Thinking Out Loud
Sitting here looking at a loaded notebook
Chargers-It is amazing Dean Spanos, who has donated some much money to charities in San Diego, would stain his public reputation by how his club is conducting (not-conducting) talks with the city about the new NFL Stadium.
Chargers-Radio analyst Hank Bauer gets bounced off the broadcasts. Reports are LA-bases former receiver Curtis Conway will replace him? Why? Nick Hardwick, Jim Laslavic, Dennis McKnight, Darren Bennett, who live here, not worth considering?
Padres-You have to feel sorry for pitcher Josh Johnson, setback after setback in trying to comeback from 2-elbow surgeries. This year alone, strained elbow tendon, pain above the elbow, tricep strain, neck nerve issue.
Tommy John Surgery-The results have been amazing..82% of pitchers who have had the operations get back on major league rosters, except here in San Diego. The Padres had 12-arm surgeries in a 17-month span, and not one has made it back yet. Corey Luebke, Casey Kelly, Josh Johnson all in long term rehabs.
Lakers-What happened one night influenced what happened the next night. When LeMarcus Aldridge (Portland) and Kevin Love (Cavs) opted out of contracts to enter free-agency, it changed the Lakers thoughts about the 2nd pick in the draft. Thus G-D’Angelo Russell of Ohio State, not Duke big guy Jahlil Okafor. Now with 23M cap space available, the Lakers can make a max bid on Aldridge or Love. Now we find out if the franchise has any luster left?
Aztecs-Count football coach Rocky Long as a ‘yes’ vote on the early signing period for recruits. He believes by getting the big time powers to sign commitments early, it frees up players for Mountain West school to be able to go after, in the group left behind.
NBA Draft-That picture of UNLV center Christian Wood sitting alone in the Draft Green Room should tell the story of underclassmen who get bad advice, leave school, come out early, then don’t get drafted. The NCAA is now proposing a new rule,which allows players to file for the draft, go to the NBA Evaluation camp, and then drop out of the draft and return to school if the scouts don’t believe they will be picked high.
Gulls-The AHL team hired a good coach, regardless of what Dallas Eakin’s NHL record with the Edmonton Oilers showed. He had two great seasons with the Toronto Marlies, is an ‘on the edge’ guy with Xs-Os, cares about players, and loves to communicate, and has won in the AHL. Now Anaheim just needs to get the next wave of young talent to the Valley View Casino Centre..
Ducks-An interesting couple of days for Anaheim on NHL Draft weekend, saying goodbye to wingers Emerson Etem, Kyle Palmierei and soon to be free agent Matt Beleskey. They did get a good one with Rangers acquisition Carl Hagelin and veteran goalie Anton Khudobin.
Gulls-They won’t say it, but I will. With the Ducks trade for another netminder, it probably means 21-year old goalie phenom John Gibson starts the AHL season here. He had a (2.60) GAA average with the Ducks last winter.
Kings-Good news-bad news on draft weekend. They paid an enormous price to rent Boston Bruins goal scorer Milan Lucic, not so much the lst round pick they gave up, but rather young goalie Martin Jones.
Kings-It was a horrid acquisition and it will cost them 14.6M with the decision last night to buyout-eat the contract of forward Mike Richards, the ex-Philadelphia Flyer. He stopped scoring when he got to LA, and it loooked like he stopped competing.
Jimmie Johnson-He gambled and lost in the Sonoma 500-Grand Prix. He didn’t take on tires when everyone pitted, and Kurt Busch, on fresh rubber, blew by 6-cars, including JJ, on the final seven laps.
Indy Car…Fontanta’s Auto Club speedway looked empty. No one came to see the Indy cars. They missed a wild day of pack racing, running four abreast, and a spectacular flip on the final lap. Drivers are very upset with Indy car rules regarding downforce. Auto Club Speedway needs to ask itself what has happened to fan support for Indy cars in So Ca.