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“Rich Men-Stupid Decisions”

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The firestorm that won’t go away.

The NFL stokes the fires and they erupt again, This national anthem controversy has erupted again, much like that volcano in Hawaii.

And this lava spill of reaction is going to bubble and boil over the rest of the spring, and into the start of the season, again.

The NFL owners concluded three days of meetings, including intense dialogue about the national anthem protests that stained the game last year, split the fans and it players, and hurt the league’s TV ratings and sponsorships

Roger Goodall wanted unity on the issue, that began with Colin Kaeperneck’s decision to knee during the 2016 season, protesting social injustice issues involving murders, arrests, and police confrontations with blacks.

From 1-player on the 49ers, to teams, they stood, they kneeled, the raised fists, they turned their backs. All types of protests, that spread like an oil spill across the NFL.

Now the owners have voted, on Goodall’s recommendation, players will be given the choice to stand on the sidelines for the anthems, or remain in the lockeroom till the anthems are over.

But if a player elects to stand on the sidelines, and makes any form of gesture, his team will face a strong fine. And the teams will also be allowed fine their own players, if they wish.

And the NFL specified, any gesture, from kneeling, to linking arms, to raising a fist, will be viewed as a violation.

The NFL last spring said it would make 90M in funding available to be split in different NFL cities for social issues programs, this after in-season meetings between the league and a committee of players.

The world reacted terribly when Kaeperneck first knelt, and the protests grew as the season went on.

It continued early last season, with rage on both street corners, those demanding the flag be respected, vs those who believe players have a right to freedom of speech.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is demanding his players stand for the anthem, and he stood on the sidelines, arms linked with his teammates, as a Cowboy team protest.

Other owners were verbal, saying they wanted their teams to be unified, many standing, but no one disciplined anyone along the way.

As season waned, the protests lost their stream. People got back to playing football, and hopes the new NFL financed programs would help.

But now this, an iron fist decision, that is going to lead to more confrontations.

The NFL should allow the players to make their choice, stand or sit, kneel as one or do it together. Use the black fist salute as a gesture of protest over police brutality.

Bu no, the NFL,which used to have its way on anything-everything, has created another monster problem for itself, its players, it TV partners, the union and the fans.

Ratings are down 17-percent over the last two years, and what the NFL owners just did is surely to trigger more negative flashback again.

Players making 12 to 20M a year aren’t protesting how they are being treated. They are protesting the ills in society that still exist on black-vs-white issues. These guys will show up and play hard, and earn their bucks.

You may dislike Kaeperneck, who walked away from a 12.6M contract, then protested, but understand this black quarterback has given 1M of earnings to causes in 4-different cities, plus a hospital in Africa, this while being unemployed, blamed, blackballed by NFL teams..

Players should have the right to take a stance or take a knee before the game starts.

The NFL has created another showdown issue, that they can’t win, no matter how many teams they fine.

They thought they solved it last year. They’ve screwed it up again this year.

You wait and see, opening day won’t be just about 32-teams starting play. It will be about how many team defy Goodall and the rich owners, who think they can tell the players what they should feel, or what they should think.

A firestorm is coming again, and you can blame this one on Roger Goodall, not Colin Kaeperneck.

Here’s what I think should happen. America’s fans should stand and lock arms opening day in their own form of social protest against the heavy handed rich men who made another stupid decision.

What’s the NFL going to do to the fans? Fine them?

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“Thoughts About the Teams in Town”

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THE KIDS….The stressful innings are starting to pile up on the rookie pitchers on the staff. Joey Luchessi is on the disabled list, and fellow rookie Eric Lauer has had more bad innings recently than good innings. Luchessi will be back in the rotation in a week. Lauer may have to go back to El Paso soon.

CALLUPS…As the Padres audition the young arms, they have an issue. The call up Calvin Quantrill, or Brett Kennedy, the Padres would have to get them on the 40-man roster, and that means moving somebody else off. Quantrill has only 2-years in organized ball, Kennedy is in his third. Neither has had to be protected on the ’40’ roster yet.

ALTERNATIVE….They may be forced to put Bryan Mitchell back into this leaky rotation. He is (0-3) in 7-starts, but desperate times calls for desperate moves.

ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN….This is a messy outfield situation. Too many misjudged fly balls, too many late jumps on fly balls, too many circle route angles to fly balls, and collisions and near collisions. The combos of Manny Margot, Franchy Cordero, Jose Pirela and Franmill Reyes has made for some adventurous nights in the garden, and some poor play.

ALL APRIL…That’s what Christian Villanueva was, hitting as high as (.365) with 9-homers. Since May 1st, he is (3-45) at the plate with 7-errors in the field. That batting average is now at (.236).

THE DL LIST….Team bad elbow is not very close to getting 3-of its key players back. Will Myers could be out another month with the oblique injury, after back and elbow issues earlier. Hunter Renfroe has just begun to DH in El Paso, but is not throwing. And Austin Hedges is hitting, but not throwing yet, and you know what catchers must do behind the plate. That’s a lot of offense not part of their lineup.

DOWN ON THE FARM….It has taken a month, but the two highest paid Cuban free agents from two years ago, and finding themselves at Lake Elsinore in the Cal League. P-Adrain Morejon, who cost the team 22M in bonus and tax money, is now (2-3) with a 3.65-ERA after a bad start. But he’s allowed 45-baserunners in 34-innings. And OF-Jorge Ona has gotten is average up to (.250) with 3-homers. He was a 14M investment coming off the Island.

GOOD GUY-GOOD JOB…Chris Young, the Princeton man, the 6’9 veteran either, who left camp in March, rather than go to the minor leagues, is back in baseball, not on the mound, but in the office of the Commissioner. He has become a baseball ops assistant to Joe Torre, working with rules, discipline and umpires. A quality gentleman, who showed enormous grit to overcome injury after injury in baseball.

CHASE CHECKS OUT….Chase Headley left town, his 13M contract intact, and sadly a strange (.115) batting average…by Saturday, he will likely become a free agent, with the Friars eating his contract. Now he waits for the phone to ring, to see if another team picks him up as an insurance policy and 3rd and 1st, or maybe as an injury rill in. Strong willed guy, solid provs pro, disappointed for him it did not work out this time around for him. Bet he lands somewhere else, maybe with a pennant contender. Can you say Angels? Mets? Arizona?

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“Holiday Bowl-Special-Is It Now”

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The Holiday Bowl has been special in our community.

Founded early as a place for San Diego State would have a place to go play after a good season, it has taken on special significance over its decades.

Yes the Aztecs have benefitted, and given us some great post-season games, including the shootout with Iowa.

And the Holiday Bowl took on its owner personality, thanks to the brilliant early year matchups, that brought BYU, during its quarterback heyday, to face other high powered teams, like the SMU Pony Express and so many more.

Ty Detmer, Steve Young, Robbie Boscoe and Jim McMahon made the bowl game must-watch television.

Ohio State and Michigan played here, USC came here a couple of times, so did Texas, Texas AM, Nebraska and Joe Paterno and Penn State.

The Bowl game has evolved, into big time conference affiliations. Whether that was the old WAC or Mountain West champions, often times BYU or Boise against name opponents. Worth a watch.

Then came special conference affiliations, matches that would bring us Pac 10-teams, the Big 10, and the Big 12.

We’ve seen great teams and great coaches and great players, including Barry Sanders and Oklahoma State and his Heisman Trophy.,

And now they have changed it all.

The Holiday Bowl had a long run with ESPN, but has changed affiliations, going to Fox. It’s all about paydays now.

The Holiday Bowl used to be the stand alone game on a Thursday night, featuring high scoring games for the nation to watch. I first saw the Holiday Bowl while stranded at home on Long Island during a Christmas week blizzard.

I never forget the sight of palm trees and shirtsleeves, and big BY scoring plays.

And now they have decided to change dates. They will play New Year’s Eve afternoon, matching big name teams, all fine and dandy, the Big 10-vs-the Big 12..

But they no longer have the TV audience to themselves. Fox will pay them money to put the game on when there are 6-bowl games that day.

The Holiday Bowl will be played the same day as the Gator Bowl, the more familiar Sun Bowl, the Liberty Bowl among others.

Sure they will promote it as a way to kick off your New Year’s Eve celebration, come party at the game and then go to your party. But the rest of the nation won’t be watching in all likelihood. There will be competition, lots of it from the day long menu.

And of course, the next day, from morning till night, will be the full menu of the biggest bowl games we have all come to watch.

Sure it’s our game, and college fans here will watch it, and they will draw their 40,000 plus or so, but something is being lost in the process. The national allure of being the only game on that given day

I don’t see this as being a Chamber of Commerce Post card day for San Diego nationwide.

Disappointing they get shoved into an already busy game day. San Diego’s notoriety loses something in the transition. So does the Holiday Bowl.

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“Petco Park-Magic-Pitching Coach”

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For the second time in a two week span, a Padres pitcher flirted with history.

First it was Tyson Ross, coming off the blood clot surgery, then on Tuesday, Jordan Lyles nearly did the same.

In a season of lots of losses, and lousy starting pitching, in a year where the Padres top two young pitchers are on the DL, and a third one is laboring in El Paso, Ross and Lyles gave Padres fans something to feel good about in a given start.

A near no hitter.

Lyles threw 7.1 perfect innings against the Rockies, before giving up 8th inning hits. Ross was equally wicked a couple of weeks ago, nearly doing the same before running out of gas too.

The common denominator in all this is pitching coach Darren Balsley.

Jordan Lyles was a first round draft pick the Houston Astros a decade ago. Tyson Ross an Oakland A’s refugee, who did not win.

Both came to San Diego as hard throwers, but with little else. Balsley has polished them, and now we see results.

Lyles was coming off an atrocious (9.39-ERA) last year. His career won loss record was (28-48) with the Astros and Rockies.

Ross was (2-11) his final year in Oakland and (6-18) in his career before becoming a complete pitcher under the Padres pitching coach.

The assignment for the highly regarded pithing coach, fix Ross’ mechanics, which come undone with his 6’6 frame.

The challenge with Lyles, make him a downhill pitcher, with all his velocity, and teach him to throw his secondary pitches for strikes.

Ross got better and better, and left for Texas. He came back here after blood clot surgery on his shoulder, and has rallied back. Lyles was pitching to save his career, first out of the pen, and now in the rotation.

The flashes we saw of Lyles as an Astro, then as a Rockie, all came together on a Wednesday afternoon.at Petco.

Balsley’s history is amazing, all the relief pitchers he groomed, and now what he is doing with the rotation. He holds the hands of the rookie arms, Joey Luchessi and Ereic Lauer. He breathes confidence into a journeyman like Kirby Yates.

Think of names in the past, Heath Bell, Scott Linebrink, Dale Thayer and more, and you know the assembly line of success stories he’s had.

And now he has restored the mechanics and sales pitched guys like Ross and Lyles back into important roles on a troubled franchise.

Sure the conversation in the city is about draft picks, the Latin American connection, the kids on the way. But there are still games to be played this season and next, likely non playoff seasons.

On this day, in an otherwise lost season, building for the future, Balsley proved his worth again, again, and again.

Just asked Tyson Ross and Jordan Lyles.

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……..(Baseball)……….

Padres-W-Rockies (4-0)..Jordan Lyles takes perfect game into 8th inning…Eric Hosmer 2R-HR…Calros Villanueva 2R-HR…Padres (17-27) ….

Padres…Travel day…open 10-game road trip in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Padres..DL-P-Joey Luchessi-hip-glute problems…will miss 1-start..has (3.23-ERA)

Padres..Recall 2B-Carlos Aguaje…did not bring pitcher up because would have to clear spot on 40M roster to callus Cal Quantrill.

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Dodgers-L-Miami (4-2)…Brian Anderson 2-RBIs for Marlins….Alex Wood falls to (0-4) gives up 9-hits……LA (16-25)…lost (8-of-9 fall into last place.)…

Dodgers-Miami…Wednesday matchup…Walker Beuhler (2-1)-vs-Caleb Smith (2-4).

Dodgers…Team President Andrew Friedman says no major trades are planned….says Dave Roberts is right leader for team…no shakeups on roster…improvement comes from within.

Dodgers…Option 3B-Kyle Farmer..OF-Tim Locator to AAA

Dodgers..Activate 3B-Jurtin Turner…2B-Logan Forsythe from DL.

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Angels-L-Astros (5-3)..Jose Altuve 3-R double in 8th inning…Justin Upton 2R-HR for Halos…Angels bullpen gave up 4-runs…. Angels now (25-17)…Astros (27-17).

Halos-Houston…Wednesday matchup…Garrett Richards (4-1)-vs-Caleb Smith (2-4)

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(Scoreboard)

Yankees-Washington…Game suspended in 5th by rain…will continue tonite…Tyler Austin 2R-HR for Yanks..NY (28-12)…Nationals (24-18)

Milwaukee-L-Arizona..Doug Descales HR for Arizona…Brewers (25-18)…Diamdonbacks (25-17)

Phillies-Orioles…Rained out….Baltimore (12-28)

Pirates-W-Whis Sox..Josh Bell 2-doubles-3RBIs….Chisox (10-28)

Indians-L-Tigers…Detroit 5R in 7th inning…Trive blew (5-1) and (7-3) leads…Cleveland (20-21)

Mets-W-Toronto…Amed Rosario RBI single..RBI double….NY lost (9-of-12)

Red Sox-L-A’s….Mark Canha 2R-double…Steven Piscotty HR…Boston (28-14)

Cubs-W-Atlanta…Ben Zobrist RBI single in 9th…Braves (25-16)

Cardinals-L-Twins…Bobby Wilson 2R-HR

Tampa Bay-W-Kansas City..CJ Cron 2R-HR for Rays…Royals (13-29)

Texas-L-Seattle…Jean Segura RBI single in 8th for M’s….Rob Chiniors 3RBIs for Rangers

Reds-L-Giants…Brandon Belt HR…Pablo Sandoval 2R-single…Cincy (14-29)

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(MLB)

MLB….Suspends Mariners 2B-Robbie Cano-80G-positive test for diuretic in his system…Cano will not appeal….took a prescription for internal bleeding from a licensed doctor in the Dominican Republic.

Boston…Red Sox P-Steven Wright reinstated after 16G-suspension for domestic abuse…lost 94,000-in salary.

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(Injuries)

Arizona..OF-AJ Pollock-sprainted thumb…hitting (.293)
Royals..DL-1B-Luca Duda-arch injury
Giants..DL-2B-Alec Hanson-hamstring.

Yankees..Send 1B-Greg Bird on rehab
Reds…Rehab assignments for P-Anthony DeScalfini….P-Michael Lorxenzen
Cardinals..P-Alex Reyes sent out on rehab
Giants..P-Madison Bumgarner begins throwing off mound

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(Roster Moves)

Giants..Callup OF-Austin Slater from AAA.

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…….(Basketball)……

(Playoff Scoreboard)

Boston-W-Cleveland…..Boston wipes out 14-point lead…survives 43P-nite from LeBron James….Celtics hit 5-shots in a row in 3rd quarter rally…..held Cavs to 39P in second half….Cleveland shot 36% from floor in 2nd half….went (3-17) from 3-point line in 2nd half…..James scored 21-in first quarter….Cavs G-JR Smith took flagrant foul shoving Al Hereford in back in midair-opening gates for Celtics to pull away……Celtics lead (2-0)

Golden State-Houston….Warriors lead (1-0)…..heading into Wednesday game.

NBA Lottery…Phoenix Suns win letter after (21-61) season….Sacramento Kings will choose 2nd….Atlanta Hawks get 3rd pick….Memphis chooses 4th…..Dallas will select 5th…..LA Clippers lose big-will draft 12th-13th……

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………(Hockey)…………

(Playoff Scoreboard)

Washington-L-Tampa Bay…..Victor Hedman Goal-2 Assists…Lightning dominate late in game pull away for road win….Caps lead series (2-1)

Winnipeg-at-Las Vegas…Game 3-of series…Golden Knights have home ice advantage.

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…..(Football)………..

Chargers…OG-Forrest Lamp-has undergone 2nd knee scope after ACL surgery last season….yet to cleared for workouts.
Chargers…WR-Mike Williams-last years 1st round pick…disappointed Charges fans who are ‘haters’ because he missed last year with injuries.

(Roster Moves)

Rams..Sign FA-QB-Luis Perez-led West Texas AM-Commerce to Division II title.
Rams..Sign FA-RB-Larry Rose-ex Tennessee
49ers..Sign FA-CB-CJ Goodwin-ex Arizona
Browns..Sign FA-OG-Anthony Fabrain-ex Colts

Green Bay..Visit with FA-WR-Dez Bryant-ex Cobohs.
Jets..Visit with FA-S-Ken Vaccaro-ex Saints
Bills..Visit with FA-WR-Russell Shepard-xs Redskins

Colts…Release CB-Kenneth Acker

Houston..OT-KJ Malone-retires after minicamp…played at LSU…son of NBA star Karl Malone

(NFL)

Eagles..RB-Jay Ajayi sued for 25,000-for damaging rented home in Los Angeles he stays din for 5-days after Super Bowl.
49ers..LB-Reuben Foster to appear in court on 3-felony cases on Thursday

Eagles..LB-Brandon Graham to miss all OTA’s..ankle surgery

Carolina….David Tepper-part owner of Steelers…purchases Panthers franchise from Jerry Richardson for 2.2-Billion.

Orrin Hatch…Congressman preparing presentation for Federal regulations for sports betting on all professional games.

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……(General)…….

BBC…Hires Jurgen Klinsmann to be in studion analyst for World Cup games.

Arsenal…Retiring coach Arsene Wenger-says he will not coach in EPL…but wants to coach abroad next year.

Arsenal…to interview Mike Arteta-Manchester City assistant for vacant head coaching job.

England…Veteran goalie Joe Hart-Mabchester City-left off World Cup roster…..G-Jack Butland-Stoke City….Jordan Pickford-Everton-may replace him on roster

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