Wake up baseball fans, it's Opening Day 2023!!!

It's a special day. The Boys of Summer are back. Spring is in the air. The grass is green. Stadiums are packed. Cue the National Anthem. 

It's an opportunity to fall back in love with Baseball. Every team starts with high expectations as every team is tied for first place. It's also a time to sit back and listen to the famous Field of Dreams monologue by the great James Earl Jones.

 Ray, people will come, Ray.

They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past.

“Of course, we won’t mind if you look around,” you’ll say. “It’s only twenty dollars per person.” They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it. For it is money they have and peace they lack.

And they’ll walk out to the bleachers, and sit in shirt-sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game, and it’ll be as if they’d dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.

People will come, Ray.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.

America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.

This field, this game — it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.

Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.

I can't recall my first opening day but I surely skipped school (Mom said I had a stomach ache) along with my best buddy Greg Soehner to take the 7Monroe bus down to Norton Street to cheer on my Rochester Red Wings. I didn't grow up in a major league city but Rochester was the next best city to enjoy our national pastime. Red Wing Stadium later Silver Stadium was an old time baseball facility with a capacity of just over 11,000 offering close to the action and not a bad seat in the house. Concession stands featured Tobin First Prize White hots and I can admit never passing up the opportunity to indulge. Never remember how man times the home team opened with a win but what mattered most was being in the crowd and celebrating Opening Day.

I've had a couple of opportunities to be present for Arizona Diamondback opening days. Always exciting to take in the opening ceremonies and feel the anxiousness of the rookies who are making their major league debut. It always bring me back to my youth, skipping school and attending the inaugural game of a new season. I've have had a true lifetime of celebrating Baseball on its Opening Day..

It's now time to say: Play Ball 

 It's taken me a day or two to come to the realization of just what exactly happened over the weekend, creating a Final Four that no one would have expected. It's the weirdest ever.

I heard on the Dan Patrick show Monday morning, a $100 Vegas parley bet on Florida Atlantic, UCONN, San Diego St and Miami reaching the Final Four would have paid out $9 Million. Of all the friendly bracket busters I entered, not one and I repeat not one entry had any of the current Final Four as a winner. Effectively, all these brackets ended somewhere around the Sweet 16 or earlier. It's on to next year.

My impression having watched these games are centered around rooster construction. I was taken back time and time again to to hear the announcers comment how entire teams were built around the transfer portal. The NCAA has given players not only the freedom to seek new schools but also the ability to cash in of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness). It's in my very humble opinion taken the word College out of what I deemed to be student-athletes.

Charles Barkley, Sunday on 60 Minutes called out the NCAA and the new transfer and NIL rules, stating in a few short years only a handful of institutions will be able to afford players, while the rest basically go away.

The action on the court was dramatic, with games being decided in the final seconds. It was pure March Madness except something for me was missing. The quality of play was substandard. The college game has digressed. Poor shooting, turnovers, lack of game management and truly pathetic officiating need to be addressed. 

I'm a self diagnosed Basketball snob. Give me the UCLA teams that won all those championships or Duke or Kansas. I want to see quality on the court and not excitement for the sake of excitement. Where's the Wizard of Westwood or Coach K?

The Final Four will go on and I'm sure to tune in just so I can bitch and complain. 

I like UCONN to cut down the nets Monday -  just don't bet on it!!

The first weekend of March Madness, or better known as the greatest sports viewing weekend, is in the books. Underdogs as usual provided the headlines as two Number 1 Seeds and two Number Two Seeds lost their dance cards. 

Here are my winners and losers from March Madness first weekend.

Losers:

Purdue - For what seems like a constant yearly event, the Boilermakers are sitting home after another first round knockout. Apparent National Player of the Year 7'4 Zach Edey was missing in action, either ignored by his coach or playing partners. It's said guard play ignites a long March run, something Purdue fails to recruit.

Arizona - The so-called Wildcats turn Pussycats when you turn on March Lights. This is another repeat story, losing to a 15th seed, thinking back to Steve Nash and Santa Clara. Lower seeds have feasted on UA throughout the Lute Olson years. So, it's back to the Old Pueblo.

Virginia - Here we go again. Have we played this song before? We sure have. Virginia might be the best Vegas bet against year in and year out in March. Okay, they did cut down the nets a few years ago but this yearly fade gets a hell of more ink.  

Kansas - I'm not going to be too critical of KU because they simply did not have the best of talent nor did Bill Self coach. Time to re-load and see you next year.

Kentucky - Coach Cal gets another early tee time. The Hall of Fame should have a recount for the coaching acumen of Coach Cal. 

Winners:

Princeton - Who would have given the Tigers from the Ivy, a snowballs chance in hell versus Arizona from the Pac-12? This game was not even close. Princeton dominated and played with ease not only versus the Pussycats but also against Missouri. Dollar Bill Bradley is smiling somewhere in Jersey.

Fairleigh Dickinson - Can never leave out a 16th Seed who knocks out a #1. This why you play the game and on any given day who might just pull out a shocker.

Big East - Three team are headed to the Sweet 16. UCONN, Xavier and Creighton are representing the league.

Looking Forward - My Picks to head to Final Four

Alabama - Houston - UCLA - Michigan St 

Just don't bet the house on any of theses

 

March Madness and its chaos has arrived. Time to fill out brackets. It's the happiest time of year for all those who love sports. Cinderella stories are awaiting with lower seeds striking down the college industry blue-bloods. Who has a 12/5 upset in their bracket?

I haven't seen a year like this where there is no consensus of what top line teams making it to the Final Four in Houston. Competitive balance has never been greater. Maybe it'll be Oral Roberts or Furman or Drake that spoils the party.

We get started with play-in games tonight, so who's you pick to win it all. For me, I'll be rooting for my alma mater Xavier but in the end, I'll take Alabama to cut down the nets when all is done and One Shining Moment is played.

I'll be back with weekend results and comments.

GO X!!

The NBA All-Star game is a JOKE. Has been for years and the reason I haven't watched a single one in years. Where can I start. Is it the lack of Defense, the countless undefended whirlwind ducks, half court shorts, one on one plays, the hooting and hollering sideline antics from top NBA players who act like they haven't seen anything like this. There's plenty more and more.

The trouble as I see it, the NBA is actually marketing this sort of I don't know what you'd call it. ESPN years back televised a thing call "Streetball" which was a sort of combination of basketball skills centered around games tended to be characterized by isolation one-on-one ball handling moves and acrobatic slam dunks and alley-oops. If this is what Adam Silver, Commissioner of the NBA, is advocating, he's out of his freckling mind. Better to resurrect B.T. Barnum to run NBA operations. The NBA totally needs a re-set button. They need to take away the Hollywood type theatrics out of their showcase game. I can remember players playing for pride and using their god given talents to broadcast the greatest athletes playing the most skilled team game ever invented. Today, it's nothing more than come see what I can do, followed by I can do that better.

So until the NBA comes to its senses and brings back a high level skilled game, count me out. 

P.S. The Dunk Competition was won by a non-roster player. Maybe American Idol can furnish a country-wide search for next year's participants.

 

 

People will come, Ray.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball.

America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.

This field, this game — it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.

Yahoooooooo...Pitchers and Catchers are reporting. Spring Training games are days away. 

Let the storylines and predictions begin. It's time for Sunshine, green grass, cracks of a bat, balls smacking gloves, dirty uniforms, young rookies challenging vets, and new rules. 

All these lead us to Opening Day and according to the great baseball writer Tom Boswell, "Why Time Begins on Opening Day"

 

It's the day after Super Bowl LVII and all sport talk shows and national sport networks are yacking about what they saw played out on the field in Glendale Arizona. I thought I would throw my two cents in just like the big boys on network do. 

First, I'm not into Super Bowl parties. Better stated, I hate those sort of parties that present nothing equating to the game. Food, drinks, betting and a gathering of I'm only interested in the commercials and the lame halftime over hyped entertainment I can do without. I've always been about the GAME. 

I came into Super Bowl Sunday convinced the Eagles would trounce and physically abuse the Chiefs. As an old-time football fan, it was my belief the power of the Eagles Offensive and Defensive lines would punish and wear down the Chiefs. Boy, was I surprised by their ineffective means to rush and limit Mahomes. Not one sack the entire game. Did the Eagles ever blitz? Not one turnover the entire game. On the offensive side, the running game was mostly controlled by the Chiefs as it never seemed to have the momentum needed that was evident against the 49'ers in the NFC Championship game. 

The key turning point was the Jalan Hurts fumble which was returned for a touchdown. Up to that point the Eagles were dominant and to go into halftime up only by ten made it any ones ball game. 

Toward the end of the first half, Mahomes looked to have suffered a reinjury to his ankle, hobbling off the field. But its the NFL and halftime at a Super Bowl means a longer break as the halftime spectacle does its thing. It gave Mahomes extra time to rest and gave Andy Reid the time and opportunity to make the necessary adjustments heading into the second half.

Those halftime adjustments were spot on and the Chiefs rolled throughout the final two quarters. I can't remember a single incomplete pass. Receivers were extra wide open and on two TD's it seemed the Eagles were completely baffled as the Chief receivers walked into the end zone.

Even with the Chiefs second half dominance, the game came down to the final possession and a call that could either have been ignored or was correctly flagged by the official. A 3rd down holding call put the Chiefs in position to run down the clock and kick a game winning FG with 8 seconds left on the scoreboard.

My interpretation of the flag is this. It's a play that can be called on every snap regardless of time and circumstance. It was a minor grab. The ball was overthrown by at least 10 yards, not catchable. But, this is what the NFL and all major sport leagues are now laid open to; referees are there to review plays under review. If you need perfection, then every play needs inspection to see if there to be rule infractions. 

So, let the players play and get out of the way of what now is two straight years of a Super Bowl being determined by a so-call minor defensive holding call.

The Chiefs are World Champs and in the end at some point in the future no one will remember but the date and score.

 

 

NFL Wild Card Weekend Tidbits Plus

The 2023 NFL Super Bowl Tournament in the name of Super Wild Card Weekend got off and running over the weekend. There as always when the NFL is involved plenty of story lines concerning every one of the five games played. 

Jaguar's / Chargers - The story line here remains the Chargers, no matter from San Diego or Los Angeles, they find a most interesting way how to blow it in the end. Taking nothing away from Jacksonville and their never die attitude, coming back from a 27-0 deficit, it's almost totally impossible to lose a game where you have zero turnovers versus a team with five give aways. Easy to lay blame on a young inexperienced coach but this one goes on every Charger who suited up. I say take way their Lightning Bolt helmets as punishment.

49er's / Seahawks - First off, I hate the Seahawks and their gum chopping cheating head coach. They were a surprise playoff team this year having trading away their franchise QB Russell Wilson, substituting a well traveled Geno Smith in his place. This was a game that when played over 40 minutes gave a massive talent advantage to the home team 49er's. Even playing with a third string rookie QB, San Francisco held all the cards to move on and in the end they simply overpowered their rivals. Seattle needed more than their 12th Man in this one.

Giants / Vikings - We were warned the Vikings were the most overrated 13-4 team of the year and they proved it in spades on Sunday. They had already lost to the Giants when played in London earlier in the year and they seems to have made zero adjustments heading into their playoff game. The NY Football Giants made major strides this year behind first year head coach Brian Daboll who furthered the development of QB Daniel Jones and Running Back Saquon Barkley.

The crowning highlight for this encounter was a 4th and 8 play in the waning minutes. Viking QB Kurt Cousins elected to throw a 3 yard pass that failed to achieve a first down. A very typical Cousins encounter. The Vikings need to remember their Purple People Eaters past to ever move forward.

Bills / Dolphins - This one really surprised me in that Buffalo was playing at home against a 3rd string QB. There was also the emotional edge with Damar Hamlin back in Buffalo, nearly a week after suffering cardiac arrest in a game versus the Bengals. Then again you have to play the game and the Dolphins were more than willing to play the game. To his credit as being a top QB, Josh Allen for all his offensive skills as a passer and runner has had a glaring problem with play control turnovers this year. This is playoff football and a single series can change the complexion. In order to move on and be a legitimate Super Bowl contender, Josh Allen needs to clean up his ball control in a hurry. For the Dolphins, its back hoping Tua can solve his concussion protocols.

Bengals / Ravens - In the end, Who Dey got the job done. But it wasn't a pretty game to watch. The tide turned on what had to be one of the strangest offensive play calls I have ever seen. With the ball on the Cincy 2 yard line, the Raven QB ran a quarterback sneak. I would like to know who called that play and why hasn't that coach been shown the door. You see the Ravens have a power back and he was only a bystander. Sure enough the QB lunged up, falling short of the goal line, loosing and fumbling the ball, picked up by the Bengals Sam Hubbard for a 97 year TD. End of threat, end of Raven's chance of winning. I often think of the money spent on coaches salaries especially when they are brain dead when it counts the most. Throw in horrible clock management by coach Harbaugh at end of game and the Ravens are headed back to Baltimore where the Colts once roamed.

Cowboys / Buccaneers - A storyline best held until tomorrow. I'll bet there will be a whopper of a story. Will Brady be the central character?

Last observation. Playoff football is intense and comes with split second reactions by players and coaches. For right now, I'll pick on the Head Coaches. They seem to be lost, by themselves on an island. They have coordinators but they don't seem to jive all the time. Might one consider taking a page out of MLB where Managers have a Bench Coach helping with those needed quick decisions. If I was an owner, I would pony up the extra cash to make it happen.