Day 588, Part Two

• Ben Simmons has been suspended by the 76ers for tonight's season opener due to a practice incident on Monday -- it is apparent he has lost the rest of the team.
• At least one Power 5 coach now believes March Madness should be abolished and replaced with a tournament just for the major conferences.  ... which would end the NCAA in about five minutes.   March Madness is all that keeps the enabling anachronism together.   
• Gonzaga head coach Mark Few has pled guilty to misdemeanor DUI in Montana and must pay a $1,000 fine -- he has also been suspended by the school for at least their season opener...  ... and the conference (since I won't hope the NCAA does the right thing) should make it far longer than that.  Especially because he lied to a police officer about drinking before blowing .11 or .12.   
• Kenbrell Thompkins is going to prison for identity theft to commit COVID unemployment insurance fraud -- cup of coffee with at least three NFL teams...  *sigh*   
• Nick Rolovich is suing Washington State for being fired for refusing the COVID vaccine.  Shut up, fucker...    
• DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFLPA, in continuing to demand the release of the Washington Football Team e-mails, calls the NFL a "feudal oligarch system".  Add one or two more words and you might be right -- slavery and White come to mind...   
• Tom Brady has a sense of humor, congratulating continuing Bears "owner/shareholder" Aaron Rodgers.
• The University of Rhode Island is investigating an unnamed student for a racist Instagram screed against Dolphins player Emmanuel Ogbah.
• According to sources, a roboump tryout in the minor leagues for balls and strikes has been a "disaster", to use Yardbarker's terminology.
• Some thought the Miami Dolphins might make the mistake and trade for DeShaun Watson.  If so, that's gotta tell you something about the NFL prospects for Tua Taglialova.