From time to time on this show, I get tagged with the opinion that I dislike the Dallas Cowboys.
Trust me, I understand it. A sports talk show host isn't doing his job unless it's to infuriate one fanbase or another.
Which, by the way, is entirely the point. I don't mind ruffling the feathers of any particular group of fans, especially one as vocal and ready to fight logic, reason and sensibility with as much rigor and passion as fans of "America's Team".
(I'm still waiting for my ballot to be sent to me so I may vote on that nickname).
I digress.
But I don't need to channel my inner lack of fandom in order to feel bad about the case of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.
His appeal of a 6-game suspension is in progress. Hearings are taking place somewhere in New York City, and while the National Football League continues to spew off nonsense about investigative research and some 160-page notebook detailing a history of violent behavior perpetrated against Elliott's ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson, the star running back is in a tough spot.
As is the league. They cannot appear soft on domestic violence. Ever. Not after Ray Rice, not after Greg Hardy, not after Josh Brown.
But the new collective bargaining agreement, which will be voted on before 2021, is going to address the very real issue of how far the league's legal authority actually goes.
Elliott never gets to face his accuser. He has to swear under oath during this hearing, which is not being held in a courtroom and he most assuredly will not win this appeal if by doing so it makes the league appear soft on a very real trouble spot.
Image is everything, if you believe NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Even if that image means tarnishing a man without proper due process.
Yes, it's been a few days since the "Shenangians" have come to an end in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But the sordid tales aren't going away.
Seems the UFC is offering refunds to cusotmers who purchased the fight on a UFC-operated streaming service but were unable to access the stream after buying the bout.
This is a nice gesture by the UFC, and the proper thing to do. But they’re not the only ones dealing with fallout from streaming problems. A fan has filed a class-action suit against Showtime over the poor quality of the stream for the pay-per-view bout.
The amount of buys for the fight has not been publicized yet, but White had said prior to the event that the fight was tracking to be a record-setter.
The lawsuit is hilarious by the way. Filed in Portland, Ore., Zack Bartel is seeking $200 in statutory damages or actual damages for each person in the action, whichever is greater.
Bartel filed the suit because he bought the fight on the Showtime app in iTunes and, instead of watching it in high definition as advertised, he got poor video quality ... and buffer messages. His suit claims that Showtime engaged in "unlawful trade practices" and "unjust enrichment".
But it's this line that's the real winner...
"Instead of being a 'witness to history' as defendant had promised, the only thing plaintiff witnessed was grainy video, error screens, buffer events, and stalls," declared the lawsuit.
A witness to history. I'm gonna save that one for a later date.
This is a picture of a racehorse.
His name is Bortstein. And he debuts tonight at Albuquerque Downs.
I don't know if I'm entitled to feel like the proud father sending his kid off to school for the first time.
After all, I didn't have anything to do with getting him to the races.
I didn't train him, I don't pay his bills, I don't feed him or do any of those things that horsemen do.
But he's got my name attached to him and I can't wait to see him race tonight in the 3rd race.
Go Go BORTSTEIN go!
"There's no crying in baseball..."
We know this. After all, Tom Hanks said it, so it must be true.
But now we're finding out -- at least in the clubhouse of the Kansas City Royals -- there's no pornography in baseball either.
Seems a Royals player got busted on a DUI charge. Danny Duffy (that's an unfortunate name right there), according to a Kansas City Star report, was arrested in a Burger King parking lot Sunday night. The report noted Major League Baseball or the team can punish a player after he is charged with DUI.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore suggested in an awkward moment during a Tuesday press conference his belief that there is a link between watching pornography and domestic abuse.
Well, I suppose that's one way to explain their just-ended 45-inning scoreless streak.
Join me, along with Bob Przybylo covering Sooners football, Ryan Ballengee from Golf News Net as well as leading thoroughbred trainer Justin Evans, on FIRST SPORTS, 9am ET and heard live across America on the I HEART RADIO app or locally on the radio dial at AM1340/93.9FM!