That Was The Week That Was In Links - January 31, 2025

Some stuff I’ve consumed and items of note…

The producer of the Dan Le Batard Show, Mike Ryan, opened up about his struggles with mental health in conjunction with putting on a successful show. Some important discussions in here between members of the show and raw honesty. 

The hook here is that Adrian Wojnarowski took a 99% pay cut to leave ESPN to work at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. And, sure, that makes the eyebrows go up. But the collective focus should be this: a man with many people’s dream job was not fulfilled and left to do something he loves more for a place he loves more, salary be damned, and maybe we need more of that in the world?

The government in the early and mid-20th century was really big on experimenting on people without their consent or full knowledge. It was often people of color and the poor, but even NFL players were naive guinea pigs, apparently: “Behnke did not mention he might also be able to judge which 49er was most likely to survive a nuclear attack. As a U.S. Department of Energy researcher summarized decades later, his research included studying ‘athletes and the physically fit in order to determine probable survival in the case of nuclear war.’"

“Following Donald Trump’s inauguration this month, neo-Nazis trained in combat sports have rallied around the president’s promise of mass deportations. While some are engaging in targeted hate campaigns aimed at intimidating non-white immigrants into leaving the United States, others are openly calling for violence.”

Frankie de la Cretaz on Tennessee Vols coach Kim Caldwell returning to the bench just a week after giving birth: “‘I love my team,’ Caldwell said when asked about her quick return to the job. ‘I ask a lot of them. I made sure I would give my best to them.’ That’s a lovely sentiment, but you can’t give anyone your best if you aren’t taking care of your physical health. The example she is setting for her players is one where you push through injury or physical trauma, grit your teeth and keep going. She is communicating that there is value and valor in that. It’s the same kind of harmful cultural ideals that encourage athletes to play through injury, at a cost to their long-term health and well-being. And its a particularly dangerous message to be sending to a team of young Black women athletes.”

The President Of The TV has ordered a siccing on teachers and school employees who are deemed to be “unlawfully facilitating” a minor’s process of adopting a gender identity that differs from their biological sex, including allowing children to use bathrooms or locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity; and allowing them to participate in school athletic competitions or other extracurricular activities “specifically designated for persons of the opposite sex.” 

A recent McLaughlin poll has Stephen A. Smith polling at 2% in the 2028 Democratic primary, a point behind Tim Walz.

A First Amendment attorney explains how, if Kendrick Lamar calls Drake a pedophile at the Super Bowl, it probably won’t be defamation (but could be for a TV network and the NFL).

Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat is the latest athlete to have been investigated for possible performance manipulation related to a gambling scheme.

Six massage therapists are accusing Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior, and Tucker was allegedly banned from two high-end spas.

UFC chief Dana White called Bryce Mitchell “dumb” and “ignorant” for his pro-Hitler comments on a podcast, but White said Mitchell would not be punished for free speech.

The Kansas City Royals and their charitable foundation are paying to ensure free admission for all to the Negro Leagues Museum throughout February in honor of Black History Month.

When they kick at your front door

How you gonna come?

With your hands on your head

Or on the trigger of your gun

Weekend.