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“The Masters-A Strange Weekend”

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We’ve never seen this before.  We might never see this again.

The Masters Golf Tourney at Augusta, the annual right of spring in the South, being played in late fall weather in Georgia.

Never to be seen again like this.

No patrons.
No azaleas.
No fans.
No ropes.

And for the first time in a long time…a possible wide open tourney, for lots of reasons.

TIGER WOODS….Yes he won in a stunner last year, but after four back surgeries in 14-months, you never know what you are getting from him now.  A good round, a bad weekend, missed putts, bad iron play, back stiffness, and missing the cut.  If you cannot practice much, you likely cannot win.

PHIL MICKELSON…Who knows who shows up.  At 50, he has tasted the Champions Tour, and won his first two events, with very little competition.  But this is the same player who has missed cuts…shot a 76 and 79 in recent rounds, and had a ‘9’ on another hole.

DUSTIN JOHNSON….He is back, and the former #1-golfer thinks he has found his game, but he was out for 6-weeks with the Covid illness.

JASON DAY….Are his back issues, which have plagued him the last two years, now in his rear-view mirror?

RORY MCILROY….Have to figure out where his head is right now…since concentrating on playing more here, he has accomplished less, after cutting back on his European schedule.

XANDER SCHAUFELE….Bright young star coming off great 2019, has not been atop many leaderboards in the fractured 2020-season.

JUSTIN THOMAS….Plays well in streaks, but hasn’t done much of that in 2020.

RICKY FOWLER….Fans favorite but has fallen off the pace of being in the upper echelon of the tour in the last two years…not many wins.

TONY FINAU…Rock solid consistent, playing in final groups on Sundays more this year than before.

JON RAHM…Plays with top golfers most every week.

JORDAN SPIETH…Has had his game disappear on him over the last 18-months without any understanding why.

BROOKS KOEPKA…Had those flashy wins in majors over two years span..then physically broke down with back and knee issues and rumors of surgeries….Not back yet.

BRYSON DE CHAMBEAU…A mad scientist of a golfer who has a Grand Slam event in his pocket now…Physical force-loud personality…goes against the grain…Will use 48″ driver this weekend in an experiment…Some like him…some don’t…but everyone follows him…This will be a fun weekend.

The Masters.  No front runner, no fans, no azahelias, no patrons, no ropes.   About the only familiar things will be the Green Jacket, Butler’s Cabin, the pine trees and Jim Nantz saying ‘Hello Friend’.

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“Remembrance Day”

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On the 11th hour…of the 11th day…of the 11th month, the Great War ended in France.  World War 1 was over.

We remember all who served from that day on.  It is Veterans Day.

It rained at Arlington Cemetery on Wednesday morning, a symbol of sadness for all lost in all wars.

They played Taps and I choked up, remembering all my family members, who served and are no longer with us.

Unless you have visited Arlington…Punch Bowl in Honolulu…Verdun or Normandy, or Gettysburg, you don’t understand nor really can appreciate those who gave their lives.

The history book will tell you about the Battle of the Somme….about Iwo Jima….about Inchon….about Dien Bien Phu…about Kabul and so many other places.

Unless you have been touched by a loss, you cannot have real feeling of what it meant to an American family:

Many went and served.  Many went and never came back.  Many went, came back, but never the same.

On this day, say a prayer and remember the true heroes, those left behind,

Veterans Day is Remembrance Day and should be a true Day of Thanks.

I have two Purple Hearts in my house. I also have a heavy heart for all 7-family members, who served in combat, a father who came back, an uncle who came back broken, a Godfather forever maimed  and the ones that died in Bataan and over Regensburg….while serving ‘over there’.

Fly a flag today for those who served, sacrificed and should forever be saluted.

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“Mid-Season Report Card–Chargers”

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We have gotten to the mid-season part of the NFL schedule.  The Chargers are (2-6) and out of the playoff race.  Injuries have wrecked the season.  The coach is under fire.  The QB of the future is in place.

My report card on the Bolts:

OWNERSHIP..Guess we are lucky no fans have been allowed to attend Chargers home games.  It means there would be no embarrassing moments on national TV when the Chargers were drawing 21,000-fans in a 72,000 seat stadium…The grotesque (2-6) record would look awful in an empty new stadium…Grade (D).

GMs….Tom Telesco and John Spanos have restocked the roster with athletes, but keeping them on the field has been an issue.  Since they were given joint responsibility of the troubled franchise, the team has gone (55-65), most of their seasons destroyed by injuries.  But because of QB-Justin Herbert, it is doubtful there will be any (2-14) seasons for Bolts fans, however many there might be.  Grade (C) until you start winning.

COACH…Anthony Lynn brought fiery leadership on board when he replaced Mike McCoy.  They won in the twilight years of Philip Rivers stay, The siege of injuries has wrecked 3-of Lynn’s seasons.  His game management is suspect.  His assistant coaching hires have been hit and miss.  Dumping Ken Whisenhunt seemed a scapegoat move.  Now the blame is pointed at Gus Bradley his defensive coordinator….McCoy lopped off 7-assistants and then was fired himself after the following season…If they don’t finish the second half of the year upbeat, Lynn could be gone.  A (7-18) record the last two plus seasons…(3-15) in 1-TD games…an appalling (0-9)vs AFC-West teams over the last 3-years….Grade (C)…Will it get worse before it gets better.

QUARTERBACK…Justin Herbert can be what Andrew Luck was in Indianapolis-when he replaced Peyton Manning…an instant success.  Forget the won-loss record (1-6) as a starter, look instead at the stats, the ability to make plays, learn, cope with the pro game and deal with the adversity of a battered offensive line and injuries to his skill guys.  He is a more mobile Rivers. Grade (A)

RUNNING BACKS…No Austin Ekeler, no chance to have big time production.  Maybe fool hardy to let Mevin Gordon walk out the door.  You see flashes from Justin Jackson-Josh Kelly-Kalen Ballage, but none are stars yet.  Just not enough quality.  Grade (D).

WIDE RECEIVERS…Keenan Allen will break all Bolts records before he is done.  Mike Williams makes plays and gets hurt.  It would be interesting to see if they would use him for more than jump balls.  He should be more of a force in his third year.  Pleasant surprise the big play capabilities of the rookies Gayton-Johnson and the future may be ahead of them….Grade (B)

TIGHT END…Hunter Henry is a solid second tier tight end in the league.  He has not survived a whole season healthy, and is solid, but is not a Darren Waller or one of the other emerging young studs at the position.  Wish they would use him more, alot more.  Grade (B)

OFFENSIVE LINE….Three of five starters hurt, force feeding kids at various positions.  Until some form of Pro Bowl players arrive, Herbert is at risk, alot.  They have drafted, signed free agents, traded for guys, just have not found cornerstone people yet.  Next year’s high draft picks better bring a quality player here…Grade (D)

DEFENSIVE LINE….They are paying 20M a year to Joey Bosa but he has had alot of nagging injuries.  He must be on the field for the defense to have a chance.  Melvin Ingram has good games, off games.  Had hoped Linval Joseph would make a difference but all the injuries around him have impacted his ability.  A healthy Justin Jones might help….Grade (C).

LINEBACKER…A complete overhaul.  Kenneth Murray is exceptional, but he is a rookie.  Losing Dru Tranquil for the year has been a setback.  Kyzer White is active and Uchena Nwosu plays multi position.  Need more playmakers there….Grade (C)

SECONDARY…Could have been great, won’t be at least not this season.  Losing Derwin James and Chris Harris was devastating.  An aging Casey Hayward doesn’t seem up to the task week by week.  Michael Davis is an athlete, but he gets beat.  Nassir Adderly is on the come learning on the job.  Unfair to give them a true letter grade without the key people, who should be there.  Could be an A…give them benefit of doubt….Grade (B)

KICKERS…Ty Long can punt.  Michael Badgley can run hot and cold but have you seen how bad the kicking is around the league?….Grade (B)

RETURN GAME….Joe Reed-KJ Hill-your turn…playing…learning on the job…Make some plays-make some mistakes, but they have speed….Better days to come…Grade (C)

SUMMARY…A better team than (2-6) record indicates, but as Bill Parcells says…’You are what your record says you are’.  Maybe one more good draft…and a good year of health will be the difference maker a year from today….but right now….Team Grade (C+)…(2.2-GPA)

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“Awful Losses–Devastating Impact”

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The CHARGERS played as complete a game as you can, only to lose again, this time because of Video Replay and the Raiders.  Their record falls to (2-6) burying whatever playoff hopes they might have maintained.

They lost despite another spectacular game by rookie QB-Justin Herbert, who threw an apparent TD pass to fellow rookie TE-Donald Parham on the final play of the game.  Over-ruled by replay that said Parham bobbled the pass and he fell to the ground.

Oh that NFL rulebook.  You know if you are a running back and run it into the end zone..it is a TD the minute you cross the plane of the goal-line with the ball..even if it comes out after you hit the ground.

Parham caught the ball.  Came down with both feet inbounds.  As he was hit, on his way to the ground he still had possession.  He fell out of bounds and the ball moved.

In bound, 2-feet on the ground, in possession as he came down.  How is that not possession.

Gut wrenching, but then everything about the team is like that.

Herbert completed 9-passes in driving the team to the goal line for the final pass play.

A running back tandem of Kalen Ballage and Josh Kelly combined for (132) all purpose  yards running and catching.  Keenan Allen was his typical self, a 9-catch-103 yard day.

The Raiders gashed them with a power run game, grinding for 166-yards.
QB Derek Carr hit 45-and-54 yard passes that led to scores.  Jalen Richard had a 45-yard kickoff return, but that was the extent of what they got done.

A battered Chargers team, playing now without concussed DE-Joey Bosa, hung in there against an explosive Raiders offense.

Oh there were villans along the way.  Anthony Lynn burned (:25) on the play clock on the final drive that he probably could have used to get an extra snap or two for his quarterback.

Big money CB-Casey Hayward got burned for the two biggest pass plays of the game.

Rookie KJ Hill dropped a punt that led to instant Raider points.

The Bolts missed another field goal; they failed on a 2-point play with Tyrod Taylor trying to scramble in for a score.

There were other issues that detracted.  Hayward gave up 98-yards on consecuative big plays.  Melvin Ingram did virtually nothing in the game.  Rookie LB-Kenneth Murray was benched for blown assignments.  OT-Trey Pipkins gave up 2-sacks…a pressure and took a penalty.  OT-Bryan Bulaga last two offensive snaps and hurt his back again.  Rayshawn Jenkins gave up a TD pass.  The run defense gave up 8-runs of 10-yards or more.  The Bolts had 14-plays of 10-yards or more but lost.

And Anthony Lynn’s record is now (7-18) since the teams last playoff win after the 2018 season.   He was emotionally devastated at his post game press conference to the point he could hardly answer any questions.

So close to getting a win.  So far away from having a playoff spot, or even a winning season.

Hard to be a Chargers fan, because the owner took the team from San Diego.  Tougher to be a Chargers fan, now that this team is (7-18) since their last playoff win.

Tough to be a Chargers player considering how good this rookie QB is…who now has a (1-6) record as a starter.

This weekend they didn’t blow any big lead.  They played their way back into the game.  They went to the final play in the end zone when they lost to the video replay booth.  But the results are still the same.

There are no moral victories  in the NFL.  Regardless how well Herbert played, the NFL is all about wins and losses.  And Sunday’s game with the Raiders was like so many other Sundays.

A devastating loss…and the impact even worse.

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“Names in News”

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Here-there-everywhere in sports…names and stories worth following.

CHARGERS….The season is drifting away from them…..Anthony Lynn seems overwhelmed with the responsibility of being a head coach….The franchise has been destroyed by injuries on a year by year basis…They are paying DE-Joey Bosa 20M a year and he has been plagued by alot of nagging injuries for the third year in the last four seasons.

RAIDERS…Derek Carr is playing bullet proof football for Coach Jon Gruden…hitting big plays…not turning the ball over…Waiting to see if the very young defense turns the corner and starts to make plays…They are giving up (29PPG) on defense and have only 7-sacks considering they have spent alot of draft picks on pass rushes.

RAMS…They have the #1-defense in NFL led by DT-Aaron Donald, but QB-Jared Goff seems prone to turnovers and they are not the power run game they were when Todd Gurley was there.

PATRIOTS…Cam Newton does not seem to be the answer at QB…1TD-7 Int-3 Fumbles in his last four starts….Bill Belichick defended the franchise lack of cap space, saying they spent to the limits to win 3-Super Bowls in a four year span…Big issue this year, they went 8-days unable to practice over a two week span because the facility was shutdown…and Newton was hurt.

HOUSTON…Deshaun Watson is quarterbacking a disaster…They are capped out…they don’t have #1 picks till 2023 and the defense is showing age…Coach-GM Bill O’Brien created a mess.

COLTS…Indy is playing defense, running the ball some, and Philip Rivers has quit throwing interceptions…a playoff team for sure.

SEATTLE…Russell Wilson has 26TD’s already, but the defense is a disaster…S-Jamal Adams, who came in that big Jets trade, has yet to play a game…They never replaced Jadaveon Clowney and LB-Bobby Wagner has no help.

DALLAS…No one feels sorry for owner Jerry Jones in this (2-6) start, but if your team had lost Dak Prescott, plus four offensive lineman, two key defensive lineman, a top LB and a cover corner, would you be better than (2-6).

BALTIMORE….Lamar Jackson doesn’t have alot of help right now….The Ravens seemed to get away from their power run game…Mark Ingram has not been healthy….they don’t have big receivers and the defense is being asked too much.

BUFFALO…A nice start to the season but not much lately, as teams have made it hard for the Bills to score lots of points…They really need another WR-opposite Stefon Diggs.

TAMPA BAY…Interesting matchup this weekend with the Saints.  Tom Brady-Drew Brees are a combined (85) years old….Between them they have thrown 44-TD passes the first half of the season….And now Antonio Brown is about to join Mike Evans-Chris Godwin and Rob Gronkowski.

JETS…Feel sorry for Sam Darnold as quarterback-getting beat up on a regular basis because he has no one around him on offense…Makes me remember what happened to Jim Plunkett with his first team-New England.

CHIEFS…Might be the breakout weekend for RB-Le’Veon Bell, just signed two weeks ago…Waiting for an explosion from him….KC also gets WR-Sammy Watkins back off the IR list…They are winning but not dominating on offense yet.

SAINTS….Drew Brees has willed New Orleans back into the playoff race, leaning heavily on dual purpose RB-Alvin Kamara because of injuries to Michael Thomas and the other receivers.

STEELERS…In its modern history, you had all those great seasons under Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and now Mike Tomlin.  But in the history of this franchise, dating back to the Steel Mills days when it was founded in 1933, never-ever have the Steelers been (7-0)….They are now…now a complete football team.

NFC EAST….Is really NFC-Least with a combined record of (8-22-1) in the division.

49ers….The body bag count is staggering….Jim Garoppolo gone again…seven WRs hurt…3-OL out…2RBs on IR and lots of injuries on defense…They never got out of training camp healthy and it has gotten worse since Labor Day weekend.

BROWNS….Who knows how really good Baker Mayfield can be at QB…Up and down performances…now he does not have Odell Beckham and RB-Nick Chubb, both on IR with knee injuries.

BENGALS…Joe Burrow is such a competitor as a rookie Q B, but they don’t have alot around him….He is taking alot of sacks and alot of hits…they need to continue to draft pass blockers around him before he does not get up from one of these hits.

GIANTS….Second year QB-Daniel Jones makes alot of plays down the field, but he turns it over alot too…Not having RB-Saquon Barkley means another disaster of a season.

JAGUARS…Remember when the franchise had defensive stars like Calais Campbell..Dante Fowler…Jalen Ramsey…Myles Jack…none are there now…The Mark Brunell era was a long time ago….A disaster of a franchise.

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