For a moment, let me express my profound sense of remorse for Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer.
He did everything right yesterday, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning of Game 3 in their National League Divisional Series against the Chicago Cubs. Scherzer had the lead, thanks to a fielding error by Kyle Schwarber which led to the Nationals only run in the game and appeared to be on his way to a victory.
That's when the Cubs did what they've done for the better part of two seasons now.
They found a way to win.
Thus, tonight's Game 4, with Jake Arrieta on the hill for the defending champions, is an elimination game for the Nationals. If they want to head back home for a decisive Game 5, they'll need to find a way to overcome this stinging loss, while also doing a better job advancing runners.
In their two losses during this series, the Nationals are 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
This is an area in which the Cubs not only excel, but from a defensive standpoint, one on which they absolutely feast.
Cody Bellinger was incredible last night for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their 3-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, in which they stamped their ticket to the National League Championship Series.
Bellinger hit a solo homerun in the game, his first in the postseason, made some rather dynamic defensive plays, and recorded perhaps the most dynamic out of the series with his over-the-dugout rail catch of a foul fly ball into the Dodger bench to end the fifth inning.
The favorite for the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year has been a staple of the Dodgers this season, and may likely be one of the reasons they could be the favorites to reach their first World Series since 1988.
Sam Bradford started the Monday Night game for the Minnesota Vikings last night against the Chicago Bears, but it will be backup Case Keenum and running back Jerick McKinnon who will get the bulk of the credit for the Vikings 20-17 win.
Keenum -- who came into the game in the second half after Bradford appeared to be dealing with a flare-up of his knee injury -- led three scoring drives in the second half, tossing a TD pass in the third quarter and spearheading a late drive which late to Kai Forbath's game-winning field goal in the final minute that propelled the team to a 3 and 2 record this season.
Remarkably, the Vikings, despite the massive injuries they've run into this season, are only a game behind the Green Bay Packers for the top spot in the NFC North.
Now, I'll be very clear here. This story bothers me on a number of different levels.
First, the obvious... Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has every right as a business owner to explain and demand a level of professionalism from his employees. That much we understand and accept.
And it's not as if the Cowboys players, coaches or sideline staff have been in direct conflict with the NFL's rule regarding standing for the national anthem.
So why did Jones feel the need to address the issue moments after the Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers last weekend?
In fact, why did Jones need to clarify -- almost as if in direct defiance or frustration with his employees -- what hadn't really been much of an issue for the organization since the team took a knee for prayer before the playing of the anthem nearly three weeks ago?
Was it to curry favor with the commissioner?
Was it in direct defiance with the commissioner? The league's players union?
Was it pressure from sponsors or from the White House?
"If there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag then we will not play. "You understand? If we are disrespecting the flag then we won't play. Period."
Whatever it was that caused Jones to make this proclamation, and for Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to echo those sentiments earlier this week, it's very clear that this story is far from over.
Does Jones have legal precedence on his side here? We'll discuss this in some detail on the show.
And this is just dumb.
I'm sorry, but I want to side with Jemele Hill on this, but I also understand where the corporate rules apply.
She sends out a series of angry tweets a couple weeks ago, calling POTUS a racist.
For that, she gets a slap on the wrist, a verbal admonishment for her actions and a backlash from social media's most valuable trolls (hereafter known as the MVT's).
Does she return to doing her job? Yes.
Does she maintain her profile and stay within the very specific guidelines of her job description, particularly after this incident? Yes. For a time.
Until this week, when she suggested that Cowboys fans boycott the league and its' sponsors.
If you've heard my program at all in recent weeks, I've been quite vocal about the practicality of a boycott. If you're truly inclined to go through with such a thing, I've explained in some detail actually how to do such a thing.
Am I encouraging that? Perhaps. But I feel you're better informed as to how to go through with such a thing if it's explained to you.
But I'm also currently not still stinging from the massive amount of negative public and professional scorn for my words.
The frightening part isn't that she's wrong for her thoughts. It's the idea that we're no longer just under the watchful eye of our bosses, but now we're also being judged and criticized by people who have neither the credentials nor history at doing this particular job.