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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“HERE-THERE-EVERYWHERE”
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Teams and Thoughts on Those Teams.

PADRES..Rain soaked win in New York.  So impressive, the big hits by Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts and the continued dominance by relief ace Robert Suarez.  For the Yankees, who hits if Aaron Judge does not take the ball out of the park?  And the New York bullpen is struggling, much like the starting pitching is struggling because of injuries.

DODGERS..Keep winning, keep hitting home runs and now Shohei Ohtani is getting hot.  Can LA survive all the nagging pitching injuries?  They have already had to go to 3-bullpen starts this year.

ANGELS..The GM sounds beaten down, and it’s just the first week of May.  All the one year rentals the Halos brought it, are failing.  The kids have injuries.  The pitching staff is faltering.  You hate to think this could be worse than last year’s 99-loss mess.  Might be.

LAKERS..Someone tell me how you improve this deficient roster when all you have to trade is a 2031-#1 pick,Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht?  GM-Rob Pelinka keeps making trades to make up for the last trade he made that didn’t work out.  And there’s lots of that going around.

CLIPPERS…Owner Steve Ballmer has seen the franchise rebuild twice with big names, first the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin run, then the haul that brought in Kawhi Leonard-Paul George.  Neither got them to the NBA finals.  Now they face reality that James Harden is (36Y) and due (36M) after disappearing in this most disappointing playoff series.  Kawhi Leonard is (33Y) and owed (100M), and may not be a full season player with all these knee surgeries.  They may have to clear the decks and retool the roster again, because what they have is old, high priced, and unable to do it in postseason.

KINGS..You win you get accolades.  You lose-you get fired.  Really disappointed the Kings fired GM-Rob Blake, who fixed the franchises salary cap issues, aged roster, drafted well and traded up for talent.  A great season, off-set by another first round loss to the Edmonton Oilers.  Blake’s tenure showed a (309-228-71) record, but it also showed five 1st round eliminations in the playoffs.  Awful finishes to winning seasons virtually every spring.  Still employed is coach Jim Hillier, whom I blame more than others.  Cruel fate for Blake.  Unfair.  And shocking that his longtime teammate, now Team President Luc Robitaille, pulled the trigger.  Looks like betrayal to me.

AZTECS…I don’t know what is worse, the player turnover in the year plus of Coach Sean Lewis, or the collapse of fan support from the so-called Aztecs 4 Life.  Season tickets have gone from (15,900) to (5,900) in just two years at Snapdragon Stadium.  What a nightmare.  Fans-friends-students-alums.  It is like no one cares.

USD..A day late, a dollar short, but maybe their alums will catch up with the rest of the world with the new SanDiegoNIL.com approach to fund raising, coupled with the opening of new basketball workout facilities.  Brandon Moore did a good job in year two at USD in football.  Steve Lavin is coming off a (6-27) record, needs players, and needs an NIL-bank account to compete.  Just because Gonzaga is leaving the conference means nothing, when you cannot compete for players.  Maybe the USD alums will help this program, for this fund raising drive looks like a ‘life and death situation’ for Toreros athletics.

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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast-1:30pm

You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton

Hot Topics on Table-Stay for Fans Forum

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“GAME 7-ABSOLUTELY NAILS”

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Playoffs-don’t you just love it?

Time out from the Padres, as they go to Yankees Stadium.

Time out from talking Dodgers Dollars-Evil Empire stuff.

Take a break from Bill Belichick or Shedeur Sanders.

Halt the conversation about the Lakers-Kings demise in postseason.

All the conversation is about what happened in Game 7s on Sunday.

Golden State, fighting thru age and injury, used their experience to win Game 7-in Houston to move on in the NBA.

The Winnipeg Jets got up off the ice to score 2-goals in the final 2-minutes of the game to tie, and went to overtime to end the red-hot St Louis Blues bid to go on in the playoffs in a win or go home 7th game.

It was electric to see the Warriors beat down the young Rockets team and shutup their fans in Houston.  Bombs away, Buddy Hield and Steph Curry combined for (52P).  Golden State buried 19-3 point shots on the night.  They manned up and held the Rockets to 40%-shooting, to move on.  The old grizzled guys beat the young lions from Texas.

In hockey, Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck, pulled from the nets in 3-games in the series giving up a ton of goals, stood tough.  His Jets, with an extra skater on after going open net, potted two goals in the final 2-minutes of regulation, turning a likely home ice loss, into an overtime game.  And then the Jets got the game winner in the 2nd overtime, setting off a tidal wave of emotion in the Arena and on Jets square outside in Winnipeg.

They’ve got 24-hours to enjoy these wins, then it is back at it come Tuesday for the 2nd round.

It was the NBA-NHL at its best on Sunday.  Game 7s-just awesome.

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” MY BASEBALL NOTEBOOK”
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PADRES…Into the month of May we go, after a pretty good April.  If the Padres are to consider themselves a true team in a pennant race with the Dodgers, then it has to start this weekend.  The Friars play 15-games in the next month against the weak teams in the National league, the Pirates, Rockies, Marlins-Angels.   By June 1st, they need to be atop the standings or close to it.

DODGERS..Hard to believe they are wafer-thin in the pitching ranks, but look at the situation.  Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are now both on the 60-day DL.  Three of their top young pitchers have been up and sent back after bad outings and are still in the PCL.  Clayton Kershaw isst ill a month away from returning.  And Shohei Ohtani is being brought along at a slow pace.  They are not very deep right now in the rotation and still without Michael Kopech-Blake Treinen, still on the DL too.  And the Dodgers are headed out on a 10-game road haul too.

ANGELS..It’s a mess in Anaheim.  They have lost 8-of-9.  They have a team BA (.211).  An ERA of (4.78) from the pitching staff.  The bulk of the free agents they brought in are not doing much.  And Mike Trout is out of the lineup with a knee ailment, and he was hitting (.170) at this point.  An awful start to the season.
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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast-1-30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on the Table-Stay for Fans Forum
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“REAL LAKERS SHOW UP”
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What we saw Wednesday night was what we expected from the LA Lakers.

A shadow of a once famous organization, scuffling along year to year, to be a playoff team, or a play-in team, or survive the first round of the playoffs.

The Lakers-Minnesota Timberwolves game was a tug of war, a foul fest, that featured a ton of free throws, missed 3-point shots, hard fouls and banged up bodies.

In the end, Minnesota survived to win, despite horrible shot selections, tons of fould problems, only because the Lakers just seem inferior in so many areas.

Luka Doncic somehow came back after back spasms just before halftime and gritted his way thru the possessions.

LeBron James banged a knee and seemed out of sync late in the game.

The Lakers were destroyed in the paint and around the basket by Rudy Gobert.

It was a miserable night for Anthony Edwards.  A worse 3-point shooting night for Minnesota, and yet they had a 14-point lead, gave it up, and then got it back late.

Lakers coach JJ Redick played just 5-players in the 4th game’s fourth quarter.  In this game he benched center Jaxson Hayes for the entire game, playing Maxie Kleber, who had been out 42-games with injuries. There was no Dalton Knect sighting either.

It was a messy, ugly game, but the Lakers played with such enormous heart, it’s hard to root against them.

It is easy to root against Minnesota, which empties a satchel of fouls on the floor all night long.  And as great a talent as Edwards is, it’s really hard to root for such a ‘potty mouth’ of a person with a history of NBA fines.

So the two teams staggered to the final minutes, with fatigue, and fouled out players everywhere.

Minnesota was (6-30) on 3’s in the first half, and went (0-18) on points from the arc thru much of the second half.

Gobert made up for all the mess, with his (27P-24R) night, a career night who has plenty of nights he looks like a big stiff in the pros.

For the Lakers, a bench they could not trust, two superstars who got banged up, and Austin Reaves who was (1-9) shooting till late in the second half.

Rui Hachimura saved them and put them in a spot to rally the team, finishing with (23) in a losing effort but there was not alot of support.

At the end of the night, Minnesota had 56-rebounds, and 54-points in the paint.  And at the end of the night, the Lakers lost because they had no one to play in the paint, virtually no defense anywhere.

Typical of Lakers basketball these years.  Gruesome stats, the Lakers now (1-18) in games when they are down (3-1) in playoff series.

Wait till next year.   Yes, that is what Lakers basketball has become, because most of these years, they no longer resemble what they used to be, a dominant team most years in the NBA.

What I expected to happen, did happen.  Lakers lose.  We await the excuses.  And know no one ever is held accountable for another lost season.  It’s Lakers basketball as we have come to know, and what alot of fans now seem to accept.
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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…1-30pm

You Tube Channel-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton

Hot Topics on Table-Stay for Fans Forum

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“NFL DRAFT REPORT CARD”
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The NFL Draft is complete..the big haul on defense, the skill guys and the controversial QB decision.  My letter grades for each team in the NFL.

ARIZONA..Have spent heavily on offense in recent years, time to fix the defense, and they did, first in free agency, and then via the draft, with DT-Walter Nolen and CB-Will Johnson, though the knee issues for the Michigan DB bear watching..Changed the personality of the defense.  Grade “B”

ATLANTA..Went heavy defense with Jalon Walker-James Pearce, and they needed that.  Still to be resolved, the Kirk Cousins contract issue.  Grade “B”

BALTIMORE..Trust in them yearly to hit on players-they always do, and did with Malachi Starks-Mike Green on defense.  Grade “A”

BUFFALO..Add to aging defense by getting CB-Max Hariston and DJ Sanders for front.  Solid.  Grade “B”

CAROLINA..Thought they needed lots of help on defense but choice of WR-Teta McMillan seemed awful high, but they want to add around Bryce Young.  Did get edge rushers later.  Grade “C”

CHICAGO..Keep adding to the offensive stockpile for new Coach Ben Johnson..so TE-Colston Loveland and then WR-Luther Burden arrive, after they fixed OL problems.  Grade “A”

CINCINNATI..Boom or bust pass rusher Shemar Stewart.  Still unresolved the  Tre Hendrickson contract issue.  Grade “C”

CLEVELAND..You may not like the owner, but you should like this draft haul..DT-Mason Graham..the LB-Schwesinger..RB-Judkins..even if the pick of Shedeur Sanders seemed like a strange choice, and Dillon Gabriel a reach.  Grade “A”

DALLAS..They filled needs, lots of needs.  Jerry Jones’ draft teams do pretty well this time of the year, so OG-Tye Booker, DE-Don Ezeiruaku, CB-Shannon Revel and RB-Jayden Blue are solid picks.  Grade “A”

DENVER..Big time acquisition CB-Jahdae Barron and a unique RB-RJ Harvey..Grade “B”

DETROIT..Trust the process, so the picks of DT-Ty Williams and OG-Tate Ratledge are good gets…Grade “B”

GREEN BAY..Ton of speed and size with WR-Matt Golden and a big OG.  Grade “B”

HOUSTON..Dealt out of first round, did stockpile picks, led by WR-Jayden Higgins.  Thought they should have gotten OL help early.  Grade “C”

INDIANAPOLIS…They got players in TE-Ty Warren and LB-JT Tuimoloau-who will play now..Grade “B”

JACKSONVILLE..Bold approach by New GM..Travis Hunter as a WR first and a DB-second, plus LB-Jack Kaiser…Grade “A”

KANSAS CITY..Josh Simmons has great upside-getting him healthy will be first item, plus 2-defensive lineman.  Brett Veech has great history.  Grade “A”

LAS VEGAS..Got players for lots of positions.  Everything changes thanks to arrival of Ashton Jeanty, Jack Bech and CB-Darius Porter. with Pete Carroll..Grade “A”

LA RAMS..Terrance Ferguson-TE catches balls.  LB-Josiah Stewart adds to speed on defense.  Big issue-getting additional #1 next year to go search a QB..Grade “A”

LA CHARGERS..Do everything RB-Omarion Hampton..speed WR-Tre Harris and massive DT-Jarmaree Caldwell all fill big needs..Grade “A”

MIAMI..Needed help on defense, got DT-Kenneth Grant-Jordan Phillips..Grade “B”

MINNESOTA..A really good two position player.. in OL-Donovan Jackson and some defensive depth…Grade “B”

NEW ENGLAND…What an off season, all the free agent deals, then a draft that netted them Will Campbell-OT..RB-Tre Henderson..WR-Kyle Williams..Will be a very different team under Mike Vrabel..Grade “A”

NEW ORLEANS…A key  OT-Kelvin Banks then QB-Tyler Shough..solid way to fill needs..Have to resolved the Derek Carr controversy…Grade “B”

NY GIANTS..Maybe the misery if almost over at the Meadowlands, with DE-Abdul Carter..QB-Jaxson Dart..DT-Darin Alexander and then RB-Cam Skattebo coming in..Grade “A”

NY JETS..Got help with OT-Armand Membou and CB-Aza Thomas coupled with fill in free agents, so Coach Aaron Glenn will have lots new faces to teach..Grade “B”

PHILADELPHIA…Third straight year of defensive hauls in the draft, led by LB-Jihad Campbell…that is what the Eagles do..Grade “B”

PITTSBURGH…If it’s a Tomlin team-it’s a defensive choice, so they go get DT-Derrick Harmon plus RB-Kaleb Johnson and the late choice of QB-Will Howard..Very typical Steelers selections..Maybe the arrival of Aaron Rodgers changes everything….Grade “B”

SAN FRANCISCO..A very different roster next year in this roster-salary cap overhaul..DE-Mykell Williams and DT-Alf Collins are force type guys…Grade “B”

SEATTLE..It is rebuild time and they got talent in OG-Gray Zabel and S-Nick Emmanvori, plus later choices QB-Jalen Milroe-RB-Damien Martinez..How good will Sam Darnold be?…Grade “A”

TAMPA BAY..Needed help at skill position, so they take Emeka Egbuka-WR to play with Mike Evans and the TEs and then CB-Ben Morrison..Grade “B”

TENNESSEE..QB-Cam Ward and two key defensive picks…hope he is the answer..Grade “B”.

WASHINGTON..Filled needs with trades and drafted OT-Josh Connerly and S-Trey Amos…They keep building this with new GM-Adam Peters..Grade “B”
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