What I See–What I Think”

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PADRES….All the hype no longer counts for anything..  They didn’t hit for months.  Now they have burned up the pitching staff, and their bullpen has faltered.  The Padres get to an off day now 10-games behind 1st place Los Angeles, yes those Dodgers.  And the Friars are 7-games out of the last wildcard spot and have 6-teams infront of them.  There is no playoff position coming unless GM-AJ Preller can make a deal to find pitching help or rent another starter, but at what price.

And the schedule gives them few breathers.  After losing 3-of-4 in Philadelphia, they go play the big bat Blue Jays, who bash people at Rogers Place.  When they get home they have 3-games with lst place Texas.  Still to come, 4-with the Dodgers, 3 with the red hot Orioles, plus games at Colorado and vs an up an down Diamondbacks team.

This is not getting better, just more disappointing.

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CHARGERS..Training camp is a week away and the anger from Austin Ekler remains outfront, with his comment it’s ‘insulting’ backup WRs make more money than he does (6.5M) in the NFL.  Ekler is a walk-free agent at the end of the season.

Just wondering why the Chargers would be dropping comments about Justin Herbert’s won-loss record with the Bolts (25-25) as these contract talks continue.  Why would anyone do that?  His fault this team has never won a playoff game in his four years of starts?  Really?

Chargers have (12M) cap space left this year.  Next year, they will be a team record (83M) over the expanded NFL salary cap.  Better win this year, for there will be roster changes next year.

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RAMS…As they open training camp next week, it’s a new look roster.  Yes they have QB-Matthew Stafford and DT-Aaron Donald.  But 22-veterans players have departed.  Replaced by 14-draft picks and 24-undrafted free agents.  And they don’t have any salary cap space left.

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AZTECS…Decision week in the Mountain West Conference as the 11-Team Presidents meet on Monday to determine what to do about the status of San Diego State.  Let them leave?  Allow them to negotiate an extension of their exit fees and decision date?  Fine them (1M) breaching the exit policies.?  Let them stay another year then decide?  It’s messy and both sides are wrong.

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LAKERS…They added 4-new players in the off season deals, but the real player to keep an eye on is Max Christie, who is lighting up the Las Vegas Summer League.  If he is the real deal in his second year, he could play a big role in the offense coming off the bench.

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CLIPPERS…What do they do?  They are facing a 90M-luxury tax penalty.  Wednesday is the day they can open contract talks about a ‘max extension’ for Paul George-Kawhi Leonard.  The max deals are worth (4Y-22)M) each.  Here’s the real state, the duo have missed 266-games with injuries over the last four years.  Do you risk guaranteed money for the next four years, knowing Kawhi has already had 3-knee surgeries and PG has had 3-major injuries in two seasons?

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WIMBLEDON…We have seen greatness in the past, from McEnroe to Connors to Borg…Sampras to Agassi..and the more recent greatness of Roger Federer to Novak Djokovic.  What we saw Sunday was an electric Men’s Final as the next possible superstar surfaces as Carlos Alcazar took out Djokovic.  Losing the first set 6-1, he came back to win the 5-set war.  Included was one game that entailed 27-minutes, 32-points. 13-times at Deuce and 6-at breakpoint.  It was an amazing (4:42) of intensity we saw at Center Court.

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BRITISH OPEN…Royal Liverpool in England will take the spotlight, and there will be plenty of topics.  The PGA-LIV war, Congressional hearings, the LIV guys in the field, the ill will from the PGA players towards the merger, the heated questions coming Jay Monahan’s way too.  Oh by the way, 4-days of great golf, and who knows what the weather will be like coming off the seas?

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CORNER KICKS…The Women’s World Cup starts on July 20th for Team USA-going for their straight Cup.  What a history of stars women’s soccer has delivered to us.  Might this be the changing of the guard, the last flings to see veteran stars Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe but maybe the breakout debut of Nico Rodman and Alyssa Thompson.  Group E play lays ahead against Holland-Portugal- and Vietnam.  This is worth paying attention too.

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