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“Names in the News”

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TIGER WOODS….We are headed towards the Masters, and all the attention is on Tiger and his comeback. He has been rock solid consistent his last three tourneys. Not the power hitter he was prior to the back surgeries, but he has hit more fairways and greens the last three tourneys than he had in years. All these rounds of sub-70 have shown how far his comeback has come. It’s too early to talk about winning another major, but it might not be too early to talk about him winning sometime this spring or summer. So far, so good health-wise too. And the TV ratings are bumping up, and he’s the reason.

PHIL MICKELSON….A win, finally, under his belt, ending his long drought, and he’s had more good rounds than bad rounds.

JASON DAY….His game is not what it was. Two years ago, as hot a golfer as there was, ranked number 1-in the world, but health issues, and a back issue have knocked his game down a notch.

RORY MC ILROY….A win two weeks ago was a sign his health is back, though his game might not be back on a week to week basis.

COREY LIUGET…The four game suspension for a PED positive test hurts him, his reputation, and his checking account. It will cost him 2M in salary. More importantly, look for the Chargers to use that as an excuse to ask him to take a payout from the other 6M still owed on his deal. Much like the suspension of Antonio Gates two years ago, I doubt it was cheating, but rather taking something in the off season they did not know contained an illegal substance..

TRE BOSTON…The Chargers mouthy safety had a decent year, and hoped to use that as a jumping off point for a big money payday in free agency. Not one offer yet. So much for the idea he could get 5-to-7M a season. Even his own team hast offered that. They do need to re-sign him, but at their price.

SDCCU STADIUM…It’s vacant and dark a lot, but what about this idea. The Raiders are thinking of leaving Oakland a year early, because that city is going to sue the NFL. What about playing their final year in San Diego at the old ‘Q’. Raiders fans would flock here to see the team. Ex-Chargers fans would show up, maybe to spite Dean Spanos.

SPRING FOOTBALL…Bill Polian takes over as President of the Alliance of American Football, that will start up in 2020. A spring league, with 8-teams, playing in good weather cities. Can you say San Diego Lightning, San Diego Sun, San Diego Bolts? Would displaced Chargers fans come see a spring league? Might be worth trying, and another tenant at the old ‘Q’.

DINELSON LAMET….A real scare, and a lucky MRI exam on his injured right elbow. He has a strained ligament, not a tear. But he is dry-docked at least 4-weeks. Bigger question, did the stress of learning a new hard slider create the elbow injury, and does the coaching staff need to put that pitch on the back burner.

HUNTER RENFROE…Enough with all this talk of sending him to El Paso to start the season, after his 7th home run of the spring. Spot him, let him play a couple of times a week in rotation with Will Myers and Jose Pirela at the corner outfield spots.

JALEN MC DANIELS….Headed towards an evaluation by NBA people, they will see his athleticism, and view his pencil thin frame, and say he needs to go back to San Diego State for at least another year, if not two. He’s a long ways away from being a Kawhi Leonard, or even a Malik Pope, whom I never felt reached his true potential despite four years wearing Red & Black.

BILL MC GILLIS…Waiting for the AD at USD to make this decision on a new head coach. Recruiting awaits for this WCC school, and though they return all the key firepower guys, and two redshirts, the Toreros need the right coach to replace the departed Lamont Smith.

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE….Are they going to get it done, I hope so. This potential expansion move to lure Gonzaga and BYU as conference members in basketball. It would be huge for the league, devastating for the West Coast Conference.

MARCH MADNESS…The edge sure has come off the NCAA tourney, and it’s more than just the Aztecs getting knocked out, then West Coast basketball getting run off. The loss of top seed Virginia has lots to do with it. The dismissal of Duke and the best big man in the country, Marvin Bagley has something to do with it too.This run by Cinderella Loyola of Chicago has been fun to watch, but there are no sexy teams left to say, ‘I gotta watch that game’.,

GULLS..THE AHL hockey entry is a raging success in San Diego, despite all the callus and the injuries the team has had to fight thru. Unsung heroes in the success of the franchise are Bob Murray and David McNabb, the GM and the VP of scouting, for not just the drafts, but the quality of college free agents they seem to be signing each March and April. Two really unsung front office execs in the NHL.

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