=========

HAPPY THANKSGIVING…Podcast on Holiday..Will Return Monday..1:30
=========
…(Basketball)…

Aztecs-L-Baylor (91-81)…Shootout in first half…grind of game in 2nd half..
..10-lead changes in opening half…SDSU ran out of gas in 2nd half
..Aztecs had (10-0) run early…Bears came back with (9-0) and (7-0) bursts
..Baylor led (40-36) at half…
..Bears had 16-2 run to blow game open..Aztecs went scoreless 6-minutes
..Baylor  put 4-in double figures..hit 9-3’s in win
..Magoon Gwath-Miles Heide had no points and foul trouble
..SDSU comes home (3-3) after losing two of three game…Played 3G in 3-nights.

Michigan-W-Gonzaga (101-61)…Won the Players Festival..Wolverines won their 3-games by 40-30-40.

UCLA..coach Mick Cronin continues criticism of his team…’We are not tough-we have a glass jaw’.

Lakers-Clippers…off for Thanksgiving holiday

Clippers..F-Kawhi Leonard upset at (5-13) season..’We need better talent…We need get a better lineup’.

Lakers..Now (13-4)…Luka Doncic averaging (35P-8R-9A) in blazing start

Oklahoma City. goes to (18-1) with 4th quarter spurt vs Minnesota…Shai Gilegous-Alexander erupts for (40P) in win..

Detroit..Pistons winning streak  snapped at 13-row-vs-Boston..Jaylen Brown-Derrick White combined for (60P)..outgunning Detroit’s Cade Cunningham (42P)

Orlando..G-Jalen Suggs faces suspension-3-shoving incidents vs 76ers

Toronto..G-RJ Barrett-strained knee-out 2W
Boston..C-Neemias Queta-sprained ankle
Miami..F-Norm Powell-groin issue
Knicks..G-Landry Shamet-out 4W-sprained shoulder
Sixers..F-Trenton Watford-groin issue
==================
…(Baseball)…

Padres…Former manager Mike Shildt hired as Baltimore Orioles Consultant-Minor League Development…was (183-141) when he quit as manager 6-weeks ago.

Angels…Want to buyout contract of 3B-Anthony Rendon..owed (38M) on final year of contract…Has played only 257-games in 6-years…Missed 715-games with Halos.

Dodgers…Set up Zoom interview with Japanese FA-P-Tatsuya Imai…has also had meetings with Mets-Yankees-Toronto-Red Sox-Giants
————
(Roster Moves)

Toronto…Stun baseball world…sign Padres FA-P-Dylan Cease to a (7Y-210M) package-outbidding the Cubs-Astros-Braves….Deal includes significant deferred payments…Cease was (22-23) with Padres (3.98-ERA)…Career record (65-58)…Known for durability…Never been on disabled list-has averaged (32) starts a year…Had a bloated (4.55-ERA) last year with Friars

Toronto Star..Reports Blue Jays have entered bidding for FA-OF-Kyle Tucker.
Mets-Blue Jays..Make contract offers to FA-Framber Valdez.
Arizona..Open trade talks with Blue Jays-Phillies for 2B-Ketel Marte
Pirates..Open contract talks with Ryan O’Hearn-ex Padres..Japan FA-3B-Kaz Okamoto

Kenta Maeda..Signs with Rakuten Eagles..ex Dodgers-Tigers-Twins (68-56) career
Dez Cameron..FA-2B-signs with Doosan Bears-Korea

Texas..Sign FA-2B-Jonah Bride-ex Miami
Mets..Sign FA-P-Robert Stock-ex Cubs
A’s..Sign FA-P-Wander Suero-ex Mets
Colorado..Sign FA-P-Parker Mushinski-ex Cleveland
Toronto..Release P-Easton Lucas
——————–
(MLB Notes)

Tampa Bay..Open talks with Brandon Hyde-ex Orioles..about front office job
Houston..Hire Ethan Katz-pitching coach-ex White Sox
======================
…(Football)….

(NFL Schedule)-Thursday

Lions-Packers..QB-Jordan Love (15TD-3Int)..Jared Goff (108QBR)

Chiefs-Cowboys..QB-Patrick Mahomes (3200APY-22TD)..Dak Prescott-Offense (387Y)..Chiefs (6-5)…Dallas (5-5-1)

 

Ravens-Bengals..Baltimore won 5-in a row-Defense given up (67P)-5-games..Joe Burrow starts for Cinn-Lost 8-of-9
————–
(Injuries)

Colts..QB-Daniel Jones-admits he has bruised shin
Patriots..IR-OT-Will Campbell-sprained knee
Chiefs..TE-Jonah Gray-concussion
Carolina..CB-Corey Thornton-broken fibula
————–
(Roster Moves)

Lions..Sign FA-OC-Frank Detrow-comes out of retirement
Carolina..Sign FA-CB-Robert Rochelle-ex Dallas
Titans..Sign FA-S-Kaiir Elam-ex Cowboys
Seattle..Sign FA-RB-Cam Akers-ex Vikings-Saints
49ers..Sign FA-LB-Eric Kendricks-ex Vikings-Chargers-Cowboys
Patriots..Sign FA-OT-Thayer Munford-ex-Raiders-Cleveland
Raiders..Sign FA-DE-Boogie Bersham-ex Giants
Bills..Release WR-Elijah Moore
Seattle..Release Derion Kendricks
————-
(NFL Notes)

Chargers…Off Coord Greg Roman-under fire for poor protection problems with QB-Justin Herbert…”You can chip block-but you rob Peter to pay Paul-you cannot do it all the time”.

Raiders..Criticism that Tom Brady pushed hard for hiring of Chip Kelly.
————–
(College Football)

Arkansas …Hires Alex Golesh-head coach South Florida
Colorado State..Hires Jim Mora..ex UCLA-U Conn…(73-53) in career
USC..Coach Lincoln Riley denies-‘No interest in any job’..is (36-16) Trojans

Oregon State..Loses hot candidate when Brett Vigen elects to stay at Montana State..Last night Beavers lost Jim Mora-who took job  at Colorado State….New candidate surfaces-Alabama assistant JaMarcus Shepard.

Oklahoma State…Given permission to talk to North Texas State-QB-Drew Mestemaker (3469Y-26TD)

U-Mass…Criticism of school for going Division1-football..Team is (26-134) since 2012
========================
…(Hockey)…

San Diego Gulls-W-Tucson Roadrunners (5-3)….Gulls big road win…Score 2-goals in (1:23) span at end of 3rd period..Sam Colangelo scores 3rd goal in a week…G-Vya Buteyets 39-saves…Tucson had 42-shots on goal…Wednesday-AHL action

Anaheim Ducks-L-Vancouver Canucks (5-3)…Canucks score 2-goals in 3-minutes late in 3rd period for win…Ducks outshot Vancouver (41-28)… …Wednesday game

Ducks..Callup G-Ville Husso from San Diego Gulls
Ducks..G-Lukas Dostal-out with minor injury

Colorado Avalanche…Avs won 10th in row with 6-0 shutout of San Jose

Montreal-Nashville..Trade talks-Habs want C-Ryan O’Reilly.
Colorado..Callup F-Ivan Ivan from AHL-Colorado Eagles
Florida..Signs FA-G-Louis Dominguez-started season in KHL-Russia
Las Vegas..Will call up G-Carter Hall from AHL-was out 2-years on rape trial

Calgary…President Don Maloney denies team will hold firesale of veterans Nadri Kazim-Blake Coleman-Rasmus Anderson.
===================

=========

“THINKING OUT LOUD”
=========

SAN DIEGO…Should we consider a name change, from America’s Finest City to ‘Soccer City’…What a phenomenal year we have experienced with the explosive arrival of the MLS-expansion SDFC (Azul & Chrome), to the past success of the San Diego Wave, and the perennial NCAA tourney team USD has become…Yes ‘Soccer City’ seems to fit.

AZTECS..I appreciate what Sean Lewis has done even if the Aztecs-4-Life fans (frauds) don’t…On the brink of going (10-2), he took a (3-9) team, ravaged by the transfer portal two years in a row, and flipped it.  Hope he does not get hired away by someone else, but when you turn around two bad teams (Kent State-SDSU) in short order, your playbook-gameplan-blueprint, how to run a program, should be noticed.  Too bad the Aztecs-4-Life Alums (frauds) have failed to  show up for home games, to see how he has willed SDSU back to life.

SDSU HOOPS…It was like a tidal wave of talent…The guards destroyed Oregon on Tuesday night.  Sizzling shooting from everyone.  Outside shooting from BJ Davis, Reese Dixon-Waters and Elzie Harrington.  Talk about a torch job burning the Ducks to the ground, it was an i mpreesive win.  And I did not even mention the diverse play of Magoon Gwath and we know Miles Byrd has talent too.  All this hours after they got beat by 40-by Michigan in the lst round game.  And the whole nation probably saw this win.  So that erases the ugliness of the home loss to Troy State.  What a statement game.  Just ask the Ducks how it frelt.

TOREROS…The other school on the hill deserves some credit, because USD sports operates in the shadow of everything in this town…Sadly it feels like everything is a club sport over there…But tip of the hat to Brandon Moore (8-4) in football, what Steve Lavin is doing in basketball, what Brian Quinn has accomplished in soccer, and what baseball has become up on Alcala Way.

PADRES…Sitting and waiting for the deals to come via AJ Preller’s shopping spree at Dollar General (aisle 1)..Limited budget-trust he will find some starting pitching and will find something of a power bat to compliment his lineup…Like the rumor he is interested in ex Texas power hitter Adolis Garcia and dabbling with the idea of Japanese starting P-Tatsuya Imai or Blue Jays P-Chris Bassitt…More names will come out soon I trust.

CUBS-MARLINS-BRAVES..Say goodbye to starter Michael King,headed off for a payday to the Cubs or Marlins, and Dylan Cease-who could possibly be Braves bound-heading home to pitch where he grew up in Georgia…No risk in either, just beyond Padres checking account if King’s deal is beyond 15M, and Cease gets to 20M a year on a 3-4-5 year deal.

DODGERS..Next shopping spree will likely include OF-Steven Kwan via a trade with Cleveland and it appears they will look hard at SS-Bo Bichette of Toronto (big price) and ex Padres closer Robert Suarez (3-year deal).

ANGELS..Big time trade to get Orioles P-Grayson Rodgriguez, coming off bone spur surgery, but already throwing in Florida…Next up, possibly Japanese P-Tatsuya Imai…They already have a gem of a pitching coach in Mike Maddux-just need to get him more arms and Yusei Kikuch to talk to Imai about coming to Anaheim.

RAMS..Have surely won the battle of LA and the hearts of the fans, with Matthew Stafford (30TD-2Int) and that fierce defense,  putting them in the conversation of ‘Super Bowl’ type team.

CHARGERS..Just awful the injury siege that has torn up GM-Joe Hortiz blueprint for success…It’s just not the 35-sacks and 9-picks Justin Herbert has had to endure, it’s the fact they will be on their 5th different starting left tackle to go with 4-different starting right tackles, and the fact they have gone thru 4-different running backs this season, and the teeth of the schedule is still to be played.

LAKERS..Looking for points off the bench, they sign ex Gonzaga star Drew Timmie, whom last place Brooklyn let go…He averaged 12P a game at the tail end of the season with the Nets after scoring (25P) a night in the NBA-G League..Worth a look because the kid is a gamer.

CLIPPERS..Do not like what I see here, an aging team with ill fitting parts…I thought the one year rentals of Brad Beal, John Collins, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez would really add depth to the James Harden-Ivica Zubac-Kawhil Leonard lineup…It is a disaster with injuries, lack of team speed, and bad chemistry leading to this (5-13) start of the season.

HOCKEY..Nothing wrong with your eyesight if you open up the paper or check the website…The Kings and Ducks fighting for first place at times in the Pacific Division-both off to good starts….And the Gulls have already had crowds of 9-10-11,000 plus at home for a team that has goal scoring kids, an NHL ready made goalie and lots of promotions.

Thinking out loud about things here in America’s Finest City-Soccer City.
=============

=======

Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus PODCAST
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

========
“AZTECS-WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED THIS”
========
It has been right there infront of them since midseason.
And SDSU has taken care of business most every Saturday night.
And now they are on the brink of doing something no one could have predicted.

The Aztecs play at New Mexico on Friday afternoon.
A win puts them in the Mountain West Conference championship game
A Boise State win over Utah State puts them in the title game too

Coach Sean Lewis
============
Really proud of the effort by this program
We have proven at late stage of the year what-who we are

Happy for our fans who showed up
Our fundraising drive is at 200,000 in two weeks
Our secret donor will match it when we get to 1-M mark

New Mexico coach Jason Eck was at Wisconsin too
We both were players under Barry Alvarez
Has done a tremendous job
The transfer portal has changed the sport
New Mexico has done that
Yes, Wyoming-New Mexico have done well getting kids

Short work week with Friday-noon time game
We managed our work week with morning practices
We are mentally where we need to be
Playing Friday is unique
Sleep fast..be prepared..we will be ready
I have a good pulse of where our guys are at

New Mexico is talented-stress you out with formations
They play fast..1-word calls at line of scrimmage
Cornucopia of problems on offense
QB-Jack Layne is well prepared in RPO game

Ghosts of past road failures
Opportunity to go prove we can be a good team on the road
The job is not finished-we will be judged by last game we played
We need energy right from that start of game
We win and learn…We lose and learn
This team has really matured

Finishing 10-2..Competitive maturity is key part to this
Did not want to put a ceiling on this team
To go on a 6-game run-winning alot of different ways
Our scheme is pliable..great effort from people in program
Proud and pleased of people in this building

We are a physical team-so we have scout time rather than physical practices late
We are so deep in season we are physically ready

Elite defense-a handful of teams nationwide are performing this way
They own the plans we put in place
We have players who should be honored
Coach Rob should be a Broyles Award candidate too

Turning this program..compared to Kent State..this program had tradition
I understand work needs to get done..and people to do it with it
Don’t let roadblocks hinder what you want to do
Tradition here..pride here a big difference
Great honor to walk by Coach Coryell status each day

Fans turnout…we have presented a quality program
Over 300,000-alumni
We have opportunity to win
Community loves the sport..loves to win
Show up and support.
We could be 10-2…we did our job

================

=========

Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on Table..Stay for Fans Forum
=========
“FOOTBALL ON YOUR BINGO CARD”
=========
Some weekend in football.

You have any of these items on your Football Bingo Card?

CHARGERS…Season not over-they had a bye week, but there is no way to fix this offensive line that is badly leaking oil.  Justin Herbert-sacks show up in the stat sheet…the Bolts are ranked #29-Pass Protection..#27-Chunk Passing Plays…#25-Chunk Running Plays…and the schedule becomes very tough a week from now.

RAMS..What a season for Matthew Stafford (30TD-2Int)..What a really good-young defense too.  And Stafford comes out throwing lasers in the first half as the Rams piled up 28-points throwing to anyone-everyone…Can you say Super Bowl candidate…and MVP candidate too?

CHIEFS..Will not die..Spirited comeback win over the Colts, whose defense died on the…KC kept going down the field and finally hit some plays…Piled up (494Y) in offense and the Colts suddenly look in trouble with a couple of losses in recent weeks.

EAGLES..The real deal after jumping the Cowboys in Dallas..Jalen Hurts cooking, the receiver group catching balls and Saquon Barkley pounding it…was (21-0) before you could blink-Dallas’ bad defense catching up with them..but Dak Prescott having a career year-got them an awesome win

COWBOYS…Dak is dangerous.  All you need to know-Dak-CD-Pickens-all that offense because no defense, but they are (5-5-1)

BEARS..Quietly-effectively Caleb Williams is getting better and better in Ben Johnson”s playbook

VIKINGS..Trouble there in Eden Prairie with the supposed QB of the future JJ McCarthy..two more picks and another loss.

SEATTLE..Dangerous looking team now-Sam Darnold (244P-2TD)…Jaxson Smith-Njiba keeps piling up 100-yard games too.

PATRIOTS..Doing it without big name stars…Now 9-wins in a row..Drake Maye producing like Ben Roethlisberger…A (10-2) record impressive

RAVENS..Somehow a 5-game winning streak-back from the dead..Lamar Jackson not putting up big numbers-not many big games from RB-Derrick Henry, but starting to turn things in a weak division.

BROWNS..Shedeur Sanders for mayor…he completed two long passes in his debut-the rest of the time he stayed out of trouble as the Browns destroyed a collapsing Raiders team..the big story was Cleveland sacking Geno Smith 10-times. Thank you Myles Garrett.

USC TROJANS..For all the things Lincoln Riley is supposed to be, he is not a winner in 4-years when it mattered most…Road losses this year at Notre Dame-Illinois-Oregon…(0-5) vs Top 10-ranked teams since he took over Troy…and no invites to the College Football Playoff system.

UCLA BRUINS…What a disaster of a season..(3-8) with blowouts…the lawsuit to get out of their Rose Bowl lease…the firing of a bad hire as head coach Deshaun Foster…the failure-firing of both coordinators…the petition to remove Athletic Director Martin Jarmond…Average attendance (38,000) at home this year…Yes a failure every way possible.

OREGON..Dynamic-explosive and unbeatable in Autzen Stadium with the trashing of USC, they are (53-5) at home.  The playoffs will be fun.

HEISMAN TROPHY RACE..What a tough decision for voters…which QB do you like most, the 5-star stud at Ohio State..the 3rd string star at Alabama…the virtual unknown at Texas AM…the 6th year QB from Vanderbilt..the transfer QB into Indiana…?  Interesting weeks ahead of us who have votes.

AZTECS…What a turnaround at SDSU with Sean Lewis at the controls..a dominant defense and a strong running game…They have been aided by this being a down year in the Mountain West, and the fact Boise-Fresno-San Jose either lost their starting QBs or did not have them for their games against San Diego State.  A win at New Mexico caps a (10-2) turnaround season…Wish the fans in this town would embrace the program.

DARK DAYS…All time worst beating for Syracuse the 70-6 lost to Notre Dame:  the blemish of Alabam scheduling Eastern Illinois and outgaining them (539-34)…the ridiculous game-Georgia’s win over Charlotte…Texas AM playing tiny Samford.

BAD YEARS..Coach Prime (3-8) at Coloardo…Bill Belichick (4-7) at North Carolina.
===============

=========

Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

=========
“NFL PREVIEW
==========

Big games that will impact the playoff races around the NFL.  The best playing the best is some outings.  A look-see at NFL storylines.

CHARGERS…A bye week for the beleaguered Bolts.  Justin Herbert’s offensive line is looking at a 5th different starting LT to go with the 4-different right tackles he has played behind.  They get the lowly Raiders a week from now.

RAMS-TAMPA..Can you say MVP-Matthew Stafford in the same sentence-you bet…Stafford’s numbers are electric (27TD-2Int). The defense has 27-sacksl. Baker Mayfield has his hands full for sure.

EAGLES-DALLAS..NFC-East war…Jalen Hurts (16TD-1Int) has to operate without 2-key OL-but he has firepower everywhere and the defensive front has been impossible to block.  DaK Prescott has a (21TD-6Int) ratio, and has a (24-2) record at home in NFC-East games.

CHIEFS-COLTS..Indy comes off a bye and can make a real statement about becoming an AFC power..QB-Danield Jones (2659P-15TD) is anchored by RB-Jon Taylor (1139-6YPC) will test KC’s defense…Patrick Mahomes (2913APY-22TD) has an offensnse cranked  up and firing (364YPG).  The Chiefs have to win with a (5-5) record.

PATRIOTS-BENGALS..Joe Burrow is ready to start but the season is lost.  No JaMarr Chase-suspension, and not much help anywhere else, especially a defense giving up (418 YPG)…The Pats go for their 9th win in a row…..Drake Maye (20TD-5Int) has been dangerous..

LIONS-GIANTS…Jaxson Dart returns from a concussion and will start..Detroit has 30-sacks and a fierce defense..NY is looking at a (2-10) season.

PACKERS-VIKINGS…Big game of questgions…QB -Jordan Love has lost 4-receivers in two weeks with injuries…The Vikings have to answer whether highly erratic JJ McCarthy can play at this level (6TD-9Tovers-15 Sacks) in limited play.

SEATTLE-TITANS..Sam Darnold  leads an offense (365YPG) but they have turned it over 20-times…Titans rookie Cam Ward leads a (1-9) season..awful stats (6TD-12-turnovers-41 sacks) and not much help.

RAVENS-JETS…Baltimore has won 4-in a row…Lamar Jackson is making plays..and the Jets are the next thing in the way….The Jets benched QB-Justin Field..with an anemic offense (139YPG)…Their QBs have thrown just 10-TD passes.

RAIDERS-BROWNS…Shedeur Sanders starts at QB and we will see how good he can be….the Raiders and Geno Smith can’t run the ball, average (269YPG)..the QB has thrown 13-picks and taken 30-sacks…Here comes Cleveland’s pass rush.

JAGUARS-ARIZONA..Underachieving QB-Trevor Lawrence tries to get the Jags into a playoff spot…Arizona looks like a speed bump (3-7) with all its injury provlem at QB-RB-WR.

FALCONS-SAINTS..Hi priced QB-Kirk Cousins will play in place of the injured Michael Penix…Injuries are mountng up on the Falcons…the Saints give Tyler Shough his second start in New Orleanas.

CAROLINA-SAN FRANCISCO…Bryce Young comes off a (484Y) passing day…Will see if he can hold up against a good defense..Brock Purdy stays as starting 8YPG)QB

STEELERS-BEARS…Can Aaron Rodgers play well with a brace on his wrist?  Can the Steelers hold up if it becomes a shootout?…Caleb Williams is playing well in this 7-3 Chicago season…Pittsburgh defense is giving up (368YPG) in an underpar season.

HOUSTON-BUFFALO..The defense did it to Josh Allen…8-sacks..3-takeaways to get the win…Houston has won 5-of-6…The Bills are (7-4) but have 2-losses in 3-weeks..A surprise Thursday night outcome.
—————————.