In the ninth episode of Foul Play-by-Play, we debut a new segment called “Opening Arguments,” featuring brothers Bradley Haase and Michael Haase, with journalist Anthony Varriano serving as judge and jury. If you’ve been in a courtroom like we three, you know how this works. The prosecuting attorney explains to the jury why the defendant is guilty and how the prosecution will prove it. Then the defendant’s attorney explains to the jury why his client is innocent and how the defense will prove it. We just do it with sports arguments.
Since our attorney, Michael, has a considerable advantage in this game, Brad, our gambling expert, gets home court advantage, meaning he gets to pick the side he wants to argue once more than his brother gets to pick his argument.
New York Mets Prospects v. Tim Tebow
Michael argues on behalf of the New York Mets prospects suing Tim Tebow for one of the 75 Spring Training roster spots Tebow will fill in 2021, despite hitting .151 in 34 spring games. Bradley defends Tim Tebow.
The NBA v. LeBron James and Floppers
Michael argues on behalf of the NBA’s actions to warn LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma for flopping, becoming just the sixth and seventh players to be reprimanded with warnings by the league this season. Bradley argues on behalf of flopping and NBA floppers.
The People v. Chris Doyle
Michael argues on behalf of the people against Chris Doyle, who was hired by Urban Meyer to be the director of strength performance with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and immediately resigned due to backlash. Bradley defends Chris Doyle’s right to work. Doyle allegedly bullied Black players and sent 13 to the hospital as a result of a workout he ran at Iowa…before losing his job.
DeShaun Watson v. the Houston Texans
Bradley defends DeShaun Watson’s right to be traded and Michael defends the Houston Texans’ organizational incompetence.
MLB v. MLBPA
Bradley defends MLB owners paying half as much in free agent contracts this season as they offered last season. Guaranteed money is down, as are contract lengths. Michael defends the MLB Players’ Association.
Cheats of the Week
Bradley nominates Travis Barker as Cheat of the Week, while Michael nominates the Los Angeles Dodgers for signing Trevor Bauer.
Brad’s Bad Beat/Big Win of the Week
Bradley shares gambling stories of his bad beat and big win of the week.
Historically Foul Player
After the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the 2008 Super Bowl, a Patriots fan named Sean Murphy stole from the jewelers designing the Giants’ championship rings. He actually ended up with quite a few of them meant for rich Giants fans. While the thieves were caught and Murphy is still serving time, there’s a book in the works about Murphy’s life, as well as a documentary. In an ESPN story by Sam Borden, Murphy says the rings didn’t motivate him to do the job, but they’re certainly paying off for him now.
Plead the Fifth Inning: Chad Wheeler’s Domestic Abuse Case
We chat about former Seattle Seahawk lineman Chad Wheeler’s domestic abuse case and whether he can be held responsible for his actions that result from not taking his medication for bipolar disorder, and whether CTE has an impact on bipolar disorder.
