Stanford had a rough football year. But we can take comfort after College Football National Championship in the fact that USC didn’t think Ed Orgeron was good enough to be their head coach.

(And for Michigan fans, Ohio State let Joe Burrow get away.)

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Red Sox have fired manager Alex Cora. Translation – We can save a little bit of face if we fire him before he gets suspended.

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While it may not have been as pervasive as steroids, does anyone think that the Astros and Red Sox were the only team engaged in electronic sign-stealing?

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C.C. Sabathia says Yankees were ‘cheated’ out of title in 2017 by the Astros. Wonder what two teams NY beat to get to ALCS think,  the Twins and Indians, whose combined payrolls were pretty close to the Yankees.

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Trump got a largely favorable reception at College Football Playoff. Well, let’s see, largely white Southern crowd who’d paid $1,000 & up for their tickets. Sounds like his base. (Guessing his reception would have been decidedly mixed at regular season Saints game.)

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If Trump had exactly the same affair that Bill Clinton did,  GOP would insist both Monica Lewinsky and Linda Tripp be barred from testifying over “executive privilege.”

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Who says there’s no use for a liberal arts degree? I actually knew the Final Final Jeopardy for the Jeopardy GOAT tournament.  (Not putting it in the post in case anyone’s recorded it.)

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Before debates started,  struck by the fact that an old white man who just had a heart attack is viewed by many as less of a health risk than a woman who fainted on a hot day.

Tom Steyer wonders why we keeping having this conversation about healthcare and says it’s because the system is broken. No, it’s because Democrats just won the House and don’t have the Senate. 

Texans would like to thank the Astros for completely wiping their 24 point blown-lead from yesterday against the Chiefs off the Houston front pages.

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Trying to imagine if Bob Gibson found out someone was stealing his signs. Mostly trying to imagine where the memorials would be located. 

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Astros get caught cheating and ending up losing their manager, GM,  as well as draft picks.  Red Sox likely to follow.   Patriots are thinking “amateurs.’

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Since MLB is issuing managerial suspensions but not punishing Astros or Red Sox players for cheating can we put Barry Bonds in the Hall of Fame NOW?!

(although seriously, as a Saints fan I still maintain other teams had bounty systems.  But four New Orleans players were suspended along with coaches.  MLB isn’t even slapping players on the wrist?)

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Pitchers like Phil Niekro, Tim Wakefield and Charlie Hough have to be laughing at MLB’s sign stealing scandal. Doesn’t matter if you knew a good knuckleball is coming, you still couldn’t hit it.

Reports that some fans chanted “four more years” with Trump in the Superdome tonight. But are we sure they weren’t chanting it to Joe Burrow?

As President Trump walked to the sideline of the field here at the Superdome,  a reporter asked him… “Who do you like tonight?” “Both!” he said with a thumbs up.   Of course, even with a sporting event Donald cannot bear to pick a side in advance. Because he might be wrong. #Sad

Haven’t been an initial fan of SF Giants decision to hire Gabe Kapler , especially with all the good things I’d read about Astros assistant Joe Espada. But now wonder, did Giants have some idea about what MLB investigation showed in Houston?

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Not the Onion, Gwyneth Paltrow’s is doing a “Goop at Sea” cruise with Celebrity Cruises this summer to the Mediterranean. I can only imagine what the cabin fragrance will be….

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Maybe the Academy thought they’d get credit for diversity with Oscar Nominations because Joker is a man of colors?

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Sure looks like the only “imminent threat” involved in killing Soleimani was that emails showing Trump ordered putting a hold on Ukrainian aid were an imminent threat to derail his impeachment defense. That and maybe the Burisma hacking.

This week may see Houston Astros being punished more harshly than any MLB team since the Black Sox.  Houston Texans after 1st quarter did their best to get Houston fans prepared to deal with pain.

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And after rushing out to a 24-0 lead, Texans also did their best to make the 1993 Houston Oiliers, who blew a 35-3 lead to the Buffalo Bills,  feel a little better.

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Happiest fans not in Kansas City with  today’s Texans-Chiefs game. Anyone who bet the 50.5 over. (which was bested in the first half.)

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Julian Edelman arrested for jumping on top of a car?!! Waiting for NFL to decide which lowly member of Patriots staff they’ll blame for this one.

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Pete Carroll was really upset after officials said Packers’ Jimmy Graham had a first down while replays indicated he was clearly short.   Of course had Carroll himself been able to get about a yard in four plays at end of game with 49ers two weeks ago, Seahawks might not have even been playing in Green Bay.

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Marc Ragovin –   “I’m not saying it was summerlike this weekend on the East Coast, but the Orioles were just eliminated from contention.”

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Wonder how city of San Jose feels about all these aerial shots yesterday of Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay supposedly outside Levi’s Stadium ? 

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Actually, considering traffic from San Francisco to Santa Clara there are times when it may be faster next year for Oakland fans to fly to Las Vegas for a Raiders game, than for San Francisco fans to drive to a home 49ers game.

As Texas supports Trump xenophobia by slamming the door on immigrants and ICE announces plans to check visas at MIT, your reminder that Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian immigrant student.

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This morning Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said he ‘didn’t see’ evidence of an Iranian plot to attack four embassies. Time to move Esper up in Trump firing bingo.

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Trump fundraising email today for his 60-second Super Bowl ad talks about the Left being “TRIGGERED by the TRUTH”- “we’ll have a FULL BLOWN, NATIONWIDE LIBERAL MELTDOWN on our hands.” Because nothing says Presidential like a ranting all-caps email?

Wait, Trump  tweeting “don’t kill your protesters” to Iran.  Uh, wait, this is the guy who completely melts down if someone so much as holds up a negative sign at his rallies. And said in 2016 he’d like to “punch a protester in the face.”

So protest is fine, as long as it’s not directed at him.

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Wonder if MAGAts would be still cheering Trump’s decision to kill Soleimani if over 100 people on that Ukranian Air plane were American?

Oscar Nominations at 818a Monday morning. Expect angry Donald Trump tweets about not being nominated for anything at about 819a.

Reminder, as we approach NFL playoff weekend, Trump NEVER talks about rooting for a team in advance, but only attends some big $$$ events & congratulates (some) winners. No pets, no favorite teams… Because nothing can stand in his adoration of himself & Donald can never lose.

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Apparently 80-90 percent of bets on Monday’s College Football Playoff so far are on LSU. Wonder how many Americans can even name who else is playing?

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After missing a pair of free throws late in the first half,  Mavericks star Luka Doncic grabbed his jersey and simply tore it, right at the “V” in the lettering on his chest. How long until Dallas starts selling torn Doncic jersey replicas at a premium?

Marianne Williamson has dropped out of the Presidential race. Shocking millions of Americans who didn’t realize she was still in it.

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As insane as this Meghan and Harry story is, I must say the couple does a LOT less damage to the world than  Ivanka and Jared.

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Trump reportedly considering adding least SEVEN more countries – mostly Muslim and ‘low-performing’ – to his travel ban. Right, because all the latest mass shooters in US – Las Vegas, Dayton, El Paso… were all Muslim immigrants. Oh wait, never mind.

Reports that Trump privately said one reason he had Solemani killed was to ensure some  GOP  Senators would support him in the upcoming impeachment trial. Stay tuned tomorrow for the next pretend reason Trump gives. The real reason methinks – he just liked the idea of being able to kill someone.

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Blue rant – Leaving aside I don’t like people trying to buy elections, no matter what side they’re on, here’s what perhaps most frustrates me about Tom Steyer:
For a long time he spent big $$$ on ads for impeachment. But now that Trump IS being impeached, Steyer’s spending big $$$ on ads especially in Nevada and South Carolina, enough to poll in double digits with voters who probably had never heard of him.
Imagine if he were using that money not to glorify himself, but to press the case with all voters that Trump is guilty. And at the very least should be voted out in November

16 days between College Football Playoffs semi-finals and Monday’s finals. I think that’s longer than the James Wiseman era at Memphis.

Certainly it’s longer than a Scarmucci.

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Notre Dame sophomore QB Phil Jurkovec has entered his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal and will look to leave the Fighting Irish.   Notice these days they aren’t even pretending anymore it’s about academics?

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Joe Buck  was trending on Twitter today. And he’s not retiring .So much for getting my hopes up.

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Coach Mike Leach is leaving the Pac 12 and Washington State for the SEC and Mississippi State. While the level of football competition may get higher, at least Leach won’t have to worry about distractions like classes.

So all the Republicans who voted against the War Powers Resolution are okay with the next Democratic President taking whatever military action she/he wants?

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But got it, it, all these GOP cult members who want to abandon the Constitution to give Trump war powers are same folks who claim that one line in an amendment about “a well-regulated militia” justifies any number of mass shootings and murders.

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Senate GOP resolution calls Pelosi’s impeachment delay a ‘flagrant violation’  Wonder what Merrick Garland thinks?

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First it was blowing up Embassy in Baghdad, now Trump insists Soleimani planned to attack multiple US embassies. How long until Donald claims the Iranian general had plans to attack every city in America?

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WTAF? Trump says it was a “split-second decision” to kill Soleimani. But Lindsey Graham says he was informed days earlier on the golf course. Donald isn’t even PRETENDING the truth matters anymore.

Palm Beach Atlantic University, a private Christian college, is namingng Melania Trump a“Woman of Distinction” for 2020 for being an “exquisite human being, a magnificent wife and life partner…”
Because of course, nothing says “life partner” to a Christian University like being someone’s former mistress and current third wife.

As a Saints fan, I didn’t think it was likely their current team would lose to the Vikings.

Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Beilein now says he meant to call players “slugs” and not “thugs” when he was trying to praise them by saying they were no longer playing “like a bunch of thugs” during a film session.

Translation, he didn’t realize a film session was actually being filmed?

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For my readers and friends who are on Twitter.   Okay for Ruth Bader Ginsburg we really need a “she’s healthy” emoji or “it’s all good ‘ when she starts trending. Too stressful otherwise.

Iran’s not handing over the black box from Ukraine plane that crashed seems as much a mark of innocence as Trump’s refusal to let witnesses testify in his impeachment trial.

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Senator Mike Lee after an all-Senators briefing on Iran said it was “insulting” and worst he’s had from military officials in his 9 years here, he also said he would support Tim Kaine’s War Powers Resolution.
So who had the GOP Senators from UTAH as most likely to stand up to Trump?

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In “Knives Out” one character vomits every time she lies. Shame for Trump’s efforts to control his weight he can’t get that problem.

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“Iran is standing down.” Right, don’t all countries fire missiles at US bases when they are standing down?

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And why shouldn’t we trust a President who says he has destroyed
“100% of Isis?”

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Listened again to Trump Speech on Iran today. I challenge ANYONE with an older relative or friend who spoke like that to say you wouldn’t call the doctor afterwards. Or even during the speech.

So it’s now about 6 more days until College Football Playoff Championship. By the time this game rolls around, will anyone remember who’s playing?

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Patriots are awaiting discipline for illegal videotaping, Red Sox now being investigated for using their video room to steal signs. So should NBA check out the Celtics?

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So how is Trump going to blame Puerto Rico for their earthquake?

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Got it, Iran reportedly kills a US contractor in an air strike and we kill one of their top generals. Saudi Arabia deliberately murders a journalist who’s a legal US resident and we invite their leaders to the White House.

Duncan Hunter has resigned. Is it too soon to start the pool – will his next job be at Fox News or in Trump White House?

So if you believe in ghosts who do you hope John McCain is haunting tonight? Donald Trump or Lindsey Graham?

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I  miss the days when a US President dealt with stress by having an inappropriate relationship with an intern.

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Btw, Trump’s tweet tonight contained no misspellings and no all caps. Does anyone really believe he wrote it?

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If Trump HAD written the tweet himself, “All is well” definitely would have been “ALL IS WELL.” For starters. All Caps

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Curiously enough “All is well” is what a man might think if after falling off the Empire State Building he was still 50 floors from the ground.

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Actually if Iran wanted to retaliate at Trump in a way that really hurt him without costing lives, could they just find a way to delete his Twitter account?

Did Sir Thomas More in the 1530s foresee the GOP and the cult of Trump “I think that when statesmen forsake their own private consciences for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.”

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Meanwhile, back at the impeachment hearings?  Can ANYONE cite a case where an innocent defendant wanted all the actual witnesses NOT to testify?

Can point to at least a dozen New Orleans mistakes in Saints-Vikings game that would have changed the game.  But even so, it still has to come down to a questionable call?

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Driving home tonight I heard Tom Tolbert on KNBR ask former 49er Brent Jones about the last play of the Saints -Vikings game. Brent says, “Well, I’m a homer and I played offense so means I’m always biased, And it was absolutely OPI and I have no idea why they didn’t review it.”
And then Jones went on to explain exactly how Rudolph did it and why it was a penalty.
Yeah, New Orleans made a lot mistakes so it shouldn’t have been that close. But still… Not that I won’t get over this, eventually.

Damn. But  Amy Klobuchar is a big Vikings fan.   And I did tell someone at a fall event for her that as much as I love Saints I’d choose her Vikings to beat them IF meant winning the White House in November.  And I meant it.  Okay, universe, your move.

Figured after New Orleans Saints loss yesterday that it wasn’t going to get any more fun with “my’ NBA team – the struggling in 2019 San Antonio Spurs tonight since they were playing the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA’s best team.  And WTF? This is why sports IS the best reality TV.

(124 Spurs- 106 Bucks,  Milwaukee’s worst loss of year.)

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Mike McCarthy reportedly signed a 5-year deal with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, the same as Ron Rivera signed with Dan Snyder and the Redskins. Too soon to start a pool on whether which of them gets fired first?

So did Judge Judy endorse Bloomberg because Mike promised if elected to put her on the Supreme Court?

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30 women tonight competing to win the heart (or something) of the man who is best known in American for having sex in a windmill. Their parents must be so proud. #TheBachelor.

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I suppose it was too much to ask that Trump speak out offering sympathy and help to Australia with their bush fires.  Maybe if we tell him there will be fewer animals for his sons to shoot. 

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So George Lopez made a joke about assassinating Trump & MAGAts are losing it.  (Lopez referenced the $80 million bounty on Trump, and said he’d do it for half that.)

I missed the outrage over Ted Nugent’s 2012 “We need to chop their heads off.. If Barack Obama becomes president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.”

Asked postgame about retirement, Tom Brady, age 42,  – “It’s pretty unlikely….hopefully unlikely.” Translation, depends how much Gisele wants him out of the house.

So if Tom Brady really wants to prove he’s GOAT why not sign a free agent contract with Washington? If he can make Redskins a Super Bowl team someone will make billions on edible hats.

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And who had a pick 6 as the possible last play of Tom Brady’s career?

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Note to Pete Carroll.  For future first and goals inside the two-yard line, this is how it’s done, giving the ball to your superstar running back is how it’s done. #DerrickHenry

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NFL told ESPN New England Patriots will be disciplined for acknowledged game-day video violations against Cleveland Browns. So the league will slap Bill Belichick’s hand REALLY hard?

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Vince Carter, 42, tonight became the first NBA player to appear in 4 decades. And somewhere NHL legend Gordie Howe is thinking “Nice job, young man, if you can keep it up.”

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In an interview, Meat Loaf said he didn’t believe in climate change & called Greta Thunberg “‘brainwashed.” Well, guessing Meatloaf figured why should Kid Rock and Ted Nugent be only washed-up rockers invited to the White House.

Trump told evangelicals at his rally “God is on our side.” Because so many people watch Donald’s insanity in action and REALLY start praying?

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Your reminder that Jill Stein said “On the issue of war it is actually Hillary’s policies which are much scarier than Donald Trump.”

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As required within 48 hours of introducing military powers into armed conflict abroad,  the White House has formally notified Congress of the Soleimani strike.  Like notifying your parents that you borrowed the car after they see pictures of the accident on the news.

Still waiting for Trump to tell us why this contractor killed in December was so much more important than Otto Warmbier and Jamal Khashoggi?

Florida prosecutors have decided to charge Robert Kraft only with misdemeanors and not felony prostitution offenses last year. Makes sense, Patriots never get punished too harshly for anything involving balls.

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Saints wanted to wear alternate “Color Rush” uniforms, white with black and gold, for this weekend’s wildcard game, but the No Fun League said no. Well, at least the NFL didn’t punish New Orleans for asking.

Having been to games at the Superdome, can tell you security is tight under most game situations, let alone a national championship. Now add the additional measures, and street closures etc, needed for a Presidential visit.
New Orleans already voted for Hillary 80 to 14% But at this point Trump will be as popular in town as last year’s NFL Championship refs.

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But imagine if Obama started a war while golfing and the next day announced he’d be spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to bring his Congressional buddies to a sporting event.

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An Ohio sheriff escaped serious injury when he was sitting in his patrol car just after midnight on January 1 and struck by a falling celebratory bullet.   He and his colleague were parked to record a PSA video to warn against the “celebratory” gunshots being fired on New Year’s Eve. You cannot make this “stuff” up.

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I miss the times when this would be the day’s most outrageous story: Lori Loughlin has reportedly hired a coach to prepare her for possible jail time. Wonder if Loughlin tried first to bribe the judge or fake her sentence with a picture of her in a prison jumpsuit?

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WTF?, Trump at his evangelical rally tonight in Florida promised to put prayer in schools. Got news for him. With all the mass shooting and scares recently there’s already a lot of prayer in schools.

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Okay, just for fun can someone ask Donald Trump what his favorite bible verse is? 

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So I’m somehow missing news coverage of the stampede by MAGAts to enlist for this new war dear leader has started.

“To start a war in order to get re-elected, and I believe that’s going to happen, would be an outrage.” Donald J. Trump, November 2011.

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So is “plotting imminent and sinister attacks” Trumpspeak for having WMDs?”

On a lighter note ESPN breaking news says the Cowboys have parted ways with coach Jason Garrett.
Wouldn’t it be bigger news if Jerry Jones kept him?

Redskins owner Dan Snyder introduced new coach Ron Rivera as, “someone that can bring a winning culture to our organization.”

“A winning culture?!  In Washington under Snyder?  Is Rivera showing up with blue ribbon yogurt?

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Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán suspended 81 games for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. So will NY trade him to a contender after the All-Star Break and then resign him in 2021?

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RIP Don Larson. Had to look it up, but it was 25 years between his perfect game in 1956 and the last time Yankees and Dodgers met in World Series. (1981) It’s been 39 years since then.

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He wasn’t my candidate, but saw Julian Castro trending and learned he’d dropped out of race and felt a bit wistful.  Saw Marianne Williamson trending and learned she HADN’T dropped out of race and felt more than a bit sad.

Trump bragged on Twitter that unlike Benghazi there were “no dead Americans” in the attack on our Embassy in Iraq.
How many are going to die in the war he just started?

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Was on a flight when the strike happened, or was announced, and in the movie list “Dr. Strangelove” is listed as a comedy. Maybe it was before we started living through the documentary.

So far not feeling good at all about this “Wag the Dog” remake.

Ignorance or apathy? Trump didn’t know that assassinating a foreign general would start a war? Or he doesn’t care?
(Or both?)

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Antonio Brown says he now thinks Saints workout was just a “publicity stunt.” You mean Sean Payton might think he has reason to troll Roger Goodell and NFL? I am shocked, shocked. 

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I’m taking this as a good sign. At Union Station on way back to DC hotel, saw 2 people w/ suitcases looking very frustrated with phones. Asked if they were lost, they were, & trying to find MY hotel. So walked with them. Tourists from New Orleans. Saints fans! #WhoDatNation

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NFL says they have found no evidence linking Bill Belichick and the New England football operations department to a member of the team’s video crew videotaping the Bengals sideline this December. Because of course the Patriots never EVER would do anything illegal.

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So if Michigan had won in spite of everything including refs assume SEC apologists will say it’s just because Alabama didn’t care about the game. #CitrusBowl

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Bristol Palin, who has children by two different men, has broken up with her latest boyfriend.  Not that I care who Bristol dates or if she dates, but at this point where are the “Christian” pharmacists saying religious scruples about marriage would keep them from filling fill any birth control prescription she might have? 

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Imagine if a US Embassy was under attack on New Year’s Eve 2011, and President Obama’s response was to go golfing after attacking a GOP Presidential candidate.

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This time of year almost tempted to promise to donate to the first politician who says “Don’t worry about sending money on New Year’s Eve, enjoy time with your friends and family.”

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If it’s the #SouthernWhiteHouse where do you sign up for the free tours?

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$650 a person on top of dues for Mar-A-Lago New Year’s Eve party. Not to mention costs for Trump family transportation, security. Secret Service and their expenses. Our tax dollars at work.

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Pete Buttigieg announced he raised over $24 million in the 4th quarter. Which is about what Michael Bloomberg spends on ads in a week.

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My New Year’s toast to all: May your troubles last as long as your resolutions!

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has “relieved” GM Bruce Allen of his duties.   This is like a rotting fish head getting rid of some gills.

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GM Ryan Pace says Chicago Bears are committed to Mitchell Trubisky as their starting QB for 2020.   Translation, they don’t have any better options.

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Baylor coach Matt Rhule turned down interview with the Cleveland Browns. Apparently Rhule is holding out for a better amateur team?

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After being booed at Oakland home games, Derek Carr on Raiders move to Las Vegas “It’s exciting. I think it’s time for some fresh air.” Right, because forget Oakland Silver & Black die-hards.   No stadium will be as loyal as one where 99% of fans will have $$$ bet on the game?

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More on that Sunday night game.  With 4 downs to get it in from the 1, Russell Wilson could have spiked the ball TWICE and Marshawn Lynch would have had two chances to win the game. 

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Baseball Hall of Fame voting results will be announced on January 21.  Many baseball writers thought Barry Bonds was an a**hole, which isn’t helping his chances. But anyone who won’t consider Bonds and voted to put  Curt Schilling in… well, I’m white and think you just might be a racist.

CES  – Consumer Electronics Show – often attacked for their lack of women speakers – has now named Ivanka Trump  a keynote speaker for their January convention in Las Vegas.   Why?  Because unlike dad,  Nepotism Barbie knows how to use spell-check on her phone?

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White House twitter feed is boasting about Donald Trump’s “spending Thanksgiving” with troops in Afghanistan.   Uh, please, he spent less than three hours on the ground.  Maybe his bone spurs started acting up.

As we approach the end of 2019, have to ask Twitter,  if any other human being had spewed as much hatred and as many attacks on other Americans as Donald Trump would he (or she) be allowed to keep his account in 2020?

Apparently having the Seachickens first and goal at the one-yard line in a big game is exactly where a team wants them to win the game.   

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Well of course it makes some sense that you get a delay of game with less than 30 seconds left in game at the 1 yard line on the goal line on the road… Oh wait, game was in #Seattle. #PeteCarroll is a bleeping idiot.

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Although while Pete Carroll stupidity plays a huge part, even when Saints aren’t playing they get screwed by a missed blatant pass-interference call.  

Tom Brady and New England Patriots don’t have a first-round bye for first time since 2009. Thoughts and prayers.

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Sigh, nothing is certain but death, taxes, and Detroit Lions blowing leads in 4th quarters.

The Lions played the Packers twice this year. Green Bay NEVER led in the game.  But won both (as time expired.)   That should give Detroit a special place in the “Snatching Defeat from Victory” Hall of Fame.

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Owner Dan Snyder has apparently relieved Washington team president Bruce Allen of responsibilities for football operations, and Snyder himself will hire next head coach. The Redskins are almost as well-oiled a machine as the White House.

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As Trump attacks California and Texas over their homeless population, worth noting that the highest homelessness by percentage in US is Washington, DC. So if Donald has grand ideas to fix things perhaps he could issue a local Executive Order from his White House bedroom?

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If anyone doubted what a good job Nancy Pelosi is doing with impeachment, take a look at how often Trump is tweeting and retweeting deranged things about her.

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Headline “‘Heroic’ parishioners stop Texas church shootout in 6 seconds.” Better future headline “America figures out a way to stop having shootouts in church.” #GunControlNow

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Easy to get kicked off Twitter, almost impossible to be kicked off Facebook. Trump tonight retweeted a post praising conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who has been kicked off Facebook. Enough said.

Several people attacked at a Hannakuh ceremony last night and Trump first  reaction is to spend morning attacking..Nancy Pelosi?! Are we great yet?

Took Trump several hours before he responded on the latest church shooting.  Don’t suppose this has anything to do with it – From Gallup earlier this year. “65% of Jews identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, with 30% identifying with or leaning toward the Republican Party.

Or was he waiting in hopes that of finding out the shooter was an immigrant.

As a Stanford grad I know we’re supposed to root for Pac 12 at all times. But can’t help smiling watching USC losing by more than three touchdowns to Iowa.

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For years, the maximum allowable gift value for players in Bowl Games has been $550 per player, and none of the gifts can be sold. Despite arguments, the NCAA has come against raising that limit.
Meanwhile, for the top bowl games, a decent ticket costs more than $550.

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Thinking back to those days when the Notre Dame-Miami games were considered “Catholics vs Convicts.”

Not sure about the “Convicts” part these days but thinking the Hurricanes being shut out 14-0 in a college bowl game by Louisiana Tech is criminally bad football.

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Sixteen days between this year’s college football semifinals, and championship game. Wow. Players have so much time off they might even have to go to class.

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And seriously, 16 days…. given American attention spans will anyone remember who’s still playing?

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I think 16 days was longer than the James Wiseman era at Duke.

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Eastern Michigan QB Mike Glass III was ejected from the Quick Lane bowl for throwing punches at two Pitt players.  Is Glass  trying to get drafted by the Jaguars, or the Browns?

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Have to wonder, how many younger people see the movie “Little Women” and think “It would be a great book?”

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In an interview with Rolling Stone, Chuck Todd admits several times he has been naive about the Republicans’ commitment to disinformation. And he still has very high-paying jobs. Any more questions about White Male Privilege?

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Donald Trump is upset because he apparently just found out that Canadian Broadcasting  Corporation edited him out of a cameo role in  Home Alone 2, and he’s blaming “Justin T.”

CBC edited that Home Alone 2 cameo out in 2014, if Trudeau could have edited Trump out of anything, wouldn’t Justin have edited him out of video of say, G7 summits?

At this point have to wonder if Justin Trudeau is tempted to put a ban on episodes of “The Apprentice” in Canada just to troll Trump?

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Meanwhile, have to think maybe Donald is still just a little miffed about this picture.

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Seriously,  Rick Santorum lost his bid for re-election to the Senate in Pennsylvania by 18 points. So why does CNN, or anyone else, care what he thinks?

Have to imagine that NBA powers-that-be had better ratings in mind when they scheduled Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Rockets.

But then for NBA Christmas – Matthew 20-16 So the last shall be first, and the first last. 

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A lot of people took Christmas Day off. Apparently including the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

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Universal Studios, which produced “Cats,” has pulled their Oscar consideration push.  Just after the Cleveland Browns decided not to produce playoff tickets?

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, says she was “disturbed” to hear Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell say there would be “total coordination” between White House & Senate over upcoming presidential impeachment trial.  “To me it means that we have to take that step back from being hand in glove with the defense, and so I heard what leader McConnell had said, I happened to think that that has further confused the process.”

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As Jimmy Carter, 95, enjoyed a quiet Christmas as home, let’s remember this Mondale quote at the Carter library – “We told the truth, we obeyed the law, we kept the peace.”

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Karl Rove says “Clinton’s Impeachment Was Dignified.” Uh, right about now the GOP’s reputation is stained more than Monica’s blue dress.

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So who besides me wonders when Trump will say he’s done more for Christmas than Jesus?

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Trump tweeted out a lie about retail sales. Who besides me is waiting for him to say he’s done more for Christmas than Jesus?

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And who had Nancy Pelosi, Gavin Newsom and the FBI on Trump’s “Christmas Insult Bingo” card?

Trump campaign sent out instructions for their supporters to deal with “snowflake” liberal relatives and impeachment at Christmas.

Uh, except liberals aren’t the snowflakes blocking Trump aides, and Trump himself, from testifying.

That moment when I wonder, why did it take so long to become a Klobuchar fan? One of her Christmas Eve tweets – “Ok that was a long, hard and frustrating @Vikings game. Note to @Packers fans wondering about my allegiance to the @Vikings despite Wisconsin primary: it will take a few days to get over that game but we will still see you in the playoffs…”

And yes, I am aware, Minnesota may be heading to New Orleans….   Sigh. #WhoDat

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Marshawn Lynch is back with the Seahawks for this weekend’s game against the 49ers.  Upon meeting reporters at Seattle’s team headquarters he said  “Happy holidays.  Merry New Year. Y’all have a great day. It’s a great feeling to be back. Thank you.”

Wow, by Lynch standards practically a sermon.

So on Christmas Eve does Trump watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and consider it a tragedy because Potter doesn’t win?

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No grift too small. Ivanka and Jared made a “stop in Paris” on their way to Mar-A-Lago and visited “Station F, the world’s largest startup campus.”
Okay, I’m a travel agent. A few things: 1, With the transit strikes plus holiday, traffic congestion has effectively shut down Paris for normal people. 2. No one is going to work at a startup campus on Christmas Eve anyway. 3. Ivanka and Jared get a motorcade with police help for all the touring/shopping/dining they want. 4. US taxpayers are paying for all this. Joyeux Noel!

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Bus or sleigh to hell time.

But death, taxes, and Kirk Cousins s*cking on Monday night football.

Looks like you can take Kirk Cousins out of the Washington Redskins, but you can’t take the Washington Redskins out of Kirk Cousins.

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Though Minneapolis weather at game time tonight for Monday Night Football was 35 degrees. Both teams probably wished they could open the roof with that balmy weather.

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Okay, UCF kind of destroyed Marshall in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.
Not that I really care about the game, but the “Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl” is almost a good enough name to compete with the late lamented “Poulan Weed-Eater Bowl.”

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Marshawn Lynch has returned to the Seattle Seahawks for a one-game contract.  Wonder how many Skittles are involved?

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Could this be more apt? Ordered a “Long-suffering Mets fan” shirt for a long-suffering Mets fan for Christmas. And it got lost in the mail. #ThatsSoMets

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Kevin Costner is having a fun week. Not only is he endorsing Pete Buttigieg in Iowa, but also Waterworld probably dethroned as the most expensive flop ever by Cats.

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Our newly impeached POTUS is whining… “Pelosi gives us the most unfair trial in the history of the U.S. Congress.” Gosh, if only Trump could do something, like allow witnesses to testify, or even testify himself.

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Five people been sentenced to death for murder journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but “the two most senior officials implicated in the case, including an adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, were cleared of wrongdoing.”
And I’m sure the trial was as fair as McConnell wants to make Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate.

A fight in a New Jersey mall, a smash-and-grab robbery in a California mall… in both cases shoppers assumed another mass shooting.
This holiday spirit brought to you by GOP Congress bought and paid for by the NRA.

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Lindsey Graham says that by refusing to send articles of impeachment to the Senate, Nancy Pelosi is “She’s trampling on separation of powers.” While Mitch McConnell says he is coordinating impeachment trial with White House? Irony, your usual table is ready.

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So for those big spenders at Mar-A-Lago, will Trump reward them with a Christmas dinner of hamberders?

Trump hasn’t been golfing since his sudden “routine physical.” Is there a chance he’s got stitches from seeing someone like Melania’s kidney surgeon?

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Trump claimed again last night windmills kill bald eagles. So is he upset they don’t leave enough for his sons to shoot?

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Trump seems increasingly obsessed with windmills. Maybe he overhead a bit of the “The Bachelorette” and thinks everyone but him is having sex in them?

Rams had 49ers twice third and 16 in final drive and couldn’t even force them to 4th down. LA richly deserves their January off.

(And if If Taylor Rapp had been on Rams in 2018, even refs couldn’t have kept Saints out of Super Bowl. But I’m not bitter.)

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