I’ll take “The Longest Day” or “Band of Brothers”. I realize not every date can be memorialized, but I guess more of WWII is finally being consigned to just the history books. Pity.

NFL News:

• Aqib Talib got himself shot in Dallas over the weekend. Fortunately for the Broncos and Talib, it was neither serious nor the Plaxico-type of shooting.
• Staying with the Broncos, the rest of them (minus current-Texan Brock Osweiler) visit the White House today.
  • Fun fact: The tradition of inviting Super Bowl champions to the White House began in 1980 during Jimmy Carter’s last year in office. Carter hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, both of whom won their respective championships during the 1979-1980 seasons. _{(NFL Media Research)}
• Far be it from me to determine which millions of dollars is the right millions of dollars, but being called a “similar player” to Blaine Gabbert probably indicates Colin Kaepernick should probably have taken the deal to Denver. Hell – he hasn’t even been cleared for minicamp, and that’s just a red jersey.
• Oh God – I’m not as strong as Ape. In this week’s Acela Excreta,
  • PK apologizes for pre-empting the actual column by a day. He felt getting something out about Ali’s death ASAP was important.
    • “Monday Morning Quarterback” is “Sunday Morning Quarterback,” for one week only. I felt news of Muhammad Ali’s death, on Friday at age 74, was so riveting and important that we should publish a day early this week.
  • I get that; he was kind of an icon. But then he follows it with this idiocy:
    • I did not know Muhammad Ali, at all. I never met him. And this is a football column. Why, then, write about someone I did not know, who had nothing material to do with football?
  • And then spends the next 5-6 paragraphs talking about himself, and how Ali randomly showed up at different points in his youth & young adulthood to teach Peter King important life lessons, none of which involved “sharing your food” or “only brag if you are the greatest”.
  • Brace yourself for a false equivalency:
    • Suppose I asked you, “Which NFL players of recent vintage seem to have a piece of Muhammad Ali in them?” What would you say? The first name on my tongue: Richard Sherman.
    • And there’s another whole page mailed in. ARE YOU ALREADY ON YOUR FUCKING VACATION?!
  • Actually, in the “Ten-Things-I-Think”, 10. J. says the next 4-6 weeks will actually be fill-in’s So far, he’s got Geoff Schwartz of the Lions and Benjamin Watson of the Ravens confirmed.
  • In lieu of my own “Adieu Haiku”, I give you “A Prick’s Limericks”

There once was a writer named Pete,
Who admits he and Ali didn’t meet.
But that didn’t stop him
From writing a slim
Column that about equals a tweet.

Screw you, you hack. Just watch this instead.

https://youtu.be/ThJbZR8M9a0

I realize Memorial Day was last week, but it’s D-Day.

Sorry; the D-Day anniversary.

A day like today is one that history teachers live for, because you can show all the war videos you want and no one (except the aging hippies) accuses you of glorification. Plus, since I’ve got a couple of kids enlisting after they graduate, it’s like I’ve got extra help quieting the rabble, because more kids than normal are paying attention.

In case you want a little something for yourself, because most people know about Omaha & Utah Beaches: Canada on D-Day – Juno Beach

That’s not a good look, US Soccer. When the fanbase you expect results in your having to post this before each broadcast:

We recognize that during the game it is possible that some fans in the stadium may use words or slogans that offend certain members of our audience and the community in general. Although we know that this can happen in any televised sports event, in no case do we approve or support this type of language. Univision Communications Inc. supports a Copa America Centenario that includes all types of people, that celebrates the diversity of the sport we all love, and that can be enjoyed by everyone, without the consequences of certain words that may be hurtful. In this instance we will strive to ensure that our own comments and coverage includes and respects all, including the LGBT community. This is our agreement with our audience, our community and our partners. _(Deadspin)

It just shows that maybe a little more attention should have been involved in the preparation process.

Speaking of preparation, I’m not sure playing the wrong foreign anthem is high on the list of Arizona sins, but when trying to attract another World Cup, especially in the upcoming ‘clean bid’ era, it doesn’t help when cavalier attitudes are taken for national songs. I’m try to picture God-Emperor Trump’s reaction to the Rio Olympics playing Canada’s anthem after a US gold medal.

Tonight’s sports:

NHL: Game 4 – Penguins @ Sharks – 8:00 (Pens up 2-1)

Copa:

• Panama vs Bolivia – 7:00
• Argentina vs Chile – 10:00

To aid you tonight, for reference – courtesy of US Soccer – here is Panama’s anthem:

https://youtu.be/UJkxFhFRFDA

And here is Argentina’s.

Nope – NOT USING MADONNA’S!