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.

 

 

I grew up in basketball family. My Uncle was a successful coach at multiple levels. My cousin coached in the NBA. I played on my high school team and extended by playing career participating in Recreation leagues and YMCA pick-up games until my 48th birthday. I won't talk for now about my pure hatred of the three point line.
What drives me even crazier; college referees who predictably call any defended who throws himself (flops) on the floor a charge of the offensive player. The flop has been automatic in the college game ever since Coach K and his flopping Duke 5 initiated it.
The NCAA needs to get every god darn official into a mandatory in person meeting and explain to these brain dead refs, its almost impossible for the defensive player not to be moving or set when calling the block/charge. If you called a block 100% of the time you'll only be wrong maybe 10% of the time.
Bottom line - STOP THE FLOP

Didn't watch a single second of the World Cup Final this morning. If I was so inclined to turn this pathetic game on, all I need to do was turn on to watch the Penalty Kick portion that decided a major 4-year soccer event. How can any sport loving guy or gal accept an outcome decided by penalty kicks. Hell, I with no soccer ability what so ever probably could score a penalty kick. And this is to decide a once in every four year major soccer sport event. No other major sport would or ever decide a major championship like this. Hell, the NHL in Stanley Cup playoff games plays on until someone wins. Baseball has extra innings, Football has sudden death and Basketball has overtimes. 
Why expect anything else from a sport so lacking in pure scoring action.

Major League Baseball Free Agency has basically done its job for another year, as the prime time players for this year have found their new homes for next year. It was another enormous amount of money outlaid by owners to people like Judge, Correa, DeGrom, Turner and others. But at costs so outlandish and for years that seems asinine at best. I would bet each one of these signed contracts at their end will be huge albatrosses to their teams. Money must be easy for these owners to spend.

 

Thank God the World Cup only comes along every four years. Thankfully, Americans have alternatives in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Throw in Hockey and there shouldn't be an inkling of ever turning on a soccer match, unless one is in desperate need of a sleeping pill.

For 90 minutes, at least without commercial breaks. a soccer ball gets kicked back and forth between an official FIFA regulation soccer field that measures between 100-130 yards long and 50-100 yards wide. It's a game played by extraordinary athletic men, followed faithfully by legions of religiously rabid fans where many times games end by the score of Zero - Zero.

Toss in the constant flopping around on the turf, faking what would appear to be life threatening injuries like an acting award are in their future further adds to this gimmick of a game.

Finally, I get the so called soccer hooligans. You have to be totally bombed out of your mind to sit through 90 minutes without being self medicated. And if and when the ball somehow finds the back of the net, these lunatic fans loose their minds. 

 

My Three Sons was a highly successful sit-com that ran from 1960-1972 starring Fred MacMurray. In the truest sense it was a sappy show following the life of the widowed Fred MacMurray character raising and caring for his three boys. He had a bit of help from Uncle Charlie who ran the house on a daily basis but the mentoring was all about Fred MacMurray. It was a show that I watched on a regular basis as each son had their share of growing pains and one had to tune in weekly to see who caught Dad's attention.

Moving forward, Deb and I have been blessed to have raised three sons. Each fulfilling their call in life with their families but always connected as brothers. They sometimes don't notice how similar they really are. Take the recent training of Robert and Craig for hiking rim to rim of the Grand Canyon and Mark's continued training for his upcoming Iron Man. Neither of these endeavors can be viewed as a "walk in the park' rather a strong commitment to months and weeks of training. 

Robert, Craig and Mark, independent of each other set out a plan and committed to their plan to train in a way where they would only succeed in their quest. It required Craig and Robert getting up some days at the crack of dawn to train on mountain paths for hours at end. I Mark's case, it meant hitting the pool doing lap after lap at the same time also making sure his proficiency on the bike and run were to his standards.

As their Father, I could not be more proud of their accomplishments. Robert and Craig were full of wonder in what they saw and experienced. And maybe the best part, they were proud of themselves. And for them, it'll last a lifetime. 

Mark sets out on is Iron Man in another week and I'm more than sure he'll kick ass as he has in prior race years. He prepares like a professional, so his results will be his reward.

Lastly, I tip my hat to my Three Son's. I only wish I could be doing these thing along side you. 

I love you guys!!

61*

I was 9 years old in 1961 when the M&M Boys (Maris & Mantle) chased down the Great Bambino's (Babe Ruth) home run record of 60 homers in a season. There was no ESPN nor internet in those days that would instantaneously provide statistical updates on a moments notice. I had to wait until the afternoon's newspaper, Rochester Times-Union, was delivered to see the results from the previous days ball scores. I made a habit to fall asleep listening to Mel Allen calling Yankees games on the radio. I can remember the sports page had a chart showing where Maris and Mantle stood versus the Babe on a per game basis. As the season neared the end, Mantle suffered from numerous nagging injuries, leaving Roger as the lone pursuer. Only saw delayed broadcast of Maris breaking Ruth's record but as a true blue Yankee fan I was thrilled.

Coming forward 61 years (just a coincidence it being 61 years later and 61 homers once again), I am again enthralled by Aaron Judge's pursuit of Roger Maris's record 61 American league home run record. Sure, Barry Bonds holds the record at 73 and Sammy Sosa cranked out 66 long balls in 1998 but that was the steroid era and while many baseball historians acknowledge Bonds accomplishment, there are many others believing the clean record belongs at least for now to Roger Maris.

For me, it's been a frustrating Yankee year. Other than Judge, they haven't forced me into non-stop TV hawking. I don't ever think I've been more distant in any year. But Judge is a complete other story. He turned down a massive Yankee contract before the start of the year, instead betting on himself. The pressure to succeed would be immense, in NYC no less where each at bat is critically analyzed. His resilience has been off the charts. He has put together a statistical year that will rank with the all-time greats. A Triple Crown is with reach. Only the great Mickey Mantle has a Yankee Triple Crown.

Watching the game the other night with my wife when he tied the Babe at 60 was exhilarating in it had me thinking back to being 9 years old again and wishing I had the ability to have watched Roger break the record. When bat hit ball, we both jumped out of our chairs knowing the ball would travel deep into the left field bleachers. It was a sense of more Yankee pride. My grandmother made me a Yankee fan and its times like these that I thank her for doing so.

There are more games to be played and Judge will have every opportunity to further write his history. So, for me it's back to where I always belonged. Watching Yankee games and screaming at the TV.

But this time I have the resources to watch Judge break a 61 year old record. It only took 61 years but so what.  

 

If you have been a fan of baseball as long as I have, this picture has unfortunately become an all too familiar scene. STRIKE 3, YOUR OUT. Today's players are far too concerned with jacking homers with little regard for  batting average. There was an Nike ad campaign years ago centered around Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine with the saying "Chicks Dig the Long Ball" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLECMCargd8). So, the chicks changed the game?

Where have all the contact hitters gone? Is there no room for the single hitters. Imagine no Ichiro or Wage Boggs. How about gap hitters. A double would be nice now and then. Throw in a Triple every other week or two so I can remember the good old days.

Launch angle and exit velocity are all the rage in today's game. I remember hearing Don Mattingly say if you execute a proper swing plane, the ball will indeed leave the ballpark. I truly believe we are teaching young players the wrong batting fundamentals. Putting bat on ball and putting said ball in play has taken a back seat to attempting to put said ball over said outfield fence. Boring!! 

I went to the Diamondback game the other night and I was thrilled with what I saw what Diamondback hitters do, they basically hit the ball, singles, doubles a triple and a home run. It was the full hitters gambit. Not only did they hit, they ran the bases. They are a young athletic team full of youthful exuberance. They are not a team build on old age and bulk.

My favorite player of all-time was Mickey Mantle. I adored how far he could hit a baseball. But, he also was a Triple Crown winner and in his youth was the reputed fastest from home to first.

I know not every player can be a Superstar but what we can expect players fully versed in all aspects of the game. For now, I'm back on the D-Back bandwagon with there youth movement. Sometimes you don't have to win World Series to entertain.

My Turn

1. Mookie Betts - arguably the 2nd best position player in all of Major League Baseball was shipped out of Boston late last night as the Red Sox embark on the pursuit of lowering their current payroll under the luxury tax threshold. Betts is off to LaLa Land and those free wheeling spending Dodgers. This maneuver could make for a rating bonanza for Fox Sports with a Yankee / Dodger World Series come October. Where it leaves the Red Sox will probably years away. Payroll flexibility will allow them to reconstruct their rooster, rebuild their farm system and pursue free agents that fit their new norms. What id doesn't do is put them in the business of winning championships the next few years. The Yankees and Rays and to some extent, the Blue Jays are positioned to rule the AL East.
   Bottom Line - How will the Boston fans who already are paying the highest tickets prices in all of baseball going to react to losing the best position player to come through their system since the likes of Fred Lynn or Jim Rice? I would suspect there will be tickets available.
   
2. Pete Rose - Now here's a guy either full of persistence or just plain old ignorance . Given the sign stealing scandal of the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox, "Charlie Hustle" is taking the opportunity to ask for reinstatement from MLB. He has to be kidding, right! Even though no players in the recent scandal have been suspended or fined, Pete is seizing on the opportunity that two wrongs will somehow make his betting on baseball right. 
   Bottom Line - Pete has always been the truest definition of a huckster, peddling his innocence with every paid autograph or ball he signs. Pete should be always remain on the outskirts of Cooperstown.

     

                    Baseballs Trifecta                                 

                                  

The last two American League Champions are looking for new managers, as both A.J. Hinch of the Houston Astros and Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox have been fired by their organizations due to their involvement in the on-going sign stealing investigation conducted by Major League Baseball. And now, it's being reported Carlos Beltran, who was the only player so named in the MLB investigation will never even have a chance to mange a single game and is out of his job as manger of the Mets.

My turn to sound off:

MLB did an incredible job under the leadership of Commissioner Manfred. He got results and applied the hammer to those who violated the rules. Surely different than old Bud Selig and the days of the steroid scandal. I'm not totally sure though the players should have been granted immunity, for they certainly bought into the crime.

Let's me say it a bit stronger. Those players both on the Astros and Red Sox who participated in this maneuver to exploit an unfair advantage are SCUMBAGS. They willingly padded their stats to the disregard or disrespect of their opponents and the game itself. There can be no silence. Knowing what a pitcher is about the throw is bullshit. I would love to know the analytics of what hitters averages were on breaking balls during their crime spree. Now we know precisely why the 2017 Astros and 2018 Red Sox seemed to be impossible to beat at their home ballparks. 

As a long time Yankee fan, I already have disdain for that team in Boston and I've now grown to have the same disdain for the Houston chapter. But even with that said, I'm not naive to think that this sort of technological cheating hasn't been used by other organization to some regard and if found to be true, they should be dealt with in the same manner.

So what's the solution? First, mine is a very simple one. Eliminate all on-field technology from the sport including replay. Put the umpires back in charge and if they miss a call or two, accept them for being human. The game has a long history without the help of modern technology. Besides, think of the time savings. 

Lastly, those who are caught inflicting damage to our American Pastime are ushered out of the game for life. No exceptions and no 2nd chances. If you want to run a clean ship, the consequences of cheating in any way shape or form should be extreme. 

Yankees Go All in on Gerrit Cole...Again

If you are a believer in the saying "third times a charm", better get Cole's uniform measurements because he's heading to the Bronx. It's already been widely reported many many, many times over how the Yankees after initially drafting Cole only to see him politely decline the offer and enroll at UCLA. They then tried to entice the Pirates to trade for him only to see him shipped instead to the Astros. Cole is a now the cream of this years free agent crop and with Scott Boras as his agent, looking to break the bank in terms of a total dollars deal. And the Yankees are chasing once again with their tremendously heavy wads of cash. Talk about persistence. Cashman is out to get his MAN.

It's being reported total dollars to get Cole's signature on a contract will exceed $300 Million over 9-10 years. Seeing that Cole is entering his so called baseball prime at age 29, what exactly will the Yankees be getting over that time span? Will a couple World Series championships be enough for the payout and take what you get toward the end of the contract. Pitcher's contracts have never been well suited to the back-end. But could his back-end be another Roger Clemens without the juice?

Bottom line...Cole is key in evaluating the Yankees plans going into the 2020 season. No Cole will not sink the optimism but would send that optimism to new all-time heights.

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Adios Muchacho! 

Lane Kiffin was abruptly fired in the wee hours of Sunday morning after the team's charter flight taxied to the gate as his team returned from a 62-41 thrashing at the hands of the Arizona State Sun Devils. Kiffin had been the #1 whipping boy for USC as he lost his fan base, his team and more importantly games. He inherited a football program caught cheating and the NCAA slapped them with heavy sanctions. This is not the first time USC has faced the wrath of the NCAA for their cheating ways. The arrogant fan base demands nothing but their old glory days when Heisman Trophy winners dotted the sidelines and that damn white stallion raced around the track.

I'm no Kiffin apologist and I certainly am no fan of Southern Cal (they don't like being called that anymore) but the true villain of why this once highly esteemed football program has fallen as far as it has now resides in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, it's that gum chewing, smirking cheerleader, one Pete Carroll. He cheated and cheated until he was caught and fled for the millions Paul Allen and the Seattle Seahawks threw at him. And without even the slightest hint of remorse. I wish there was an NFL rule that prohibits coaches who put a university into NCAA sanctions from taking a NFL job until their prior university exits from probation. I'd pay to see that smirk wiped off Pete Carroll's face if that rule was in place today.