First Call: ESPN spruces up Myles Garrett again; Stephen A. Smith rips Antonio Brown; 100-game MLB season?

Friday’s “First Call” illustrates ESPN’s unending desire to shine up Myles Garrett. Stephen A. Smith lowers the boom on Mr. Business is Boomin’. Check out Tom Brady’s new place in Tampa. We may have a 100-game Major League Baseball season. And O.J. Simpson gives us his review of “Tiger King.”

Juice’s review is almost as mind-bending as the show itself.

Smile pretty for the camera, Myles!

In these troubled times, I hope you all find someone that cares for you as much as ESPN cares for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

He’s the guy who ripped the helmet off of Mason Rudolph and swung it at his head during a game last November.

That resulted in a suspension lasting the rest of the season. During his appeal, Garrett accused Rudolph of using a racial slur.

Garrett was reinstated in February, and during an ESPN “Outside the Lines” interview, he reiterated his claim against Rudolph with no evidence to back his accusation.

That was good enough for “Outside the Lines,” who ran Garrett’s side of the story unchallenged and essentially supported his claim against Rudolph.

It was so blatantly one-sided that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was “hacked off” enough to lash out against the network’s presentation.

But ESPN is back for more. Marty Smith had a three-minute video interview with Garrett where Tomlin’s defense of Rudolph wasn’t even mentioned.

Or, if it was, it didn’t make this portion of the release, for some reason.

Watch it. It’s not so much an interview as it is a public relations appearance.

If only we scrubbed our hands as much as ESPN is scrubbing Garrett’s reputation. If we had, this whole pandemic never would’ve happened.

I’m still waiting for an equal-time sit-down with Rudolph from the network. And if it has been offered to Rudolph, I hope he takes it eventually. Because this is getting ridiculous.

In the interest of fairness

Let me show ESPN how the concept of equal time works.

I just ripped the network for something I didn’t like, right?

So now let me praise the network for something I think it did well.

Specifically, that was Stephen A. Smith’s commentary on “First Take” about the theory that the Baltimore Ravens may want to take a look at signing former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.

That topic has cropped up because Mr. Big Chest was recently working out with his cousin, Ravens receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson was there, too.

Smith thinks the temptation of bringing A.B. to Maryland is something the Ravens should avoid.

Amen, Stephen A.

See, ESPN. It’s just that easy.

Oh, now it feels real

Yup. Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is really going to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

Sure. We knew that before. But now this picture from a radio host in Tampa appears to drive home the point.

He’s here! #Brady Tom Brady has arrived in Tampa. We confirmed earlier today on the #JPShow Brady was RENTING Derek Jeter’s mansion on Davis Islands. This is allegedly a picture of Tommy in the driveway! After talking with local realtors we’re guessing rent is between 75-100K! pic.twitter.com/s1cl9WWLEZ

— FanStreamSports JP Peterson (@FanStreamJP) April 2, 2020

Others have posted those details about Brady renting Derek Jeter’s mansion, too.

According to Reuters, it is a 30,000-square-foot estate. It features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, entertainment room and a pool with two boat lifts.

Pfft! Just two boat lifts? What a dump!

Oh no, O.J.

If you watched the wildly popular Netflix documentary “Tiger King,” you know that one of the many subplots is about animal park owner Carole Baskin.

Many of the other people on the show suggest that she is guilty of killing her first husband and feeding his body to her tigers.

She was never charged with a crime.

As you may recall, former NFL star O.J. Simpson was accused of a similar crime.

Remember how that turned out?

Well, O.J. couldn’t help himself. He just had to lend his expert opin … uh … I mean … his commentary on the show.

Tiger Sashimi #TigerKing pic.twitter.com/VuQzT3OAvM

— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 1, 2020

Is it possible that Twitter could be broken by too much irony in one post? If so, I’m worried.

Well, Juice, you know what they say, “If the tiger’s bite marks don’t fit, you must acquit.”

An even 100?

According to Matt Spiegel of 670 AM in Chicago, Major League Baseball is considering a 100-game regular season.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting a neutral site World Series.

From a well informed source that does business with multiple MLB execs: The 100 game season being discussed would include eliminating the All Star game in Los Angeles, but would deliver a neutral field warm-weather World Series at Dodger Stadium as compensation. (1/2)

— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) April 1, 2020

The 100 game season being discussed would begin July 1, eventually pick up the post All-Star game schedule, & conclude October 15th. If the Dodgers made the WS, “road games” would take place in Anaheim or San Diego. Obviously, many questions remain, & talks are fluid. (2/2)

— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) April 1, 2020

Not like this would ever happen with the Pirates being as bad as they are, but what if the first Pirates World Series since 1979 would be played in L.A.?! What a kick in the teeth that would be.

Imagine what that is going to be like for the fan bases of the specific cities.

Spiegel also points out that the neutral site idea is just for the World Series. The LCS games would be the usual home-away formats. And they may not end until early November.

If a northern city plays host to any of those … BUNDLE UP!