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“NBA Mourns–Players Should Remember”

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The NBA lost a leader, a trend setter, a visionary on New Years Day, when former Commissioner David Stern passed away at (77)…following complications two weeks ago from surgery for a blood clot on the brain.

He helped make the NBA what it is.

His impact was in the financial world, the global world, and the national world.

Players in the NBA are making 20-to-35M a year, by virtue of what David Stern created.

The accomplishments came fast and furious in the NBA, after he inherited a league in trouble, once the ABA and NBA merger took place.

Stearn’s league would become the league of the Jordan-Bird-Magic Johnson era.

It was an NBA where mega money TV contracts became commonplace, because of how Stearn did his TV deals.

It was Stearn who created a plan to help the have-nots, the smaller franchises, with a unique revenue-sharing plan, approved by the guys on the other street corner, the Union.

The commissioner, as revenues poured in, helped negotiate a salary cap for players that guaranteed them huge pay raises as the revenue pie grew, and when they became free agents.

He explored taking the game international, helping lay the groundwork for expansion into Asia, the Chinese-Japanese market.  Not just to showcase players, but to create huge marketing and revenue deals

He grew the NBA draft, not just the lottery, to build competitive balance, but the admittance of a great flow of players from Europe, including the Soviet block countries.

At home, he founded the NBA-TV network, the first league run network that in turn led to things like the NFL Network and MLB Network.

Leaving no stone unturned, he was the driving force of the WNBA, and then pioneered a developmental league, now currently the NBA-G League.

He created drug testing, the first of its kind in any sports league, heading off disasters that struck the NFL and MLB, when steroids and HGH and amphetamines ran out of control.

He dealt strongly with bad citizen players, and even owners, expelling Ted Stephen of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then watched his league rid itself of Donald Sterling.

He guided the league thru the aftermath of the ABA merger, and then led the expansion to 7-new NBA cities.

In an era of big money, big stars, big egos, and Dream Teams, today’s modern day player has no knowledge, nor idea of those who came before him.

Nobody remembers bus rides, small arenas, the Cincinnati Royals, the Philips 66s or  the old Boston and Madison Square Gardens.

They were the roots of a league that now features 35M a year contracts, opt out clauses, free agency, 1-and-done players in the draft.

A phrase NBA players should never ignore….’remember where you came from’.

They should also remember ‘who got them the wealth they now enjoy’.

David Stern, legendary commissioner of the NBA.  RIP..

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“Happy New Years Day–Top San Diego Sports Stories of 2019”

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1..SAN DIEGO STATE reaches agreement to purchase all the land at the SDCCU sight for (87.7M) to begin construction of a 35,000-seat Aztecs Football-Soccer stadium, then a 30-year plan for expansion of the front door to the campus.

2..MANNY MACHADO…in stunning last minute move before spring training starts, the Padres sign ex-Orioles-Dodgers star to team record (10Y-300M) contract, a year after the equally surprise signing of ex Royals 1B-Eric Hosmer.  Machado faded badly, hitting (.188) the second half of the season.

3..KAWHI LEONARD….The legendary Aztecs basketball player goes from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors, and leads the Canadian team to the NBA title, and he, the NBA-MVP honors.  He finishes off the year by signing a record free agent contract with the LA Clippers.

4..STEPHEN STRASBURG…The former Aztecs baseball star pitches his Washington Nationals team to the World Series, then wins the World Series MVP.

5..WINTER MEETINGS….Baseball’s swap shop comes to San Diego in December, and is followed by record setting free agent contract signed by Gerrit Cole-Yankees and Anthony Rendon-Angels, plus Strasburg’s decision to re-sign in Washington.

6..PADRES…So much expectation, so much disappointment during the summer.  From a (45-45) record at the All Star break, the Friars crash and burn into last place, with another 90-loss season.  Trade of Franmil Reyes in July in 3-team deal with Reds-Indians destroyed team chemistry and changed the clubhouse.

7..CHARGERS…Fans continue to follow the team that moved to LA, and sat and watched the promising team go from AFC-hopes to a last place (5-11) season.  RB-Melvin Gordon held out for 6-weeks in contract dispute.  Team had 12-major injuries in first 8-weeks of season, leading to a turnover marred season by QB-Philip Rivers.

8..ANDY GREEN…Fired in the final weeks of another 90-loss season, the fourth straight campaign under his direction.  Green hired as bench coach of the Cubs for next season.

9..PHILIP RIVERS…Breaks into tears during his last post game press conference, as he heads into off season unsigned, with hints the Chargers do not want him back next year.

10..FERNANDO TATIS….A blazing start to his rookie season, hitting over .300 till he went down with a serious groin injury then went down again with a back problem.  Gifted on defense, the 20-year old hit better than expected.

11..AZTECS FOOTBALL…An amazing collapse at the end of the season, followed by a (27-0) shutout loss to Ohio in the Fresco Bowl.  State lost 5-of its last 6-games.

12..GULLS HOCKEY….The American Hockey League team leads the league in average attendance and gets to the playoffs again.

13..DALLAS EAKINS…The Gulls coach is rewarded for his solid seasons behind the bench, by landing the head coaching job for the NHL-Anaheim Ducks.

14..SAN DIEGO FLEET…The much ballyhooed return of pro football ended badly when the league shuts down after the 8th week of a money losing season.  Mike Martz shows magic as his team plays well despite having to go thru 3-different quarterbacks, after his potential starter Josh Johnson left to sign with the Washington Redskins.

15..AZTECS BASKETBALL…Coach Brian Dutcher’s team fails to get to the NCAA-tourney for the second time in a three year span.

16..JALEN MC DANIELS….His final season is stained by a potential lawsuit in Seattle for videotaping two female friends having sex with his teammates while they were in high school.  SDSU never disciplined the player, who then left school to enter the NBA draft.

17..SAN DIEGO STRIKEFORCE…A disastrous debut for the indoor football league team that went (1-13) in its maiden season.  They fired the GM and lead scout, early in the season, are last in attendance,as ex Charger Burt Grossman struggled in his coaching debut.

18..USD…Anthony Lawrence rewrites the entire Toreros football record book, wrapping up a brilliant quarterbacking career in guiding the Blue back into the 1AA playoffs.

19..SOCKERS….In a bold marketing move, lures MLS-soccerf star and World Cup hero Landon Donovan to sign a contract to play indoor soccer for the final month of the season.

20..MIGHTY 1090….San Diego’s top sports-talk station ceases operation after mistakes by  station management led to its financial demise, coupled with unreasonable financial demands by Mexican owners.  It was the second all sports station to go under due to managements decisions, following the dissolving of XTRA-Sports-690 by Clear Channel radio.

21..USL…The Division II soccer league gives a franchise to San Diego, and Donovan Landon is named GM-Coach of the San Diego Loyal that will debut this spring in the United Soccer League.

22..POINSETTIA BOWL…The second level bowl, operated by the Holiday Bowl, ceased operation despite drawing decent crowds.  It was one of a couple of bowls to close up shop.

23..PHIL MICKELSON…Heading to the twilight of his career, the Rancho Santa Fe native stuns local fans by electing not to play in the Farmer’s Open tourney in 2019 at Torrey Pines.

24..TIGER WOODS…Relaunched his career, that would see him win on the PGA tour after 4-different surgical procedures on his back.

25..PT LOMA NAZARENE….Got toe the finals of the NCAA-Division II tourney, led by 6’8-transfer forward Dalton Hommes, who then left school for the NBA draft.

26..AZTECS FOOTBALL…rallies back from bad season, blasting Central Michigan in New Mexico Bowl, finishing the campaign at (10-3).  Coach Rocky Longs career record at SDSU now (81-38)

27..KEITH LINCOLN…Legendary AFL-Chargers star passes away…Great career as running back-receiver-kick returner for early years Chargers team led by Coach Sid Gillman.

28..KELLEN WINSLOW JUNIOR…Son of legendary Chargers tight end, found guilty of multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, in prison for 8-to-20 years.

29..JERRY MAGEE….Longtime San Diego Union-Tribune NFL writer passed away (90Y)…he covered 42-Super Bowls in his career.

30..JIMMIE JOHNSON….El Cajon superstar NASCAR driver announces this coming season will be his final in a likely Hall of Fame career, that has seen him go 93-races in a row without a win.

31..DAVE GARCIA…Popular San Diego resident passes away at (98).  A lifetime baseball player-coach-manager was a familiar sight sitting behind home plate at Padres games.  His grandson was Padres utility man Greg Garcia.

32..WILLIE O’REE….Honored by NHL which names its Community Service Award for players who do great things on and off the ice.  O’ere also enshrined into NHL Hall of Fame for breaking NHL color barrier.

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“Chargers Football…Reality & Raw Emotion”

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You saw it, we all saw it, those of us who cover the Chargers, follow the Chargers, love the Chargers or hate the Chargers.

You saw it, this horrific (5-11) season of turnovers, injuries and underachievemnt.

We also saw what happened in the post game press conference, their heart and soul leader, quarterback Philip Rivers, choked up with emotion making comments after the last game of the season, and possibly his last game ever wearing the Lightning Bolt on his helmet.

Rivers, nearly brought to tears, discussing the frustration of losing, the struggles with turnovers, crushed by the pressure of being a winner but no longer able to produce the way this star quarterback has in the past.

Never once did I ever think that Philip Rivers would be talking about leaving, playing for someone else, or wearing someone else’s jersey next season.

But this is where we are at this point, after his 23-touchdown…23-turnover season.

A season stained by 7-turnovers in the red zone-end zone this year.

A season where fans wearing the enemies colors, Silver & Black (Raiders)…Green & Gold (Packers)….Purple (Vikings)….Black and Gold (Steelers) over-ran the stadium in Carson taking away the designation ‘home game’ on the Chargers schedule

A season crippled by losses to a Steelers team with a 3rd string street free agent quarterback; a loss to an injury ravaged Raiders team that could not score touchdowns; a loss to a rookie QB-Drew Lock-who had never played in Denver.

Add in, they should have lost to the Colts on opening day if kicker Adam Vinatieri hadn’t missed 3-kicks.  Should have lost too to the Bears if Eddie Piniero doesn’t miss a chip shot kick at the end of the game.

Look at the Chargers roster this season, all this talent.  Realize they could have been–should have been (3-13) rather than the sickening (5-11) they finished up at.  What a gross thought.

Add on to the disaster infront of us.  It was just not Rivers’ 20-interceptions and 3-lost fumbles.  It was the Melvin Gordon fatal holdout that wiped out 6-weeks of contributions.  The devastating injuries along the offensive line.  The sickness that nearly claimed Russell Okung.  The loss of Derwin James for two thirds of the season.  The loss of a starting cornerback, the drug suspension of another.  The knee injury that ate up half the season of the tight end.

It was misery upon misery, all that piled on top of the guy who is supposed to carry the franchise, Philip Rivers.

So now we have the exit meetings for the players, Monday and Tuesday.

There will likely be coaching changes to Anthony Lynn’s staff.

Doubtful there will be any front office changes, not to President John Spanos’ job, or AG Spanos as CEOs of this dreary mess.

And surely nothing happens to Dean Spanos, architect of the 1st Family of Football with another last place finish attached to the family resume.

Philip Rivers left it all on the field every Sunday.  He bared his heart and left his emotions at the podium for everyone to see after the last game loss in Kansas City.

There is no hope for this franchise if they let that quarterback go.
Rivers has been the beacon of football competence on this franchise run by so many family incompetents.

Quality person…quality player.  He deserves better than this, to have his career end this way.

Chargers football finishes (5-11), reality and raw emotion, right infront of us to see.

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“College Football–Can You Top This”

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Super stars and super performances.  That’s what college football was all about Saturday night.

For the record, LSU and Clemson will meet in the National Championship game in two weeks.

What a weekend.

LSU just keeps on rolling  as Heisman Trophy star Joe Burrow made play after play, and his Tigers just overwhelmed Oklahoma and its start QB-Jalen Hurts.

Burrow finished his night with (493Y) passing and 7 touchdowns, that’s right, seven scores against an Oklahoma Sooners team that was without its top pass rusher because of suspension.

Hurts couldn’t do it by himself, finishing with (221Y) passing but minimal amounts of rushing yards, in what turned out to be a really bad (63-28) beatdown

But Burrow was everywhere, in the pocket, moving the pocket, making all types of pinpoint throws and running when he had to.

Just asking Ed Ogeron why his quarterback was still playing in the 4th quarter when he was decked on an ugly facemark penalty tackle.  LSU is good.

Clemson might be better.  For the first time all year, they trailed, and trailed badly, down (16-0) to the best defense in college football, what Ohio State presented.

But QB Trevor Lawrence kept running the football on read-options, and then started throwing.  Big plays, followed big plays, and next you knew, the Buckeyes lead had turned into a Buckeyes deficit.

OSU did rally back and actually take the lead late in the 4th quarter, but Lawrence took his team 94-yards for the go ahead touchdown, and then the Tigers defense picked off Justin Fields in th end zone with (:34) left to seal the win.

Lawrence the thrower, also became Lawrence the runner and Ohio State could not stop him, not when he threw for (259) in the air, then ran for (107) more on the ground.  And his top back, Etienne, the (15009Y) runner, became Etienne the pass catcher (3R-1111Y).

It sent Ohio State home, and sends Clemson back to where it usually goes, in the championship game of college football.

It was a dazzling display of greatness as the country watched Joe Burrow continue his magical mystery tour final season.  And the  nation saw the heart and soul of Trevor Lawrence and the talent of riches that is the Clemson football roster.

In a topsy turvy fall of football, who could have imagined this championship might not contain legendary power Alabama, much less no Ohio State.

You might say, can you top this, but the fact it will be Ed Ogeron-vs-Dabo Swinney coaching the sidelines.  The fact it’s Burrow-vs-Lawrence.  Or Etienne-vs-LSU’s committee of running backs, anything is possible.

Can you top what we just saw?  Probably, only because it is Clemson and it is LSU coming up in the title game.

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“Showdown Saturday-College Football”

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It may not be the National Championship game, but it’s as close as you can get to it, these final 4-teams set to square off in the semi=finals  of the playoffs.

In fact, it is as close to a perfect situation as you could want, and with so many good teams out there, the other major bowls have not been badly hurt.

Tomorrow’s menu features 4-fabulout quarterbacks, an array of great running backs, and one of the best defenses college football has ever seen.

OHIO STATE-CLEMSON…..This could have been a title game, but what fireworks are coming. as a semi final matchup.  The Buckeyes have the pre-eminent defense in college football, led by red setting pass rusher Chase Young and a load of talent at linebacker and in the secondary.  But the real spotlight will shine on the offense.  Ohio State is fueled by Georgia transfer QB-Justin Fields, big rangy, can throw deep, and can run.  He had (2,953P) and a stunning 40TD-1 Interception ratio.  And the ground game is fueled by RB-JK Dobbins (1,829R-20TD).  All that is impressive but Clemson is equally dynamic.  The Tigers in these playoffs is common place.  They are led by sophomore QB-Trevor Lawrence (3,172P-34TD) and possibly the best RB in the nation in Travis Etienne (1,500Y-8.2YPC-18TD).  Might this be a (55-52) game?  Anything is possible.

LSU-OKLAHOMA….A season to forever remember on the Bayou, this Ed Ogeron-Joe Burrow led Tigers season.  Burrow has the Heisman, (4,800Y-48TD), but he might not have his lead RB-Clyde Hilaire (1,290-16TD), -hobbled by a hamstring injury in practice last week.  But the cross section of wide outs are next to impossible to stop.  The Sooners are a one man gang, led by QB-Jalen Hurts, the Alabama transfer.  He rewrote every QB-record in the books in Norman, (4,889APY-51TD), an amazing feat when you consider the great array of QBs who have played at Oklahoma.  Both defenses will be under stress right from the get go. Last team to have the ball, might well win this one.

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