Photo credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Photo credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Get used to it.

Let’s hit it!

 

But first, a word from our sponsors:

GirouxShirt

G shirts. Selling like hotcakes. Get one for the stretch run. V shirts in stock, too.

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Free ride. Uber is sponsoring us this month and offering CB readers a FREE ride up to $20. All you have to do is signup and provide some basic information. Great service. Great offer. Great way to support the site.

Lefty. Meet Steve Carlton at the Sports Vault in the Exton Square Mall on Sunday, April 6 from 2 – 3:30. Details and tickets here.

More. Already have all of our shirts? Great! May I recommend checking out what Philly Phaithful has to offer. Here.

Tickets. Great deals on Flyers tickets at Crossing Broad Tickets.

 

The roundup:

One of Jerry Sandusky’s attorneys, Karl Rominger, who was quizzing reporters and out drinking with students during the trial, is, not particularly surprisingly, under investigation for stealing money from a client. About $60,000 is missing. He released an audio statement saying that he has initiated an investigation… of himself. From Penn Live:

“It is with a heavy heart and great humility that I make this statement to the public. Many of you have contacted me to find out what is going on. In short, I initiated investigation against myself and am cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities to see the investigation through. I will do everything in my power to help those that I’ve wronged and to make whole any loss that I’ve created. With that in mind, I just ask that you pray for those I’ve wronged and you pray for my family. When I’m able to give more information, I will. But rest assured, I am cooperating fully and working hard at the moment.”

On Friday, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed had said Rominger was implicated in at least one case of failing to provide funds to clients in a civil case filed in Cumberland County court.

Very interesting article from Mike Sielski, who took some time off from hating the Flyers, about the man responsible for marketing the steaming pile of trash that is the Sixers– Bill Gullan, the president of Finch Brands:

Hired by the Sixers in the offseason, Gullan and his staff conceived of the “Together We Build” campaign that envelops the organization’s corporate and basketball cultures. Gullan’s role in the Sixers’ presumptive rebirth provides an insight into the side of professional sports that’s rarely discussed in corner bars and radio studios.

Remember: A franchise isn’t just what happens on the court or on the field. It’s what happens in its offices, its meetings with sponsors, its community-service projects. After more than a decade of grasping for an identity, with a new ownership group trying to chart a new course, the Sixers needed to redefine themselves in every aspect.

I could not agree more with that second paragraph and that’s the sort of thing I try to do here– cover the off the field stuff and provide some context for what you’re seeing on the field.

To prepare for his role in True Detective, Matthew McConaughey compiled a lengthy document charting the stages of Cohle’s life. And this is why he’ll win an Emmy.

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Vlad Putin looking like a boss during the Paralympics while his country invades Ukraine.

Rashard Mendenhall announced his retirement at age 26 with this excellent article on the Huffington Post explaining his decision. I can’t imagine the NFL is going to be too thrilled about a player retiring in his prime because, basically, the sport has been ruined by corporate greed:

What was more difficult for me to grasp was the way that the business of entertainment had really shifted the game and the sport of football in the NFL. The culture of football now is very different from the one I grew up with. When I came up, teammates fought together for wins and got respect for the fight. The player who gave the ball to the referee after a touchdown was commended; the one who played through injury was tough; the role of the blocking tight end was acknowledged; running backs who picked up blitzing linebackers showed heart; and the story of the game was told through the tape, and not the stats alone. That was my model of football.

Today, game-day cameras follow the most popular players on teams; guys who dance after touchdowns are extolled on Dancing With the Starters; games are analyzed and brought to fans without any use of coaches tape; practice non-participants are reported throughout the week for predicted fantasy value; and success and failure for skill players is measured solely in stats and fantasy points. This is a very different model of football than the one I grew up with. My older brother coaches football at the high-school and youth level. One day he called me and said, “These kids don’t want to work hard. All they wanna do is look cool, celebrate after plays, and get more followers on Instagram!” I told him that they might actually have it figured out.

Scathing critique.

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Kevin Grow is probably the best basketball player in the city right now, yes?

Comcast has donated to almost every member of congress who has a hand in regulating Time Warner decision. Derp derp derp.

Ridiculous Comcast customer service calls.

A skydiver collided with a plane.

Andrew Bynum may play Friday night in Philadelphia against the Sixers. WHO’S GOT ROCKS?! [I’m kidding. Don’t throw rocks at NBA players… throw them at their cars.]

A 23-year-old allegedly beat by Harrah’s security guard in AC.

Bear stuck on a tight rope, via Deadspin:

http://youtu.be/wIIRvdOOgNE

ESPN hires Britt McHenry. Here’s a photo gallery.

Tony Romo is a Duke fan just in case you didn’t hate him enough already.

 

Podcasts

Crossing Streams. Yes, I know we haven’t had a new episode in two weeks. They’re coming. Listen or downloadSubscribe with iTunesListen with Stitcher. All are mobile-friendly links.

On Cord Snipped, Dan and I discuss what Comcast’s takeover of Time Warner means for your cord-cutting. Listen or downloadSubscribe with iTunesOr listen with Stitcher. All are mobile-friendly links.