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“Ugly Ending to Athletes Who Had Everything”

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This will be a bad day in courtrooms for two athletes we knew in San Diego.

1-earned everything he got, coming out of a tough home life, and has now made a mistake that will cost him much..

The other had everything, took entitlement, and likely ruined his life, and will likely lose everything.

Tony Bland. Kellen Winslow II.

Forget who they were, where they came from, just deal with what they did.

That’s what a judge and a jury will decide in the coming hours.

Bland convicted via guilty plea of fraud, in bribery of basketball players.

Winslow facing conviction for 7-felony counts of rape to lewd conduct.

Ignore Bland’s popularity as an Aztecs basketball player, and popular assistant coach

Ignore Winslow’s family background, the son of the legendary Chargers tight end during the Air Coryell era.

Bland was caught trying to pay off (4,100) to USC basketball recruits, caught up in the Adidas slush fund case. Caught bragging that he could deliver more players too, as if he wanted to be a big time player in this scandal.

Winslow charged with 3-rapes of women dating back to high school to most recently…that plus lewd conduct charges in the past year..

Bland is facing 6-to-12 months in prison, though he was a small time player in this big time slush fund case.

Winslow facing life imprisonment, for incidents with women 17-to-77 years of age, all of whom testified in the case.

Lawyers are going after Bland. Yes, the player came out of a drug infested family background. He got out of the ghetto, got to Syracuse, transferred to San Diego State, got his degrees, got into coaching. Then got caught up as the tip of the iceberg in the sleazy underworld of payoffs to college players.

Lawyers called Winslow a ‘sexual predator’, who did whatever he wanted to with women, despite his upbringing, his 40M NFL contract with the Browns and Jets.

Bland is pleading for help for the one mistake of his life. He wants leniency.

Winslow is silent, refusing to testify, as evidence stacked high against him. His track record of outburst at Miami University, and things he did to breach his contract in NFL were warning signs about his decision making.

Decision time.

Bland should pay a penalty, not a year in prison….but maybe 3-months in jail and long probation. His coaching career is over.

Winslow should be put away, and get mental health evaluation. What he did, time and time again, portrays a sexual sickness that says he is far from innocent.

Ugly ending for two people we knew, one who made something of his life, the other who lost everything he was given.

Just another day covering sports, this time with people who made seriously bad decisions.

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“Padres-Draft–Adding Another One”

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If this is the final time the Padres will be drafting high in the June draft, then the pick they wound up with was exceptional.

When you lose like this franchise has lost, you get high draft choices, and thus last year’s miserable (66-96) season, netted the Friars the 6th pick in the draft.

They didn’t get what they needed, but they got a good player.

Meet teenage shortstop CJ Abrams from Roswell, Georgia, the Padres top pick last night.

The Friars #1-ranked farm system has lots of talent, headlined by a truckload of really good kid pitchers. They have infielders and catchers too stockpiled up and down the chain.

But what they are lacking, power hitting bats, they missed out on.

They really wanted Vanderbilt University’s big long ball hitting outfielder JJ Bleday. The Commodores bomber hit (.345) with an NCAA leading 26-homers this spring in college baseball.

But he went 4th to the Miami Marlins.

What San diego got, was exceptional.

Abrams is a wiry, fast, slap hitting, base stealing shortstop.

When he was done the spring in high school ball, he recorded a (.431) batting average. and he had 105-stolen bases in his career. He is a contact hitter and a long strider on the bases. His video is really impressive.

The Padres settled on the highest rated player on the board when pick six came up. And they got talent.

Of course, they have talent lots of places in the shortstop position, starting with this year’s phenom Fernando Tatis, off to a fast start before being sidelined with a hamstring.

The list of shortstop prospects in the system beyond Tatis is staggering.

They drafted two last summer, and both are doing well in the farm system, Xavier Edwards and Owen Miller.

Two years ago, they signed Cuban prospect Jody Barley..

Three summers ago, in the Cuban signing spree, they paid a big price to get Luis Almanzner, also doing well in the system.

They inked Kevin Melean, a hot prospect set free by MLB because of signing violations by the Atlanta Braves.

So deep at the position, the Padres have already moved some players to other positions.

Yes, they might consider moving Abrams to 2nd base to start his career, but there’s a traffic jam there.

Luis Urias is waiting int he wings to be the 2nd baseman of the future, ripping it up in AAA-El Paso, after a slow start in San Diego. He could be the starter there next season.

High pick Hudson Potts, taken two years ago, is plying his trade 2nd base in Amarillo.. Estuary Ruiz, who came in trade from Kansas City, is at second also in the lower system.

If not short, if not second, then this talent Abrams might be ticketed for center field.

Can you say a Willie Wilson talent? Can you compare his style to Billy Hamilton, the bright young flychaser who dazzled the Cincinnati Reds?

Abrams could be that in the outfield, if not in the infield.

They didn’t get a power bat, but from all scouting reports, they got a gifted player.

Now all CJ Abrams has to do is live up to his advanced billing.

Looks like the Padres added another one, a really good prospect.

Something good coming out of all this losing at Petco Park.

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“Padres Draft History-Bad—Getting Better”

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It’s a different era in San Diego Padres baseball history as it relates to the draft.

New owners. New GM. New philosophy. New revenue streams. New results.

No longer is a major league team here, operating with a minor league mentality. The Padres have drafted high recently, and drafted well. They’ve signed the players taken early. They have spent additional money in the international venue.

The Padres have positioned themselves into a wildcard team, and have built baseball’s number 1-ranked farm system. This is progress, compared to the past.

An evaluation of past Padres first round picks, where they were, what they became and a (Letter Grade) on those picks.

2018-P-Ryan Weathers…has started his career fast in Class A ball after signing quickly late last summer. Next up, likely an elevation to Lake Elsinore in the hi-powered California League. (A)

2017-P-MacKenzie Gore…got thru a rugged first year with blister problems, has been dominant at Lake Elsinore. Next stop will be AA-Amarillo, possibly the second half of the season. (A)

2016-P-Cal Quantrill…took awhile for him to find traction coming off the elbow surgery at Stanford University, but his progression has been consistent, and he’s had a couple of quality spot starts with the Padres. Likely a part of full rotation next year. P-Eric Lauer, already a fixture in the rotation as part of a really good draft class. 2B-Hudson Potts-stalled at Amarillo right now, has had good years, bad years in the minors so far. (A)

2015…No 1st round pick (F)

2014-SS-Trea Turner…highly regarded, part of trade package with the Washington Nationals and Tampa Bay that brought Will Myers to Friars. Has become an All Star with the Nats and a strong hitter. Myers has 1-All star appearance but lots of substandard seasons too. (C)

2013-OF-Hunter Renfroe…took awhile to get to San Diego, but has become a complete corner outfielder with power, if not a consistent batting average. Rock solid pro. (B)

2012-P-Max Fried…traded away to Atlanta after a couple of years in minor leagues-has been up and down from minors….P-Zach Eflin…dealt away much like Fried-has established himself in Phillies rotation but has had injury issues…OF-Travis Jankowski…established as strong role player-top of batting order speed-defensive gem-quality player (C)

2011-2B-Corey Spangenberg…became super utility man but not impact player…dealt to Milwaukee in off season-never hit major league pitching consistently….P-Joe Ross-used as part of Trea Turner deal-blew out elbow in Washington-never quite arrived…P-Michael Kelly-never made it to majors…2B-Jace Peterson-dealt away to Atlanta after falling to hit. (D)

2010-P-Karsten Whitson…did not sign-went to college-injured-redrafted-never got to majors. (F)

2009-OF-Donavan Tate…washed out after 6-years beset by injuries then drug problems…never got above Class A…wound up a college FB-quarterback at Arizona. (F)

2008-1B-Allen Dykstra…drafted despite hip problems..bounced around…only got to AAA in Mets system…OF-Jaff Decker-minor league power hitter that’s all….2B-Logan Forsythe-established major league veteran…still playing and producing.(F)

2007-P-Corey Leubke…on fast track to majors, career derailed after strong year and half-retired a year ago after 3rd elbow ligament transplant surgery.(C)

2006-2B-Matt Antonelli….college star-never played in the majors-total dud.(F)

2005-P-Cesar Carrillo…failed in cups of coffee at big league levels-never made an impact (F)

2004-SS-Matt Bush….Compete with Tate for worst pick ever by Padres…Alcohol issues…then beset by injuries….went to Texas Rangers to convert to relief pitcher-then blew out elbow. (F)

2003-P-Tim Stauffer…Beset by arm problems early from college surgery…fought back to majors and had steady couple of years in San Diego. (B)

2002-SS-Khalil Green….Budding star with glove and power….couple of strong years-traded to Cardinals-left baseball with stress disorders…might have been star if mental health issues had not overcome him.(B)

2001-2B-Jake Gaudreau..college star never made it to majors (F)

2000-P-Mark Phillips…never progressed thru system…Wildness problems then injuries ended career. (F)

Grades: Total of 19-Drafts since 2000…..3 (A)..3 (B)..3 (C)..1 (D)…19 (F)

Better days coming. Past drafts were awful.

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“NFL-Union…Everything is a Bargaining Chip”

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They are all out there…all these retired players I knew in the NFL.

Some have good jobs, like John Lynch, Junior, now the GM of the rebuilding San Francisco 49ers.

Some have good coaching jobs, like Dennis McKnight, now OL coach of the CFL Hamilton Ti-Cats.

Some are retired, like ex-Chargers Donnie Mack, Pat Curran, Jim Laslavic, Charley Joiner, John Carney, Darren Bennett, Gil Byrd, and in good health.

Some are not, with a full menu of problems. The worst with head trauma, possible Alzheimers, dementia, early stages of Parkinson’s. Brain damage that will never go away. Concern for guys like Billy Ray Smith, Vencie Glenn, Gary Plummer, Joe Phillips and more.

Some in need of hip-knee-shoulder replacement surgeries.

Some scared about neck injuries, or believing they are headed towards serious problems from concussions.

They all made money, some are successful in their post football careers. Some are hurting badly. They are suffering, and their families are suffering.

The NFL has already committed 965M-towards the concussion settlement.

Some players have been paid, others are upset the process drags on and on.

But now there’s a new problem on the horizon.

The NFL is now a 15B a year industry. It’s about the game, and about the profits for owners. I don’t see any of these owners suffering the maladies their players are afflicted with.

And now we are headed towards a possible work stoppage after the 2020 season. Collective Bargaining talks are underway between the NFL and the Union.

They will argue about how to further split up the pie of profits the NFL sweeps in annually. That is typical.

But this negotiation is different.

The owners are proposing the regular season schedule go to 18-games a year. They would swap out 2-preseason games to get to 18.

They are proposing the NFL playoffs add 2-more wildcard teams…taking the post season tourney to 14-teams.

It means more revenue for the most profitable sports league in America. It means more profits for the owners, and of course more money for the Union to distribute to players.

But there will be tradeoffs.

The NFL Union wants approval for Medical Marijuana to be used as an offset to pain killers. Medical research has shown it helps manage pain. Some one third of the state’s allow marijuana to be sold. The NFL still has it on its banned list despite it’s social use around the country.

The Union also wants things like an increased active roster to 60-players, because of the injury factor in the game.

They want the end to ‘franchise tags’, which can inhibit the movement of star players from one team to another.

They want the discipline powers of the Commissioner either reduced again, or deleted, whereby an arbitrator would decide all suspensions, regardless of whether it’s on (personal fouls) or off (domestic abuse-arrests) the field.

Much of this is typical negotiations, trade this for that.

But in an era where concussions and serious injuries are so much part of the game, how absurd is it to take the regular season schedule to 18-games, and add an extra layer of playoff games?

And more importantly, with the increased risk of injuries, why is the NFL so against ‘Medical Marijuana’ by prescription for players to help them deal with pain?

Here’s the biggest question I have. Why does treatment of injuries, pain relief, even have to be a negotiating chip?

Shouldn’t players suicides and the opioid crisis in the US, be enough for owners to understand taking care of their product, the players, is more important than anything else?

Fans don’t buy tickets to see the Commissioner, nor any owners, not Robert Kraft-Jerry Jones or Dean Spanos, do they?

They come to see their star players, spread across the league. It would be nice to know the employer was doing everything possible to protect the product on the field, that makes them so much profit.

It shouldn’t be about profits and money, every minute of everyday, should it Roger Goodell?

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“This-That-The Other”

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Cleaning out my notebook of headlines and opinions.

PADRES…Chris Paddack, who had the blazing hot rookie start, has hit a tough patch of road. His last 3-starts (15inn-11R-16H-5HRs). His ERA in those last 3-outings, against the Dodgers-Yankees-Arizona is (6.60). It’s called a learning curve.

TATIS…It’s been a month since Fernando Tatis went down with the scary hamstring injury, and he still does not look right, even in extended spring training games. He is not running with any explosion yet going up the baselines, and at times seems to be favoring a leg. This may take longer than first thought.

KID PITCHERS…Look for the Padres to try and give their young arms in the rotation an extra day off, by calling up Cal Quantrill, Logan Allen and Nick Margavicius for an occasional start, giving the young pitchers a 5th extra day off. So far Quantrill and Margavicius have held their own.

KEEP AN EYE OUT….Dinelson Lamet, 14-months removed from Tommy John surgery, made his first rehab start in Lake Elsinore last night. He could have 3-starts, and might be ready to join the team in late June. This would be a huge boost if he returns 100% ahead of schedule.

CHARGERS-RAMS…OTA workouts are underway in LA, and no one pays attention, especially so to the Bolts. The Rams made news by landing a 20M-a year naming rights deal for the new Hollywood Park Stadium.

PAY YOUR BILLS…The Chargers and Rams, both informed this past week, it is time to begin your territorial fee payments to the NFL office. They each owe the NFL league office 129M a year for the next 5-years. A total bill of 650M. Oh, all those NFL owners, who said they cared about the ‘home markets’, and then voted to allow the Chargers to leave San Diego, get 43M as their cut of the territorial pie.

NBA FINALS…What a year for Kawhi Leonard, as Golden State and his Toronto Raptors open the NBA finals. He’s averaging (31P-8R) a game in the playoffs, but that doesn’t really match the Warriors’ stars, Steph Curry (27P), Klay Thompson (19) and Draymond Green (13P). Of course the Warriors still don’t have Kevin Durant (31P) back from that calf injury. The key to the series, not how much Kawhi gets, but rather what kind of support he gets from is other starters, Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, Serei Ibaka, Fred Van Fleet, Danny Green and Norm Powell. Toronto needs lots of guys to step up to go with the guy, who always steps up.

LAKERS MESS….So who wants to sign a free agent contract to play in this situation in Los Angeles? What a disgrace this proud franchise has become. Under Jerry Buss, there were superstars and their were egos, but you never saw the selfishness and the lack of trust that is on display now. The franchise is lost, leadership is lacking, and the stain of what has happened and what is being reported now is deadly. LeBron James arrival? Be careful what you wish for?

JUST ASKING…Here comes NBA free agency. What if both Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard come sign in LA? With the Clippers down the hallway at the Staples Center?

AZTECS…Little being said, but a lot being done in terms of getting this new Aztecs football stadium built. Quietly and effectively Athletic Director JD Wicker has lined up a refutal construction company, Clark Construction, a superb architect, and now linked the new project with the marketing genius of JMI-Legends Sports, run by ex Padres owner John Moore. Still waiting, the actual purchase price of the property the city will need for SDSU to acquire the land.

GULLS HOCKEY….Led the AHL in attendance again, over 9,000-fans a game, and this time went to the semi finals of the Calder Cup playoffs, before losing to the Chicago Wolves. Superb job by Coach Dallas Eakins, whom we may say goodbye too, shortly, when he is named coach of the Anaheim Ducks.

SOCCER CITY….They are off the radar, for the time being, after the November vote killed their stadium initiative. But I feel the MLS, which has two more expansion slots in its pocket, may hold one of them to see if the FS-Group resurfaces and does a possible deal in the Aztecs stadium and then goes after an expansion team.

MLS…Unique announcement on Wednesday of the “Leagues Cup”…an 8-team tourney matching four teams from MLS and Lisa-MX south of the border. Included in the tourney field, the LA Galaxy and Tijuana XOLOs, plus legendary Mexcican sides Club America and Cruz Azul. Bypassed in the field though, the very successful FC-LA expansion team, plus the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. Why?

BREEDERS CUP…The stories won’t go away, and now we really need definitive answers, about the on going tragedies at Santa Anita. 26-horses have died with injuries since December. Is it the track, the track surfaces? Is is Lasix? Is it overtraining in the sunshine? It’s not happening anywhere else in the nation. The bigger question, the Breeders Cup is coming here in November. Should it be run at Santa Anita, if this is a ‘track condition crisis’ causing all these injuries?

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