….(Baseball)…..

Padres-Cleveland….Plain Dealer reports trade talks reopened for P-Corey Kluber (20-9)….Indians are asking for OF-Hunter Renfroe…C-Austin Hedges…P-Logan Allen…P-Michal Baez in a 4-for-1 deal….Padres had rejected overtures for P-Joey Lucchessi….Kluber is 2X-Cy Young Award Winner….has 3-years left on deal 13M…13.5M..14M….Indians also discussing Kluber deal with Dodgers-Phillies-Reds.

Dodgers-Tigers…LA offering package of prospects for OF-Nick Castellanos….Dodgers rejected a request for P-Kenta Maede.

Angels…Still in conversation with FA-P-Dallas Keuchel-Astros..but not willing to go 5-years on deal…willing to make a 3-year package….Halos rotation now has Matt Harvey-Trevor Cahill-Parker Bridwell-Andrew Heaney-Tyler Skaggs and prospects Felix Pena-Nick Tropeano-Jaime Barria.

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(Teams)

Twins..Open contract talks with OF-Nelson Cruz-Mariners

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…..(Basketball)……

Lakers…MRI on G-Lebron James comes back clean-has strained groin but did not tear the muscle…could miss 1-week of action.
Lakers..G-Rajon Rondo injures finger on shooting hand-will be out a week….same hand he broke early in the season.

Golden State….Coaches meet with G-Klay Thompson-benched-shooting just 33% from 3-point line.

Clippers-W-Sacramento….LA explodes for 71-points in first half….led by 29-at one point…C-Montrzl Harell come off bench hit 6-shots in a row (15P) to trigger big first half rally by LA.

Lakers-Clippers…play each other on Thursday.

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…..(Football)…….

Chargers…Not ready to start OG-Forrest Lamp in regular season game…has been on active roster since week 9-but not in lineup…most weeks has been in active.

Chargers…Sign FA-LB-Tyrone Holmes-ex Jaguars-Browns special teams player

Jaguars..Name Blake Bortels starting QB-been on bench 5-weeks in row.

Carolina..Name rookie Kyle Allen-3rd string-as starter because of injuries to Cam Newton-Taylor Weinicke.

Cleveland..QB-Baker Mayfield says his stare down of former head coach Hue Jackson in Browns-Bengals game was warranted last week.

Patriots…Will re-tool passing game with suspension to WR-Josh Gordon..QB-Tom Brady had 48-QB rating on Sunday.

Rams..DT-Ndomakong Sun faces fine for possible eye-gouge of Cardinals WR-Larry Fitzgerald on Sunday.

Redskins…Fire 3-top execs on business side of team…President of Business Operations..VP-Marketing..VP-Sales….Daniel Snyder team has had just 5-winning seasons in 19-years….Team President Bruce Allen remains on the job.

Green Bay…Begin interviews for vacant head coaching job…Interview ex-Lions-Colts coach Jim Caldwell who is (62-5) as head coach…also interview ex-Colts coach Chuck Pagano.

Pittsburgh..Coach Mike Tomlin says he does not think pass interference calls should fall under instant replay…blown flags have led to 4-TDs that cost team two games this year.

Monday Night Football….Christmas Eve Raiders-Broncos game had lowest MNF TV rating all time (5.4).

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(Injuries)

Rams…RB-Todd Gurley-still not working out with knee issues-might sit this weekend game.

Steelers..RB-James Conner-cleared for practice-been out 3-weeks with ankle-shin injury

Eagles..OT-Jason Peters-cleared to play-had quad issue

Chiefs..Activate OT-Laurent Tardif from IR list

Broncos..RB-Philip Lindsey-surgery-torn wrist ligaments-will need 4-months rehab

Cowboys..OG-Zach Martin will not play final regular season game

Carolina..IR-QB-Taylor Heinicke-elbow injury

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(College Football)

Dallas Bowl….Boise State-Boston College game suspended-then cancelled by over 2-hours of lightning storms.

Detroit Bowl….Minnesota-W-Georgia Tech…Gophers RB-Mohammed Ibrahim (224R-3-TD)

Cheese It-Bowl…..TCU-W-Cal…Frogs defense 5-interceptions in game….Golden Bears had 4-picks in game…TCU’s Jonathan Song kicks 27Y-FG for win…..TCU held to just 28Y-passing…..Overtime victory…..

————

(Schedule)-Thursday

Independence Bowl..Temple-vs-Duke
Pinstripe Bowl..Wisconsin-vs-Miami
Texas Bowl..Baylor-Vanderbilt

Miami..Bench QB-N’Kosi Perry-after his investigation into release of lewd sex video.

Buffalo…Record setting QB-Tyree Jackson-announcing he is transferring (3,100-28TD)

Oregon..Veteran QB-Justin Herbert-bypassing NFL draft-will return as 4th year starter for Ducks.

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…..(Hockey)…….

Ducks-at-San Jose..Thursday matchup…Ducks (19-14-5)
Kings-Arizona…LA is (14-20-3)-but won 3-in row

Gulls-Bakersfield…AHL action at Sports Arena…Gulls have lost 6-of-9.

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…….(General)……

LA Galaxy….MLS team hires Guillermo Schelotto as head coach…won 2-titles while coaching Boca Juniors in South America.

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“Raiders-A Real Black Hole”

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I know the disdain San Diego football fans have for all things Raiders.

It goes back to the AFL days, thru all-things Al Davis, to where they are now with Jon Gruden.

Just review history will you.

The holy-roller game. Darth Vader fans. The drunks, the fights in the parking lots and the stands.

The cheap shots. The blood on the jersey. The hatred against the owner showing up wearing rings and decked out in all white.

The phrases about ‘Commitment to Excellence’….the ‘Raiders Nation’….and all that other rubbish.

But the franchise is going thru tough times, maybe the toughest ever.

They play in an aging stadium, known more for sewage spilling out of broken water mains, empty seats, tarps, Mount Davis, and lots of signs and foul language.

The eras of John Madden and Tom Flores are long in the past. More recent times have brought you Art Shell and Norv Turner and Dennis Allen and Tom Cable, and a cast of failures.

You have the son of the patriarch, Mark, accomplishing much less that his father Al did in glory years.

I sat there Christmas Eve and watched what was once a promising franchise. Only QB-Derek Carr is left, after the trades of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, and botched drafts after botched drafts.

They gave Gruden a lot of money, but he is the orchestra leader of a band that is (4-11) and about to be homeless.

The fans, they are passionate, if not intelligent. They love the costumes, and like the late Al Davis, they live in the past, which is so far in the rear-view mirror, you can’t really tell it. Fog, smoke, hot air clouds everything there now.

They lost the team once when Al moved it to LA. They returned, bu it’s never been the same.

And now they are about to lose it again, this time to the shiny new stadium in Las Vegas.

The city of Oakland is suing everyone, but have little leverage. They don’t have the money to build anything in the East Bay. Not for the NFL team, so beloved. Not for the NBA champion Warriors, headed to downtown San Francisco. And not yet for the Oakland A’s, still trying to find a new home ballpark.

And yet those fans, they root and root for a loser. They don’t seem to be bitter about the next impending divorce.

The Raiders, as a football organization, and a business entity, are a real Black Hole.

And for one night, Monday night, Christmas Eve, I sat there and felt bad for Raiders fans. Their team about to be yanked from their emotional grasp again.

And when in our history, has anyone ever felt sorry for anything related to the Raiders?

Act of Christmas kindness, I guess.

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“Chargers-Punched in Mouth-Owner Gets Bloodied Too”

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Chargers football-Merry Christmas.

Here’s a gift wrapped lump of coal in your stocking.

The Chargers had everything going for them heading into the Saturday night game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Bolts had 10-days off, after their thrilling win in Kansas City…almost like a true bye week…to get healthy…get rested…get a unique game plan in place.

The Ravens, had a short work week, a West Coast trip, with a rookie quarterback, running back, tight end, and a less that complete offense.

Bah-humbug Bolts….Ravens (22-10) win…in a game that tasted like spoiled egg nog.

Goodbye possible first place finish in the AFC-West. Goodbye home field advantage in playoffs…goodbye MVP candidacy of its quarterback…goodbye any possible come from behind wins.

There would be no Philip Rivers rallies, not like the 16-point comeback win in Pittsburgh, or the 14-point rally in Kansas City, nor any team defensive effort to win in Seattle.

Baltimore made the 1st big play of the night, a huge pass interception by Brandon Carr against a much taller Mike Williams. The Ravens made the final big play of the night, the 62-yard TD run with an Antonio Gates fumble to seal the win. They picked off his final pass in the end zone on a Hail Mary attempt.

In between, it was typical Baltimore ugly football, kind of like being in the Charm City in January, cold-raw-nasty feeling.

They sacked Rivers 4-times, hit him 8-times, pressured him 7-other times.

The Chargers had no run game at all, behind an offensive line that got mugged, like being in an alley in Baltimore.

And what big plays the Bolts might have had, 27-and-28 yard pass plays, and an 8-yard run, were wiped out by the holding calls and illegal formation penalties against them.

Rookie QB-Lamar Jackson was wild throwing the football, erratic, scrambling under pressure, bounce passes, overthrows, heaves into coverage. But he hit on a 68-yard catch and run to his tight end, had runs of 8-and-20 yards, and saw his tailback Gus Edwards rip off a 43-yard gallop on their first snap.

The rest of the night was like a cold winter’s gray day on the Baltimore harbor, Justin Tucker hitting 3-field goals and almost making a record 68-yarder.

The Chargers calling card all year was ‘chunk’ plays from that offense. They had only 8-play of 10-yards or more. No plays of plus 20, from an offense that had 65-plays of plus 20 on the year. The Ravens ripped up the calling card and left it in the mud.

The Ravens hit them with 14-snaps of plus 10-yards…and 5-of plus 20, with an offense that hardly ever does that..

Everytime you looked up, Rivers was ‘behind the chains’ trying to catch up. Good luck finding the right page in your playbook for a call against that defense when you are 3rd-and-13…3rd-and-14…3rd-and-20 and 3rd-and-27.

The Ravens defense forced Rivers to move off his spot, or hit him so many times, he was knocked down on his spot.

And a fitting climax to the game, the plane that flew circles overhead the Stub Hub Center, financed by bitter Chargers fans, with the trailing sign that read:

“Philip Rivers-MVP….Dean Spanos-P-O-S”

The Bolts got punched in the mouth by the Ravens. The owner had his mouth bloodied too.

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“Numbers-I’ve Got NFL Numbers”

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A big weekend in the NFL, with 10-teams fighting for wildcard playoff berths, or a share of first place, with two weeks left in the season.

Interesting numbers here-there-everywhere in the NFL, some amazing stats on good teams, some awful stats on bad clubs. Here’s a laundry list of numbers.

CHARGERS…Philip Rivers offense has lived off the ‘chunk plays’ this year. Heading into the Ravens game, they’ve put up 192-plays of 10yards or more, and 65-plays that gained 20-or more. The opposition, 144-snaps of plus 10, and just 51-plays of 20-yards plus. Lots of huge yardage plays.

RAVENS…Baltimore comes in with the number 1-ranked defense in the NFL in least yards allowed, but here’s an odd stat. Despite giving up (294) yards a game on defense, when they’ve played the big offensive teams, they’ve been burned….339-to Andrew Luck and the Colts….395 to Roethlisberger and the Steelers…and 442-to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Bodes well for the Bolts.

SAINTS….Drew Brees magic continues (31TD-4 Int) in a mystical season that has him throwing for (3,463) in a (12-2) season.

BEARS…No one will want to play them right now-not because of the cold weather in Chicago-but the cement tough defense they have…45-sacks…35-takeways…and a rude 34% on 3rd down conversion rate.

BRONCOS…They’ve wasted a bunch of good games from Von Miller and friends, as the Orange has 42-sacks and 24-takeaways, but no playoff games.

HOUSTON…What a year for QB-Deshaun Watson, (3,592P) and (436R) on the ground..the only negative 52-sacks he’s taken.

CHIEFS….We’ve seen Patrick Mahomes do it most every Sunday, an offense that now (427YPG), but doubt creeps in because the KC defense leaks oil, allowing (409YPG), despite 46-sacks and 23-takeaways on that side of the ball.

COLTS…Everyone is rooting for Andrew Luck in a fabulous bounce back season (3,951P-34TD) and only 16-sacks for the campaign. His team has won 7-of-1.

PATRIOTS …Weird numbers, they’ve lost 2-in a row, and went (3-5) on the road., and yet Tom Brady dazzles (3,979P-24TD)

STEELERS…It’s been streaky in Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger has (4,462P) 30-TDs, but has 15-picks, negating an offense that is averaging (405YPG)

CAROLINA…Much written and said about Cam Newton’s improvement, but how about Christian McCaffrey’s numbers coming out of the backfield, 265-touches and (1,627APY).

CHICAGO….The return of the Monsters of the Midway defense….45-sacks…35-takeaways…and holding QBs to 34% conversion on 3rd downs.

COWBOYS…What a season for Ezekiel Elliott, 286-carries, 72-receptions so far, and (1,394Y) rushing…maybe an MVP candidate. Dallas has won 5-of-6, and by the way WR-Amari Cooper is averaging (15YPC) since the Raiders trade.

PACKERS…A lost year for QB-Aaron Rodgers, (23TD-2Int) but he’s taken 44-sacks, and a defense that has been shredded by injury.

RAMS…Everyone yelling ‘fire’ with two losses in a row, and yes Jared Goff has 1TD-7 interceptions in his last three games…but they close out with the 49eers and Cardinals

VIKINGS….A typical Kirk Cousins year, (3,913P…but 17-turnovers, 34-sacks, and a team scuffling to be in the playoffs.

GIANTS…A miserable season in New York for Eli Manning, but not his rookie RB-Saquon Barkley….305-touches already….(1,153R)…(654Y) receiving.

SEAHAWKS….They lead the league in rushing (154YPG)….but Russell Wilson has taken 42-sacks while turning it over just 10-times.

BROWNS….It’s like night and day for Baker Mayfield since the Hue Jackson firing…his passing percentage has gone from 58% to 70%….QB rating is up to 101….turnovers are down…and Cleveland has won 5-times since the coaching change.

TITANS…Somehow Mike Vrable has squeezed his team into playoff hunt, with lots of injuries at quarterback, some good days running the ball (Derrick Henry)…some days lots of dropped passes…progress I guess.

Of course there are some pretty bad numbers around the NFL too, because thee are some pretty bad teams

TAMPA BAY…What a dichotomy..(416YPG) on offense…but allowing (396YPG) on defense…and those turnovers (32)..and those sacks (38)..ugh.

ARIZONA…Tough learning curve season the kid QB-Josh Rosen….66-QB rating…55% completion rate….17-turnvoers in half a season as starter.

ATLANTA…Lousy season despite the success of QB-Matt Ryan…his defense has given up 47-touchdowns.

DETROIT…Matthew Stafford, an enigma at QB…they need him to throw for a lot…he takes a lot of sacks (37) and doesn’t have much defensive help.

EAGLES…From Super Bowl to Toilet Bowl…injuries have something to do with it…but so do 36-sacks allowed and 19-turnvoers.

49ers…Lost 2-QBs with injuries and a defense that has given up 30-TD passes.

RAIDERS…So much for the Gruen-Derek Carr joining forces to dominate…….Carr 47-sacks and 36% on third down conversions…that plus an ugly defense (385YPG).

BENGALS…Marvin Lewis’ team has lost 7-of-9…No playoff games for them to lose this year.

JAGUARS…Somebody pays the price for his mess, 9-losses in 10-games…QB rating of (83)…44-sacks allowed…no faith in whomever was back there..not much of a run game either.

JETS…Sam Darnold is learning on the job…some Sundays’ better than others….(14TD-15Int-72 QB rating)

REDSKINS…4-quarterbacks used….lost 4-of-5…QBs combined rating (81).

Enjoy the chase for the final playoff spots this weekend, likely more big numbers from QBs too.

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“Aztecs Football-Outcoached-Outhit”

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It was hard to believe what I was seeing, and I am an Ohio Bobcat alum.

I watched my Alma Mater destroy the team I have come to love and respect, Rocky Long’s San Diego State Aztecs.

Ohio beat SDSU at their own game. Ran the football down their throat. Outmuscled them. Punched them in the mouth on defense.

I knew Ohio would be tough to stop, with a Midwest personality power run game. I geared Ohio would hit some big pass plays against a young SDSU secondary, and they did that too.

What I found hard to understand was how a Rocky Long-led program, could fall on such hard times.

It has not been the same Aztecs team since Long engineered a tremendous mid season upset win at Boise State.

It’s not the same Long type team, with the discipline problems on and off the field, that cost him his left tackle and left guard, and an injury to his right tackle ended his season too.

The matchups early on were fun to watch.

Bobcats coach Frank Solich,who has done as much good in Athens, as Long has done on Montezuma Mesa, schooled his quarterback Nathan Rourke in how to handle State’s 3-3-5 defense.

Rourke, a Canadian import, stood at the line of scrimmage, reset blockers, called audibles, see up the run game, and killed State with a play action option run for a TD, and a flea flicker TD bomb.

Ohio steamrolled the SDSU defense with running back AJ Ouellette, powered his way for well over 164-yards rushing and 33-yards in catches, and stayed inside to block the blitz time and time again.

For State, they couldn’t run early. Fred Truvillion fumbled twice. When the game was important, SDSU’s quarterbacks had completed only 9-passes before garbage time. It just wasn’t what we’ve seen over the years up on the hill. Juwan Washington ran for a rugged 140-yards, most in the second half.

What at one point looked like another typical really good Aztecs season, ends with 5-losses in the final 6-games they played. That hasn’t happened wince the Chuck Long days, and that was pretty bad.

Long promises an off season evaluation of how and why this happened.

Coaching turnover, the losses of Bobby Hauck and Danny Gonzalez as coordinators hurt. The injuries upfront changed team chemistry. The discipline issues with key players had never part of this landscape.

Long will also need to evaluate Xs and Os. Running downhill how and playing cement tough defense are calling cards of SDSU football. But somehow, Long has to find a way to recruit some game-breaking wide receivers. The downfield passing game has to be part of SDSU future.

At a school that had such a great passing tradition, from the Dennis Shaw era, to Dan McGwire, David Lowrey, Kevin O’Connell, Ryan Lindley, and all those great receivers, SDSU has to find more still players. When was the last time they had an all conference wide receiver?

It ended with an interception on the final play of the game, but it was a struggle for all 60-minutes.

The scoreboard read (27-0) Ohio.

This isn’t about what happened on a rainy night in Texas. It’s what happened over the second half of what became a lost season. Slouch outreached Rockyball. Rourke outplayed the opposing QBs. Ouellette out pounded Washington. The Cats defense was tougher than State’s.

My Green & White won.

The Red & Black come home with a lot of questions to be answered.

Disappointing bowl loss. Even more, a disappointing season.

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