In a recent podcast with Rich Eisen of NFL.com, Seinfeld co-creator Larry David says that his favorite episode from the series featured a guest appearance from Keith Hernandez, and an homage to the Zapruder film involving not bullets but spittle.
“That is one magic loogie,” Seinfeld says while debunking the Kramer/Newman theory that Hernandez once spit on them after Newman said, “Nice game pretty boy.”
Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder accuses Ravens fullback Le’Ron McClain of sending a not-so-magic loogie in Crowder’s direction during Sunday’s game between the two teams. McClain denies it.
Coach Tony Sparano believes that he has video evidence of spitting.
“Absolutely, yeah,” Sparano told the media on Monday, in comments distributed by the team. “I have enough evidence, yeah.”
Based on the available videos on YouTube, it’s hard to disagree with Sparano.
“It’s upsetting to me. [I mean] there’s a lot of things that go on in this game from a talking standpoint and trash talking standpoint. [I mean] I had a player on the sideline and I’m standing there on the sideline yesterday and I had a player talking trash to me from the other team . . . and I didn’t say one word to the guy, so. Now, that being said, that’s part of the game I get it. I mean that’s whatever floats your boat out there, okay. But -- and really I don’t think it’s part of the game, OK . . . but to some of them that’s what gets them going. But this whole deal here about spitting in somebody’s face [you know] no where in this game do I see any place for that, so. I just don’t.”
The league doesn’t either. In 1997, the NFL imposed a $7,500 fine on Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski for spitting at 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes.
In a 2006 playoff game, late Redskins safety Sean Taylor was ejected from a playoff game and later fined $17,000 for spitting on Buccaneers tailback Michael Pittman.
McClain can deny it all he wants, but the evidence doesn’t lie. Sure, it’s hard to actually see spit flying. But the body language from McClain and the reaction from Crowder leaves little doubt about what McClain did.
And so McClain needs to be fined. At least $17,000. Maybe a lot more.
