AI Summary
5 min readThe NFL is facing a two-front legal war that could reshape the league's power structure, while the Lakers are selling fans on a linguistic trick that redefines what "courtside" means. These are the dominant threads in the fourth hour of the Ben Maller Show, where host Ben Maller also updates listeners on a listener meet-and-greet in Ohio, wraps a bracket challenge, and runs through entertainment news with his co-host Coop.
John Gruden vs. the NFL: The Legal Crowbar
The most consequential development of the hour is the update on John Gruden's lawsuit against the NFL. Gruden, who was described in a The Athletic story as having "the IQ of a tomato" by a former Raiders employee, is suing the league for what he alleges was a "malicious and orchestrated campaign to oust him." The trial date has been set for May 2027—not 2026—after multiple NFL motions were dismissed and the league was denied discovery. If discovery proceeds, it will force the NFL to disclose internal documents about what Maller calls "an orchestrated hit job."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:05) **Hour 4 Kickoff & Teaser** - Ben Maller welcomes listeners to the fourth hour, promising updates on Jon Gruden’s lawsuit, the NFL vs. the Justice Department over streaming, and the Lakers’ new “second row courtside” seats.
- 2 (03:42) **Bracket Challenge Winner & Host Standings** - Maller announces the winner of the Fox Sports Radio bracket challenge and a listener’s offer to fly a fellow fan to the Boston meet and greet.
- 3 (06:40) **Programming Note: Upcoming Meet & Greets** - Maller gives a brief update on the Boston and Ohio meet and greets, promising to reveal the Ohio venue later in the hour.
- 4 (07:08) **Jon Gruden Lawsuit Update: Trial Set for 2027** - Maller reports the latest on Jon Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL, including a trial date and the league’s failed motions.
- 5 (11:35) **NFL vs. Justice Department Over Streaming Rights** - Maller breaks down a Wall Street Journal story about the DOJ investigating the NFL’s media rights deals for anti-competitive practices.
- 6 (16:09) **Lakers’ “Second Row Courtside” Seats Controversy** - Maller criticizes the Lakers’ new premium seating option, calling it a marketing gimmick and “linguistic pickpocketing.”
- 7 (25:59) **Segment Transition & Listener Call** - Maller transitions from the hour’s scandal topics, briefly touches on the Mike Vrabel story, and takes a call from listener Tilio.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ben Maller talks about who is more dangerous right now - Jon Gruden with a legal crowbar, or the NFL guarding a locked basement, the NFL fighting back against D.C. bureaucrats over pay-to-view streaming games, the Lakers introducing "second-row courtside" seats, Coop's Scoop on Entertainment, Sports Jeopardy, and more!
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