CSN Bay Area

Curt Schilling shared his fascinating world view on Twitter yet again, going all Godwin’s Law on the subject of Muslims and terror, with the “punishment” being that he didn’t have to cover the Little League World Series. This proves yet again that in the corporate communications world, it isn’t the speech that matters, but the speaker.

But surely that’s an opinion we’ve known for some time now – that if someone the company likes, says or does something stupid/unpopular, the punishment will be tailored to the value of the someone in question to the company. It’s just nice to know that some American verities never change.

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But let’s expand that to include playing rules. Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett, on a Seattle radio show, said this indisputable-and-yet-swiftly-ignored truth when asked about the Terrell Suggs hit on Sam Bradford last weekend:

“Someone tries to hit me in the legs every play,” Bennett said. “So what makes his life better than mine?”

The longer you think about the answers, the more depressed you get.

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And now, fixing the preseason, or as we like to call it, The Annual Post-Second Weekend Blues. There is one way to fix it, and that is not to have it at all, since it gets players hurt, gouges customers and is mocked as useless by everyone who comes within 100 miles of one.

But since Aaron Rodgers doesn’t get to be an owner this week, we can simply go to the true default position of everyone involved. The players would rather get paid than stay healthy, the owners view the players as tool-belt items, and the customers are convinced they can’t do the detox so they need their baking soda as much as they need whatever else they do.

Have a happy third weekend, everyone.

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And conflating items 1, 2 and 3, there is Detroit Lions safety Glover Quin, who offers a third opinion:

“I feel like injuries are going to happen, same way Jordy got hurt,” Quin said Monday. “I hate that Jordy got hurt, but in my belief and the way that I believe, it was God had meant for Jordy to get hurt. If he wouldn't have got hurt today, if he wouldn't have played in that game, if he wouldn't have practiced anymore and the next time he walked on the field would have been Opening Day, I feel like he would have got hurt Opening Day.”

In that case, the NFL should go back to six preseason games, expand the regular season to 20 games and expand the playoffs to include all 32 teams, and to refer all questions to God – as soon as said deity decides to hold a presser.

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Why college athletes need a union representation No. 51,808: When USC coach Steve Sarkisian apologized for his booster club rant (which, by the way, is genuine Sarkisian/coach-in-public and as such must be punished) and blamed mixing medication and alcohol, he turned himself over to his players for punishment and they suggested up-downs, a pointless exercise players themselves are made to do because Vince Lombardi once thought they were effective.

Why couldn’t one player have had the foresight to add, “Oh, and 110 trips to In-n-Out. You take every order, you get them all right, or you run the stadium, too?” A union rep would never have let up-downs be good enough.

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One quick note on the Coliseum City project which nobody seems interested in pursuing any longer: The sketches looked nice. And, since they were never close to happening, free except for the artist’s time and supplies.

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The Third Circuit Court upheld New Jersey’s ban on sports wagering in the state, which is a victory for the sports leagues that would still like to insure their piece of the action if and when it is legalized. But you know who’s drunk with glee today most of all? Draft Kings and Fan Duel. The fantasy betting leagues that have all the value of betting and none of the references to 1951 in Havana keep their legal monopoly awhile longer.

Oh, and Las Vegas wins, too, because let’s face it, the house always wins. That’s why it owns the house and you’re driving away in a 1997 Cortina with 227,000 miles on it and a fresh coat of rust on the hood, roof and trunk.

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The Los Angeles Clippers have been fined $250K for promising DeAndre Jordan a Lexus endorsement deal during their summer re-seduction of him. I can see the ad already:

“Remember when it was reported that Mark Cuban was driving the streets of Houston searching for DeAndre Jordan? Well, it turns out that report was wrong, but if he HAD been driving around looking for Jordan, here’s what it would have been – the new Lexus LFA. Because when you’re looking for your next $80 million shot-blocker and defender, you have to get there fast, and in style.”

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George Karl spoke at a charity event in Sacramento last week wearing a DeMarcus Cousins jersey, leading to much new/recycled speculation about his relationship with the Kings center. What it told me is this – these vinatge jerseys must be worn every night rather than just 10 times.

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And finally, identify the author of these tweets:

“My opinion: take the NFL out of STL and our downtown has no impetus for change. Indy and Cincy have passed us by. It's bigger than football."

“Downtown STL can't be just random restaurants, Cardinal baseball, a truncated version of Ballpark Village, and some Blues games – life is needed."

“Kroenke not only has the chance to cash in on LA, but punch a great city that at one point he seemed to enjoy. Esp when Rams were relevant."

“Suck the life out of a team, run it down, raise prices, then say it isn't supported and leave. Great example for the NFL to celebrate JOKE!"

“An owner who wore a NEW Rams hat in Oxnard and acts like he's been there promoting the team while with Jerry-what an insult to good fans.”

The answer? Joe Buck of Fox (including The NFL on Fox), who will probably get a lecture from corporate for this. But in fairness, it didn’t have any Hitler references.