Day 882

• Major League Baseball did it for Jackie Robinson.  The NHL did so for Gretzky.  I don't think anyone has done it in the NFL.  But today, Bill Russell's #6 has been retired league-wide by the NBA.
• Chris Flores, a prominent California athletic trainer with current ties to the NFL and college football, was arrested today in Bakersfield -- you guessed it, sexually fucking with a minor girl.  And given his ties to NFLers (not accusing them, but they range from JuJu Schuster-Smith to Michael Vick), can ANYONE be surprised?  
• This is probably going to break into a mega-story -- he's part of an outfit which basically ties into at least 100 students in a middle school which allows classes in the morning, athletic training in the afternoon.  Hoo boy, this is sounding Second Mile.
• A woman who accused Trevor Bauer of sexual assault and got sued for it for defamation -- has countersued.
• There is a report that DeShaun Watson might accept a half-season suspension. If I'm Goodell, I refuse and go for the life ban -- a year, and he has to reapply.  This gives time to get more victims time to file and report.   
• It appears one of the things sparking the Big Ten leaving ABC/ESPN is that the Big Ten wanted an NFL style schedule on Saturdays.  That meaning three windows of games, with as many prominent matchups as the new conference can provide, one each on NBC, CBS, and FOX.  This isn't as unreasonable, especially in a two major-conference setup, as one might think at first!   
• SI Sportsbook reports that the Yankees and Dodgers, not surprisingly, are now joint favorites to win the World Series at 7-2.
• The Dodgers are on an absurd run:  10 in a row, 13 of 14, 17-4 since the break, 30-5 since July 1, 77-33 for the season, 16 up with 52 to play.  That's on pace for 113 wins, just short of the record.
• But let's remember the two teams that achieved that record, and how long did those teams last in the playoffs?  (Anonymous baseball-fan friend notes a second team also got 116 wins as the Mariners (1906 Cubs), and that team lost their first (in their case, only) series!  The Mariners lost the ALCS to the Yankees, four games to one.) 
• Kurt Busch may be done, Dale Earnhardt Jr. style.  Concussion symptoms persist -- he's out at least a third race this weekend.
• The Premier of the Australian state of Victoria said that Australia, Olivia Newton-John's longtime homeland, "needs" a state funeral in the deceased legend's honor.  And, although her family will place her body to rest at her California ranch where she passed, they have accepted his request to have one.  Premier Daniel Andrews says it will be more of a concert than a funeral.
• Many worldwide monuments have been lit up in pink of honor of Olivia since her passing on Monday.
• Details of the Australian state funeral/concert are to be announced.
• And it appears we have MORE secret payments from Vince McMahon...  
• Another $5,000,000 -- not hush money to further sexual harassment/assault targets.
• According to people who have viewed IRS records -- these are Vince...  to the Trump Foundation.  Aiding and abetting in Trump's tax evasion schemes...