Back at work today. Mid-week sick days just make things awkward. It’s like getting a second Monday but with two-days worth of workload.

NFL Notes:

• Tom Cable has withdrawn from consideration for the Niners head coaching job, so it’s all but assured that Kyle Shanahan is the man expected to be fired after the 2017 season.
  • Considering Cable couldn’t turn water into nonfat macchiato in Seattle with the front line, it makes sense.
  • No word yet on a GM to accompany Shanahan down that yellow brick road to Jed’s place.

• Trying to change tack after a recording outed him as a speaker of bad words, future President Mike Tomlin again raised the issue of the ‘faulty’ visitors communications system at Gillette Stadium.

  

  • Meanwhile, Julian Edelman referenced the comments on WEEI, saying “that’s how that team (the Steelers) is run.”
    • Probably getting him in trouble with Grumblelord, who prefers his players say & do nothing, because PATRIOTS WAY!
      • He’s cool with Tommy though, as SI talks about the “everlasting circle of brotherhood” of men blessed enough to have caught his balls over the years.

• People seem upset that Deshaun Watson doesn’t want to go to the Senior Bowl. Why should he?
  • He didn’t skip a Bowl game day-of; he played & won.
    • Jabrill Peppers is someone who needs an excuse.
    • He defeated Satan Saban in a game for the ages.
  • He still has to go through the Combine.
  • The coaching staffs of the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns will coach this year’s Senior Bowl squads.

Finally, The Slants had their Supreme Court hearing today in their trademark law case surrounding their name. The hearing before the justices is to have them consider whether a law barring disparaging trademarks violates the band’s free-speech rights. They were denied trademark protection under a section of the 1946 “Lanham Act”, a federal law that bars registration of trademarks that “disparage” or “bring into contempt or disrepute” persons, institutions, beliefs or national symbols.

• Arguments made in their favour involve successfully trademarked acts like NWA & Uncle Kracker, Afro Saxons & Dago Swagg clothing, Baked By A Negro bakery products, and Retardipedia & Celebretards entertainment services.
  • The government is relying on a 2015 ruling in which the Supreme Court said the state of Texas could ban specialty license plates bearing the Confederate battle flag.
• It matters to DFO because the case has been tied into the Washington [*Redacted] s and their inability to trademark their name based on the same statutes.
  • The [*Redacted] s were denied the ability to join the case, and would have to make separate application to have their trademark approved should The Slants win.
    • A Virginia federal appeals court has put the [*Redacted] s case on hold pending the outcome of The Slants case.

Here’s a video; I liked it because it made fun of people.

Not my cup of tea, but they have an appeal. A decision is expected in June.

Kimmel had a bit last night where he had Marmalard & Joey Bosa on to pledge their allegiance to Los Angeles.

I guess there was some ceremony today in Inglewood to officially launch the Chargers as an LA operation. If there’s any justice, Dean Spanos’ car was liberated during the ceremony by those kooky 111th Street Crips.

Tonight’s sports:

• NHL:
  • Penguins at Habs – 7:30PM | Sportsnet
  • Coyotes at Jets – 7:30PM | Sportsnet360
  • Bruins at Red Wings – 8:00PM | NBCSN
  • Panthers at Oilers – 9:30PM | Sportsnet
  • Sharks at Kings – 10:30PM | NBCSN
• NBA:
  • Raptors at 76ers – 7:00 | TSN
  • Bucks at Rockets – 8:00PM | ESPN
  • Thunder at Warriors – 10:30PM | ESPN / TSN4
• NCAA:
  • Oklahoma at West Virginia – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Kansas State at Oklahoma State – 9:00PM | ESPNU
• Australian Open: Second-round play – 9:00PM | ESPN2 / TSN3

WHOOPS I FORGOT EDIT – new “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” tonight – 10:00PM

NOW IT’S A DANCE PARTY!