RIP, Jerome Bettis' father

[TheSportsPredictor]

Died of heart attack at age 61.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/2020AP_FBN_Obit_Johnnie_Bettis.html

Sad day for the Steeler family.

 

[Chi City 81]

Sorry for your loss, Bus. RIP.

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

RIP Johnnie Bettis

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

It looks like he felt he was having a problem, so he somehow got his SUV to the side of the road, avoiding any possible accidents.

 

[Tom Petty]

without being an asshole, may i pose: why should anyone in the sports world care and why did this obit move on the national AP wire?

sad, yeah. the fact any person loses a father, mother, brother or sister is a sad thing, but it happens countless times a day all around the world. the guy coulda been a great human being -- which there are millions and millions of in the world -- but why would i include this even as a brief in my section?

 

[GB-Hack]

You may not put it in your section, but it may make it in Pittsburgh or Detroit and the surrounding areas. Since Bettis only retired last season and is an analyst for NBC, I think it justifies AP running a piece on it, even if it only serves certain areas.

 

[Pete Roses Bookie]

Reasons you'd run it:

1. Bettis is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and still is high profile.

2. His parents got lots of play during the Super Bowl for attending every game he ever played, so the father was known to many.

3. Bettis has been a national name going back to college when he played for that most national of programs, Notre Dame.

4. Nobody is going to miss that brief on European soccer you would have run to fill the space anyway.

 

[Trouser_Buddah]

Reasons you'd run it:

1. Bettis is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and still is high profile.

Hines Ward is the reigning Super Bowl MVP

 

[playthrough]

The news made my paper today as a brief. The Notre Dame connection may have been a reason why for my paper (I'm in Indiana), but I agree that Bettis' parents have been rather high-profile with the SB win and that's reason enough too.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Here's hoping Jerome sheds some weight so he doesn't die that young.

 

[MGoBlue]

I have to side the Tom Petty on this one. I'm from the school that unless a death of a close family member affects the possible contributions of an athlete in-season and in-game, then it isn't news. The Bus doesn't qualify.

 

[stevenash]

yeah, should not go world wide news, should be for Pittsburgh only

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

yeah, should not go world wide news, should be for Pittsburgh only

I shouldn't respond to trolls and idiots, but you do know that Bettis was from Detroit and that his parents still lived in the area, right?

 

[GB-Hack]

yeah, should not go world wide news, should be for Pittsburgh only

Sure, because the AP wire picks and chooses where it sends each story depending on what it's about.

You get all kinds of stories on the wire every day. I have no problem if a story runs on the wire about the passing of Mr. Bettis' fathers passing. I'm sure it will be of use to someone, just like Major League Lacrosse reports are useful to someone. Not everything that runs on the wire has to be national or world-level news.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Jerome Bettis is from Detroit? You don't say!

Two years ago, AP ran a three-inch obit on Tom Brady's 90-something-year-old grandmother passing away in season. That was the height of redonkulous.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Two years ago, AP ran a three-inch obit on Tom Brady's 90-something-year-old grandmother passing away in season. That was the height of redonkulous.

Then ignore it. These aren't the teletype days where an unnecessary story is blocking transmission of something more important.

The AP moves a lot of obits of limited interest, like every former news editor of the Podunk Press (long-time AP client) who dies at age 96. WTF?

Bettis was just in the headlines in February for the Super Bowl and his parents had something of a profile since they were often shown at his games. They also hosted a dinner for the Steelers during Super Bowl week, which I'm sure got covered in the media blitz. He's still in the public eye for his work for NBC, and some viewers will probably notice his absence this weekend.