SHOCKING COMMENTARY

Legal analyst reveals how eyebrow-raising revelations could impact Watson case

Browns Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson's lawyer made some shocking comments. Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images.
Important takeaways from Deshaun Watson's accusers appearing on Real Sports

There’s an episode of the classic 1950s (it was a different time) TV comedy, Amos ‘n Andy, where the two main characters, George “Kingfish” Stevens and Andy H. Brown, are arrested for jimmying a pay phone to retrieve “The Rare Coin.”

The Kingfish and Andy are standing before a judge who seems to be understanding of their situation – they were just trying to retrieve a rare nickel that Andy put in the phone by accident. That’s when the guys’ comically shifty lawyer, Algonquin J. Calhoun, bursts into the courtroom and starts screaming like a nut, “These two crooks didn’t do it!”

The judge recognizes Calhoun and asks the lawyer, “Didn’t I disbar you three years ago?” Calhoun gulps and bolts out of the courtroom, “So long boys!”

Their goose cooked, Kingfish turns to the judge and says one of the great lines in TV sitcom history.

“Excuse me, Your Honor, but how much ground did we lose while our lawyer was in here defending us?”

You couldn’t blame Deshaun Watson for asking the same question today, how much ground did he lose last week when his lawyer Rusty Hardin went on a Houston radio station defending him?

Hardin said, “I don’t know how many men are out there now that have had a massage that perhaps occasionally there was a happy ending. Maybe there’s nobody in your listening audience that that ever happened to. I do want to point out, if it has happened, it’s not a crime. OK?"

He went on, “Unless you are paying somebody extra or so to give you some type of sexual activity, it’s not a crime. Doing something or saying something or being a way that makes you uncomfortable is not a crime.''

Did he just say what I heard? Tony Buzbee, the lawyer defending the two dozen women accusing Watson of sexual misconduct, practically started tap dancing in a metaphoric end zone. I could imagine him offering to sponsor a weekly talk show starring Hardin.

Hardin went on social media to do some ‘splainin, Lucy. He said, "On a Houston radio show interview today, I mentioned that a massage that has a happy ending is not illegal, meaning it is not illegal for someone to have consensual sex with a therapist after a massage unless the sex is for pay.”

How many times are you going to say “happy ending.” Please stop, Rusty.

In his own defense, which might be his best bet moving forward, Watson has said he’s never done anything illegal or disrespectful of any woman, and admitted that he had sex with three of the massage ladies, but it was consensual each time.

While Watson did offer to settle all the civil cases against him, not every woman agreed to the buyout, so the offer was rescinded and there’s a chance that all two dozen cases are headed to court sometime in 2023. You think the Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp got down and dirty, just wait.

Meanwhile the NFL is conducting its own investigation into Watson’s conduct and an announcement whether the league will punish Watson is expected shortly … whatever the NFL means by “shortly.”

It’s a lot easier to watch the steady drip-drip of troubling headlines about Watson now that he’s Cleveland’s problem, right Houston?

I asked Channel 2 legal analyst Brian Wice, did Deshaun Watson lose any ground when his lawyer Algonquin J. Hardin was on the radio defending him?

Wice said, “There's a reason why the first slide in my PowerPoint presentation on ‘Dealing with the Media’ is Hippocrates because any lawyer's primary objective in going on the air or on the record with a reporter should be "First, do no harm."

“And my take is that any sound bite that is driven by the expression ‘happy ending’ is probably not going to end well for the lawyer or the client.

“I'm not convinced that Rusty was correct in contending that a massage for a fee that concludes with sexual gratification was not illegal unless it was the result of an additional fee. Regardless of whether he was right, Rusty had to do damage control by issuing a statement attempting to explain exactly what he meant and one of the other rules in this biz is that if you're explaining, you're losing.”

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Has Christian Walker finally turned the corner? Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

The Houston Astros return to Daikin Park on Tuesday night looking to keep their momentum going as they host the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers. First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET, with Ryan Gusto (3-1, 2.78 ERA) on the mound for Houston against Detroit’s Reese Olson (3-1, 3.29 ERA).

Winners of seven of their last ten, the Astros (15-13) have found their rhythm after a rocky start to the season. Their recent surge has been fueled by dominant pitching — a 2.35 ERA over the last 10 games — and improved production at the plate, including a .264 team batting average over that span. Houston has also outscored opponents by 18 runs during that stretch and boasts a solid 10-6 record at home.

While the offense has yet to fully catch fire, signs of life are emerging. Jeremy Peña continues to be a steady presence with five doubles and three homers, while Christian Walker has driven in six runs over his last 10 games, including three long balls. The Astros’ bats will be tested against a Tigers staff that leads the American League with a 2.86 ERA.

Houston’s Tuesday starter, Ryan Gusto, has been sharp through his first five outings, posting a 1.10 WHIP and 23 strikeouts. He’ll look to keep Detroit’s bats quiet, especially red-hot Zach McKinstry, who’s hitting .406 over his last 10 games, and slugger Spencer Torkelson, who already has eight homers this season.

The Tigers (18-11) may sit atop their division, but they’ve struggled away from home, going just 5-8 on the road. The Astros will look to capitalize and even the season series in their second matchup with Detroit.

With the offense trending upward and the pitching staff in a groove, Houston has a prime opportunity to keep building momentum in front of the home crowd.

Here's a sneak peek at the Astros lineup. Altuve is once again batting second after asking manager Joe Espada to move him down in the batting order. Zach Dezenzo is playing right field with Cam Smith getting the night off. Jake Meyers is back in center field and Mauricio Dubon is starting at second base.

Image via: MLB.com/Screenshot

A big test awaits

It appears the Astros may have tipped their hand regarding tomorrow's starting pitcher. Chandler Rome is reporting AJ Blubaugh is at Daikin Park today.

Following Tuesday night's game, Blubaugh has been officially announced as the starter.

Espada said Hayden Wesneski is not injured but needs more time to recover from his last start.

*ChatGPT assisted.

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