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“Aztecs Basketball–Not What It Used to Be”

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So much expected. So much disappointment. The basketball program at San Diego State.

They won the game. They have another 20-win season for the media guide.

But that’s about all the good I can say about what San Diego State basketball has slithered off to.

A once dominant program, you do remember 30-win seasons, and stars like Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Russell, now struggles on the floor.

They found a way to beat an equally pitiful UNLV team on Thursday in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference tourney (63-55).

With legendary coach Steve Fisher sitting and watching, his stomach must be churning watching his program struggle, it was an unimpressive win. The late Jerry Tarkanian must be spinning in his grave watch the talent-less Rebels play boring-bad basketball, where once upon a time they owned the league and the community..

Jalen McDaniels, finishing up an erratic season, and likely to leave for the NBA, did score (25P) and Devin Watson added 19. But State survived a combined (1-14) shooting afternoon from Jeremy Hemsley and Matt Mitchell.

To watch this game, you’d think it would set the James Naismith game back 100-years, it was so poor.

The Rebels shot 32%, SDSU 29%.. The two teams were a combined (4-for-45) shooting 3-point shots

State won because they hit 24-free throws that’s all.

The first half was a nitemare, as SDSU went (3-for-15) shooting out of the gate. Then UNLV, in the second half, had 1-basket in a 9-possession stretch that put them behind, from which they never recovered.

And it wasn’t good defense, it was just plain bad shooting, by both sides.

I don’t know how Brian Dutcher gets this program out of its tailspin. McDaniels leaves for what he hopes will be an NBA career, but there are so many nights, you think he winds up in the NBA-G League.

Hensley and Watson graduate, leaving solid careers behind. You see anyone else on the roster, who is a difference maker? In a team with tradition, that always gave us college stars, there seem to be fewer and fewer yearly now.

The sellout streak at Viejas Arena is over. Empty seats lots of nights in the “Show” section where the students used to be.

A win in a win. Congrats I guess. Your reward, you play top seed Nevada on Friday and then you likely go home, without an NCAA nor an NIT tourney berth.

Aztecs basketball slipping away. Not what it used to be for sure.

So much expected. So much disappointment nowadays at SDSU.

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“NFL Free Agency-Wheeling-Dealing”

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A spending spree covering 36-hours like we have never seen in the NFL-ever before.

Big money for big name players.

Big trades forced by unhappy players too.

As you. have breakfast on Thursday morning, there have now been 9-trades as the free agent window opened, and 70-players have already changed teams in free agency.

The names in ‘neon lights’ all got moved. So did the unhappy players demanding trades.

A look at what has happened so far:

LE’VEON BELL….must have cut class at Michigan State the day they taught new math. Sat out last year in Pittsburgh, walking away from a 14.5M-payday. He finally signed with the Jets, a (4Y-52M) deal, which averages out at 13M-a year, less than his Steelers deal. The big difference, the Jets gave him a 35M-guarantee in the package, so he gets paid if he ever gets hurt. A win for the Jets, big time production guy. I think a big loss for the way the Steelers do business.

ODELL BECKHAM….tired of his act, they shipped him off to the Browns, where he has a (5Y-98M) deal still on the books. You wonder if he stays healthy, if he stays happy? How long before he asks for a renegotiation. But winning cures ills, and the Browns sure have added lots of skill talent. As they say in Cleveland this morning, from (0-16) season to possible Super Bowl team in two short years.

ANTONIO BROWN…So long Steelers, hello Black Hole. This one bears watching in that the Raiders haven’t won much, losing is part of everything there, and AB is not used to losing games. No doubt he is dynamic and a big play guy. But he leaves the structure of a great organization to move to a dysfunctional team with questionable leadership. He got a payday(3Y-54M) and the Raiders have to deal with him for just the next three seasons. Probably a win-win for all sides, except in Pittsburgh, where you just don’t replace talent like that overnight.

DEE FORD…It’s weird to see the cleansing of everything on the defensive side of the ball with the Kansas City Chiefs. Goodbye to Ford, fellow LB-Justin Houston, and S-Eric Berry, all in the last 36-hours. He goes to the 49ers, and gets a huge payday (5Y-98M) and gives the Niners a huge defensive front with DeForest Buckner and Aric Armstead. Kansas City, who plays defense now?

NICK FOLES…Hello starting job, goodbye backup role, welcome that 22M a year contract in Jacksonville. Got to be better than Blake Bortels….Was (10-3) as a starter for the Eagles coming off the bench in the most important time of the year, playoffs and Super Bowl. Eagles got wins, then had to let him go with no compensation.

TREY FLOWERS…The Lions paid a ton to sign him away from New England. Now we see if Flowers is the same impact player outside the sphere of influence of Bill Belicheck’s defense, playing for his ex-Pats coordinator Matt Patricia.

EARL THOMAS…When last season, leaving the field with a broken leg, he gave the Seahawks sidelines, and the fans the finger. Now he will play in Baltimore in a pass happing AFC-North Division. But as he moved in, moving out were a bunch of quality Ravens veterans CJ Mosely and Eric Weddle.

TYRELL WILLIAMS…Woe is us, he winds up in the division, as the ex-Chargers big play, stand tall receiver, winds up with the Raiders to play the opposite side to Antonio Brown. A pay upgrade the Chargers should have made. You cannot ignore 13-receptions of 40-yards or more and all those 75-yard TD catches while with the Bolts. A (4Y-44M) with 22M guaranteed….The Bolts could have rearrange monies to keep him-but didn’t….Raiders win-Chargers loss.

TYRANN MATHIEU….Big payday to go from Houston to Kansas City. Not bad for someone Arizona got rid of just a couple of years ago. Is he a real difference maker, I don’t know? They got rid of veteran Eric Berry to sign him. Who’s he going to play with?

CJ MOSELY…A warrior of an inside linebacker, now goes to the woeful NY Jets as part of a big couple of days of signing. Will be interesting to see if he has the same impact in New York, because he sure won’t have the big stud defensive lineman he had in Baltimore. They gave him a (5Y-85M) package but is there enough around him?

TRENT BROWN…That’s a lot of money, (4Y-66) to go from New England to Oakland. We see if the coaching with the Raiders is as good as he got in New England. Might be a huge gamble.

TYROD TAYLOR…A surprise Charges signing…can play…does not turn the ball over….competed and made Buffalo competitive….not the longterm replacement for Philip Rivers but if he goes down, Taylor will be better than any of the backups they’ve had in years.

THOMAS DAVIS…Know this, he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a leader. Enough said for this short term linebacker rental from Carolina.

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“Power & Money Corrupt-Definitely in College Sports”

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And you thought it couldn’t get any worse.

In the era of college athletics, we’ve had the NCAA Death Penalty put in place, you do remember SMU football? We’ve have had the USC-Reggie Bush scandal from which the Trojans never recovered?

We’ve had basketball point shaving scandals, from the 1950s at CCNY, to modern day crisis at places like Boston College, SMU and more.

The academic scandals nearly left the SEC in ruins, and stained North Carolina.

And despite all the rules installed by the NCAA, it goes on and on.

This 2018 season, the Adidas slush fund scandal, enveloping 9-Division 1-basketball programs, from players at Arizona, Louisville, North Carolina State, USC and more. Prison terms are being handed out as you read this over large amounts of money filtered to players to sign with certain schools serviced by Adidas. .

And now the sleazy story of wealth and cheating to get students into prestige universities like Yale, Georgetown, Stanford, USC, UCLA even tiny USD.

The indictments handed down in Boston involve at least 50-people. You can bet more will be coming.

All this cycled thru a so called ‘diploma factory’ based in Newport Beach, that helped children of the wealthy forge documents, create fake resumes, employ others to take SAT tests.

All to impress schools that the students deserved to be admitted.

Payments of 150,000 to 4M from wealthy parents to create false images of their children.

And it has snarled coaches too. A Georgetown coach paid 2.7M over 10-years to fudge credentials to get so called athletes onto campus, people who were not even players.

400,000 given to a soccer coach. 150,000 bribes to volleyball coaches. Fake identities created for a 145 pound nose tackle. Or admittance to a university for a member of a crew team, who never rowed in high school.

America never learns does it.

This seems like the banks and Wall Street and all that we saw in 2008, only on the scale of dear old Alma Mater U, and rich parents, trying to prop up their kids by paying the freight to get them into some prestigious place, schools victimized by not so prestigious employees.

Same old-same old.

Money and power corrupts. Not just athletes and player agents in pro sports, not just boosters and cheating alums in colleges, now parents trying to front money for their kids.

Ah to be rich-wealthy and no longer know right-vs-wrong, or no longer care.

America-America…to quote boxing promoter Don King-the back in the day con artist……….”Ain’t America great?”

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“Chargers–AFC West—AreYou Paying Attention?”

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Monday was the first day of NFL free agency, where teams can make contact with agents and players to express interest, make contract offers, and wait for reactions.

A lot of noise everywhere in the AFC-West except from the team that needs help, the Chargers.

All they have done is let players leave, or make no headway in retaining key free agents.

It appears they are letting big play WR-Tyrell Williams leave, this after coaching him into a pretty good protect the last four years or so.

They have jettisoned defensive end Corey Liuget and safety Jaleel Addae, two trusted warriors in the defense.

There has been no movement on veteran corner Jason Merrett, whose career has been about big injuries rather than big play.

No movement yet on Brandon Mebane, or the two young defensive lineman who have played a lot over the last years, Darius Philaw and Damon Square.

They have holes for sure.

Meanwhile on the other street corners in the AFC-West, things are moving at a frantic pace.

An amazing first day of free agency for the Raiders, of course they need help everywhere after wrecking the roster last season.

But they traded for the Steelers icon Antonio Brown, and his big play abilities and his big ego. Add to that the signing of Patriots starting left tackle Trent Brown, and the late Monday night addition of the Rams safety LaMarcus Joyner, and that is quite a haul.

The rumor mill says they might still be a player too for Le’Veon Bell of the Steelers before this week is out.

Keep in mind the Raiders have 4-of the top 34-draft picks, including those 3-number one choices still in their pocket.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs, who fired their defensive coaching staff, have let go their edge pass rushers, shopping linebacker Dee Ford and releasing veteran linebacker Justin Houston.

The Chiefs have spent a ton of money, landing Houston Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu, then added power running back Carlos Hyde, and probably aren’t done yet. Getting more defensive help for QB-Patrick Mahomes and that great offense is priority number one.,

Denver will have a new deep ball throwing QB in Joe Flacco, and just added big time right tackle Jaquan James from Miami and Kareem Jackson, a top flight corner from the Houston Texans. So they have fixed two chronic issues, quality quarterbacking and a stud right tackle, and added to the Von Miller led defense.

Yes it’s early, but an awful lot of difference maker players have come off the board just 24-hours into the wheeling and dealing. Teams have made 7-trades so far, and 24-free agents changed teams on day one of the bidding battles.

The Chargers had a rock solid acquisition last year in free agency, signing Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey away from the Dolphins. He was rock solid at a critical need position.

They have a reputation of being really conservative in free agency. Tom Telesco has been selective and spend-thrifty in throwing around Bolt dollars at this time of the year. He’s made some mistakes, made some good investments too.

Maybe he’s cautious, maybe Dean Spanos doesn’t really have the money, even though he is is Los Angeles now.

But the Chargers better move quickly, for teams around them in this division are loading up, just 24-hours into the signing period.

The Bolts better be paying attention; more importantly they need better players too.

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…..(Football)……….

Chargers-Arizona……Bolts internal meetings to discuss possible trade talks with Cardinals for QB-Josh Rosen-now on trade block…Bolts only willing to deal a 3rd or 4th round pick for Rosen-who started half the season in Arizona.

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NFL Free Agency…7-trades made…24-name free agents sign with new teams in first 14-hours of free agency period starting

Jaguars..Sign FA-QB-Nick Foles-ex Eagles (4Y-88M)
Jaguars..Interested in QB-Ryan Tannehill-Miami who could be released today.
Jaguars..Release QB-Blake Bortels-take (6.5M) cap hit…(103TD-75Int-195 QB sacks-80-QBR) in career

Jets..Negotiations with FA-RB-Le’Veon Bell..Miami-49ers make offers also

Chiefs…Sign FA-S-Tyrann Mathieu-ex Houston (3Y-42M)

Raiders..Sign FA-S-LaMarcus Joyner-ex Rams
Raiders..Sign FA-OT-Trent Brown-ex Patriots

Detroit..Sign FA-DE-Trey Flowers-ex Patriots (5Y-80M)
Detroit..Sign FA-WR-Danny Amendola-ex Miami
Detroit..Sign FA-TE-Jesse James-ex Steelers

Broncos…Sign FA-RT-Ja’Wuan James-ex Miami..(4Y-52M) 32M-guaranteed
Broncos..Sign FA-CB-Kareem Jackson-ex Houston

Arizona..Sign FA-DE-Terrell Suggs-ex Ravens (132QB-sacks)

Jets..Sign FA-LB-Anthony Barr-ex Vikings
Jets..Sign FA-WR-Jamison Crowder-ex Redskins
Jets..Sign FA-WR-Josh Bellamy-ex Bears

Colts..Sign FA-WR-Devin Funchess-ex Carolina

Buffalo..Sign FA-RB-Frank Gore-ex Colts
Buffalo..Sign FA-CB-Kevin Johnson-ex Houston
Buffalo..Sign FA-TE-Tyler Kroft-ex Bengals
Buffalo…Sign FA-C-Mitch Morse-ex Chiefs

Bears..Sign FA-RB-Mike Davis-ex Seattle
Bears..Sign FA-S Buster Skrine-ex Jets

Titans..Sign FA-WR-Adam Humprhries-ex Tampa Bay

Eagles..Sign FA-DT-Malik Jackson-ex Tampa Bay

49ers..Sign FA-LB-Kwon Alexander-ex Tampa Bay

Washington..Sign FA-S-Landon Collins-ex Giants (6Y-84M)

Vikings..Sign FA-DT-Shamar Stepeh-ex Seattle

Browns..Visit with FA-LB-CJ Mosely-ex Ravens
Colts..Visit with FA-LB-CJ Mosely-ex Ravens
Detroit…Visit with FA-CB-Justin Coleman-ex Seahawks
Giants…Visit with FA-CB-Deone Buchanan-ex Giants
Giants..Visit with FA-DE-Markus Golden-ex Arizona
Giants..Visit with FA-CB-Pierre Desir-ex Colts
Jets..Visit with FA-C-Matt Paradis-ex Broncos

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Tampa Bay-Eagles…Trade..Bucs WR-DeSean Jackson to Philadelphia for 6th round draft pick

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Rams..Re-sign LB-Dante Fowler (1Y-14M)
Titans..Re-sign S-Ken Vacarro
Broncos..Pick up option on WR-Emmanuel Sanders
Broncos..Pick up option on DE-Derek Wolfe
Ravens..Pick up option on CB-Brandon Carr

Eagles..Release OG-Stephen Wisniewski
Vikings..Release OG-Mike Remmers-S-Andrew Sendejo-10M cap savings
Browns..Release TE-Darren Fells
Arizona..Release TE-Jermaine Gresham

Eagles…ex-WR-Dorian Beckham Green-sentenced to 90-days jail possession of marijuana charge

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(College Football)

Florida State…QB-Alex Hornibrook transfers in from Wisconsin

Fox TV…Hire Urban Meyer-Reggie Bush as college football game day analysts.

Aztecs…Lose FB-Issac Lessard for season with torn knee liamgents in spring ball…..OT-Daishan Dixon could be out 3-weeks with toe injury….WR-Isiah Jacklin-Shoulder injury….RB-Zidane Thomas has a concussion.

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…(Baseball)……

Padres-A’s…split squad game on Tuesday
Padres-Reds..split squad game on Tuesday

Padres..Sign FA-P-Sammy Solis-ex Nationals…has (4.51-ERA) in career…136K-127 innings….last year (6.51-ERA)…joins Aaron Loup-Adam Warren as free agent signings the last two weeks for bullpen.

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Dodgers-L-Giants (4-1)..Chris Stratton (4inn-1R) allowed for San Francisco…Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin (3inn-0H)….

Dodgers….Off day on Tuesday

Dodgers…Clayton Kershaw-first bullpen session in 3-weeks since shoulder joint flareup…threw 20-pitches-all fastballs at 80% effort….slated to throw bullpen again on Wednesday.

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Angels-W-Texas (12-11)….C-Jack Krueger 6RBIs in win….P-Matt Harvey (1.1inn-4R-5H) in first bad outing of spring…

Angels…Off on Tuesday

Angels..DH-Shohei Ohtani throws 60-soft tosses over 20-minute workout-first throwing effort since elbow surgery….Also took 20-dry swings off tee and 20-swings off soft toss in mini batting practice session.

Angels..P-Tyler Skaggs pulled from start-shoulder fatigue.

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(Teams)

Tampa Bay…renews the contract of P-Blake Snell-Cy Young Award winner…gave him just a 15,500-raise after he went (21-5) and won the pitcher of year honor…Will make (575,700)…the Minimum for a second year player.

Astros…renew contract of 3B-Alan Bregman for 650,000 despite strong rookie season.

Dick Brodowski…Longtime Washington Senators-Indians-Reds pitcher passes away (89)…Pitched in bonus baby era 1950s.
Joe Presco…Longtime Cardinals-Tigers pitcher-passes away…pitched in 1950s
Tom Hausman…ex Mets-Brewers pitcher in the 1970s-passes at (65Y)

(Roster Moves)

White Sox..Sign FA-P-Josh Soich-ex Orioles

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(Injuries)

Mariners..3B-Kyle Seager to have wrist surgery for tendon damage-will be out (4-6W).
Mariners..P-=Gerson Bautista-shutdown-shoulder issue

Mets..P-Dwight Smith-elbow surgery-gone for year.

Braves..P-Mike Foltyniewicz-to miss start of season…elbow setbacks.

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…..(Basketball)………

Clippers-Boston……LA led (110-90) at Press-time..Lou Williams had 24-points in 19-minutes off bench….Clippers shots57-72% in opening two quarters…Monday night action

Lakers-at-Chicago…Tuesday matchup…Lakers lost 12-of-15…will be without Kyle Kuzma-Brandon Ingram-Lonzo Ball
Lakers..Sign FA-G-Andre Ingram…33Y old veteran from NBA-G League to 10-day contract.
Lakers..Report Magic Johnson rejected coaching staff request team re-sign C-Brooke Lopez and F-Julius Randle in off season…went out and signed Rajon Rondo and 3-other journeyman instead.

Toronto..Report that Raptors star Kawhi Leonard has no interest in signing with Lakers as free agent in off season.
Toronto-Cleveland…Fight-Serge Ibaka–Marquess Chriss both ejected for throwing punches in hard foul incident in game

Golden State..Coach Steve Kerr tells his players time to quit arguing with he refs and play basketball.

WCC Tourney
..USD-St Mary’s….Gaels led (33-30) at halftime in semi final game at Press-Time….Winner meets Gonzaga in championship game.

Aztecs…F-Jalen McCoy (16P-8R) named to 2nd team all Mountain West Conference….G-Devin Watson (15P) named to 3rd team all conference.

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…….(Hockey)……….

Ducks-Nashville…Tuesday night NHL action

Vancouver…Signs 1st round draft pick Quinn Hughes-University of Michigan star….will not practice yet because of ankle injury.

Maple Leafs..Sign (6’4-LW) Yegar Korshkov-KHL-Lokomotiv-Russia
Rangers..Sign Vitaly Kravtsov-F-playing for KHL-Traktor

Buffalo…F-Jack Eichel hit with 2-game suspension for head check in game over weekend.

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……(General)……..

Tiger Woods….Arrives at TPC-Sawgrass course for practice rounds….Been out 3-weeks with minor neck issue….Will play 9-holes on Tuesday leading into Players Championships.

Real Madrid…Hires Zinedene Zedane as coach of team…returning after being fired 16-months ago….Madrid axed coach Santi Solari over the weekend.

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