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Hate to go wishy-washy on you, but I'm not sure NBC was obligated to show Eight Belles' breakdown in the Kentucky Derby and the horse's ultimate demise as it happened.

The difference in showing an animal's injury and a human's injury is that the animal could end up euthanized, so the public actually is witnessing a death. Athletes in other sports normally live, although in auto racing, there are some tragic outcomes.

NBC's problem at the Kentucky Derby was its confusion in letting the public know what happened. I wasn't able to pay close attention, but the network seemed to take a long time before realizing the horse was injured after the race and not during, although there is some thought that Eight Belles was in distress before the finish.

The most tasteless part was trying to wedge in thanks to all the sponsors, including, I think, some mention of fast food. Uh, a horse just died. Can we tone down the advertising just a bit?

The tragedy sparked two debates. The first concerns the safety of horse racing. The second is whether television should rerun video of the tragedy over and over.

NBC says it didn't have solid film of what happened. Even if it did, I can understand the decision not to use it.

Putdowns galore

Not a bad putdown by New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, who in more than eight years has not spoken with New York radio talk hosts Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.

He did last week on HBO's "Costas Now" panel discussion.

"Now the problem I have here is you're not in that locker room," Strahan said to Russo, "You don't understand the dynamics of a player. I know the last time you wore a uniform was when your mom took you trick-or-treating when you were 5."

Russo took the bash, but had a comeback later for Dan Patrick on his radio show.

"Strahan seems to think," Russo said, "our show is lessened by his lack of presence on it."

HLN for softball

As the Horizon League does in basketball, it will furnish live streaming video of the final two games in the league's softball tournament from Chicago's Loyola Softball Park online at horizonleaguenetwork.tv on Saturday, May 10.

The consolation bracket final will begin at 3 p.m. with the winner advancing to the championship game at 5. If another game is needed, it will be played at 10 a.m. Sunday, also on HLN.

Wright State began the tournament Thursday as the No. 3 seed and with Horizon League Player of the Year Jherica Williams in the lineup.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2157 or mkatz@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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