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“Chargers Football–Who Are They Now?”

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We know who they used to be.  The San Diego Chargers with Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Keenan Allen and more.

We know who they became, a non playoff team for the most part, in a city that did not love them, playing in a stadium that was was overwhelmed by fans wearing the other team’s colors.

We now see what they could be, a team moving into a new stadium, with a gifted defense, and alot of questions marks on the offense.

Not the way you’d like to launch a rebranded team in the post-Philip Rivers era in a new yard.

The Bolts may wear Powder Blue and Gold, but those colors yell ‘San Diego’.  There is no Rivers, gone to the Indianapolis Colts.  There is no Melvin Gordon-gone to be a Denver Bronco.

Yes Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry and Mike Williams are there to catch balls.  Yes Austin Ekeler became an unsung hero starting running back.

There are 3-new starting offensive lineman.

There are a bunch of key players playing on the final year of their contracts.

Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, and a talent laden Derwin James-led  secondary make up the heart and soul of the strength of the team, that defense.

But at the most critical spot on the roster, there is a journeyman QB-Tyrod Taylor, who is (23-21) as a starter, on his 4th team in the league.  There is the raw rookie from Oregon, Justin Herbert, with no experience, in a different offense, learning to play under center after all those years in the shotgun with the Ducks.

No minicamps.  No OTA’s.  No hands on coaching yet.  They hope to get on the field by Monday, but it’s like cramming 4-months of an off season into the next 7-weeks of camp, hoping there are no Covid outbreaks.

Coach Anthony Lynn wanted changes after last season’s turnover marred-injury riddled season.  The front office let him do what he wanted, change out QBs, move on from OL.  He may be a leader, but only time tells whether he made the right decisions.

Lynn’s comments at his opening of camp press conference”

..Everyday there is chaos
..If you can’t adopt to change-you will struggle
..We have to practice outside the box, no real offseason here
..We need discipline to beat opponents and beat the virus
..We will need veteran leadership from players-coaches will provide it
..Virtual learning-feedback has been good
..We will continue whether guys are at home or in the hotel
..I need to get comfortable doing it this way
..I have always communicated in person
..Tyrod Taylor is in the driver’s seat at QB
..We know what he can do in this offense.
..Tyrod Taylor is not rusty-he knows football
..He is a great mentor guy-not outspoken in the locker room
..I think he is the perfect guy to do this
..He will be perfect mentor for Justin Herbert
..We cannot makeup for the lost time Herbert did not get on field
..He had 4-years as a starter at Oregon..that should carry over
..I like what I see..how he carries himself-prepares-studies
..Herbert will not sit out the whole year
..LB-Kenneth Murray-we will put him in situations in practice-test him
..We have to evaluate players in live fire practices
..Getting Joey Bosa signed is important-he is ready to go
..Did not want distraction of negotiations during season
..Tom Telesco has done a good job signing mosf players
..I stay out of negotiations
..I get players ready to be superstars so they can get paid like superstars.
..There are alot of health protocols
..This team must take protocols seriously
..No players have said they will opt out
..The George Floyd situation..the timing..the pandemic…people watching on TV…People having enough of it
..Now everyone can see what people are fighting for
..Good to see people involved and in discussions.

The Charges are like everyone else in training camp.

Short time to get ready.  Hoping no one gets hurt.  Believing no one gets sick.

They’ve got pieces of real talent.  They also have holes.  They have unknowns.

What was, Rivers big game plays, Gordon’s ability to dart and dash, a string of active linebackers, have been replaced.

They’ve rented some veteran offensive lineman.  They need young lineman to step up.

They need to know if Tyrod Taylor can play and not get hurt.  Can he win, or will he be an undersized version of Doug Flutie, who manned the store till Drew Brees and Rivers showed up.

They want to see how fast they can forward Herbert’s progress to possibly become the next Rivers.

Empty stands, in a city that still has not embraced them, it shall be interesting to see what the fall brings for the Bolts.

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“NBA–Basketball and Facemasks”

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They are back, the Lakers and the Clippers, and the NBA.

They play hoops in the bubble tonight in Orlando, the start up of the 22-teams chasing  for playoff spots.

Each team plays 8-seeding games, to determine the final standings, and the season, a made-for-TV event in Orlando, and it will kick off tonight with the Lakers-vs-Clippers.

The next 8-games will determine the final standings and the playoff matchups when the final 16-teams are seeded.

The Lakers take the floor tonite looking for their 50th win of the season.  They are not the complete team they were when we last saw them in March.

Center Anthony Davis will wear goggles to protect an eye injury suffered earlier in the week in practice.  How it affects him remains to be seen.

There will be no Avery Bradley, who opted out-deciding not to play.  No Rajon Rondo who broke his wrist the first week of practice in Orlando.

But there is LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma and a host of other veteran talent that has gotten the Lakers to this (49-14) record.

The Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, will have his hands full.

Yes they won 40-games before the schedule break, but this is not the same team.

Kawhi Leonard is here, coming off the 3-month pause in play.

But his center Ivica Zubac has just returned from the virus and admits his conditioning is way off.

Their valuable big minutes backup center Montrzl Harrell left camp three weeks ago with family issues, and is not back yet and facing quarantine when he does get back.

Then to complicate things, hi scoring guard Lou Williams is suspended for two games and sitting out 10-days for breaking rules by leaving the bubble to go to a strip club.

And equally tough guy guard Patrick Beverly won’t play, still trying to find basketball shape after a late report with the virus.

Guard Landry Shamet will suit up but with limited minutes having gotten to Orlando late because of his own positive test.

Veteran center Joakim Noah, the ex Bulls star of years ago, will play, but bench depth will be a problem.

So the odds seem stacked that the Clippers can close the gap on the lst place Lakers in the NBA Pacific Division.  The bigger issue is whether they can get all the pieces of the roster put back together by the time the playoffs roll around in two weeks.

Of course things can change over night.  Guys get hurt.  Guys test positive.  Guys go to strip clubs against the rules.

Going to be interesting to see who gets it into basketball gear quickly vs who breaks down or has problems.

Facemasks, free throws, jump shots and disjointed rosters.  It’s all in front of us beginning Thursday night inside the NBA bubble.

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“Chargers–Season of Unknowns”

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They are in camp, hoping to play football, but not knowing what is ahead.

For the Chargers, there are so many unanswered questions.

They are opening up camp in one of the nation’s hot-spots, Los Angeles and Orange County with the looming question, can they keep the infection situation out of their Costa Mesa camp?

Like everyone else, they have had no minicamps, no OTA workouts, no coaching hands on work with their top draft pick, the QB of the future Justin Herbert of Oregon.

What will life be like without Philip Rivers 4,000-yard passing seasons?

Is Troy Taylor anything more than a .500 journeyman quarterback?

They must replace the former Pro Bowl LT-Russell Okung, but with who since there are just kids there?.

There is no more Melvin Gordon, departed to the bitter enemy Denver Broncos, so a reliable player must arrive to help Austin Ekeler .

They have overhauled the linebacking corps and need to find instant playmakers at the positions once manned by Thomas Davis, Jatavis Brown, Denzell Perryman?

Will they have enough wide receiver depth to compliment Keenan Allen and Mike Williams?

Does the 5-year extension worth 135M given to DE-Joey Bosa seal the defense as the strength of the francnhise?

Moving into the So Fi Stadium, owned by the Rams, what will it be like if fans are allowed into the games, and will they be Chargers fans, or will it be the same atmosphere as it was in Carson, lots of fans wearing other teams colors?

On top of all that is the Virus-Crisis.

Chargers GM-Tom Telesco addressed all that in his training camp meeting:

..The health protocols are strict and stringent
..I am optimistic…we can do this correctly.
..Accountability and responsibility to be safe are utmost
..We have been hit with the hard reality of Miami-Minnesota
..We have two opponents..the virus..and who we play on Sunday
..Biggest challenge as a GM..safety first-but things keep changing
..Joey Bosa contract status will be solved
..Bosa has a 1-year deal worth (14.6M)..now 5-year extension

..The salary cap-I always have an eye on the future years
..Colin Kaeperneck-We have 3-QBs we are comfortable with
..No plans to bring him in unless there is a need at the position
..This roster must follow the protocols to a “T”
..We are not going to eliminate the virus..want minimize the risk.
..No players have indicated they will opt out yet.
..Likely out of the box thinking dealing with rookies and practices
..Players arriving in camp-came from different levels fitness
..These players will not be in equal shape
..We will have to evaluate rookies differently this summer
..They may not get as many reps-but need to be ready with injuries
..This is not even like a college season..they had spring practices
..We might do some split squads to give rookies more reps
..Alot more virtual meetings..1-on-1 individual meetings
..Masks all the time except on the field..meetings-training-weight
..We are dealing with 80 players and 100-support staff in building
..We have 14-days of heavy practice end of August-go play
..Tyrod Taylor..He has great makeup-leadership..can be mentor
..Taylor-#1 job get ready to play…communicating-natural to him
..He prepares and interacts well..
..Our QB-room is very good
..Justin Herbert-this is not a normal calendar for him
..When I was in Carolina-Kerry Collins played early as rookie
..With Colts-Peyton Manning-Andrew Luck played from Day-1
..Developing a high draft pick QB..not ‘1-Size Fits All’ plan
..Will let Herbert grow at his own pace
..I am not looking at individual benchmarks..but team success.
..Learning camp critical-different style offense..tweaking defense
..We will cut players from 90-to-80 to 69-but those guys will likely get a chance to be brought back.
..I expect things to change daily in our camp.

And so it begins for the Bolts, just like all 32-teams.  Four days of medical tests, possible positive tests for virus, players who might opt out.  Then onto the field for strength and conditioning, and virtual learning classes.  After that, helmets and shells walkthrus and more class work.  Then the final 14-days of camp in full pads with hitting.

Opening day vs the Bengals seems a long way away.  Telesco and his coaches don’t think it is.

But the Chargers are unlike so many other teams.  They have lots of questions on this roster.  The next 48-days will be worth watching.

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“Dangerous Times for All”

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You look around the sports landscape, you see problems everywhere.

MESS IN MIAMI…Baseball now has a crisis with 11-players and 2-coaches having tested positive while the Miami Marlins were on a road trip to Philadelphia.  They are still quarantined in that team hotel, unable to travel.  The scary part, that some Marlins players may have gone out on the town, and brought the virus back to the clubhouse.  It discounts a theory the Marlins may have picked up the virus by playing an exhibition game in Atlanta last Thursday where Braves players got sick the next morning.   Equally scary, that the Marlins held a clubhouse meeting via virtual computer and voted to play without consulting medical people.

SCHEDULE SNAFU….It keeps getting harder for the Blue Jays.  Now they have been told they must play two extra series on the road, in Philadelphia and Baltimore, because their rented home stadium, the minor league Buffalo Bisons yard, won’t be ready till August 11th.  An unfair burden on a young team.

NO CLASS CLIPPERS….Lou Williams left the Clippers camp inside the bubble with a so-called family problem.  He was seen and sighted as a strip bar with friends in Atlanta while away from the team.  Now he will miss the first two games of the regular schedule, will lose two game checks, and is in isolation for 10-days before he can return to practice.  You tell me, Selfish or Stupid, or both?

OPT OUT TIME…The names are going to come quickly in the NFL, as camps open today for testing of all players.  Positive tests are starting, and some veterans are opting out.  Is there a big name out there who will exit shortly?  Seems there will be.

HOCKEY DECISIONS….The NHL teams have arrived at their Hub cities for the playoffs, Toronto and Edmonton and decisions may come shortly on players opting out.  Montreal’s bright phenom Max Domi could be the first one to exit, a Type 1-diabetic.  Interesting stat from the NHL, over the last two weeks, 11,130-tests and just 2-positives from players in their respective training camps.

Dangerous days ahead.  Fear the worst, expect the worst, think the worst is yet to come.

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“Baseball Opening Weekend–Things We Saw”

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It was baseball, but it felt strange, looked strange.

The opening weekend of the season brought alot of strange sights.

On the field, there was baseball played per the norm.  Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees hit a massive first at bat home in Washington onto the 2nd deck of the tarped off-empty stadium.

Trevor Bauer struck out 13 in 6-innings in his first start for the Reds, but they loss.

The A’s hit a grand slam home run in the 10th inning against the Angels.

It was an awful first start for Shohei Ohtani, can’t find home plate in his first inning, since coming off elbow surgery…3-walks…3-hits…5-runs allowed.

Raging start for the Padres Eric Hosmer, a 6RBI day in the opener and a team that got 18-walks in their first 18-innings against Arizona pitching.

But it was an odd weekend too, what I saw around ballparks:

JUST A BIT OUTSIDE…Dr. Anthony Fauci invited to throw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals home run, social distance the pitch, throwing it at least 6-feet to the right of the catcher.  As Bob Uecker would say…”Justttt a bit outside”

YANKEES…COMING NOT GOING…They invited President Donald Trump to throw out the first pitch of their first home game on Thursday.  He accepted, then pulled out.  The Yankees took alot of heat from fans.

KNEEL DOWN SALUTE…A tremendous message of unity with all the players and coaches kneeling along the baselines with a black ribbon on opening  night to deliver a message for all the public to see.

TIME OUT..TIME OUT….Derek Shelton came storming out of the dugout in the game with the Cardinals, screaming at the ump.  Then stopped to put his mask on.  They walked to within 6-feet of the ump, stopped, cursed a call and got tossed.

HERE-USE THIS….Cubs 1st baseman Anthony Rizzo pulled a bottle of sanitizer out of his pocket and sprays some on hands of Brewers baserunner.

CUTOUT CARDBOARD….The stadiums popped up fake fans to sit behind home plate.  Pics included movie stars, police offices, first responders, fans, babies, family members and dogs.

PADRES ANIMAL FARM…The placement of big bears in the seats down the left field line.

SUMMER WEATHER…Nationals Park looked like it was in the middle of hurricane during a rain delay in their opener against the Yankees…some 3-inches of rain in a half hour.  Game over.

PA ANNOUNCEMENTS….Lineups, pitching changes, who is batting..all that in an empty stadium.

BETWEEN AMERICA….Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch.  All that was missing were fans and Harry Caray.

BOX SEATS AND SKYBOXES….The members of the taxi squads got to sit in the choice seats around home plate or in skyboxes in stadiums.

RABBIT EARS…The umps had a tough weekend, they heard everything since there were no fans in the stands.  Lots of chirping from both dugouts.

BAD BLOOD…The intense Cubs-Brewers rivalry got more heated, with no fans in the stands, the two dugouts began yelling at each other, and everyone could hear it, and it was not the King’s Best English.

DAMAGE DONE…The Dodgers cutouts of fans included fans in the pavilion in leftfield, where a line drive home run knocked the head off one of the cutouts.

AROD-ALOT OF CRITICISM..Alex Rodriguez’s first game this year as an ESPN analyst did not go well.  It was as if the network tried to make it the ARod-show.  He talked and talked and talked, most of it pro management stuff.  Praised the owners.  Praised the Commissioner.  Talked about a game he played in 2002.  Talked in circles.  What a mess from someone most people don’t like.  You are not forgetting history, A-Rod…A Lie…A-Fraud.

BLUE JAYS HOMELESS…First the Canadian government banned them from playing home games in Toronto.  Then they did a deal to play in Pittsburgh, only to have health officials step in and say no.  They talked to Baltimore about Camden Yards but there were too many conflicts.  Enter Buffalo and the minor league stadium to host major league games.

WEIRD-EXTRA INNING RULE….Start the 10th inning with a runner at second.  Couple of times, both teams scored in the 10th inning.  One inning, the Angels threw a wild pitch, runner to third, walked two, then gave up a Grand Slam home run then to the A’s.

BUSY BULLPEN…Expanded rosters meant more pitchers to use.  The Angels used 8-on opening night.

MASCOT IN THE MIDDLE…No fans behind home plate in Philadelphia, but the mascot the Philly Phanatic was behind home plate and trying to distract the Marlins starting pitcher.

DODGERS FANS…Standard joke seeing all the cut-out fans in the stands…in LA fashion, ‘will they arrive late and leave in the 7th inning?

VIN SCULLY…What better way to start the season with the video presentation from the Hall of Famer..”It’s time for Dodgers baseball”

ASTROS…An emotional opening video with Houston saluting the passing and memories of the Toy Cannon-Jim Wynn and the legendary Bob Watson.

MIAMI MESS…What baseball worried about….3-Marlins players test positive on the road and may have to quarantine in that road hotel.

AWFUL IN ATLANTA…The Braves took a jolt when both their catchers tested positive opening day for the virus, leaving Atlanta with a Double A-rookie and a draft pick to handle the pitching staff in place of Ty Flowers and Travis D’Arnaud.

HORRIBLE IN HOUSTON…The Astros losing ace Justin Verlander for the year with an elbow injury after just one start.

BOO HISS HOUSTON…No chance for the Astros to get booed during road games.  No fans in the stands.

BAD TIMES BOSTON…And it gets worse for the Red Sox.  The trade of David Price to the Dodgers, the loss of Chris Sale to elbow surgery in the spring, and now heart problems for prospective top  starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who had tested positive for the virus, and now has a heart inflammation issue.

FIRST FUN WEEKEND….Nice start for Padres rookie manager Jayce Tingler, the grind it out wins over Arizona.  Very different than Andy Green’s debut, a 15-0 loss to the Dodgers, in fact 3-straight shutouts at the hands of LA that first year.

EARN YOUR MONEY…The Padres highest paid players had good games to launch the season..the 6-RBI day for Eric Hosmer, Tommy Pham’s hits, stolen bases and glove catches, Wil Myers 3-run homer…Manny Machado home run.  That’s what they are being paid for.

WHAT TO WEAR…The Indians, in a middle of a fierce debate over the team nickname, decided not to wear their home uniforms their home white jerseys with the Indian script logo across the front, going instead to the blue road top with block letter ‘Cleveland’ on the front.

All that for the first weekend of the season, as we sprint thru a 60-game season.