Day 371

• And now DeShaun Watson has two three lawsuits from masseusses who claim he went too far with them...  You got some 'splainin' to do, DeShaun.   
• Especially because, according to Yardbarker, the lawyer has six more women prepared to come forward to add to the list.
• EDIT TO ADD 6:45 PM PDT:  It's official.  The NFL is now investigating this as a Personal Conduct situation.
• First Four is tonight -- all four games. The 16's face off at Assembly Hall at Indiana University on TruTV.  The 11's face off at Mackey Arena at Purdue University on TBS.  Round One Proper is Friday and Saturday.
• It appears as if this is the group of teams we're stuck with for the tournament.
• And Moses Wright, the ACC Player of the Year from Georgia Tech will be out for at least the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament.  Indications appear that it is COVID, not sure if a positive or contact tracing.
• Tragic news regarding former NBA star Shawn Bradley.  Paralyzed following a January accident where he was riding a bicycle near his home in Utah and was struck by a car.
• Meyers Leonard is done in Miami after his anti-Jewish slur on a gaming stream -- after his suspension, he's been traded to Oklahoma City.
• Over 9100 tests before the NCAA Tournament, only 8 positives in three tiers of personnel.  The bubble appears to be holding, especially if six of them were among the referees' list.  The teams are effectively quarantined to their hotels if not practicing or playing -- but NCAA partners are helping to ensure the teams, etc. are well-fed.
• The Bruins and Sabres might be the next two NHL COVID-19 delay teams.
• The NFL has it's US network TV deals through 2023, which include exclusive games on ESPN+ and that Amazon is taking over Thursday nights completely (with the home markets getting the games on their TV).  Be VERY interested in the money numbers, especially with ratings cratering.   

And here are the numbers:

• Amazon:  $1B a year just for the Thursday night exclusives.
• Viacom/CBS:  $2.1B a year, adds Paramount+ to the list, keeps the AFC games and gets Super Bowls LVII, LXI, and LXV.
• Disney/ABC/ESPN:  $2.7B a year to keep Monday Night Football.  Three games a year will go back to ABC exclusively.  And ESPN/ABC get a Week 17 Saturday doubleheader -- will be interesting to see what games they get for it, though, given playoff implications.  They also get Super Bowls LX and LXIV.  ESPN+ is also part of the deal, and will get one international exclusive game per season.
• FOX:  Keeps the NFC for $2.2B, and Tubi will get that streaming deal.  Super Bowls LVIII, LXII, and LXVI are included.
• And NBC:  $2B for Sunday Night Football and some exclusive games on Peacock, as well as the remaining Super Bowls in the deal:  LIX, LXIII, and LXVII.

Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, who believes the NFL does not rig their games nor pre-determine their champions...  That's TEN BILLION A YEAR...   

• And already one nailbiter in the First Four...
• And today, the rest of the truth comes out:  Even had Duke been selected for the Tournament, they would've been unable to play in it.  Now ten positive tests in the Duke program.
• And make that TWO one-pointers on the First Four night.
• The college basketball Reddit is doing an interesting charity event.  For the fans of the teams who have just completed a game:  The winning team's fans are asked to donate the margin of victory, in dollars, to a food bank of the losing side.  The losing team's fans are also asked to donate to their local food bank.
• GenCon 2021 will be scheduled, now, for September, and incorporate both in-person Indianapolis events and an online portion.  We'll see about that...