Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:MLB: Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 2 p.m. (MLB Network)MLB: Oakland at Cleveland, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)MLB: Boston at Kansas City, 8:15 p.m. (NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7)
AROUND THE WEB:
-- Donald Trump is once again ripping into the NFL’s new kneeling policy.
At a rally in Montana (where Tom Brady is right now) on Thursday night, Trump said the league’s new national anthem policy is “worse” than the old one.
“If you don’t respect the flag or you don’t like the country or whatever it is just go into the locker room,” he said. “Just go into the locker room. I think in many respects that’s worse. Isn’t that worse than having them not standing?”
He first criticized the new policy back in June when he tweeted that having players stay in the locker room for the anthem is “as disrespectful to our country as kneeling.”
Trump also went after Roger Goodell and reiterated an argument he made recently that the NFL’s ratings are down because people would rather watch Trump on TV than football.
“This commissioner, where this guy comes from I have no idea,” Trump said. “They’re paying him $40 million a year and their ratings are down 20 percent. You know why their ratings are down? Yes, the flag, but their ratings are down because people find politics — in other words, hitting Trump incorrectly, but hitting Trump — they find that to be much tougher, meaner and more interesting than watching a football game. They actually do.”
The NFL’s TV ratings have declined, but they are actually only down about 10 percent.
-- Mike Francesa has finally announced his much-anticipated app is set to launch at the end of August.
Marcus Smart 'disgusted' Celtics haven't reached out regarding new contract
Celtics reportedly confident they can re-sign Kyrie Irving despite Jimmy Butler chatter