Latest News
Midweek musings: The Chicago Cubs are set to show the public the team’s plans for its Wrigley Field renovation that includes a large video board. The unveiling is to occur Wednesday (May 1). Can’t wait to see the footage on the big screen from the 1908 World Series that they won (their last). Will settle for highlights from the 1945 World Series that they lost (their last appearance in the Fall Classic).
May 2013 Playboy Playmate Kristen Nicole will be on Thursday’s “Sports & Torts.”
* With the support that Jason Collins has received from the NBA after coming out as the first active gay player on an American men’s sports team, you have to wonder whether every team — or any team — will embrace having a player wear No. 98 (as Collins did in honor of Matthew Shepard, who was tortured and murdered in 1998 for being gay).
* Speaking of Collins, Michael Rosenberg wrote at SI.com: Jason Collins is first, but he won’t be last. Heck, someday we may even argue about whether he was first. The first active American male team-sports athlete to announce he is gay, Collins may be the second or third to actually play in a game. Really? Two or three? He might want to revise that number upward. Something says — actually, some folks who have been around the NBA longer than he or I can say — that number needs to be revised upward.
* Still speaking of Collins, ESPN basketball analyst Stephen Bardo, the former Illinois standout, posted on Facebook: “To Media Members: Stop comparing Jason Collins with Jackie Robinson, it’s highly insulting! I’m happy for Jason. We have come a long way for him to enter into free agency and take that risk. By NO MEANS is this close to what Jackie Robinson did or went through. Jason waited until he felt safe enough to let people know. Jackie Robinson didn’t have the chance to wait or avoid the bigotry, hatred, and racism. Just stop it!” Memo to Stephen Bardo: There are similarities between Collins and Robinson. Which is not to say the situations are identical. But both cases involve civil rights and call for a civil conversation. Minus the exclamation points!
* More Bardo: “Jason Collins wasn’t the first gay BLACK NBA player. He was the first to ADMIT it, big difference. I played with two gay players in the 90’s that many in the NBA knew about and really didn’t care. It was basically can you help us win or not. Didn’t care what they’re orientation was.”
* Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has a 5 percent interest in Goldecents, a horse in the 2013 Kentucky Derby. Something says if the horse wins, Pitino will receive 90 percent of the attention. If not more.
If it’s Wednesday (and the chances of that would seem fairly good because yesterday was Tuesday — provided that you are reading this on May 1, 2013, or a subsequent Wednesday), then that means we are closing in on another edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris.
The 60-minute interview show airs live on Thursdays at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. The guests for the May 2 show are Raymond Berry (Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver with the Baltimore Colts of the Johnny Unitas era; he also coached the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX against the Chicago Bears) and Playboy Playmate Kristen Nicole. Kristen is the May 2013 Playmate.
The editorial staff at elliottharris.com debated for some time whether to feature a football photo or one of Kristen Nicole. After about two seconds of contemplation, the choice was to go with Kristen Nicole.
For those who are unable to tune in for the live program, you can catch “Sports & Torts” on podcast later in the day Thursday (or any time after) at Talkzone.com.
Here is where we go for our daily dose of non-gratuitous video (we like to think of it as a public service):
Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.