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The definitive guide on how to tell the difference between a fan of the and fans of the .

From NY hustle to LA cool: How to tell the differences between Yankees & Dodgers fans. Fair to say the the World Series between the NY Yankees and LA Dodgers is a meeting of the two most storied franchises in baseball. Yes, I know there are Chicago Cubs faithful now in full scream and Boston Red Sox Nation is threatening to pelt me with week old lobster carcasses, but these are the tw...

A special edition of "Shakedown Street" this week, live to your email Inbox on Wednesday.

- A personal aside on 9/11, featuring a young man who grew up in the shadow of the Twin Towers and recalls a special visit to "Windows on the World".
- A guest column that takes us back 8 years to one of the most spot-on observations about America and the love of gun culture.
- In Sports, "Balls & Calls" tears into another spit in the fans eye by the NFL, the hard facts about Michigan's upset defeat, and how NASCAR stripped their own gears in losing their once historic momentum.

Plus our "Comedian of the Hour, April Brucker from the Las Vegas strip!

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Welcome to Shakedown Street Straight up. No chaser. News & opinion without fear or favor.

You are a former news reporter/anchor. You're a columnist or author. You're TV, radio or print. You're an excellent writer and commentator. You maybe have a podcast where you deliver excellent facts and opinion. You're in news, sports, politics, all specialties. You've been part of the "new media" world that cheaps out, discriminates on s*x, age, race and the rest, and you need a platform to spread your work and, in the end, monetize it.

You know how to start a conversation and engage people.

I'm looking for you.

We're preparing an email newsletter that won't dabble in nonsense, that will reach out and grab people by the eyes and ears, and will create conversation. Newsletters mean we only publish (at the beginning) once or twice a week, and feature only 3-4 items, so this isn't writing feverishly several times a week.

This is where what you write or record has real meat, doesn't flinch, and doesn't deal in rhetoric or propaganda.

Stop throwing your best material out there on social media where it's wasted. Stop fighting the over 400,000 podcasts all jostling for attention. Stop having someone else decide your fate.

Drop me a DM. Today. Let's discuss. Let's stop waiting for the corporate guns to destroy more careers and deal in nonsense.

Let's chart a new and better path.

Let's rock.

The latest in abject greed from college football.

Oklahoma State players will sport a QR code on their helmets, where anyone can click in and DONATE (read: hand over your cash) to the teams general NIL (Name,Image,Likeness) fund.

In other words, the college is making money hand over fist, the Athletic Department is awash in cash from sponsors and boosters, and those players with personal NIL deals are raking in more money than some professional athletes. Yet with all that money flowing, YOU get to pay your teams despite already couching up tons of money for tickets, parking, schwag, and everything else with a specific college logo on it.

The insatiable greed knows no bounds at the college level. Every day, I'm more grateful that I don't give a single damn about college athletics and the repugnant money grubbing greed.

To those excellent journalists, commentators, reporters and such who have been impacted by corporate shutdowns of TV stations, radio stations, newspapers and other platforms, please get in touch with me here via DM. Those at places such as WCBS 880 are those voices that have been silenced, and we have to change that,

I'm looking go talk to those who have something vital to add to the news/sports content, yet have been cut loose by corporates or seeking to have their material seen and heard on a platform that will keep them in the public eye, attract an audience and, in the end, seek to become profitable.

Authors are also welcome. Those with good social media footprints are encouraged to get in touch. There is a way to step into another facet of the new digital world and make it work for us, and we have to dig into those alternatives.

You have content and no place to go. We have a potential solution.

Please pass this on to your friends and colleagues, as Facebook has a tendency to throttle anything their AI disagrees with.

Drop me a DM, and have those you know do the same.

Thanks, and Rock On.

We are open for business, fellow minions.

Check out the previews for the newsletters:
- "Shakedown Street" covers news, sports, the media, comedy, and more than the usual fluff in discussing the news. Comments from the gallery accepted on all fronts.
- "Event Laughers" is designed for the Conference, Event, Meeting Planners and DMC community, with news, opinions, education, entertainment and featuring our comedians delivering customized laughs for every event.

The first preview newsletters and a few news & opinion columns are their for your perusal.

This is an email subscription. Click the proper box and subscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time, though if you do, our MTG doppelganger will come to your house and bang her gavel.

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Time to recap some of the more interesting moments of the between the Champion and the . From the pooch in the front row, to the "Green Cup" revelation, from the boozy beach trip and a necessary body slam to the City of Sunrise, it's all here. Oh, and that includes a few words about "participation trophies".

Rock On.

The Stanley Cup: A boozy beach bash, the "Green Cup" history, a front row pooch, & a "Sunrise Slam". In a special edition of "Speaking of Everything", Ed Berliner lets it all fly in recapping the key and sometimes missed moments of the Stanley Cup Finals bet...

OK people, that's the last straw. Let's dig in for the absolute FINAL word on this nonsense "issue" over Caitlin Clark not being part of the US National Basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maybe those whining about it would like to take a leisurely dip in the Seine sometime soon.

Time to stop this idiotic & useless whining over Caitlin Clark & the US Olympic basketball team. All right people, let's get a grip here, shall we? Of all the various and concocted "issues" over Caitlin Clark, this one has reached the zenith of clickbait...

Way past time for the very talented to and start learning how to be a pro, and the league needs to stop protecting her.

Caitlin Clark needs to grow some stones and stop whining while being pushed around. There is not one doubt Caitlin Clark is immensely talented and is helping the WNBA grow. But she and the League need to grow a figurative pair and stop whini...

The WNBA has always sought to be on a more equal footing with their NBA counterpart. After all, the NBA is what keeps them in business.

Unfortunately, the League has slapped itself in quite a bind with their terrible handling of Caitlin Clark's debut. Now they have to contend not only with those who see them protecting their investment, but players and fans who have not so quietly, to their chagrin, raised the specter of racism.

"Speaking of Everything".

The WNBA has hit the big time, with bubbling of racism overshadowing Caitlin Clark's rookie season. The WNBA has been reaping the rewards of Caitlin Clark's entrance into the league, continuing their explosive growth. But following several on-court incident...

A brilliant graphic showing without question why the American based Indy Car series is superior to Formula 1. I've been harping on this one for decades. While F1 gets a lot of press for the international flair and the street courses, there's so much more to see and experience in Indy Car. NASCAR only stays up in the bubble thanks to good old boys & girls and the "contact sport" level of competition with wrecks and close calls.

F1 has done a better job of marketing and has the international audience. Get those overseas audiences to watch more Indy Car and I'll wager they would turn a lot of heads and viewers, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the Indy 500 which, without question, was the most exciting race of the weekend.

Putting the Boston Bruins season to rest with a few observations:

- When the season started, no one with any level of hockey knowledge would have predicted this team as a top-tier playoff possibility. There were simply to many holes to fill, and as the season went on, it was obvious this was something of a fluke. There was the HOPE it would coalesce into something special, and in the regular season, it did. However, this is the NHL, where the regular season is an 82 game seeding competition. The playoffs are a very different beast, and in that second stanza all of the Bruins holes were exposed. Which leads to a few unhappy conclusions.

- Jim Montgomery, with all his 2 season numbers, is not guaranteed a return. Sure, he got the most out of these guys, but there were far too many mental lapses on the ice and on the bench that raise a red flag. 7 times too many men on the ice? Monty took the heat, and the lack of communication at certain times might spell the end. Of course, the next question is who is out there that is a better HC?

- The Bruins can't win without a dominating center. Coyle and Zacha went Casper down the stretch and in the playoffs as other teams had them figured out. One may have to go in order to slot the best possible option.

- David Pastrnak has some 'splaining to do. Now, there has been a thinking in recent weeks that he's been playing with a serious injury and trying to gut it out. We'll find out in the coming days. Either way, he is a dominating player and did not react like one in the playoffs. He allowed himself to be pushed outside of the plays and was unable to shake the defender harassment. Something is amiss here, and he needs to be the star player he's paid to be.

- Charlie McAvoy could be one of the best defensemen of his era, but not when he's trying to shoulder every load. He's a gritty player who always tries to do everything and play every minute of every game. Gotta love his dedication, but that's not how you win in the NHL.

- Buckle up for a LOT of changes this offseason. The Bruins only have around $22M under the salary cap, and that will disappear quickly with the Swayman talks and other contract needs. They will have to get very creative in building a new roster, as a likely bulk of their UFA's will be gone.

- I like Jake DeBrusk, but he may have revealed himself to be too streaky for a high end deal. He wants to stay but I see him signing elsewhere. I also don't see Matt Grzelyck coming back.

- The Bruins were financially and personnel built to win last season. Management tossed all the cookies at that season, and they crapped out. Those cap issues will now really come back to haunt them, and the next season could be a major rebuild. The fans won't like it, but it may be the only choice. Then again, anyone who strips and rebuilds in this league takes years to come back, and the Boston fan base and culture won't stand for it. A real dilemma.

- Linus Ullmark is gone, likely bait for a solid center and some more scoring. Jeremy Swayman will be the #1 for years to come, and he earned it. Having 2 excellent goaltenders for 2 seasons was a real luxury that is about to end.

- With all that talent, why couldn't this team score more? Why couldn't they shoot more? It wasn't just in the post season where we saw something amiss. Were the players not good enough, or was there a change in philosophy that went against everything that is scoring chances in the NHL?

That's just off the top. There's a potential crash coming for this franchise, and it happens to the best of them when things don't go as planned. Sure, ANYTHING could happen. The Bruins may hit a jackpot in stripping down and rebuilding, but with a lack of top draft choices and the cap issues, this could be a disappointing slog.

I just hope they can do something and not waste the final seasons of Brad Marchand. The guy is a warrior, and there isn't a team or fan base in the League that wouldn't want him in their colors. But he's not getting any younger, and maybe taking the pressure of the Captaincy off his shoulders would be a good thing. That NEVER happens, of course, but he's not immortal. I love the guy either way and would love to see him skate with the Cup one more time.

So, how many days to training camp? ;)

Leftovers from Game 4 between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers.

- Let's deal with the walrus in the room. If you are a knowledgeable hockey fan and actually follow the game without being a casual front runner, you know without question the non-call on the Panthers second goal is complete m***e. Bovine excrement. Bu****it. I have attached the actual NHL statement ruling for all to see. Sam Bennett (the mutt) purposely cross checked Charlie Coyle into the net and onto Jeremy Swaymanso he could get a clean shot to the net. Swayman was thus unable to play his position as a result of an act by a defending player, all while he was in the crease. The goal should have been disallowed, and that would have changed the momentum of the game. And yes, before you start tuning up, if it was a Bruins player who did the exact same thing, I would call bu****it as well. If you read my comments and know me, you already know I don't play the "Homer" game.

- While we're here, and again if you're knowledgeable of the game, you have seen the front facing camera angle replay of Bennett's hot on Brad Marchand, and can not claim it was accidental. Bennett, with stick butt on hand, punched Marchand in the head and knocked him out of Game 4. Again, another call missed by what used to be the best officiating in the major sports.

- Both the Bruins and Panthers did what they needed to do in the 1st period. Boston came out with a new resolve. They were beating the forecheck, they had the puck and their feet in constant motion, and they were emotionally engaged in every play. The Panthers, meantime, bided their time. They knew what was coming, including the perfect Charlie McAvoy hit. It was a case of knowing that even 2 goals down, nothing in this league is truly insurmountable. They knew, and the Bruins feared, they would not be able to keep up the pace for 3 periods. Florida knew the ice would eventually tilt in their favor, and it did. Of course, it tilted with a good hand from what was the worst single issue of officiating I've seen in the playoffs in a very long time.

- If Boston loses this series, they will forever be vexed by the lack of shots. You can't score if you don't shoot. Now, the Panthers defense needs a lot of credit for that, but you simply cannot keep being so damn choosy. Pucks on the net is how you win in this league, and the Bruins, for whatever reason, seem to believe quality is better than quantity. That's not how this game works.

- Damn right the Bruins missed Marchand, but that's not the singular reason they lost. They dropped Games 2 and 3 with him at full speed, at least for most of those periods. What I and many others see is a lack of muscle in front of the opposing goaltender, and a fall back into the time when they're not moving the puck. That's a personnel issue, which goes back to what I've been saying all season long. This team is not, and could not, be built for the playoffs thanks to the salary cap and having to settle for putting bodies into slots. It proves again the Grand Canyon-esque divide between the regular season and the playoffs. Bruins fans thought this was going to be a rebuilding year, and in essence, it is. The real rebuild will soon be taking place, and a lot of faces will vanish. I honestly was prepared for the Bruins to miss the playoffs entirely this season, and that might be in the cards for next season. They cannot win the Cup with this roster without a few miracles, and I don't see them coming.

- Can the Bruins win Game 5? Sure they can. As I note, anything in this game is possible. However I don't see them able to maintain the energy and grit we saw in the 1st period last night. The Panthers will likely once again wait for the Bruins to burn themselves out and then take advantage. I'd like to think Boston has more pride than to just roll over. This game could get ugly.

- Jim Montgomery won't be fired when the season is over. I hope to think management isn't that stupid. To put this roster into the second round of the playoffs, the guy should get a ticker tape parade. Now, it's all up to the guys who wear the jerseys.

- You want someone to be fired, let's begin with the officials and the gutless judges in Toronto, who obviously don't know the rulebook. That's something everyone should be watching and bitching ab out because it's real, and it has or will affect what's happening on the ice for everyone. No, I don't think the NHL is helping the Panthers win. Well, at least not in a blatant sense of the phrase ;)

Still, the best post season of any sport, anywhere, anytime.

- The Bruins have zero chance of winning this series unless they play far and above their weight right now. This team was never built to go far in the postseason because they couldn't make it happen. Retirement and the salary cap issue hamstrung the franchise to the point this season was supposed to be a quick rebuild. The roster is filled with rookies of varying levels, grinders, castoffs and role players. In other words, what they could afford under the cap. No one, even those in the front office, thought this team would be here. It's a testament to the leadership from certain veterans and Jim Montgomery's coaching they're even here.

- Monty has taken a lot of heat, as all coaches do, but fans and the franchise should kiss his ass for where they are. Sure, he gaffes like everyone else, but he doesn't have the horses to seriously compete in the postseason unless, as I noted, every single one performs at 100% every night, which is unrealistic. If the Bruins had dropped Game 7 to the Maple Leafs, he very likely would have been fired as the scapegoat. Coaches are easier to replace than leading players. However, he would not have deserved it. He's making the adjustments, but those role players don't have the gas.

- The Panthers are a magnificently built roster, and Paul Maurice is the perfect mind to get the most out of them. That defense is stifling, and it showed how much better and faster they are than the Bruins at this time. Boston needs to shoot more, as their SOG is embarrassing, but a lot of that goes to the tight forechecking of the Panthers.

- Sam Bennett is a mutt. Replay shows he took an inside shot at Brad Marchand's head in the second period, and everyone who has seen the tape admits Bennett should have been busted for it. It was a cheap shot using the butt handle of his stick and a fist. Then again, Matthew Tkachuk, while very talented, proved to be yet another cheap shot artist in slamming away at David Pastrnak's head while 88 was splayed on the ice. No, I wouldn't appluad them if they were on my team. I'd still call them gutless hacks.

- Jeremy Swayman isn't the problem, despite what a lot of the spit fans believe. In Game 3, he may have been at fault for the first goal, but the rest were the result of p**s poor defense in front of him. Goalies turn every series, and they are only as exceptional as the defense in front of them. The Panthers are doing an excellent job of protecting Bob . The Bruins for 2 games now have done a lousy job helping Swayman. LInus Ullmark may get the call in Game 4 just to shake things up, but goal is not where their problems reside.

- Charlie McAvoy has been Casper in the last 2 games, and he needs to get his head out of his turnover ass. That's mystifying because the guy has been such a mainstay this season. Hampus Lindholm hasn't returned to form since his long injury stint. The 4th line has gone in the tank. And now, perhaps losing Brad Marchand thanks in part to the gutless Bennett, and it may be too much to overcome.

- Complete shock at how tame and at times listless the Bruins came out in Game 3, especially after the bouts at the end of Game 2. No fire. No sense of urgency. You get the feeling the Panthers are playing as if they're down 0-3, while some of the Bruins believe they can cruise and eventually click. Not in the playoffs, kids.

- If you ask me straight up what makes for the most interesting and potentially explosive matchup right now, I'd have the say the Panthers against the NY Rangers. Seeing as I generationally despise the Rangers and I would never root for the Panthers as the Bruins rival. it leaves me then root for the other team I covered for several seasons, the Colorado Avalanche. Hey, you don't just pick up and root for a hated rival to be PC. ;)

Game 4 beckons. Anything can happen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and damned if I'll call the Bruins down and out yet. They had it in Game 1, and once again, we get to see what this rag tag bunch has in their belly.

Game On.

The undeniable stupidity of sports talk on full display with JJ Redick and LeBron James. Bad enough I stumbled into a SoFla morning AM radio show today that was STILL bouncing about on the Tom Brady roast with about, but then I saw this and had to drop one note and then exit, stage right.

I once thought Colin Cowher was pretty good at his gig, but that was a LOOOONG time ago. Filling air time has never been such a bumbling affair for these whipnecks.

Hey, no worries. People with an IQ of 7 need entertainment as well.

https://www.si.com/nba-headlines/lebron-james-jj-redick-colin-cowherd-backward-hat-response-concerns-01hxcsjhte2w?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3DcNK3Sx9m_PK-o05SNC71jRETyK3_iDWA9Rri2SzWSf3w83fBI30B7pU_aem_AfpKhE__-OjaXwutUU-yX4VBX6TfJHWz2PgBvmQrTIbomKUgZ2TjcNWWodnUtQrncbk6iFvL5hOTOMJj8CmSgdtH

LeBron James, JJ Redick Respond to Colin Cowherd's Latest Backward Hat Concerns The latest episode of the

BREAKING SPORTS: The Orlando Magic franchise, in light of today's result against the Cleveland Cavaliers, has filed with the NBA League Office for an immediate relocation to Toronto.

What, too soon? ;)

The latest battle in words that either offend or knee jerk takes us to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Pay attention, because this latest skirmish has plenty of penalties to be considered in both a personal and professional sense. Indeed, I sniff another excellent topic of discussion at my upcoming events.

The picture itself is worth a thousand words.

https://www.edberlinerspeaks.com/post/skirts-on-hockey-players-s*xism-vs-sarcasm-at-the-stanley-cup-playoffs

*xist *xism

Skirts on hockey players? Sexism vs Sarcasm at the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We are once again faced with the dilemma of language, characterizations, sarcasm and what can be considered by some to be necessary & meaningful dialogue, or the useless and hysterical rantings of those looking for something to be offended about. What we have here is another example of how far we ha...

Here's one of those posts that I know will not garner the attention it needs. It will be ignored due to the subject matter, or completely buried by those it is intended to reach.

Much again is being made of the Kentucky Derby this Saturday. Even CBS "Sunday Morning" gave it feature space. There is, as always, talk of the pageantry, the history, the bad hats, and the party that will ensue.

Little if nothing is said, once again, about the bloodsport horse racing is in America.

As I write this, 76 horses have been killed this year at American race tracks. This is the best number we have, as so much of the data is covered up, altered, and unreported by the tracks and the trainers alike. These are horses that have most often been over-raced, over-drugged, looked at as little more than investments for tax write-offs and "just part of the sport".

So then, to my friends here who are fans of the sport, who will be at the track this weekend (and many other days), and who will eagerly discuss odds and possibilities at making money, allow me to ask a few simple questions. I know most, if not all of you, will avoid answering. Heck, most of you never made it this far in reading the post once you knew where I was going, and you know from history this is where the discussion always goes. I don't know if you're scared to answer, or just refuse to see the truth.

How can you continue to wager and promote the only sport where the competitors can, and often do, die? How does your conscience allow you to proudly plunk down the dollars knowing that these magnificent animals are nothing more than cash grabs of the wealthy and are gambled on if and until they are plowed into unmarked fields as fodder, or sold to overseas countries as food?

How can you be so heartless? Are there not other ways to gamble without a life being at stake? Do you feel no twinge of remorse whatsoever knowing that you are helping to keep this bloodsport alive? Without your money and participation, it would either cease to be or undergo real transformative change that would slow down, maybe even stop, the ex*****on of these intelligent marvels?

Again, I know you won't answer. You can't. You are either too ashamed or too callous and uncaring about life. You are hooked into the money, the thrill, the posturing, and you will never address these issues because, well, you can't.

Once, I was involved in this "sport" as a willing participant. Then I saw and learned the truth. I will forever and a day campaign against this despicable use of life for the purpose of gambling and profit.

All I ask is that you do the research. Learn the truth. Then decide if death is worth it.

76 horses are dead just this year to date. How can you not care?

Solve your event with laughter and save lives in the process.

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Remember when Florida State gave FAU so much grief years ago when the Owls handed out "Championship rings" to their players when they felt dissed?

Now FSU is handing out "13-0 Championship ACC Unconquered" rings to their players.

SHHH!!! Someone forget to tell FSU they got shellacked in the Bowl game because many of their players wankered off in protest.

Pathetic. Childish. Embarrassing. No respect earned and none handed out.

Everyone Has Same Reaction to Florida State's 'Embarrassing' Celebration of 2023 Season Fans aren't holding back.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Brock Burke provides more evidence that every concrete wall meeting the hand of an athlete remains undefeated.

Rangers reliever Brock Burke breaks hand punching wall in frustration after rough outing Burke was placed on the 15-day IL Saturday with a fractured hand.

Finally, "The Washington Post" feature on LSU Basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey has dropped. As the actual article is behind a paywall, I won't link to it here. You'll be able to find summaries in a number of places.

This entire skirmish reminds me of a story, and a lesson, that I've always know as "Lessons from the Mailbox".

Rock On.

Kim Mulkey: Lessons from "The Mailbox". LSU basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey doesn't give a spit on what you, me, or anyone else thinks about her. In some ways, that is a laudable trait. One should never allow the attitudes and comments of others to move their life needle. However, in her situation as a very public persona, representing a...

With so much clickbait and so many faux "experts" weighing in and alternatively mocking LA Dodgers and MLB star Shohei Ohtani over the current gambling investigation, most are missing the key element in this case, and where the bulk of discussion should be held. Ohtani, in this instance, is just the inevitable sideshow. Join me for a few words on the matter in this episode of "Speaking of Sports".

Exposing the real issue behind Shohei Ohtani & MLB gambling. With so much clickbait and so man y faux "experts" weighing in and alternatively mocking LA Dodgers and MLB star Shohei Ohtani and the current gambling investigation, most are missing the key element in this case, and where the bulk of discussion should be held. Ohtani, in this instance, is just the...