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Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
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“AZTECS HOOPS–LIVING ON BORROWED TIME”
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SDSU basketball does not have to be pretty, as long as it is a win.

And it was in that first game of the Mountain West Conference, this war of attrition with an undermanned UNLV team.

Jaedon LeDee was dazzling in every facet but one, missed free throws, but the All American Aztec carried State on his broad shoulders with a (34P-16R) outing.

State played in spurts, trailing for most of the first half.  The shooting from the floor was horrid, they started (0-8) on 3’s and shot 25% in the opening half.

But you knew things were changing and they did right at the half.  Derrion Trammel hit a long distance 3-at the first half buzzer to set the stage for the turmoil starting the second half.

Trammel rattled home 3-straight threes, Jai Pal hit 4-baskets, and the Aztecs bigs outboarded Vegas (49-30) in roaring back

But like all things Aztecs hoops, you get streaks.  An (12-0) run for State, followed up by a (12-1) Rebels run.  A 10-point lead disappeared when UNLV zoned the Aztecs into the parking lot.

And the historically best defense in the world, kept losing Vegas freshman guard Dedan Thomas, who went off for 29 and nearly hit the game winning basket.

State survived going (15-for-25) at the free throw line.  UNLV could not survive the loss of its starting center with an ankle injury and could stop LeDee who was  banging, grinding all night long.

It only counted as one win, because come Friday night they have to play Utah State in the next round, and that won’t be easy.

It’s been so frustrating  to watch Brian Dutcher’s team.  All those tough losses to Quad 1-teams.  The cold spellsof  shooting that resemble the North Pole in winter.  And wondering who will step up and get consistent to match what LeDee has become, a complete star.

Living on borrowed time-we find out when they play Utah State on Friday.

Of course there is March Madness just ahead and they will be in that tourney too.  Not living on borrowed time because what they have earned going (23-9), but not the same type of teams we saw a year ago.

It was ugly vs UNLV, but it was a win, and that’s all that counts.

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=========Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast
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“PADRES–WIN-WIN TRADE?”
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Your General Manager continues to wheel and deal.
It’s part of his addiction, part of his DNA.
AJ Preller, growing up on Long Island, must have collected baseball cards
And made alot of baseball card trades with his classmates.

I’ll give you this Yankee team card for a Mets team card and the bubble gum in the next 3-packs of Topps cards you buy.

Now the Padres have a Big 3-in their starting rotation, with the deal to bring strong armed White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease here, to get the ball after Yu Darvish-Joe Musgrove make their starts.

The cost, top prospect P-Drew Thorpe, P-Jairo iriarte, P-Steven Wilson and prospect OF-Samuel Zavela

Cease comes to San Diego with two years left on his contract and with big time credentials despite the fact the Chisox were not very good.  His stats (43-35)-3.83-ERA with 792K-658 innings.  He is a workhorse.

But there’s more to this transaction than just a 4-for-1 deal.

This deal has to include the acquisitions and then the deal that brought Juan Soto here from Washington and dispatched him to the Yankees this winter.

Preller traded 6-top prospects to get Soto and Josh Bell.  What followed was a disappointing season and then a solid season.  And a sneak preview of what could be an MVP type player.

So the Dylan Cease trade means the Friars dealt a total of 9-players to get the White Sox pitcher, plus those still here from the Yankees, Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka.

9-players out the door, and that included MacKenzie Gore..CJ Abrams..Robert Woods..James Hassell..and Jarlin Susana…plus the 4-headed to the Chisox and Soto..

The Padres don’t have much to show for the two Soto transactions. But in this case, it could be win-win. The Sox got 4-good young players.  Just like the Nationals got 5-quality prospects, most of whom are now foundational players for their future rebuild

The Pades?  Maybe Cease will have a better impact than Soto did in terms of this team getting to post season and staying in post  season.

AJ Preller, trading baseball cards, just like trading his players.  You keep dealing hoping you get the right combo, in your collection or on your roster.

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“NFL WILD WEEKEND CONTINUES”
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Day 2-of NFL free agency was just as wild as opening day, and teams continued to write big checks to lure players.

And other teams went the trade route to help themselves.

Who made the headlines on Tuesday?

RAVENS…They replace one stud running back with another.  Maybe an upgrade when you swap off Derrick Henry to make up for the loss of Gus Edwards.  Turner probably has 2-good years left in him, and he has a (9,020Y) on his resume of success running the ball in Tennessee.

STEELERS…Pretty good upgrade getting Ravens LB-Patrick Queen.  Steady, physical, smart, a Mike Tomlin type of player.

HOUSTON…Now this has been an off season for the Texans.  They trade for power run back Joe Mixon of the Bengals, and then land Vikings top pass rusher Danielle Hunter in free agency with a (2Y-49M) package.

CAROLINA…They have the QB-Bryce Young and now they have big play people to put around him, trading for spicey Steelers WR-Diontae Johnson, who averaged 18YPC.  They also got Rams big DT-A’Shawn Robinson.

QB MOVES…Virtually all the recognizable passers are now gone.  Marcus Mariota goes to Washington;  Tyrod Taylor, a really serviceable backup, goes to the Jets from the Giants; Remember Drew Lock, ex Broncos-Seattle, he is now Aaron Rodgers’ backup with the Jets;  Jamwis Winston winds up with the Browns; and Sam Darnold will become the starter in Minnesota, which has lost alot of people.

Keeping score at home, thru two days of dealing, 86-players have now changed teams in NFL free agency.  On we go to Wednesday, with more deals to come.

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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
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“NFL-DAY ONE-FREE AGENCY”
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Prizes-Surprises..what a first day in NFL Free Agency.

ATLANTA..They have spent alot of high picks on offensive talent, now they have a QB to get those guys the ball, stealing Kirk Cousins, big time thrower, big time entrepreneur to a (4Y-180M) contract to exit Minnesota.

VIKINGS..Lose Kirk Cousins and replace him with the 49ers Sam Darnold.  Really?

STEELERS..Russell Wilson signs a minimum wage (1.1M) deal with Pittsburgh, and gives the Steelers something they have not had since Ben Roethlisberger retired, a veteran big play guy.  And Pittsburgh gives Wilson a strong run game, something he has not had in years.  All that for a 1-year trial run contract.

BORDER WAR…It was rumored, it happened, Giants star running back Saquon Barkley goes across the state line, signing with the NFC-East hated Eagles.

HELLO-GOODBYE…The Chargers want a power running back, hello-Gus Edwards from the Ravens, goodbye Austin Eckler to Washington. They also got a pass catching tight end in Will Dissley-ex Seattle.  Still waiting to see if there is a Joey Bosa trade coming.

WIN SOME-LOSE SOME..Great signing by the Raiders, DT-Christian Wilkens..bad loss by the Raiders with Josh Jacobs leaving for Green Bay.

QB QUESTIONS..The Raiders said they wanted to develop a star, but then commit big bucks to get Gardner Minshew to join Aiden O’Connell in the QB room.  Maybe they draft Bo Nix or Mike Penix and develop them

NEXT MAN UP-NEW ENGLAND..The search for the replacement for Tom Brady moves on..newest in the door, journeyman Jacoby Brissett

BAD GETS WORSE…Carolina went (2-15) with little roster talent, now they trade top pass rusher Brian Burns to the Giants for two picks, neither of which is a #1.  Weird way to do business.

SCOREBOARD…First day of free agency, 50-players changed teams, plus  two trades, some shocking releases in SF-Green Bay-Cincinnati, and a couple of more deals likely coming.  Enjoy the second day of free agency.

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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast-1pm
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“NFL–QB Derby”

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Monday-the first day of NFL free agency.

The move to get quarterbacks begins now for what few QBs are left on the market.

There are 8-teams desperate for QBs but not everyone has salary cap space.

There are 3-top line QBs in the draft that could go 1-2-3 and 3-more that could be mid to bottom first round picks, but that’s for April, not the first day of free agency.

A primer on the latest QB news as free agency starts.

RUSSELL WILSON..Released by Denver, he becomes a 2-year rental for some team.  He visited the battered Giants on Friday, then met with the Steelers on Saturday.  This is not the vintage Seattle Seahawks-Russell Wilson but more of an aging on his last legs-Russell Wilson.  Somebody will get value this year, because they have to pay only (1.5M) of his deal with the Broncos picking up 39M on the buyout.  But Wilson might want 30M for a second year option.  This might take some time.  Can’t see the Giants doing a deal, they have so much tied up in QB-Daniel Jones.  You’d think Wilson might be a bridge QB, but Pittsburgh has two of those QBs in house already in Ken Pickett-Mason Rudolph.

KIRK COUSINS…Has thrown for tons of yards and TDs, but has just 79-career wins.  He won in Washington early in his career, but left and has made tons of money since.  He wants another pay day and the Vikings cannot afford him right now.  Washington has loads of cap space and a relationship there, and Atlanta has a critical need.

JUSTIN FIELDS…The Bears are taking offers, but don’t like what they’ve heard.  No one is trading a #1 for him, and no one has offered a #2.  He has 1-year left on his Chicago contract, but as impressive as some of his games are, the TD and yardage totals are offset by interceptions, fumbles and sacks.  More turnovers than TDs and 135-sacks in 3-seasons.  Will be moved, but where.

BAKER MAYFIELD..He parlayed a 28TD-comeback season with Tampa into a (3Y-100M) extension on Sunday to stay in Tampa.  Reinvented himself and carries charisma into the huddle.

RYAN TANNEHILL…Career of accomplishments but also years of setbacks and not what he once was.  Exits the Tennessee Titans and goes somewhere as a pretty experienced short term rental.  If healthy can probably still produce, but his pay day seasons are likely over.

MAC JONES..He’s gone from New England, the former lst round pick gets traded to Jacksonville to be a backup, with the Pats getting just a 6th.  Buch of TDs-lots of interceptions.  Don’t think he will play much.

JAMEIS WINSTON wants to start, but hasn’t recently and now he won’t stay in Tampa.  Started for the Bucs before Mayfield, for the Saints before that.  Glaring but haunting stats with him, a 30TD season that had 33-picks also.  Truly a bridge QB for a one year rental.

CARSON WENTZ..Things have changed fast and career seems to be on a skid.  Guess best you can say, everyone needs a backup QB.

JACOBY BRISSETT…Have arm and will travel and will likely move again.  Can play but far from a star.

TYROD TAYLOR…Lifetime backup journeyman, good off the bench but gets hurt and defensive coaches figure him out.  Super utility guy.

DREW LOCK..Maybe the most interesting athletic QB of the bunch of names.  Force fed then failed in Denver.  Played backup in Seattle and had spurts where he looked good.  So much we don’t know yet about him, but bet he gets signed and could start for someone in the fall.

GARDNER MINSHEW..Likely leaving Indianapolis.  Gunslinger, does lead, does compete, can throw TDs but does throw picks too.  Just a guy…a good guy…but a guy.

JIM GAROPPOLO…Career off track, done in by injuries.  Not now what he was once hoped to be with the Patriots, then the 49ers.  If there is a candidate for a bounceback season it would be him, but has not been able to stay on the field.  Looking for a chance.

SAM DARNOLD..1st round pick, just not the complete package.  The Jets let him go, one of multiples of lst round failures they have endured, now SF has yet to offer to bring him back.  Has lots of physical tools but not what we thought he might be.

MARCUS MARIOTA..Given chances to be the guy but eventually comes off the field because he’s hurt or just does not produce

MITCH TRUBISKY..Found wanting in Buffalo, then in Pittsburgh, just re-signed with the Bills.

EASTON STICK..Chargers backup played well off bench, though he did not drive Bolts to many TDs when he started, but did not turn it over.  Think he could stay in LA or move somewhere else to be an insurance policy backup.

JOE FLACCO…Nice finish to the Browns season but got 200,000 miles on him.l

ANDY DALTON..Trustworthy but all the years in Cincinnati took a toll

Not much to choose from is there?  Not many difference makers either.

Not everyone gets a crack at this year’s college blue chip crop, from Caleb Williams to Drake Maye to Jayden Daniels.  The jury is still really out on how complete JJ McCarthy-Bo Nix-Michael Penix might be.  So you be the GM of Team XYZ.  You renting a vet or hoping you can hit on a 1st round draft pick if someone falls to you.

The bidding begins now in the NFL, where you have to have a QB-regardless of the price.

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