Left Coast Sports Babe

LeBron James today “The NCAA is corrupt.” Then did he add “And there’s gambling in Las Vegas as well as Casablanca?”

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Shaq’s son Shareef O’Neal on Tuesday committed to UCLA after decommitting from Arizona.  So he’ll be a Bruin for life. Or at least a year. Unless any of UCLA coaches were also caught on tape.

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Played cold but… well:   Ross Jirgl, a Stanford football strength coach, had his 15 minutes at least when he appeared late on this season’s “The Bachelor,” trying to win his ex-girlfriend Becca back.  From Alex Kirshner of Bleacher Report.

“Ross becomes at least 6th Stanford football person to come in 2nd place in a nationally televised competition since 2009. He joins five Cardinal players who have finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in the same span.:

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Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, who said he would retire, then indicated he was rethinking decision,   NOW says he will definitely retire in 2018. “Atta boy” said Brett Favre.

Hey Donald  Trump, you know who actually DID deal bravely against men with guns, and was actually shot himself? Bronze Star and Purple Heart veteran Robert Mueller.

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Ivanka on #MeToo “I’m proud of women who are standing up in face of accusers with credible evidence & credible stories.” Translation of “credible” – those accusing Democrats but certainly not my father.

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Can you run a Presidential re-election campaign when you’re under indictment? Asking for a country

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So did Ben Carson need to spend $31k of taxpayer money on a dining room set for his office because it needed to be worthy of Donald Trump’s very best chocolate cake?

Just wondering, when Donald Trump asked Ivanka to go as senior diplomat to South Korea did she think of replying “That’s an inappropriate question to ask a daughter?” #Complicit

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Regarding these idiots who think it’s funny to make fake school shooting threats. Besides jail time can they be sentenced to community service in inner-city emergency rooms where they treat a lot of gunshots?

Olympics are over.    Now Americans can go back to not caring about curling stones and triple salchows.

Atlanta Falcons’ 4th quarter in Super Bowl 50 was most embarrassing moment for many Georgians in recent memory. Georgia politicans today with Delta – “Hold our beer.”

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About the only way Delta could be getting better PR is if they dragged Scott Pruitt out of first class on one of their planes.

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A shooter bent on murder? Hell, we all know Trump wouldn’t even confront Dick Cheney with a gun.

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Trump reportedly wants to appoint his private pilot head of the FAA. So what next? Trying to appoint his daughter as a senior foreign diplomat?

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Trump today on NRA “Sometimes we’re going to have to be very tough & we’re going to have to fight ’em.”
If we really want Trump to take on NRA could someone get them to make a statement saying he’s a lousy President?

The Russian bobsled pilot who wore ‘I don’t do doping’ T-shirt just failed his Olympic doping test.

Adam Rippon says that now Olympic skating is done, said he would “totally” talk with Pence by phone. OK,  VP Pence now that it’s not just a photo op, where’s YOUR profile in courage?

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Canada is having one of their best Winter Olympics ever. Imagine if Team Canada had only done a little better in country’s secondary sports like curling and ice hockey.

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So instead of the usual March Madness pools will this be the year millions of Americans start playing NCAA men’s basketball sanctions bingo?

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If we need any more proof that mental illness can affect people from all walks of life, #JonathanMartin has Harvard-educated parents & is a Stanford graduate.

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If “The 15:17 to Paris” & this week in Parkland taught us nothing else it’s that true courage and heroism isn’t about having a gun in your hands.

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Trump at #CPAC – An armed teacher would have “shot the hell” out of the Florida killer. An armed teacher? Heck, an armed DEPUTY didn’t “shoot the hell” out of the gunman.

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So Cadet Bone Spurs thinks the deputy at Florida high school was a “coward?”.#whythereisnosatire

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Newly introduced bill in Florida would require public schools to display the motto “In God We Trust.” Right, because shootings happen because God doesn’t think we trust Him enough? #WTF?

Important to remember, companies who are breaking off relations with NRA aren’t doing it to be warm and fuzzy….
They are doing it because they know the NRA does not speak for a majority of Americans & they will gain more business than they lose.

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That moment when Trump’s deputy campaign manager Rick Gates has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and it’s not even number one story on the news cycle. #Newabnormal

Mirai Nagusu, US figure skater, who finished 10th after a strong free-skating program: “I smiled in the middle of my program. It is really rare for me but I enjoyed myself & I thought of this as my audition” for Dancing with the Stars.

Beam me up Scotty….

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If the #Olympics has to use shootouts for GOLD MEDAL hockey games, what’s next? MLB deciding extra inning World Series games with home run derbies?

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Justin Trudeau tweeted congratulations to Canadian women’s hockey team last night after they ended up losing the gold medal in a shoot-out.

Trump tweeted congratulations to the US this morning. Wonder who told Donald the USA had a women’s hockey team?

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Amazon is expanding their cashierless Amazon Go stories this year, to at least six locations. But yeah, immigrants are the problem for American workers…..

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Cinemark theaters  banning bags larger than 12″ by 12″ by 6″ in their movie theaters, reportedly for security. Uh, plenty of guns would be no problem. Women’s purses on the other hand….

(But just guessing this is less about weapons than concealed snacks.)

So if we are going to turn teachers into police officers are we going to PAY them like police officers?

Trump talks about coaches “who I guarantee have plenty of experience with guns.” So WTF was going on with his USFL team?

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Trump now saying “I’m thinking about” pulling ICE out of California. Promise?

More Trump on armed teachers – “I want my schools protected just like I want my banks protected.” Because we know armed guards have stopped all bank robberies?

Mueller files new 32-count indictment against Manafort and Gates for tax evasion and bank fraud. Well, that’s how they got Al Capone.

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Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens arrested for felony invasion of privacy over allegedly taking nude picture of his mistress & using it to try to blackmail her. Well, if he has to step down sure Greitens can get job offer at White House.

“Lock her up” chants at CPAC? Next thing you know they’ll be calling for the impeachment of President Hillary Clinton.

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So is all this GOP insanity about armed teachers really part of a bigger plot to get all Americans to home-school their kids?

So who’d a thunk back in 2010 that Lindsey Vonn would be winning longer than her ex-boyfriend?

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Andrew McCutchen hit home run off Madison Bumgarner in his first intra-squad SF Giants AB today. Fortunately Madbum didn’t put him on the DL for it.

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Ending important hockey games with shoot-outs feels like ending @MLB playoff games with Home Run Derbies.

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Cubs catcher Willson Contreras claims he will ignore the new “six visits” to the mound rule, and “If I have to go [out there] again and pay the price for my team I will.”
A future “pass the popcorn” moment?

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So with NCAA denying Louisville’s appeal. does that mean Michigan gets to raise a 2013 men’s basketball Championship banner? #MGoBlue

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Albertsons is buying Rite Aid. They could have gotten a better price but would have to have bought two drugstore chains to get the discount.

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As Jared and Don Jr. make headlines am reminded of those innocent days when the most embarrassing Presidential relative was Billy Carter.

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Pat Robertson, calling for a possible ban on assault weapons as well as bump stocks – “It’s just got to be sensible.”
This might be only time Pat Robertson & “sensible” have appeared in the same sentence.

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RI State Sen. Nicholas Kettle arrested for “video voyeurism & extortion.” He allegedly sent nude pictures of girlfriend, in exchange for some of a friend’s wife. Probably too late for Kettle to join Trump administration so Kelly etc would defend him.

Some in GOP saying #StonemanDouglas high school survivors are too young to understand gun control issues. But in Florida they’re not too young to buy AR-15s.

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Apparently bump stock sales spiked after Las Vegas shooting. So Trump waiting almost 5 months even to say he wants to ban them just gave people time to stock up.

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Waiting for Donald Trump to say that he could sexually assault a woman in the middle of 5th Avenue and not lose any supporters.

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So GOP thinks its funny that #MichaelMoore was duped into attending a rally organized by Russians. What about all the Americans duped into voting for a candidate organized by Russians?

One problem with Winter Olympics is just when we begin to figure out what, for example, a good slalom run looks like, the events are over.

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Of course, to be fair, most Americans are also equally good at normally ignoring college basketball.  Until the brackets are out.

NBC has hired Adam Rippon to work as a correspondent for the remainder of the Olympics. Fabulous!

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So who had the first athlete accused of doping at Winter Games be a …curler?#AlexanderKrushelnitsky,

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West Virginia coach Bob Huggins is upset after his team lost to #13 Kansas – after his Mountaineers got 2 free throws, and the Jayhawks got 35.

So did the refs think one of the Kansas players was the 2nd coming of James Harden?

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As if we didn’t know already, there is NOTHING that Trump won’t try to make all about him. Even the massacre of children.

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Maybe while we raise the legal age to buy guns to 21 we should lower the voting age to 16. #Florida #EmmaGonzalez

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Trump didn’t play golf today to honor victims of school shooting. Better instead of skipping greens he would consider skipping NRA green. $$$$

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From “The Hill ” Trump joked with Officer Michael Leonard, the Coconut Creek, Fla., police officer who apprehended the accused shooter, saying he should be less “modest” about it.
“That was so modest, I would have told it much differently,” Trump joked to Leonard after he acknowledged the arrest. “I would have said without me, they never would have found him.”

Uh, Trump WASN’T joking.

Late Saturday night tweetstorm from @realDonaldTrump – Melania must have locked her door again….

Another morning ranting tweet storm from @realDonaldTrump. Can we only imagine what it would be like if this guy actually drank alcohol?

Canada is kicking US butts in the medal count for this Olympics.  Should we blame Trump?

Canada-Denmark women’s curling match featured a “burned rock” foul.    No joke. But I see great endorsement opportunities…  “Burning rocks?  – There’s a cure for that.”

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Chris Long is now taking Laura Ingraham to task over her comments against Lebron James.  How long until Trump says he wouldn’t want the “loser” Eagles to visit the White House anyway?

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In Florida there is a 3-day waiting period to buy a handgun. There is no waiting period for an AR-15. #NottheOnion

Look, I don’t really care what goes on in someone else’s marriage. But where are all the trolls who said they had no respect for Hillary Clinton because she ignored Bill’s cheating?

Marco Rubio, still pro-gun after the Florida school shooting: “I’m trying to be clear and honest here, someone who has decided to commit this crime, they will find a way to get the gun to do it.”

-So why do we have laws against murder? They don’t stop someone who has decided to kill someone else.

Rick Scott wants FBI Director Wray to resign over the bureau’s handling on tip about Florida killer. While he attacks gun control advocates for politicizing the tragedy.

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FBI now admits someone “close to” Florida gunman called their tipline in January — but “protocols were not followed,” and “no further investigation was conducted at that time.”
In other words, same reaction White House had about Rob Porter.

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19 year-old Parkland killer went to Subway after the shootings to get a soft drink. Well, of course, because he couldn’t legally go to a bar to get a beer.

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How strange has “normal” become when an alleged affair with a Playboy bunny and subsequent cover-up might be the mildest story affecting Donald  Trump today?

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When Stormy Daniels trots out her stained dress, going to be real interesting to see how Trumpsters blame this on Hillary. Or Obama.

Trump press release says Mueller indictments indicate #NoCollusion. Waiting for next release saying there is no gambling in Casablanca.

Trump spent six minutes with shooting victims yesterday. Less time than the killer did in the school.

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Love him or hate him, #LeBronJames is NOT dumb. Laura Ingraham on the other hand….

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Headlines that “USA’s Lindsey Jacobellis fails to medal in snowboardcross event.”  Okay,  bummer for her, she finished 4th.  But how many Americans before this week even knew what “snowboardcross” is?

I miss the times when biggest story on Twitter would have been Jennifer Aniston’s break up.

McDonalds is going to take cheeseburgers out of their Happy Meals to get them all under 600 calories. Right, that piece of cheese is the problem..

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Waiting for Donald Trump to say Rick Gates was just a covfefe boy.

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Trump today “To every parent, teacher and child who is hurting so badly, we are here for you, whatever you need, whatever we can do, to ease your pain.”
“Whatever we can do…” as long as it doesn’t involve trying to keep AR-15’s out of the hands of Americans.

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Does anyone doubt that if Florida killer was an immigrant that Trump would be tweeting angrily today about the need for his wall?

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1st amendment doesn’t give you the right to yell “fire” in a crowded theater. Why should 2nd amendment give you the right to own an AR-15?

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How can anyone say a different gun law wouldn’t have prevented latest school shooting. The killer bought gun legally.

After killing 17 people, the killer went to Subway to buy a soft drink.  Because he couldn’t legally go to a bar to buy a beer?

On #ParklandShooting “We’ve seen lots of discussion about this every time we’ve had another incident… need to have conversation at level where lawmakers can actually impact future. It’s their job.”  This quote from noted liberal…. Betsy Devos?!!  #nottheOnion

NC State Rep. Larry Pittman wrote online “So many of these shooters turn out to be communist Democrats, that I suspect they are doing these things to push for gun control so they can more easily take over the country.”
For some people, “despicable” would be a compliment.

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Why does sensible gun control have to be a partisan issue? You can have friends who hunt & well-trained friends who have guns for fun or protection without thinking teenagers should have access to AR-15s?

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Trump says about disturbed individuals – “Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again.” How’d that work out for Rob Porter’s ex-wives?

Rick Scott on Fox and Friends – “Something has to change here.” Right, starting with Florida’s governor.

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EPA Secretary Greg Pruitt claims he can’t fly coach because of unpleasant “interactions” with passengers…..    #Thoughtsandprayers

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Marco Rubio today said not to blame lawmakers as proposals for gun control wouldn’t have stopped any mass shooting. Maybe not EVERY mass shooting as people break laws. But that’s like saying DUI laws don’t stop drunk driving deaths.

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Alyssa Al Hadeff Scott Beigel Martin Duque Nick Dworet Aaron Feis Jaime Guttenberg Chris Hixon Luke Hoyer Cara Loughran Gina Montalo Joaquin Oliver Alaina Petty Meadow Pollack Alex Schachter Carmen Schentrup Helena Ramsey Peter Wang…

These are the names we should remember. Not the killer’s.

I miss the days during the Winter Olympics when the worst scandal Americans were talking about involved a  French judge.

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Sebastian Janikowski trending. But whew, he’s only been cut by the Raiders. Not dead or accused of sexual harassment.

As we approach All-Star break,  Warriors lost tonight in Portland to the Trail Blazers.   Putting them shockingly now in second place in the NBA pre-season.

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Lane Kiffin’s brother Chris Kiffin leaving FAU to be assistant coach for SF 49ers.  Well, at least they have several months to work it out before Thanksgiving

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Why does sensible gun control have to be a partisan issue? You can have friends who hunt & well-trained friends who have guns for fun or protection without thinking teenagers should have access to AR-15s?

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Some in GOP saying latest school shooting is a reason to arm teachers. Can those same teachers bring their guns to contract negotiations?

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Wonder how many consumers now think Blue Apron delivers canned processed meals?

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Mitt Romney is reportedly going to announce his run for the Senate in Utah tomorrow. Apparently since his loss in 2012, he’s done enough knitting?

I’m so old that I remember going to high school in Florida when you heard about a classmate being tragically killed it probably was in a car accident.

In 2014, Charlie Christ was good but imperfect candidate for FL Gov.   Lost to Rick Scott by 1%. Crist had called for assault weapons ban, a size limit on ammunition clips & tougher background checks. #perfectistheenemyofthegood

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Before we attack the whole state of Florida, remember this  vote total in 2014 – Rick Scott – 2,865,343, Charlie Crist – 2,801,198. We don’t need to change ALL minds. We just need 50.1%

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A last horrifying detail –apparently the Florida High School killer was expelled only AFTER as student he attended “shooter driller” telling kids what to do.

Then he used it as part of blueprint for today. But drills don’t kill people….

Lavar Ball says Lonzo won’t re-sign w/ Lakers but “will go to any team that will take all 3 of my boys.” Wonder how long before even teams in Lithuania will decide NONE of his boys are worth dealing with dad.

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Former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza, who made over $43 million in his career, arrested w/ over 20KG of heroin & cocaine in San Diego. Guess $43 million doesn’t go as far as it used to.

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Failed drug test, argument w/ hospital worker, marijuana arrest, alleged domestic violence & assault rifle possession. But with #ReubenFoster 49ers are  “gathering all pertinent information.” All part of @NFL “7 strikes and you’re out” policy?

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Four of the sweetest words in the English language -“Pitchers and catchers report.”

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London City Airport closed Monday after 500kg WWII bomb was found nearby in the River Thames. Waiting for Trump tweet blaming Islamic terrorism

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A the body of suspected poacher was found mauled and nearly completely eaten by lions in South Africa. Wonder what mean bitch Karma ordered for dessert.

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Now @PressSec is saying @realDonaldTrump isn’t “taking a side one way or the other” on Porter accusations. Many fine people on both sides?

Scott Pruitt charged taxpayers for $1,641.43 1st class flight from DC to NY. One-way fare leaving with 24 hours notice on Delta in 1st class is $544. How can Pruitt run EPA when he can’t even find decent travel agent?

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Trying to figure out why Scott Pruitt would use a fare that is so much higher than the expected last minute first class fare on a Delta Shuttle from New York to DC. Because it’s a no-brainer to get the cheapest fare on any route in any class – getting a higher fare requires an override. But airlines these days give miles based on dollars spent .Can only assume that not only did Pruitt want to fly first class, he wanted to get maximum miles for his future personal travel.

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So to celebrate #DarwinDay wonder how many people shot guns into the air?

Of course, it’s really hard to complain too much that you really were upset to have tape-delayed ice dancing.

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On the other hand, don’t miss Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, the Canadian couple who actually had to censor their routine for the Olympics.  No jokes.

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ABC had Draymond Green miked up for tonight’s #Warriors #Spurs game. Since it’s early enough for children to watch assume they had him on a 5-second delay.

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Cubs get Yu Darvish for 6 years and $126 million. In related news will they announce installment plan at Wrigley Field to pay for beer?

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#GreggPopovich trending. Nice to have one guy in sports where you’re pretty damn sure it’s not for sexual harassment. (Turns out it was for joking that Steve Kerr’s son, a @Spurs employee, is a spy for his dad.)

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And yeah, I’m biased.  I’m a Spurs fan. But half their team did pretty well against the Warriors.

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Watching short track speed skating makes me nostalgic for those childhood days watching roller derby. #Olympics

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This morning’s tweet storm, as it was pouring rain in DC and @realDonaldTrump is stuck inside, reminds Americans that there are some advantages to his weekends on the golf course.

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Trump whining about lives destroyed by allegations, “some are true and some are false.” So they are true when about Democrats & false when about Republicans?

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Trump tweeted out LONG quote from Fox News today in two parts, with 19 minute gap between 1st & 2nd. Does he type that slow or did he need a covfefe break?

So the man who brought women who accused Hillary Clinton’s husband decades ago of sexual assault to a Presidential debate is now tweeting that allegations destroy lives?

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So FBI and DOJ were against release of Nunez memo and Trump ignored them. Now they were against release of Dem memo and Trump cited them as reason not to release it. So he’s made FBI and DOJ great again?

Okay, folks, so who do we have next in Trump resignation bingo?

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Two Ohio police officers killed in the line of duty today were responding to a domestic violence situation. But @POTUS still doesn’t take it seriously.

It’s that time again – when Americans who might last have set foot on an ice rink in high school suddenly become experts on triple axels.

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So will #Cavs jerseys now include badge saying “Hi, my name is…”

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Draymond Green was fined $50,000 by NBA or directing inappropriate and offensive language towards an official. Damn, for $50k you’d think the league would tell us what he said.

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Tony Dungy tweeted “Nick Foles told me last week that he felt the Lord had him in Philadelphia for a special moment and he played like it tonight.” He defended it later “it was my opinion that Foles would play well because his Christian faith would allow him to to play with confidence.”
Yep, that worked so well in Super Bowls for Tim Tebow.

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Kim Kardashian posted a topless picture taken by her four-year old daughter, North. There is not enough money in the world for all the therapy that child is going to need

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So are we sure that picture of Trump’s bald head wasn’t just that furry thing that lives on his head trying to escape & ask for amnesty?

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So how long until realDonaldTrump comes up with a nasty nickname for the market that won’t do his bidding?   #DisloyalDow? #Sneakystocks?

Gosh, if only #RandPaul had cared about the deficit when GOP was ramming through those tax cuts.

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So let me get this straight, when it comes to the deficit, spending is “reckless” but tax cuts aren’t?

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Betting we could get bipartisan agreement on a GoFundMe campaign to bring Rand Paul’s neighbor to Washington, D.C.

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So who had to tell Trump that at the National Prayer Breakfast they wouldn’t be praying to him?

Top Trump aide had abused 3 women, White House knew about it, & didn’t force him to resign until pictures came out. And Fox News headlines on Clinton & Uranium One. #WTF?

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As the disappointment and disgust over John Kelly mounts – who’d have ever thought a general could be so despicable? Why, generals are almost as well-regarded as priests.

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From Marc Ragovin – Some people might say that General Kelly was too lazy to get off his ass and investigate rumors that his right hand man is a wife beater.