The GOAT Makes His FOX Debut! Is Tom Brady Ready to (Literally) Call the Shots?
What You Thought You Knew Might Surprise You COMMON WEATHER MISCONCEPTIONS!
Nearly two years after signing a 10-year deal with Fox Sports, Tom Brady’s debut as an on-air announcer is officially in the books. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was on the broadcast desk for the Week 1 match-up between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8. After a college career with the University of Michigan Wolverines, Brady was a sixth-round pick, the 199th player chosen, in the 2000 NFL Draft. Talent evaluators found him unimpressive, and many sports analysts were uncertain about his future in the league — plus the Patriots already had two other quarterbacks. In the decades since, many have called this decision a stroke of luck that changed the course of professional football history, but others attribute it to the foresight and strategic planning skills of the team’s leadership. Coach Bill Belichick saw what others didn’t during that fateful draft — Brady’s potential. This decision proved to be a pivotal moment for both the team and the player.
Weather has been mystifying human beings for thousands of years, so it’s no wonder countless misconceptions surround it. Does science back up any of these superstitions, or are they all just a bunch of bunk? Let’s bust three common myths! Myth 1 — Groundhogs can predict the weather. Despite what Punxsutawney Phil wants you to believe, a groundhog’s annual behavior on Feb. 2 does not indicate whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter. Historians traced the origins of this tradition back to the ancient Celtic people, who marked the beginning of their seasons with holidays on the first of certain months. February was a time for lighting candles and predicting how long the winter would last. As people immigrated to new lands, they crossed paths with Germanic people, who introduced the addition of an animal weather prophet, though initially it was a badger and, at one point, a hedgehog! Eventually, the tradition solidified into what we know today. Myth 2 — A tornado is coming if the sky turns green. Sometimes, light can play tricks on us when refracted through certain clouds. In rare cases, dark storm clouds can hit sunbeams at a certain angle, scattering the light so it looks green. However, this is not a great indicator of a tornado on the horizon. Myth 3 — Lighting never strikes the same place twice. Lightning can strike the exact location repeatedly, even in the same storm. Take, for example, the story of Liu Nan, a Chinese man struck by lightning twice in the same spot in less than five minutes. Miraculously, the man survived. Additionally, the Empire State Building gets struck by lightning approximately 25 times yearly! While we’re on the subject — it’s not your car’s rubber tires that protect it from lightning strikes but the metal cage of the vehicle that conducts and directs 300 million volts of electricity safely into the ground. Did you believe any of these common myths about weather? These certainly aren’t the only misconceptions about our weather world — and since some appear to be rooted in fact, it’s good to do your own research using reputable sources, just to be sure.
Whatever the case, Brady has earned his spot in the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Holding 17 NFL records, including nearly every major record for quarterbacks, Brady is currently an all-time leader in multiple areas, including passing yards, attempts, and touchdown passes. He led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins in 20 seasons before transferring to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for three more years and another championship ring.
Photo: Brad Muckenthaler
Brady’s transition from the gridiron to the broadcast booth marks a significant milestone for his career. His Fox contract pays out $375 million over a decade. By contrast, his 23-year tenure with the NFL netted him around $333 million. This industry-leading deal at nearly $38 million per year earns Brady the title of the highest-paid sports broadcaster ever — just a bit more than sports commentator Jim Rome’s $30 million per year at CBS. Tune in to NFL games all season long to see how the GOAT does behind the mic!
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