………..(FOOTBALL)……….

Aztecs…Football coach Rocky Long visibly upset at fans in San Diego for poor support of his (7-2) football team….”Absolutely ridiculous criticism of these players on social media” referring to barrage of criticism over teams poor offense….”Tell players to turn off your phones-ignore it-but they can’t…it’s part of their culture”….Long chides the media….”85% of teams in the country wishes they could be (7-2) and people in this town treat us like losers”……Long not happy with having to play Friday night home game against Fresno State….”Friday is for high school football….but TV tells us to play on Friday night so we will”……Coaching staff “Disappointed this team can’t score points on offense”.

LSU….Coach Ed Ogeron cursed out Alabama football in post game team speech in lockeroom….disappointed it got out on social media.

Pitt…Coach Pat Narduzzi upset he has to play Thursday night home game against North Carolina-going head to head with Steelers-Cleveland Browns game.

South Carolina…Vote of confidence coach Will Muschamps despite Gamecocks (4-6) record.

Oklahoma…Lose RB-Trey Sermon-knee surgery
Texas Tech…Decide redshirt QB-Alex Bowman-shoulder injury
Michigan..RB-Chris Evans-academically reinstated-will play in 2020
Wake Forest..WR-Sage Surrat-miss rest of year-shoulder surgery.

—————

(NFL)

Chargers….Began practice in Colorado Springs this morning-30-degrees weather…preparing for Monday Night game in Mexico City vs Chiefs…training at altitude.

Chargers…OT-Russell Okung-unable to practice with groin injury suffered last weekend.

———————

(Roster Moves)

Colin Kaeperneck…will hold private FA-workout in Atlanta on Saturday for NFL teams…has not played since March 2017 when he opted out of 49ers contract…NFL setup private workout which will be held a Atlanta Falcons facility….Open to all teams…closed to media…..Kaeperneck will interview with teams after workout…….Workout will be run by NFL Scouting officials…..Kaeperneck has had just 1-workout since 207-that with Seahawks…

Bengals..Release LB-Preston Thomas..had signed (3Y-16M) deal
Carolina..Release OG-Bryan Witzmann

Colts…Meet with K-Adam Vinatieri-missed 6PAT..5FGs this year
Colts..Workout FA-Ks-Nick Rose-ex Redskins…Mike Nugent-ex Jets

Tampa Bay..Release CB-Vernon Hargreaves-former #1 pick
Lions..Sign FA-OT-Dan Skipper-ex Houston
Ravens..Sign FA-DTs-Justin Ellis-ex Raiders..Dom Peko-ex Broncos
Ravens..Release PR-Cyrus Jones
Browns..Release LB-Malik Jefferson
Titans..Release RB-Rod Smith
————–

(Injuries)

Seattle..WR-Tyler Lockett-released from hospital-did not have blood clot on shin-just severe bruise.

Colts..WR-Devin Funchess-cleared to practice-injured collarbone in week one.

Giants..TE-Rhett Ellison placed in concussion protocol…already without TE-Evan Engram-foot injury

49ers..DE-Ron Blair-MRI-knee injury…MRI-WR-Emmanuel Sanders-oblique injury…MRI-RB-Matt Brieda-ankle…OT-Joe Staley-surgery fractured finger-out 3W

Rams..IR-LB-Bryce Hager-elbow…IR-C-Bryan Allen-knee

———

(Teams)

Zeke Bratkowski…14Y-veteran QB-passes away (88Y)…backup QB-Bears-Packers-Rams….also QB-coach for Packers…Father of longtime NFL offensive coach Bob Bratkowski

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

………….(BASEBALL)……………..

Padres,,,,Likely to pull out of bidding for FA-P-Stephen Strasburg-agent Scott Boras asking for (6Y-180M) package for 31Y-old free agent.

Padres…Indicating they are likely to package a series of young players to trade for established starting pitcher….Could deal C-Austin Hedges and young pitchers to a starter…Also clears roster space on 40-man roster.

Padres…Offered hitting coach job to ex-Pirates-Rockies manager Clint Hurdle…rejected offer…wants to take the year off.

Padres..outright P-Jacob Nix to AAA-El Paso-will not be protected from Rule 5-draft after arrest in offseason.

Padres…P-Cole Hamels-represented by agent John Boggs…former Rancho Bernardo product-may be approached by Padres for a meeting on a short-term contract…

Padres…Prepared to take payroll from 124M-to-140M this offseason.

—————

Angels…Hire Tony LaRussa as Senior Advisor to GM-Billy Eppler….LaRussa spent last 2-years as advisor with Red Sox….Legendary Manager-GM with A’s-Cardinals…Also worked with Diamondbacks and for Comissioner’s Office.

——————

(Roster Moves)

Yankees…Say they will meet with both FA-Ps-Gerritt Cole-Stephen Strasburg.

Gerritt Cole…Astros FA-P says not likely to sign a contract until January.

Cardinals..sign P-Adam Wainwright to 1-year extension worth 10M.
Washington..open talks with FA-SS-Josh Donaldson-ex Braves
Orioles…sell P-Aaron Brooks to team in Korean League
Rockies..Sign FA-OF-Eric Stamets-ex Indians

————–

(MLB)

Cubs-Yankees-Red Sox…Informed they went over Luxury Tax limit threshold in 2019…..If they sign Qualifying Free Agent-will have to forfeit #2-#5 draft pick and forfeit 1M in international signing bonus money.

Dodgers-Angels…Informed if they sign Qualifying Free Agent..they will give up #2 pick and give up 500,000 in international bonus pool.

Tampa Bay….Eric Neander-GM….Named Executive of Year..guided Rays to (96-66) record with only 53M-payroll.

Minnesota…Rocco Baldelli-named American League Manager of Year..led Twins (101-61) record…Got 13-votes..Yankees-Aaron Boone was second…Kevin Cash-Tampa Bay was 3rd in voting.

Cardinals..Mike Schildt named National League Manager of the Year..took (44-44) team and drove them to first place….Craig Counsell-Brewers finished 2ndin votes….Brian Snitker-Braves was third.

Houston…”The Athletic” reporting 4-former Astros employees confirm Astros used electronics to steal signs in 2017-World Series against MLB rules…P-Mike Fiers was one of players who confirmed the scheme….Houston used centerfield camera with monitor in edge of dugout….Astros players used banging sounds to tip hitters off to breaking balls-changeups….Astros fined in 2018 for taking pictures of Red Sox dugout during playoffs…GM-Jeff Luhnow says Astros are cooperating with MLB probe….

Mets…Interview ex Braves-Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez for bench coach job on Carlos Beltran staff….also interview ex Mariners manager Jerry Narron.

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

…………..(BASKETBALL)…………….

Aztecs-Grand Canyon….Wednesday night action….SDSU (2-0)…Antelopes (0-2)….F-Jordan Schakel shooting 75% from 3-point line to open the season…Antelopes coached by former NBA star Dan Majerle-have 4-straight 20-win seasons.

USD-W-Fresno State (72-66) in overtime…..Toreros blow 13-point lead in 2nd half-forced to rally in overtime…F-Brian Hatfield (17P)….guards Joey Calcaterra-Marlon Humphrey combined for (36P) in win…….Tuesday night action…Toreros (1-2) now  start to season.

AP-College Poll….1-Kentucky…2-Duke…3-Michigan State…4-Louisville….5-Kansas.

Kentucky-L-Evansville…..Top ranked UK shoots just 37% from floor….losing to Purple Aces team that was 25-point underdog….Evansville was (11-21) last year…but won (67-64).

—————-

(NBA)

Lakers-W-Phoenix Suns (123-115)….Kyle Kozma scores 23P-off the bench….Anthony Davis-LeBron James combined for 43P…Lakes shoot 53% from floor….Survived Suns hitting 16-3 point shots……..Tuesday night action…LA (8-2) start to season.

Lakers-Golden State…Wednesday night action
Clippers-at-Houston…Face G-James Hardin averaging (37PPG).

Clippers..G-Paul George expected to make debut Wednesday.
Clippers..G-Landry Shamet-MRI on injured ankle

Houston..G-James Hardin breaks NBA record…averaging (37PPG)…highest total since 1966-opening games of season set by Rick Barry (36PPG).

Houston..G-Eric Gordon-Surgery-knee scope-out 6W

Bulls…Lose C-Cristianio Felicia-6W-broken wrist

Gold State..G-Damion Lee-broken hand-out 6-weeks

Miami…G-Dion Waiters-10 game suspension for eating drug laced cookie…Costs himself 1.2M-roster bonus and 800,000 in game checks.

Brooklyn Nets..Fire CEO-David Levy-just hired 2-months ago by new owner Joseph Tsai…had left CEO job with Turner Sports to go to NBA.

Houston…Rockets have lost a reported 7M in sponsorship contracts from Chinese firms since preseason incident with GM-Daryl Morey

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

…………(HOCKEY)…………..

Gulls-San Jose Barracuda…..Gulls (4-7) have won 4-of-5 games…heading into Wednesday night AHL game.
Gulls…LW-Maxime Comtois sent down to AHL club from Anaheim Ducks.

Kings-Minnesota Wild…Anzi Kopitar-Jeff Carter score early….Kings led (2-1) in 3rd period at Press Time…Kings (5-11-1)…Tuesday night
Ducks-Red Wings…Josh Mahura-Jakob Silfverberg score goals (:29) apart….Ducks led (3-2) in third period at Press Time….Ducks (9-8-1)…Tuesday night

Kings..Benching RW-Ilya Kovalchuk-will not play games..has 3G-17 games this season…is owed (6.2M) this year.
Kings..Callup LW-Matt Luff from AHL-Ontario…(10P-10Games)
Kings..Put F-Trevor Lewis on IR-knee injury
Toronto..Activate F-Zach Hyman from IR list

Hockey Night in Canada…Interested in hiring Brian Burke to replace the fired Don Cherry..Burke longtime outspoken GM-Toronto-Vancouver-Anaheim-great experience in media circles….Cherry refused to apologize for incendiary comments about immigrants living in Toronto that led to firing.

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

…………(GENERAL)………….

Soccer…Team USA…loses striker Christian Pulisic with hip injury suffered over weekend playing for Chelsea in EPL…will miss Nations Cup game this Friday….Injury comes 24-hours after Team USA lost MF-Michael Bradley with ankle injury in MLS Cup championship game with Toronto.

USSF…Federation gives ‘Vote of Confidence’ to coach Greg Berhalter despite 4-straight losses in international friendly games….GM-Earnie Stewart…’Incredibly confident with how young team has grown’…..’Disrespectful to criticize team considering all hard work the last 18 months……

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

Please follow and like us: