Change Is Good, Being Willing To Adapt , Not Necessarily So …
There’s a growing suspicion within the NFL teams , that within the league this season have failed because of a wide variety of reasons . From my own perspective , it usually comes down the same things , injuries and the unwillingness of some coaches adapting to change and the changes which come with the game . In the end it tends to cost someone their job. Clearly, that was the case with the dismissal of Ron Rivera as the Head Coach of the Carolina Panthers . Several games this season were lost by a few meager points while their injury woes continued . The team has been without their starting quarterback of the past few seasons, Cam Newton. In his place, Kyle Allen has stepped up to the plate and played admirably in spells , but at the end of the day , when the team fails , someone had to be blamed and in this case the blame was placed on the shoulders of Ron Rivera . Panthers’ GM Marty Hurney and the team’s billionaire owner David A Tepper will undoubtedly have Norv Turner takeover as the Head Coach for the remainder of the Carolina Panthers’ regular season schedule .
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In week thirteen the Carolina Panthers will be in action against the Atlanta Falcons in a divisional match-up of two failing NFC conference teams. This game will take place on Sunday afternoon.
Ron Rivera might not be the only Head Coach to lose their job by season’s end and the clock is now ticking as to the fate of Dallas Cowboys’ Head Coach , Jason Garrett . If Garrett cannot lead this team to at least the NFC Championship Game , then in all likelihood Jerry Jones will call for his dismissal . Garrett and his game-time decision making has been an absolute nightmare for the Cowboys this season. Other than Dak Prescott , Ezekiel Elliott and a somewhat slower version of Jason Witten , this roster is simply not good enough to play consistent football at the highest levels expected. The NFC East division in which the Cowboys plays, remains the laughing stock of the NFL. A loss this weekend when the Dallas Cowboys are set to face the Chicago Bears , could set the tone for the calling of the head of Jason Garrett.
With the off-season of Major League Baseball now not quite in full swing , the teams are now lining up to ink the names of the marquee free agents now on the market, signing them to new big-time deals . Zack Wheeler was let go by the New York Mets , as the starting pitcher joined the Philadelphia Phillies , whose 2019 season was one of sheer woes all along the way. It will be interesting to see what Wheeler can provide for the Phillies this upcoming season. Seasoned veteran pitcher Cole Hamels is now off to pastures new , having joined the Atlanta Braves after his spell with the Chicago Cubs . Atlanta having won the NL East this past season and advancing the MLB Postseason , where they fell to the St Louis Cardinals in the NLDS , brought about an abrupt end to their postseason foray . This will be the season where the Atlanta Braves are to be judged by the team assembled under the managerial staff of Brian Snitker .
It has been over a decade since the New York Yankees last won the World Series and with the likely induction of Derek Jeter as the latest Yankee into the Hall of Fame in 2020. You would have to believe that the front office and owners would like to see this team succeed once again. . With a team payroll just shy of $200 million , principal owner Hal Steinbrenner is looking to keep that figure below MLB’s luxury tax threshold . . Aaron Boone as the team manager has yet to make any major personnel decisions adding to the player-roster to date . Their Spring Training Schedule will likely provide the managerial staff time to assess some players who will be invitees and those newly acquired.
The failure of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the MLB Postseason signifies that you can’t continue to over spend and then have nothing to show for it by way of anything tangible. . It will be interesting to see if the Dodgers enter what could turn out to be a wild free agency market of available players. . With Gerrit Cole being among the biggest of the free agents still available , the Dodgers could make a play for the AL starting pitcher who still remains an interesting option for his current team the Houston Astros . It has been over three decades since the Dodgers won the World Series and their postseason sojourns since then have been abysmal . . This year will tell us a great deal about this team it’s mindset as well as that of the managerial staff .
Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony who’s return to the NBA , saw him joining the Portland Trailblazers , where he has been one of the major highlights of the team’s season to date . Over his last six games Anthony is proving that his sea-legs still have a long way to go. As a member of the 2003 NBA Draft Class , considered to be one of the best over the past two decades. It’s still hard to imagine that this player has never won an NBA title . It will be interesting to see how the Trailblazers fare through the month of December and over the rest of their regular season schedule. Their next two games , will see the Blazers in action against the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma Thunder in two consecutive home games at the Moda Center in Portland Oregon.
As the season enters it’s Christmas Schedule , the teams vying for the best records will undoubtedly be looking to prove a point. . There will be five games being played, highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Los Angeles Clippers , as two of the league’s best players face off against each other with LeBron James of the Lakers facing Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers.
Well , so much for the New York Knicks and their season to date , with the team among the worst in the league and their record being so bad . It is hard to find a compliment that befits the Knicks , other than to suggest they have some real issues. There is nothing to suggest the Knicks can win their division much less compete within the Eastern Conference. Up next for the Knicks will be a game against the Indiana Pacers at their home court of Madison Square Gardens , New York City , New York.. The team’s Head Coach David Fizdale has struggled to get the best out of his players while the front office is clearly already bereft of ideas. There are rumors now amidst that Fizdale will be fired after the Knicks’ dreadful start . His replacement is likely to someone currently on the coaching staff or Knicks’ President Steve Mills may well seek to hire a former coach, who’s now currently on the staff of another NBA team .
It was meant to be a rematch, with the fans there in attendance for the Heavyweight Title bout between Anthony Joshua and champion Andy Ruiz was meant to be something competitive , Instead , the defending champion , Ruiz put up a poor display , losing the title he won convincingly in their first fight . With Joshua reclaiming the belts , he can now look forward to a possible about against the winner of the upcoming bout between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder . If the anticipation is what it is , then the potential unification bout between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder could be the biggest fight in recent boxing Heavyweight history. I fully expect Wilder to get the better of Tyson Fury in their rematch which is scheduled for the 22nd February , 2020 , though the venue has yet to be set. . In all likelihood the venue could very well be the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vega, Nevada,.
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Tophatal …. 12/06/2019
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Tophatal's Blog 
So the NBA provided the fans with several entertaining games over the course of the weekend.
Over the course of this week there will be several games that will be of interest to the fans in attendance as well as the television viewing public . Monday , 13th January and there will be seven games schedule on the night and I expect there to be some really entertaining match-ups . One of the best games of the evening will see the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers lock horns in a game between two of the Eastern Conference’s best teams at this point of the season .
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In what can be only seen as a clear shot across the bow’s of the teams within Major League Baseball the league hierarchy led Commissioner Rob Manfred handed down a harsh penalty for Houston Astros’ general manager Jeff Luhnow and the team’s manager AJ Hinch after they were found complicit in a cheating scandal related stealing signs of the opposing teams. This all hails back to the 2017 regular season. Now comes word that team owner Jim Crane has since fired his front office executive as well as the manager. The league hierarchy handed down a swift and hefty penalty upon the team as well as the two individuals concerned , In stark contrast it shows that baseball will not condone the conduct of managers or executives who seek to bring the game into disrepute.
Jim Crane is likely to promote from within with regard to a new general manger with former Astros’ player Craig Biggio considered to be the favorite to assume the role once held by Jeff Luhnow. In the case of the replacement for AJ Hinch , there is a possibility that Crane could seek to outside that of the current managerial staff , but then again he might also seek to promote one of the assistants on the current staff , with their being strict guidelines being put in place.
When the Houston Astros begin their regular season schedule , it should prove to be an interesting season for the team .
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A new national champion has been crowned at the FBS Level within College Football as last night as the LSU Tigers completely annihilated the Clemson Tigers in the headlining game of the College Football Postseason . Led by their Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow , LSU wasted no time in taking command of this match-up against the Dabo Swinney coached team from Clemson , as they suffered what could be termed something of a beat-down.
For Joe Burrow he can now sashay that victory and be seen as the consensus number one overall pick for the 2020 NFL Draft . With that pick likely to be taken by Cincinnati Bengals , it could all be seen as the precursor of seeing the last time for incumbent starting quarterback Andy Dalton to be seen in a Bengals’ uniform .
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It has been interesting to see the performances of the NBA teams over their last ten games and that of the players . There are a number of games which should pique the interest of the fans on Tuesday evening . Perhaps the most intriguing is the match-up between the Golden State Warriors , with their lowly record as they face the Dallas Mavericks . With the trade deadline fast approaching , February 6th , it will be interesting to see what might transpire as the teams seek to bolster their various rosters.
James Harden and the Houston Rockets will be seeking to inch closer to thirty wins at this point of the season and be considered one of the top teams in the league. In their next game the Rockets will face the Memphis Grizzlies on the road in a game between conference rivals .
I have to say that I have been thoroughly impressed with the play of the Miami Heat and the leadership shown by their guard Jimmy Butler , with Butler playing some of the best basketball of his career at this point of the season. Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra has been impressive in his role alongside his assistants . The Heat players have acquitted themselves well as and when it counts . In their next game the Miami Heat will be facing the San Antonio Spurs at home .
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In the aftermath of the firing of Jeff Luhnow and AJ Hinch from within the Houston Astros’ organization , the world of Major League Baseball now has some important issues to address with regard to the image of the game , the behavior of the managers and front office executives .
Away from the Astros’ tailspin , there are mounting rumors that the St Louis Cardinals are showing interest in acquiring a front-line marquee player to bolster the team’s roster overall. One player being mentioned in those circles is the name of Nolan Arenado , one of the top Major League third basemen in all of baseball . If Arenado were to join this already very good Cardinals’ roster he would supply them with a player who’s proficient in all areas of the game . The St Louis Cardinals will begin their regular season schedule with a game against the Cincinnati Reds on the road . Their home games will begin with a contest against the Baltimore Orioles on the 2nd April , 2020 .
If all goes well for the Cardinals this upcoming season , I believe that they can contend for th NL Central divisional title and most certainly make another postseason appearance. It has been nine years since the Cardinals won the last of their eleven World Series’ titles , with only the New York Yankees ahead of them in that tally count (27).
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There has been further fallout from the Houston Astros’ scandal after the firing of both Jeff Luhnow , former general manager within the organization and former manager AJ Hinch . It is being widely reported that the front office of the Boston Red Sox have decided to part ways with Alex Cora the team’s manager who led the Red Sox to their most recent title win of the World Series in 2018 . Cora was an assistant with the Astros in 2017 at the time of the ball-club being implicated in the cheating scandal , wherein there stealing signs of the opponents faced during the season .
It was clear that the actions taken by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred were warranted and that there might well be further implications for Alex Cora himself , but with his firing , it’s not quite conclusive to suggest that his being fired will be satisfactory for the league hierarchy of Major League Baseball .
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The Conference Championship games for the NFL Postseason are know known with regard to the four participants .
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will be leading his team into battle as they face the Tennessee Titans in what is sure to be a highly competitive game. In the other conference title game the San Francisco 49ers will square off against the Green Bay Packers in another contest that is likely to be entertaining as well as competitive.
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So the NBA season is beginning to pace with the players themselves showing their competitiveness . There are several games on the Wednesday schedule that will be of interest to the fans . With ten contests on the evening it will be interesting to see what transpires from these match-ups .
One game that should prove to be intriguing will pit the Detroit Pistons against the Boston Celtics . Also on court the Portland Trailblazers will take the hardwood to face the Houston Rockets . The Los Angeles Lakers will be up and running to face the Orlando Magic where they will be without Anthony Davis in this match-up
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Games on the schedule within College Basketball and should prove to be eventful. Number four ranked Auburn will face Alabama in a game that’s sure to ignite the passion of the fans .
NCAA Men’s Basketball ….
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Joe Judge the new Head Coach of the New York Giants has been looking to form his own new group of assistant coaches , with former Cowboys’ Head Coach Jason Garrett seeking to become the Giants’ new offensive coordinator. The team this past season struggled at the offensive end of their game and also defensively . There is also the transition from Eli Manning’s tenure to his understudy Daniel Jacobs . That scenario was well played out over the course of the season which resulted in the Giants failing to make the postseason .
During the off-season the New York Giants will seek to bolster the roster by way of trades , re-signing free agents whom they feel productive and the likelihood of departures also . The team will be drafting with a great deal of prudence to match up with their needs . Over the last five years there have been some good picks but as we can see there have been picks which have been fruitful .
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So while fans bemoan the fact the Pittsburgh Steelers fell short of expectations with the team failing to make the postseason , albeit with Ben Roethlisberger not being in the lineup for much of the season . Mason Rudolph was the player who led the Steelers throughout their regular season schedule. GM Kevin Colbert will be brought back as Head of Football Operations along with Head Coach Mike Tomlin who was beleaguered through the season with criticism coming from all round . Questions abound with many expecting that Art Rooney Jr looking to make several changes with regard to the front office staff . With the Steelers now in a quandary the question remains what will be done with regard to the future of the organization and that of their free agents and cap availability for the roster as they lead into the 2020 NFL Draft .
In 2019 the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted prudently acquiring players they believed would able to contribute to the team’s success .
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Luke Keuchly retires from the NFL and the Carolina Panthers as one of the best players in the franchise’s history and Keuchly has long been considered one of the best defensive linemen to have played in the league in recent years. With an eight-year career with the franchise and Luke Keuchly has been a multi-time Pro Bowler for the Panthers . I full expect Keuchly to be a nominee for Hall of Fame given his success.
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The Utah Jazz currently has one of the hottest streaks in the NBA with the team playing some of the best basketball. With it has come the play of the players on the roster . Over the rest of this month and schedule should prove to be interesting for the Jazz . In their next contest the Utah Jazz will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday evening .
The Jazz’s coaching staff is led by Quin Snyder and providing the leadership needed for his team. In their games against their conference in particular . When facing their opponents overall.
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Having won another AL MVP Award , I am hoping that Mike Trout can have another phenomenal season with the Los Angeles Angels and their perhaps making an prolonged appearance in the MLB Postseason with the ultimate goal being an appearance in the World Series and a series’ victory. With the recent addition of Anthony Rendon , this should add a a great deal offense to a roster that is reliant on Albert Pujols and Trout in particular . In order to improve where they are seen as among the elite teams within the AL , but there’s a great chance for the Angels make this a reality. When the Angels begin their regular season schedule , it will be interesting to see how they fare in that first game will be against the Houston Astros . Their series last season should be very riveting to say the very least .
From my own perspective I believe that this could be Albert Pujols’ last year in baseball and it’s my belief that it will , given his current status with the Angels, With just two years left on current deal , Pujols will become a free agent in 2022 .
Carlos Beltran and the New York Mets have agreed to part ways after it was revealed that Beltran played his part in the Houston Astros’ sign stealing scandal . Carlos Beltran’s career as the Mets’ manager was short-lived .
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Very few games this season have gone into single or double overtime Yet these are the games that tend to have the teams intrigued .
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As bad as the Golden State Warriors have been , I seriously doubt the team will be in contention within their division or the conference at the end of the season with the likelihood they will miss the NBA Playoffs for the first time in six years . This season D’Angelo Russell has been a stalwart leading the team in scoring with the absence of Klay Thompson and the inconsistent play of Steph Curry . Russell believes that the Warriors can play their back into contention during the second half of the season with schedule having just reached the midway point for the year. Over the remainder of January the Warriors are likely to be thoroughly tested by their opponents . A loss to the Denver Nuggets pushed the Warriors’ record to 9-34 ensuring they will have a losing season which will unlikely provide them with a postseason berth . Up next for the team will be a game against the Orlando Magic at home .
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Week 13 schedule
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If you’ve been gauging the play of the teams within the NBA as a precursor for the rest of the season then the coming month should prove to be very interesting . There is just one game on the schedule for Tuesday evening with the leading match-up being the contest between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers . This match-up will provide the fans with the chance to see Luka Doncic of the Mavericks square off against Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers in what should be an enthralling game .
For Wednesday evening there will be a slew of games being played , twelve contests in total with the highlight quite possibly being the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors , two teams vying at the top of the Eastern Conference as well as their respective divisions .
Though I don’t believe it dictates their season but the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Boston Celtics with Kemba Walker leading the charge for the Celtics might well have caught everyone off guard by the margin of victory and the lack of productivity seen from the Lakers’ players . Up next for the Lakers will be a game against the New York Knicks in a game against a Eastern Conference foe .
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The fallout from the Houston Astros’ debacle has led to the downfalls of AJ Hinch , Jeff Luhnow from within the organization and then that of Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora , with the latter being managers of the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox . This has led to a great deal of embarrassment of Astros’team owner Jim Crane and how the franchise is now seen around baseball and how the fans perceive the game in general.
When Jim Crane purchased the ball-club in 2011 , it led to an ascent of the Astros as they made their way to the postseason with some regularity . As to who will now succeed AJ Hinch remains to be seen.
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In the coming days there will be several games of vital importance within Men’s College Basketball . Seated atop of the rankings are Baylor , but many might feel the position belongs to the unbeaten San Diego State . In their last game Baylor faced Oklahoma State in a contest played on 20th January with their next match-up being against Florida this upcoming Saturday . San Diego State for it’s part will face off against Wyoming at home for their next contest.
Gonzaga (20-1) is the only team within Division 1 of Men’s College Basketball to date to have notched 20 wins at this point of the season, with their next game scheduled to be against Pacific for this Saturday . .
NCAA Men’s Basketball ….
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The NFL Postseason provided us with something special with the performances seen by several offensive players but most certainly among the running backs. Last season we were able to witness the same thing .
During the off-season there’s going to be a great deal of speculation as to where a number of free agents will go , or their with their current teams . The salary cap for this upcoming season and last year was something that we can assess. The player with the biggest cap for the upcoming season will be Jared Goff whose cap hit will be over $36 million . From my own perspective I believe these teams are vying to make their
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Last night the world of College Basketball (Men’s) was set alight with their being a fracas which will send shock-waves across the landscape as players on the rosters of Kansas and Kansas State got into a melee which involved several players. This game proved to be one of real moments of excitement with the NCAA likely to punish both programs with punitive damages for the lack of discretion shown by the players during the altercation .
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Zion Williamson the number one overall pick from the 2019 NFL Draft was back in action for the team as he and his teammates got into action with the New Orleans Pelicans playing the Memphis Grizzlies . Williamson was on the sidelines for the game but the coaching staff expects the rookie to be back on-court at some point before the end of this month . Pelicans’ coach Alvin Gentry will be hoping to get the best out of this young rookie and hopes that Zion Williamson can live up to the legacy of his predecessors over the last five years . I certainly don’t believe that Williamson can play himself into contention to be viewed as a Rookie of The Year Candidate , but it’s clear that the player knows what is being asked of him by this franchise in particular team owners .
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Derek Jeter makes it into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown , New York , where he’s joined by Larry Walker . Jeter was one vote shy of being a unanimous inductee into the Hall. The last player inducted into the Hall of Fame by way of a unanimous decision was Jeter’s teammate Mariano Rivera who was inducted in 2013 . The upcoming class for 2021 should also prove to be very interesting by way of the possible candidates .
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Say what you will but the NBA is seeking to prove itself with the players and their play. For Wednesday evening there will be several games on the schedule, twelve in total . One game likely to pique the interest of the fans will have the New York Knicks facing the Los Angeles Lakers in a match-up which should tell us a great deal about the direction of both teams at this juncture.
Sooner or later , Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors will have to face facts , this team just isn’t good enough at this juncture and it will be interesting to see how things play out over the remainder of the season. In the team’s next game the Warriors are due to face the Utah Jazz . It’s becoming abundantly clear that the Warriors’ front office will have to make some adjustments and seek to bolster this roster . The departure of Kevin Durant has played a major part in the regression of the Warriors this season , with the team playing way below what was expected of the players. What is abundantly clear is that the Warriors need a scorer and play-maker beyond the roles played by Klay Thompson and Steph Curry .
At this point last season the Warriors were riding high within their division .
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Well , it’s all but official , with Eli Manning on the cusp formally announcing that he will retire from the NFL having held a number of franchise records for the New York Giants , having also led the franchise to their most recent Superbowl victories , both of which came by way of defeating the New England Patriots . Manning was a first round NFL pick from the 2004 NFL Draft , where he was originally the choice of the then San Diego Chargers , only to spurn their efforts with his being exchanged for Philip Rivers who was sent to the Chargers in exchange for Manning.
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Where Eli Manning now lies among the pantheon of NFL quarterbacks over the last decade and half remains to be seen . The fact of the matter remains , he is one of handful of players at the position to have two Superbowl championship rings to their name.
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Well this weekend provides the fans within the NFL , with the Pro Bowl , with the AFC taking on the NFC in what has become an annual rite of passage for several players seeking to improve their profiles and that of their incentives , Last season’s game ended with an AFC victory over the NFC in the match-up between the two teams .
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So Zion Williamson made his long awaited debut in the NBA as the New Orleans Pelicans faced the San Antonio Spurs with the visiting team coming away with the victory . Williams was able to show the Pelicans’ fans with his scoring twenty-two points in the contest . Up next for the Pelicans will be a game against the Denver Nuggets . New Orleans’ record against the Western Conference as well as the East in general has been one of great intrigue .
If nothing else, Zion Williamson has proven that he’s a capable scorer under the right set of circumstances .
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If the rumors are to be believed then it could very well be that Nolan Arenado will be looking to move away from the Colorado Rockies . Arenado in 2019 signed an arbitration deal . The front office might well be seeking to move Arenado with the view to paring down the team payroll and remain competitive for this upcoming season . The Rockies’ postseason appearances have been sparing over the last decade . That last appearance coming in 2009 when the Rockies fared less than admirably losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS . It will be interesting to see which team is likely to vie for Arenado’s remaining contract as well as his abilities at the plate .
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While there’s no guarantee that Tom Brady will be returning to the New England Patriots , the free agents who will be hitting the market. It will be interesting to see which of the quarterbacks will be on the move , One name being mentioned is Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans whose play during the postseason was beyond what a number of people expected . Tannehill for his part parlayed his season into a big deal with the Titans which could likely see him either make a return to the franchise or his being guaranteed a multi-year deal .
The Titans’ front office led by team owner Amy Adams-Strunk and general manager Jon Robinson beyond having to deal with a new contract for Ryan Tannehill , there will be the issue of the free agents and that of the upcoming NFL Draft .
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The fall-out from the melee which took place between the players of Kansas State and Kansas has led to the NCAA and it’s President Mark Emmert rendering punishment that could very well end the collegiate careers of several players on the Jayhawks’ team with Head Coach Bill Self now under pressure to address the problems within the program. With several of the players having seen their punishment rendered , Silvio de Sousa will be suspended for twelve games , which could very well lead to the end of his career with the Jayhawks .
This game pretty much summed up what can go wrong , when young players simply cannot control their emotions.
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The upcoming NFL Draft promises to be a very interesting one with their being a great deal of speculation as to which positional player will be the top pick in this Draft. Will it be a running back or quarterback topping out the at the top spot ? With the rookie scale likely to be very decisive by way of the contract offered , either way the players in question will be earning a great deal of money .
Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals was the top player taken in last year’s Draft by the Cardinals . While Murray’s season was not quite what the Arizona Cardinals might have hoped for , it created a great glimpse what the future might hold for the franchise moving forward . What we were made aware of was the play of the Cardinals throughout the season (5-10-1) .
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Over the next three days the NBA will see the play of the players and teams in full sync . The divisional standings as they now are would suggest that the rest of the season should be enthralling to say the very least .
On Friday night there are several games which will take place on the evening with perhaps the most intriguing match-up being the contest between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers . For the impoverished and forlorn Golden State Warriors , their season seems on the cusp of imploding altogether having just gone 1-9 over their last ten games . With the trade deadline fast approaching , it will be interesting to see if the Warriors will be major players in the market place for a player. Next up for the Golden State Warriors will be a game against the Indiana Pacers at home .
If last season is anything to go by , then the trades which took place could very well define the remainder of this season .
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat might well be one of the reasons why the team is off to such a tremendous start to their season with their being one of just a handful of teams with more than thirty wins at this point of the season. In their next match-up Herro and his teammates will face the Los Angeles Clippers .
The NBA All Star Game and it’s festivities will take place mid-February on 16th February , with the rosters not set , but the votes are piling up for the major stars around the league.
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I don’t care what anyone says , but Antonio Brown has but outlived his usefulness within the NFL and this past season was proof of that fact with the player hardly being productive for any of the teams he suited up for. Beyond all of his off the field issues , Brown has continually proven that he’s not the best of teammates .
Courtesy of Yahoo Sports
If nothing else , with even more legal entanglements and issues , there is no way that any NFL franchise would be willing to show an interest in a player whose best years are now behind him and where he’s seeking a big money contract would be out of the question .
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So what does the future now hold for the San Francisco Giants as the ball club now undergoes further transition with a change within the managerial staff and that of the front office ? With Brian Sabean , now a SVP , the front office personnel duties will be overseen by Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris , with Harris as the General Manager. Gabe Kapler has been brought in to succeed Bruce Bochy as the team’s manager . The roster itself has seen the departure of former World Series’ MVP , starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner , once thought to be a possible candidate to be signed by the New York Yankees , who’d gone to sign Gerrit Cole to a record contract for a starting pitcher .
Madison Bumgarner now has a landing spot having been acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks . With both the Giants and Diamondbacks set to meet several times over the course of this upcoming regular season the NL West could prove to be a competitive division itself .
With Spring Training just over schedule a month and a half away , non roster invitees and pitchers will soon be reporting for the exhibition season within Major League Baseball .
Buster Posey remains the face of the Giants’ franchise and he’s also one of their best players , most certainly during his tenure with the organization and it’s history. For Gabe Kapler given his lack of success this past season with the Philadelphia Phillies , even with the payroll and hype over Bryce Harper , their failure was there for all to see during 2019.
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New expectations for the upcoming season as the Oakland Raiders will once again relocate this time abandoning the state of California , this time making the deserts of Nevada , their home by being domiciled in Las Vegas. Team owner Mark Davis and the front office are completely happy with this all, along with the City of Las Vegas and the municipal council where inducements and sizable tax deferments were given to the Raiders. The City’s Mayor , Carol Goodman , wife of former Mayor Oscar Goodman , will preside over the transition which will see the Raiders play their (eight games) 2020 schedule in Las Vegas.
Derek Carr , quarterback of the Raiders now in the final two years of his contract , will have to prove himself capable of leading a team whose last postseason appearance was well over fifteen years ago. Jon Gruden during his second stint as the Head Coach, struggled to get the best out of a team that finished with a 7-9 record this past season.
Derek Carr’s play against the opponents faced in 2019 can be best described as mediocre . One of the issues the Raiders will have to deal with , impending free agents and the upcoming NFL Draft and the players they’re seeking to obtain.
Las Vegas Raiders news ….
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If there’s one thing I know , it is that Baker Mayfield is by far the most overrated quarterback in the NFL as well as being a former Heisman Trophy winner. His being drafted by the Cleveland Browns didn’t necessarily provide the franchise with the solace sought and the fact Mayfield is being well paid for his services remains a real cause for concern.
From my own perspective I do believe that Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr are not players who can co-exist , given their singular and collective egos .
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The world of the NBA has to be saddened by the news of the death of Kobe Bryant , former Los Angeles Lakers’ player and perhaps one of that franchise’s top-five players in it’s history. Bryant along with his teenage daughter , Gianna and seven other victims died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas , California on Sunday afternoon.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver , the league hierarchy , team owners and players are likely to pay their respect to Kobe Bryant in their own distinct and unique way in the coming days.
NBA news ……….
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Well the NFL had it’s lead-up precursor event to the Superbowl with the Pro Bowl Game which took place in Orlando , Florida , as the AFC faced off against the NFC in the league’s annual postseason event.
NFL news ……….
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As the NBA mourns the loss of one of it’s most iconic stars of the past two decades , it will be interesting to see if there’s a call to have Kobe Bryant be granted a special privilege being granted eligibility into the Hall of Fame , posthumously in light of his death. Bryant was one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ greatest players in that franchise’s history and certainly one of the the league’s best players since the NBA’s inception .
Over this past weekend the league itself saw several games of note with the longest win streak of note to date being an eight game streak held by the Milwaukee Bucks with their current MVP and leading All Star vote getter Giannis Antetokounmpou leading the way for the Bucks with their league best record mark .
It will be interesting to see how the NBA will fare over their next fifteen games . For the Lakers in the aftermath of the Kobe Bryant tragedy , it will be interesting to see how the team fares when they face their next opponent the Los Angeles Clippers .
The Milwaukee Bucks for their part will face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday , 28th January
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Far be it for me to suggest , but it’s becoming abundantly clear that the front office of the New England Patriots will have to make a decision concerning many of their impending free agents , among which the priority is a committal to Tom Brady , the franchise’s long-time incumbent starting quarterback. Brady will join the ranks of several free agents , with a number of them being veteran quarterbacks . What was abundantly clear during this postseason , was the fact Brady’s play was nondescript along with much of his regular season play .
If the rumors are to be believed that the Patriots are considering offering Tom Brady a two-year $70 million deal . From my own perspective , I believe that the Patriots should be seeking to now transition from Tom Brady with the player still being on the roster there to assist in the development of Jarrett Stidham and Cody Kessler . Brady’s two decade plus career has seen him reach highs and lows , with the nine Superbowl appearances , culminating with six victories during that time frame.
Bill Belichick and the coaching staff of the Patriots will now have to assess the needs of this team moving forward by way of acquisitions and that of the upcoming NFL Draft with New England having picks through a number of rounds .
New England Patriots news ….
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The whole of the sports’ world continues to mourn the tragic death of Kobe Bryant , considered by many to be one of the top-five Los Angeles Lakers’ players in the franchise’s history. It was unfortunate that the Lakers were in action on the day the former Lakers’ great died alongside eight other victims including his thirteen-year old daughter, Gianni. The Los Angeles Lakers were in action against the Philadelphia 76ers , a defeat which might well have quelled what was something of a mournful day for the players and fans of the Lakers . Next up for the Los Angeles Lakers and the team
led by LeBron James , will be a game against the Portland Trailblazers in a match-up between two talented Western Conference franchises .
Courtesy of The Guardian
For LeBron James he’s made it clear that it is his intent to keep the legacy of Kobe Bryant alive by doing whatever he can to keep alive in the minds of NBA fans alike.
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So Dusty Baker will now succeed AJ Hinch as the new manager of the Houston Astros with team owner , Jim Crane having seen fit to dismiss Hinch and Jeff Luhnow , the former general manager . The fall out from the sign stealing scandal has weighed heavily not just on the Astros’ franchise as a whole but across the entire landscape of Major League Baseball . Those issues notwithstanding , this ball club will be viewed as a pariah across the pantheon of the sport as the league seeks to clean up the mess created. This team as it now stands with the likelihood of non roster invitees and acquisitions well be completely reshaped from the team of last season .
Courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle
For Dusty Baker this season will be about how best he can resurrect the fortunes of the Houston Astros and wiping out what took place during 2017. It will be interesting to see how the Astros will fare through the first four months of this upcoming season .
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Say what you will , but this season’s Superbowl between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs should prove to be eventful . The two opposing quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo of the Niners and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs have proven themselves to be truly effective with their productivity in the regular season as well as during the postseason.
With the off-season coming up at the end of the Superbowl events lined up for Miami , it will be interesting to see what could very well happen with regard to the movement of free agents and that of the NFL Draft . It is expected quarterbacks could very well fill at least eight of the top twenty-five picks in the first round .
The consensus appears to be that current Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is likely to be taken number one overall after the player’s exploits for the LSU Tigers , with their being crowned national champions in 2019 (FBS) .
NFL news ……….. and Superbowl news’ round-up …
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James Harden , is still firing on all cylinders for the Houston Rockets and the veteran guard is looking to add another scoring title and perhaps an MVP Award to his list of professional accomplishments . The one thing missing from Harden’s resume’ remains an NBA title and championship ring. It should be noted the the last time the Rockets were triumphant was with the leadership of Hall of Famers , Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon . The franchise’s back to back titles during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 NBA Playoffs was a clear indicator of the dominance of the franchise during that time-frame.
Tilman Fertitta , team owner , GM Daryl Morey and the Rockets’ Head Coach , Mike D’Antoni clearly have a team that’s well rewarded but at the same the real test will be how they navigate the remainder of the season and the NBA Playoffs. Another missed opportunity and it’s my belief that there will have to be a major shake-up to the roster. Tilman Fertitta didn’t spend over $2.5 billion to purchase for this franchise only to see it come up short . Over their next fifteen games it should be interesting to see how the Rockets will fare .
Up next for James Harden and the Rockets will be a game against the Portland Trailblazers in a game being played on the road between these two Western Conference teams . The Southwest Division might well be the most competitive of all the NBA’s division at present with the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets sharing the same record of 29-17 as of 27th January . The Mavericks and Rockets will square off four times over the course of this season .
Houston Rockets news …
NBA schedule 28th January …
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So what now in terms of the NBA’s future with the passing of Kobe Bryant with many of his former teammates and contemporaries eulogizing the NBA great . So many players are now in a state of shock due to the player’s passing and with their being an outpouring of the fans also . It will be interesting to see how the Lakers will equate the rest of their season with their play in the coming months . The coaching staff led by Frank Vogel should be very interesting along with Jason Kidd being among the lead assistants on the staff. For LeBron James , seen as the team leader ,it provides him with the chance to commit to the comments he wishes to uphold concerning Kobe Bryant’s legacy within the NBA .
Over their next games and it will be interesting to see how the Lakers will fare . Having posted a 7-10 rercord (70%) during that time-frame , it will be how they show themselves accountable in their upcoming games . Up next for LeBron James and his teammates will be a game against the Portland Trailblazers
Los Angeles Lakers news ….
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So it looks as if the Boston Red Sox are intent on trading away their MVP slugger Mookie Betts with the favored candidates for his services being the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres . With their being just one year left on his current deal with the Red Sox , it’s becoming clearly that the Dodgers more so , than the Padres might be willing to take on Betts’ contract as well as possibly undertaking the gargantuan contract of Red Sox starting pitcher David Price . If there’s one thing clear where the Dodgers had real issues wasn’t necessarily run production but with regard to their pitching , relief and front-line starters and relievers for the most part . This past World Series was self evident of that fact with their failing in the Postseason against the Washington Nationals eventual winners of the Fall Classic .
There’s no doubt adding Mookie Betts to an All Star Lineup among the Dodgers’ roster will be fascinating for the organization as well as the fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers. As the divisional rivals of the Dodgers , the San Diego Padres would need to have some vibrancy to their offense given their own lack productivity in 2019 . The Dodgers and Padres will meet nineteen times over the course of the 2019 season with their first meeting take place on 1st May , 2020 , at Pecto Park , home to the San Diego Padres .
MLB news ………
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Kyle Shanahan has finally admitted he passed on Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs , the team that the San Francisco 49ers will be facing this upcoming Sunday in the Superbowl SB LIV . The fact that Shanahan has admitted his passing on drafting Mahomes , one a group of quarterbacks from the 2017 NFL Draft .
Kyle Shanahan for his part knows with the Niners having acquired Jimmy Garopollo through a trade with the New England Patriots has proven to be fruitful for the franchise and a great disadvantage for the Patriots given one of the worst years by Tom Brady during his career. The Forty Niners will head into this match-up with a chip on their shoulders knowing as a team they’re being viewed as the underdogs .
Andy Berry was promoted to become the general manager of the Cleveland Browns with team owner Jimmy Haslam is said to be delighted with the decision. Be that as it may , there’s no denying that the team floundered this past season with quarterback Baker Mayfield proving once again that he was vastly overrated as a first round draft pick by the franchise in the 2018 NFL Draft . Where the Browns now go from here is very much dependent upon the mindset of the coaching staff and front office , moving forward , along with their cap availability for the upcoming season .
NFL news ………
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Still a solid night within the world of Men’s College Basketball and the standings seems to reflect that fact by way of the play. Number one=ranked Baylor took it to Iowa State , winning their match-up with a certain amount of ease . For Baylor as long as they maintain their current play and run , they’re likely considered presumptive favorites in their conference title . Next up for the team will be a game against TCU on the 1st February , 2020 .
For Thursday , there will be a cluster of games being played with the most enticing being the match-up between Stanford and Oregon State , rivals within the Pac Twelve Conference .
While Zion Williamson is seeking to ingratiate himself with the NBA and having left the Duke Men’s roster , it will be interesting to see how the program will seek to make themselves favored this season by way of the ACC and that of another appearance with March Madness and the national tournament .
Next up for this Mike Krzyzewski coached team will be a game against the Syracuse Orangemen on Saturday afternoon .
NCAA Men’s Basketball …
NCAA Men’s Basketball standings ….
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What does it suggest when there’s so much hype over a player in Major League Baseball , who has yet to play his first professional game in the Majors ? That is now the case for the Chicago White Sox’s phenom , Luis Robert who signed a $50 million rookie deal with the franchise. If Robert can live up to the hype and excel in the ways that the managerial staff and front office believe that he can , then it will be money well-spent on their part. This season the White Sox should be able of competing not just within the AL Central , but also vie for a position in the AL as well the rest of MLB overall .
GM Rick Hahn has been lucky enough to have drafted some very good players over the last four seasons , but there are signs that the franchise remains maybe a year or two away from real success. Their last semblance of success came by way of their championship winning season of 2005 , the Chicago White Sox’s last appearance in the World Series when they defeated the Houston Astros . It was Paul Konerko leading the team in that foray with his productivity .
Chicago White Sox news …
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This weekend will bring in with a slew of games within the NBA and it will be interesting to see what will happen within the league . Luca Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks could be missing from the team’s lineup for the next two weeks , likely producing a downturn in the Maverick’s productivity in those games. . With Doncic absent from the lineup , it will be left to Kristaps Porzingis and others raise the level of their play. In their next game the Dallas Mavericks are due to face the Houston Rockets on the road this Friday , 31st January , 2020
As the league continues to mourn the passing of Kobe Bryant and with the Los Angeles Lakers still in a state of shock . It would appear that the team , fans and organization are still in a state of disarray. It will be interesting to see how the team gets over the demise of one of the franchise’s best players since he was acquired in trade with the Charlotte Hornets , which took place during the 1996 NBA Draft . In their next game the Lakers are due to face the Sacramento Kings .
NBA news ………
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The NBA Trade Deadline is now fast approaching and it will be interesting to see which players will be on the move . The Los Angeles Lakers are clearly a team in need of an upgrade with their having a productive point guard for their team. It will be interesting to see which of the possible point guards, guards could very well be on the move . At this point last season , the moves were made and it might well have changed the landscape over the course of the season .
NBA news …
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Patrick Mahomes led his team the Kansas City Chiefs to a thoroughly well-deserved victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Supebowl LIV , held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami , Florida on Sunday evening . The Chiefs’ quarterback became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to have led a team to victory , while also becoming only the third black quarterback to have achieved the feat behind Doug Williams and Russell Wilson . The fourth quarter of the game proved to be decisive , as the Chiefs’ run offense was simply too much for a Niners’ secondary which was fatigued by game’s end.
NFL news ……
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Week sixteen of the NBA season and the schedule should get very interesting for several of the teams in the lead-up to the All Star Break . Sunday’s games provided us with something of a respite with a number of good performances from the players .
There will a couple of games being played on Monday evening . 3rd February , and it will be interesting to see how those teams will actually fare .
NBA news ….
Week sixteen schedule …
NBA standings division …
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Pitchers and non-roster invitees will soon be invited for MLB Spring Training within the next two weeks with the first of the games beginning on the 22nd February , 2020. The teams will be looking to parlay their exhibition season into something meaningful over the course of the regular season schedule.
One team the fans would like to see vying for a divisional crown has to be Chicago Cubs with all of the upheavals made to the roster over the off-season, with the managerial coaching staff also having changed drastically. David Ross supplants Joe Maddon as the Cubs’ latest manager and it will be interesting to see if Ross can get the best out of these players over the course of this season .
The failing of the Cubs over the last two seasons has been one the issues which has clearly tapped into the mindset of the Ricketts’ family as the owners of this venerable franchise and the front office . The payroll for the Cubs this season will have improved slightly over 2019 . There are still some seasoned veterans on the team’s roster alongside new aspirants who have been part of the farm system of the ball club.
MLB news ….
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Andy Reid wins his first Superbowl as he and his coaching staff guide the Kansas City Chiefs to their first title in fifty years. Along the way came all of the emotional highs and lows of the regular and postseason . Superbowl MVP , Patrick Mahomes became only the third black quarterback in NFL history to have led a franchise to the Lombardi Trophy. Mahomes accomplished this all in just his third season with the Chiefs’ franchise. He’s also now become the clear face of the NFL and likely future of the franchise for years to come. The team now around him can only get better and it remains to be seen what the front office will now seek to do in order to make this roster better. Several of the current players will likely seek to re-up on their existing contracts and it has to be said that Mahomes along with his agent Leigh Steinberg will certainly be looking to have the player be paid accordingly commensurate with his status as being a Superbowl champion and now former League MVP .
Courtesy of the NY Post
It will certainly be interesting to see what Leigh Steinberg might seek to equate as being a meaningful contract for his client , when you bear in mind Patrick Mahomes is in just the the third year of his rookie deal with his having been drafted by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft .
From my own standpoint, I believe that Leigh Steinberg might well seek to make Patrick Mahomes among the highest paid player in the NFL , knowing full-well his client could make tens of millions of dollars annually by way of endorsements off the field . .
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If there’s one team in the Eastern Conference , which has seemingly under-performed , then it would have to be the Philadelphia 76ers and the play most notably of the team’s center Joel Embiid . The fact that the front office have tied their future to the center who somehow who’s on the East’s All Star roster is not only laughable , but also a joke . For the month of February the Philadelphia 76ers are going to be thoroughly tested by their opponents as they have been at this point of the season .
In their next game the Philadelphia 76ers will be up against the Milwaukee Bucks whom they will face multiple times over the course of this season. In their last game the Philadelphia Sixers were on the wrong side of a thirty-one point defeat suffered at the hands of the Miami Heat . It was among the biggest losses suffered by the Sixers this season .
Elton Brand current general manager of the Sixers’ franchise must now decide if the front office will be a major player at the trade deadline while looking to fortify the roster in order to make it more competitive .
NBA news ……
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