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“Farewell to Friend”

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How do you equate greatness in his business?

Is it wins? League championships? Conference tourney titles? Post season berths? Is it graduation rate? Or fundraising? Or players who move on to the NBA?

San Diego State says goodbye to Steve Fisher, a man who turned around a floundering Aztecs basketball program.

He steps away from the noise that was “The Show”…the grind of recruiting…the rigors of coaching…the demands of being a father figure to players who have no father at home.

He retires after 18-glorious seasons at SDSU, taking the hoops program from rock bottom to the pinnacle of the conference, and to the post season.

From a (5-23) record and an (0-14) first year mark in the league, he drove the Red & Black to heights unimagined. 6-league titles. 4-conference tourney crowns, and 15-appearances in March Madness.

Winning games, then getting an NIT bid, then hoping to get an at-large berth in the tourney, to winning titles and earning NCAA bids every spring. That became his calling card.

The building never rocked more during his era (386-209) at San Diego State. Couple with his Fab 5-run at Michigan, he won 570-career games.

His personality, the respect he earned, the style he displayed, the guidance he gave, influenced so many.

From that woeful start, he convinced a former Fresno State player, Randy Holcomb, to be the first to transfer in. They believed in him. Then came Tony Bland of Syracuse, and transfers flocked to the Mesa from Michigan, Virginia, Louisville, Arizona and more.

He believed in 2nd chances, but he brought in not just quality players, but pretty good citizens. Bounce back players and JUCO’s can sometimes bring talent, but also baggage, but not to SDSU.

Then the high school starts started to come. Some flourished, like Jamal Russell, some failed like Evan Mathis, some became NBA superstars like Kawhi Leonard.

From the woeful days of Jim Brandenberg to Fred Trenkle, from the disappointments that were Tony Fuller to Jim Harrick-Junior, San Diego State tried all types of approaches to find someone who could reinvent the flashy era the school had decades ago under Smokey Gaines.

Here came Fisher with his white shirt, red tie, demanding defense, and stable approach to dealing with players, parents, alums and the media.

1-year removed from his era that ended so sadly at Michigan, he found a home, found a school with a need, and found a lifestyle that appealed to him.

One never forgets the highs, the (34-3) record, where his school was ranked at one point 4th in the nation. There were very few lows once the groundwork was laid.

And one should never forget the burden he carries, caring for his assistant coach son, Mark, terminally ill in his 40s, with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

They bid him farewell from his courtside coaching seat on Tuesday afternoon, but this community will never-ever forget the greatness of his leadership, on the court, across campus, and in the community.

They’ve named it the Steve Fisher Court at Viejas Arena. His impact is more than basketball. He saved the program, he built pride, brought victories, and made a difference in the entire athletic department.

Steve Fisher’s work may well have saved an entire foundering Athletic Department.

The Aztecs basketball success got that arena built. The recognition he brought here, has now brought a sense of enormous pride to every office in that athletic department. Across the board, so many of the SDSU programs are doing so well.

The university, the alumni, the city of San Diego, and even the Mountain West Conference owe Steve Fisher a debt of gratitude, for all he did, all he stands for, and the legacy he now passes on.

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to me
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“Monday Morning-Weekend Moments”
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PADRES…Interesting start to the season..Team plays hard..getting some timely first week hitting from Wil Myers and Yanger Solarte..and surprising pitching….but now a tough road trip….Padres play 11-of-14 on road…and have to play 38-games in 40-days to start the season.

DODGERS…Lefthanded pitching continues to be a problem..they bench OF-Joc Pederson, who hit (.125) vs southpaws last year…teams are pitching around Adrian Gonzalez…Yasil Puig, aside from some home runs vs San Diego, is not hitting..Does not look like a complete team yet.

ANGELS…Did not need to lose starting pitcher Garrett Richards, on the DL after one start…Team is hitting and Mike Trout and Albert Pujols seem to have help in batting order right now…Good spring training now followed by (5-2) out of the box start.

WASHINGTON…That wasn’t very good was it…Journeyman pitcher Jeremie Guthrie, once an ace with Orioles, gets blown off mound in first start with the Naitonals, as the Phillies scored 12-runs in the 1st inning on Saturday.

YANKEES…What a tough lst weekend…Masahiro Tanaka gets shelled..then they lose catcher Gary Sanchez and 1st baseman Aaron Judge to the DL with injuries and go (2-4) out of the box with pitching problems and injured players.

THE STANDINGS…Do a double take, Minnesota in first place (5-1)…Reds in first place (4-2)…Diamondbacks atop division (6-1).

BOTTOM FEEDERS..Blue Jays off to (1-5) start…Mariners are at (1-6) after all those off season moves. But alas, it is a long season.

CHARGERS…Strangest feeling, Chargers holding OTA workouts, very few media there, team has disappeared off the sports pages in San Diego and gets fringe coverage from LA Times. How’s life in Orange County?

CALLING IT LIKE IT IS..UT columnist Nick Canepa’s name calling of owner Dean Spanos is exceptional….calling the Spanos family Judases for taking the money to run to LA…calling Dean…”Fredo”..after the Godfather movie, where Fredo yells “I’m not stupid like everyone says, I’m smart, and I deserve respect”….hit the nail on the head Nick.

LAKERS…Sprinting to the finish line with these late season wins, and sprinting right away from a chance at a lottery pick….3rd worst in standings right now, but could flal out of the top three picks..and that would be catastrophic….If Lakers don’t choose 1-2-3 this draft…they forefeit their number 1-to the 76ers…and have to give up next year’s number 1-pick to Orlando….how does this team take the next step to improvement without high draft picks?…The artwork of Jim Buss continues to haunt the franchise.

GOODBYE KING OF BROADCASTER…Bob Miller bid farewell to us hockey faithful with his final broadcasts, as he heads to retirement…Southern California misses Chick Hearn…now missing Vin Scully…will miss Bob Miller.

GULLS…Toughest of times ahead…Injuries ripping into the Anaheim Ducks, down 4-defenseman, plus a couple of forwards…raid the Gulls, taking 4-defenseman plus goal scoring…All these callups on the eve of the opening of the AHL playoffs…tough challenge for coach Dallas Eakins…who had to skate four players, who just two weeks ago were skating in college hockey.

LEFTY NOT RIGHT…San Diego may love Phil Mickelson, but the slime-ball relationship with gambler-golfing buddy Billy Walters resurfaced this weekend…Walters found guilty of insider trading, 10-counts, 40M in profit, faces 20-to-40 years in prison…Lawyers said Mickelson was to testify, but said he would invoke 5th amendment rights, to cover his tracks after his entanglement in profits made on tips given to him by Walters….Mickelson, with the forever smile, has a black eye on this one.

MASTERS….All the buzz was gone at Augusta..sure some really great days, a traffic jam atop the leader board for awhile, and the Sergio Garcia overtime playoff win over Justin Rose, but no electricity, with no Tiger-Phil matchup..and the shaky outings from Rorie McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.

HATS OFF HOFFMAN…A really good three days for Charley Hoffman, to get to the top of the leader board and stay there, till he got derailed on Sunday…he’s having a great year.

JJ WINS…Jimmie Johnson drove from 40th place to lst, in winning the Texas 500-NASCAR race..then drove himself to the infield care center where he was given 3-bags of IV for severe dehydration…how he got thru the race is amazing fortitude…dangerous but amazing.

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“1st Thoughts-1st Week of MLB Season”

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The 2017 season has started. What I think about each team…30-Teams-30-ideas.

Dodgers….Clayton Kershaw leads a talent laden team..biggest issues-long term health-how many starts LA gets out of Hyun Jin-Ryu, Brandon McCarthy-Kenta Maeda-Rich Hill…each has had health issues.

Giants…Strong off season upgrading batting order and bench…but can they solve the bullpen issue..Mark Melancon-it’s your turn….Matt Moore could be big addition to unsteady starting rotation?.

Arizona..New leadership atop and in dugout….Will it be a bounceback season for Zack Grienke-once dominant….Will Shelby Miller live up to expectations…does Fernando Rodney solve bullpen issue…does return of OF-AJ Pollock upgrade offense?.

Colorado..Bud Black takes over as manager…Ian Desmond’s bat joins really good lineup…Can young arms survive the trauma they will have at Coors…Can Greg Holland and Mike Dunne become key closers?

Padres..Dreadful starting rotation and not enough bats around Wil Myers and Yanger Solarte…much expected of Hunter Renfroe…a likely (60-102) record.

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Cubs..Loaded with pitching…but Aroldis Chapman-Jason Hammel-Travis Wood-Trevor Cahill all departed as has Dexter Fowler…is Wade Davis a reliable closer?

Cardinals…Matt Holliday exits..Dexter Fowler enters…biggest issue will be strength in starting pitching around Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez.

Reds..Joey Votto against the world..total rebuild in Cincinnati.

Pirates…What becomes of Andrew McCutchen coming off substandard season..can Gerrit Cole stay healthy and do young guns, led by Greg Polanco have banner seasons?

Milwaukee…Ryan Braun and that’s all they have.

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Mets..Tremendous array of power arms, but 4-of them have had health issues already-and now Steve Matz is out…but Matt Harvey is back…No David Wright with career threatening shoulder-neck issues…Lots of bats though.

Washington..Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer dominant…bullpen has been iffy….Bryce Harper bounce back season likely..will challenge Mets all year.

Miami…Loss of Jose Fernandez in boating accident devastating…added 3-starters, led by Edinson Volquez, and 2-relievers…Giancarlo Stanton-Christian Yelich to carry offense.

Phillies…Rebuilding off track last year due to health issue of P-Aaron Nola and Vincente Velasquez…

Braves…Watch growth of Dansby Swanson…leadership of Brandon Phillips, to help with Matt Kemp.

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Houston…Went from 1st to 3rd last year…Key is return to health of lead arms Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers on mound..Added Brian McCann-Carlos Beltran-JJ Reddick to strong lineup.

Seattle…Push to playoffs with 6-new veterans led by Jean Segura..Drxew Smyly…Yovanni Gallardo…Cano-Cruz-help Kyle Seager.

Angels…Productive off season adding some offense-key to year is health of injured starting pitchers..Garrett Richards-Matt Shoemaker-Tyler Skaggs and closer Huston Street? Mike Scoscia playoff drought is on everyone’s mind.

Texas..Gone are Ian Desmond and Mitch Moreland. No longer playing Prince Fielder-Josh Hamilton. Yet to make it to the mound Tyson Ross-Andrew Cashner. Yes they have Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels and Rougned Odor, but there are issues there.

Oakland…Kid pitcher Sonny Gray and slugger Khris Davis and not much else…Moneyball idea-Billy Beane style-has never worked out.

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Indians..Adding Edwin Encarnarcion…losing Mike Napoli-Coco Crisp…will chemistry be the same? But CoryKluber and Andrew Miller lead pitching staff.

Tigers..Old and experienced..but is there enough around Justin Verlander and Miggy Cabrera to survive a 162-game schedule.

White Sox…Traded for kids Yoan Moncada-Luca Giolito and Mike Kopoech…still have Todd Frazier and Jose Quintana and Jose Abreu…is it enough?

Twins…Brian Dozer and Joe Mauer and likely 100-loss season.

Royals..Staggered by death of Yordano Ventura and defection of pitchers. Mike Moustakas-Eric Hosmer-Alex Gordon all that’s left behind. It’s over.

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Yankees…Add Matt Holliday and Aroldis Chapman…here come the kids Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Gley Torres. But biggest issue is the age and injury factor wrapped about Sabathial-Tanaka and Pineda on the mound.

Red Sox…No David Ortiz and an injured David Price and Drew Pomeranz…if healthy, packaged with Chris Sale and Ric Porcello it would be a special staff…Andrew Benentendi joins Mookie Betts in young lineup..fun summer at Fenway?

Orioles…Lots of bombers in that batting order…led by Machardo, Trumbo, Davis, Jones…do they have enough starters, and how quickly back is an ailing Chris Tillman?

Toronto..Tulowitzki-Donaldson-Bautista and stud pitching led by Aaron Sanchez-JA Happ-Marco Stroman…but I think they will miss Edwin Encarnarcion.

Tamp Bay..Alex Cobb and Evan Longoria and that’s it. Low budget, empty seats, and tough place to play because of ownership limitations.

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“Petco Park-The Place to Be”

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Spent the morning yesterday with two of the biggest fans of the city of San Diego, and where we are today with our franchises, and what we might have to look forward to, tomorrow and in the future.

Ron Fowler has become the ‘civic conscience’ of the franchise and the sports entities in America’s Finest City. Mayor Kevin Faulconer pushes ahead with ideas and initiatives, despite what was just done to his city months ago.

Yes, Fowler’s short ownership of the Padres has not been successful, but at least they have invested heavily in the future of the franchise, with this minor league blueprint.

Not only have the Padres spent just over 90M to sign 71-draft picks and International free agents, they have committed enormous resources to Petco Park in terms of upgrades and advances.

Fowler estimates his ownership group has poured 45-to-50M into the decade old stadium, from things you see, like the Video-Ribbon Boards, to things that don’t necessarily flash at you, like a complete Blue-White team color paint job.

They installed a tremendous wall display of the the Padres Hall of Fame plaques…and the arrival of the Hall of Champions display, to be built this season, near the Palm Court, that will quadruple the number of people who will be exposed to the Bob Breitbard Hall of Flame.

Fowler isn’t done. Next project, determination of a football field layout, stretching from the lst base dugout to the left field stands, to host the Holiday Bowl, and likely Aztecs football in 2019. He expects the final design on the football setup within 45-days from Populous Architects.

The challenge will be to construct temporary seating along the outfield, and to make it appear normal in style to the current layout design. Fowler needs 45,000-total seats to make the football layout work, for the bowl game and SDSU.

The Padres owner game plan is also to import international friendly soccer games to Petco over the next couple of years, till the Soccer City MLS group gets up and running, if they get the team and a stadium built at the Q.

Couple his National League team with all the other evens they have hosted, and the game plan going forward, you understand the comment from Mayor Kevin Faulconer, who we met with on Wednesday.

“Petco is the ‘crown jewel’ of downtown. The Padres care about the facilities. It’s like a new ballpark opening every year. They re-imagine every space, every angle, and how to create something new every year”.

The baseball team might not be very good right now. But the ownership of the franchise pushes all the right buttons to energize this community. They show class and respect to the fans, the media, the city leadership.

Sadly we no longer have a Chargers franchise to call out own, ripped out of our hearts by the cold-corporate-no-class, greed of the Spanos Family.

In its place Ron Fowler stands as a beacon of civic mindedness for our community. A businessman yes, but a sports fan too. The fan’s man.

Ron Fowler is making Petco Park the place to be year round.

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“Padres-Keeping Score at Home-Should Be Scoreboard Watching”

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The Padres series at Dodgers Stadium continues. The home opener is Friday with the Giants. Most all of us know where to find San Diego in the standings as the season goes on, regardless of the gem last night by journeyman pitcher Clayton Richard..

Thursday is a big day too for the Friars, not because they close out the series in LA, but because the future begins on Thursday, across the country, at the Padres minor league affiliates.

The baseball at Qualcomm this spring and summer may not be very good, I predicted a (60-102) record, but the baseball up I-15 could be pretty good.

The Padres have loaded the roster of the Lake Elsinore Storm. 8-of their top 20-prospects, will play for the California League affiliate.

Headlining that Class A-team will be a loaded pitching staff, highlited by Anderson Espinoza, who came in the Drew Pomeranz-Red Sox trade last summer. He is ranked the top arm in the minor league organization. With him in this talent-laded rotation, last year’s top draft picks, Calvin Quantrill from Stanford, and Eeric Lauer of Kent State, both who had success in their late summer debuts.

Also part of the LE mix are pitchers Joey Luccehssi and Pedro Avila, infielders Javy Guerra and Josh Naylor, and outfielder Mike Gettys, drafted the same year as Hunter Renfroe.

At Midwest League Fort Wayne, the Padres have stashed pitcher Logan Allen and Hansel Rodriguez, plus young infielders Fernando Tatis, son of the longtime major leaguer, and last year’s high pick Hudson Potts, plus Cuban outfielder Jorge Ona, who will play everyday for the Tincups..

Ona is the only Cuban, at age 20, starting in A-ball. All the rest remain in extended spring training with a likely summer in the Arizona Summer League.

At Texas League San Antonio, the Missions will have a couple of pitchers, who were in the big camp, 6’9 Brad Wieck and Mik Kelly, plus young infielder Luis Urias, and outfielder Nick Torres.

El Paso had a championship season in the PCL, but does not look to have as much strength this year. Yes Corey Spangenberg and Jabari Blash will start the season there, but odds are they’ll be up quickly.

Kid pitchers Walker Lockett and Phil Maton, who flashed in the spring with the big club, are just one phone call away from getting to Petco Park, if they start quickly with the Dogs. Ex-Dodger Zach Lee is one of the few veteran arms at El Paso, a rock solid AAA-pitcher, who has just never shown enough to stay in the show.

And this summer, the Friars will put 2-Arizona summer league teams together to house their International signings. That includes P-Adrian Morejon..SS-Luis Almanzar..SS-Gabe Arias..OF-Jeisson Rosario…OF-Tiso Ornelas…SS-Justin Lopez…SS-Jordy Barley and P-Ron Bolanos. All are 18 or under, so the learning-culture curve will be steep, and those are down-the-road prospects.

Once the opening weekend excitement at Petco Park is come and gone, and the reality sets in, maybe it’s better to dream a bit about what’s in the pipeline. Strength in numbers, lots of arms, but very young talent.

The standings you see in the newspaper and on the internet will say one thing over the course of the season. The future standings of the Padres major league team will hopefully say better times will be coming.

Tomorrow will be better than today for sure with Padres baseball. The future starts Thursday in the Padres minor league system.

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