Left Coast Sports Babe

So who had the only halfway decent first-round playoff game Sunday being between the #1 seed Oklahoma Thunder and the #8 seed (and Zion-less) New Orleans Pelicans.

(94-92 OKC, and New Orleans had chance to tie or win at buzzer.)

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Okay, kudos to those Mike Johnson and Mike Pence on in the pool of “unlikeliest Republicans who would someday do the right thing

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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, often mentioned as being on Trump’s VP list, said Sunday there should be no exception for rape or incest with abortions. It barely even made news cycle.

GOP hopes we won’t notice their extremism.

Intentionally or not media is helping them.

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Look, I love Dionne Warwick

But if she’s now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame why not the Carpenters?

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We’ll never know… but on gay rights, their children changed many GOP opinions. Have to think Mike Johnson’s son potentially having to go to war against Putin played a huge part in Speaker’s conversion.

“He thought about his son, set to attend U.S. Naval Academy in fall.”

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Lindsey Graham on the passage of Ukraine aid: “This wouldn’t have passed without Donald Trump.”

Could he get any more craven? When John McCain died he took Lindsey Graham’s soul with him.

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Increasingly obvious that the worst fear for major US media is not that Trump will get back in the White House and destroy democracy. But that Biden will be re-elected and we will have four more years of a competent caring no-drama man in the White House.

Worst sports headline of 2024?

“NBA star’s family nightmare continues as brother gets 6 years for DUI crash.”

Uh, it’s been a bad month for Nuggets Michael Porter Jr, whoses brother Jontay banned for gambling. Now brother Coban got 6 yrs in prison for killing woman w/ young child in a DUI case where he was allegedly over twice the limit.

HER family has the real nightmare.

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Early days but sure seems like SF Giants could have saved a lot of money on Blake Snell and spent a little more to keep Renel Brooks-Moon.

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It was Patrick Bailey bobblehead daily Saturday at Oracle Park. He’s 4-4 with a splash hit. Giants won 7-3.

How quickly can SF Giants manufacture bobbleheads for the entire lineup?

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So maybe it’s time to ask the question with some of these former “Never Trumpers” who have fallen in line behind Donald as the GOP nominee. Are they being paid? Or are they scared of falling out of windows

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Can the media also STOP covering Velveeta Voldemort whining about not being able to campaign. With their nonstop coverage on his every gesture and every word he says outside the courtroom, why would he want to campaign? Trump getting far more attention where he is.

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Air traffic controllers mistakingly directing 2 planes to same runway resulted in near collision at DC National Airport. Hate calling it Reagan, but reminder, Ronald was one who decided to play cowboy & fire all air traffic controllers for going on strike. Air Traffic Control is still recovering.

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Another rewrite of CNN headlines: “In passing Ukraine aid, the accidental speaker became an unlikely Churchill.” How about “By belatedly passing Ukraine aid, Mike Johnson showed he ultimately cared about democracy .. or having his Naval Academy son pressed in to combat?”

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NBC News making their pitch for worst out of context headine of the year. “Muslim Americans who soured on Biden see Israel aid package as further betrayal.” Without mentioning that President Biden’s opponent would institute a Muslim ban and deport Palestinian protesters.

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As longtime volunteer been lucky to have heard our last 4 Democratic Presidents speak, & countless candidates. Biden will never win speaking awards. Didn’t vote for him to be President of Toastmasters, Voted for him to be President of United States. And Joe’s a damn good one.

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Dear Climate activists shutting down Democratic events: Trump promises to reduce energy prices by increasing domestic production, he plans to end delays in federal drilling permits & leases. “We’re going to ‘drill, baby, drill’ right away,” Please pay attention & grow up.

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Sometimes I think I could devote a whole blog to fixing CNN headlines.

“Trump caps off an unprecedented week with North Carolina rally.” How about “After a week in NY and nonstop rants about being a criminal defendant, Trump returns to his regular rallies.”

The NFL formally reinstated five players today who had been banned indefinitely for gambling violations in 2023.

Wonder what were the odds?

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At least two teams, the Las Vegas Aces and the Washington Mystics, have moved their games against the Indiana Fever to larger arenas because of higher than expected crowds.

Good for them. Now pay the women more.

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Missisippi GOP Senator Wicker is very conservative. But he supports Mike Johnson’s allowing vote on Ukraine aid. Wicker notes his son, like Mike’s, is in US military. Maybe it’s just not wanting to lose child to war against Putin.

But he gets it, for whatever reason. US needs to stand up for democracy

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The entire Kennedy clan is going to endorse President Biden. And you think your Thanksgiving family dinner is going to be awkward.

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Marge Three Names submitted an amendment to the Ukraine aid bill barring funding until “restrictions on Hungarians in Transcarpathia” and other minorities are lifted.

Bet Marge Three Names didn’t even know Transcarpathia existed.

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Trump: It is a shame. I am sitting here for days now from morning until night in that freezing room. Freezing! All for this. This is your result. It is very unfair.

Uh, how the heck should Americans trust a man to handle all the challenges he will face as leader of the free world, if he can’t dress himself well enough to be comfortable in air conditioning?

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Gotten attacked by some far-left folks on Twitter/X today for being against shutting down roads, bridges, Democratic events etc to make a point. They say extremism is only way to get real change.

That worked so well in voting for Jill Stein & putting anti-Muslim climate change denier in White House

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Good news for SF Giants. With the Warriors out of the playoffs and the A’s heading to Sacramento, the Giants will be getting most of the sports attention in the SF Bay Area.

Bad news for the SF Giants based on their recent play… they will be getting most of the sports attention in the SF Bay Area.

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If President Biden wanted to do something that would get him applause from millions of Americans of all political persuasions, maybe Joe could issue an executive order firing Angel Hernandez?

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All the numbers are going up. Except one. How about a major raise in WNBA salaries? WNBA Draft drew nearly 2.5 million viewers in record-shattering broadcast. Previous viewership record was set back in 2004 with Diana Taurasi, but it only drew just more than 600,000 viewers.

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US Senate working on many things to benefit American people, .including BIPARTISAN legislation on antitrust/competition issues, extending farm bill, regulating AI, reining in Big Tech…

And it all takes a back seat thanks to House GOP performative impeachment of Mayorkas.

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NY Times headline: “Melania Trump Avoids the Courtroom, but Is Said to Share Her Husband’s Anger.” Of all teadlines NY Times could write about a trial involving Donald allegedly paying lots of money to cover up two affairs early in her marriage to him, they go with that one?

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As his stock continues to tank, when is Trump coming out with a line of Beanie Babies?

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Speaker Johnson defiant about Marge Three Names and her motion to vacate: “It is not helpful to the House Republicans to advance our agenda which is in the best interest of the American people.” WHAT agenda? (And what people? Other than billionaires who want more tax cuts.)

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Apparently Donald Trump asked if he could be exempted from any proceedings that may arise on Wednesdays.

Stephen Colbert – “What no Wednesdays? There’s no possible better day for a porn star trial than Hump Day.”

SF Giants have still not come up with a credible reason why they essentially fired their great PA Announcer Renel Brooks-Moon.

Meanhwhile, the 5-9 Giants have 3 extra base hits in last 3 games, and no home runs since April 3. SF also went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position against Tampa Bay.

So maybe they should have kept Renel and let go some of their hitting coaches?

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Angel Hernandez is to umpiring what Donald Trump is to election integrity.

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New Orleans Pelicans were 20 of 38 from three point range tonight in their 114-109 win against the Golden State Warriors.

Who did the Pelicans think they were? Caitlin Clark?

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Meanwhile as a San Antonio Spurs fan who knows the team has a lottery pick and is just playing for pride at this point, I confess that I wasn’t paying attention after they got down 18 points at halftime to Denver Nuggets, who were leading the NBA Western Conference.

Big mistake.

Kentucky GOP lawmakers removed Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear from ANY role filling future U.S. Senate vacancies. Republicans said it was unrelated to health of Mitch McConnell. If you believe that I have a bridge across Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington to sell you.

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Will keep saying this: If asked to name member of Congress not their own, thinking most Americans will name one of the crazies. We HAVE to amplify the good ones. Good politicians who get things done exist. But without coverage voters tend to think all government is useless.

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Mike Johnson has to know Trump and Marge will eventually throw him under the bus. Why not stand up for Ukraine now, go down in history as a defender of democracy, and write a book about it?

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Casey Anthony is trending on social media.. Is she now on the short list to be Trump’s running mate?

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When asked if he was “pro-life or pro-choice” Trump said “You know exactly which one it is.” Yes, we do. The only life Trump is “pro” is his own.

Non-citizens already do not vote. Babies are not aborted at 9th months. Trump indictments are not a political witch hunt. Time to start calling it the Gaslighting Old Party.

NBA regular season ends this weekend, April 14.

Which means we’re only about 2 1/2 MONTHS from the NBA finals.

Game 7 would be June 23.

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Meanwhile

April 15 is the WNBA draft.

June 27 is the NBA draft.

Wonder if women will beat the men on ratings there too.

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If you’re already missing women’s basketball, we’re only about three weeks away from the start of the WNBA preseason. And curiously enough, Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark’s next team, will be playing the league’s first preseason game on May 3 against Dallas.

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SF Giants offense has been anemic to say the least in 2024. But a 7-1 win brought them to 5-8 and a -15 run differential. The Colorado Rockies, 3-10 already have a -35 run differential. Ouch.

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Ohtani’s former interpreter is reportedly in negotiations to plead guilty on federal charges involving both betting and stealing money from Shohei. He originally told ESPN Ohtani had helped him with the gambling debt. Wonder how much he really stole, and how much he might be being paid for changing his story again.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson will deliver remarks with Trump on ‘election integrity’ This is worse than if Dan Quayle and George W. Bush teamed up to host a spelling bee.

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“I’ll release my taxes as soon as I’m done with a routine audit.” “I have a big beautiful healthcare plan.” “Nancy Pelosi is responsible for January 6.” So many Trump lies. And Donald expects us to believe he wouldn’t sign a national abortion ban…

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GOP today “States rights! States rights! States rights!” So does this mean GOP is also dropping their opposition to California’s plan to have all new cars, pickup trucks and SUVs be electric or hydrogen by 2035?

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Donald Trump is touting his endorsement from Yankees legend Mariano Rivera. Does he hope his base won’t notice that Rivera is an immigrant?

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Some of these anti-choice folks are all over Twitter today claiming that “abortion stops a beating heart.” None of them are concerned that AR-15s and other guns also stop beating hearts. Pro life my a**.

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CNN has the headline “Trump says he wouldn’t sign federal abortion ban.” Does anyone other than Susan Collins believe him?

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Hey CNN, wrong headline. “Conservatives deal another blow to Speaker Johnson.”

Marge Three Names and her cronies aren’t “conservatives.” They’re radical anarchists who don’t believe in governing.

Before Caitlin Clark

There was Tara, (and there was Pat Summitt, RIP).

But

Stanford coach Tara Vanderveer coached Jennifer Azzi, Kate Starbird, Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, Candice Wiggins….. So many superstars who paved the way for the glory that is women’s college basketball now.

Can’t remember not seeing her on the Stanford sideline. But wishing her happiness in a well-earned retirement.

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As we look ahead to next year and watching college basketball

JuJu Watkins, USC

Paige Bueckers, UConn

Kiki Iriafen, Stanford.

Hannah Stuelke, Iowa.

Tessa Johnson, S. Carolina.

and others will be returning.

Can anyone name a returning men’s college player?

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And UConn’s win over Purdue in the men’s final averaged 14.82 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

“That was not enough to surpass the 18.87 million who watched South Carolina defeat Caitlin Clark and Iowa in Sunday afternoon’s women’s final on ABC and ESPN.”

(and the men were in prime time.)

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Meanwhile SF Giants, 1-27 recently with RISP went 1-6 with RISP tonight. Including a 9th inning where down two with bases loaded and no outs they scored ZERO.

Two of the right outs would have tied the game.

Too soon to start talking abut the curse of Renel?

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I don’t think it’s asked enough. What has Trump promised RFK Jr?

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Anyone who works with feral cats knows the cheapest way to prevent unwanted pregnancies is not spaying female cats but neutering males. Seems to me if we really want to reduce abortions men should get vasectomies at puberty, reversible only on proof of marriage & responsibility.

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GOP pollster Frank Luntz says that “abortion is a hard core issue for younger women, a little bit less so for younger men. And older you get, it’s still important but it’s not a voter driven issue…” Wanna bet? No longer a ‘younger woman’ & I’m furious. I am not alone.

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Kari Lake pretends now she doesn’t want abortion ban.

When she supported a ban in 2022.

Who knows what she’ll say next?

But you know who absolutely wants to protect womens’ right to choose? Ruben Gallego. No need for Arizona voters to take chances on their rights. #VoteBlue

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Something that didn’t get enough coverage last night. Recently retired GOP Rep Ken Buck is a very conservative man, first elected in 2014 as part of the Tea Party. And he referred to Marge Three Names, as “Moscow Marjorie.”

President Biden did have both South Carolina (women) and UConn (men) winning March Madness. Has Velveeta Voldemort come out and said HIS secret ballot was perfect yet?

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Wonder what the ratings were for the men’s basketball national championship were tonight or more especially, how much lower they were than the women’s final.

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72 pitches through 3 innings and three earned runs from the Giants biggest free agent. Along with a completely forgettable male voice announcing the game at Oracle Park tonight.

So far initial reviews – SF Giants could have saved money on Blake Snell and spent a fraction of it on rehiring Renel Brooks-Moon.

So who had April 8, 2024 as the day Trump would start attacking Lindsey Graham? And is it time to start the next pool, when Lindsey goes down to Mar-A-Lago to genuflect before Donald again?

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President Biden announces major student debt relief and media – other than the eclipse – is focused on Velveeta Voldemort’s hush money trial. And later in the week I presume there will be more stories how Joe Biden isn’t connecting with young voters?

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Dear Wisconsin. Didn’t think it was possible to be worse than Ron Johnson.

But here’s California multi-millionaire Eric Hovde, who is running for Senate in 2024 in Wisconsin.

“We had nursing homes with 100% voting…. If you’re in a nursing home, you only have a 5-6 month life expectancy. Almost nobody in a nursing home is in a point to vote.”

Please re-elect Tammy Baldwin.

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Let’s make this very clear: Trump claims to be pro-life.

But as he’s shown with DACA kids & now with reproductive rights, Donald believes your life as a woman is only important if you are lucky enough to be born in the right place to the right parents – or just have rich white parents.

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So how long until some Trump supporters who looked at the eclipse without dark glasses start blaming President Biden because Obamacare doesn’t cover vision care?

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Trump claims he never had sex with Stormy Daniels. Maybe the real reason he’s fighting so hard against this hush money trial is that the woman has receipts, as in she can accurately describe his small… hands?!

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Marge Three Names is a do-nothing Congresswoman from a deep red district in Georgia. Can we stop giving her more attention than members of Congress who actually get stuff done. Sincerely, Americans tired of nonstop coverage of noisy narcissists.

You know women’s college basketball has really hit the big time when folks on social media are just as incensed and screaming “rigged” about a controversial call in a women’s game as in any men’s game.

(For what it’s worth, my serious basketball friends say it was a moving screen and it may be possible UConn just figured refs wouldn’t call it.)

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Meanwhlle the men’s semi-finals hope for half the ratings.

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Rashee Rice’s lawyer admits KC Chiefs’ wide receiver was driving & racing the Lamborghini that caused chain-reaction collision in Texas. Rice then ran away from accident, without seeing if anyone was hurt.

Fortunately there were only minor injuries to 4 people. Lawyer’s words “He’s a young man that made a mistake.” Uh, more like SEVERAL mistakes.

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Meanwhile, out in California, millions of residents who East Coast folks regularly deride as soft and wimpy are giggling over those East Coast reactions to this morning’s 4.8 quake.

Marge Three Names “Gods sending America strong signs to tell us to repent. Earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come. I pray that our country listens.” This is the worst spoof of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” ever.

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Kari Lake was photographed yet again at Mar-A-Lago in Florida with Donald Trump this week

Dear Arizona. Florida already has two Senators. You have a fine Senator with Mark Kelly. And can add a second in Ruben Gallego in November.

Consign Kari Lake permanently to the sore losers club at Mar A Lago.@patriottakes

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President Biden is a good and decent man who appeals to Americans’ better angels. Donald Trump is a narcissistic would-be dictator who appeals to some Americans’ worst demons. Yes, it is that simple.

Rumor has it the Oakland As are finalizing an agreement to play temporarily in Sacramento starting in 2025. The RiverCats stadium in Sacramento, while lovely, only holds about 14,000 maximum. To be fair, that’s bigger than an average A’s crowd now.

But last July the high temperature in Sacramento was 109. Even St. Louis and Kansas City fans are going… that’s hot.

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First ever Shohei Ohtani home run as a Dodger was against the SF Giants. What were the odds?

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EVERY media outlet reporting Trump continuing to double down on phrase “border bloodbath” should start story by reminding viewers GOP Senator Lankford was lead negotiator on bipartisan border bill Velveeta Voldemort sabotaged – just because he didn’t want Biden to get a win.

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So CNN all over Wisconsin 47,000protest votes for “uninstructed,” saying it’s bad news for President Biden.

Uh, what about GOP in Wisconsin?

Trump – 475,375 votes Haley – ⁦76,603 votes⁩ DeSantis⁦ – 20,074 votes⁩ Uninstructed -⁦12,903 vote Almost 100,000 GOP voters don’t want Donald!

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Stephen Colbert points out that in NY GOP Primary 4% of voters went for…. Chris Christie? “You’ve got to really piss off New Yorkers to get them to vote for a guy from New Jersey… Who shut down the George Washington Bridge.”

Final Fours are set for the men’s and women’s Madness Tournament.

Tickets for the semi finals for the men’s tournament, at the Phoenix Suns’ Arena in Arizona now start at $322.

Tickets for the women’s games at the Cavaliers arena Cleveland start at $420.

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Well, the Houston Astros finally figured out one way to avoid another bullpen collapse: Against the Blue Jays, starting pitcher Ronel Blanco threw not just a complete game but also no-hitter.

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Have to wonder – and expect – that this LSU vs Iowa women’s Elite Eight game will end up with higher ratings than any men’s game short of the final. Maybe even the final. #MarchMadness

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Thinking a number of people tuned in tonight who didn’t regularly watch women’s basketball. Always think it’s a shame when a really high-profile sporting event turns out to be boring, or even worse, a really sloppily played game. Tonight was not one of those nights. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reece (who played some of the game on a bad ankle) were amazing

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Am in absolute awe of everything Angel Reese does on basketball court. But ESPN announcers were shocked she managed to put her contact lens back in without saline solution. Ok, as someone who has worn hard lenses since I was a teenager I can actually do that too!

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Dear Dark Brandon.

If MAGAs are going to attack you for correctly recognizing a day, why not double down and declare April 1 “National Trump Day?

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CNN was talking Monday morning about Donald Trump’s posts and language. And that Joe Biden’s campaign is NOT stooping to the same insults and violent rhetoric… The point being that “both sides are not the same.”

Almost expected CNN to follow that statement with “April Fools.”

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Florida Supreme Court has ruled 6 week abortion ban can go into effect in 30 days! Pregnancy is dated from 1st day of last menstrual period, meaning 6 weeks is really 4 weeks from conception, or less. Before anyone with even slightly irregular periods may now they are pregnant.

Once again, really want to stop abortions? Start regulating Viagra.

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As some in media talk about $20 minimum wage for CA fast-food workers being problem for franchise owners & consumers.

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski made $17.7 million in 2022.

Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol made $17.2 million.

Am sure that doesn’t affect costs at all. #sarcasm

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Truth Social stock started crashing Monday. Who will Trump blame?

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Those gold sneakers are now 75% off.

Truth Social stock is plummeting.

What’s next? Trump Beanie Babies?