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Bomani Jones: The Daily Wire Really Wants Brett Favre To Sue Me

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Bomani Jones: The Daily Wire Really Wants Brett Favre To Sue Me

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is moving forward with defamation lawsuits against Shannon Sharpe and Pat McAfee for claims made about the Packers legend’s involvement in a money misappropriation scandal.

Favre’s attorney Eric Herschmann appeared on the Daily Wire podcast Crain and Company where he talked about the lawsuit. The appearance caught the attention of ESPN host Bomani Jones, because there was a suggestion by one of the hosts that Jones should be named in the suit as well. Back in January, Jones dedicated an entire episode of his HBO series Game Theory to Favre where the scandal was discussed.

Over on The Right Time, Bomani thought it was ridiculous to suggest such a thing.

“I’ve had things to say but I ain’t really had a lot because there’s not much to say,” Jones said. “But number two, let me tell you something about HBO, dawg. They got lawyers, bruh. We had to run that script by so many people. Because we were not going to let this very thing happen.”

Jones was fired up about it, adding that there was literally nothing in the show that could be construed as defamation.

“Why do y’all want them to sue me?!? Like I just can’t believe how stupid you motherf—ers are,” Jones said. “Like you think you can just get sued for saying something? Saying something, that’s it?! And why would you say it out loud? That’s all I’m saying!”

Bomani continued with the fact that networks like HBO have standards and practices departments who were able to chime in when appropriate in terms of what was said in any packages or scripts on the show.

“It’s because in every meeting when somebody put something in the script or even said ‘Brett Favre stole from poor people,’ we have somebody to pop up and say, ‘Well actually Brett Favre gave the money back and has not been charged with any crime,'” Jones said. “Therefore you cannot say Brett Favre stole.”

Astros, Rockets Want Control of AT&T Sportsnet Southwest

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Astros, Rockets Want Control of AT&T Sportsnet Southwest

The Houston Astros and Houston Rockets are looking to take ownership of their local broadcast rights as their regional sports network prepares to go away.

Warner Bros. Discovery is getting out of the RSN business and told teams that have local TV rights with the company’s AT&T Sportsnet RSNs that they have until the end of March to take back the rights.

According to Sports Business Journal, the Astros and Rockets have a particular interest in taking control because of the remaining carriage deals in place with TV providers Comcast, DirecTV and U-Verse. Those contracts are believed to have 10 years or so left on them.

The decision by Warner Bros. Discovery to liquidate its RSNs comes as the Astros prepare to begin a new season. MLB has established a local media department that would work with teams to make sure regular season games get aired in the event a deal with an RSN goes south.

MASN, Nationals Head Back To Court Over Unpaid Rights Fees

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MASN, Nationals Head Back To Court Over Unpaid Rights Fees

The next chapter in the saga involving the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals and regional sports network MASN played out in an appeals court in New York on Tuesday with $100 million in media rights fees in escrow up in the air.

The arguments heard in New York’s Court of Appeals stem from arbitration over rights fees paid to the Nationals by MASN from 2012-16. The Orioles and Nationals co-own the network, but Baltimore are majority owners.

The Orioles have appealed a 2019 ruling by an arbitration panel of three MLB executives. The team wants the appeals court to determine whether the forum of arbitration used has been unfair. If the court finds that it was unfair, the Orioles are seeking another round of arbitration using a different, unbiased forum.

A ruling from the court is expected sometime next month. If the court finds in favor of the Orioles, the dispute will go back to arbitration. If the Nationals win, Baltimore could try to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the case is likely to be heard. If the panel of judges splits, the dispute will be reheard.

Diamond Sports Group Files For Bankruptcy

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Diamond Sports Group Files For Bankruptcy

After months of speculation, Diamond Sports Group, owner and operator of the Bally Sports regional sports networks, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The news of the company’s bankruptcy filings broke on Tuesday night. Diamond Sports had 30 days after it missed a scheduled debt payment to enter bankruptcy protection. The company currently owes more than $8 billion in debt.

Diamond Sports Group will go through a restructuring and eventually become a standalone company.

“With the support of our creditors, we expect to execute a prompt and efficient reorganization and to emerge from the restructuring process as a stronger company,” Diamond Sports CEO David Preschlack wrote in a statement.

It’s believed that Bally Sports will carry on with normal operations while the bankruptcy process plays out. If Diamond Sports misses a rights fee payment to one of the 14 MLB teams it has contracts with, the team would be free to break the deal.

MLB is preparing for any fallout that could result in local markets losing their RSN. At the start of March, the league announced it had established a new local media department, which would work with the teams to make sure games are aired both through MLB.TV and a cable channel to be determined.

Diamond Sports will inevitably cut ties with a few teams, as the company looks to ramp up its Bally Sports+ service to help build a sustainable business. The idea is that the platform would become a one-stop shop for streaming live games, buying tickets and merchandise and placing bets on games.

Mike Florio: Michael Irvin Dropping Lawsuit Only Raises More Questions

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Lawyers for Michael Irvin dropped the Pro Football Hall of Famer’s lawsuit against Marriott Tuesday morning after receiving the security camera footage of his interaction with an Arizona hotel employee that led to him being removed from NFL Network’s Super Bowl coverage.

After the announcement, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio claimed the decision to dismiss the lawsuit — without prejudice, meaning Irvin’s team can re-file a lawsuit — only brings up more questions.

“Marriott dug in its heels and refused to give it up, and ultimately pissed off the judge by defying his order as to the terms of disclosing the video — anytime someone acts like they have something to hide, it makes me think they have something to hide,” Florio told 105.3 The Fan’s Shan & RJ.

“Ultimately, it just raises more questions. How many different times was this version told? How many different versions were told? What was told to the NFL? I perked up and I think Shan I texted you about this when I saw that Marriott claimed the NFL actually got involved and interviewed the employee directly and saw the video before making the decision to remove Michael Irvin from the airwaves.

“There’s a hell of a story to be told here, and there’s a lot that deserves to be tested by cross-examination and scrutiny. We know what Marriott claims, but just the fact that they were so resistant and reluctant to put any cards on the table makes me wonder how strong the story is going to be. And I also wonder how far up the ladder this goes in the NFL, and if the NFL is going to be in the jackpot over all this.”

It is not the first time Florio has insinuated the NFL and NFL Network could be liable should Irvin want to turn his attention in that direction. Last week, the Pro Football Talk founder said it was clear someone — whether it be within the league office or at Marriott — overreacted, adding that he believed Marriott’s long tenure as an NFL sponsor played into the league’s quick response.

Ken Carman: If I Didn’t Have Anthony Lima, I’d Get Fired For Being Too Negative

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Ken Carman: If I Didn’t Have Anthony Lima, I’d Get Fired For Being Too Negative

Earlier this week, ESPN Syracuse host Brent Axe was fired after company executives believed he was “too negative” about Syracuse sports. 92.3 The Fan morning host Ken Carman shared he would end up in the same situation if it wasn’t for his co-host Anthony Lima.

While discussing Axe’s firing, Carman pointed out that the Cleveland Browns have only been good for one season since he’s began hosting in the city in 2011, and he has had his fair share of negative comments about one of the NFL’s worst teams over that time period.

“There’s been times I’ve gotten pretty negative about the Browns,” Carman said. “If I didn’t have Lima with me to reign me in, I can’t imagine some of the opinions I’d have. I need someone to give me a dose of reality. I’m serious about this. There needs to be some checks and balances.

“I remember some of the things I said at night, and I wanted them to do well, I would talk myself into horrific ideas. I remember some of those things — because Facebook will remind me — and I think ‘My god in heaven’, so when I have Lima there to go ‘Ken, come on’, and give me points A, B, C, and D, then that will kind of change that belief.”

Carman then pointed out that while the Browns have been one of the NFL’s worst teams during his tenure, neither he nor Lima have received backlash for any of their sentiments about the franchise.

“I’ve never been — and you’ve never been — marched into an office over an opinion you’ve shared about the Cleveland Browns. And we’ve had a lot of fun at the Browns’ expense. And there’s never been a time, not once. I’ll say that into a polygraph.”

Carman continued by saying Lima’s dose of “realism” has kept him grounded after frustrations have abounded with the Browns.

Ad Time For NCAA Women’s Tournament Sold Out on ESPN

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Ad Time For NCAA Women’s Tournament Sold Out on ESPN

The popularity of women’s sports is on the rise by any meaningful measurement. The latest comes in terms of dollars and sense. ESPN reports that its ad inventory for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament is sold out.

Disney’s VP of Advertising Sports Brand Solutions, Theresa Palmieri, said that advertisers have “flocked to these offerings.”

Sponsors have not only bought every available in-game ad. They have also bought out the inventory on pre and postgame broadcasts. Capitol One will be the presenting sponsor of those. AT&T has signed on as presenting sponsor of megacast coverage of the Women’s Final Four featuring former UConn teammates Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.

ESPN joins CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery in the accomplishment. Inventory across both the men’s and women’s tournaments are completely sold out.

This couldn’t come at a better time for the NCAA. The organization has a deal with ESPN for all of its championships, aside from men’s basketball, that runs through 2024. The current contract is worth $34 million, but a report last year suggested that the women’s tournament could be worth as much as $112 million on its own.

Mike Felger: NFL Insiders Don’t Realize You Can’t Win ‘Em All

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Yesterday, former ESPN host Trey Wingo set the sports world ablaze with a tweet that a deal between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets to send future Hall of Famer QB Aaron Rodgers to the Big Apple was “done”. That was refuted by others, and Mike Felger of 98.5 The Sports Hub lamented the coverage provided by NFL Insiders.

Minutes after Wingo’s tweet, Felger & Mazz broke into their discussion with the report that Rodgers had been traded.

“We’ve got ESPN and NFL Network up on the monitors, and no one is picking it up,” Felger said.

Then a producer mentioned the reason NFL Network wasn’t running with the story was because the network’s Ian Rapoport had already refuted the claim.

“You don’t get every story. Just because you don’t have it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” Felger said. “I experienced that for years with The Globe. If The Globe didn’t have the story, it wasn’t a story. Trey Wingo has it and no one else has it, that means it’s not happening?”

After playing a clip of NFL Network disregarding the tweet saying they had to “try to make sense of random tweets without context, Felger said “They’re dumping on the tweet. Hey, a-holes, you don’t have the story. It’s ok. Just get to it.”

The show continued to air the clip, which caused Felger to say “I stand with Wingo. #IStandWithWingo” at the conclusion.

“Teams play games — or agents do — in this sort of thing. They string people along,” co-host Tony Massarotti said.

Felger turned his attention back toward Rapoport.

“(Wingo’s) got something. Let it go. In this particular case, you suck,” Felger said. “You can’t win ’em all.”

Boomer Esiason: Jets Fans in The Media ‘Are All In Concert’ on Negativity

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Rich Eisen has never hidden the fact that he is a fan of the New York Jets. The Brooklyn native may be an employee of the NFL, but he still has a favorite team.

That fact is not lost on Boomer & Gio. On Tuesday, the WFAN morning duo enjoyed some audio from the Monday edition of The Rich Eisen Show.

“If it doesn’t happen, if the dream doesn’t come true for New York fans, Ryan Tannehill?” one of Eisen’s producers asked, to which the host responded with a gasp and “Oh gosh!”

Gregg Giannotti was a little shocked by Eisen’s bluntness.

“You do represent the league in a way, right?” He asked. “I know he’s a diehard Jets fan, but he made it seem like ‘oof!’”.

Boomer Esiason said that Eisen is not alone. He pointed to ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, who is also a Jets fan. The former Jets’ quarterback said that there is a theme to the way these guys talk about their favorite NFL franchise. Even when on a national stage, the Jets make them sound like New York sports radio hosts.

“They all carry that same negative tone that Joe [Beningo] has here, that Evan [Roberts] has,” Esiason said. “It’s amazing how they are all in concert with one another.”

Bussin’ With the Boys To Visit 6 Colleges On Spring Tour

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Bussin’ With the Boys To Visit 6 Colleges On Spring Tour

Taylor Lewan and Will Compton are hitting the road. The duo is taking Bussin’ With the Boys across America this spring with a tour of college campuses.

Six schools will get a visit from the popular Barstool Sports podcast. The first stop is the University of South Carolina. The duo will be in Columbia on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. From there, it will be a two-day stop at a different campus each of the next four weeks with a special tour finale. The full schedule is as follows:

  • University of Texas (March 22 & 23)
  • The Ohio State University (March 30 & 31)
  • Louisiana State University (April 5 & 6)
  • University of Colorado (April 12 & 13)
  • Arizona State University (April 15)

The Bussin’ With the Boys spring tour ends at Arizona State’s spring football game. Lewan and Compton will face off as coaches of opposing teams in the scrimmage.

“One of the coolest things that we’ve been able to do since launching Bussin’ on Barstool is interacting directly with our fans, which is why we can’t wait to hit the road to meet with our fans in person,” Will Compton and Taylor Lewan said in a press release. “It’s going to be a blast to visit some of the premier campuses in college football, and do what we do, which is talk football, and life.”

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