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“Aztecs Basketball-Halfway Home-Midseason Grades”

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They are (15-0) in a season of surprises.
They are rated 7th in the nation in the AP Poll.
They could conceivably be unbeaten by the time the Mountain West Conference post season tourney opens.

A Mid-season report card on the Aztecs:

BRIAN DUTCHER…No one expected this, not even him.  So many new parts to add to a thinned out roster, but this team has come together.  Strong floor leadership, a bunch of guys who can shoot threes, rim protectors in the big man department, a deep bench to play lots of roles, and defense, always defense.  He distributes minutes and job responsibility based on the opponent.  Grade (A)

MALACHI FLYNN….Sitting out a year after the Washington State transfer, allowed him to polish his shooting game.  His last season with the Cougars was poor in terms of shooting.  Now he makes plays, drives to the hoop, can stroke it outside, and hit threes too.  A complete player, and maybe a surprise at how fast he has produced…Grade (A)

MATT MITCHELL…The old dog of the group, is a very different player now.  Trimmed down, looks like he has taken over 20-pounds, but is still physically tough to handle down inside, when he has the ball and goes for the fall on defense.  Can play rough house defender and muscleman, and not afraid to take fouls.  Real unsung hero.  Does not always pile up stats, but does so many intangible things.  Grade (A) for all his roles.

YANNI WETZEL…Vanderbilt transfer can score, can play down on the block and always seems to be in motion somewhere doing something.  Still think there is something coming from him on offense, where some nights hot, others not.  Athletic for as big as he is.  Grade (B)

KJ FEAGIN…A real warrior in the backcourt with his defense first personality.  Always in your face.  Can score, really can defend.  One of reasons opponents are turning the ball over 15-times a game and shooting just 36% from the floor.  In final year of basketball, making a huge difference.  Grade (A)

NATHAN MENSAH…Huge upgrade in his offensive skill set, now active at both ends of the floor.  Always in traffic rejecting shots, grabbing rebounds on both offense and defense.  Not intimidated by this level or job he must do each night.  Real student of game.  Learned to bang and leap.  Just think about his growth from last year to now, and where he might be by next year.  Grade (B)

JORDAN SCHAKEL….Started year with a flurry of threes, though have not seen as many lately.  Gifted athlete who can run floor and is playing with much more confidence.  Still room to grow and groom going forward.  Grade (B)

TREY PULLIAM…Expected more earlier from him since he played so much in Texas JUCO ranks, but has been lost in numbers game in backcourt.  Could still make an impact before this is all done.  Grade (C) only because of limited playing time.

JOEL MENSAH…Growing into valuable short minutes guy and will be needed coming off bench as tourney time approaches.  Only scratched surface of offensive skills.  Really young player.  Grade (C)

ADAM SEIKO…There is a skill set there, but yet to show it because of limited playing time.  Still has two more years eligibility left.  Grade (C)

AGUEK AROP…Injuries have hampered him, and yet to show the street tough form he showed second half of last season.  Part of Dutcher’s ‘bench bunch’-we need this done-go go it.  Really physical warrior guy playing with bigs.  Still to be heard from this year.  Grade (C)

NOLAN NARAIN…Looks the part, but illness and injuries have really derailed him.  Career did not pan out after what appeared to be promising start.  Grade (C)

KESHAD JOHNSON….Future begins next year.  Sit-learn-practice and get ready to play next season.  Reminds me of explosiveness of Jalen McDaniels and other past Aztecs bigs.  Not ready for prime-time and no need to rush with all the talent infront of him.  Grade (D) only because this is really a red-shirt type season.

Team (15-0)…
Team Grade Point (3.0)

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“Wildcard Weekend–What I Saw”

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BUFFALO-HOUSTON

..Josh Allen-Bills QB-hit all the checkboxes showing as a rookie growing up on the job…Big plays…big 42Y-run…TD pass…TD catch on throwback play…2-bad sacks…bad grounding penalty.  He learned a lot at the end of the season and in postseason.  Watch the Bills add more offense to his team.

..Bills defense…big fast…run to the ball…lots of hats on the tackles…What a turnaround in just two short seasons, and a very young group of players on that side..

..Deshaun Watson-what fortitude…Quarterback under siege all day…yet made tons of big plays by himself….The 34Y-overtime pass while about to be sacked-amazing….They won-he took 7-sacks…12-additional hits and was pressured out of the pocket 11-times…He has been sacked 56-times this year.

..Don’t like the Houston offensive line, and this is a team that traded for Laremy Tonsil from Miami.

..DeAndre Hopkins is a star, Will Fuller is brilliant, but that’s a lot of money they are paying to Kenny Stills, who does not seem to be part of the package.

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TENNESSEE-NEW ENGLAND

..Does Derrick Henry bring back memories of the power, the extra gear of speed, like Earl Campbell, or Eddie George or Tony Dorsett.?  He now has over (1700Y) rushing as they go to next week.

..Teacher beaten by pupil, sure seemed to be the storyline as Mike Vrabel outsmarted Bill Belichick with scheme, and his team out-toughed the usually tough Patriots.  They bullied the Pats in their own stadium, and even Vrabel outsmarted Belichick  by eating up clock time by taking delay of penalty calls in the fourth quarter.

..Tom Brady’s career is not over, regardless of what all the network analysts wanted to talk about, but his organization let him down by not acquiring enough off-season skill talent…by not replacing Rob Gronkowski, and not finding the proper mix of wide receivers to solidify the offense.  Brady completed  10-passes to running backs, only 3-to Julian Edelman, and did not get much out of Mohammad Sanu, Phil Dorsett or N’Keal Henry.

..It was bad on Saturday, and Belichick’s press conference on Sunday was even more sour-dour on Sunday.  The Patriots now have to face the off season waiting to solve the Brady contract, the NFL sanctions about video gate, and the still impending discipline directed at Owner Robert Kraft for that prostitution charge from last off season.

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MINNESOTA-NEW ORLEANS

..The Vikings made it a street fight with their defense, and they caused enough ruckus to disrupt Drew Brees and the Saints offense.  It was a thriller, fueled by big plays.  Kirk Cousins finally won a key game that counted in his career, Dalvin Cook ran for big yards early in the game, and Adam Theilen, finally healthy, had a 100-yard game receiving.

..The on going snafus with instant replays and the refs continued, with the non-call on offensive pass interference in the end zone on the Kyle Rudolph game winning touchdown.  Another bad look for the NFL.

..Just wondering where Stefon Diggs was in the Vikings game plan, you know, the one who averages (17.9YPC) this season?

..Love the Minnesota front seven.  Think about this, in one stretch, in the Superdome, the Vikings defense had limited the Saints to 9-first downs in the first 8-possessions.  But I don’t like the Minnesota secondary.

..Taysom Hill, some type of talent.  So what impressed you the most, the 50-yard pass he threw off the bench, the 20-yard TD catch he made, the 38-yard run, or the four first down runs he made in that game?

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SEATTLE-PHILADELPHIA

..You have to feel bad for Carson Wentz, all that production, and all those injuries.  The head hit that knocked him out of the game just 9-minutes into Sunday.  He cannot stay healthy.

..Josh McCown put on a show of courage, running, scrambling out of trouble all day long.  Not bad for a 40-year old journeyman back up giving it all he had.  Seattle wound up with 7-sacks of the Eagles QBs. .

..What a beast Fletcher Cox is at defensive tackle.  He was unblockable all day long, on Russell Wilson, in that backfield.

Equally as dominant, the Seahawks DE-Jadaveon Clowney.  Just ask the Philly offensive unit.

..Russell Wilson and his receiver corps had to do most of the heavy lifting in that game, despite the reappearance of Marshawn Lynch as a running back.  Seattle’s defense came up with big plays all day long to slow down the battered Eagles.   Remember Wilson was without all three of his top running backs, notably Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny.

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“Chargers-End of season-not the end of their problems”

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The Chargers miserable season is over.

Other teams are playing this weekend, the Bolts team is not.

Losing 6-of-7 to end the year was hard to take.  So was the (5-11) record.

They have very hard decisions, and likely expensive ones to make about QB-Philip Rivers, RB-Melvin Gordon and a host of other free agents.

That ache of a miserable finish will likely go away in the off season as the team makes players deals.

What won’t go away is the memory and the noise of all those home games, with other fans wearing their team jerseys in the stands instead of Chargers fans.  As Bolts players said ‘we played 16-road games a year’.

What won’t go away is the haunting feeling none of this would have ever happened if Dean Spanos had kept his team here as the San Diego Chargers.  The family greed has led to this.  Left behind the memories and loyalty of the years ‘Show Me Your Lightning Bolt’.

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General Manger Tom Telesco-End of Season Press Conference
..Very disappointed how season ended
..Go from playoffs to 5-wins..alot of factors in this ending
..I need to do a better job avoiding the spikes in seasons

..We are disappointed and a bit angry but not discouraged
. .I like the culture-the foundation-love our head coach
..These things are critical.
..Make sure we bring in right players for system
..Need to learn to adjust our schemes
..There is a foundation here to win
..We have to communicate

..Whole league changes year to year..we have to too.
..There are players we want back
..Rivers can still can compete at top level
..We need to look at everything with him..we were (0-6) division
..We’ve done it before-fixed this team-we will
..In a perfect world #17 is your QB forever
..He has meant everything to this organization..a joy to work with

..We need to get removed from the season a bit before deciding
..We have time to re-evaluate everything- we will
..Turnovers killed us…on offense..not getting them on defense
..Red zone offense was a problem as was our 3rd down defense

..The Rivers contract will work itself our..he’s tough..he’s a leader
..I love the quarterback-we need to help him
..I can’t picture him without a Lightning Bolt on his helmet
..His perspective on the team-it’s needs-his career-right on.

..You lose a Pro Bowl LT and OC-that’s tough
..Our sack percentage was 7th least in NFL-we need to fix upfront
..You can’t fix things in-season..you can in off-season
..We must have tough discussions after (5-11) season.

..Shane Steichen-it was hard to come in mid-season-coordinator
..You need to be coordinator in camp to install things-not in season
..He had pretty tight turnaround-he did pretty good job this year

..Melvin Gordon in same boat with everyone
..Gordon holdout did not make me happy
..I love Gordon as a player-he had great games coming back
..He is excellent football player..I like him a lot
..I understand why he held out-we have to get beyond that
..That holdout hurt our football team-we did not have all our weapons

..We need to evaluate how we handled those negotiations
..Every contact situation with players are different

..Everyone in building is hurting right now
..We put everything into this…to go (5-11)..we are exhausted
..We have good coach..we will put the work in to get this done
..We are not ready to evaluate players-staff is exhausted-have time
..We are not hiding from the work we have to

..Mike Pouncey is an incredible leader-we need to see if he can play
..Derwin James showed how good he is-what he did end of year
..Austin Ekeler-great leadership ability
..Nassir Adderly-has to get healthy-he can play-great instincts
..Mike Williams-huge catches-big time playmaker-yardage guy

..If there ever a year to turn the page-it is this one
..We need to win-going into new stadium
..We have a healthy cap situation-most since I have been here

..Every year there are major questions-how do you fix this-that
..We need next group of young players to step forward now
..Young players have it in them to become new leaders
..Young OL we have played have to expand on that in off season now

..Playoffs painful to watch…not being part of it
..In 1998-Indianapolis-we were behind Pacers-Indy 500-1999-we won
..2000-we won a lot of games-did a lot in community-turned the down
..Play consistent-win games with Peyton Manning-it’s Colts town
..Bigger scale here-it’s LA…Bar is high…drive us more-we play to win
..Splash is not important..substance to splash is the key
..Moving to new stadium will be exciting
..Energy going into new stadium for these players

..Be careful of players with big names-can they still play
..We have great support from ownership to get players-need right one
..Carson Stadium-no agent ever mentioned that to me as negative
..We sell our coach-leadership..this QB
..The talent is there at skill position and on our defense-now must add

..Anthony Lynn is not narrow-focused..he sees big picture when talk
..We talk constantly-I know what he wants player wise-talk all time
..He listens…I listen…we put enough good people in room-get answer
..By Senior Bowl-we will have a better feel of our needs
..Will take us a couple of weeks to get beyond this (5-11) finish

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“NBA Mourns–Players Should Remember”

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The NBA lost a leader, a trend setter, a visionary on New Years Day, when former Commissioner David Stern passed away at (77)…following complications two weeks ago from surgery for a blood clot on the brain.

He helped make the NBA what it is.

His impact was in the financial world, the global world, and the national world.

Players in the NBA are making 20-to-35M a year, by virtue of what David Stern created.

The accomplishments came fast and furious in the NBA, after he inherited a league in trouble, once the ABA and NBA merger took place.

Stearn’s league would become the league of the Jordan-Bird-Magic Johnson era.

It was an NBA where mega money TV contracts became commonplace, because of how Stearn did his TV deals.

It was Stearn who created a plan to help the have-nots, the smaller franchises, with a unique revenue-sharing plan, approved by the guys on the other street corner, the Union.

The commissioner, as revenues poured in, helped negotiate a salary cap for players that guaranteed them huge pay raises as the revenue pie grew, and when they became free agents.

He explored taking the game international, helping lay the groundwork for expansion into Asia, the Chinese-Japanese market.  Not just to showcase players, but to create huge marketing and revenue deals

He grew the NBA draft, not just the lottery, to build competitive balance, but the admittance of a great flow of players from Europe, including the Soviet block countries.

At home, he founded the NBA-TV network, the first league run network that in turn led to things like the NFL Network and MLB Network.

Leaving no stone unturned, he was the driving force of the WNBA, and then pioneered a developmental league, now currently the NBA-G League.

He created drug testing, the first of its kind in any sports league, heading off disasters that struck the NFL and MLB, when steroids and HGH and amphetamines ran out of control.

He dealt strongly with bad citizen players, and even owners, expelling Ted Stephen of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then watched his league rid itself of Donald Sterling.

He guided the league thru the aftermath of the ABA merger, and then led the expansion to 7-new NBA cities.

In an era of big money, big stars, big egos, and Dream Teams, today’s modern day player has no knowledge, nor idea of those who came before him.

Nobody remembers bus rides, small arenas, the Cincinnati Royals, the Philips 66s or  the old Boston and Madison Square Gardens.

They were the roots of a league that now features 35M a year contracts, opt out clauses, free agency, 1-and-done players in the draft.

A phrase NBA players should never ignore….’remember where you came from’.

They should also remember ‘who got them the wealth they now enjoy’.

David Stern, legendary commissioner of the NBA.  RIP..

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“Happy New Years Day–Top San Diego Sports Stories of 2019”

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1..SAN DIEGO STATE reaches agreement to purchase all the land at the SDCCU sight for (87.7M) to begin construction of a 35,000-seat Aztecs Football-Soccer stadium, then a 30-year plan for expansion of the front door to the campus.

2..MANNY MACHADO…in stunning last minute move before spring training starts, the Padres sign ex-Orioles-Dodgers star to team record (10Y-300M) contract, a year after the equally surprise signing of ex Royals 1B-Eric Hosmer.  Machado faded badly, hitting (.188) the second half of the season.

3..KAWHI LEONARD….The legendary Aztecs basketball player goes from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors, and leads the Canadian team to the NBA title, and he, the NBA-MVP honors.  He finishes off the year by signing a record free agent contract with the LA Clippers.

4..STEPHEN STRASBURG…The former Aztecs baseball star pitches his Washington Nationals team to the World Series, then wins the World Series MVP.

5..WINTER MEETINGS….Baseball’s swap shop comes to San Diego in December, and is followed by record setting free agent contract signed by Gerrit Cole-Yankees and Anthony Rendon-Angels, plus Strasburg’s decision to re-sign in Washington.

6..PADRES…So much expectation, so much disappointment during the summer.  From a (45-45) record at the All Star break, the Friars crash and burn into last place, with another 90-loss season.  Trade of Franmil Reyes in July in 3-team deal with Reds-Indians destroyed team chemistry and changed the clubhouse.

7..CHARGERS…Fans continue to follow the team that moved to LA, and sat and watched the promising team go from AFC-hopes to a last place (5-11) season.  RB-Melvin Gordon held out for 6-weeks in contract dispute.  Team had 12-major injuries in first 8-weeks of season, leading to a turnover marred season by QB-Philip Rivers.

8..ANDY GREEN…Fired in the final weeks of another 90-loss season, the fourth straight campaign under his direction.  Green hired as bench coach of the Cubs for next season.

9..PHILIP RIVERS…Breaks into tears during his last post game press conference, as he heads into off season unsigned, with hints the Chargers do not want him back next year.

10..FERNANDO TATIS….A blazing start to his rookie season, hitting over .300 till he went down with a serious groin injury then went down again with a back problem.  Gifted on defense, the 20-year old hit better than expected.

11..AZTECS FOOTBALL…An amazing collapse at the end of the season, followed by a (27-0) shutout loss to Ohio in the Fresco Bowl.  State lost 5-of its last 6-games.

12..GULLS HOCKEY….The American Hockey League team leads the league in average attendance and gets to the playoffs again.

13..DALLAS EAKINS…The Gulls coach is rewarded for his solid seasons behind the bench, by landing the head coaching job for the NHL-Anaheim Ducks.

14..SAN DIEGO FLEET…The much ballyhooed return of pro football ended badly when the league shuts down after the 8th week of a money losing season.  Mike Martz shows magic as his team plays well despite having to go thru 3-different quarterbacks, after his potential starter Josh Johnson left to sign with the Washington Redskins.

15..AZTECS BASKETBALL…Coach Brian Dutcher’s team fails to get to the NCAA-tourney for the second time in a three year span.

16..JALEN MC DANIELS….His final season is stained by a potential lawsuit in Seattle for videotaping two female friends having sex with his teammates while they were in high school.  SDSU never disciplined the player, who then left school to enter the NBA draft.

17..SAN DIEGO STRIKEFORCE…A disastrous debut for the indoor football league team that went (1-13) in its maiden season.  They fired the GM and lead scout, early in the season, are last in attendance,as ex Charger Burt Grossman struggled in his coaching debut.

18..USD…Anthony Lawrence rewrites the entire Toreros football record book, wrapping up a brilliant quarterbacking career in guiding the Blue back into the 1AA playoffs.

19..SOCKERS….In a bold marketing move, lures MLS-soccerf star and World Cup hero Landon Donovan to sign a contract to play indoor soccer for the final month of the season.

20..MIGHTY 1090….San Diego’s top sports-talk station ceases operation after mistakes by  station management led to its financial demise, coupled with unreasonable financial demands by Mexican owners.  It was the second all sports station to go under due to managements decisions, following the dissolving of XTRA-Sports-690 by Clear Channel radio.

21..USL…The Division II soccer league gives a franchise to San Diego, and Donovan Landon is named GM-Coach of the San Diego Loyal that will debut this spring in the United Soccer League.

22..POINSETTIA BOWL…The second level bowl, operated by the Holiday Bowl, ceased operation despite drawing decent crowds.  It was one of a couple of bowls to close up shop.

23..PHIL MICKELSON…Heading to the twilight of his career, the Rancho Santa Fe native stuns local fans by electing not to play in the Farmer’s Open tourney in 2019 at Torrey Pines.

24..TIGER WOODS…Relaunched his career, that would see him win on the PGA tour after 4-different surgical procedures on his back.

25..PT LOMA NAZARENE….Got toe the finals of the NCAA-Division II tourney, led by 6’8-transfer forward Dalton Hommes, who then left school for the NBA draft.

26..AZTECS FOOTBALL…rallies back from bad season, blasting Central Michigan in New Mexico Bowl, finishing the campaign at (10-3).  Coach Rocky Longs career record at SDSU now (81-38)

27..KEITH LINCOLN…Legendary AFL-Chargers star passes away…Great career as running back-receiver-kick returner for early years Chargers team led by Coach Sid Gillman.

28..KELLEN WINSLOW JUNIOR…Son of legendary Chargers tight end, found guilty of multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, in prison for 8-to-20 years.

29..JERRY MAGEE….Longtime San Diego Union-Tribune NFL writer passed away (90Y)…he covered 42-Super Bowls in his career.

30..JIMMIE JOHNSON….El Cajon superstar NASCAR driver announces this coming season will be his final in a likely Hall of Fame career, that has seen him go 93-races in a row without a win.

31..DAVE GARCIA…Popular San Diego resident passes away at (98).  A lifetime baseball player-coach-manager was a familiar sight sitting behind home plate at Padres games.  His grandson was Padres utility man Greg Garcia.

32..WILLIE O’REE….Honored by NHL which names its Community Service Award for players who do great things on and off the ice.  O’ere also enshrined into NHL Hall of Fame for breaking NHL color barrier.

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