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Kevin Love, former UCLA basketball star, a very high number 1-draft pick, and a very well paid NBA star, considered ending it all.

Career-Life-Friendships.

His life was off track because of increasing chronic depression.  He could no longer cope with expectations and pressure.

He contemplated suicide.

A phone call changed his life.

He is still an NBA star, still well paid, but his life is more than just basketball.  He is an advocate for ‘mental health’.

An interesting read:

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Cavaliers forward Kevin Love explained his depression while with the Timberwolves in 2012:

The future started to feel meaningless. And when it gets to the point where you lose hope, that’s when the only thing you can think about is, “How can I make this pain go away?”

I don’t think I have to say much more than that.
But Love did find more to say about that.

Love on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger”:

When you get to that point and it’s day after day being the same, you come to a point where the darkest moments come into play and suicidal thoughts come into play. And you start planning it out and what would be the route you would take. And those are really scary moments in my life.
I had a number of ways. The good thing that happens is when you do search that, it comes up with the national-suicide-prevention line. There was a couple ways that I toyed with, but it was just scary to get down that route and think about the idea of taking my own life. But it was something that crossed my mind pretty often, especially when you’re in a moment like that.
Did he ever attempt suicide? Love:

No. Thankfully.
Does he still have suicidal thoughts? Love:

If you’ve been down that road – and I don’t know if whoever’s gonna watch this has had those thoughts before – I think it does cross your mind. And I’ve just learned to speak my truth, honestly. I’ve learned that nothing haunts us like the things we don’t say. So, me keeping that in is actually more harmful. So, I think that’s been the biggest and most helpful thing for me is exposing it, understanding that it is going to make me vulnerable and maybe put me in a spot where for most people it could be tough. But I know that there’s a whole group and strength in numbers out there of people that are dealing with it. And if we have more people that pay it forward – like we’ve seen across a number of sports, a number of walks of life – that’s going to be better.
It is good Love is sharing his experiences if for no other reason than he finds it therapeutic.

But he is helping far more than himself.

By revealing these details, Love is reducing the stigma around mental-health issues. He’s showing anyone with similar thoughts that it can get better. He’s normalizing that depression is an ongoing battle, not something cured and forgotten.

In this interview and beyond, Love is amplifying the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (phone number: 1-800-273-8255), correcting antiquated thinking and working to expand resources.

Love is a great basketball player. This is his most important mission.

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“Padres–Leadership Change–Bad to Good”

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I guess we should say thank you.
Or maybe we should ask for full transparency.
Part of me says ‘well done’..the other part says ‘why’.

The off season for the Padres, after a wonderful summer season of baseball, has surely started badly.

Ron Fowler has stepped aside as the Padres point man, selling his large number of shares to co-owner and money man Peter Seidler, who takes over as lead owner.

Stepping aside a week after his Senior VP-Wayne Partello and VP-Katie Jackson exited, without explanation.

This days after pitching ace Mike Clevinger was lost for the next season with elbow surgery after that 6-for-1 trade.  This after promising catcher Luis Campusano was busted on federal drug charges in Georgia.

This after the club did not reach agreement on contract extensions to top closers Trevor Rosenthal and Kirby Yates.  And this after a blood letting of some 25-people on the baseball ops side.

Coming off such a good season…this is not a good look for the popular team in town.  So many things happening after a really fun season.

There are many factors to consider as to why this happened.

Fowler is 76-years of age, and the wear and tear and pressures of running a franchise may have taken a toll.

Maybe time to enjoy a piece of life after resurrecting and guiding a crown jewel franchise to the accomplishments of becoming a pennant contender.  Getting the All Star game in his shiny new Stadium, luring the Winter Baseball Meeting here twice, and getting to the Playoffs are pretty special accomplishments.

His franchise likely lost between 101 and 115M this past season with the pandemic impact and loss of more than 50% of their revenue, in ticket sales and corporate advertising support?  Not his fault, but on his watch

I cannot imagine the emotional load on responsibility he had to carry for 965-employees and players,  that worked for the franchise in this town, and all the minor league affiliates they operated with baseball people.  He tried hard to help  many who could not work this year with buyouts, deferred layoffs, severances.

Might the business of baseball no longer be seen as popular nor profitable as it had been over the years, with bulging payrolls, on going issues with the Union and the reality that last year’s financial suffering would spill over to another year of financial losses?

Is Fowler being held responsible for the years of wild deficit spending of GM-AJ Preller, who seemed out of control, over-spending for draft picks, taking on massive contracts, having to write check to get rid of players.

You only need to know the 101M investment to sign all those Cuban, Caribbean and draft picks Preller spent on in 2016-2017-2018, the foundation of the building of a farm system that finally made the team a winner.  Fowler agreed to all that.

Fowler obviously signed off on the 80M a year contracts extended outward for Manny Machado-Eric Hosmer-Wil Myers.

And the outgoing lead owner surely agreed with the large amounts of money Preller had to eat to get rid of bloated contracts to Hector Olivares..James Shields..Justin Upton…Mevlin Upton and Matt Kemp.

Everybody makes mistakes on players, but in a smaller market San Diego, that was alot of money for ownership to swallow.

Maybe it had to do with them buying a piece of Fox Sports San Diego, that price, and limited profits realized, with the fears today Regional Sports Networks everywhere seem to be in big-big trouble.

Fowler was forced to make multiple cash-calls in his years of leadership when things were tight, and maybe this is a bill coming due..

The upheaval within the organization has been amazing, starting with the forced removal, without explanation of former President Mike Dee, then Partello-his hand picked VP, to now the lead man atop the organizational chart.

Oddly, two very good baseball men have become available within the last two weeks.  Moneyball icon Oakland A’s leader Billy Beane, and now Cubs President Theo Epstien.  Is this a link to that?  Both with strong San Diego ties.

Might a Fowler exit be linked to an entrance of two proven baseball leaders with San Diego ties?

Maybe he no longer wished to be leader.
Maybe those in upper level offices at Petco no longer wanted him to lead.

Maybe it’s time to enjoy a life in a community, where he has become a philanthropist and an icon.

The Fowler-Seidler team has brought urgency, responsibility, accountability and relevancy back to Padres baseball on and off the field.

If Larry Lucchino and John Moores got ‘Gold Stars’ for saving Padres baseball from the ‘Tom Werner-Band of 15’ and for guiding the team into Petco Park, and all the profits they will reap in the land they bought up, then maybe we should accord some type of honor to Fowler too.

The Fowler-Seidler tag team restored leadership after the John Moores-family and baseballdivorce  Then the lameduck Jeff Moorad takeover led to a debilitating  situation, not as bad as the disgraced Frank McCourt-Dodges era, but maybe as ugly as the Chub Feeney finish in the Kroc era.

He surely will enjoy seeing the benefits of what the next 5-years could be with the Farm system he spent on.  If Tailgate Park goes forward too, some of his vision will become a revenue stream for the franchise too.

Maybe the financial losses suffered in recent years, by virtue of the pandemic and player mistakes, will be washed away when this team becomes an annual pennant-contender, and draws 3M per year.  It means the investments he sanctioned will pay off shortly with wins-profits in the future.

Fowler will remain as Vice Chairman, and possibly be the owner’s liaison to Rob Manfred and the Commissioner’s Office.  He remains part of the Negotiating Committee on key business decisions.

It would be nice to know the why’s and where’s this is happening, for Fowler invested alot of his heart, health and heavy money into making Padres baseball a cornerstone of our community.

Fowler gets a ‘Gold Star’ for what he did in service to baseball fans in America’s Finest City.

He’ll say “It’s Time”.
We should all say “Thank You”

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“The NBA Draft–Great Gamble”

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The 2020 NBA season is in the history books.

The 2021 season kicks off with the NBA Draft on Wednesday night.

Maybe the most uncertain draft we have seen in years.  No universal pick at the top of the board.  Guys who got bounced out of college for an NCAA violation.  One who dropped out of high school to go play abroad.

And a collection of players from abroad that only scouts know about.

It has been a wild week leading up to the draft.  Lakers superstar Anthony Davis opted out of his 28M contract to move towards getting a max deal from the Lakers.

Legendary guard Chris Paul is heading to the Phoenix Suns in a big deal with Oklahoma City.

The Milwaukee Bucks, attempting to retain Giannis Antetokoumnpo, pulled off two huge deals to get New Orleans G-Jrue Holiday and then Sacramento Kings swingman Bogdan Bodanovich.  Those two join Giannis, Kris Middleton and Brooke Lopez.

Still to come,what Houston does with unhappy guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook.  Hardten wants to go to Brooklyn to link up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

And of course the NY Knicks are still out there, with cap space and a new coach Tom Thibodeau, who wants to win immediately.

So with all the weeks moves as a back-drop, here comes the draft, and rumors the top couple of draft picks could be in play.  Who knows if Minnesota or Golden State keep the top two choices.

Here’s a look at the top five picks and the summary on their talent levels by Sports Illustrated’s scouts.

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For further reading, you can dive into SI’s Top 80 prospects and subscribe to our draft newsletter, which will land in your inbox over the course of the week.

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1. Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
Height: 6′ 5″ | Weight: 225 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Although there’s been much discussion publicly surrounding the Timberwolves’ decision at No. 1, within league circles, this situation appears far less confusing. As I’ve reported in recent weeks, a wide range of teams have been operating as if Edwards will be Minnesota’s selection. The Wolves have done their best to send mixed signals to market the pick and have explored a range of trade possibilities, and a deal would probably be their preference in the end. But for the most part, the educated assumptions I’ve heard from executives and front-office personnel have not wavered much. There’s been minimal belief that Minnesota will opt for LaMelo Ball over Edwards. There’s also skepticism that the Timberwolves will find a deal they like enough to pursue—and though there’s certainly time left for that to change, many have penciled in Edwards as the choice here.

While there’s justifiable debate as to who the draft’s top prospect really is, Edwards has a strong case, with an elite physical profile, an improving jump shot, underrated playmaking skills and the potential to be a good defender as he matures. He has a lot to learn, and his overall efficiency and level of engagement must improve. But factoring in his team context and development trajectory, Edwards has really just started to tap into his ability. He fits comfortably with the Timberwolves’ core pieces and will benefit from playing with better players for the first time, which should naturally help his shot selection to an extent. Edwards continues to track as the best answer and presumptive solution for Minnesota.

2. Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
Height: 7′ 1″ | Weight: 240 | Age: 19 | Freshman

The dust has settled a bit with regard to this selection, and, whether or not the Warriors make a deal, most rival teams are preparing as if Wiseman will be off the board at No. 2. Teams interested in Wiseman have operated under the assumption that that they have to trade up in front of Charlotte, and it’s known that the Warriors are interested in moving back in the lottery, seeking to draft a young player while also upgrading their frontcourt with a veteran who can help them win now. The most logical trade partners here are San Antonio and Detroit: both can use a long-term center in Wiseman, can offer LaMarcus Aldridge or Blake Griffin, respectively, and most importantly can offer Golden State a pathway out of Andrew Wiggins’ contract. The Warriors will have to weigh those types of opportunities carefully, but their immediate desire to win is going to be a factor here.

Although teams didn’t have much Wiseman film to work with, his immense size and physical tools, defensive ceiling and potential to develop a reliable jump shot are major calling cards. While the argument against investing early draft capital in a center is understandable, it’s not often you get those three traits in the same teenage prospect. He would have a better case at No. 1 if a different team held the pick. But Wiseman should be a more than sufficient prize for whichever team ends up with him on draft night, and has all the ability to be successful.

Graphic by Bryce Wood
3. Hornets: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC
Height: 6′ 9″ | Weight: 235 | Age: 19 | Freshman

Charlotte is likely to face a difficult choice on draft night, as LaMelo Ball should be on the board for them and present a fascinating upside proposition. But all indications have been that selecting Ball here is not a no-brainer for the Hornets, and Okongwu has gained momentum among rival teams in recent weeks as Charlotte’s presumed selection at No. 3. The Hornets have long been thought to be targeting a big with this pick and were widely linked to Wiseman, but their level of interest in meeting Minnesota’s price to trade up two spots remains unclear. Their decision here will have a domino effect on the rest of the lottery. I wouldn’t totally rule Ball out here yet, but there’s more momentum surrounding Okongwu at this point in time.

Okongwu’s defensive-minded style and mobile, anticipatory play make him well-suited for the NBA game, despite being undersized for a center. He should enable his team to deploy smaller lineups without giving up an edge around the rim. Okongwu’s offensive game is a work in progress, and his ball skills and shooting are currently subpar, but he’s shown flashes of passing ability and has an overall good sense of himself as a player. If he becomes a more consistent threat to put up points in addition to his other strengths, he should be a valuable piece.

4. Bulls: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
Height: 6′ 7″ | Weight: 180 | Age: 19

Ball’s situation continues to be the primary determinant in the flow of the draft lottery, but in any case it’s hard to see him lasting too long outside the top three. He makes a real degree of sense for Chicago, with the Bulls in dire need of a creative playmaker and Coby White better suited as a two-guard long-term. There’s some thought around the NBA that Zach LaVine could be had via trade as well, so his presence shouldn’t be an impediment. The Bulls have done a good job disguising their intentions with this pick, but they’ve long been thought to covet Deni Avdija, who could be the choice here whether or not Ball is on the board. Obi Toppin is also in the mix here, but his skill set would appear redundant with Lauri Markkanen also on the roster.

At the end of the day, Ball has a real chance to end up as the best player in this draft, but opinion varies widely depending who you talk to. His size, innate playmaking instincts and creativity with the ball are all difficult to find, but his carefree style, ball dominance and lack of winning history are concerning for some teams. The upside proposition is easily evident, though, and he could evolve into one of the league’s best passers. Ball’s iffy three-point shooting remains his biggest impediment to stardom, but if he can make enough to keep defenses honest, he has all the pieces to be a quality starter at bare minimum. For better or worse, Ball will garner the spotlight right away. He would seem difficult for Chicago to pass on, and could be the connective piece that ties together an underachieving young roster.

5. Cavaliers: Deni Avdija, F, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Height: 6′ 8″ | Weight: 210 | Age: 19

Avdija and Obi Toppin have been the two players strongly connected to Cleveland, with the team in search of a more versatile frontcourt piece to pair with its young guards. Avdija gets the nod here for now, as his playmaking potential and comfort playing on the perimeter are a more natural match for the Cavaliers’ core. Speculatively, if Ball makes it to this spot, the Cavs would probably think hard, although it would likely require them to move on from Collin Sexton or Darius Garland. There’s also some talk about Cleveland trading back from this spot for the right offer.

Optimists hope Avdija evolves into an oversize secondary playmaker and maximizes his promising passing skills, and they also see value in his floor. Even if his handle doesn’t peak to the point where he’s functionally a guard, Avdija should at least shoot it well enough to keep defenses honest, and he’s a quality downhill playmaker who should be able to attack closeouts and rotations comfortably. If his defense proves passable, he has an easy pathway to value.

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“Padres–15 Minutes of Fame”

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Lousy news.  Devastating news.  Impactful news for the Padres.

The Padres coming off a marvelous season, and an extended playoff series against the Cardinals and then the Dodgers cannot feel good now about this..

And now this, a really big setback.

it doesn’t kill pennant hopes for the 2021-season, whatever that looks like, but it surely tamps down hopes that we could have a repeat season next year like we had in the pandemic summer at Petco Park.

The ace, Mike Clevinger is gone for next year.  After telling the media and the fans the former Cleveland Indian would do rehab, have a Plasma Platelet injection, do weight work, and rebuild his mechanics, we get this.

His second Tommy John surgery of his career.  It raises all types of questions.

Can they re-tool his herky-jerky motion to better protect his arm, or should we be scared that he has injured himself twice?  At age (30) this means the comeback this time becomes more complicated.

The last Padres pitcher to deal with this was hot prospect Cory Leubke.  And he never made it back after they paid him a big money contract.  He injured his elbow three times and walked away from baseball before age 28.

Questions everywhere that need to be asked.

Did the Padres get damaged goods in the Cleveland trade?

Did Padres leadership mismanage Clevinger’s usage, did they push him, did the pitcher lie about how badly he was hurt, or is it just bad luck, and a sign of the times as to what can happen to power pitchers in this day and age?

The loss of Cleviinger comes on the heels of the possible loss Dinelson Lamet, who forged to the front of the rotation last season, becoming a co-‘#1-starter.  He was dominant, a physical force, and spectacular.

And he is attempting to recover from much the same thing Clevinger had.  No one knows if he needs surgery.  Rest, the injection, weight work, and throwing.  The Friars front office and PR people, said the same thing, no surgery needed, just rehab after six weeks.

You hope Lamet does not wind up like Clevinger

Look where we are just six weeks after the Padres-Dodgers series.

Somebody needs to ask the question about the two so-called aces and usage.  Whether that is Jayce Tingler or Larry Rothchild, or AJ Preller himself.

I have not seen a situation where a club lost both its ace starters almost simultaneously.

The Monday night news does not destroy the team, but it means the starting rotation will be very young, if we play a full 162-game season.

Yes they have the promising Mackenzie Gore waiting.  We have seen flashes of Luis Patino.  Joey Luchessi is still here but possibly in need of re-tooling after falling off the radar.  Adrian Morejon stepped up in crunch time and looked special in the playoffs af a young age.  Michel Baez could be converted back to a starter.  And Ryan Weathers’ cameo appearance in the playoffs was surprising.

Maybe they use Luchessi as trade bait to rent a veteran pitcher, but they had already dealt away Eric Lauer to Milwuakee, though he got hurt last year.

Luis Perdomo is gone too for the season, having had late season elbow surgery.

The number of quality arms is being thinned out, and losing cornerstone frontline arms is devastating.  What would the Dodgers be without Clayton Kershaw or Walker Beuhler?  Look what the Mets became without Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndegaard.  See what I feel now?

Maybe they bring back Garrett Richards to be a starter in the rotation.  Maybe he must re-pay the Padres for giving him 15M over two years to do his surgery and rehab.  Two wins for all that money means he owes them something.

Hate to think this a roadblock to the multi-year playoff run the Padres hoped for going forward after all the years of pain.

Hate to think the Padres had their 15-minutes of pennant race fame, and now it’s gone, and this is what we have to deal with.

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“Monday Sports–Some Good-Some Bad”

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Candid comments on what I saw this weekend.

MASTERS…Dustin Johnson spent 6-weeks off the PGA tour with a significant case of the virus.  He got healthy, found his game a week ago in the Houston Open, and then destroyed the field with a 20-under par performance in the Masters at August.  He was relentless, went on birdie sprees, and waited for the others to self-destruct and they did.

PHIL & TIGER….You hate to see greatness go away, but it has with Mickleson and Woods.  Phil, who last week had a “9” on a hole in Houston, finished off the weekend with a 79-at Augusta.  Not to be outdone, Woods had a 44-hole stretch of just 1-under par golf, then on one hole on Sunday, hit 3-shots into the water at Rae’s Corner, and finished with a “10”, the worst hole ever in his entire career.

CHARGERS…You knew there would be bumps in the road for the Bolts young QB, and it happened against a tougher than you expected Miami defense.  There just were not many drives for Herbert to put together.  Do not understand the play-calling, hardly targeting Mike Williams nor Keenan Allen, who combined for just 5-receptions.  Special teams was not so special, self destructing, giving the Dolphins field position. screwing up returns, taking penalties that resulted on first down.

ANTHONY LYNN…His team is (2-7)…season over.  He is now (7-19) since they were in the playoffs in 2018.  Coaching, ridiculous injuries, subpar games they could win-should win-don’t win.  It’s ugly in Boltville.

RAMS…Aaron Donald and his defensive buddies are creating chaos everywhere on the field with a strong Rams pass rush, an active linebacking group and turnovers from the secondary..  The debate probably continues as to whether you really believe Jared Goff is in the upper echelon of QBs in the league.

AZTECS…They can run the ball, they can go get your quarterback.  They are (3-1) and facing a showdown game at Nevada next week.  What they are not right now is polished at quarerback, and Carson Baker seems panic stricken.  The last 8-quarters have seen a ton of turnovers, not many plays down the field, an anemic passing game.  The (4-13) 2-interception, 30-yard passing performance peformance might be as bad an outing from an SDSU quarterback in decades.

ALEX SMITH…What heart, what dedication, his courageous comeback from the catastrophic broken leg, the infection, and the 17-surgeries.  He is back on the field as the Washington starter, sadly with a bad team wrapped around him.  He threw for over 300-yards coming off the bench last week, then threw for 390 in the Sunday loss to Detroit.  What a winner of a person he is.

PATRIOTS…Hard to belive, Cam Newton has 2-TD passes this season, halfway thru the year, and New England has just 3-TD tosses on offense.

USC….Young QB-Kedon Slovis, coming off a 30-TD, 3,000-yard season as a frehsman last year, and put up back to back 300-yard games this season for the (2-0) Trojans.  He is carrying the team, even with flawed mechanics, but he and Off Coordinator Grahame Harrell seems to be on the same page with th offense.

UCLA….The Bruins finally won a game beating Cal’s Covid-ravaged football team on Sunday morning.  But Chip Kelly’s teams at the Rose Bowl sure don’t resemble anything he ran at Oregon.  Kelly is (8-18) as head coach.

USD….The trail of slimeball stuff left behind by fired basketball coach Lamong Smith is stunning.  Fired after his arrest on a domestic abuse case with a woman, who was not his wife two years ago, now we find out he took kickbacks as part of the Academic scandal that hit a wide variety of schools a year ago, the so-called ‘Varsity Blues’ scandal.  You expect sleazy stuff at some big schools, USC to Harvard and bunch-in between, but a small campus Catholic school like the University of San Diego?  Good luck with the rest of your life.  How dare you do that to a fine school like USD.

LAKERS-CLIPPERS…NBA Draft week is upon us in November, and waiting to see what happens.  Will the Lakers trade Kyle Kuzma in a package for the Spurs Demar DeRosan?  Will the Clippers, who are rather asset-thin, have the resources to make a deal for Houston’s  Russell Westbrook?  Will Rajon Rondo walk across the hallway, leaving the Lakers for the Clippers?  Stay tuned.

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