Your Non-Futbol Semana de Odio Wednesday Evening Open Thread

Of course, we can have a DFO Futbol Semana de Odio in advance of our World Cup previews in May.

NFL Notes:

• In what reads like a note from a stroked-out Grandpa, Johnny Manziel has started his “Comebackszn”.
  • He will be playing in the new-ish Spring League, which is a thing the NFL & CFL started that runs out of Austin.
    • It has four teams, runs joint practices, and is designed as a developmental league for undrafted or sidelined players. Its season runs from March 28 to April 15.

• Speaking of strokes, someone check on John Elway.
  • The Broncos are looking at signing A.J. McCarron if he becomes an UFA.

• Remember the Jags fans who threw shit at the Seahawks when they were leaving the field? Well, two of them were identified & have been “banned indefinitely” from Jags games.
  • Prior to last season, that wouldn’t even have been considered a punishment.
    • But since they are removing the tarps, it seems like a valid thing to do.

• In what sounds like a component of their new Thursday Night package, FOX will broadcast the opening nights of the NFL Draft.
  • This raises speculation that the NFL might add more bells & whistles to the production.

Finally, a little “Stealing From Crimebeat!” legal coverage:

• the lawsuit against the Giants over fake memorabilia continues apace, with the Giants requesting summary judgement in their favour.
  • The plaintiffs allege the Giants engaged in fraud by purposing non-gameday articles as authentic gameday merchandise, and sold it as such, creating material benefit for them & exposing the purchasers/resellers to liability if the goods were, in fact, found to be frauds
  • The Giants want summary judgement because they allege the plaintiffs haven’t proven a thing despite 18 months of discovery.
• Colin Kaepernick’s lawyers want to depose Papa John in Kaep’s collusion trial against the NFL.
  • It’s a result of the comments he made about ratings hurting his pizza sales, and that he wanted the league to do something about it.
    • Specifically, they want to know if Papa John spoke or worked with Jerry Jones on countering or toning down the player protests immediately after his comments.
  • Kaep is also suing certain agents, who his legal team believes prevented him from receiving valid employment opportunities as a result of not wanting to offend owners who were vehemently against the players’ actions.

Tonight’s sports:

• Olympics:
  • NBCSN
    • 7:00PM – Pairs free skate (long program)
    • 10:00PM – Hockey (Women’s Group A): U.S. vs. Canada
  • NBC | 8:00PM – Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Skeleton, Speed Skating
  • CNBC | 10:00PM | Hockey (Men’s Group C): Finland vs. Germany
  • CBC | 8:00PM – Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing, Skeleton, Speed Skating
  • TSN:
    • 7:45PM –  Women’s Giant Slalom and Men’s Downhill
    • 8:25PM – Pairs free skate (long program)
    • 12:00AM – Men’s Curling Round Robin: Canada vs. Norway
    • 12:00AM – Hockey: Norway vs. Sweden
  • Sportsnet1 | 11:30PM – Men’s Snowboard Cross

• NHL:
  • Blue Jackets at Leafs – 7:00PM | Sportsnet / NHLN
  • Panthers at Canucks – 10:00PM | Sportsnet
• NBA:
  • Clippers at Celtics – 8:00PM | ESPN
  • Raptors at Bulls – 8:00PM | Sportsnet1
  • Warriors at Trail Blazers – 10:30PM | ESPN
• NCAA:
  • Villanova at Providence – 7:00PM | FS1
  • Virginia Tech at Duke – 7:00PM | ESPN2
  • Kentucky at Auburn – 9:00PM | ESPN2
  • Seton Hall at Xavier – 9:00PM | FS1

It’s going to be extra sad once the Olympics are done. They’ve been a welcome distraction from the end of the NFL season. DON’T FORCE ME TO WATCH THE CANUCKS!