Gang, we have a busy weekend in front of us - it's Memorial Day and all - so any early mailbag questions would be excellent.
From the "Talks too much" studios, let's have a "Raising Arizona" Wednesday.
In this Jan. 31, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots Tom Brady (12) throws during the NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game against the Seattle Seahawks Glendale, Ariz. The New England Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers to open the NFL season on Sept. 10. The game will match quarterbacks with six Super Bowl rings and nine Super Bowl appearances: Tom Brady vs. Ben Roethlisberger.(AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)Patriots say no mas
"Would you buy furniture from Unpainted Huffhines?"
Of course not, and that decision making process made the New England Patriots decision somewhat clear. Even if the Patriots had won a messy appeal, they - and the league - would have lost.
So Robert Kraft announced Tuesday afternoon that the Patriots will not appeal the penalties handed down from DeflateGate.
This most likely means that one of the following happened:
a) Kraft was reached out to by a couple of owners he respects and they had a chat;
b) Kraft and Roger Goodell talked it out and realized the best plan moving forward;
c) a deal has been brokered to reduce Tom Brady's four-game suspension;
d) Kraft has discovered new information and realized the Patriots were in this deeper than he may have wanted to believe.
We actually think it's somewhere between a) and b), and the overarching realization that a team suing the league would only make everyone a loser.
Plus, Kraft value's his stature as a leader among the game and his legacy as such.
Al Davis was one of the true Godfathers of professional football, first in the AFL and then in the early days that led to the explosion of the NFL. But for a lot of folks, the images of Davis wagging his finger at the league and going in and out of courthouses sadly was the lasting impression of his legacy.
That would devastate the mild-mannered Kraft.
There was no mention, however, of what Brady plans to do moving forward.
We did get the world-changing news that the extra-point will be moved back to the 15. Way to go Roger.
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Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, left, celebrates beside Houston Rockets' Dwight Howard after a score during the first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) NBA
"That Buford is a sly one."
The conference finals started with an excellent Game 1 between the Warriors and MVP Stephen Curry and the Rockets and MVP runner-up James Harden.
It was a great back-and-forth, can-you-top-this exchange. Curry had 34 points as the Warriors rallied from a 16-point first-half deficit for a 110-106 Game 1 win.
Harden had 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Curry hit big-time shots when his team greatly needed them, especially from distance. Curry was 6-of-11 from the 3; the rest of the Warriors were 4-of-18.
Houston had a chance to steal this one but Curry refused to let it happen. That said, Curry's daughter stole the show in the postgame news conference.
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Exercise rider Jorge Alvarez rides Kentucky Derby entrant American Pharaoh during a morning workout at Churchill Downs Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Big dollar birthing
Better hope American Pharaoh is not like Glen from Raising Arizona. As Glen told H.I., there's something wrong with his semen
American Pharaoh's owner has sold his birthing rights.
Here's saying that the number is around the $50 million range, and Darren Rovell reported that the deal for the undisclosed amount will go up if A.P. wins the Belmont in 10 days to cap the Triple Crown.
There had been a previous offer of $20 million to American Pharaoh earlier this week, but that was turned down. Then the announcement of the sale came with the horse owners said it was an offer too good to turn down.
Rovell also reported that the birthing rights for Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner back in 1978, went for $14.4 million, which is about $46 million in today's dollars when factoring for inflation.
Bow chicka wow wow.
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This and that
Kentucky's Andrew Harrison dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky won 110-75. (AP Photo/James Crisp) - James Harrison is a bad man. We've known this for years. But the 37-year-old linebacker is a supremely strong man too. Here's dude leg pressing more than 1,000 pounds. Yep, if you are moving half a ton, you are doing work. "Sometimes work comes before family."
- Ichiro tied Babe Ruth with 2,873 career hits. Wow, that's a staggering number considering dude did not start playing in the majors until he was 27. He started his professional career at 18 in Japan and had 1,278 hits in nine years (951 games with shorter seasons). If he had started here, he would almost assuredly be beyond Cobb's 4,191 and closing in on Pete Rose's 4,256. "So many social engagements, so little time."
- Everett Golson is transferring from Notre Dame. He's headed to Florida State, and the Seminoles are firmly in the mix with TCU and favorite THE Ohio State as the frontrunners for the college football playoff. "On this hand there's favoritism and over here it's who knows who."
- The Braves lost to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Just passing it along. "I'll be taking these here Huggies and whatever cash you have."
- LeBron and the Cavs play the Hawks tonight. We are genuinely excited to see this series. Good times. We believe the best way for the Hawks to win this series is to let LeBron score and limit his sidekicks. If LeBron is getting people involved, the Cavs are tough. Let him get his and try to shutdown what the other Cavs get. "No not mother scratcher, Bill Parker."
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Today's question
OK, we'll offer two Rushmores today.
In honor of a random Wednesday filled with quotes from "Raising Arizona" - a vastly underrated 1980s comedy - we will do the Rushmore of Nic Cage movies.
In honor of Cher turning 69 - stop it Spy - we will do the Rushmore of most famous singing duos.
Whatcha got? (Mailbag.)