This Week in Sports & Shenanigans
Buckle up. We’ve got everything from 18-game NFL rumors to Tarantino trivia and a touching farewell to a fantasy football legend.
NFLPA Says “Talk to Us Later”
The NFLPA won’t even discuss an 18-game season until next year. So the earliest it could happen is 2030. Expect 2 preseason games, 18 regular-season games, and eventually, 20. Because when it comes to the NFL: cash > player safety
MLB News: Kershaw Joins the 3,000 K Club
Congrats to Clayton Kershaw, who just struck out his 3,000th batter while pitching for the same team. That’s rare air. Think Bob Gibson (Cardinals), Walter Johnson (Senators)… and now Kershaw (Dodgers). Fun Fact: Kershaw played high school football with LA Rams QB Matthew Stafford. He was Stafford’s center in the fall and had him catching curveballs in the spring. That’s Texas for ya.
Rodney Harrison’s Double Induction
Rodney Harrison was so good, he’s getting inducted into two Hall of Fames: one for the Chargers, one for the Patriots. Even Belichick says he belongs in Canton. Flashback to 1999: preseason game, Rodney takes out Trent Green’s knee… and in trots some backup named Kurt Warner. Boom, The Greatest Show on Turf is born. If you drafted Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, or Warner that year, your league mates hated you.
Chargers to San Diego (Sorta)
Eight years after ghosting San Diego, the Chargers are going back, kind of. They’ll be practicing at Torero Stadium on the University of San Diego for two days later this month. It’s like when your ex comes to town and asks if you want to grab coffee. You stay classy, San Diego.
NBA News: Drama & Dollars
· The Milwaukee Bucks said Dame Time is canceled. But they still owe Damian Lillard $112 million. Where can I get a severance package like that?
· LeBron picked up his $52.6 million player option. He’s not retiring, because if he leaves, the Lakers might cut Bronny. Classic dad move.
We Lost a Couple of Legends
· Michael Madsen (aka Mr. Blonde, aka Budd from Kill Bill) passed away. The man who didn’t pawn his Hattori Hanzo sword for $250 is now resting in Tarantino heaven.
· Bruce Taylor, the co-founder and longtime editor of Fantasy Football Index, also passed. He created it in 1987 with Ian Allen, and it was the first national magazine dedicated solely to fantasy football. If you played fantasy in the 90s and 2000s, Index was your bible. I used to talk to Bruce every year; he always joked about wanting to crash one of our Commish Kit model shoots. He was smart, funny, a family man, a rock musician, and a UW alum.
Fun Fact: In 2012, Bruce asked who should be on the Index cover. I said, “Gronk.” A few months later, I’m at Barnes & Noble, and there he is, Rob Gronkowski on the cover. Did I have something to do with that? Let’s just say yes and let me keep the street cred.
RIP Bruce. You were one of the good ones.
Football in July? Yup.
Lions vs. Chargers kick off the Hall of Fame Game in just 16 days. Preseason is back, and it’s never been earlier.
We’ll be back next week with more hot takes, cold cuts, and fantasy advice that probably won’t hold up in court. Looking for the ultimate fantasy football draft board? Commish Kit has everything you need—poster kits, stand-up corrugated boards, and a digital draft board so slick, your league might actually think you’re organized this year.
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