Kentucky Derby, NFL Draft, get good TV ratings

[MU82]

Cheaters gonna cheat ... and then almost always lie about their cheating.

https://apnews.com/article/ca-state-wire-doping-baseball-mlb-sports-e096c6104d5d5c0425d7cb884a6c81ca

Even if one of Baffert's myriad excuses for a positive drug test at the Kentucky Derby somehow passes muster — to hear him tell it, he's the innocent victim of A) cancel culture pervading the nation, B) a groom who relieved himself in the barn, C) a veterinarian who prescribed the drug in question, or D) the dog ate his homework, we presume — there is no chance of him getting his reputation back.

That's the way it should be.

For far too long — and this is an indictment of those of us in the media, as well — Baffert has largely gotten a free pass for his seemingly magic touch with equines while everyone looked the other way at his expanding list of doping violations.

In just the past year, he's been cited five times. The New York Times found a much more sinister record — 29 cases spanning more than four decades.

Still not sure why his horse was allowed to run in the Preakness. (Actually, I am $$$$$ure.) Glad the horse didn't win.

[Mr. Nielsen]

The Preakness: 7.007 million viewers for NBC. That's up 29% from 2019 (5.414 million viewers).

[Mutaman]

Not too long ago the second most-watched show of the year was the Oscars, after the Superbowl.

Now the Oscars ratings have crashed so hard and so fast that both the Kentucky Derby and the NFL draft had higher TV ratings in the two weeks after the Oscar's telecast.

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/oscar-ratings-lowest-ever-1234960615/

The public would rather watch doped-up horses run in a circle than lectures from our betters in Hollywood.

What's a "better in Hollywood"? What are they betting on?

[MU82]

Baffert's cheating confirmed. Medina Spirit might no longer be recognized as Derby winner.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/02/sports/horse-racing/kentucky-derby-medina-spirit-baffert.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20210602&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=headline&regi_id=108420427&segment_id=59617&user_id=d36dcf821462fdd16ec3636710a855fa

Baffert's long history of cheating suggests he should be banned for an extended period of time. Obviously, he has felt he could cheat with impunity until now.