP because he held the team in limbo all winter and lied about being COVID-19-vaccinated.
Remorseful Hub Arkush: will come out of NFL MVP Voting
After the show, Arkush said, “I’m still a little worried that every caller was calling to support me.” “On The Score, that doesn’t happen.” As a result, I’m not sure what to make of it.”
Arkush, to be sure, took his fair share of flak over those three hours. However, he stated that this was the purpose.
“My only job was to try to erase any conceivable blemish on the votes, the prizes, or my fellow voters,” he explained. “I’ve been ill to my stomach over it.”
Arkush hasn’t reflected on what he said on Tuesday’s “Parkins & Spiegel” broadcast. He has, however, heard enough to see that “a handful of things about Rodgers were utterly improper, sophomoric.” It’s just not my cup of tea.”
“I don’t think a nasty individual can be the most useful guy at the same time,” he remarked, referring to Rodgers as “the worst jerk in the league.”
That kind of criticism has never been Arkush’s way. He accepted the fire, like a quarterback who takes every question from the media after throwing a costly interception.
After a commercial break, producer Brandon Fryer played Rodgers’ rebuttal to Arkush’s statements.
Arkush was dubbed “a scumbag” by the four-time MVP, who urged he be removed from future voting and claimed he had never met or been interviewed by him.
(Arkush has interviewed Rodgers for Westwood One numerous time on the field after games, but he didn’t expect Rodgers to recall.)
Arkush had never heard Rodgers’ answer before, and it had taken him by surprise, as had everything else in this drama.
“I believe the man was injured,” Arkush stated. “To be honest, I was astonished that he said so much and came on so strong.” But since I was mistaken, I’m not going to judge him for his reaction.
But if you listen to the whole thing, I’ll leave it up to you to form your conclusions about Aaron Rodgers. I’ll say that I thought his remarks fascinating, and that’s probably where I should end it.”
Arkush has no one to blame but himself for his misdeeds. If the Score had any reservations, it would not have let him host solo for three hours, and the Associated Press, which controls NFL award voting, will not take away his vote.
The Associated Press accepted his apology for speaking about it, which the news agency requires its 50-member panel to refrain from doing.
Arkush, on the other hand, may not be finished apologising. He’ll be interesting to hear how he’s treated as the NFL insider for the Packers’ radio pregame programme.
He’ll likely emerge through this fine in Chicago, where he’s built a reputation as a fair and respected analyst during his years as the Bears’ radio broadcaster (1987-2004) and as the longstanding publisher of Pro Football Weekly.
(Full disclosure: PFW was my first job out of college in 1996, and I interned there in 1994.)
Despite his reluctance to see any gain, Arkush’s profile may be higher than it has ever been. The incident was covered by websites all over the media landscape and was discussed on sports talk shows.
“The irony is that I’m talking to my editor [Shaw Media sports editor Kyle Nabors on Wednesday morning], and he’s laughing, and I’m telling him how bad it is, and he says, ‘I don’t know.’
” In the last hour, you’ve earned 500 Twitter followers,’ Arkush added. “That’s the part I don’t get.” Why are all these people following me if they believe I’m a turd?”
Any publicity, according to Arkush, is bad publicity. He’s only trying to make it through the storm with the help of contrition. His callers on Wednesday expressed their gratitude.
He said, “You’re a man, you own it, you take your lumps and move on.” “I’m not sure how else to do it.”
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