Al Roker missed Larry Fitzgerald’s non-retirement news
Feb 19, 2018, 8:49 AM
Days before Larry Fitzgerald left the United States for vacation and sandwiched in between a golf tournament Pro-Am win in Pebble Beach, the receiver told Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks he’d play in 2018 instead of retiring after 14 NFL seasons.
TODAY Show weatherman Al Roker apparently missed Wilks announcing that news on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
Working the Winter Olympics in South Korea, Roker tweeted a selfie of himself and Fitzgerald on Monday with the caption, “Just got to reconnect with @larryfitzgerald who is a former #nfl #star …”
Just got to reconnect with @larryfitzgerald who is a former #nfl #star with @azcardinals #worldclass #photgrapher #traveler and nice guy at @usagyongsanpao pic.twitter.com/Y28aFsOMae
— Al Roker (@alroker) February 19, 2018
Naturally, this wasn’t received well on Twitter.
Don’t make everyone in Phoenix not be able to sleep tonight! He just announced he’s coming back next year!
— DesertDawg (@BizzieBaker) February 19, 2018
I think he's still playing, Al… unless you're breaking some news here 🙂
— Mike Sisak (@mikesisak) February 19, 2018
— Michelle (@km_spence) February 19, 2018
Roker eventually noticed his error and admitted it, apologizing to the Cardinals wide receiver for retiring him early.
Obviously, I do Weather and not sports. I was told he was a former player. Sorry @LarryFitzgerald if I retired you early. pic.twitter.com/yXcvN9USCS
— Al Roker (@alroker) February 19, 2018
It’s an innocent mistake, but by the responses from Arizona fans, it’s clear people are still on edge about the eventuality of Fitzgerald hanging up the cleats.
