Jim Rome is burning... but who honestly cares?
I honestly would rather listen to Woody Paige ramble incoherent thoughts on Pardon The Interruption (PTI) then listen to one word that Rome spits on his pathetic attempt for a TV show.
Now would be a good time for any Rome fans to refrain from reading the rest of this column.
Rome gets paid hundreds of thousands to millions to rant on a Monday-Friday broadcast on a mainstream TV station, ESPN.
Why are they wasting their money?
He uses the show to rip sports stars and other public figures that he has a personal vendetta against.
He is like the National Enquirer for sports fans, only worse.
Today flipping through my channels on my TV I fell upon ESPN during a commercial and being the sports fan that I am, was curious to see what Rome would bring to today's program.
He used his "Final Burn" segment, a five minute ending to the show, to explain his personal biff with former NBA star, Alonzo Mourning.
Mourning had an unpaid debt to a hotel/casino in Las Vegas of $50,000 for use of a conference room during the NBA All Star break this past season.
When he started comparing Mourning who has not caused much commotion in the sports scene in recent years to stars like the football player formerly known as Pacman Jones and Charles Barkley, I knew something was fishy.
He then went on to explain that the reason why he was personally mad at Mourning for the debt was that when he asked Mourning to come on his show he was not interested in speaking about his NBA career or the NBA in general, but his charity organization.
This man is now picking on people because they raise money and support people with needs?
Rome is capable of starting his own charitable organization with his large mainstream name and good chunk of change he carries in his pocket but I do not see him doing it.
Instead he would rather whine about people wanting to promote charitable organizations and rip them on their shows for even thinking about it.
In 1997, Rome offered $3,000 to any hockey player who would knock a 69-year old player named Gordie Howe who was going to play one more final shift out of the game, saying knock him out of the game forever "putting this old fool back into reality."
It didn't end there with ridiculous stuff that Rome has had in his career or lack-there of as a sportscaster and media personality. He repeatedly called Jim Everett of the former Los Angeles Rams "Chris" after the female tennis player Chris Everett.
Everett was brought onto Jim's current show Talk2 on ESPN 2 where Rome repeatably offended his guest by calling him "Chris" over and over again knowing that Everett took offense.
Everett then threatened Rome that if he did call him "Chris" again that the show better go to a commercial break right thereafter which Rome argued and said the segment of his show was five minutes and that was as long as it was going to be.
Rome then finished his sentence with "Chris" towards Everett.
Everett then in turn threw the table between them over and shoved Rome down the edge of the stage while on live television.
Rome's behavior can be seen here.
This man here sums up how I feel about Jim Rome.
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3 months ago
Yep. Pretty much sums up why I've never been able to make it even half-way through his show. The show is all about Rome--sports are secondary. Since Rome is such an abnoxious idiot, a show about him doesn't offer much to make it worth watching.
However, the title of the article is off base. Only in the twisted recesses of Rome's mind would he have enough clout to ruin sports.
3 months ago
Your title and first two lines tell me enough about this article.
Amen brother!!!! I cant stand the man and he tells you the same thing about five times in five different ways. He will just say what he wants to say any way he wants to. See how annoying that is people???
from 3 months ago
"He will just say what he wants to say any way he wants to."
WOW. Im sorry. We should probably resort to Fascism or Communism. And when we do, you should be put in charge of restricting the way people act, what people say, and what they do -- because clearly you know whats best.
from 3 months ago
Wow, Christopher getting a little defensive here.
Im just saying the man is down right annoying because he just cant let things go. He will say a phrase, and then think of 3 other ways to say that phrase thats different from the first time, and waste 30 minutes of my life doing so. He is like Stephen A. Smith, only he thinks he knows all sports.
3 months ago
5 Starz ... outstanding piece.
He got you though. Jim Rome got what he wanted and he got it from ... you!
You've put his name out in space once again and everybody passing by will take a peek.
Send him an Invoice.
3 months ago
Did you read my mind or something? (kidding) outstanding piece and I whole-heartedly agree with you, he is annoying and vindictive, it's a shame that idiots like him get their own show/gig because they are controversial. 5 stars as well.
3 months ago
Wow. I can't believe what I am reading here.
A bunch of hypocrites jumping on a guy for the same thing that he is doing to others.
News flash: You guys are bashing Jim Rome. Just like he rips every sports athelete that he has a problem with.
"Jim Rome is burning... but who honestly cares?"
"he is annoying and vindictive, it's a shame that idiots like him get their own show/gig because they are controversial."
By the way - those are direct quotes from the article and comments left here on BR, not Jim Rome comments.
Oh yeah. That video that you linked of Chris Everett, who's the bad guy in that video? Jim Rome, or the guy who assaults him because of what he said?
Ill bet you guys who hate Jim Rome are all meatheads. Guys who cannot form a decent argument to counter what is a highly intelligent person.
What I hear from this article is that you don't like Jim Rome ripping people. He should probably just report a story and never give his opinion on what he thinks. That would make sense.
The fact of the matter is. To rip Jim Rome for being Jim Rome, is to be exactly what he is.
Jim Rome spits words. Scathing, terrible, funny, and sometimes tasteless words. Which is what you all just did.
3 months ago
You're citing incidents that happened years ago, the Gordie Howe thing was 11 years ago now, and the Jim Everett thing was like 17 years ago. If you'd actually listen to the radio program, you would hear that the show is much more than him "saying what he wants when he wants to". The fact of the matter is, tons of people tune into the radio show to hear him do exactly that. Alonzo came onto the radio show with the understanding that they would discuss basketball and the charity, and when Alonzo was actually on the phone, he refused to talk about basketball, thus screwing Rome out of the previously agreed upon sports interview.
3 months ago
How do you know Alonzo agreed to talking about basketball?
That still doesn't take from him sitting and tearing apart the guy on ESPN for 5 minutes. That's still very uncalled for. At least burn something that is something the entire audience would enjoy to watch.
The plain and simple truth is, the show is plain downright terrible.
from 3 months ago
I know Alonzo agreed to talk about basketball 1)because Rome said he did, and 2) because Rome wouldn't have had him on the show had he known Alonzo would only be on to discuss his charity. Rome is fine with having his guests discuss causes that they support, as long as they are willing to answer questions he may have for them.
The plain and simple truth is, "plain downright terrible" doesn't even make sense. I'm not a huge fan of Rome, but I listen from time to time, because it's an entertaining show.
The fact is Zo didn't pay the casino, it's no different from any other athlete Rome rags on for the same offenses.
3 months ago
Yes, everybody can have opinions on sports, but please be able to back them up with viable facts/reasons. Rome has no clue; why does ESPN hang onto this guy? I've tried to watch his show, but everytime I tune in he says something so moronic, that it takes me several days to recover.
Jim Rome should burn...UP!!
I am OUT!
3 months ago
I think it would be obvious to a child who has no knowledge of who Jim Rome is, that you people are jealous of him. Maybe he is smarter, more successful, and wealthier than the author of this article because he's spent his life working hard instead of whining and complaining. First rule of sports, STOP WHINING!
from 3 months ago
Yeah, that must it. You hit it on the head. Only thing I'm wondering about is how come I got so jealous of him when I have never watched more than about 10 minute at a time of his show--and only that much because I was trying to figure out what anyone saw in him that got him on ESPN in the first place. It didn't take long at all to see there was nothing there and to change the channel. Your comment though is shedding some light on how he stays on the air...unlike him, his viewers aren't all that critical.
3 months ago
The thing is Loki... your comment makes no sense.
He is paid to whine and complain, that is his show.
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