==========

Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

===========
it was something to see, here and there.

Here at Torrey Pines on the PGA Tour and there in Melbourne at the Australian Open.

In golf, all attention was on Brooks Koepka, coming back from LIV golf to the PGA Tour.  He was well received by the opening day crowd, and no doubt he felt enormous pressure about how he would be welcomed back.  The fans were warm, understanding and rooted for him.

But he did not play well on a very tough front nine and wound up 1-over par, and 11-strokes back of the leaders.

The real story was the vested veteran from England, a popular career star, Justin Rose.  He torched the course on a beautiful day, shooting a torrid 62, nailing 10-birdies, and ripping off 5-birds in a 7-hole span to go to the top of the leaderboard as a late starter.  He tees off early in cold weather on Friday.

It was a tough day for all the other marquee names.  Xander Schaufelle was never on top of his game, finishing 1-up like Koepka.  JJ Spaun coming off a great season for a career journeyman, went 3-over.  And the Scandinavian Ludwig Aberg was last at plus 6.

The opening day did not go like we expected it to.

Meanwhile down-under the Men’s semi finals of the Aussie Open was gripping, on and off the tennis court.

Carlos Alcaraz and Alex Zverev fought a war of attrition in the first semi-final.

Torrid heat, cramping, power serves, problems with the rackets, double faults, medical treatments and back and forth tennis.

Alcaraz was up 2-sets when the heat got to him.  Struggling into the 3rd and 4th sets.

Zverev was out of sorts early in the match, frustrated by a wild serve, fought back, but then just unable to put Alcarez away when the young phenom looked as if he was playing on one leg.

The second match did not start till 3:30am US time, the Novak Djokovic-Jannik Sinner war.

It was preceded by a War of Words with the media by Djokovic, furious at the tone of questioning about lining up to play the Italian, as if the tourney was over.

Djokovic lectured the media about respect…’my 24-Grand Slams don’t mean anything he yelled, and then reminded the global media, this is not decided till the final point is played.  Shame on your’.

It was a continuation of years of battles Djokovic carried with him like a badge of honor.  His fight over Covid shots, his lectures about political global issues, the criticism of those who wrote about him being ‘last of the old guard’ with the retirement of Roger Federer, as if his career was over.

Pretty amazing, the big chip he carries on his shoulder as he hits 119 mile an hour serves at his age.

And for Sinner, a break to play the Men’s semi final at night, for he dragged his legs thru a quarterfinal match in 104-degree heat leading to them closing the roof.  That was a sight to see too.

So the drama is far from over and it will take us to the Men’s finals on Sunday.

Quite a day, here-there in golf and tennis.
=============

========

Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…1:30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on Table..Stay for Fans Forum
========
“HALL OF FAME-VS-THE HOODIE”
========

What a difference a year makes, how Bill Belichick was viewed last year and how people are talking about him this week.

Belichick, the legendary Super Bowl coach, the 6X-Super Bowl winner with the Patriots.  The coach who built an empire and developed Tom Brady.

Then the coach who failed to win once Brady left, feuded with owner Bob Kraft, and left behind a mess when they changed coaches.

Belichick, condescending forever in relationships with the media, an ogre of a person, and apparently pretty and petty vindictive

Belichick, who became the butt of jokes for his entire first year at North Carolina, after saying he would make the Tar Heels the NFLs 33rd team, and then had them play like an expansion team going (4-8).

And then the jokes the entire last year, Hoodie and Hot Pants, the aging coach with a 24-year old girlfriend bringing the spotlight to Chapel Hill, then disdain, then year long jokes up and down the ACC road map.

Many things to many people.

And now this, the snub from the voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, not electing him the first time on the ballot, despite the 6-New England rings, the 333-career wins, the 17-AFC East division titles.

But this may also cover things not on a stat sheet…Spygate..Deflategate and the aura of the person, not just the coach.

And voila, with the snap of the fingers came the reaction.  You never knew this coach, that personality, his style, was liked by so many people, or maybe respected by so many people for his football acumen.

A cross section of the response in a 24-hour period, the reaction to the fact Belichick did not get the 40-of-50 votes (80%) he needed to get enshrinement.  Social media melted down with the most influential of people raging:

..Robert Kraft..Bill belongs
..Tom Brady..Ridiculous..No coach should be 1st time vote-if not him
..JJ Watt..Irresponsible
..Patrick Mahomes..Insane
..Jimmie Johnson..Who are assholes that voted no
..Bill Cowher…He was standard of excellence
..Bill Polian..I voted for him..some wanted a year’s penalty
..Kurt Warner..Most accomplished coach ever

So the debate will go on till next week’s announcement of who got in and by what total.  And now we can assess the story this way;, alot of people respected Belichick (professionally) even if alot of people disliked him (personally).

An essay from Front Office Sports: titled ‘Snub & Scrutiny”
=========

Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame member after not receiving enough votes earlier this month, according to ESPN.

The 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will be unveiled Feb. 5 at the NFL Honors. But Belichick was notified Friday that he won’t be inducted this year, per ESPN.

Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots, was one of five finalists in the coach, contributor, and seniors categories, alongside New England owner Robert Kraft and former players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood.

This was the first year of eligibility for Belichick, who last coached the Patriots during the 2023 season. He is now the coach of the North Carolina football team. A set of rule changes made in 2024 shortened the waiting period for coaches from five seasons to just one and moved their selection into the same grouping as senior players and contributors.

The 50 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection committee were allowed to vote for up to three of this year’s five finalists, and 80% approval was required for election. That means at least 11 voters did not vote for Belichick.

That vote was separate from the 15 modern-era player finalists, of which voters were allowed to vote for 5.

The HOF selection committee is made up of one media representative from each pro football city, with two each from Los Angeles and New York. A 33rd member is a representative of the Pro Football Writers of America, and there are up to 17 at-large delegates. The at-large members are a mixture of other media members and former NFL coaches and executives.

With the exception of the PFWA representative, who is appointed for a two-year term, all appointments are reviewed annually and approved by the HOF’s board of directors.

Belichick, who also won two Super Bowls as the defensive coordinator of the Giants, was widely believed to be locked in as a first-ballot HOFer.

As of Wednesday morning, 22 voters had confirmed to journalist Ollie Connolly that they had indeed voted for Belichick.

ESPN reported that former Colts GM Bill Polian, a HOF voter, told other voters that Belichick should have to wait a year to be selected as punishment for Spygate and Deflategate, which Polian later denied to ESPN. However, when asked whether he voted for Belichick, Polian said he was 95% sure he did.

===============

Like all those Belichick years, we now have new discussions, headlined  about the Hoodie-vs-Hall of Fame.

=======

“LIGHTNING BOLT HITS THE BOLTS”
=======
Chargers fans were excited two years ago when the franchise hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach, coming off his Championship season at Michigan.

They already had a budding star at QB-in Justin Herbert.

What followed for the Powder Blue and Gold were back to back 11-win seasons, but playoff disappointments each January.

Now Bolts fans should be excited with this ‘Jolt’ to the offensive playbook, the hiring of Mike McDaniel, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, now the Chargers new Offensive Coordinator, for however long he stays here.

You may argue how do you hire a just fired head coach, who failed to make the playoffs two years in a row?  You may ask how how does Harbaugh’s philsophy of ‘Power ball-Tough guy’ football fit in with this ‘Throw caution to the wind’ new coordinator?

McDaniel’s nameplate will read ‘Head Coach-Offense’…he becomes ‘Mr Fix It’

Harbaugh won’t say it-I will.  He and his last go to guy, Greg Roman, nearly destroyed Justin Herbert.   What they ran led to 105-QB sacks, the worst protection marks in modern day NFL football, and a wrath of injuries that left the QB-hobbled.

Mc Daniel brings a rock star reputation for Xs-Os-formations-Red Zone antics, that put up monster numbers in Miami for two years, till Tua Tagovailoa got hurt, hit, hurt, hit, operated on, benched.

That coach-that QB combined for (4600Y) passing one year…(3600) the next and a ton of TDs before it ended with concussions-hip-shoulder injuries, a benching and a firing.

Mc Daniel inherits a firebrand QB, skill people, tight ends and a couple of tough guy running backs.  Still to come, upgrades in the OL and the return to health of his bookend tackles (Slater-Alt).

One thing for certain, the incoming coach won the Press Conference on Tuesday.  Known as the ‘Yale Nerd’ he sure had tons of quotes that equal his very thick offensive playbook.  Was better than Harbaugh’s tent revival speeches-quoting Churchill-Ike-Chaucer or Tennyson.

Among those things coming out of McDaniel’s mouth:

..Fired up…Geeked up..High Spirited guy
..I am selfish-want to be a better coach
..Justin Herbert has a hunger..not near his ceiling..aspires to be great..driven
..Will adopt my skillset to his talents
..Will run a no hostage offense..will be relentless
..Motion packages make defenses overplay
..This offense is about angles..windows..quick throws
..We want a trophy today
..Harbaugh & I are one and same-except he’s a bit taller
..Miami experience ended because of injuries at QB-it is part of game

Unique language from an Ivy Leaguer.

So the Chargers fired the first off season shot across the AFC-West…as the Broncos licked their wounds with the bad news on Bo Nix…the Chiefs try to retool their offense with a new Coordinator. and offensive staff..and the Raiders still search for a head coach in wake of 2-decades of incompetence leadership.

A lightning bolt of a hire for the Bolts-a jolt to this offense  and quarterback, that needed it.
=================

=========

Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Look-Listen-Share-Subscribe

===========
“PADRES QUESTIONS”
===========

Spring Training is just around the corner, and there are unanswered questions everywhere around Petco Park this hour.

Questions pertaining to the budget, this year’s payroll, the status of the GM, the need for more trustworthy starting pitching, and the Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove situations.

Questions here-with my answers:

THE PADRES PAYROLL…Ownership has said it would be at last year’s level and it is close to being at that level, which means the franchise has at least an 8M-tax bill due this year before the first pitch is ever thrown.  And that’s without filling some spots on the roster they still need to fill.  How do you create budget space?  Trade a veteran, but then you create another hole in your lineup if you move salary.

AJ-THE-GM…They keep saying they will get a deal done for an extension.  That talk started in October and we are on the brink of February.  Maybe they have decided he serves out this final year and see what kind of season they have?  Maybe they let the new owners decide whom they want to run the franchise?  If he does not get a deal done, then to me it is a Vote of No Confidence to all the things Prellar has done to make the Padres relevant in what has become a hot baseball market.

BASEBALL LOCKOUT…The big topic of conversation in every part of the baseball map.  It is complicated with the loss ot TV revenue in more than half of the markets by the collapse of regional sports networks.  Owners may want a salary cap.  They won’t get it.  But what I want is a floor to spending, which allows each team to get better talent on the roster.  Just think if the floor was (140M) this year, more money to go to veteran free agents, that make alot of mid market teams better.  If they are all in wildcard pennant races next summer that helps the overall health of all franchises.  The floor works in the NFL-NBA-NHL.

THE UNION…It has to be collectively bargained.  Everyone is making money right now, but Tony Clark must realize he represents not just Juan Soto or Kyle Tucker, but the 25th man on every roster in baseball.  That’s why the tax and the floor have to be part of growth in a ‘Partnership’ not a ‘Dictatorship’.

YU DARVISH…An emotionally touching decision coming.  Great career-two countries-but the reality this is maybe the end of the road of that career.  The (3Y-43M) remaining on the deal cannot remain on the books.  Simple solution, restructure down the deal.  Pay him a smaller amount this year as a consultant.  If he returns to play in 2027, give him the rest of his 2026 salary.  Take the other two years owed and make it deferred based on what he can contribute on the mound, if he ever gets back on the mound.  The Padres let him keep his entire salary in 2024-when he had health issues and was away with a family crisis.  He is an honorable man, a 1st class person.  Find a common ground despite the Union wanting to put its nose into protecting the full value of his deal.

JOE MUSGROVE..Heart is willing, mind is ready, but will he be the pitcher next year, he used to be years gone by.  He has done everything he can do in rehab.  Some pitchers bounce back quickly.  Some take longer than a year.  Sometimes it is two years out.  Some don’t ever return to form.  Only time tells on this.

MICHAEL KING..A fluke year of injuries, but from all indications he is back at 100% to be the number two behind Nick Pivetta.

THE ROTATION..Where are the rest of the starters going to come from?  Trust Preller that they have stockpiled arms they believe in, whether that is from within the system (Brad Rodriguez) , return from injury (Brian Hoeing), or last year’s find (Randy Vasquez) or from somewhere else  (Tristan McKenzie-Daison Acosta).  Of course Preller has a history of last minute-early season-deadline deals too, so an acquisition can come anytime from any part of the world.

MISSING PIECES..Goodbye to Dylan Cease, a fiercely combative pitcher; Robert Suarez, what a find from Japan; Luis Arraez-popular, overpaid, but limited.  Wish there was something they could have gotten in return, but not possible.  And with ownership ‘capping’ Preller’s budget, no way to keep them.

TRADE CHIPS…If you wanted to move do-everything veteran Jake Cronenworth-you create another hole on the roster.  Oh you could shop the long awaited arrival of Luis Campusano, but probably everyone knows where the holes are in his game, with glove and bat.

FARM SYSTEM…What’s left to trade, Ethan Salas or the youngest wave of Class A-pitchers?  The GM has cleaned out the system 4X in 11-years  and the Padres have not gotten to the World Series, and that was the premise of all this.  Is it worth trying again?

SUMMARY…Fans will be excited with the words ‘Pitchers & Catchers Report’ but they need to evaluate the components of the roster, the shortcomings, the money issues, and the longterm leadership considering what the owners have yet to do with the GM.  Padres baseball, not so much known, with alot of unknowns.

=======================

=======

Hacksaw’s Monday-Bonus Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on Table-Stay for Fans Forum
=======
“SUPER SUNDAY ON ROAD TO SUPER BOWL”
=======
What a Sunday in the AFC-NFC Championship games:

PATRIOTS-BRONCOS…What a wild day in the wild elements…Drake Maye does what he has done in each of his playoff games this winter-survive early-stabilize the offense-make plays…He did all that and he beat the weatherman in the ‘whiteout conditions’…The longer it went the harder it got for journeyman QB-Jarrett Stidman…The weather did him in and eventually the Pats defense caught up to him too..What a chess game it was in the first half before the weather got bad…Denver and Sean Payton dominated with motion offenses, QB rollouts, and a few big plays…But then Mike Vrabel changed everything going late in the second quarter-dialing up blitz packages that disrupted the flow of that Denver offense..And then the big plays showed up, most all made by the Pats defense…The fumble recovery…the late interception in the snow…the 4th down stop…the 3-sacks-13-pressures from that angry mob defense..and then the win.  Great season in Denver for Payton…Greater bounceback season in New England with Vrabel going from worst to first…Snowman celebration for the Patriots.

RAMS-SEAHAWKS..What a night in the Pacific Northwest in a football mad city…What a resurrection of a career for QB-Sam Darnold…What a disappointment for all the great things Matthew Stafford has brought to LA..and a heartbreak for the leadership of Sean McVay…It was ‘Chunk Play City’ all night…QBs with guns ablaze series by series…The two teams combined for 50-first downs…a combined (875Y) on offense…The Seahawks QB threw for (346)…the Rams star threw for (374)..and the WRs were dazzling, Puka Nacua (9R-165)..Jaxson Smith-Njiba (10R-153)…The defenses died with their boots on-nothing to do to stop the all out rocket assault…So it sets up the showdown in 2-Sunday in Santa Clara in the Super Bowl…The Seattle turnaround equal to what happened in Foxboro.

==============