1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Friday “Names in the News in Sports”

Posted by on June 15th, 2018  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Names-In the News”

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Here-there-everywhere with people and opinions.

BRYCE HARPER…Crazy talk-some so called anonymous baseball exec telling a reporter that the Washington Nationals star is selfish and a loser. All players are selfish, and want to do good. Harper has helped make the Nationals a winner. Sure some will be turned off by his agent, Scott Boras, dropping hints, the player should get a (10Y-300M) contract, but he has emerged as a true star in this league.

ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN FOOTBALL….Might it be the stopping off point next spring for a couple of unsigned aging veterans? Can you see Colin Kaeperneck-Adrian Peterson wanting to sign on with the league.

DEZ BRYANT…Now it gets intersting with OTA camps ending, who signs theex-Cowboy and for how much. Is Dez still unsgined because he no longer can get open, or because he thinks he should be paid equal to the (12.6M) he used to earn with Dallas.

TERRELL OWENS….In what should be a shining moment to cap a great career on the field, TO goes nuclear again saying he will boycott the Hall of Fame Ceremonies in Canton next July. So he wants his legacy as a petulant cancer to be the last memory footblal fans have of him?

KELLEN WINSLOW-JUNIOR…So how’s life after your tainted NFL career going? Serious stuff, this 9-count arrest warrant, with some real red flag words contained in the warrant, rape, sodomy, copulation, kidnapping and more. Not a pretty picture. But the son of the legendary Chargers star, has had lots of problems. He wiped out his early career with a serious leg injury in a motorcycle accident showing off. He moved to a lot of teams, and was never the same player prior to the accident. And an arrest to, in a shopping center, according the the police report, ‘pleasurinzing himself’ in the front seat of his parked car. Father was a superstar. Son is a sleaze ball.

REGGIE BUSH….No surprise with the jury verdict in his major lawsuit against the LA Rams, for a knee injury, caused when he was tackled out of bounds, landing on a cement walkway near the bench. The St Louis Rams controlled the Edward Jones Dome, and they we’re found negligent of not putting coverings on the walkways near the bench area. Now they will have to pay. Don’t know what grounds they would appeal on..

LE BRON JAMES….The superstar, who has always conducted his career with dignity and class, sounds off saying Houston is not a place he’d consider signing when he becomes an opt-out free agent. Doesn’t like the city or the weather. Doesn’t bother James Hardin nor Chris Paul.

BARRY TROTZ….Oh to be a free agent with a big payday coming. The Washington Caps coach, now being fitted for a Stanley Cup ring, has opened talks about a big money contract extension.

ANNE DONOVAN…Basketball mourns the first great female star, passing away at age (56) from heart disease. She single handedly put the women’s game on our radar, and her 6’8-frame made the nation aware of the talents out there. 2-time NCAA champ at Old Dominion, 2-time Olympic Gold Medal winner. A fantastic person.

US OPEN…That wasn’t very good. Rory McIlroy carded John Daly type numbers, an (80) in the opening round at Shinnecock Hills. Haven’t seen those kind of numbers (3-double bogeys-6-bogeys) from a star in a long time. Equally bad day for Phil Mickelson with (8-bogeys) enroute to a (77). Wither Jordan Spieth, in at (78), and Jason Day continues to tumble, shooting a (79). And then Tiger Woods takes back to back double bogeys late in his round, dropping into a pot bunker with his own (78).

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Thursday “Soccer-World Cup-The Beautiful Game-It’s Back”

Posted by on June 14th, 2018  •  0 Comments  • 

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“World Cup-The Beautiful Game”

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It starts today, in Russia, 11-cities…12-stadiums….32-teams…64-games.

It’s the World Cup of Soccer, futbol to the purists, the ultimate global sporting event, surpassing all the things here in the US, and even the Olympics worldwide.

Close your eyes, and listen to names, and you will recognize the greatness of those who graced the pitch for the better part of the last 75-years since the end of World War II.

And the names come rolling back like a tidal wave of super stardom.

Soccer today is about Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo and Neymar. But those who proceeded them made the game great.

Pele took the sports to never imagined recognition, helping Brazil win 3-Cups in a 16-year span. His Brazilian sides have included legends like Carlos, Dunga, Cafu and Ronaldo…

When you think Germany, the names include Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Miller, Lothar Matthaeus and Miroslav Klose.

France’s contribution involves near recent legends Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zedane and Patrick Viera.

Argentina has given us Diego Maradona and so many others

Portugal was led by the icon Eusabio.

The Netherlands was all about back in the day star Johan Cruyff..

Hungary gave us a hero in 1954-legend Ferene Puskas.

England’s heart is in the game, and its history includes Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Gary Linekar, George Best, Steve Gerrard, and goalie Gord Banks.

Team USA’s arrival was triggered by Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda, John Harkes and Claudio Reyna. But purist will never forget others who wore the colors, Ramos, Balboa,Tim Howard, Brad Friedel and the original star Walter Bahr.

It must be an empty feeling starting today for those on Team USA, for the American side captured the summer fancy of sports fans in past two decades. But this time, they did not qualify, but then neither did the Dutch, the Italians nor Chile.

Soccer is going thru an explosive growth in the states, the emergence of MLS, and the importation of the English Premeir League. The Fox Soccer Channel started it all, and now NBC has picked up the flag too. And of course, the Men-in-Blazers TV show.

You’ll see flair, passion, end to end rushes, grinding offenses, violent tackles, yellow and maybe red cards, tremendous saves, players taking dives, arguments, handballs, corner kicks, bicycle kicks and more.

It’s a summer samba of noise from the fans, and fierce pride in the flag.

The World Cup, it all starts Thursday morning. Something special, the beautiful game. It’s soccer at its global best.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Wednesday “Rams Rich Owner Takes Big Gamble”

Posted by on June 13th, 2018  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Rams Rich Owner Gambling”

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LA Rams owner Stan Kroenke is big time rich, so much so, he can afford to own the NFL team, and can afford to pay 4B to build this new Hollywood Park Stadium

He owns the NBA Denver Nuggets, the NHL Colorado Avalanche, the MLS Colorado Rapids, the Pepsi Center, a Denver based regional sports network, and an English Premeir League soccer team.

Lots of money to throw around, but not to one of his top football players.

For the third year in a row, Aaron Donald, an elite NFL defensive tackle, will play on a contract that he has outgrown.

He is boycotting minicamp again, and will likely not report to July camp, and sit out much of the preseason.

He is due to make (6.9M) in the final year of a deal he signed after being drafted out of Pitt. His production has outperformed his dollars, and the Rams have not taken care of him yet with an extension.

This has been a marvelous off season for the Rams. A talent laden team already, one that got to the playoffs with a dynamic young quarterback, they added tons of talent on defense this past winter.

The are all-in to win, but they are taking massive gambles too on players, some with bloated contracts, others with tainted reputations, and some in the final year of their deals.

How they sign them all next year will be the challenge, for their is an NFL salary cap, even for rich people like Stan Kroenke.

The going rate for elite defensive lineman is 20M.

Donald is headed to that payday.

So possibly might be Ndomakong Suh, whom the Rams got in the offseason. He’s in the final year of a current deal that is paying him (23M)., from his Miami Dolphins days. A new contract for him will be in the 20M range.

Brandon Cooks came from New England in a big trade, and is making 13M and likely to seek 16M a year from now on the open market.

Add in hi priced Aqib Talib, the ex Denver Bronco, making 6M a year, controversial ex-Chiefs CB-Marucs Peters, due 4M with a likely holdout next year.

Then there is star do-everything RB-Todd Gurley, who will command 13M next season, after putting together 3-spectacular seasons in Rams colors.

LA can franchise tag Donald at 14M next season, but how are they going to pay all the other cornerstone players they must retain to continue to win the ‘Battle for LA’.

The theory around the NFL is, it will cost the Rams (71M) for those 6-players alone in salary in 2019. And young QB Jared Goff will have a pay bump coming too.

The Rams deals to acquire key players means they are going for broke this year to get to the Super Bowl.

They might be broke next year butted up against the salary cap a year from now.

And all of Stan Kroenke’s riches won’t be able to help himnavigate around the cap, and deal with the possible unhappines of players who won’t be getting what they think they are worth.

The Rams are winning the battle for LA. They might not win the battle for big bucks in their own lockeroom.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Tuesday “Baseball-Goodbye-Good Players-Good Guy”

Posted by on June 12th, 2018  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Goodbye-Good Player-Good Guy”

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Two things came to mind when I got a text around midnight from a longtime friend-beat writer from New York.

Item 1….Padres fans booing him relentlessly.

Item 2…I.t ended oh so quickly.

And like that, as Monday dawned, Adrian Gonzalez was out of baseball.

In a surprise move, the New York Mets released the veteran all star power hitting first baseman, in the midst of a terrible tailspin, by the player and by his team.

The Mets started the season (11-1), and it has been a downhill slope since then, a team ravaged by injuries.

The season started with Adrian Gonzalez hitting (.311) early, but ended with 3-straight strikeouts, and a (.237) batting average, followed his release late at night.

It has been quite a career for the San Diego-Tijuana native. The gifted career at Eastlake High in Chula Vista. A first round draft pick. A trade before he ever reached the majors. And season after season of accomplishments.

The booming home runs to the opposite fields disappeared. The screaming doubles into power allies ended. The swift work of the glove at first base ceased.

And in a short half season span, his gifts left him.

Gonzalez, a fierce off season workout warrior, developed neck, then back problems a year ago, and the tailspin was fast. He never got to the World Series last year with the Dodgers, leaving to do rehab, and then going to Italy, to move his family.

There would be no comeback this year, for LA in a salary dump, dealt him to Atlanta, which in turn bough him out, so he could sign with the Mets. That didn’t work out, and now there’s no place for him to go work.

A first round pick of the Florida Marlins, he never got to Miami. Dealt to the Texas Rangers. Then Texas shipped him to the Padres. The Padres flipped him to Boston. Boston dealt him to the big dollar Dodgers. LA-to-Atlanta to New York.

It is odd though. He was moved in blockbuster deals, that always helped the club he went to and ruined the teams he left.

The Marlins dealt the young Gonzalez for relief pitcher Ugeth Urbina. A win for the Rangers.

The Padres got 5-years of quality play from Gonzalez and pitcher Chris Young. The Rangers got stuck with injured pitcher Adam Eaton and end of run reliever Akin Otsuka. A win for San Diego.

Unable to pay him going forward, Gonzalez went to Boston in a huge trade for Anthony Rizzo, Casey Kelly and more. He did well at Fenway Park, got a big contract extension, the Padres gave up on Rizzo in a deal that netted them Andrew Cashner. Not much in return eh?

Then in a blockbuster transaction, the RedSox shipped lots of contracts, Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and more for James Loney and minor leaguers. LA got great results, while Boston got rid of contracts.

Then last winter in a stunner, Gonzalez went to Atlanta in a salary dump with Atlanta. You take my bad contract, I’ll take yours. Matt Kemp came back home, but Gonzalez was gone, bought out by the Braves. Kemp is hitting (.334) in a contract year in LA.

His longevity was amazing. 15-years worth of dedication, a lifetime (.287) average….317-home runs…437-douldes….782-walks…..and a (.485) slugging percentage. Lost in all the stats, the most amazing one, a (.995) fielding percentage at a very busy position.

2-Silver Slugger bats, 5-Gold Gloves, All Star Game honors.

He became a star at the right time, even if he seldom played in the postseason, his Red Sox years being special, as well as playing in Dodgers Blue. He was rewarded, making 157M in his career.

He comes home knowing his body has broken down, but he leaves baseball likely with great respect from so many people.

Padres fans booed him every at bat in recent years, as a Dodger and a Met. Next time they see him, maybe in a ceremony at Petco Park, they should cheer him.

He gave everything he could for so very long. Big hits, big plays with the glove, always going the opposite way with his drives. He gave to the two city community he played for here in San Diego-Tijuana thru his charity work.

Adrian Gonzalez-gonzo. Good Guy. Good Person too.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Monday “NBA-Cleveland Cavs-LeBron-No Regrets”

Posted by on June 11th, 2018  •  0 Comments  • 

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“NBA-Cavaliers-No Regrets”

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There is disappointment no doubt, over how the Golden State Warriors tore apart the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals.

It was a series that was not very close, but it was a great team, Golden State-vs-a great player, from Cleveland.

LeBron James, with very little talent support around him, had no chance to carry Cleveland to victory against a firepower franchise that has to be viewed as a modern dynasty, with 3-titles in in 4-years.

NBA free agency is looming shortly, and so is another ‘decision’ , the decision, from James. Opt out of his 36M contract, leave Cleveland again, test free agency, try to put together another dream team with close friend Chris Paul, or stay and see if his Cavaliers can add on?.

Mention LeBron James, and what flashes to mind are the super human efforts of dragging the Cavaliers, willing the Cavaliers thru the playoff series, to get to the finals.

But of course, mention LeBron James, and you always have the flashbacks to his defection the first time around from Cleveland. You know, the ugly press conference, “taking my talents to South Beach”.

But sandwiched around his flight for big money to join the Miam Heat, have been two marvelous tenures with the team he grew up rooting form, form his hometown of Akron, Ohio, the Cavs.

The Miracle in Richfield Cavs, the Bill Fitch-Cavs, the Coliseum and Gund Arena Cavaliers. And now the King Jams era. All part of Cavs heritage, much like Nick Melti, Ted Stephen,Bill Musselman and Joe Tait.

Of course there has been turmoil along the way. The ouster of respected GM-David Griffin. The firing of coach David Blatt. The controversial trade of Kyrie Irving, breaking up something that was special.

He has now been part of 8-straight NBA teams that have gone to the finals. Only Bill Russell, not even Michael Jordan, ever accomplished that.

King James and his court, or whatever that was on the floor with him, have had a marvelous run.

A 1-man gang, he finishes this championship series averaging 34-points and 8-rebounds a game.

In the playoffs, he topped 40-points, 8-different times, against defenses that loaded up on him, knew what was coming, but could not still stop him. He had 4-triple doubles, in the playoffs, where they match best-vs-best. He had 2-buzzer beater baskets too.

Where does he go from here? There are two scenarios right now. He ops out of Cleveland and goes somewhere to join a frat team. Or he links up with Chris Paul, who can also opt out, and they join forces somewhere.

A max contract could take him to the Rockets to join James Hardin and Paul.

The Lakers have stockpiled all this young talent, and he could be the difference maker for 3-or-4 years, that might take LA to the top.

It’s hard to imagine Golden State adding this talent to that array of talent, in the salary cap era, but anything is possible.

There’s a young group on the Miami Heat roster but is there enough talent that he could lead the Heat back. The Chris Bosh-Dwayne Wade era is over.

The wildcard could be the specialness that the San Antonio Spurs have become with Greg Popovic. King James, Kawhai Leonard and a unique combo of young players.

In Cleveland, hot summer weather is descending on the city. Enough for fans to complain. The NFL Browns have been horrible. The Indians are struggling at .500 and don’t draw.

There should be no complaints from any Cavaliers fan going forward. LeBron gave them great years earlier, got them a ring when he returned. He has done spectacular things thru his foundations in both Cleveland and Akron.

Cavs fans should be ready to say ‘thanks for the memories’. If he had never arrived, or never come back, the Cavs could have been the Sacramento Kings for all of these years. And that would have been something to complain about.

King James. No regrets on either side.

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