-0-

“Names in the News”

-0-

Random Thoughts about People in Town:

MIGHTY 1090….I would have never thought we’d ever see this day, a major market sports-talk station, with good ratings, would cease operation. Drowned by a sea of red-ink that dates back to its original launch in 2003. Lots of reasons for it. Lots of people to blame. Will explain at the end of the week in a 1-Man’s Opinion Column, from someone who lived thru it.

FERNANDO TATIS….Headed to the disabled list…so gifted a player, excelling at virtually everything he does For a 20-year old to play this well, this consistently, this young is superb. It was a scary hamstring injury. I first thought groin, then I thought hamstring, and then I feared a ‘tear’. So far it does not appear that way, but you have to treat these injuries with caution, because his speed, is a key component of his major league game.

PADRES PITCHING….It’s been a long time since the Friars have had so many young arms get to the show this quickly, and have success. Lauer, Lucchesi, Paddack, Margavicius are the makings of a superb group of young pitchers. Not since the arrival of Andy Benes, Joey Hamilton and Greg Harris in the 1989-to-1995 era have this many young arms had this success.

HISTORY LESSON…The average age of those 4-starting pitchers is (23.4Y). Not since the Baby Birds of the Baltimore Orioles, in 1960, has baseball seen a young rotation like this. You do remember pitching guru, Manager Paul Richards. His young staff was (22) Chuck Estrada (18-11)…(21) Milt Pappas (15-11)….(22) Steve Barber (10-7)….(21) Jerry Walker (3-4)….(21) Jack Fisher (12-11). The relievers were gray beards (37) Hoyt Wilhelm and (35) Hal ‘Skinny’ Brown. That was a long time ago.

BOLTS BUILDING…Look at the quiet efficient job Tom Telesco has done with the Chargers drafts. The breed of athletes, the speed, the tenacity. DT-Jerry Tillery, joins DE-Joey Boss, S-Derwin James, CB-Dion King..LB-Kayzir White…LB-Uchenna Nwosu….CB-Michael Davis….CB-Treovr Williams…S-Adrian Phillips. That’s a lot of young talent added in just a 3-year window to that defense.

AAF-FLEET….They’re gone, the San Diego Fleet, and the AAF, leaving behind a trail of debt, and filing for bankruptcy last week. The AAF incurred 48M in debt, from unpaid leases, hospital bills, hotel bills, and the stiffing of vendors who did ‘good faith’ business from San Diego to San Antonio to every city in between. There are (1,117) creditors in that bankruptcy form. No one will get paid. No one could have foreseen this. It likely destroys the reputation of Charlie Ebersole and Bill Polian, who put their names and legacies behind this project.

BAD GUY-BAD DECISION….The draft has come and gone, and once promising LT-Tyler Roemer, thought to be a lock draft pick, did not get selected. His suspension and attitude issues, destroyed his chances of going early, in fact, going period. Then the revelations he was involved in a year long abusive relationship with another coed, that led to counseling, then a suspension by coach Rocky Long, buried him. Offered all the guidance in the world, he proceeded to destroy all his relationships at SDSU. He signed a contract to come to the Raiders camp finally.

WRONG DECISION….Add Jalen McDaniels name to the list of ‘made a mistake’. Should not have left SDSU to file for the NBA draft. He still must deal with this ‘voyeur’ lawsuit, filed by a high school friend he video taped in a sexual affair, and that put it out on social media. As skilled as he was, he had too many games in which he was MIA. Add this to the situation, there are just 2-rounds to the NBA draft, 60-selections in all. Do you know how many underclassmen filed for this draft? The scoreboard shows ‘174’ underclassmen, and an additional ’58’ international players, for two rounds. Next stop NBA-G League? Maybe China-Phillipines-Turkey? One more year, with a good recruiting class and a big season with the Aztecs, might have locked him into the 1st round. Now, this year, that many players, don’t think so.

BIG PLAYER-SMALL TIME TEAM….Point Loma Nazarence had a great season (31-5) and got to the Division II finals before losing. They’ve lost their coach, to the head job at Idaho State, and now their star player, the late blooming 6’8 Dalton Hommes has left for the NBA draft. Might get picked. Might wind up in Europe. But what a season and what a story.

GREAT SEASON-NOT SO GREAT ENDING….A fabulous run by the San Diego Sockers, this (23-1) season record, ended with a disappointing home-pitch loss to the Monterrey Flash in the MASL playoffs, denying them the chance to go play in the finals. The Landon Donovan arrival at mid season was a marketing coup, though him not playing road games lessened the impact. It would be fun to have him back next year, but at what price?

GULLS ROAD TRIP….They open the second round of the AHL playoffs in Bakersfield against the Condors, the top team in the Pacific Division on Wednesday. The Condors had a record 17-game win streak late in the season. They won 41-games on the year. This series matches two highly regarded first round draft picks. Edmonton Oilers high number 1-pick, defenseman Evan Bouchard, will play for the Condors. Anaheim Ducks first round pick Sam Steele has scored 20-goals this season for the Gulls in addition to his time spent with the NHL club. Both teams are loaded with AHL veterans too, and both goalies can get hot, Kevin Boyle of San Diego-Shane Starter (2.33-GAA). The intangible about Gulls hockey, coach Dallas Eakins ability to get his team ready on the road. San Diego is (18-6-4) away from home since December. No team does that in hockey, the Gulls have.

======================

Please follow and like us: