Baywatch Star Donna D'Errico Brings Back Pantyhose, Dad Levels Youth Coach & Is My Kid's Room Haunted?

You wanna know how I spent the first few hours of this March Madness opening Thursday? By researching if kids can actually see ghosts. 

True story. I felt so stupid, but an unhappy and tired First Lady makes for an unpleasant college basketball viewing experience, so I had no choice. 

If you're a parent or have a toddler right now, maybe you know what I'm about to say.

Lord, I hope so.

My 2.5-year-old has been waking up every single night for about a month now between 12:30 and 1:30. Almost like clockwork. 

She's always been a pretty good sleeper, but it's just done now. DONE. Feel like we've been flipped on our head over here at the Dean compound. Brutal beat. 

Anyway, she's been talking about "ghosteses" for a few weeks now. We first thought it was because she watched a Halloween episode of one of those insufferable shows she watches, which checked out for a while. That's on us. 

But then one day, a few weeks back, she kept pointing to the backyard fence and telling the First Lady she saw a "scared ghostes." Great!

Fast-forward to last night, and she woke up again at 12:20, which was a lot of fun. My wife went in there and tried to put out the fire, which took a solid hour. Finally, she got her to settle back down with her in her bed. 

The First Lady tells me this morning that apparently, after a few minutes of dozing, my kid sits up and starts pointing to the wall behind them and freaks out again. From nearly asleep to panic out of NOWHERE. 

So, naturally, I slept on the couch and the two women of the house took my bed. A tale as old as time. 

I'm in the camp that she's just a toddler with an exploding imagination who's starting to have actual dreams, which means she's gonna eventually get used to them and start sleeping again. 

The First Lady is mostly in that camp, too, but I could see it in her eyes this morning – last night's incident is starting to turn her. 

Can't have that.

If I'm one of those idiots who bought a haunted house I will raise hell. Can't be starting over in Joe's garbage economy. Not when I just spent $110 on gas.

So, I know it's an unconventional way to start class, but I'm starting today's lesson with how we usually end it: with my email and a question. A wing and prayer, really. 

OutKick Nightcaps is a daily column set to run Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. (roughly, we’re not robots).

Any parents out there have similar experiences/do I need to burn my house to the ground? Email me at Zach.Dean@OutKick.com. 

While we're on the topic of kids, let's check in with this youth basketball game 

OK, enough paranormal talk for now. 

Welcome to a Thursday Nightcaps – the one where we slip into some pantyhose with Donna D'Errico and hope for the best. 

We've got a huge night of hoops in front of us and I know most of you are just skimming this during that rare time when all four channels are on a simultaneous commercial break. 

Is that the WORST or what? What are the odds?!

Anyway, while most of you are locked in on losing money on the college fellas today, I'm zeroed in on this youth basketball dad absolutely DRILLING a coach with one of the most textbook tackles I've ever seen. 

Fair or foul?

Donna D'Errico dusts off an oldie 

What a hit! Just blindsided. Would that get you kicked out of a game in today's soft NFL? Maybe. Back in Shawn Merriman's day, though, it was perfect. 

Now, I don't know the full backstory here, but context clues tell me the coach in the red who came over to the kid who started the fight was NOT his coach, which explains why his dad lost his shit. 

I'll be honest with you, I think I'm on the dad's side here. That may be a hot take, but it's mine and I haven't slept through the night since January, so I own it. 

The initial "fight" wasn't really anything more than one loose cannon getting a little heated over the play. That happens in basketball all the time. 

Should he have shoved him into the wall? Probably not the best move, but they're kids. 

I once got my head cracked over the side of a mailbox during a street football game. It is what it is. I'm better off for it, frankly. 

Once the other coach comes in and starts putting hands on him, all bets are off. Not when you're at a youth sporting event surrounded by psycho youth parents. I grew up in travel baseball, trust me – they're nuts. 

Remember this little clip from last spring? 

Also – how about the mom who immediately jumps out of the stands? What are you doing? What's your end game?

Anyway, it's good to see the parents of America still have the same fire in their belly all these years later. Head on a swivel when you're out at Saturday morning soccer this weekend. 

It's also a good thing to see Baywatch star Donna D'Errico still has IT all these years later. 

Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson explained in two clips

Does Donna D'Errico still have it or what? Goodness. I know we write about her a lot, mainly since she started her OnlyFans side job last year, but when you're pumping out that sort of content it's hard to argue.

Same can be said about Russell Wilson. 

I know I rip him to shreds about once a week around here, but it's just too easy. He's just the worst. And by the way, I'd take Justin Fields over him every single day of the week. 

I'm serious. I don't get the Fields hate. Do people not realize what a dumpster fire organization the Bears are? Quick, tell me the last time a quarterback actually worked out in Chicago? That's where careers go to die. 

I love Tua more than anyone on this planet, but put Justin Fields in a Mike McDaniel offense and heads would spin. 

Whew. What a rant! All that to say Mr. Unlimited pumped out an offseason workout video just yesterday, and so did Jameis Winston. 

You tell me which guy you want commanding your offense in a few months:

Hot air balloon crash, Gia Duddy & Ohtani memes

I mean, it's just a no-brainer. Give me Jameis Winston every single day of the week. I want him leading the Browns by Week 6 at the latest this fall. 

Guy just gets it. We pride ourselves on zigging when they zag around here, and Jameis embodies that. 

To steal a line from David Hookstead, I'd get in a foxhole with Jameis any time. Let's ride. 

OK, rapid-fire time so we can all lose some money on these late afternoon games. 

First up? Another reason to keep both feet on the ground at all times:

Look, I'm not gonna add it to the list because it's not an airplane, but you know where I stand. 

PS: I've purposely stayed away from the aviation industry this week because I needed to deal with the ghost in my house, but trust me, it ain't getting any safer. 

PPS: anyone out there ever flown in a hot air balloon? Seems like something I'll never do. 

Next? We can't have a Thursday class without addressing Gamblin' Shohei Ohtani! The story is changing constantly and I think it's all a big lie so far, but it doesn't look like it's going away any time soon. 

Personally, if there were no bets on baseball, I don't really see the problem. 

So what if Ohtani or his translator or BOTH bet their asses off on international soccer? Knock yourselves out. With all the gambling promotion we give out nowadays, I'm not sure how anyone could be that upset if and when a pro athlete dabbles in it. 

Frankly, Ohtani losing millions gambling is the most American thing he's ever done. You wanna endear yourself to baseball-loving Patriots across this great country? Throw down a couple grand on an 11-team parlay that'll never hit. 

That, boys and girls, is the American way. 

Finally, here's NFL WAG Gia Duddy dominating the Caribbean on the way out. 

I've got to go murder a ghost so I can sleep tonight. 

See you tomorrow.