Here and There …

FS1 has had Skip Bayless and his faux debate show, Undisputed, off the air for about a month as Bayless and the network seek to find a replacement debating partner for Bayless.  Last week, there were reports that Richard Sherman was signed on for that role but not completely.  One report I read said he was signed up to appear on 100 episodes which makes sense because that would have him on the air with Bayless for the balance of the NFL season.  Clearly, Sherman’s expertise is professional football and if he were to show up on Undisputed as is the plan in late August, that would have him in a sweet spot.

Additionally, there have been reports that Bayless will also do some programs with rapper, L’il Wayne and that the rapper has composed and performed a new theme song for the program.  [Aside:  I do not know L’il Wayne from Wayne Newton, Olivia Newton-John, John Wayne, Wayne Brady, Tom Brady or Tom Thumb.]  According to reports, L’il Wayne is an avid sports fan and folks say he might pair well with Bayless.  So, on the surface it would appear as if things are looking up over at FS1 – – except there are other rumors/reports out there saying:

1. FS1 is considering Michael Irvin as another sparring partner with Bayless – – AND – –
2. FS1 Is considering Keyshawn Johnson as another sparring partner with Bayless.

Now if those rumors/reports are also correct, I wonder how Undisputed is going to be seen once football season is over and things like March Madness and the NBA and MLB take center stage in the sports world.  I have this hunch that there are still chapters to be written in the FS1 search for Bayless’ partner …

Moving on …  There was an announcement last week that the NFL had reached an agreement with a slot machine manufacturer that would allow NFL logos to appear on the slot machines. One of the NFL execs characterized this move this way:

“The unveiling of the first NFL-themed slot machines represents an opportunity to bring the League closer to our fans in a new area.”

Nonsense!  This unveiling of NFL-themed slot machines represents a new revenue stream for the league.  That’s it; that’s all there is to it.

However, this new “partnership” raises an interesting question:

• Since the NFL prohibits its players, coaches, team employees, etc. from gambling on team flights or at team facilities or at game stadiums, how might players or coaches playing an NFL-themed slot machine fit into that paradigm? 

Remember, the league rule says that if a player or coach is sitting in a practice facility and uses a phone-betting app to place a wager on a horse race two time zones removed from the facility, that player or coach is in violation of the league rule/policy.  The appearance is that the NFL does not want itself or its players to be associated too closely with gambling – – which is a smart decision on their part.  So, how might the league react if one of its prominent players was videoed and shown on Instagram collecting a big payout from an NFL-themed slot machine?

My guess is that will happen eventually so maybe a clarification/declaration from the NFL Executive Suite before the fact would be a good idea.  No?

Switching gears …  San Francisco Niners’ CEO, Jed York, is being sued in two separate cases alleging that he engaged in insider trading resulting from his position on the Board of Directors of Chegg, Inc – – and educational company.  Chegg gained notoriety when it was accused of assisting college students to cheat on online exams starting back in the COVID isolation days and these new accusations allege that Chegg management filed false and misleading statements with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and then managers and board members dumped Chegg stock before the scope of the cheating scandal were revealed.

Frankly, those charges have little to do with football or sports, but they do interest me a bit because of a linkage.  The former owner/CEO of the Niners was Eddie DeBartolo; he never sold the team, but he was eased out of his ownership role with the team in the late 90s because he was involved with a payoff to Louisiana governor, Eddie Edwards, to get himself a casino license there.  DeBartolo got that license but got caught up in corruption investigation into Gov Edwards and DeBartolo was charged with not reporting a felony.  He pleaded guilty to that charge and was fined $1M, forced to withdraw from the casino project and given 2 years’ probation.  The NFL also fined him and suspended him from being part of the Niners’ organization for 1 year.

When the 1-year suspension was over, DeBartolo handed over his interest in the team to his sister – – who was and is married to Jed York, the subject of the Chegg lawsuits.  And the wheels on the bus go round and round …

Last item today …  I think everyone here knows that I do not care much about Exhibition Games in the NFL, but one result over the weekend is worth a passing mention:

• The Ravens beat the Eagles 20-19.
• That extends the Ravens’ Exhibition Game winning streak to 24 games in a row.
• The last time the Ravens lost an Exhibition Game was on September 3, 2015 against the Atlanta Falcons.
• In that game, the Ravens lost by the same 20-19 score.

Finally, let me close today with this comment by the Swedish playwright, August Strindberg:

“I loathe people who keep dogs.  They are cowards who haven’t’ got the guts to bite people themselves.”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………