Day 782

• Brittany Griner has finally been declared as illegally detained by the US State Dept.  Gee, took ya long enough.  Now, do we have guarantee Putin has not already executed her?    
• Took one night, we already have an NHL Playoff suspension:  Toronto's Kyle Clifford sits Game 2 against Tampa for an illegal boarding hit.
• Quirk of the standings:  Not only is Arizona in last place in the NL West, they're already 4 1/2 games out.
• However, in any other division, Arizona's 11-13 record...

1. AL East:  4th, 6 1/2 from the Yankees.
2. AL Central:  Tied for 2nd, 3 1/2 from the Twins
3. AL West:  4th, 4 from the Angels
4. NL East:  4th, 4 1/2 from the Mets
5. NL Central:  3rd, 4 1/2 from the Brewers 

• On the first Tuesday of May, with most teams now playing about a month of games, there are 15 teams above .500 -- with nine at least five over and two more four over.
• The NFL is preparing to absolve itself and the Browns franchise from tanking for 0-16, but Sports Illustrated has documents which may raise serious questions on the situation.  The NFL is so trying to close ranks on it, they've offered arbitration on the Flores lawsuit, with the Ginger Executioner Roger Goodell at it's helm.  Flores has said, "Nice try."  This is getting it's own post.  
• An in-person PAX East "Enforcer" -- an operations person during the convention, has died of COVID she caught during the convention April 21-24.  She passed away over the next weekend.  If anyone wants more and more evidence that I believe The Republican Plague has killed at least 5,000,000 Americans and probably more, here you go.  THERE IS NO WAY, even 26 1/2 months through, we should be holding events such as PAX East and the like.    
• And yes, if you want to whine that question to me, I do believe there's a real question as to whether we ever should again!!!    
• The athletic director of Ohio State wants the NCAA out of college football completely -- let the CFP run it instead. 
• We may have our first intentional attempt to shape the NBA champion.  Gary Payton II of the Warriors has a broken elbow at the hands of Memphis' Dillon Brooks with a flagrant shove in the back.
• Not the only incident during the game.  Draymond Green of the Warriors had to get stitches over his eye on the next play -- and, as he departed the floor, shot Le Fingers du Middle at the Memphis crowd.
• People better get real:  Intentional injury IS an acceptable tactic to shape a championship run -- whether it is for your team to win or to ensure the other team does not.  Cleveland lost a run in one of the most flagrant examples.  I believe the Dodgers lost one to an intentional injury last year in Game 162.