Two Shakes of a Lamb’s Tail and We’ll be Up and Running ….+

Yes it’s that time of the year when the NFL is in full swing vying it’s way to what should prove to be an interesting postseason , much like last year among the teams and players . Elsewhere in the world of sports there are some fascinating stories about to unfold . There’s now a great deal of uncertainty concerning the futures of several head coaches around the NFL . Last night in Monday Night Football the Philadelphia Eagles lost another game on their schedule falling to conference rivals the Seattle Seahawks. For Eagles’ quarterback this Carson Wentz , this was another game where the player continued to show a great deal of inconsistency with far too many errant plays .

Carson Wentz (11) of the Philadelphia Eagles is seen here during the game played against the Green Bay Packers which which the Eagles would go on to lose 30-16 .

For Eagles’ Head Coach Doug Peterson and the front office there could be pressing times ahead for this entire team and the coaching staff. Team owner Jeff Lurie might well have to make a severe shake up within the front office with the possible firing of GM Howie Roseman along with the firing of Doug Pederson also. With five games left of the regular season, the Eagles are playing not just for honor, but also for the futures of several players on the roster including Carson Wentz himself .

In week thirteen of the NFL schedule the Philadelphia Eagles will be back on the field to face the Green Bay Packers in a must-win game for the Eagles if they are to have a legitimate shot a seeding within the conference (NFC) for the postseason .

After a great postseason within the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers winning their seventeenth NBA title tying them alongside the Boston Celtics , it will be interesting to see if the Lakers can make a successful defense of the championship with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading what will be a revamped roster . Several players have left the Lakers moving on to supposed pastures green for considerably higher pay and the thought of contributing to their new teams .

The upcoming NBA season is not scheduled to begin until Christmas week with their being a slew of games to start off what could be another shortened season due to the Coronavirus . NBA league hierarchy led by Adam Silver did what was deemed to be the right thing with the NBA Playoffs being played in a bubble at a singular venue . What transpires out of this season could very well be determined by the league and that of the NBPA (union) .

Opening Night of the new season will see several of the new rookies on the court for their respective teams. If last season was anything to go by along with previous seasons, then the fans in whatever form they may well take should be in for some excitement.

Lavar Ball has placed all three of his sons on a pedestal believing all three are going to be the ” next big thing “ within the league (NBA).. His eldest son, Lonzo Ball , currently with the New Orleans Pelicans , has struggled within the NBA ever since he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers as a first round draft pick during the 2017 NBA Draft. With Lonzo Ball now happily being part of the Pelicans and playing alongside Zion Williamson . It has to be said that things have worked out perfectly for Lonzo and dare I say it, for his father also and their company Big Baller Brand (BBB) ? LaMelo Ball is the second of LaVar Ball’s three sons to have made it into the NBA , with his being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets . Team owner Michael Jordan , might not be buying into the hype concerning LaMelo Ball , but he obviously knows that something needed to be done if he is to persuade the front office and coaching staff that the franchise is heading in the right direction.

Having signed his rookie contract LaMelo Ball will be looking to start real fast right out of the gate, looking to impress his new teammates , coaching staff and the entire front office and Hornets’ fans. For Michael Jordan this might the biggest gamble of his life since he tried his hand at playing Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox . That short-lived career did not amount to much as a player for the American League ball club. Fans are not so sure whether or not this season will be one of an eighty two game season or a reduced one of 60 to 65 games ?

One thing is becoming abundantly clear James Harden might well be one of the moist talented players in the NBA , but in terms of his being able to get along with his teammates , there has been continuous problems with Harden when he was with the Oklahoma City Thunder and now with the Houston Rockets . Harden couldn’t be the second wheel Kevin Durant as the franchise chased glory seeking to win an NBA title . His departure from the Thunder to join the Rockets didn’t come as a major surprise. Yet what we know now , Harden couldn’t seem to get along with Chris Paul and now he can’t seem to get along with Russell Westbrook . The prolific point guard has been traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for John Wall .

The Los Angeles Dodgers triumphed in winning their first World Series title in just over thirty years having defeated the Tamp Bay Rays , winning the series 4-2 . Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts managed to do what his predecessors had not been able to do since 1988 . That triumph has now taken away a giant shadow which had been cast over the organization for more than three decades . Corey Seager managed to have an extraordinary postseason , having won World Series MVP in the Dodgers’ triumph. Beyond that, it will be interesting to see if the front office of the ball-club will offer the player a long-term contract before he’s due to become a free agent. At $12 million a year Corey Seager is very much undervalued given his status and productivity for the Dodgers’ franchise .

No one can deny that Mike Trout might just be the best player in baseball at this moment in time , His career resume’ to date says it all alongside his multiple wins of the AL League MVP . The one thing missing from Trout’s personal file , a World Series’ ring and World Series MVP accolade. His sojourn in the postseason with the Los Angeles Angels continues to come up short.

If the Los Angeles Angels are to compete in 2021 , then this team has to play with a more competitive drive to their all-round game . If nothing else several of Trouts’ teammates will also have to step up to the plate including seasoned veteran Albert Pujols . The team might not be seen as a favorite within the AL West , but given the play around the American League , just about anything can happen . The Angels if nothing else will have to play at a much higher level and this will be very much predicated upon the managerial acumen of the team’s manager Joe Maddon . The manager for his part has seen a great deal of success in his role and whether or not he can regain that type of success remains to be seen.

I’d like to think Mike Trout can have another great season. If Mike can simply have his teammates play at his level. then it could provide a great deal of excitement for the Angels’ fans.

Another year of lean disappointment for the New York Yankees and their litany of stars , one has to now wonder where the front office now goes from here after their season of woes. Gerrit Cole was brought in with a high price contract to add some stellar pitching to a staff that might be seen as suspect . This past season within the MLB Postseason this Brett Boone roster of players didn’t meet the expectations of a deep postseason run . The off-season for the Yankees could lead to some major changes within the roster lineup by way of deals being made for free agents . It will be interesting to see if the Yankees will seek to pare down their payroll or seek to increase it substantially while also incurring the payroll luxury tax.

As the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers will head into next season looking to see if they can repeat as champions . Something which has not been done in several years , with the last back to back champions taking place in 1999 and then in 2000 with the New York Yankees triumphing both times . Dave Roberts as the Dodgers’ team manager will be glad to know that in all likelihood the core of this roster will be back in 2021 to pursue their challenge of seeking to make it a reality of repeating as champions . One thing is certain this Dodgers’ lineup if it continues with their consistency , then they will have to be considered favorites not just within the NL , but throughout MLB for this upcoming year and the World Series .

This past weekend welterweight champion Errol, Spence Jr made his long awaited turn to a boxing ring when he faced challenger Danny Garcia . Spence having been involved in single vehicle accident came within inches of losing his life and what would have been a abrupt end to his career. The bout itself between these two welterweight stars didn’t meet all of the expectations , but Spence proved his durability with a unanimous verdict decision over Garcia .

Tophatal ……

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