Your “Is That All?” Wednesday Open Thread

NFL tidbits:

• Video has surfaced of Denard Robinson’s car rolling through a stoplight and rolling towards the pond he was found in. You’ll have to go to Deadspin to see it, because it won’t embed.
  • As well, the cops who let him go are facing internal investigation for showing favortism.
• Lighting the rivalry fire early, DeAngelo Williams talks about how glad he is the Patriots are having problems entering training camp. His whole interview at the Pittsburgh Tribune is a good read, and also has some candid reflections on what it means to be a 10-year vet who wants another crack at a Super Bowl.
• Speaking of hype machines, nfl.com predicts the Raiders will win 10 games this year.
• Unofficial Redskins mascot Chief Zee died. Apparently, he was one of the few people Dan Snyder was nice to.
  • Deadspin talks about the time he went to Philly in full regalia. You can guess how that ended.
• Norv Turner apparently likes Laquon Treadwell so much he’s going to bring Michael Irvin’s “Bang-8” routes out of retirement. Because when I think of the 88-Club, I think 8-balls.
• Someone let Doktor Zymm know the NFL is looking for a new Chief Medical Officer.

Finally, in May/June of 2016, the Center for Public Opinion and UMass-Lowell conducted a survey of 1000 American adults on their awareness and attitudes towards sports and concussions. It’s a lot of science, but it comes down to increased societal reticence to let kids under 14 play tackle football. have a read, and then settle in for a bunch of thinkpieces about how America today has become

There are three main findings which are detailed in the supporting documents:

• There is widespread awareness that concussions and post-concussion syndrome are caused by sports and represent a significant public health issue
  Majorities of Americans would favor changes to youth sports; large majorities do not believe that tackle football or heading the ball in soccer are appropriate until they reach high school. This is true among both men and women.
  Professional, college and national sports organizations, by and large, are viewed by the public as having done too little to address the concussion issue in sports.

Speaking of concussions, the only TV entertainment tonight is, once again, the Republican Convention. What a boring event; I was promised a riot – or at least some clashes.

There was finally some protest action, as someone burned a flag. Cops got involved

But the First Amendment was exercised, in a moment I’m sure won’t be brought up at all over the next two days.

Honest-to-God, watching bits & pieces of the convention last night, it seemed like they mentioned Hilary more than Trump, as they tried to whip up the fervour. Mostly, it just looked like Friday prayers in Tehran, with “Send her to jail!” replacing “Death to America!”.

I did enjoy this unhinged press conference, with NH state rep Al Baldasaro  talking openly about shooting Hillary Clinton on grounds of treason. I don’t get why; everyone knows she was born in America.

Nothing helps tone down the negative public image like talking about cigarettes and firing squads.

Here’s tonight’s agenda. Highlights include watching Ted Cruz & Marco Rubio swallow their pride, and finishes with Mike Pence explaining why he decided to accept the final rose.

Tonight’s sports: (National)

• MLB:
  • USA: Giants @ Red Sox – 7:00 (ESPN)
  • CAN: Giants @ Red Sox – 7:00 (TSN)
    • Orioles @ Yankees – 7:00 (Sportsnet)

I don’t know what else to offer. ENTERTAIN YOURSELVES!