-0-

“Red Hot Topics on Cold Ice-Hockey Playoffs”

-0-

The best time of the year, if you are a hockey fans…

GULLS…The American Hockey League franchise is a raging success. Crowds of 12,000 or more have become the norm. The Gulls used 50-players this year, and still went (43-20-5). Look at who they have sent to the Anaheim Ducks, goalie John Gibson, winger Nick Ritchie, and stud young defensemen Brandon Montour and Shea Theodore. How deep the Gulls go in the AHL playoffs will depend on how hot their goaltending can get, and if they can score goals. They have one of the best defensive teams in the AHL, but struggle to put the biscuit in the basket. With all the callups, Dallas Eakins is putting alot of just signed college kids on the ice nightly. A month ago, most of them were in NCAA games. The AHL playoffs are a real grind. They face Ontario to start the journey on Friday.

DUCKS…Can you say NHL Stanley Cup finals? Veterans, kids, fiestiness, size, skill, and strong goaltending. Ryan Getzlaf is on a tear, only a veteran can provide. You wonder if Ryan Kesler of Kevin Bieksa were still in Vancouver, if the Canucks would still be playing? Who’d expect a combined 51-goals from Rikard Rakell-Jacob Silfverberg..Very good, very deep team…Excellend job by the front office stockpiling talent….and now Shea Theodore-Nick Ritchie scoring key goals at most important time of season.

KINGS…They won, they paid out big money, they got old, the coach and GM both got fired. The way of life in the NHL if you start overpaying players, and make mistakes in drafts. The Kingds did both. It’s like everyone up there makes 8M a year, and half of them shouldn’t be making half that figure. A tough challenge ahead for Rob Blake to fix the mistakes GM-Dean Lombardi left behind. The stunner this year, after the deals a year ago, he needed a goal scorer at the trading deadline, and instead got another goaltender, that he did not need.

OILERS…It took 11-years, but Edmonton is back in the playoffs. Yes it’s Connor McDavid’s team, flanked by alot of young high draft picks, better goaltending and the arrival of Marian Lucic-joining vet Pat Maroon. But it has been the leadership of coach Todd McLellan who did such a great job at San Jose, that has really made a difference.

MAPLE LEAFS…In two short season, Mike Babcock-Brendan Shanahan have flipped the franchise, with a strong front office series of moves…turning Toronto into a budding NHL power. Yes Austin Matthews (40G) is a star, but they have so much firepower alongside him, a bunch of no names on defense, and a young veteran goalie Frederic Andersen, this is a really good team.

MONTREAL…Goalie Cary Price carries the workload, but a red-hot goaltender can make a difference in these series. They work hard, and Claude Julian has them hitting. Do they have enough firepower to win games is the big question..still not enough help for Max Pacioretty..

SAN JOSE…The Sharks have an ailing Joe Thornton,but they have a cast of really good veterans, playoff tested, Burns, Coture, Marleau, Pavelski to grind thru series. Has G-Martin Jones really established himself yet as a star?

FLAMES..They’ve been building, have goal scorers, can skate, and have a lockdown defense. They might be a year away from going deep into post-season. Sean Monahan and his buddies Tkachuck, Gaudreau, Frolik, Backland are really good. But this 28-game losing streak on Anaheim ice, dating back to 2004, is an albatross around their neck.

PENGUINS…What’s not to like about Pittsburgh, and it’s not just Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin is back healthy. Have the people in the crease. Have survived some really bad injuries to defense, notably Kris Letang, to likely get to the finals in the East.

RANGERS…Henrik Lundqvist is spectacular, but do they have enough snipers to take the pressure off their star-studded veteran goalie. Mike Zuccarello, Rick Nash and friends need to make a difference.

CAPITALS…It starts with Alexander Ovechkin and bunch of worker bees on various lines. Niklas Backman may be as good a player in the NHL no one knows about. Brandon Holtby does look at alot of rubber. So explosive, they could be playing into May easily.

COLUMBUS…John Tortorella had this team on a 15-game win streak in December. Too bad the playoffs didn’t start then.

MINNESOTA…The post season curse of Bruce Boudreau followed him from the Ducks to the Wild. This end of season fade is about to put them out of business. Minnesota is (4-14-2) since mid-March and now down (3-0) in their St Louis series.

BLUES…Thank goodness for Bryan Elliott the goalie and Vlad Tarasenko..

BOSTON..Coaching change worked..just not sure enough firepower to help Brad Marchand..

OTTAWA…Not enough goal-scoring, but the marvelous story of goalie Craig Anderson, backstopping this team, while spending time with his young wife in a bitter battle against cancer.

NASHVILLE…Who are these guys? It’s more than just the energy of PK Subban, but the Preds are a tough matchup. Just ask the Blackhawks about dealing with G-Pekka Rinne. Wow they work hard.

CHICAGO…Shocking they are in the playoff hole they are in, after re-tooling the roster a couple of times in between Stanley Cup parades. Number of veterans have gone MIA for the Blackhawks in this series. Kane-Toews need to earn their pay. More roster changes coming.

-0-

“Jackie Robinson-Then-Now”
by Lee ‘Hacksaw’ Hamilton
CW-6 San Diego

-0-

At historic Dodgertown, in Vero Beach, Florida, where Dodgers blue was part of springtime from post World War to till the mid 2010 era, there was a restaurant, a bar, and a media work center. right across from Holman Stadium, the old time Grapefruit Circuit home of the Dodgers, the stadium lined with palm trees.

The walls in the hallway were lined with historical black and white Dodgers pictures, some of LA vintage, most of Brooklyn fame.

The biggest mural stretched a good 20-feet long. A black and white picture of the Dodgers-vs-Phillies, sometime in the 1950s. It was a rundown between third and home plate.

There were 5-Phillies fielders in the picture, straddling the baseline, with Jackie Robinson in the middle of the run down. The picture struck a nerve chord in me.

This weekend the legendary Dodgers franchise erected a huge bronze statue at the Stadium, of Jackie Robinson, sliding into a base in his patented stolen base pose.

It was a moving ceremony, the Dodgers icons surrounding the bronze statue. Tom LaSorda, Vin Scully, Rachael Robinson and family. It was vintage history for a franchise with such a great historical past.

Jackie Robinson arrived so late to the majors, age 28, after his days at UCLA, in the army, then the Negro Leagues. He left life so early, done in by the weight of society he carried on his cast-iron frame, passing away at age 53, of diabetes and a heart attack.

He carried the burden of black America trying to bust thru the baseball color barrier. He was to pioneer how good players with the Kansas City Monarchs, Indianapolis Clowns, Homestead Grays and others were.

He would carry the banner of the black ball player, and be the shield against the racist vitrol of opposing players, managers, some media, redneck fans, biased umpires, hate-mailers and some bigoted teammates.

He would have to prove himself at the same time by learning to play different positions, and dealing with the greatest pitchers of that era, Spahn, Sain, Robin Roberts and the Yankees in the World Series.

He went hitless in that first game, though he did score a run when he got on via a misplayed bunt. Oddly, he went (0-20) that first week, another cement block around his neck, and the questions whether he should be sent back to the Montreal Royals.

Much has been made of the abuse he took early on, the Dodgers team petition, the curses, the beanballs, the black cat thrown on the field, and the hate mail threatening death.

The media did not make a big thing of his debut. In some of the 9-New York papers at that time, he was not mentioned until the 5th paragraph of the Dodgers-Braves game story.

There was no feature report on breaking the color line at Ebbets Field.
There was no TV at the time. You can only imagine if this were now, with the networks and social media.

He was referred to in a wide variety of ways, but never was the *N-word used.

“Colored third baseman. Speed Merchant. Muscular negro. Dark skinned player”. Those were the descriptions.

Columnists later that week referred to him as the ‘majors most discussed rookie’. Years later they saluted him as the ‘player who established the black man’s right to play.’

No mention of Branch Rickey, who chose Robinson based on talent and toughness of background. The debate still rages of the ratios in the decision by Rickey.

Conscience driven; driven to win with the best player he could get; or getting a talent because the negro fans money was green, equal to the white clientele, even if society did not think blacks and whites were equal.

That first day turned into a great first year, (.297) average, 12-homers, 36-stolen bases, and a flair and fire to win everyday.

When he was done, 10-years later, the stats read (.311-127HR-291 Stolen Bases) and played 3-infield positions and went to the World Series, winning finally in 1955, and then the Hall of Fame enshrinement.

There is no statistical category for how many other great players got to the majors quickly, from Larry Doby in Cleveland, to the Dodgers entourage led by Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella the next year.

We know his strength on the field. We can never come up with a statistic to measure his strength off the field, except to use the words courage and competitive.

The burden of all he experienced took a terrible toll on his life. He was Jessie Jackson, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Martin Luther King before their time.

The statue at Dodgers Stadium exceptional. The history of the Dodgers and all they have done with minorities is spectacular too.

And I think back to the first time I viewed that picture at Vero Beach-Dodgerstown. 5-white Phillies players chasing the Brooklyn Dodgers negro player, and it struck a nerve.

Jackie Robinson, always outnumbered, always with people out to get him. And he succeeded.

We remember him, we honor him, we should never forget him, his talent, his attitude, his greatness, his meaning.

Look what he became, look what he accomplished. Look at the beauty of the bronze statue at Dodgers Stadium.

-0-0-0-0-0-

-0-

“Greatness is Gone”

-0-

One of the last of the Old Guard has left the National Football League.

Dan Rooney has passed away, just like he lived and operated, quietly.

The Pittsburgh Steelers iconic leader, son of the team founder, Art “The Chief” Rooney has died at age 84, leaving behind a legacy never likely to be matched ever again.

Rooney took over as Team President in 1987, after sitting at the right hand of his father, who founded and owned the Steelers dating back to 1933.

Dan Rooney led them to greatness, and at the same time guided the NFL in business dealings to greatness too.

Western Pennsylvania, a hotbed of football for ever, was his home, but his shadow, his influence, his touch, spread everywhere.

Rooney hired Chuck Noll, and that move led to a 4-Super Bowl splurge in a 6-year span. He hired Bill Cowher, who continued Steelers success. And then he brought in Mike Tomlin, who brought in another ring.

Rooney led the drive to fund and finance, then build Heinz Field, a jewel of a stadium for the Steelers.

His charitable foundation work stretched everywhere across the Tri-State area.

His influence at the NFL league level was far-reaching. He helped solve 2-bitter player-union work stoppages. He was at the forefront of the new drug testing program. He created the Rooney Rule, forever the catalyst for minority hiring.

And then a dream position after stepping aside from the NFL, ambassador to Ireland on behalf of President Obama.

In an era of NFL ownership, dominated by personalities like Jerry Jones, and entrepreneurs like Robert Kraft, Dan Rooney stands far and above greatness, for not just accomplishments, but also relationships.

He told me in 1995, when I interviewed him the week the Chargers played, then beat the Steelers in the AFC-Championship game….”treat people as you would like to be treated” Respect begets respect.

From a family of nine kids, to ownership of one of the most stable business enterprises in the NFL, Dan Rooney is at the top of the list of class, dignity, loyalty and success.

Greatness gone, but never-ever to be forgotten.

-0-0-0-0-0-

-0-

“Do You Really Believe This”

-0-

Off day..travel day…for a Padres team that may be the surprise of the National League, at least two weeks into the season.

When the schedule came out, then you saw the list of names San Diego had put into their starting rotation…tell me.

You didn’t think this team would be (5-5) did you? More like (1-9) maybe, considering they got the Dodgers and Giants to start the year, and then this junket into hitter hell Colorado.

Now add in the fact they are without 3-starting pitchers, on the DL, Luis Perdomo, Trevor Cahill, and Christian Friedrich, and you would have forecasted doom and gloom.

Instead we got some masterful pitching, some gritty pitching, and some wins out of pitchers you would not expect to step up.

Clayton Richard, reinventing himself to become a sidearm pitcher, after 3-different surgeries, including one on his collarbone, throws 8-shutout innings at Dodgers Stadium. Wow !.

Jhoulys Chacin comes up with (5.2) shutout innings against the Giants, after a poor first start. Surprising !

Jared Cosart, relegated to the bullpen by a sloppy spring, pitches a strong emergency start in Colorado, 5-plus innings. Steps up !

Zach Lee, a failed first round pick with the Dodgers, who then went (0-9) with a 6.18-ERA in Tacoma last year, goes into the 6th inning with a shutout in Colorado too. Stunning !

Is this real or imagined? How are they doing this? Can this keep up?

As Andy Green lectured me, when he found out I predicted his team would go (60-102) this year…’we earned these wins-they’re not going to take them away from us’.

So be it, so far, so good, though I am not really sure all these guys can keep pitching this way start after start.

Wil Myers is establishing credentials as a real star. Hunter Renfroe is hitting. So is Yanger Solarte. Manny Margot has really suprised out of the gate. Add in a Ryan Schimpf longball, and the batting order has produced most every game.

But it’s a pleasant surprise out of the gate. Credit Green and pitching coach Darren Balsey for nursing these guys into the rotation, giving them scouting reports, and not extending them too much. The bullpen so far, with the exception of overwhelmed Christian Bethancourt, has held up its end of the bargain.

So far, so good.

But as a Boston Marathon runner would tell you, it’s not necessarily how you start the race, or what you are doing at the 3-mile mark, but what you do at Heartbreak Hill, or and the end.

For baseball is a long marathon. The Padres will need lots of pitching too.

But (5-5) heading to Atlanta is alot better than (1-9), where I thought they might be.

–0–0–0–

to me
-0-

“What They Said About What He Did”

-0-

Steve Fisher-Outgoing Head Coach San Diego State.
Standing Ovation twice for retiring Aztecs basketball coach
Quotes from the Farewell Press Conference.

Highlites of his press conference.

Athletic Director-JD Wicker

He cares..about players-program-employees-university
He made Viejas Arena the place to be
JAM Center-we don’t get that built without him.

Steve Fisher

Close your eyes..dream of your aspirations.
Have a dream and a vision
Coaching anywhere is a privledge and responsibility
I do more than coach basketball..I teach life
My 1963 Yearbook in high school…goal…coach-teach
Traveled lots of roads from Southern Illinois-high schools to college
Illinois State-Western Michigan-Michigan-SDSU-I never planned it.
Michigan experience-life of twists and turns
Burst of Pride-our success..our legacy
My work of art-what our players turned into as people
I take pride..people said you can’t do that
Viejas..truly great environment
It’s our program..not my program.

Brian Dutcher-incoming head coach

Assistant since 1988
Hardest Job travel those 18″ from assistants chair to head coaches chair.
Maintain culture of academic excellence..social responsibility..family first.
World full of talkers..be a great listener
Not losing Steve Fisher legacy-he will be here to help
314-Division 1-jobs out there..maybe 80 of them good jobs
I have best job in the conference-waited to inherit great job
6th place in conference-not acceptable.

Bill Frieder-ex head coach Michigan-Arizona State

Watched him in high school…patient teacher-disciplinarian
He is a great recruiter-salesman
He made Loy Vaught a great Big 10-player
He saw greatness in Kawahi Leonard
I never imagined what he could do at SDSU
He built it…he sustained it
Program was a morgue-apathy-no tradition
Shocked by what he turned this into
Knows how to judge talent and character
He gets players to believe in his vision
Fab 5-scandal at Michigan so unfair to him..so hurtful