1-Man’s Opinion-Monday-“Cleaning out my Notebook”
Gone for a week on holiday, and lots of things happen that deserve comment.
Wimbledon…Novak Djokovic put on an awesome display of ground strokes and returns in winning his third title at Center Court. He broke Roger Federer’s serve four times in the final round, as the Serb won his 3rd All England title. That after he stomped home town favorite Andy Murray in the semis.
Wimbledon..When healthy she plays the beautiful game. Serena Williams gets another plate on the grass, wins her fourth straight Grand Slam event, and the 21st of her career. The Serena-Slam binge, reeling off four Grand Slams in a row is something to see.
Tour-de-France…Don’t want to wear the yellow jersey these days, and spill blood all over it. Terrible crashes at the front of the pack marred week one of the Tour, including mishaps that sent leaders to the hospital on back to back days, with a broken shoulder and collarbone.
NASCAR…A week after the horrific Austin Dillon flip into the fence at Daytona, the governing body of stock car racing, still doesn’t really have a handle on keep the cars on the ground, on the Super Speedways. Running at Kentucky or Dover is not like Talladega or Dayton.
Indy Car….Ditto the raging controversy of pack racing and getting airborne in that series too. Indy officials socked Will Power, the defending points champ with a 25,000 fine to calling out race leadership and its rules that put drivers at terrible risks. The race at Fontana was too fast, too dangerous.
NBA…Everybody wants to be a ‘max player’ in pro basketball, from the LeMarcus Aldridge’s of the world, to the fringe star like Monta Ellis. The Latrelle Sprewell issue of ‘can’t feed my family on 13M a year”.
Lakers…So much for championship banners, retired uniforms, and shiny trophies, after LA struck out in attempts to sign the big money free agents. Roy Hibbert, Pacers, a difference maker?
Clippers…Unless a signature is on the paper, there is no deal, and so, despite DeAndre Jordan’s verbal committment to sign in Dallas, the Clippers were still there when Jordan had second thoughts, and decided to call his former team back. Mark Cuban had to bite his tongue to avoid another 100,000-fines.
NHL…Much the same in hockey, where guys are getting 8-to-10M a year just because the salary cap has gone up.
Padres…Wow, someone gets excited because San Diego wins two games in a row vs a beat-up Rangers team. Skidding to the All Star break, the Friars are still 10-games behind first place LA, and are 7th in the fite for the two wildcard spots in the NL.
Chargers…Five weeks now since the Mayor unveiled his financing plan for the NFL Stadium at the Q, and not talks at all about the actual financing of who pays what or if money must be shifted around.
NFL…Just asking “‘what if” USC, which runs the Coliseum, says ‘no’ to the NFL request to rent the facility in 2016, where does the NFL go. Dodgers Stadium, Angels Stadium, the 27,000 seat Stub Hub soccer stadium in Carson. The NFL has always been about leverage. Wonder how this tastes to them now, that the Trojans have the edge.
Hacksaw
I have listened to you on radio since I was 20. I am now 53. Where can i hear you? I miss your regular talk shows. You are the best reporter in sports.
I am doing TV now on weekends…on San Diego 6-XETV…Saturday-Sunday nite sports package shortly after 10:30pm….a ‘very different’ type of sportscast.