FirstCuts: ‘Pros Vs. Joes’ Returns Tonight

By Chris Littmann
Sports don’t start and end with a referee’s whistle. FirstCuts, a blog dedicated to sports culture, will cover everything outside the lines, from games to gear.
Because there always are enough wannabe, never-were athletes willing to get humiliated by some other past-their-prime pros, we have the return of Pros vs. Joes (Thursday, 11 p.m. ET, Spike TV).

Here we have the sad tale of one man trying to tackle Ricky Williams -- arguably the best of any of the athletes to appear on Pros vs. Joes (Perhaps there was a requirement he try to run past the defenders while high as a kite to even things out?). One lesson is immediately learned: If you are not an NFL linebacker, it’s best to not attempt a tackle of Ricky Williams near the shoulders; you will get trucked.
Also participating this season -- but not limited to -- Rod Woodson, Pernell Whitaker, Kurt Angle, Antonio Davis and Charles Oakley. My college newspaper, The Post once took on the Ohio University men’s basketball team in a pickup game. We trailed 22-0 ... and didn’t come back. I can understand the appeal of this whole thing, but at least my humiliation took place in a much more private setting. All mockery aside, I’d rather watch this than the new American Gladiators.
Related: Deadspin’s Will Leitch and A.J. Daulerio are actually the two “Joes” who take on Davis and Oakley. Sounds like it was competitive.↵