Link Dump: The Late Night Variety

I'm up at almost 2 a.m. watching the ESPN original series PLAYMAKERS on DVD. It was one of the realist shows about pro sports that has ever aired, and certainly the most revealing about the National Football League. I was pissed when they cancelled it. I'm sure that I wasn't alone in my anger. It really struck a nerve with NFL execs who didn't want their league exposed any further than it had been with the first season.

So many of the issues that face today's players were brought to the forefront that it forced the NFL to quietly persuade ESPN to cancel a fabulous program. Never before had one show about football been so powerful. Homosexuality, domestic violence, steroid use, drug and alcohol abuse and countless other very real subjects helped shape PLAYMAKERS into an instant classic and a one season wonder.

Note to HBO or Showtime: Create another PLAYMAKERS please! It will be a huge hit.

Here are a few things that caught my late night eye.

Britney Griner's farewell-Digital Sports Daily

The Future in Memphis Looks Bright-Empty the Bench

Pacquiao and the IRS-Now Boxing

Kevin McHale Talks KG and Timberwolves-Larry Brown Sports

Tim Floyd Plays Peace-Maker at Casino-Outside the Box Score

The Distraction: Jaclyn Vallejos-Hooped Up