ESPN and other outlets are reporting that the league will have 22 teams playing 8 games apiece in a modified stretch run to the regular season, with all the games being played, sans spectators in all probability, at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando. Disney-owned ESPN, of course, along with TNT, would continue to cover the games, which would start at the end of July, meaning there won't be much of an off-season, as the 2020-1 season would likely start in November instead of October.
Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.
The New York Post reports that the Brooklyn Nets are among the 22 teams, but the Knicks are not, only because the Knicks have one of the worst records in the league.
Assuming baseball is up and running by then, ratings will be hard to come by....
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Speaking of baseball, there is an unexpected impasse between players and owners over---what else?---money, as well as how many games will be played, if any, this year.
The MLB Players Association proposed a 114 game schedule, rejected by the owners, who are looking to save money. A 50 game schedule, proposed by said owners? Fuhgeddaboutit. Smacks too close to a college schedule, except that most college games are played on the weekends.
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Earlier this week, former defense secretary James Mattis issued a scathing editorial against President Trump in The Atlantic. Senator Lisa Murkowski showed her support for Mattis, and admitted she was debating whether or not she'd vote for Trump in November.
How did the President respond?
He wants the GOP to have a hive-mind, if ya will, and said on Thursday that he would campaign against Murkowski because she dared to agree with Mattis. With less than five months now to Election Day (November 3), recent polls have shown that Trump's numbers have come down due largely to his approaches to the coronavirus pandemic and recent national protests over police brutality in the wake of the murder of George Floyd on Memorial Day in Minneapolis. He's let the whole world know he lives in a delusional dream world, where he has to have unilateral support. Good luck with that. The Republicans are slowly breaking ranks, little by little, perhaps having belated buyers' remorse over supporting this 70-something man-child in the first place.
If Trump had his way, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin would replace Murkowski. Trust me.
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After various downtown businesses were boarded up in anticipation of violent protests, which haven't happened yet here in town, some of those same businesses now sport murals or simple, spray painted messages in support of Black Lives Matter. Team HERO, which operates out of the Troy Boys & Girls Club, has their fliers up on some of the boards as well, and they're likely sponsoring the peaceful protest scheduled for Sunday at Riverfront Park.
Now comes word that two of the four officers arrested in connection with the murder of George Floyd had only been on the Minneapolis police force less than a week. It brings to mind an episode of Family Matters, for example, in which Sgt. Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson) confronted a pair of white patrol cops who roughed up his son, Eddie (Darius McCrary). One of the two was a relative rookie, and got sage advice from Carl after his older partner walked out.
Could the two Minneapolis rookies get any sort of break because of their status? Don't know for sure. If they turn on Derek Chauvin, they could get their jobs back, but it's not guaranteed. Stay tuned.
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