data-mm-id=”_iaw4sjply”>Alex Cora is speaking out months after being suspended for a year due to his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. The general narrative about the scandal is that Cora and Carlos Beltran came up with and ran the operation. While Cora accepted blame for his actions during an interview with ESPN, he refutes that version of events. Cora was the Astros' bench coach in 2017 when the scandal occurred and Beltran was a designated hitter in the final year of his major league career. Obviously, both men were instrumental in Houston's run to a World Series title that season. Here's what Cora had to say about the prevailing narrative:””There has been a narrative out there of what happened. Ever since mid-November until the commissioner announced the results of the Red Sox investigation, I have read many things that are true and many others that are not. Out of this whole process, if there is one thing that I completely reject and disagree with is people within the Astros’ organization singling me out, particularly (former general manager) Jeff Luhnow, as if I were the sole mastermind. The commissioner’s report sort of explained, in its own way, what happened. But the (Astros players) have spoken up and refuted any allegations that I was solely responsible.””Cora continued:””If there is one thing I am absolutely sure of, it is that it was not a two-man show. We all did it. And let me be very clear that I am not denying my responsibility, because we were all responsible.””The Boston Red Sox fired Cora as their manager in January after news of the scandal leaked. He had led them to a World Series title in 2018, a year after helping the Astros cheat their way to a championship. I think it's fair to say Cora and Beltran couldn't have set thing up and run it alone. And even if it was their idea, the players who participated are just as culpable. Everyone knew it was wrong and everyone went along with it in some way or another. Pinning the blame on two guys is foolish and a way to deflect from the others involved.
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data-mm-id=”_t2eu567kc”>Indiana and head coach Archie Miller made a pretty big statement Tuesday night during the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Despite missing their presumed starting point guard, the Hoosiers hammered No. 17 Florida State in Bloomington. The win proved that Indiana's 7-0 start wasn't a fluke and that Indiana might have something special cooking this season. Oh, and they probably don't want to hear any more questions about their first seven opponents.The Hoosiers beat a good Seminoles team 80-64 at Assembly Hall and got a stellar performance from senior guard Devonte Green. Green, a captain, poured in 30 points, added 6 rebounds and 3 assists and was a plus-24 on the night. It was the best game he has turned in since he arrived in Bloomington. He was shooting t…
data-mm-id=”_7wxwj61u0″>The XFL ratings dipped again in Week 4. Los Angeles at New York averaged 1.9 viewers Saturday on ABC, per ProFootballTalk. The late-day FOX matchup between Seattle and St. Louis drew 1.8 million viewers. Houston-Dallas aired to 1.1 million on FS1 Sunday, which was followed by a 1 million average from the ESPN2 viewing of D.C. and Tampa Bay.Three of the four games declined from the previous week. FS1 drew slightly below 1.1 million in Week 3.The continuous week-by-week decline is still not alarming. As we've been saying, it was expected. The key now will be how much further the viewership goes south. The XFL still has some wiggle room where the numbers can drop while remaining viable. Four weeks in, the viewership for the XFL is on par with the NBA'…
data-mm-id=”_qmcuh8i01″>UPDATE: The leaks (below) were accurate. Here are the Rams new uniforms. Here are the #Rams new uniforms, finally raveled.pic.twitter.com/3PofxBuHx0— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 13, 2020The Rams' new jerseys are being released today. At least that's what Jared Goff indicated on Twitch yesterday. Jared Goff revealed when the Rams’ new uniforms will be released while on Alex Bregman’s Twitch stream READ: https://t.co/wsp1l2k3X4 pic.twitter.com/OeXnZd34E4— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) May 12, 2020You can hear him say tomorrow and then try to backtrack quickly and say this week. But let's assume, for the point of this exercise, that he was being honest and they will be released today. Of course, we're an impatient species and can&#…
data-mm-id=”_4a6v6hok2″>Giannis Antetokounmpo will contractually be at a crossroads after next season but it may be in Milwaukee's best interest to expedite the breakup sooner if it feels inevitable. The Greek Freak could help the franchise get a significant haul as opposed to nothing for the current MVP if he decides his long-term future isn't on shores of Lake Michigan and is honest about it. That is to say: the big, NBA-bending event may not take place for months but that doesn't mean there aren't precipitating events happening furiously right now that will dictate what the ultimate shape of his career looks like. So travel with me a bit down a hypothetical road in which tonight could serve as the defining moment in Antetokounmpo's future home. Down 3-0 to t…
data-mm-id=”_a87asi5dv”>It was more of the same from the Los Angeles Chargers last night. They blew their second consecutive 17-point lead, which is only the fifth time that's happened in NFL history. They also extended their record to 3-13 in one-score games since the start of the 2019 season, which also has to be some sort of record. As if Nostradamus was creating their graphic packages ahead of the game, ESPN broadcast a video showcasing the Chargers' futility in winning close games during the Monday night telecast. It featured an animated Joey Bosa and Keenan Allen trying to jump up and grab a W in the Chargers locker room. Unfortunately for them, just as in real life, the W eludes their grasp. It made me laugh. It also made ESPN play-by-play man Steve Levy laugh. Maybe y…
data-mm-id=”_818iz7pxk”>Taylor Heinicke has signed a 2-year extension with the Washington Football Team reportedly worth $8.75 million. As far as middling quarterbacks with no real resume who are not on a rookie deal, it's not an outrageous number, but still, Heinicke was on the bench in the XFL a year ago today. So how did this happen?The Washington Football Team has agreed to terms on a 2-year extension for QB Taylor Heinicke, sources say, worth $8.75M. There are also incentives depending on how many games he starts. Real security for their resilient QB who started and impressed in the playoff game.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2021Ian Rapoport says that Heinicke "impressed" in a playoff game, but did he really? Or were we all just blinded by the desire to …
data-mm-id=”_cbdxx1onn”>We've got just a couple of weeks left of NFL action, there are several fantastic sportsbook promos available for Ohio users that you're running out of time to claim. After only a few minutes, you'll secure $400 in bonus bets GUARANTEED in addition to up to $1,500 in bet credits! There's still time to become a BIG winner, but you need to act quickly. See below a ranking of each excellent offer and how to claim each.1. FanDuel Ohio Promo CodeIf you sign up for FanDuel and bet $5 or more on any NFL Conference Championship game, you'll win $200 in bonus bets GUARANTEED even if you lose! How's that to start off our rankings?All you need to do is follow these steps to get your $200:Sign up for FanDuel with this link (no promo code requi…
data-mm-id=”_xvvlsts5x”>Yesterday's massive news that Dave Portnoy had bought Barstool Sports back from Penn Gaming after ESPN came calling is one of the rare win-win-win situations in sports media. The deal worked out for everyone in a way and Portnoy's payoff will come more immediately as he's now regained the wheel of what was once a true pirate ship. There's a new boss in town and he's a lot like one of the old bosses because he is one of the old bosses. And the vibe has changed a bit in the direction of Barstool's old-school ways. Look no further than a blog posted shortly after 10 a.m. by the self-proclaimed El Presidente himself calling his employees "brain dead," which came on the heels of Portnoy waiting for two hours at the New York off…
data-mm-id=”_wpff7epza”>There's been a spate of pieces decrying Major League Baseball's playoff format because the 100-win teams have been on the struggle bus. And of course there are because a few years ago sports media became hopelessly addicted to fixing things that are broken or otherwise. That toothpaste is out of the tube and will never be shoved back in. Some are even going so far to say that the No. 1-seed in each league is at a decided disadvantage because they have a layoff to get rusty as the six others in their bracket stare down potential elimination. There may be a shred of truth there, yet given the option of having a bye or needing an additional round, sanity dictates taking the earned advancement every single time. In the interest of fairness and concession, …
data-mm-id=”_rwd39ykzx”>It wasn't easy. It wasn't always pretty. And it may not have been all that impressive. But the Kansas City Chiefs are AFC West champions for a ridiculous eighth straight year. They'll host a Wild Card game and then probably have to play at least one game on the road if they'd like to return to the Super Bowl. It doesn't feel like a vintage KC side and no one would be shocked if they bowed out with an early postseason exit. On the other hand … Patrick Mahomes. How are you going to doubt Patrick Mahomes? How are you ever going to be comfortable knowing a quarterback of his caliber is capable of transcending all dimensions and winning the whole damn thing if he'd like?The answer? Just be Stugotz. Because on today's Le Batard Sho…