1-Man’s Opinion Column-Monday “Merry Christmas”

Posted by on December 25th, 2017  •  0 Comments  • 

Merry Christmas to all my website followers.

Thanks for your support.

1-Man’s Opinion Columns return on Tuesday morning.

Happy Holidays

Lee Hamilton

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Friday “Aztecs-Special Bowl Game-Special Opponent”

Posted by on December 22nd, 2017  •  0 Comments  • 

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“A Bowl Game-A Special Game-Opponent”

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San Diego State plays in another bowl game on Saturday, something quite common in the Rocky Long-led era.

But the Armed Forces Bowl in Ft-Worth will be different.

It won’t be like last year’s win over the Houston Cougars. Surely not the party that was the Hawaii Bowl win over Cincinnati. Unlike most of the other bowl games either.

Yes, State plays Air Force in Mountain West play, and yes they have played Navy.

But this bowl game with Army has a different feel, for West Point is different.

They’ve been playing football on the Hudson since the 1890s.

Michie Stadium, overlooking the river, on a hillside abreast of the historic buildings on the post, is unlike any other stadium in the country.

The march onto the field of the Cadets. The Army anthem. The echoes of the past are amazing.

Army is history.

It’s Mister Inside-Mister Outside, Glen Davis and Doc Blanchard.

It’s the Heisman Trophy winner Pete Dawkins.

It’s home games at Yankees Stadium back in the day.

It’s the once proud rivalry with Notre Dame and coach Frank Leahy.

It’s Earl Blaik, the legendary coach in the 1940s and 50’s.

It’s Army going (27-0-1) in 1944-45-46.

It’s 3-national championships and the Lambert Trophy, a symbol of supremacy in the East.

It’s the Army Mule.

Its the Commandeer in Chief Trophy.

It’s George Marshall and Douglas MacArthur.

It’s the Lonesome End, Bill Anderson, and players like Rollie Stitchweh and Mike Mayweather.

It’s the knowledge the star of this game, may be the soldier who stands a watch to protect your family in some far away place in the next year or so.

In harm’s way is not picking up a blitzing linebacker, but rather a night time raid in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan.

Bobby Ross, the legendary Chargers coach, strolled the sidelines for 3-years. He was forever moved by the specialness of those players, who would soon become commissioned officers.

He was moved to receive a letter from a former Army player in October about what Army-vs-Navy meant to him. And it was the same letter Ross read to his players the night before they played Navy, days after being notified that former player had lost his life in a fire fight.

So tomorrow, when we cheer Rashaad Penny in his final Aztecs game, and we watch the brilliance of Army QB-Ahmed Bradshaw, understand this is more than just a bowl game.

If you ever get the chance to visit West Point, or Annapolis, or Colorado Springs,you should. It will move you like nothing you have ever experienced before in sport.

And when it is over, Long, the old-ball coach, will lead his players to the Army side of the field for their Alma Mater, a classy salute to what the Black Knights represent, not just on the field, but in real life.

There are so many great things that Aztecs football has become. Think about ht great things Army-West Point represents.

Excuse me for this one day if I don’t root for the Red & Black, but rather the Black Knights of the Hudson. Who they are, what they represent, and what they will become.

The aura of Army football is more than just their power option offense, or their colors. it is a way of life, worth saluting, on and off the field.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Thursday “College Basketball-What A Run”

Posted by on December 21st, 2017  •  0 Comments  • 

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“College Basketball-What a Run”

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I sat across the court at Viejas Arena and saw the old ball coach and his wife, as they looked out not he court bearing his name.

What a special man, what a special time, Steve Fisher brought to San Diego State basketball.

And tonite on that same court, we see another special team come to town, Gonzaga has experienced.

It is amazing that this small Catholic school, in the out of the way place, Spokane, has become a national power.

Coach Don Monson seemed to start it. And for 19-years Mark Few has continued it.

Oh there were names in the past that were special, but the Zags were never a national power. They are now.

Maybe it started with guard John Stockton, as competitive a player as you would ever meet. A fierce person. A classy guy. And the greatest Utah Jazz ever, the small guy playing big against the NBA bigs.

So many good individual names followed. Big man Ronnie Turiaf….floor general guard Dan Dickau…..pivotman Kelly Olynyk….Adam Morrison, a great shooter.

It does not matter they did little in the NBA, it’s what they did, and did so well wearing Bulldog colors.

A star player drove everyone around them to be great.

Last year, big man Damontis Sabots, came from Lithuania, and became the cornerstone of a great team.

Now lots of the firepower around that team returns, with Sabonis having moved on to the NBA.

6-9 Jon Williams…guard Josh Perkins…and a host of underclassmen who shoot the lights out.

The Zags hit 50% of their shots. They shoot threes all night. They have already beaten Washington, Texas, Ohio State and Creighton. They lost to Florida in overtime, and were beaten by nationally ranked Villanova.

The Zags play anyone, anytime, anywhere, in conference, and out of conference. The tradition and reputation they have developed is immense.

Gonzaga has been a big time player in recruiting in Europe, and now in the Pacific rim.

This year’s team has players from France, Denmark and Japan, plus five star recruits from the West Coast, and an occasional Division 1-transfer.

Spokane has little to offer prospective recruits, unless you like hot summers, cold-snowy winters, and lots of farmlands.

And yet Few has a career record of (513-115), and has turned down all overtures to leave for the big time.

If you thought the accomplishments of Steve Fisher were special, then think about what is going on in the Pacific Northwest, where they have gone to the Championship game, the final four, the Elite Eight and the Sweet 16.

College basketball, what a run, with the Aztecs, and what a run with the Zags.

Sitting courtside with Steve Fisher tonight, a chance to see ‘greatness’ wearing the other colors.

1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Wednesday “Lakers Future-Better Than Past”

Posted by on December 20th, 2017  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Lakers-Future Better Than Past”

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The Lakers season is like fraternity rush tie on a college campus.

Everyone gets a chance to play the kid Lakers roster, gets a chance to survey what they have, likely beats them up, and get another win.

Tonight is no exception, when the college frat roster that is the Lakers, heads into Houston, where they will likely get smoked by the 3-point shooting (25-4) Rockets. James Hardin and his friends do that to a lot of teams.

But if you have been paying close attention, these games are better now, than they were at the start of the season.

Yes Luke Walton’s kids are (11-18), and there are still losing streaks.

But the 33-point losses are going away. The nights they give up 132 are few and far between compared to this time last year, the year before that, and the year prior to that.

The UCLA rookie, Lonzo Ball, is becoming a more complete player. His defense has been upgrade, his shooting in spurts is better his desire to rebound and to make slick passes, exceptional. Imagine what he will be like with some upper body strength a year from now.

The gem of the young roster seems to by Kyle Kouzma, a shooter from anywhere on the floor, and a guy fearless on his way to the hoop.

Brandon Ingram has now become a floor leader, a shooter, a driver, and willing to do dirty work.

Julius Randle seems undersized, slight, but wiry, and is not afraid to go into the traffic to score and rebound.

Big guy Brook Lopez is better offensively than anyone ever thought and can board, though he is not a true rim protector.

Kantavius Pope came with a reputation as a defender, but has been a better scorer than imagined.

Larry Nance Junior is a leaper like his dad was in Cleveland and seems driven at 101mph when he gets to play.

Josh Hart, a rookie, seems capable of playing with the big boys, without fear.

How do you gauge progress? Wins would be nice, but competitive spirit and productivity weigh into all of this.

They went toe to toe with a Golden State team on Monday night, though the Warriors didn’t suit up Steph Curry and Draymond Green, but LA exchanged buckets, rebounds, fouls and engaged the Warriors in ends to end spurts.

A week ago they didn’t wilt against the King, LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

They slugged with Boston. Dropped a game to the improving Knicks. And staged rallies and wins against the young and talented Wizards, 76ers, and Memphis Grizzlies.

Losses, for sure, but when you start losing by 2-2-4-4 and 10 to the best teams is the league with a roster that probably is more ACC than NBA, that’s progress.

The Lakers need to keep all these young guys healthy, and then add a quality free agent this coming summer, and maybe another one the following summer.

Pay attention to what’s on the court, what you see, not what LaVar Ball’s mouth says.

They appear ahead of schedule right now with all these kids. Better that where they were the prior 3-years, in the wake of all the bungled decisions by Jim Buss

The fans love them. Better today. Going to be a lot better in future tomorrows.

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Tuesday “Padres-Waiting for a Phone Call-Would You Make It”

Posted by on December 19th, 2017  •  0 Comments  • 

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“Waiting for a Phone Call”

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You never like to see it wind up like this, especially to a good guy.

But then again, it is the nature of the business. You play until a club says it no longer needs you. You don’t play when no one wants to offer you a contract.

Injuries are part of the game, and what has befallen the beloved Adrian Gonzalez is stunning.

The power hitting popular opposite field home run hitting power alley guy, is without a team as of this morning.

The Dodgers shed his salary, the (23.5M) final year of his contract, dealt to the Atlanta Braves over the weekend in a 5-player deal that brought them Matt Kemp back to LA.

The LA to Atlanta deal came days after the Dodgers asked him to waive the no trade clause in his contract and accept a deal to the woeful Miami Marlins, an absolute insult, to include him in a fire sale transaction.

But Atlanta might not be much better than Miami, except his agent John Boggs pulled off a creative deal.

Adrian was going to get his money no matter where he went, but ‘Team Gonzalez’ had a better idea.

Waive the no trade clause and receive a promise of an outright release. The Braves elected to do that, so Gonzalez gets his salary via Atlanta, became a free agent on Monday, and can now try to rally his career, in a possible better situation with a pennant contender.

He is rehabbing the back that bothered him all last year. No surgery was necessary. A full 5-months of rest may well do the trick for the fanatical fitness freak and grinder of a player.

He had never been on the DL in his life till last years neck issue and back issues flared. If you subtract his (.242-3 HR) season from all of his other career stats, this is a quality player.

A lifetime (.288) average, with 311-home runs and superb glove at first base. And now teams can get him at a reduced price.

A proud player wants to continue playing, maybe going back to the American League, as a first baseman-DH.

Maybe Cleveland, Seattle, Colorado, Arizona. All have a need at the position, and at a reduced price, remember he gets his full salary from Atlanta on the 1st and 15th of every month, maybe he finishes his career on an upswing, if healthy.

His great years with the Padres turned him into a (.300) hitter. 5-summers in his home town. 6-seasons swinging in Dodgers Blue. 2-years in Boston. 2-in Texas.

You never like to think it is over for good players and good guys.

Maybe its not for him yet.

And think about this.

How would a Padres lineup this spring look to you?

Adrian…Asuaje…Galvis…Headley…Solarte…Myers…Margot….Renfroe. A cross section of youth, sprinkle of veterans, and a summer of base hits and maybe some home runs.

Some professional hitters. Some kids. Some leadership. Some proven quality. Some power. Some hits.

San Diego rents a couple of players and makes itself a possible wildcard team in the offing.

A homecoming of sorts. He becomes a bridge player going towards the future, hitting at Petco-where he always felt good hitting, and waiting for all the young kids to arrive.

He’s waiting for a phone call. Maybe the Padres should make that call.

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