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| Tuesday January 16, 2024 |  | #DMD |  | Issue #3434 |
Stats Nerd brought up an interesting point here in the Comments section recently.
Why all the disdain for Taylor Swift?
And I'm not talking about her music, per se. You're either a fan or not. Or maybe in between.
My son asked me the other day what I thought of U2, for example. They're a good example of "in between".
I have a lot of respect for what they've done and they career they've produced. I'll stand on the hill of "The Joshua Tree is one of the 10 best albums of my lifetime" and fight like the devil to support that argument. Their "early stuff" was really good. But I lost interest as the years went on.
I'm a fan, but I wouldn't be driving to Philadelphia to see them live. That's "in between", I guess.
So, as it relates to Taylor Swift, you're either a fan or not. Or maybe in between.
I think she's incredibly talented. Her net wealth tells you all you need to know about her business acumen and ability to turn music and dancing into profit.
I've never purchased a Taylor Swift song or CD. I know a handful of them because I have a teenage daughter. It's pleasant music. Not my cup of tea, but far more entertaining than the Beat -- well, never mind. We're here to talk football today.
Anyway, I have no idea at all if the NFL has entered into any kind of discreet arrangement with her regarding her recent "prominence" at Kansas City Chiefs games. I'm not a conspiracy guy by nature, so I'll just assume it's all natural. She is dating a football player and she's one of the most famous women in the world in 2024. The NFL would be dumb not to promote her at every turn.
If they do have some sort of agreement with her, they call that "business", I think.
If they don't have an agreement with her, then it's simply smart of them to latch on to her during this relationship she's maintaining with Travis Kelce.
Oh, and she's no dummy either. Swift's nothing if not a massive opportunist, as most business owners tend to be. She knows who she is and she knows when she's at the game, people are paying attention to her. The more attention she draws, the more interest that's created in her music and her brand.
I certainly know we're living in a day and age where people get offended by just about everything.
Some of that turns into faux outrage because, well, we also do that quite well these days.
The amount of disdain and anger I see for Taylor Swift is hilarious.
She's the Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan of music...right now.
Based on attendance and ticket prices for her shows -- and I have no idea what kind of real barometer those two things are for popularity -- she's the most popular musical artist in the world right now.
If she walked into your place of business today and said, "If you guys want me to endorse your company (product) and not charge you anything for it, I'll happily do it," every single one of you would smartly agree to that. I'm guessing you would, anyway.
She wore a jacket on Saturday night at the Chiefs/Dolphins game that resembled a Travis Kelce jersey and the internet went bonkers over it. Like, completely bonkers.
My teenage daughter has zero interest in sports. But she knows who Travis Kelce is.
"Dad, is there any chance Travis Kelce will ever play for the Ravens?" she asked me the other day.
Taylor Swift is directly responsible for that question.
I just don't get the hate for her.
Yes, I know how our country works. All too well.
We build you up, build you up, make you into something, revel in your success, love on you and.....then.....we tear you down.
Eventually we say "enough is enough, we're tired of your success."
The great lead singer of The Smiths, Morrissey, once authored a great song called: "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful".
Oh, how true that is.
Maybe it's because I'm working on my 7th decade on this planet, but I've (almost) mastered the art of not letting stuff that shouldn't bother me actually bother me.
I couldn't care less about Taylor Swift's emergence as an NFL promotional doll.
Good for her, I say.
She seems like a nice, young lady. Someone has to sell millions of records and travel the world singing and dancing. Why not her?
One thing I'm not going to do is get agitated about her new presence on NFL broadcasts and the like.
Always remember this, even though I know -- as a diehard sports fan like you -- that it's hard to do: The NFL is a TV show first. And a sports competition second.
You don't have to like that. I don't particularly care for that theory, personally.
But it's true. Saturday night in Kansas City confirmed that theory once and for all.
It's a TV business first and foremost and a football league next. Honestly? I'd rather know that than wonder about it. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't, the saying goes.
So I'll be the first to launch the 2024 Conspiracy of the Year: The NFL wants the Chiefs to get back to the Super Bowl. Because of her and the spotlight she draws to their games within a segment of the population they might not otherwise reach every weekend.
I don't believe that myself.
But I'm getting ahead of the game and announcing it as the theory you're going to hear and read about if the Chiefs somehow beat the Bills and Ravens/Texans winner and advance to the Super Bowl again.
"The league wanted to make sure Taylor Swift was at the Super Bowl."
You know you were thinking it.
I just happened to be the first one to say it.
Oh, and one last thing.
If you're really all that hot and bothered about the NFL showcasing Taylor Swift, here's some advice for you: You could just, you know, Shake it Off.
And so it will be the Ravens and Texans in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon with John Harbaugh's team installed as early 9.5 point favorites over C.J. Stroud and Company.
That's a lot of points for a playoff game, although five of the six played thus far exceeded that margin of victory, with only the 24-23 Detroit win failing to yield a double-digit win.
Sadly, the Ravens didn't get the draw they really wanted when Pittsburgh predictably fell short against the Bills yesterday in Buffalo. A Pittsburgh would have given Baltimore a cakewalk next Sunday and would have eliminated a surging Bills team at the same time.
Alas, it didn't happen that way.
Buffalo won, 31-17, and that meant -- as we called here last week -- that all three home teams won their playoff openers and Houston, after beating Cleveland, would be coming to Baltimore for Saturday's 4:30 pm tilt,
I'm certainly not afraid of the Texans.
But it's obvious they're coming into town as one of the league's hotter teams at the moment.
When they showed up on opening Sunday last September and got slapped around by the Ravens, I didn't think much of them, Stroud included.
Times have changed, as they often do within a season.
The Ravens are better than they were in that week one victory, but so, too, are the Texans.
Nine and a half points seems like a lot to me.
And have you seen those Texans helmets?
How are they losing to anyone by 10 points or more with those awesome helmets?
| Monday January 15, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3433 |
In case you missed it, there was a messy, horrible scene in Chicago over the weekend.
I bring it up here today to give some words of preparation for an event that might happen and an event that will happen here in Baltimore.
This past Friday night, the Chicago Bulls unveiled their 2024 Ring of Honor. One of those inducted was former general manager Jerry Krause, who was the chief architect of the Bulls dynasty in the 1980's and 1990's.
Krause passed away in 2017, so his wife, Thelma, was on hand Friday night to accept the honor of her late husband's induction into the Ring of Honor.
When Krause's name was announced, some fans in attendance booed him.
Many of them weren't around during Krause's time as general manager, rather they were merely reacting to what they might have seen in the Netflix documentary, "The Last Dance". It was in that show where Krause was routinely dragged through the mud by Bulls' superstars like Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen.
Krause was a controversial figure in Chicago, no doubt, but he was also the guy responsible for giving Phil Jackson another shot at coaching and employing Tex Winter, the brains behind the successful triangle offense that the Bulls used throughout much of their dominant era.
And it was also Krause who had to keep the team's various egos somewhat in check during contract negotiations and the like.
Like him or not, he was a vital part of the Bulls' success during their halcyon days.
And on Friday night, with Krause's wife sitting at midcourt, people in the arena booed her late husband.
Bulls color commentator Stacey King led the initial string of responses during the third quarter of Friday's game vs. Golden State.
"I'm a little upset right now," King said. "We just had a remarkable ceremony, bringing back the legends and I'll tell you what, Chicago is a sports town. What we witnessed today when Jerry Krause's name was called, and the people that booed Jerry Krause and his widow, who was accepting this honor for him, it was the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. I hurt for that lady. It brought her to tears."
King continued: "Whoever booed her in this arena should be ashamed of themselves. That's not Chicago, that's New York or Philly. Chicago's not like that. We don't have a reputation of being that way. Whether you like Jerry Krause or not, that man brought six championships here. He didn't shoot a basket nor did he get a rebound, but he put six titles up in this arena. There's a lot of teams that only have one. That was really classless. I was disappointed in the people that booed. It was a sad thing."
The following night in San Antonio, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich echoed King's comments.
"I feel the same way about that as when Kawhi Leonard got booed here earlier this season. It’s unnecessary. It’s impolite. It’s ignorant. If anything, it’s like a snapshot of the world we live in today. Meanness seems to be a lot more condoned."
And then there was former Bulls member Steve Kerr, now the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, who witnessed the event firsthand on Friday when his Warriors were in town to play the Bulls.
"It's shameful," Kerr stated. "Absolutely shameful. I cannot believe — I'm devastated for Thelma and for the Krause family. What can we possibly be thinking? I cannot believe that the fans — and you have to understand, when you hear boos, it's not all of them, right? So the fans who booed, they know who they are."
"What are we doing? Whether people liked Jerry or not, whether they disagreed with the decision to move on, we're here to celebrate that team. Jerry did an amazing job building that team. Tonight and last night was all about the joy and love that that team shared with the city and I'm so disappointed in the fans, and I want to be specific because there are lots of fans, I'm sure, who did not boo. Both those who booed, they should be ashamed."
There's not much else I need to write here. It's all there. Awful. Heartless. Mean. Disgusting.
Pick whatever words you want for your own description.
Why on earth would someone do that to another person -- dead or alive -- with their wife sitting there at midcourt, hoping to bask in the glow of a ceremony honoring his memory and contribution to the Bulls? What's the benefit? What are you accomplishing? What's it say about you if you decided to boo Jerry Krause on Friday night?
And I bring up the story not so much to beat up on the morons in Chicago who booed Krause on Friday night, but to issue a reminder to folks here in Baltimore.
Our football team plays next weekend in a big game. Hopefully, they'll also play the weekend after that, too.
Despite their remarkable season and all, there's always a chance they might not win one of the next two games.
If they don't, it could get ugly in these parts.
Here's all I'm going to say: Don't be one of the ugly ones.
You can't control others, but you can control you. And if things happen to go sideways against the Texans or Steelers or the Bills or Chiefs the following weekend, just make sure you're not one of the ones who acts like a moron in the aftermath.
No scraps with opposing fans at the stadium. Don't get into a Twitter fight with one of the Raven players. No matter what you might think, they hurt more than you hurt when the team loses.
I'm hoping we don't have to deal with this at all. But I know how sports works. And I know how people are when their favorite team loses in a way that wasn't expected.
Let's not be "that way" if the Ravens lose. Shake on it?
But there's an even bigger story in the offing we need to monitor here in Baltimore.
It's no secret that Orioles owner Peter Angelos is in poor health. He has been for quite some time, in fact.
And when the day comes that he passes away -- we all do at some point, remember -- there's a high probability that people in Baltimore are going to act like morons.
You know it's going to happen.
Just make sure you're not one of them.
As Gregg Popovich said: It's rude and impolite. And it's unnecessary.
Angelos is a polarizing figure in town, there are no two ways about it.
But he's also someone who has done a lot of good in Baltimore, no matter what you might think about his ownership tenure of the Orioles.
And he's also a father and a husband, in addition to someone who helped keep ownership of the baseball team in Baltimore in 1993 when "outsiders" from points beyond were lurking and attempting to buy the franchise.
He's also been very generous with his money along the way, often times doing so without publicity or fanfare. It's a public story now, so I don't feel awkward sharing it, but when longtime radio broadcaster Ted Patterson lost his wife a dozen or years ago, Angelos privately helped fund her funeral.
The news of Peter's passing could come today. Or next month. Or it might not happen until this June or next June. Who knows?
But with the events of last Friday fresh in my mind, I thought it would be a good idea to mention two potential stories we might have to face in Baltimore sometime soon.
An improbable Ravens loss.
And the death of a somewhat controversial figure in the Baltimore sports community.
Either way, we owe it to the two parties involved to not act like degenerates if/when "things happen".
Let's not flood the airwaves with phone calls we shouldn't make or, do, say or post anything that will make us look like we're doing something out of spite.
The final sentence of Popovich's statement rings true: "If anything, it’s like a snapshot of the world we live in today. Meanness seems to be a lot more condoned."
Whenever it happens, we should treat Peter Angelos with respect. The way people in Chicago should have treated Jerry Krause last Friday night.
Meanness is condoned these days, for some weird reason. We've done it to ourselves.
And, so, I'm also here today to say something about a current radio personality in town that many of you have criticized here in the last year or so.
Frankly, I regret not saying this earlier.
I will no longer condone (which, in this case, means "allow") jokes, snide remarks or commentary about the weight of Jason LaCanfora from 105.7.
It's rude. It's impolite. And it's unnecessary. Thank you Gregg Popovich.
The Spurs coach is right. "Meanness seems to be a lot more condoned."
The internet has done that, of course. There's very little accountability any longer. You can post or write just about anything you want and you're not responsible for it.
This doesn't mean you're not allowed to have an opinion or voice that opinion. You are welcome to do that.
If you want to criticize LaCanfora as a broadcaster, you're welcome to do that. In the same way some of you criticized me when I was on the air, it comes with the territory.
If you want to criticize any media member here, you can do that. But we're no longer going to allow for personal commentary about their appearance, weight, etc. I'm ashamed it took me this long to call some of you out for that.
I've removed a number of posts about Jason that I felt were objectionable and will continue to do so if you elect to post commentary about his or people's weight or general appearance.
Come up with better material. Like poking fun at the Beatles. Or the Philadelphia Flyers. Or Thursday Night NFL football, which is still the worst thing the league has ever done. And that's saying something.
You can make fun of golf, Fred Couples, Training Day, the Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Vivek Ramaswamy, chinese food, Silver Oak (Napa or Alexander Valley), Ted Lasso, the Washington Capitals or anything else I like. No worries there.
But I'm not going to allow anyone to make fun of someone's appearance or weight. It's ugly.
And it serves as no benefit to anyone at all. It's unnecessary and, potentially, painful to the person you're lashing out at for no real reason at all.
Just like last Friday in Chicago, it makes you look bad when you act like a moron here.
So let's pledge that we're not gonna do it.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation. Trust me, it's not that hard to rise above the fray.
I know we can do it.
I don't believe in playing "scared" or anything like that, but hopefully yesterday's shocking win by the Packers in Dallas serves as a timely reminder to the Ravens.
Take the Texans seriously.
I don't think that's what happened to Dallas, per se. But they certainly looked shell-shocked early in the game when the Packers took it to them on the opening drive. And before the Cowboys knew what hit them, it was 20-0.
I can't imagine John Harbaugh will let the Ravens take Houston lightly.
But players sometimes do things on their own, the same way Dawson and Downey "supposedly" took matters into their own hands the night they gave Private Santiago the code red. Just last week, for example, Jameis Winston and the Saints offense eschewed a directive from their head coach to kneel out the game against Atlanta, instead plunging into the end zone and creating a firestorm.
So, John Harbaugh can talk about the Texans all week and implore his players to take them seriously, but it's then up to the players to listen and heed their coach's advice.
There are still players in Baltimore who were part of both the Chargers and Titans home playoff losses in '19 and '20. Even though they don't want to go there this week, I assume their mind might wander to those two fiascos.
Those two games and yesterday's Green Bay win in Dallas should be more than enough to get the Ravens to take the Texans seriously next Saturday.
Oh, and yes, I realize I'm getting the cart before the horse and it could be the Steelers who come to town next weekend if they somehow pull off a win over Buffalo today.
If that happens, just remove the word Texans above and insert the word Steelers. Same deal. Even though Pittsburgh stinks, you still have to give them their due...and then beat them 40-17.
A final shameless plug for this morning's show on 105.7 from 6-9 am. I'll be on the air with my old radio pal, Glenn Clark, as the Big Bad Morning Show takes the holiday morning off.
Glenn and I will talk Ravens, of course, plus we'll have a couple of special guests to help us sift through the first weekend of playoff football.
Oh, and don't forget...
Rumor has it we're going to be joined by a certain-football-fan from Indianapolis around 8:30 am. You know who it is, if you were a regular listener to my show from 2002 through 2014.
Yep, it's gonna be lots of fun.
 | dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
Maryland doubled up Illinois in the paint yesterday, a whopping 52 to 26, and in doing so handed the Fighting Illini a 76-67 home loss.
Big games by Jahmir Young (28 points, 8 assists) and Juju Reese (20 points, 11 rebounds) along with a solid team effort on the boards were the biggest factors in this road win against a top 10 Illinois team.
Young was outstanding and took advantage of the Illini lack of quickness at the guard position. He continually got to the paint, where he either converted or dished. Young’s 8 assists were matched against just 2 turnovers.
Reese achieved his double/double because he avoided foul trouble and was able to stay on the court.
His matchup with Coleman Hawkins was favorable because Hawkins doesn’t play much with his back to the basket, where Reese rapidly picks up fouls. Lacking the burden of having foul trouble, Reese was able to be very active defensively. HE was a factor on both ends of the court.
The Terrapins got down by as many as 9 points in the first half before climbing back into the game and briefly taking a 1-point lead before closing out the half down by 2.
Illinois helped Maryland’s cause with some really poor second half shooting. They were successful on just 9 of 40 second half shots including hitting on only 1 of 14 three-point tries.
The first 4 minutes had a very familiar feel. The Terps sandwiched two layups in between 4 misses in a row. They also lost Illinois guard Luke Goode twice and he made the Terps pay by draining a couple of early threes.
On the second three, Donta Scott closed out in such a lazy fashion that he earned himself a trip to the bench. Illinois led 10-5 after 4 minutes.
After the break, Maryland missed a three and Goode made this third triple within 5 minutes.
Willard had to call a timeout after UMD allowed 5 quick points. That included another wide open three, this time from Quincy Guerrier. The score was now 20-11.
Shooting woes were once again rearing their ugly heads for Maryland. The Terps were 5-15 from the field at this point, including 0-4 from the three-point line. Their defense was really disappointing, allowing the Illini to go 4 for 6 from long range.
Jaimie Kaiser was getting worked while trying to guard Markus Domask, showing his inability to guard at this level because of his slow foot speed. Domask scored 6 consecutive Illinois points, keeping his team comfortably ahead, 28-20 at the 8-minute mark.
Two quick Terp points from close range, they now had 18 points in the paint, closed the Fighing Illini lead to 4, 28-24 with 6:36 left in the half.
Maryland was doing a great job of hanging on the boards against a very good rebounding Illinois team. The totals were 16-15 in favor of the Terps.
The under 4-minute TV timeout came with 3:49 left to play in half number 1. The Terps trailed 33-30 and had possession under their own basket. Despite knocking down just 1 of 9 triples, their 22 points in the paint were keeping them in close contact with Illinois.
Noah Batchelor was inserted into the game after Scott twisted his ankle and immediately bombed a three. The game was tied at 33 with under three minutes left to play in the opening 20 minutes.
The Terps would take a single point lead, 35-34, after Reese backed down Dayne Dainja for an easy bucket from 5 feet away. Illinois would use the foul line and a short jumper by Dainja to take a 39-37 lead into halftime.
The Fighting Illini attempted 13 first half foul shots (hitting 10) while the Terps made just 5 of 6. Illinois was successful on 5 of 8 threes against just 2 of 12 for Maryland. The Terps were doing damage inside, owning the paint 26-14.
It was Young and Reese handling the offensive work for the Terps with 12 and 11 points respectively. Domask led Illinois with 13.
It was Young and Reese, again, starting the second half with back-to-back buckets giving the Terps a short lived 2-point lead. It lasted until Maryland left Domask all alone for a three, and he made it. The 22% three-point shooter was now 2 for 2 from deep.
When Reese found himself all alone right under the basket, his dunk off a Scott feed allowed the Terps to regain the lead. The score was 47-46 going into the first TV timeout of the second half at the 15:10 mark.
The under 12-minute time out came with 11:42 left in the game, Illinois going to the line, and Maryland holding their biggest lead, 52-48, after a Jordan Geronimo three from the right corner.
Only two Illinois players, Domask and Hawkins, had scored for them in the second half so far. At this point in the game, it was notable that the Terps had committed just a pair of turnovers.
Illinois was shooting 2 of 19 before Ty Rodgers made a runner from in front of the basket. Reese immediately answered for the Terps. The Illini called timeout after a slick Young runner gave him 20 points for the game and provided the Terrapins with their largest lead, 58-52.
Another Reese bucket pushed the lead to 8, but Illinois responded with four straight points. It was a rare Harris-Smith triple that ended the mini-run and put the Terps up 7, 66-59 with just 3:40 separating Maryland from a rare road win.
That three was huge, as the 4-point Illinois run had ignited the crowd. The three-pointer silenced them.
Maryland was being outscored 19-6 from the foul line and had made just 4 of 17 threes. Yet, they were clinging to a lead, 66-61, when Harris-Smith drove to the rim and drew Hawkins’ 5th foul, ending the Illinois center’s night. Unfortunately, the Terp freshman missed both foul shots.
When Young blocked a shot and then hit a short jumper off the glass, the Terps had had a 68-61 lead with under 2 minutes left.
Domask hit two shots in a row (Kaiser had no chance guarding this kid) before Young was fouled and converted two foul shots with 1:01 left to play.
Illinois would score just 2 more points the rest of the way, and the Terps cruised to the unlikely 9-point victory, 76-67.
Maryland played hard yesterday, as evidenced by their 41-41 draw on the glass. Yes, they had some favorable matchups and Illinois shot horribly in the second half, but this was a total team effort.
And I emphasize “EFFORT”. I was a bit disheartened by Scott’s first half defensive intensity, but outside of that I thought that Maryland team played hard. They matched or exceeded the Illini effort in every phase of the game.
I have to admit to being a bit baffled by seeing Jamie Kaiser frequently called on to check Domask. The Illini transfer from Southern Illinois frequently undressed Kaiser. Domask had 26 points, and scored on everyone that attempted to guard him, but he especially torched Kaiser.
There were some big plays in this game, but perhaps none were bigger than the Harris-Smith three with exactly 4 minutes left in the game.
Maryland’s 8-point lead had been cut to 4 with plenty of time remaining in the game. Harris-Smith found himself open for a three, and he nailed it. It broke some Illinois momentum and from that point on you could really believe that this contest could end in a Terp “W”.
The Terp freshman is a 16% three-point shooter. I’m sure the Illini faithful were happy he shot it, until it went in.
The Terps next have a Wednesday date against Boo Buie at Northwestern (3-2, 12-4). Gametime is 9 pm.
| Sunday January 14, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3432 |
January Joe turned into January Joke with two third quarter throws.
The Dolphins couldn't swim in the frigid, icy waters of Kansas City.
And now all that stands between the Ravens and an encounter with the rapidly improving Houston Texans is a (likely) loss by the Steelers in Buffalo tomorrow afternoon.
I say this a lot: The team that thinks they're really good is often times more dangerous than the team that actually is really good.
I'm hoping that theory doesn't play out here in Baltimore next Saturday if, in fact, it's the Texans who come trotting into town for the Ravens' playoff opener.
Houston battered the Browns yesterday. And that Cleveland defense that everyone thought so highly of? Not so good against C.J. Stroud and the rest of that Texans offense.
Now, it's fair to point out that 14 of the 45 Houston points came as a result of Cleveland's offense giving points to the Texans, but even still, Stroud and Company looked the Browns defense in the eye and said the same thing you and I said the first time we heard the Beatles Abbey Road album from start to finish: "You're really not that good after all."
And Joe Flacco, it turned out, didn't have any more rabbits to pull out of his playoff hat.
He was good early on, for sure. The game had all the makings of an instant classic in the first quarter before Houston pulled out to a 24-14 halftime lead.
Then, disaster struck early in the third quarter, as Flacco threw two pick-six interceptions within minutes of one another. 24-14 turned into 31-14 and then 38-14.
Ballgame.
And the Texans were moving on while the Browns were moving back home, still in search of that elusive first-ever Super Bowl trip.
If Pittsburgh somehow shocks the Bills tomorrow, Houston will play in Kansas City next Saturday while the Ravens will play host to the Steelers in Charm City on Sunday. If form holds out and the Bills win, the Chiefs will be on the road for the first time in Patrick Mahomes' playoff career on Sunday while the Texans will visit Baltimore on Sunday.
Last night's game in Kansas City went as expected, score wise, but it was complete lunacy that the NFL allowed the game to be played in the first place.
The next time the league issues fines in the name of "player safety", every player in the league should send a check for one penny back to the league with a note in the memo section: Dolphins at Chiefs, 1/13/24, player safety no longer exists
Just like they did with the Bills/Steelers game, the league should have moved last night's game to either sometime today or Monday in light of the sub-zero temperatures they forced people to encounter in an effort to attend, work, or play in the game itself.
Other than television -- which, we all know, is practically what drives every decision the league makes -- there was zero reason to play the game last night.
Alas, it went off as scheduled, and the Dolphins were lifeless. The Chiefs weren't a whole lot better, mind you, but the 26-7 decision is in the books and that's that.
Yes, football is an outdoor sport. Played in the elements and all.
Yes, games with similar temperatures have been played as scheduled in the past.
That excuse, of all of them, is the dumbest one I've ever heard. Just because you ran the red light at Ridgely and York Road once because you were in a hurry to get to First Watch in Timonium for their awesome oatmeal doesn't mean you should run it again next time and the time after that.
Maybe it's because I recently watched that movie about the 9 people who died trying to climb Mount Everest that has me worried about super-duper cold weather. I don't know. But that, last night, was one of the dumbest things the league has ever done.
Oh, and I had the Chiefs and the under, so I was thrilled with how the game turned out. But the fact they even played is the clubhouse leader (early, granted) for #Clownshoes Moment of the Year.
Editor's note: Did you know it costs you upwards of $60,000 to climb Mount Everest? True story. You have to be part of a group climb and they are run by several Nepalese companies who provide guides, permits, tents and insurance. Can you imagine giving them $60,000 and then going up there and never coming back down?
So, with last night's loss to the Chiefs, Miami put the finishing touches on one of the better late season collapses we've seen in the NFL in recent years.
A month ago, they were humming along nicely like the first side of U2's great album, The Joshua Tree.
Then, they lost at home to the Titans after squandering a late two-touchdown lead and that defeat seemed to do something to their chakras. They were never quite right after that.
It's fair to point out the Dolphins got annihilated with key injuries in December and early January, but they were a shell of themselves by the time they got to Kansas City last night for their playoff ouster.
And once the game kicked off and the frigid weather kicked in, they were done.
Buffalo has to get past Pittsburgh first, of course, but this is all setting up well for the Bills to be in Baltimore on January 28 playing for the right to go to the Super Bowl.
Oh, and yes, I'm well aware the Ravens have to beat the Texans, too.
Will that one be a walk-in-the-park? I don't think so.
The match-up smells eerily similar to the Chargers-Ravens and Titans-Ravens playoff encounters we've all tried to push out of our brains.
Houston is coming in hot. And, as I noted above, they're actually at the point now where they're actually believing in themselves and thinking they're a really good team.
Had Cleveland won, though, the Ravens would have been facing a similar foe. Either way, even if it's Pittsburgh next Sunday, the Ravens have to face a team coming in off of a win while John Harbaugh's team sat home and rested in front of the fireplace.
If it's the Texans, we're in for a week of hearing how great C.J. Stroud is, so you better buckle up now or put in earplugs.
Personally? As much as it pains me to say this: I'd much prefer the Steelers to beat Buffalo tomorrow. That would eliminate the one team (Bills) I think is a potentially concerning match-up for the Ravens and would give Baltimore a cakewalk next Sunday and then they'd host either K.C. or Houston in the AFC Championship Game.
But, like everyone else, I'll just sit and watch it all unfold and take whatever comes our way.
A few questions from the mailbag that I haven't gotten to in forever.
Miles asks -- "Hey Drew, I'm curious if you have any kind of formula or data you use to put together your golf betting cards? I'm getting a little more into golf wagering this year and even though I know the fields pretty well and can figure out who the favorites are based on stuff from the PGA Tour website, I'm wondering if you have any other tips to follow?"
DF says -- "It's almost all about the golf course, the previous success (or not) of the players at that course, and what kind of winners the event (assuming it's on the same course) has produced in the past. So, yes, there's a formula of sorts, but it's more about research than it is data, per se.
This week's Sony is a good example. As I write this, Keegan Bradley is now in the lead late in the 3rd round. He's a premium ball striker on TOUR. The Waialae Country Club has a long list of great ballstrikers as their champions: Jimmy Walker won it twice, Hideki Matsuyama, Si Woo Kim and Cameron Smith were also recent winners. All of them are known far more for their ballstriking than putting, although in the weeks they won at Waialae, they putted out of their minds.
I took guys like Corey Conners, Andrew Putnam, Brendon Todd and Chris Kirk this week for those reasons. None of them are known as great putters, but they are sublime ballstrikers. I needed their putter(s) to get hot. Sadly, only Kirk has a chance to win today. Todd and Putnam were both right there until Saturday when they couldn't make a birdie to save their lives.
Anyway, looking ahead to this coming week's American Express Championship, go do the research on who has played the course(s) well over the years and what kind of winner the event has produced. At that particular tournament, you're going to see an expected final score of something around -23 or -24 next week.
Look at the recent winners: Rahm, Swafford, Si Woo Kim, Landry, Long. A couple of names you know in there, but also some folks who were definitely surprise winners.
Find a few birdie makers who are middle of the pack kind of guys if you're looking for a potential "big score" next week: I haven't even looked at the field in-depth yet, but guys like Taylor Montgomery, Brandon Wu, Ben Griffin and Adam Schenk stand out to me as the kind of player that might prosper next week at a really good price."
Bart asks -- "Are you discouraged by what the Orioles have done or haven't done actually in the off-season?"
DF says -- "Not really. The only way you'd be discouraged is if you thought they actually were going to do something. And I assumed all along they weren't really going to spend any money because that's just not what they do.
Now, is it discouraging that they haven't traded for a front of the rotation pitcher? Sure. But, again, perhaps the White Sox want too much inventory for Dylan Cease. It's one thing to trade for a piece you need. It's another thing to trade for that guy and get fleeced at the same time.
And, I'll always be the guy in the back of the room reminding you they won 101 games last year and didn't do anything crazy in the 2022-2023 off-season, either.
I'll rely on Mike Elias and his expertise at this point. He's earned that. If he thinks standing pat and waiting for a veteran to fall into his lap is the right move, I'll sign off on it."
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
Maryland will tackle Illinois today in a 2 pm game at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
For the second straight game, the Terps will face a team that has lost their best player. The Fighting Illini are without the services of Terrance Shannon Jr who has been suspended because of a sexual assault charge. His appeal of the suspension is pending.
Unlike Michigan, who was kind of toothless without Dub McDaniel, Illinois has enough sufficient talent without Shannon that they have been able to maintain their #10 ranking nationally.
The Fighting Illini will start 4 forwards and one guard, Luke Goode.
The 6’7” sophomore, Goode, is not your traditional point guard. He’s not quick off the dribble and he can’t break down a defender. He’s a pretty solid ball handler though, and a real good 3-point shooter (40%).
What he can’t do is guard Maryland’s Jahmir Young. Goode doesn’t possess the foot speed to stay in front of the Maryland star.
It’s hard to believe that the Illini could be ranked so high without having a true point or a premier big man. OK, they do have a big man with 6’10” Coleman Hawkins, but Hawkins is much more comfortable running the floor and shooting from outside than he is posting down low.
He’s 38% when shooting threes. Hawkins wore out Julian Reese when the two met last season, outscoring Reese 16-5 while holding the Terp center to just 1 field goal.
Hawkins is very active and gets up and down the court. He’s really long too, but I don’t consider him a lock-down defender in the post. He averages almost 11 points a game, good for 4th on this team.
Outside of Shannon’s 21.7 points, the Illinois leader is Marcus Domask.
Domask gets 14.1, but isn’t much of a long-range threat (22%). However, he has pretty much mastered the long-lost art of the mid-range game, and his spin moves while driving to the bucket are tough to guard.
He plays smart and he’s another member of the big Illinois lineup. They will start 6’10”, 6’8”, 6’6”, 6’6”, and 6’7”.
The 6’8” player is a guy who should worry Maryland. Quincy Guerrier is big and strong and really good around the basket.
I’m not sure what Terp would match up best with Guerrier. Perhaps Jordan Geronimo and his impressive vertical jump can defend Guerrier, but I feel Donta Scott is too slow to defend the quick moves and dribble drives of the 5th year senior who spent 2 years with Syracuse and another 2 at Oregon.
Here’s why I like Illinois tonight, and then I’ll touch on what I like about the Terps chances.
Illinois plays hard. They will go after every rebound and what they don’t grab, they will tip around. They have a tall lineup, and all of those guys are aggressive.
Guerrier is a match-up problem and Reese could struggle defending Coleman on the perimeter. Another big factor: Illinois is home.
Here’s what favors the Terrapins: While the Illini can put size on Young, only Ty Rogers is quick enough to attempt to defend Young.
Young will get inside and Illinois lacks an intimidator in the paint. I also like the prospects of Maryland’s press vs the Illini ball handlers. This is a high turnover team for coach Brad Underwood.
If The Terps can set up and effectively run their press, they might get some cheap buckets.
I think the Terps can post up Domask and have success inside, and Reese will have some success scoring with his left hand over Hawkins.
Illinois plays fast, hard, and with good verticality. The Terps need to match that energy, especially on the glass. If they don’t, this game could get ugly.
Reese MUST contain Coleman Hawkins on the perimeter, and Deshawn Harris-Smith needs to be a lock-down defender on Domask.
If Maryland can achieve these keys, then they can keep this game close. I’m not sure they can win, but they might surprise a few people who think this is going to be a blowout.
This Illinois team is nice, but without Shannon, they are a bit over-ranked at #10.
They do have an impressive resume with their 3 losses all being away from home and against ranked teams. Of their 12 wins, only the 3-point Michigan State victory was close. The rest were no stress wins.
The Terrapins deliberate style will help slow down the game and keep Illinois from posting huge offensive numbers. The Terp one-two punch of Young and Reese will help keep the game within reach.
I’m looking at a 73-67 win for the Fighting Illini. The books initially had this game at UMD +9.5, and it was quickly bet down to 8.5.
| Saturday January 13, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3431 |
Here's a quick shameless promotion that will dovetail into today's topic quite nicely.
This Monday morning from 6 am to 9 am, I'll be doing the 105.7 Morning Show with my old radio pal, Glenn Clark. I'm sure we'll have a great time together. And there will be plenty to discuss.
By the time Glenn and I convene on Monday, we'll know who the Ravens will face next week in their opening playoff game.
Oh, and here's a treat for those of you who are "old school" listeners to my former radio show in town. We'll apparently be getting a call from an old friend from Indianapolis at 8:30 am on Monday. So, yeah, you'll want to tune in for that.
But more importantly, we'll know exactly who is coming to town next weekend to get the playoff campaign started for John Harbaugh's team.
Two AFC games take place today and one takes place tomorrow.
In Houston this afternoon (4:30 pm), the Texans battle the Browns in a game that has actually turned into quite an intriguing match-up now that C.J. Stroud is back. Cleveland comes in with ageless Joe Flacco at the helm and a defense that can make just about any offense turn into pudding.
Judging by sports talk callers and social media posts, the majority of Baltimore football fans don't want to see Cleveland in Baltimore next weekend.
While I've written here before about the football gods and the role they occasionally play, I don't really care one way or the other if it's the Browns or Texans in Baltimore next weekend.
I can make an argument for/against either of them playing the Ravens and the various comfort levels I would have with each one.
In short, I'm not afraid of the Ravens having to face Joe Flacco. But I wouldn't want to see that Cleveland defense if I could avoid it.
On the flip side, I'd probably prefer not to face C.J. Stroud, but Houston's defense doesn't concern me at all.
So, bring 'em on, I say.
My call? I actually think Houston is going to win today. I don't have any analysis or fancy stats-stuff to back that up. Just a "feel" thing. I like the way the Texans responded when Stroud returned late in the season. And while I respect the roll that Cleveland went on when Flacco showed up, I think their balloon has to lose air at some point.
Texans 27 - Browns 23
In Kansas City tonight (8:00 pm), the Dolphins visit the Chiefs in what some historians are saying could be the coldest game in league history.
The high today in Kansas City will be 8 degrees.
At kick-off, it's expected to be zero degrees and the wind-chill index is going to be somewhere around 25 below zero.
And that leads to two questions.
1. Why wasn't this game played at 1 pm? This weather forecast didn't pop up out of nowhere. It was in play last Sunday night when the various game times were announced. The broadcast team during the Dolphins/Bills game even referenced it saying, "And they're calling for record-low temperatures in Kansas City next weekend, so the Dolphins have extra reason to win this game."
Sure, 8 degrees isn't all that different than 0 degrees. But, still.
And I do know the answer, obviously. "Television".
The league is going to look awfully foolish if a player or spectator suffers some sort of temperature-related death or condition because they wanted to put Miami and Kansas City on Peacock. But that's neither here nor there at this point.
2. Why not move the game to Sunday or Monday, even? The weather won't be as bad. Monday is a national holiday. You could play the game at 4:00 pm.
Anyway, that's all I have to say about that. In summary, I realize it's football and it's an outdoor sport and "men have to be men" and all that other garbage, but it's stupid to play football tonight when it's 0 degrees and the wind-chill is 25 below zero. It's just stupid.
The game itself should be a real doozy given the weather.
I know the conventional wisdom is it helps Kansas City, since the Dolphins' record in temps below 40 degrees is awful and Tua's performance in cold temperatures is worse than awful, if that's possible.
But Miami can run the football, which is likely going to be the recipe for success tonight.
I do understand Kansas City is built for the weather far more than the Dolphins are, but it wouldn't totally shock me if somehow Miami kept this one close. I'm not so sure the Chiefs are all that good, by the way, which should also help.
Chiefs 17 - Dolphins 7
If you're one of those folks who saw that I suggested moving tonight's Chiefs/Bills game and thinks I'm crazy for even bringing that up, you should probably know the league is considering doing just that with with Sunday's 1 pm game in Buffalo between the Bills and Steelers.
They're getting so much snow up in Buffalo that the Bills are paying people -- anyone, just go to the stadium and sign up -- $20 an hour to help shovel the stadium today and tonight in anticipation of playing the game on Sunday.
Some options include moving the game to Monday or, potentially, even Tuesday.
The Bills/Steelers game could impact the Ravens next weekend if Pittsburgh somehow happens to win.
If tomorrow's game is shoved to Monday or Tuesday, it would almost certainly mean that the Ravens wouldn't play until next Sunday. And is there a chance the league would move the Ravens home game to next Monday night instead of the traditional Sunday game if the Steelers and Bills don't play until Tuesday of this week?
And then what happens if, say, the Ravens-Steelers game is moved to Monday the 22nd and the Ravens win...would the AFC Championship Game still be played on the following Sunday, despite the Ravens having potentially two fewer days of rest than their opponent in Baltimore?
The bet here is the league would only move the Bills/Steelers to Monday. They wouldn't wait until Tuesday. But if the Governor of New York issues a travel restriction for upstate New York and no one is allowed on the roads on Monday, what's the other option?
The league definitely wants that game played on Sunday. They're going to push every button they can to make sure it happens. Moving it to Monday would create some issues in both planning and fairness for the remaining teams.
On the field, once the game is played, the Steelers stand little chance.
The loss of their biggest impact player -- rush end T.J. Watt -- has virtually silenced any chances they have of winning.
Buffalo runs the ball well, which will help the Bills offense in the event cold and wind restrict the idea of throwing the ball.
Pittsburgh doesn't do much of anything well, except fight to the bitter end. That's one trait of Mike Tomlin teams that bodes well for them in nasty conditions. The Steelers are nothing if not resilient.
This all continues to set up well for the Ravens, who will watch these respective frigid fiascos from the warmth of their living room(s) this weekend.
Oh, and remember earlier this week when I whispered here that a bird in Owings Mills told me Mark Andrews was up and about and moving well at The Castle? Well, he was seen on the practice field yesterday and will apparently be available for selection whenever the Ravens do play their playoff opener.
One last thing. Lots of people keep asking me when I think the Ravens are going to play next weekend, all things being equal with the weather and all.
Logic tells me if they wind up playing Cleveland, Houston or Miami that the game would be next Saturday in Baltimore.
And if they wind up playing Pittsburgh, the game would be on Sunday.
It wouldn't be fair to the Steelers to play Sunday in Buffalo and Saturday in Baltimore when the stadium in Charm City is available on Sunday.
I realize the only thing the league cares about is television. I get that, as evidenced by the fact that they're charging people money to watch this game tonight in Kansas City.
I do understand it: If CBS says they want the Ravens and Steelers to play at 8:00 pm next Saturday night, that's when the game gets played, no matter if that's fair to the Steelers or not fair to the Steelers.
But I do think there's a slight obligation to being fair that the league does embrace. And, thus, if somehow the planets align correctly and the Steelers stumble into a win in the same way the Beatles stumbled into two good songs on The White Album, I suspect they'll be in Baltimore next Sunday.
Otherwise, if it's Houston, Cleveland or Miami in Baltimore, I'm guessing it's Saturday.
| Friday January 12, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3430 |
I think I have an easy explanation for it, but I won't reveal it now and ruin the suspense.
Give me a few minutes.
Dale Williams will unpack last night's Maryland win over Michigan in his game review below. He references the attendance, as you'll see.
I had two other friends at the game last night besides Dale, who was there covering the contest for this website, of course.
"There might not be 4,000 fans here," one friend texted me.
"How much time left in the first half?" I asked.
Weeknight crowds are notoriously slow arriving, particularly down in the D.C. area where you have to deal with that insanely frustrating traffic.
"4 minutes left in the first half, MD down 27-17," he replied.
"This place is a ghost town," he wrote to me.
It's fair to point out, right from the start, that Maryland's full student base is not yet back in class.
There are a couple of thousand students there, yes, but they're actually there for studies, not sports. It's unlikely they're all going to make their way to a mid-week basketball game.
So, yes, if this game was on February 11 instead of January 11 and there were 4,000 people in the place on a Thursday against Michigan, that would really be cause for concern.
But it's still an issue now, on January 11, when you can't get 8,000 or 10,000 people to a game. I mean, it is Maryland basketball. They play in the Big Ten. I get it, the team isn't very good. But the Big Ten is the Big Ten. No pun intended, it's a big deal.
For the record, the school announced last night's crowd as 12,007.
I sent my friend a text who was at the game and he said, "No chance that number is accurate."
All that said, 4,000 or even 6,000 people to see a Maryland basketball game is not cool. That should happen when they play Wagner or Furman on a Thursday in early December, not the University of Michigan in the middle of the conference campaign.
It's obvious now that Kevin Willard by himself isn't fixing Maryland basketball.
If he could have, he would have.
Last year was the honeymoon season, where just about anything Willard was able to pull off was considered a monumental success. Despite a horrid road record in the Big Ten and a first-weekend dismissal in the NCAA Tournament, most loyal Terps followers thought the program was back on track.
Yeah, not so much.
The team is in big trouble on the court, as we've all seen over the last four weeks or so.
They're likely not going to make March Madness unless something really magical and unexpected happens over the next two months.
And if you think no one's going to the games now and no one's caring now -- wait until late February when they're 5-11 in the conference and going nowhere.
I know what you're thinking: "How are they gonna win 5?"
But you know what I mean. When they're stumbling and bumbling at 5-11, you'll be able to sit anywhere you want in the Xfinity Center.
Why, though?
What has happened?
Is it just about winning and winning alone?
Maybe.
There's no doubt: winning helps.
But there's more to it than that.
And, let's not forget, you can't win every year. At some point, you're going to lose. And when you do, does everyone just suddenly stop going to the games?
I don't think people are down on this year's Maryland basketball team.
I think people are just down on Maryland basketball in general.
And I think people are down on going to live sporting events that aren't extra, super-duper special.
Even then, it's still a push to get people to come to the games.
Here's a dirty little secret no one talks about at parties.
The Orioles didn't sell out the four ALCS games they were potentially going to host in last year's baseball playoffs.
Now, they would have sold them out, I think. But when tickets went on sale to the general public, those four games didn't sell out.
Can you believe that? They couldn't sell 160,000 tickets to the four most important baseball games this town had (potentially) seen in 30 years.
And that's NOT the fault of the Orioles. Not at all.
People's affection for going to live sporting events has changed dramatically over the last decade or two.
They have to be really moved to make that decision to buy the seats, carve out travel time, sit in the stadium, watch the game, fight the traffic, etc.
In the 1980's and 1990's, we lived for those opportunities.
These days, we'd prefer to just sit home and watch it there.
Camera angles, stats, analysis, not to mention not buying tickets, paying for parking, food, etc. Everything I've just written makes it a better decision to stay home and watch it.
We've been conditioned to stay home and watch sports on TV and, so, that's what we're doing.
Now, this attendance dilemma the Terps are dealing with? It's on them. A little bit.
But it's on everyone else, mostly.
You either want to go watch Big Ten basketball or you don't.
If the team's 7-1 in the conference, you'll go? But if they're 1-7 in the conference, you won't?
With friends like you, who needs enemies, right?
And this is not meant to pick on you, individually. A lot of people get their feelings hurt when the subject of attendance comes up, as if they're somehow being personally indicted.
I was thrilled to buy baseball playoff tickets this year. I was equally thrilled to buy 60 AFC Championship Game tickets a couple of weeks ago.
I only went to four regular season Orioles games last year. And two Ravens regular season games in the 2023 regular season.
I haven't been to College Park yet this basketball season.
The last time I went to a Maryland football game, the Beatles had a hit record.
Wait, that's inaccurate. I haven't been to a Maryland football game since the 1990's. The Beatles had a hit once, but I think it was before 1990. Anyway, I digress.
This might sound corny, but if you gave me courtside seats to a Wizards or Terps basketball game or I could zip over to Calvert Hall and watch the Cardinals play a MIAA or Catholic League game, I'd just do that. I get there in 8 minutes.
We -- all of us -- just don't go to big time sporting events the way we used to go to sporting events.
Life gets in the way.
When I was 20, I'd go to every game I could. Baseball, football, hockey, whatever it was, I'd go.
Forty years later, I'm not going as much. Neither are you, either.
So while it's easy to blame Maryland basketball for last night's attendance fiasco, let's remember the Athletic Department can't drive around College Park and Prince George's County and deliver people to the games.
You have to want to go to the games.
And attendance this season would indicate that you're not that interested in going.
It is what it is.
Thank God for that $52 million in TV money.
The Bill Belichick era ended in New England yesterday in one of the more surprising and bizarre coaching departures of the last 20 years in professional sports.
It's not a shock that Belichick's days with the Patriots are done. No one can coach forever.
It's more about the way it happened. Out of nowhere yesterday morning, the news broke and that was that.
No ceremonial final game?
No grand piano or sleek sports car as a going away gift?
No "Belichick Plaza" or anything of that kind?
It's just over?
Coaching in New England on Wednesday.
No longer coaching in New England on Thursday.
I didn't see that one coming.
The bet here is Belichick can't go out like this.
He'll have to coach somewhere in the league right away...in 2024.
L.A., Atlanta, D.C., Seattle, Nashville. One of those teams is hiring him.
It's one thing if, fingers crossed this doesn't happen, Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh go on a crazy-improbable run and win the Super Bowl and Mike Tomlin announces the day after that he's leaving the Steelers.
He'd be going out a winner.
On "his terms", as they like to say.
Belichick is leaving the Patriots in shambles.
I mean, they lost to the Jets at home in their season finale. I think Richard Todd might have been at QB for New York in that one.
The departure of arguably the best coach of the modern era is beyond bizarre when you take into account you have to assume he earned the right to go out in whatever fashion he deemed suitable for himself.
Say what you will about John Harbaugh, but I think we'd all agree he's earned that right in Baltimore. He'll leave when he wants to leave, in other words.
And, maybe that's what happened with Belichick. He left when he wanted to leave, which is as fair as fair can be when you look at what he did with the Patriots.
But I'd have a hard time believing this is how Belichick wanted his New England tenure to end.
Getting slapped around in 2022 and 2023?
You want everyone to remember that about your final days with the Patriots?
They're not quite a laughing stock, but they have LAUGHING and ST at this point.
We haven't even brought up Tom Brady yet. His departure, and Super Bowl win in Tampa Bay, has created an interesting discussion about the importance of each of them within the organization; did Brady make Belichick or did Belichick make Brady?
There probably isn't a right answer, even though recency bias wants us all to believe that Belichick became Belichick because of Brady more than Brady became Brady because of Belichick.
Somewhere buried in the burning bones is the truth. And the truth involves Belichick and owner Robert Kraft far more than it involves anything else.
Why the change of heart?
We might not ever know.
Powerful people do weird things sometimes.
Belichick was powerful.
But not as powerful as Kraft.
Maybe it's as simple as Belichick wanting a change.
Perhaps he sees the situation in New England for what it is: They're a franchise without a star quarterback and not much of an offense. Odds are they're going to have to fight hard to win 5 or 6 games next year. And the year after that might not be favorable, either.
It could just be that simple. Belichick likes to win. He's not getting any younger. And he just isn't all that interested in being part of a rebuilding initiative.
That could be it.
But no matter where he goes -- assuming he wants to coach again in 2024 -- it's unlikely he's going to a club that has the makings of a championship team right away.
Even if he goes to the Chargers or Seahawks, it's not like he's signing with a team who is a step away from a Super Bowl berth.
This one's weird.
The sport's ultimate winner just up and quitting.
Or up and getting fired.
One of those two things happened, no matter what you might read about "mutual decision" and all.
Bill either walked into Kraft's office and said, "I don't want to do this next season" or Kraft walked into Bill's office and said, "I think we're making a change in your department."
Whatever happened, this much is true: I never thought it would end the way it did.
Bill Belichick's not a quitter.
And Robert Kraft isn't crazy enough to just walk in three days after the season ends and fire one of the best coaches in the history of the NFL.
Weird times...
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
The three point shot is the great equalizer in college basketball, and the Maryland Terrapins used it to defeat the Michigan Wolverines last night, 64-57 in College Park.
After hitting just 1 of 11 threes in the first 20 minutes, the Terps advanced to 2-3 in the Big Ten and 10-6 overall by making 6 of 10 in the second half.
It was a reversal of fortunes for the Wolverines. They made 5 of 9 triples in the first half, only to get blanked from long range (0-5) in the second.
Surprisingly, it was Maryland’s Donta Scott who led the long-range assault, going 4-4 in the second half after missing all three first half attempts. Two of those misses didn’t even draw iron. Jamie Kaiser Jr hit the other two second half Terrapin triples.
Scott paced all scorers with 22 points, 20 of which game in the second half. Julian Reese had 14, followed by Jahmir Young with 12 and DeShawn Harris-Smith with 10.
Maryland held a 7-point advantage in free throws made (exactly the final margin of victory) and scored all of their points in the final 4 minutes from the foul line.
The game started with both teams trying to establish their big men.
The bigs did not respond accordingly.
A few turnovers, errant foul shots, and misses from the floor later, and the Terps were down 7-6 going into the first break. Maryland was 0-2 from the three-point line and 0-3 from the foul line.
Michigan was 1-2 and 2-2, but were losing the turnover battle 3-2.
The second TV timeout came at 11:54, and the score hadn’t changed. The game was ugly.
Michigan had 4 turnovers and just 2 buckets, while the Terrapins were even at 3 and 3. There were a combined 15 missed attempts from the field, with just 5 shots made. The good news is there was almost nobody in the stands to witness this start that hardly resembled major conference basketball.
Maryland’s scoring frustrations had spanned over 6 minutes, but they were only down by 4 points, 10-6. While the home Terrapins were going 1 for 10 from the field, the Wolverines were also struggling to find the bottom of the net, going 0 for their last 8.
It took a backcourt steal and subsequent layup by Jahmir Young, to break the now 7-minute field goal drought. Another Michigan turnover brought about by the Maryland press allowed the Terps to score again.
Yet another Terrapin press caused turnover wrapped up play before the under 8-minute timeout. The Terps led 15-13.
Michigan had made 4 of their 13 tries from the field and had more turnovers (7) than shots made. Maryland was 0-8 from the three-point line, failing to damage their reputation as one of college basketball’s worst shooting teams.
The timeout break was not kind to the Terps.
The Wolverines ran off 10 consecutive points, highlighted by a pair of threes. The scoring burst occurred in just 1:28. Willard called timeout, but to no avail as the Terps immediately gave up the ball and another 2 points.
The score was 27-17 with 4:01 remaining in the first half. At this juncture of the game, Maryland had 7 turnovers against just one lonely assist.
Young finally broke the three-point lid off of the Terp basket, but the Wolverines answered with a trey of their own. It was the 4th of the half for the visitors.
A banked in Michigan three was a microcosm of the initial 20 minutes. While Michigan missed that shot badly enough to actually make it, Maryland had a successful triple waved off because of a foul whistled a fraction of a second before Scott let a three-ball fly. When it rains, it pours.
A flurry of buckets late in the half had pushed Michigan to nice shooting numbers for the opening 20 minutes. They were 50% from the field, 55% from the three-point line, and 75% at the foul line.
The Terp respective numbers were 33%, 9%, and just 44% from the foul line. The Wolverines had 4 players with at least 6 points. Maryland had just one, Young with 10. The Terrapins had a 33-21 hole out of which to climb.
A stop by Maryland and a trip to the foul line started the Terps second half. Harris-Smith hit both free throws. The two teams then exchanged layups before the Terps came up with another Michigan turnover.
Reese converted the mistake on a nice feed by Harris-Smith that was shortly followed by an acrobatic Harris-Smith layup. In just 2:17 the gap between the two teams was only 6, 35-29. The Wolverines coach, Juwan Howard felt the time was right for a timeout.
Maryland’s 2nd three of the night, this time by Scott, brought the deficit to 5 and allowed the Terps to set up their press. An immediate steal and layup by Reese continued to diminish the gap. The score was now 39-36, with Michigan still ahead.
When Scott hit another triple at 12:51, the small crowd got loud and the Wolverine lead was now just a deuce, 41-39. The under 12 timeout was preceded by Jamie Kaiser’s three ball, making the score 43-42 with 11:36 left in the game. The building had some energy, as Maryland had outscored Michigan 21-10.
Maryland got into the bonus at exactly the 10:00 minute mark, and used it to tie the game with two Scott foul shots.
The lead finally changed hands back to Maryland when Scott drained yet another deep one. Michigan reclaimed it back until Scott launched his fourth successful three of the half.
The Terp forward had scored 16 points while going 4 for 4 from both the foul line and the three-point line. He did this in just 12:51. The score was 52-50 in favor of Maryland with 7:09 left. A 5 to 0 difference in second half threes was largely responsible for the massive turnaround.
Kaiser drained a corner three, and Scott floated a left- handed hook-shot to bloat the Terp lead to 7, 58-51. Maryland was on a 6 for 10 second half three-point shooting roll.
The final TV timeout came at 3:30 with Maryland leading 58-53 and Michigan at the foul line shooting two. Tarvis Reed connected on both.
When Michigan’s Olivier Nkamoua hit a nice baseline “J”, the Terps lead was just one point. Two Young free throws then made it the lead three, 60-57.
With Michigan now also in the bonus, Young fouled Burnett. Burnett missed the front end, but Michigan got the ball back when Kaiser traveled. There was 1:36 remaining in the game. Terrance Williams took a fade away jumper that was mostly in, until it popped out. The Terps secured the rebound.
Maryland had their second chance to gain some breathing room squelched by another turnover. This time a shot clock violation.
Michigan’s attempt to trim the lead with a short floater was tossed into the stands by Resse. Michigan retained possession and called a timeout with 36.2 left and the score 60-57. Michigan would inbound the ball on their right baseline.
Nimari Burnett’s layup was smothered by Reese and the Terp center was fouled with 23.2 left and Reese shooting twice. He converted both. 62-57, Terps.
A wild and contested short jumper by Williams never had a chance, and the ball was secured by Maryland. This time Scott was fouled and he also made both. The game ended with Burnett missing a three and Maryland enjoying a 64-57 win after dominating the second half, 43-24.
College basketball is a funny game. When the threes start to drop a team that scored just 21 points in the first half, can produce 43 in the second. The Terps were pretty anemic from the floor for most of the night. 38 of their points came from the three-point line and the foul line, just 26 came from inside the arc.
Michigan badly missed their suspended point guard, and leading scorer, Dug McDaniel. This was one of the highest scoring offenses in the Big Ten, but without their playmaker they looked a bit unorganized offensively. The 57 points they posted was a full 20 points under their season average, McDaniel averages about 18 by himself.
In an odd twist of fate, the Terps will next play Illinois who could also be without their suspended leading scorer, Terrance Shannon Jr.
Shannon Jr has been implicated in a sexual assault and was suspended by the school. That decision has been challenged in court by Shannon and his legal team. A decision is pending.
The Illinois star is the second leading scorer in the Big Ten at 21.7 points per game.
It’s a 2 pm start on Sunday, in Champaign Illinois, televised by BTN.
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faith in sports |
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Steph Curry's Hall of Fame career (someday) has put him in the spotlight as a basketball player that boys and girls can emulate as they climb the ranks of junior basketball.
But Curry is much more than "just" a basketball player.
He's someone we can all share our faith will as well.
This 10 minute video, just released late last month, is perhaps the most in-depth look ever provided about Curry and his deep faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
I think you'll be very impressed with him. You're already impressed with him as a basketball player, I'm sure. Now, learn more about Curry as a man.
Our thanks, as always, to Freestate Electrical for their continued support of #DMD and our weekly feature here, "Faith in Sports."
| Thursday January 11, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3429 |
I ran into an old friend on Monday of this week.
And when I say "friend", the more accurate way of describing our relationship was something closer to "an acquaintance", really.
He was a former Baltimore Blast season ticket holder, he says, from 1980 through 1990. I can't vouch for the exact authenticity of his recollection, but I definitely remember him from those days and I'm guessing he's right about the length of time he spent as a season ticket holder, even if he's off by a year or two.
"My favorite player was Bruce Savage," he said.
I told him that Savage was also one of my all-time favorites. As a front office member, you had to delicately establish friendships with the players. It wasn't a complete no-no, but it also wasn't something that was recommended, either.
Savage and I, along with Billy Ronson, would play cards on the road a lot back in those days.
We played a goofy game called "Aces to Kings". I don't recall exactly how to play it, but it was a take-off of rummy and each game would generally last about 45 minutes.
Savage was the best at that game. We (that would be me, actually) kept a running leaderboard of the season. On every flight or bus trip, we'd play that silly game. Savage probably won 60% of the time, with Ronson and I splitting the other 40% of the wins.
Bruce was an interesting guy and a terrific player. He had an uncanny knack for remembering things in the game, often times a day or two later.
On flights the day after a game, I'd routinely pass the official scoresheet around and the players would all take a look at it.
"I had 4 blocked shots last night, not 3," Savage would say.
It's one thing to say that and try to push it across as fact to the PR guy.
It's another thing, entirely, to name the blocked shots you had from the previous night's game.
"First quarter, maybe 3rd or 4th shift of the game, Mark Karpun spun and hit a ball from the top of the box that I deflected into the corner," Bruce would say.
"Later in the first quarter, Tatu spun me and was about to shoot and then Chinapoo kind of nudged him off the ball and I got back in position and Tatu got to the ball and hit a right footed shot that I blocked and it went downfield."
And that's how it would go.
Savage wasn't doing it because he was a stats-geek or a greedy player. He did it because he blocked 4 shots in the game and they had him down for 3 blocked shots and, by golly, he wanted credit for the 4th blocked shot.
To prove just how honest of a guy he was, he'd often see the stat sheet and laugh and say, "What game are they watching? I didn't have 5 blocks last night. I had 3."
My conversation with Ray, the former season ticket holder, shifted from Savage to another one of his favorite players.
"Do you still keep in touch with Scott Manning?" he asked me. "He was the best goaltender the Blast ever had."
Manning played for the Blast from 1981 through 1990. At his zenith, I'd say he was definitely a top 5 goalkeeper in the league. Bias included, I'd fight for a "Top 3" honor for him.
Scott now lives in South Carolina, having moved down there from Baltimore two years ago. He was a longtime member at Eagle's Nest. I played a lot of golf with him. Scott's a good man.
He was also a terrific goalkeeper.
A lot of people though Pat Ercoli, Mike Stankovic or Stan Stamenkovic should have been the MVP of the '83-84 Championship Series when we beat St. Louis, 4 games to 1.
All three of those guys had huge moments in that series vs. the Steamers.
But Manning had two incredible games in St. Louis, as we won Game 3, 5-2, and Game 4, 5-4 in overtime. Those were the two games that turned the series from a nailbiter to a walk-in-the-park for the Blast. Up 3-games-to-1 after those two wins in St. Louis, we rolled past the Steamers in Game 5, 10-3.
It might have only been by the slimmest of margins, but Manning was the best player on the field in that series.
"Cris Vaccaro was another one of my favorites," Ray said. "It felt like he played for 5 or 6 different teams. Every year he was with a new team."
Ray was spot on. Cris played in New Jersey, Cleveland, Tacoma, Wichita, Chicago and Baltimore.
If there was an Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame, Vaccaro would be a consideration. He was one of the top goalkeepers in league history.
If there was a Nice Human Being Hall of Fame, Vaccaro would be first ballot inductee.
He was one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
But there was that one time in Canton, Ohio.
After the Blast turned into the Spirit (it's a long story -- we were always the Blast at heart, but we had to change our name for reasons that aren't worth rehashing now) and we joined the NPSL, one of the teams we faced quite often were called the Canton (Ohio) Invaders.
They played in a shell of an arena in downtown Canton. I think it held right around 4,000. Maybe even a hair under that.
One night in the 1993-94 season, we rolled into the locker room in the Canton Civic Center following a win over the Invaders.
"OK, who has my leather overcoat?" Vaccaro said as he settled into his locker.
No one said a word.
"I'm going to take a shower," Vaccaro said. "Whoever took my coat, it's funny and all, but put it back now. When I'm in the shower, just put it back in my locker."
Vaccaro came back ten minutes later. His locker was still empty.
And now it was getting serious.
"Come on, guys," he said. "Who has my jacket?"
This wasn't some winter coat from The North Face that cost him $65.
This was a full-length leather overcoat that, he said at the time, set him back nearly $400.
Once we came to the conclusion it wasn't a practical joke and no one on the team had taken the jacket out of Vaccaro's locker as a prank, we set out to find the Canton general manager.
We found him in their executive offices and explained that someone had entered the locker room during the game and stolen an expensive coat from Cris's locker.
He was concerned about the situation and assured Cris he would go through the building with a fine-tooth comb.
"I'll call Drew on Monday with an update," the GM said to Cris and I. "As soon as I find it, I'll send it right to the Spirit office."
A week went by. No phone call or follow up from the Canton GM.
At practice one day, Cris asked me about the coat.
"I haven't heard anything from them," I said to Cris. "But I'm on it. I'll get a hold of him today and find out what's going on."
The GM dodged my calls for a couple of days.
Cris was angry about losing his jacket.
And now I was getting angry about not getting a return call from my counterpart in Canton.
I faxed their GM a polite but firm letter, asking for the jacket or $400 to reimburse Cris for the coat that was stolen in the building where the Invaders played their home games.
This was definitely on them to remedy. And they weren't doing anything about it.
A month went by. No calls, no follow-up and, predictably, no jacket.
"If I don't get the jacket by next Friday, I'm going to have a little surprise for them when we play them in Canton on Saturday night," Vaccaro said to me.
Friday arrived. No jacket.
On Saturday night, we again faced the Invaders in Canton.
I didn't know what Cris was planning to do. Honestly, by that point, I was kind of hoping the whole thing would just blow over.
Alas, it wasn't blowing over. It was, as I'd find out, only going to get worse.
When the lights went out and the PA announcer started to introduce the two teams, I looked down at the tunnel where the visiting team was getting introduced. Vaccaro wore #0 in those days, so he was the first Spirit player introduced.
"In goal for Baltimore tonight," said the PA announcer, "number zero, Cris Vaccaro."
Vaccaro ran out of their makeshift tunnel and onto the field.
He was carrying all of his clothes on hangers and had his travel bag over his right shoulder.
Vaccaro walked out of the tunnel, onto the field, and went straight to the goal, where he hung his clothes up in the netting. He calmly set his travel bag down and tucked it into the far right corner of the cage.
I couldn't help but bust out laughing.
"Holy crap," I said to no one in particular in the press box. "He brought all of his clothes out to the field with him."
The Canton GM rapidly approached me, arms flailing, yelling something about being "disrespected".
"You get down there and tell him to take those clothes down from the net," the GM barked at me.
"Where's the leather jacket you promised him or the $400?" I shot back.
"Get his clothes out of the net!" the GM shouted. "You're embarrassing us!"
As the rest of the team got introduced, Vaccaro was busy stretching and getting ready for the game in front of his goal.
I couldn't help but think what the fans must be wondering as they saw him and his clothes hung up neatly behind him in the netting of the goal.
During the playing of the national anthem, the clothes were still there.
It was a hilarious backdrop to a situation that didn't have to culminate like that. Had the Canton GM done what he said he was going to do from jump street, it wouldn't have turned out that way.
The game officials eventually came over to Vaccaro and told him the clothes couldn't stay in the net during the game. So he had them moved to the team's bench area.
When the game ended, the GM walked up to me with an envelope.
"This is for Cris," he said. "I was going to give it to him after the game. That stunt he pulled earlier had me thinking twice about it."
Those definitely were the days, man. I'm telling you, there are stories on top of stories.
You tell me your favorite player, I have a memorable story or two to tell about him, I'm sure.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Ray.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
Before we get into a preview of Michigan’s basketball team, (Maryland’s opponent tonight at 7 pm in College Park) I’d like to recount two related college hoop stories. They both center around Maryland basketball, but more so, conference play in general.
Shortly after the 1995 college season, Joe Smith, a two time all ACC player and Terp, left for the pros.
He was the number one pick in the NBA draft. With his exodus after two seasons at Cole Field House, there were an abundance of good seats now available. My friends and I took the opportunity to “upgrade” our season tickets (courtesy of an upgrade in our yearly donation) and found ourselves in the second row, across from the visitor’s bench.
We were also extremely close to the TV announcers which allowed me to have many nice chats with NCAA hoop icon, Dick Vitale. (Great guy by the way and he loved UMD and Gary)
What that position in the area also allowed, was a front row window into just how much contact there was in Gary’s press defense.
I was witness to the audible smacks that more often than not, when unnoticed by the zebras. It was eye opening that the home Terps could get away with that “aggressiveness”.
Take nothing away from those players at all, defensively or offensively, but they got away with more contact than the visiting team could ever think about.
Flash forward to the current time. Again, I find myself close to the court via my place as a member of the media.
But this time I won’t reference the play that I see, I’ll tell you about a conversation I had with a Big Ten official who was seated beside me on Press Row.
After we made introductions and had a modicum of Big Ten small talk, I asked him the following. “Why, in the Big Ten, does the visiting team always shoot way fewer foul shots than the home team. It’s not even close”, I said, “and it’s like that in every conference”.
This gentleman was the head of officiating for the Big Ten Conference, and he looked at me with a coy, wry smile and said, “I guess the visitors just commit more fouls.” We looked at each other with an “I know that you know and you know that I know” kind of expression.
Nothing more needed to be said. Home cooking is a 100% real thing.
Flash forward to Sunday’s Terp game at Minnesota. The only thing Maryland could shoot and hit was their own foot. They shot themselves in it 15 times in the first half.
That’s how many turnovers they produced in the opening 20 minutes. In the second half, they connected on just 32% of their shots. They were awful, but it was a referee’s call-in favor of the home team that changed the game.
Julian Reese pivoted away from a baseline driving Gopher and got whistled for a foul. It was his fourth and sent him to the bench. Replays would show no contact on the play. The rest is history.
The coaches are well aware of this dichotomy between home and away officiating. They may get angry on the court, but they rarely voice strong opinions to the press after the games are completed. They don’t want to lose the edge that belongs to them when they return home.
Out of 29 Big Ten games played going into the late games last night, only 4 road favorites have lost outright. In those instances, the home team went to the line more times than the road victor in three of them.
The home court is huge in college hoops, and it’s not just the travel and the crowds that provide an advantage.
Enough of that, let's move on to Maryland’s opponent tonight, the free-falling Michigan Wolverines.
Losers of their last 4, 7 of their last 9, and 9 of their last 12, this team bears no resemblance to the team that demolished the Terps last year in Ann Arbor, 81-46.
Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard are both in the NBA, while Hunter Dickinson is plying his trade in Kansas with the Jayhawks.
To make things even tougher on coach Juwan Howard, (back after heart surgery in September), it was announced late last night that their premier scorer, bal lhandler, and assist man, Dug McDaniel, will miss the next 6 road games so that he can focus on academics.
With his absence, the Wolverines lose 36 minutes of playing time, 18 points, and 5 assists. Jaelin Llewellyn will take his place, but that’s a major downgrade for the Wolverines. They will be hard pressed to match the 77 points per game they have averaged in their 4 Big Ten games. They are 1-3 in those contests.
Michigan has some beef inside. Tarris Reed is 6’10” and 265. The sophomore is getting 8 points per contest, but his game is raw and unpolished. He’s a load in the paint offensively, but I don’t see him as a “plus” defender on the other side of the court.
Olivier Nkamhoua is also a big body at 6’9”, 235. The Tennessee transfer has a good balance of inside and outside to his offensive game.
He’s 55% from the field and an excellent 40% from the three-point line. I’m also fond of his movement without the ball. With McDaniel out, I think he’ll see more touches and more scoring opportunities.
Terrance Williams is the deep threat that should get the most attention from Maryland defenders. He has connected on 41.5.% of his 82 three-point attempts this season and he’s long enough to get his shot off against similar sized defenders.
The other scoring threat for the Wolverines was Nimari Burnett. This senior guard is on his third college team after having single season stints with Texas Tech and Alabama.
He’s more of volume guy, not possessing stellar numbers from the field or the three-point line. He has posted double digits in 6 of his last 8 games, and posted a high of 21 against St. Johns early in the season, but that may be a different story with the Terp’s DeShawn Harris-Smith chasing him around tonight.
It's virtually impossible to know how the Michigan team will respond to losing their star. This is an offensive minded squad who just lost their top weapon and playmaker. If they struggle in the half court, that will put way too much pressure on their defense, and this is not a good defensive team.
Giving up 77.5 points each night, the Wolverines are in the bottom 4, defensively, in the Big Ten. Now, the Terps' anemic offense could be the perfect tonic to cure those defensive woes, but again, lack of defensive success will put pressure on their depleted “O”.
Tonight, Maryland needs to cut off the three-point line. I’m not sure how the Wolverines get enough points to pull off a victory without owning the three-point line. The most dangerous guy is Williams. That is item 1 and 1A of the Terp keys to victory.
Second, limit Nkamhoua. He’ll be the go-to guy, and whatever Terp defender has him, must work as hard as the Michigan forward does.
Lastly, and I’ve yet to mention this, but the Terps should pressure the Wolverines. Michigan is a high turnover team lacking their primary ball handler. Pressure should slow down the Michigan offense and provide the Terrapins with some much-needed points-off-turnovers.
Offensively, Maryland won’t change much because they can’t. They lack the versatile scoring threats required to give a team a host of options. They just need to run what they run, hope Jahmir Young has a good night, and hope Julian Reese stays out of foul trouble.
Scoring down low shouldn’t be too difficult for Reese.
Jahari Long could be out for Maryland, again. This thins out the backcourt, but the Terps can compensate.
These are two teams going nowhere this season. How Michigan reacts without McDaniel is anyone’s guess. It’s my opinion that the two teams are fairly even, talent wise. Even without McDaniel, 6.5 points is a lot to give a team that can’t hit threes and is by far the lowest scoring team in the Big Ten.
I can see Michigan’s physicality giving the Terps a bit of trouble. If Maryland hits a few threes, they can prevail. If not, they could get an “L”. Perhaps we’ll see a home win, but it will be close. 71-68.
| Wednesday January 10, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3428 |
Now that the regular season is over and the NFL has moved into the post-season, we can handle out some awards and honors that the mainstream media won't be voting on anytime in the future.
I'm tired of hearing people blabber on about Lamar and the MVP award. I'm guessing you are as well.
Do I hope he wins it? Sure.
Do I care if he wins it? Not in the least.
I understand that people do care, particularly if they wagered on it.
But it wouldn't make a bit of difference to me if Brock Purdy wins it, Dak Prescott wins it or Lamar Jackson wins it.
Now......the Super Bowl?
I do care who wins that.
As for these other awards and honors, you probably don't care about them.
I'm not sure I do either. But your opinions are welcome below in the Comments section.
Most surprising team -- This one is a battle between three teams: Cleveland, Green Bay and Houston.
Now, I did pick Cleveland to make the playoffs if you remember my pre-season preview. But once they lost Chubb and, later, Deshaun Watson, I figured they were cooked. Not only are they alive and well, they're actually a potentially dangerous team this month.
I didn't know what to expect from the Packers in this, Jordan Love's first full season as a starting QB. But I assumed the worst. I figured 6-11 would be a decent year for them, 7-10 if they somehow got lucky and won one they shouldn't have won. I realize they made the post-season by the skin of their teeth, but they made it. And Love wasn't horrible in 2023, either.
And then there's the Texans. They have the best helmets in the league, by far. But when they rolled into Baltimore in week one and got smashed by the Ravens, I figured they were a 4 or 5 win team at best. Instead, they're a 10-7 team hosting a playoff game on Saturday and, if they beat the Browns, might very well get a chance to redeem themselves in Baltimore in two weeks. Oh, and C.J. Stroud is most certainly a finalist for the league's top Rookie in 2023.
The winner? I'm going with Houston.
Cleveland had a decent team heading into '23, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Yes, they lost their QB and that accounts for something.
But Houston wasn't expected to do much of anything this season. I mean, would anyone have been the least bit surprised if Stroud would have had good moments, bad moments, awful moments and the Texans finished 5-12? Of course not.
They won their division and they're a decent bet to win at least one playoff game.
The Houston Texans are #DMD's most surprising team.
Most disappointing team -- This one's tricky. Cincinnati was very disappointing, but they lost their starting QB midway through the season and that was the end of that. Hard to hold them accountable for much. And even with the loss of Burrow, they were still in the playoff race until the final couple weeks of the season.
The same for the Jets and the Vikings: Two teams who lost their starting quarterbacks early in the season and never really recovered from that.
We're going with teams that pretty much had their full team throughout the season.
First team that comes to mind: the L.A. Chargers. I realize most people didn't have them as a Super Bowl threat heading into the season, but they have a nice quarterback and some good wide receivers. It might have been their coach to helped them stumble and bumble, but I figured they would be a playoff contender and potential threat to the Chiefs. Alas, they were pretty lousy, as the Ravens saw for themselves out there in November.
I also expected more from the Jaguars, as evidenced by the fact I had them playing San Francisco in the Super Bowl. And when they were 8-3, I thought there was a half-a-chance they were going to make some noise in the post-season. But they fizzled out more quickly than the second side of a Beatles album.
But the winner in this race has to be the Denver Broncos.
They invested a gazillion dollars and 134 draft picks in acquiring Russell Wilson back in 2022. OK, so give them a year to get their act together with Wilson and 2023 is going to be a bang-up year. Right? Right.
Wrong.
Denver started off terrible, got their act together a bit in mid-season, then inexplicably lost to lowly New England at home late in the season and then benched Wilson for the final two games as payback for his refusal to re-work his contract earlier in the season.
The Broncos were a mess.
And in a season when the Chiefs started to show their mileage, the Broncos could have easily cobbled together an 11-win season and hosted a playoff game this weekend.
Instead, they're faced with starting next season quarterback-less, which, as we know, means they'll be a 5 or 6 win team in 2024.
The Denver Broncos are #DMD's Most Disappointing Team in 2023.
Biggest Meltdown -- There are three obvious candidates here; Jacksonville, Miami and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacksonville endured probably the most puzzling collapse given that their division was pretty blah. I mean, you're 8-3 and you have Indy, Tennessee and Houston in your way and you can't get past them? Yikes.
Miami produced the most "graphic" meltdown, if you will, given that they were cruising along like a potential title contender and then one home loss to the Titans seemed to rock them back to earth. Then they came to Baltimore and got absolutely bush-whacked by the Ravens before losing at home to Buffalo to throw the division title away.
But the winner here is definitely Philadelphia. Their fall from grace was definitely the most shocking. The Eagles were arguably the best team in football through Thanksgiving. They pulled off a miracle win over Buffalo and looked like they might have all the makings of a Super Bowl team before completely flatlining in December. They ended the year with an embarrassing loss to the New York Giants. While they might go to Tampa Bay and win next Monday night, there's little heat for them moving forward.
An appearance in the NFC Championship Game for Jalen Hurts and Company would border on a miracle at this point.
#DMD's biggest 2023 Meltdown goes to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Best Story -- There are some very obvious candidates here. It's almost "too easy", as the dude said in the movie White Men Can't Jump.
Joe Flacco is a remarkable story. At Thanksgiving, he was playing catch with his kids in the backyard. This Saturday he'll be in Houston leading the resurging Browns against the Texans. It's hard to imagine a guy who didn't even play half a season could be the league's "Comeback Player of The Year", but there aren't many other viable candidates, frankly.
The Pittsburgh Steelers winning 10 games with almost no good football players is another "best" story. Granted, one of the wins was a gift on the final weekend of the regular season. In reality, they were a 9-win team. But 10-7 is 10-7. And despite having no quarterback of quality, a disgruntled wide receiver who actually quit on a play at midfield in the middle of a game, and a defense that pretty much had two decent players, they managed to once again manufacture a path to the playoffs. We hate to say it here, but Pittsburgh somehow making the playoffs with "that" team is a wildly impressive story.
The Detroit Lions have been awful for, well, forever pretty much. They rival the Browns for being terrible, but the Browns have actually had a few moments in the sun over the last 40 years. The Lions haven't had to apply sunscreen for 40 years. Detroit is not only an up-and-coming team, they have a puncher's chance of making some noise this January if things fall right for them and they get past the pesky Rams this Sunday in Detroit. Every team in the NFC North had blemishes, but the Lions were clearly the best of the group...by a lot. Once Kirk Cousins was done for the year in Minnesota, it was a cakewalk for Detroit. Even still, they're a great story.
And that's who we're going with for "Best Story" here at #DMD -- the Detroit Lions. They might not be the real deal just yet, but they're a lot more "real deal" than ever before. And for a franchise that has been routinely stuck in reverse for, oh, about the last 20 years, this story of the '23 Lions is a wonderful one indeed.
Three Most Pressing Questions About The 2023 Season -- There were, as always, a lot of questions throughout the course of the 18-week NFL schedule.
A few got answered along the way. Many, though, did not.
Here are the three biggest unanswered questions still lingering out there.
1. How on earth did Aaron Rodgers come back from an injury in 3 months that takes any other athlete a minimum of 9 months to recover from? Was it really ayahuasca? If so, I wish I would have known about that back in 2007 when I had tennis elbow I couldn't effectively treat for over a year. Whatever it was, his recovery was beyond unreal.
2. Did Taylor Swift really wreck Travis Kelce? I remember Kenny Cooper having a rule in the old days of the Blast: "Guys, leave your wife alone the night before a game, please." Cooper was always talking about the need for fresh legs and such. What on earth happened to Travis Kelce? I mean, she's hot and all, but did Taylor really impact Kelce's game that much?
3. Why did Sean McVay really opt for that field goal with no time left on the clock back on September 17 when the 49'ers beat the Rams, 30-23? Come on, Sean, 'fess up. What's the real story?????
What's One Big, Radical Change You'd Make? -- I'll give you an easy one. It would be a great change. The NFL won't do it, of course, because they're too cozy and comfortable with what they have.
Shorten the season to 15 games.
Keep the NFC and AFC intact as is.
And you play every team in your conference once during the regular season.
Now, you'd actually find out who has the BEST team, since everyone would play one another one time.
17 games is a dumb number of games just like 15 is a dumb number. But 15 is "better" than 17.
Less injuries (did anyone notice how many guys got hurt this past weekend in that, you know, "added on" game #17?).
The potential for an additional bye week so every team gets two weeks off during the season.
Virtually every game in the final week of the season will impact the playoff picture in some shape, form or fashion.
Yes, that means you lose a game within your division. No more playing the Steelers twice, the Bengals twice and the Browns twice.
And, for the nitpickers, it means you play Pittsburgh at home every other year instead of every year.
But if you're looking for the fairest, best way to determine the best team(s), have everyone play one another within their own conference.
It's too good of an idea to get any traction, I know. But it's better than the way they do it now.
The PGA Tour stays in Hawaii for one more week and there are some very juicy plays at your fingertips if you have a few bucks for "no-brainers" and a few bucks for "wild cards" at the Sony Open that begins on Thursday.
Waialae CC is one of the shorter courses the players will see all season. It generally rewards good ball strikers and solid putters. As you'll see with our four favorites below, we're going with that formula with one small tweak.
Meanwhile, it's also a place where a guy you might not expect to win winds up in the winner's circle.
You can get great numbers on these five guys. We're on them both for win and Top 10 wagers.
Chez Reavie, +3000
Emiliano Grillo, +8000
Andrew Putnam, +5000
Denny McCarthy, +3500
Camillo Villegas, +14000
Yes, McCarthy again. He had a nice go of it at the Sentry last week and this ballpark is shorter and more to his liking off the tee.
A week of putting on those Hawaiian greens can't hurt him this week, either.
Reavie, Grillo and Putnam are all three capable of making buckets of birdies if their putters get hot.
Villegas is playing great golf over the last six months. There's another win in his future at some point in 2024.
Here's our top four for the week. Familiar names all of them.
Matt Kuchar, +6000
Brian Harman, +2200
Chris Kirk, +2700
Corey Conners, +2700
Kuchar has a great track record at Waialae. And, like McCarthy, the shorter track can only help him.
Waialae CC is the perfect fit for Brian Harman. Like, more than perfect. It rewards precision, not power, sort of like the British Open that he won last July.
We're not a big believer in back-to-back winners out on the PGA Tour. It's hard enough to win one time, let alone twice in two weeks. But Chris Kirk is starting to look like the kind of player who might be on the verge of a second-career-wind, if you will. He might not be Mark O'Meara 2.0, but Kirk is the kind of player who could win this week, win again in a month or so, and then shock the world with a win in a major championship this year.
Our projected winner is Corey Conners. He's the "tweak" we referenced above, because Conners is not a great putter. But he can get hot with the putter. And his ball striking and approach to green numbers are just too good to overlook this week.
We've been having fun recently with NHL goal-scorers, both in the same game and spread across several games.
We had a nice hit last night with Brock Nelson (Islanders), Auston Matthews (Toronto) and Phillip Danault (L.A.).
We also had a flop when Nikita Kucherov failed to score and ruined our Kucherov-Pastrnak-Nelson 3-way parlay. Kucherov is the goal-scoring machine in Tampa Bay who hasn't done much goal scoring of late, much to our dismay.
The way we see it, picking goal scorers is way better than worrying about who wins, do they cover (?), what's the over/under, etc? Just pick a few players to score goals and sit back and watch the scoreboard.
The Rangers' Artemi Panarin has been on fire of late. He's due to cool off at some point, but he's been scoring in bunches recently.
There's a light schedule tonight in the NHL, but we're thinking these guys are worth playing as potential goal scorers: Konecny and Couturier (Flyers), Pavelski and Seguin (Dallas), Eichel and Barbashev (Las Vegas).
I love a small wager on Konecny and Couturier to score. If they do, I'm thrilled. If they don't score, that likely means the Flyers are going to lose. And that's actually almost better than winning $40 on a $5 wager if they both score.
The Caps are in action tomorrow night and I'll be on the Ovechkin 2+ goals train when they host Seattle. Ovi has to break out at some point soon. 2 goals tomorrow night seems reasonable at something like +900.
| Tuesday January 9, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3427 |
It wasn't much of a news story within the world of golf yesterday.
Rumors had been swirling since well before Labor Day that Tiger Woods and Nike were moving on without one another once the calendar hit 2024.
But it was still big news nonetheless yesterday when the details were shared in the early afternoon and it became official: The 27-year run was ending.
First, a polite, appreciative post on Twitter from Woods, confirming what everyone assumed they were going to hear at some point this week.
Later, a simple photo from the folks at Nike along with a thank you of their own.
No bad blood.
No sniping at one another in the media.
No veiled swipes on Twitter or Instagram.
Just two friends, moving on, leaving us all to remember what once was.
In my lifetime, I can think of two athletes who bonded with a company in such a way that you would always link the two together.
Michael Jordan and Nike.
Tiger and Nike.
And the interesting thing about both Jordan and Tiger is that neither of their brands were built on television in the way, say, State Farm has built their marketing around the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
Jordan built his relationship with Nike based on what he did on the basketball court.
Jordan sold shoes by the cargo-ship-full because he scored 33 points a night and flew through the air like Superman.
Tiger built his relationship with Nike based on what he did on the golf course.
Tiger sold apparel, shoes and equipment every Sunday when he rolled in another 15-footer to a win a tournament by a half-dozen shots.
Heck, Woods sold a gazillion golf balls for Nike based off of one televised shot at the 2005 Masters. That ball sitting on the lip of the cup for a second-and-a-half was probably worth $10 million in sales alone.
Wherever Tiger went, there was Nike right there with him.
Phil Mickelson won 40-some tournaments on the PGA Tour.
Quick, what apparel company did Phil partner with in his career?
What shoes did he wear?
Golf clubs? Golf ball?
Marketing has changed a lot over the last 50 years, obviously. But no one knew what Jack, Arnie or Gary Player wore in their heyday.
It also stands to reason that Tiger's departure from Nike is the last iconic athlete we'll see teamed up with an athletic company in one of those Jordan/Woods kind of branding relationships.
There's no one in baseball, football or basketball who can do for a company what Woods and Jordan did for Nike.
The one argument might be Shohei Ohtani, but his lack of "Americanization" probably keeps him from being a legacy, iconic star with one of the apparel kings.
No one in football or basketball is marketable enough these days to warrant a partnership like the ones constructed for Tiger and Jordan.
Steph Curry was close about five years ago, but even he couldn't pull it off.
Back to Woods and the news from Tiger yesterday, since that's really what this is about.
Nike announced back in December they were in the beginning stages of a massive restructuring, one that will eventually trim $2 billion in expenses over the next three years.
The wheels were in motion with Tiger long before that, of course, but once word got out about Nike's restructuring, it was a done deal with Woods.
Nike can use that $20 million elsewhere and Tiger can almost definitely parlay the "TW" logo he owns into five times that much with an up and coming apparel company like Greyson. There's also a chance Woods will partner with Taylor Made's new apparel line and use the "TW" logo to boost their sales and his bank account.
Tiger and Nike.
Nike and Tiger.
It will look a little different this year when he's strolling the fairways wearing something other than Nike.
But we won't forget the two of them together, that's for sure.
There's been something interesting brewing with Lamar Jackson over the last two weeks. Maybe you've picked up on it, maybe not.
With his MVP-caliber play in 2023, every team in the league who passed on him is getting questioned about that decision.
Yesterday it was Atlanta and owner Arthur Blank in the crosshairs.
Blank basically blamed it on the team's salary cap.
"He's obviously a wonderful player," Blank said of Lamar. "We had an issue with cap space and our coaches thought we had someone (Desmond Ridder) in that spot who could do a good job and we could build our team that way."
Sure, Lamar in Atlanta would have been an upgrade over Desmond Ridder. No two ways about it.
But there's also no way of knowing for sure that Lamar in Atlanta would have made the Falcons 12-5, 13-4, etc. That's where people tend to do these dumb things like just presupposing that because Jackson had an MVP season in Baltimore he would have had an MVP season in Atlanta.
What I'm about to say regarding Lamar is not intended in any way to be disrespectful to him, his talent, his performance or his future.
Lamar is an outstanding football player.
He's also surrounded by outstanding football players.
In previous years, he didn't have real receivers.
He has those now.
There's no doubt Jackson, technically, is far better than he was in 2019 or 2020. Frankly, he's better than he was in 2021 and 2022, even.
Part of that is on Lamar. He has worked at his craft. And, like any athlete in any sport, experience has paid off handsomely for Jackson over the last 12 months. The more he plays, the more he learns.
You know what else has helped him?
Better football players to work with, that's what.
Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Isaiah Likely.
Those are just the receiving options as his disposal.
He wouldn't have had those in Atlanta, New England, Las Vegas or any other franchise that was rumored to have had, at the very least, a smidgen of "real" interest in Jackson.
And it's always worth remembering that Lamar was free to go out and get offers...but the Ravens would always own the right to match that offer.
Jackson couldn't get one offer to take back to Eric DeCosta.
I don't know what that says, frankly. Was Lamar's stock not as high as he thought it might be? Probably.
Were most teams hesitant to go through the entire process knowing it was likely Baltimore was going to keep him anyway?
That was probably the biggest reason Lamar went fishing and didn't even get a nibble.
The prevailing thought was DeCosta would have matched anything Lamar brought his way. But that's neither here nor there now.
Fans do weird things.
Keeping receipts on the teams that didn't sign Lamar in the off-season is one of the more distinctly odd flexes I can remember.
New England might have spent $55 million a year on Lamar and then went 6-11 this year because the rest of their offense (is) was lousy.
I have no way of knowing that, of course.
But for anyone to think that signing Jackson would have had automatically made their team a 13-4 ballclub is beyond foolish.
Justin Herbert is one of the more talented quarterbacks in the NFL. To borrow that term we all laughed at last week, Herbert probably does more quality "quarterbacky" things than guys like Lamar and Josh Allen, yet Herbert can't win squat with the Chargers because their roster is a joke.
You need to have football players around you in order to succeed.
Of course, Jackson has made Bateman better more than Bateman has made Lamar better.
If Justin Fields or Baker Mayfield or Derek Carr is throwing to Zay Flowers, I don't think the rookie wide receiver is lighting the world on fire.
Lamar made Flowers better than Flowers made Lamar better. That's how I feel, anyway.
That said, when you group all of those wide receivers together, the sum of their parts is simply something Jackson's never had before in Baltimore.
So, to just assume Lamar himself can win 12 or 13 games himself...that's just not the right way to think.
Oh, and to the Ravens credit, they knew that, too. That's why DeCosta and his staff surrounded Jackson with better players in 2023.
They knew he couldn't do it all by himself.
But he sure can do a lot. And that's one of the reasons why the Ravens are watching this weekend and waiting patiently for their playoff opponent the weekend of January 20-21.
Michigan winning the National Championship last night in convincing fashion over Washington has multiple layers to it. One even has a local angle, as it now means one-half of the Harbaugh-coaching-duo has a title in 2024. Could the other one follow suit in the next month?
But despite his claims that Michigan is "innocent", it's hard to jump on board with Jim Harbaugh's post-game claim following the 34-13 win.
It's probably fair to point out, at the very least, that Harbaugh's players didn't know anything about the sign-stealing-scandal that resulted in their coach sitting out three key late season games in the regular season.
There's no doubt Harbaugh's coaches used the information gathered by Connor Stalions to help better prepare themselves for Big Ten foes.
But the players might not have known anything about it, other than the fact that their two coordinators sure did have a knack for calling the right plays at the right time.
On one hand, it's easy to have some appreciation for Harbaugh. He's a football coach, through and through.
Most of the great ones are cut from the same mold. They're "ball coaches". It consumes them. It's what they do. And they usually do it well, even if they have to skip a step or two or bend a rule or three along the way to get to the promised land.
I'm not saying I like the nefarious nature of college football. Or college sports, for that matter.
But it's part and parcel of the world they themselves have created along the way.
A lot of it centers on winning. Coaches want to win because they're coaches and that's what they're wired to seek.
Schools figure out that winning equates to more students.
Do you want to go Alabama for college or Tulane?
If you're an 18-year old young man and you have an interest in college athletics, you're far more inclined to choose Tuscaloosa over New Orleans, which seems like an odd dichotomy.
You'd be stunned if you knew how many 2023 high school graduates from the Baltimore area are attending the University of Alabama right now. And it's not because they have a wonderful botany program, I assure you.
So, when you see Harbaugh up on the stage with confetti raining down on him and the back slaps and smile with the players who did the job for him, you come to appreciate the full circle nature of what those coaches do.
Unlike his brother, John, Jim buys the groceries, cooks the meal and serves it to the guests, even.
NFL coaches do have a say in who plays for them, obviously, but not nearly to the degree that a college coach does.
It even trickles down to the high school level in the simplest of terms.
"Please don't ever forget this," I tell my own golf team a couple of times a year. "If in the back of your mind, for any reason, you sit on your couch at home and think, "The coach doesn't like me", always remember this: "If I didn't like you, you wouldn't be on the team. You're here because I like you as a person and a golfer."
So when you see Harbaugh up there with his players last night -- sign scandal and all -- it's easy to feel some warmth for their perfect season and all they accomplished, particularly when you know Harbaugh himself told each of those young men, "I want you to come to Michigan to play football for me."
But it's also easy to feel a little bit of distaste for how it all went down, too.
I'm not a college football fan in the least, so I have no real dog in the hunt.
Washington could have won 34-13 last night and I wouldn't have cared at all.
But the way the Wolverines were dragged through the mud during the regular season can't be overlooked. They were, no matter what Jim Harbaugh said to the contrary last night, guilty of breaking the rules.
"Everyone does it" isn't an appropriate way to justify it.
Michigan stole signs and used that proprietary information to help them win the national championship.
If you're willing to die on the hill of "No, they didn't", I think you're eventually going to be lifeless. There's no way you're going to win that argument.
But the "everyone does it" claim has some merit when you realize virtually every school at a high level is doing a little something-something to help them get the best players and win games.
Michigan just happened to get caught.
Last night, though, they got the reward they were seeking in Ann Arbor.
They wake up today national champions.
And for today, at least, no one has it better than Jim Harbaugh.
| Monday January 8, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3426 |
We're a step closer to learning who the Ravens get to clobber on the weekend of January 20-21.
Two teams we know for sure it won't be: Buffalo or Kansas City.
Everyone else is in play in the AFC post-season picture, including the Steelers, who lucked their way into a playoff spot when the Jaguars completed their winter nosedive by losing in Nashville on Sunday.
The Ravens will either face Houston, Cleveland, Miami or Pittsburgh in their playoff opener.
Three of those teams they beat during the regular season and had they played their full team against the Steelers on Sunday, they would have clobbered them by 20.
The Texans have an interesting thing going with C.J. Stroud, who is a likely finalist for the league's Rookie of the Year award.
They'll have to get by the Browns first, who have their own story building with ex-Raven Joe Flacco at the helm during their late season surge. Flacco and the Browns pasted Houston down in Texas a few weeks back, but Stroud did not play in that game due to a concussion.
Miami has lost so many players to injury in the last three weeks they might have to bring up some guys from the Frosh/Soph team. They're going into Kansas City on the heels of gift-wrapping the division title to the Bills with a late-season swoon of their own, culminating in last night's 21-14 home loss to Buffalo.
If the Dolphins get Waddle and Mostert back from injury, they'd have a puncher's chance in Kansas City. The Chiefs are offensively challenged themselves. But with temps expected in the high teens next weekend in K.C., the prevailing thought in that one is Miami curls up and goes home without much of a fight.
If the Steelers beat Buffalo in upstate New York, they're coming to Baltimore on the weekend of January 20-21.
No matter what happens next Saturday and Sunday, the Ravens will be well rested and ready for their playoff opener. One assumes everyone will be healthy for that one. And a little bird is singing a tune about Mark Andrews moving around nicely at the facility these days. So there's that, too.
I got one of my playoff wishes yesterday. As I've been saying for a week or two now, the one team I preferred the Ravens didn't face on that opening weekend would have been Buffalo.
I'm not saying I'm "afraid" of the Bills. I simply "prefer" the Ravens don't face them if possible.
And, so, the only way the Ravens see them would be in the AFC Championship Game. Fair enough. If that happens, it happens. But on that opening weekend, Buffalo won't be coming here...assuming they beat the Steelers in their opener.
The NFC wound up being a mess after the Eagles somehow lost to the lowly Giants yesterday to silver-platter the NFC East to Dallas.
Green Bay winds up facing their old coach, Mike McCarthy in the first round, as the Cowboys wound up the #2 seed.
The Packers squeaked in at 9-8, but it's Dallas, remember. They can lose a first round game they have no business losing with the best of them.
The Rams and Matt Stafford get to face the Lions in Detroit. I'm calling it now. Rams-Ravens Super Bowl. Which means, of course, that L.A. will have to go in there and win next weekend, which I think they will.
And the Eagles get an opportunity to restore their dignity when they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers, who managed to be the best team in an awful NFC South. That said, would anyone be surprised if Philadelphia goes down there next Monday night and gets beat? Right, none of us would be surprised.
In early December, Philadelphia was (apparently) the best team in football. Then they beat the Bills on an absolute prayer-of-a-field-goal and got roasted at home by the 49'ers. Something happened to them thereafter. Their confidence was gone. And they bottomed out down the stretch.
Everyone has to go through San Francisco at some point, which isn't going to be easy. But if anyone can do it, the Rams can.
In the end, the playoff picture turned out almost like it always does.
Both #1 seeds were clearly the two best teams in the conferences.
A couple of teams snuck in at the end on the heels of a fortunate break, accommodating schedule and other teams failing to capitalize on their own opportunities. Whether teams like Green Bay and Pittsburgh can parlay their late uptick in performance into some kind of miracle January run remains to be seen, but they're in the dance and have a chance, if nothing else.
The Ravens, it's worth admitting, have a ton of pressure on them in this post-season campaign.
A trip to the Super Bowl is on their racquet. If they can just hold serve in two games, they're heading to Las Vegas.
But if they somehow stumble, either on January 20-21 or January 28, hell hath no fury like a fan base scorned.
Lamar will never hear the end of it if he lays an egg in either of those games.
We wanted this.
And.....we got it.
Two home games and we're Super Bowl bound.
Either way, it's gonna be memorable.
We had another one of those awkward moments at the end of yesterday's Saints-Falcons game after New Orleans inexplicably scored a touchdown with a 41-17 lead and 1:10 left in the game.
In fairness to Saints coach Dennis Allen, he called for a victory-formation kneel down and was apparently overruled by quarterback Jameis Winston and the New Orleans offense, who wanted to give veteran running back Jamaal Willilams a touchdown after the Saints returned an interception to the Atlanta one yard line late in the game.
New Orleans could have run the interception into the end zone to make it 48-17 and I doubt anyone would have been upset.
"Just making a football play, there," someone would have said afterwards about the defensive touchdown.
But, Winston and the Saints offense evidently knew what they were supposed to do and the Falcons assumed they were going to kneel out the game, only to see Williams scamper into the end zone.
When the game ended, now-fired Falcons head coach Arthur Smith lit into Allen at midfield with an expletive-laden tirade about the unncessary touchdown.
That Smith's final act as a head coach was defending his team after a 48-17 loss was probably poetic justice.
But no matter the how, why and when, it still amazes me that these professionals get upset about a touchdown or any other score in the course of a game when the players spend the better part of 60 minutes trying to show one another up in some way, shape or form.
We see these scenes routinely in the NFL:
As if scoring a touchdown on me wasn't bad enough, now you're going to also act like you're a soccer player and create a penalty kick in the end zone to draw more attention to the fact that you beat me?
You ran for a first down. Fair enough. Now, while I'm laying on the ground and you're getting up from my tackle after a 9-yard gain on 3rd and 6, you're going to stand over me, do a jig, drop the ball and point downfield to show everyone it's a first down?
You catch a 22 yard throw and stop to spin the ball on the ground afterwards to remind everyone it was you who just beat me across the middle of the field?
You beat my offensive tackle and sack the quarterback and then dance around like Kevin Bacon in Footloose for 10 seconds and somehow we've all come to just think that's fine and dandy?
I mean, the whole league is pretty much an hour of taunting and showboating.
And now you're mad because someone actually played football?
Oh, and you're making $5 million at the same time, don't forget.
Like, you're collecting $5 million -- or sometimes, $10 million, $20 million, etc. -- and somehow it bothers you that you lost 48-17 instead of 41-17?
I do think Dennis Allen has a right to be agitated with his team. It's a spin-off of A Few Good Men. He gave the team an order and they didn't follow it. He then gets lashed at by Arthur Smith and he's standing out at midfield like Gene Hackman at the end of The Birdcage with nothing to say to Smith except, "I don't understand."
But shame on Smith and the Falcons for letting that irritate them.
I mean, this is #clownshoes stuff for sure.
You lost.
It doesn't matter if it's 31-17, 41-17 or 48-17. You got beat.
This isn't the CYO.
Or even high school football for that matter, where we do try to teach kids how to "play the game the right way".
But by the time they get to college, all they're interested in is soaking up the spotlight. "Look at me!" is what they want to major in when they leave high school.
Look at last week's Michigan-Alabama game for the latest example, where the Wolverine players spent the first six minutes after their big win taunting the Alabama fans on the sideline.
The NFL is the wild, wild, west.
People do what they want to do. Sportsmanship is pretty much a thing of the past. It might exist, but barely.
The league is one big weekend of showboating.
You don't have to like it. I certainly don't care for it, myself.
But it is what it is.
Getting your panties in a bunch over a 48-17 final score is amateur-hour stuff. Don't like it? Beat them 55-17 next year. There's a good remedy for you.
Chris Kirk picked up a really nice on the PGA Tour yesterday, winning the birdie-fest Kapalua with a 4-day score of 29-under par.
Some golf, first.
For all the talk about rolling back the golf ball because it goes too far and scores are too low, here's a novel idea for the powers-that-be to consider.
How about making the golf courses that you do play more difficult?
The folks at Kapalua know this event comes around the first week of the year. They can keep the place "resort friendly" from mid-January through mid-November.
But at some point just before Thanksgiving, they should start tightening the fairways and growing the rough a little bit, don't ya think?
The 18th hole is nuts. The fairway was 210 yards wide yesterday. And it plays straight downhill off the tee. The scorecard says 650 yards.
Those guys were all hitting 4 and 5 irons into the green for their second shot. Xander Schauffele hit his final approach from 245 yards to 3 feet (thanks for the valuable Top 10, "X") and made eagle like you and I would hit driver, sand wedge on a 330 yard hole.
Wanna make the place more difficult? Make them play it from 550 yards and make it a par 4. Now you've got something.
Kirk's win gives him a great start to the '23-24 campaign.
It wasn't such a great start for the folks at The Golf Channel, though.
On numerous occasions, their broadcast team brought up Kirk's previous issues with depression and alcoholism. In case you don't know, he missed the better part of a TOUR season battling those two things.
They also brought it up last year when he beat Eric Cole at the Honda Classic.
I get it. We need stories. It's a TV broadcast, after all.
But how long does Kirk have to go being remembered for alcohol issues and depression?
When will his golf just be his golf and that's what we talk about when his name is on the leaderboard?
He seems professional enough about it when the on-course folks ask the questions they do, but I'm sure he's tired of hearing about it, too.
I mean, he lived it, after all.
And, sure, when you win that first event after you've returned, it's the central part of the story.
But a year later? We're still yapping about it a year later?
Let's find other things to discuss.
Like, maybe, guys hitting 4 irons into a 650 yard hole and making three or four like Justin Tucker makes 40 yard field goals.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
In a game that saw a radical 18-point swing over a 12-minute period, the Maryland Terrapins blew a second half 10-point lead last night, only to fall behind by 8, and eventually lose to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 65-62.
The Terps seemed to be rolling while building up a 10 point, 34-24 lead with 16:50 left in the game.
Then the key play in the game happened. It wasn’t a pass, shot, steal, or rebound. It was a foul call, and a questionable “phantom” call at that.
Juju Reese was whistled for his fourth foul and was removed from the game. When he returned, the Terp 10-point lead was a 2-point deficit. Maryland never recovered from the change in momentum.
Minnesota, who hit just 1 of 11 threes in the first half, made 5 of 9 in the second.
After a 10-point first half, Reese would make just 1 second half field goal. With Jahmir Young struggling to make shots, Maryland just didn’t have enough firepower to counter a Gopher attack led by Elijah Hawkins and his 9 assists. Of those, 6 were in the second half.
The Gophers had 4 players in double figures led by Cam Christie with 12.
Dawson Garcia had 11, 10 in the second half.
Maryland was paced by Young’s 20 points, but he had an off night, hitting just 5 of 17 shots and turning the ball over 5 times. At times, Young looked to lack his usual quickness.
The story of the first 5 minutes was the 5 Terrapin turnovers.
Young had 3 and Donta Scott accumulated the other 2. Maryland hit 3 of their first 4 shots, but found themselves down 10-7 because the Gophers had 9 attempts, courtesy of the 5 Maryland miscues. Hawkins, in just 5 minutes, had 4 steals.
At the under-12 TV timeout, the Terps had forged ahead 13-12. Young, Reese and Scott were doing all of the scoring for Maryland.
Reese was getting good looks in the paint and converting. Converting was not a word you would use to describe Minnesota’s three-point shooting. They missed their first 5 tries.
A trio of foul shots by DeShawn Harris-Smith extended the Terp lead to 6, 18-12. It was a 12-0 Terrapin run, and 9-point lead, after Jamie Kaiser drained a three. That was followed by an easy Reese layup, forcing the Gophers to call a timeout with 9:13 left in the half and the score 23-12.
The under 8 timeout came at 7:58 with the score still 23-12, in Maryland’s favor. Reese already had 8 points, but his team had committed 9 turnovers.
Both teams started to struggle from the field. While the Gophers were going 1 for their last 10, the Terps were nearly matching that with a 1-7 effort.
A 20-5 advantage in rebounds was helping Maryland offset the whopping 13 turnovers they had committed with 4:44 left in the half. The Terps led 23-15.
Minnesota capped off an 8-0 run by hitting their first 3 of the game.
Maryland hadn’t scored in almost 6 minutes and their once double-digit lead was down to three, 23-20. Of the 9 Terrapins that had seen the court, only 4 had attempted a field goal.
The drought ended with 2 Reese foul shots and then 2 more by Young. The Terp lead was back to 7, 27-20. Scott backed in for another successful short jumper after a Minnesota missed three.
The first half scoring ended with a nice individual move by Scott and 2 Parker Fox foul shots for the Gophers. The Terps led after 20 minutes, 29-22.
The notable first half stats were Maryland’s 23-12 rebounding advantage, as well as their 15 opening half turnovers.
The most significant Minnesota stats were their shooting numbers. They were just 1 of 11 from 3, and made just 29% of their shots from the floor.
Maryland was able to stretch their lead to 10 opening the second half.
However, Reese’s 4th foul (a really horrible call) gave Garcia 2 foul shots and sent the Terps center to the bench with the score 34-24. Garcia would make the 2 foul shots.
Maryland would then trade a two for a Minnesota three, making the score 36-29 with 15:59 left and Young at the line shooting two.
Another Gopher triple by Cam Christie reduced the Terp lead to three points. It was an 11-4 Minnesota run so far with Reese on the bench.
When Hawkins made a really deep three, the game was tied 40-40. The Gophers, who made just 1 of 11 threes in the first half, buried 4 of 7 in the first 8 minutes of the second half.
After the timeout, Scott scored, returning the lead to Maryland. It was short lived.
With the Terps up by a single point 45-44, Hawkins launched a buzzer beating bomb deep on the left wing. It swished. The Gophers now had a 2-point lead courtesy of their 5th three-pointer of the half.
Terp coach, Kevin Willard, had left Reese on the bench far too long. It was a 23-11 Minnesota run with Reese on the bench. At this point the Terps were shooting 29% in the second half.
Maryland’s offensive woes continued while the Gophers put their foot on the gas pedal. A 13-2 run put Minnesota up 8, 55-47.
Maryland got a few stops and would score from the foul line 5 consecutive times, making their deficit 55-52 with just 2:30 left. A foul put Pharrell Payne on the line with a one-and one. Payne, a horrible free throw shooter (40%) missed and the Terps rebounded.
The Terps had a great chance to make it a one point game, but Young missed another layup. He was now 1-8 shooting in the second half. Minnesota had the ball, up 3 (55-52) with just 1:34 left in the game and a full 30 seconds on the shot clock.
The Gophers went to Garcia who was initially blocked by Reese. Garcia fought to retain possession and made the short put back. It was now 57-52. The Terps countered with a Scott triple, but a blow-by for Hawkins led to a layup and a 59-55 Gopher lead with 30 seconds remaining in the game.
The game was decided when Noah Batchelor missed a wide open three, and the ball was rebounded by Carrington, who was fouled. He hit both foul shots.
Young put the score back to a single possession when he made Maryland’s second three of the half. It was 61-58 when Maryland fouled Garcia. He hit both with 15.4 left on the clock.
Scott hit a putback, but the Terps had to foul, and they put Garcia back on the line. He would connect on those two foul shots, thus sealing the Terrapins fate.
Defensive keys for Maryland were to stay in front of Hawkins (they didn’t), protect the three-point line (fail #2), and don’t get pushed around by Pharrell Payne (he did).
Hawkins, with his 9 dimes and 10 points, was a real problem for Maryland. He hit 2 of Minnesota’s 5 three pointers and had 6 steals. As a team, Maryland only had 10 assists and 6 steals.
Allowing the Gophers to hit 5 threes in the second half was also crucial to Maryland’s loss, especially considering how inefficient the Terp offense was without Reese.
Payne hurt the Terps by going 4 for 4 in the second half. All of his buckets came from within an arm’s reach of the bucket. His physicality was tough for the Terps to defend.
It’s playing out that the Terrapins struggle mightily whenever Reese is neutralized. Last night he wasn’t locked down by a physically bigger, stronger player, it was foul trouble that sealed his and Maryland’s fate.
For sure, the foul that took him out of the game was a tough call, but some of his other fouls are just inexcusable for a third-year player. His hook of Garcia, giving Reese his third foul, was a dumb one indeed.
Let’s also call out what I believe was an egregious coaching mistake by Maryland’s Kevin Willard.
Leaving Reese out for those 8 minutes was a bad mistake. That stretch was the defining segment of the game and Willard should have reinstated his big man much earlier.
Instead, he let the home crowd get back into the game and the home team gather momentum that they never relinquished.
As he did in their matchups last season, Reese was getting the best of Garcia yesterday. In the first half, Reese outscored the Minnesota center 10-1. In the second 20 minutes, Garcia won the scoring battle 10-4.
It’s also notable that Maryland held a 23-12 rebounding edge in the first half, while getting beat on the boards 23-15 in the second period.
I was also baffled by Willard’s decision to run a play for Batchelor to shoot a three with 25 seconds left and the Terps down by 4.
The guy hadn’t attempted a shot all game, and you dial up a play to get him a curling three? That was a head scratcher.
It was a winnable game for Maryland. But, when faced with some adversity, they didn’t have the talent, depth, and fortitude to see it through.
The Terps will get a shot at reversing their 3-2-game slide when they take on Michigan on Thursday night at 7 pm in College Park.
| Sunday January 7, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3425 |
Some fun facts you might not know on this Sunday morning in Bawlmer.
James Madison lost their first men's basketball game of the season yesterday. Yes, that's right. They were 14-0 heading into their game with something called Southern Miss. Alas, the former CAA members dropped an 81-71 thriller to the Golden Eagles and they're undefeated no more.
You probably didn't even know James Madison was no longer in the CAA. That's OK.
I had an awesome 4-team parlay yesterday that included one 9.5 point underdog winning outright. I was 3-for-3. Just needed Hofstra to beat Delaware by 5.5 points to finish it off and get me about halfway to paying off my summer of '25 trip to Bandon Dunes.
Hofstra was up 13 with 5:22 remaining.
Final score from Long Island -- Hofstra 76 - Delaware 71. Hofstra wins by...5...instead of 6.
Come on man.
The #1 college quarterback in the transfer portal made his choice yesterday. Malachi Nelson threw just 3 passes at USC this past season, so he high-tailed it out of L.A. and is headed to.........where?
Without the aid of Google, where do you think the #1 quarterback prospect in the entire country is "taking his talents" to in 2024?
I'll give you the answer in a minute while you stew over the various options at his disposal.
No looking it up on the internet, either. Use that brain that God gave you.
Last Wednesday on Glenn Clark Radio, I gave out my four picks for this week's season-opening event on the PGA Tour, The Sentry Championship from Hawaii.
Tony Finau.
Denny McCarthy.
Sungjae Im.
And.......
Xander Schauffele.
Schauffele was +1800.
He's 2 shots out of the lead heading into today's final round.
The others aren't winning. Im was rolling until yesterday's even par round left him too far back heading into today's action.
But I've got a chance with Schauffele.
A win for him today would make up (nicely) for that Hofstra-Delaware fiasco yesterday.
The Houston Texans are headed to the playoffs after last night's 23-19 win over the Colts in Indianapolis.
Houston finishes the season at 10-7. If Jacksonville loses in Nashville today, the Texans are the AFC South champions and will host the Browns next weekend.
If the Jaguars win today, they are the AFC South champs. Houston is then a wild card team and finishes at the #6 spot if Miami beats Buffalo tonight (Pittsburgh would be the 7 seed) or they finish as the #6 seed if Miami wins that game over the Bills.
It's a crazy conference when two teams from the AFC South make the post-season, huh?
The NFC South is a complete shambles.
Tampa Bay controls their own fate. A win today at Carolina and they're the division champs no matter what happens in the Atlanta-New Orleans game.
But if Carolina somehow upsets the Buccaneers and Atlanta beats New Orleans, that means the Bucs, Falcons and Saints all finish at 8-9. And Atlanta would win the division.
Here's a weird one for you. Green Bay could make the playoffs as a wild card team at 8-9 if things go sideways for the Seahawks in Arizona today. They would also need Tampa Bay to lose at Carolina and Minnesota to lose at Detroit for that scenario to unfold, but it's possible.
Oh, Minnesota could also make the playoffs at 8-9 if five things swing in their favor today.
The NFL is completely cray-cray, as the kids say these days.
The Capitals are back in action today at 3 pm when they host the always-dangerous Los Angeles Kings.
I'll tell you who isn't dangerous these days. Alex Ovechkin, that's who.
The Great Eight has just....you know this is coming....EIGHT goals in 37 games, which leaves him 64 goals away from Wayne Gretzky's all-time record of 894 goals.
The Capitals front office was hoping for a 35 or 40 goal season from Ovi in '23-24 so they could adequately start planning for the record-scoring chase to culminate sometime late next season.
One would have been right to assume that the Caps schedule next season would have been front loaded with a ton of early road games in an effort to give them plenty of home games in February and March so Ovechkin would (hopefully) break the record in front of the home faithful in D.C.
Now, it doesn't look like they're going to have to worry about that so much.
Ovechkin is on pace for an 18-goal season at this point. Logic says he'll figure out a way to pick up the pace a bit between now and April, but even if he finishes with 25 goals, that will leave him needing 48 goals to break the record next year, which seems highly unlikely.
The NHL was really hoping for the record chase to be a February or March thing in 2025 because there's not much going on, sports wise, in that part of the calendar. A November-December (of 2025) chase puts everything smack dab in the middle of football season, which is less than favorable from a marketing standpoint.
Thanks a lot, Ovi.
Speaking of goal-scoring, here are two guys that have solid odds to score 2+ goals in today's Caps-Kings game. Wager accordingly.
Dylan Strome, +2000 (leading goal scorer on the Caps, can score two in a game at any point)
Anze Kopitar, +1400 (14 goals on the year for L.A., and if there's an empty net at the end of the game, he's a guy who could have a goal in the "regular" part of the game and he'll almost certainly be on the ice late.)
Throw $10 on each of those guys. What the heck, right?
You've done dumber things with 20 bucks in your life.
Oh, and Ovechkin is +6600 to score 3+ goals today.
$10 to win $660? Yeah, maybe.
I mean, he has to break out of this incredible scoring funk at some point. Why not today?
And let's be honest, you've done dumber things with 30 bucks in your life.
Maryland basketball plays later today (5:30 pm) at Minnesota.
Dale Williams handles the heavy lifting below with his full preview of the game.
I don't see how Maryland wins and I'm saying that knowing very little about Minnesota.
I'll let Dale do the rest of the work but here's my expert contribution:
Maryland isn't very good. JuJu Reese is losing NBA stock by the minute. Donta Scott called a couple of CAA teams last week and they all said "No, thanks." The Terps, as bizarre as this sounds, actually miss transfers Hakim Hart (Villanova) and Ian Martinez (Utah State).
OK, I don't know about the Donta Scott thing. But I bet it would be true if he called some CAA teams. They'd politely pass.
That quarterback from USC who was the #1 quarterback recruit in the country?
He's transferring to...
Not Alabama.
Not Michigan.
Not Georgia.
Not THE Ohio State.
Not UCLA, Washington or Oregon.
He's transferring to Boise State.
I'm as dumbfounded by that as you are, trust me.
Oh, I almost forgot. The Ravens fell to the Steelers on Saturday, 17-10.
The good news: No one who plays for Baltimore got hurt.
In other words, the Ravens actually won.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
The Maryland Terrapins take to the road today to do battle with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Gophers have put up a pair of Big Ten victories (Nebraska and Michigan) against a single defeat (Ohio State). The Terps enter at 1-2 in conference play.
Minnesota has a decent record at first glance, but a deeper look reveals a slightly different story than their 11-3 start may suggest.
The Golden Gophers have been the beneficiaries of a really weak schedule. In fact, their non-conference games have been ranked as one of the easiest group of contests in the country. They have yet to play a ranked team.
Minnesota’s conference wins have been against a Nebraska team that may be better than most expected, and a Michigan team that needs to grow by leaps and bounds if they want to join the dance in March. The Gopher’s lone Big Ten loss was handed to them by Ohio State, in Columbus, 84-74.
Minnesota lost almost half of their minutes played and an equal percentage of points scored when Jamison Battle (Ohio State), Ta’lon Cooper (South Carolina), and Jaden Henly (DePaul) took advantage of the transfer portal’s relaxed rules.
In their stead the Gophers have PG Elijuah Hawkins from Howard and Mike Mitchell Jr from Pepperdine. The changes have been positive. This is a more competitive team than we saw last season.
There are some intriguing matchups in this game, but none may be as important as the battle of the respective big men.
Dawson Garcia (6’11” 230) made his way, last year, to Minnesota after short stints at Marquette and then North Carolina. With 17 points and 7.7 rebounds each night, he’s the team leader in each category.
His matchup with Maryland’s Julian Reese is interesting because, despite being a bit taller and possessing a slightly bigger build, he doesn’t play the physical type of game that gives Reese so much trouble on both ends of the court. Reese had great numbers in each of Maryland’s 3 wins over the Gophers last season.
There was another Terp who had great numbers against Minnesota last year, and that would be Donta Scott. The Terp forward had 13, 20, and 18 against last year’s Minnesota lineup.
He’ll see several defenders on him today, including 6’7” Joshua Ola-Joseph and 6’9” Pharrel Payne. Ola-Joseph is the more finesse type player while Payne is pure power.
Maryland’s ability to counter Payne’s muscle game has me a bit concerned. When he’s on the court, I’d feel much better with Jordan Geronimo guarding him than I do with Scott. The Terps will need Scott’s points today. I expect scoring to be higher in this tilt when compared to some other Terp games this year.
Keep an eye on Elijah Hawkins and Jahmir Young too. Hawkins is listed at 5’11” (he’s smaller) and he’s shifty quick with a 38% three-point stroke.
Young needs to stay on, and in front of, this guy. He may only score 9 a game, but he gets 7.7 assists each time out. His play at the point may be the biggest contributor to Minnesota’s improvement.
The off-guard battle between DeShawn Harris-Smith and Mike Mitchell is also one that bears watching. Mitchell connects on 42% of his threes and is his team’s second leading scorer with almost 12 points per game.
I’m thinking he’s no match, defensively for Harris-Smith. I know the rookie has struggled to score, but this is a great spot for his slashing game.
The game plan, as I see it for Maryland, has three main components defensively.
The first is to protect the three-point line at all costs. That includes Reese on Garcia. Second, the Terps can’t let Payne push them around inside. The last piece is for Young to stay in front of Hawkins.
When the Terrapins have the ball, Reese and Scott have to get going inside, especially Reese. Minnesota is not a strong defensive team, and Maryland needs to get more scoring from their front court. Young will get his, but the bigs need to help lessen that scoring load.
I’d also like to see Harris-Smith bully his way to about 12 points in this game. It’s very doable with the matchups he’ll see.
The line opened at -2.5 with Minnesota the slight favorite. I’m not buying that.
The only Gopher that I see starting in College Park is Garcia, and not by a lot. I think Young, Harris-Smith, Scott, and potentially Geronimo would start in Minnesota.
The Terps have better talent, should be well rested, and have the superior go-to guy with Young.
Maryland is averaging 62.3 points per game in Big Ten play, but The Gophers give up 73.3. The Terps exceed the 62 by 8, and leave the Land of 10,000 lakes with a 70-66 win.
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens 4:30 PM EST M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, MD Spread: Steelers (-3.0) |
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They say every game is different.
This one, today, is definitely different.
Other than whatever amount of personal pride a player can create within himself, there's almost nothing the Ravens are playing for today when they host the Steelers in the regular season finale.
"I just don't want to get hurt," is probably what most players will think as they walk into the stadium this afternoon.
And that, as we know, is a dangerous way to play in and of itself.
The Ravens are locked into the #1 seed and can't do anything today to impact their own situation in the AFC.
In a very weird way, they can't even fully impact what happens to the Steelers, either, because Pittsburgh could lose the game and still squeak into the playoffs if additional bizarre twists of fate occur in the AFC tomorrow.
But a win over Pittsburgh this afternoon would just about eliminate Mike Tomlin's team. A decade ago, the mere thought of driving what might be the final nail into the Steelers' coffin would have had any Ravens player licking his chops.
The rivalry, though, has diminished a lot over the last half dozen seasons. It's still there, but only in the traditional manner of two divisional opponents locking horns twice a year. The real Ravens-Steelers rivalry, as we grew to love it from 2000 through about 2018, is pretty much done.
Tyler Huntley gets the starting nod at QB today.
It's not the easiest of circumstances to step into, but every game Huntley gets to play is good for his personal achive. Perhaps this spring he'll draw some interest from other teams as a potential starter. And it might come to pass that the Ravens allow him to do that, if for no other reason than it's the fair and noble thing to do for a guy who doesn't make $50 million a year.
I'm sure it will feel strange for most of the players in purple today.
They're just not wired to enter into a game with "nothing to play for" as the overriding mindset.
Pittsbugh needs a win today and a Buffalo loss to Miami tomorrow to get in. They could also use a Jacksonville loss at Tennessee, too, as that would pretty much render tomorrow night's game useless in Miami.
Oddly enough, the Steelers could snatch the final playoff spot today with a loss (in Baltimore) if the following things happen tomorrow:
Tennessee beats Jacksonville
Denver beats Las Vegas
The Steelers' fate rests mostly in three games. Today's contest in Baltimore, the Tennessee-Jacksonville game and the Buffalo-Miami game. The Denver-Las Vegas matters a smidgen and Indianapolis-Houston would help them if that game somehow ended in a tie. Otherwise, the Steelers get hurt if Indy wins and they get hurt if Houston wins.
When the schedule makers put "Pittsburgh at Baltimore" up for the final game, everyone in Baltimore was licking their chops.
You can get tickets today for about $25 if you look in the right places.
So what happens?
I think this is a tough ask from the Ravens.
There's just no getting around the fact that the game means nothing to the home team and every guy on the roster is dreaming of playing in the Super Bowl in a month in Las Vegas.
You can preach to them all you want about not looking ahead and "playing hard" and not playing to get hurt and all that other stuff, but human nature always wins.
The Steelers have everything to play for today.
And despite the fact that they're no good, the difference in what's at stake will probably be the difference.
The Ravens will hang tough. Huntley will have a decent game. It certainly won't be blowout.
But a costly fourth quarter Ravens turnover will be the difference, as Pittsburgh gets a late field goal to win 20-17.
A few quick questions from the mailbag:
Alan asks -- "Got into a holiday party debate and wanted to turn it over to you for the final answer. Best replacement singer for a band ever; Sammy Hagar in Van Halen, Adam Lambert in Queen or Arnel Pineda in Journey?"
DF says -- "Just from a singing standpoint it's a no brainer. It's Adam Lambert. He's incredibly talented. I think the guy who meant the most to the band was definitely Sammy Hagar. I mean, Van Halen was actually still thriving when Hagar joined them. I think DLR Van Halen edges out SH Van Halen, but if you gave me the Van Halen "Greatest Hits" decision, there would be four or five songs from the Sammy-era on that album. The Journey dude was good, but nothing more than that."
Ramey asks -- "Did you agree with Scottie Scheffler beating our Jon Rahm for PGA Tour Player of the Year?"
DF says -- "Very much so. Scheffler's year was unreal. If he putts "great", he wins 9 or 10 times and has a "Tiger-like" season in 2023.
If he putts "decently" he wins 6 times, at least, and has an unreal year.
Instead, he putted horribly and won twice. But he never missed a cut and went something like 19 of 20 events in the top 10 or something insane like that.
It's probably the best year a player has ever had who only won two times.
Rahm had a great start to 2023, punctuated by his Masters win, but his overall level of play didn't rival Scheffler's amazing run."
T.J. asks -- "Just a fun golf question for you. If you could create a mythical 18-hole course, what would the yardages be from the standard tees for all of your holes, using the traditional 10 par 4's, 4 par 5's and 4 par 3's? Thanks!"
DF says -- I love this question!! Because I've never really thought about it until now.
Par 4's would be 335, 365, 395, 400 x 3, 420, 430, 440 and 460.
Par 5's would be 520, 540, 560 and 580.
Par 3's would be 145, 165, 195 and 220.
I'm a huge fan of short par 4 holes with risk/reward off the tee and I'm a fan of at least one par 5 being an obvious risk/reward opportunity where "3" or "7" is in play as you face your second shot.
Personally, I think golf is about the "scoring clubs". The player with the best success using their 8-9-wedge the best should win. So I want a course where you have to use that club quite often."
 |  RANDY MORGAN | |
Americans are playing more and more of a vital role in international soccer these days, and Randy Morgan has his eyes on all of them for #DMD. Each week here, he looks at recent performances of American players and highlights upcoming games of importance. | ||
The top leagues in Europe are all around the midway point of their seasons as the new year begins. This summer will be the most important period for the US team until the home World Cup in 2026.
There are two major competitions with the Copa America (South American Championship) coming to the States and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The Copa America will give the US team a chance to compete against some of the best teams in the world.
While the Olympics, featuring a mostly under-23 roster, will provide an opportunity for some of the younger and fringe players to earn their way onto the senior team roster. With that in mind this is a good time to take stock of where many of the key national team players are with their club teams.
MLS Cup Recap –
Before we get to the USMNT player review, let's take a moment to recap the domestic league championship. The MLS concluded its season back on December 9th with the MLS Cup Final.
The Columbus Crew rode their league leading offense to the title, taking down the Supporter’s Shield (regular season) winners, FC Cincinnati, in the semifinals before defeating the reigning champions LAFC in the final.
Columbus took an early lead on a penalty by striker Cucho Hernandez in the 32nd minute. They then doubled the lead in front of their home crowd with a goal from left wingback Yaw Yeboah just a few minutes later to head into the half 2-0.
LAFC managed to pull a goal back in the 74th minute to make for a dramatic conclusion, but they weren’t able to work the same magic they did in the final moments last year and Columbus prevailed 2-1. The win gave Columbus their 3rd MLS Cup title, putting them behind only the Los Angeles Galaxy and DC United in titles since the league began in 1996.
Americans Abroad –
In order to give an idea of how the season is going for the growing assortment of US players in Europe, today we’ll review their first half performance for their clubs, breaking them down into three groups. The first is Stock Up, players who are having successful seasons and have improved their standing with their clubs and the national team.
The second is Stock Down, players who haven’t lived up to expectations this season for their clubs and could be trending down for the national team (though not necessarily in all cases).
The third is Stock Even or incomplete, this group comprises players who haven’t stood out for bad or good as well as those that have missed large amounts of time for injuries.
Stock Up –
Perhaps no US player has had a better season than star winger Christian Pulisic. The World Cup goal scorer has had a career renaissance in Italy with new club AC MIlan. Pulisic quickly cemented himself as the starting right winger, opposite Milan’s Serie A MVP Rafael Leao. Along with Olivier Giroud, they have formed a potent attacking trio that has helped Milan to third place in the standings.
Pulisic has already tallied eight goals and four assists across all competitions, only three off his career best eleven goals in a whole season. Not only has his production been impressive but from a USMNT perspective his move to right wing for Milan should help him continue to round out his skill set, attacking from different angles than he usually does for the US from the left wing.
His teammate, Yunus Musah, has also had a positive first half of the season. After beginning the season as mostly a late-game sub, Musah has become a fairly regular starter since late October for AC Milan.
Some of that is due to injuries to players ahead of him, but Musah has proved he can compete at this level in his preferred central midfield position. The move to a title contending Champions League club like AC Milan was quite a leap from relegation-threatened Valencia, but Musah has played some of the best games of his career this season and should only continue to evolve his game.
The other American duo featuring for an Italian giant are also off to a strong start to the season. Weston McKennie in particular has had a fantastic season, completing an amazing turnaround from being loaned out to Leeds United last season and being rumored to be on his way out of Juventus, to becoming a crucial central midfield cog who has started nearly every game as Juventus pushes for a title.
Though he shared time with US teammate Tim Weah at right wingback earlier in the year, McKennie has gradually seized the central midfield role, similar to where he plays for the US. His well rounded skill set appears to be greatly admired by coach Max Allegri.
For his part, Tim Weah earned the starting right wingback role after his move from Lille from France. He has been a constant attacking threat from that position for Juventus and has quelled most concerns about his defensive prowess. His only issue this season has been a recent injury that forced him to miss most of November and December.
The only American player that may have a case for a better first half than Pulisic is Fulham left back Antonee Robinson. The 26 year old is enjoying the best year of his career and has arguably been one of the best left backs in the English Premier League, with stats site FotMob including him in their first half team of the season.
Robinson has been a consistent performer for Fulham, starting 19 out of 20 games for the club that currently sits 13th in the standings. Surely, no American player has seen his stock improve more among the other clubs in Europe, with Robinson generating rumors linking him to some of the biggest clubs in the league, especially Liverpool who has suffered a rash of injuries at left back.
Robinson has some of the top defensive metrics for any fullback in the league in addition to being a threat progressing the ball up the wing with his speed. He has saved some of his best performances for the toughest challenges, helping Fulham go undefeated in two games with Arsenal by shutting down dynamic English winger Bukayo Saka.
In the Netherlands, it's a team with three American contributors that is off to one of the best starts in league history. PSV Eindhoven, who features USMNT regulars Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi has been totally dominant in the Eredivisie, entering the winter break with a perfect 16-0-0 record and qualifying for the knockout round of the Champions League.
Dest has started nearly every game at either right or left fullback, helping to resurrect his club career after struggling for playing time at Barcelona and AC Milan the past two seasons. He seems like he has found a good fit with PSV, where he ranks among the best fullbacks in the league in nearly all attacking statistics.
Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi have had a lot more competition for playing time at the Dutch leading club, but both have proven their worth so far. Tillman took some time to work his way into the starting lineup, but has recently earned a regular starting role. He ranks among the top midfielders in the league in most attacking metrics.
Meanwhile, Pepi has been stuck behind veteran Dutch National Team striker Luuk de Jong. However, this hasn’t stopped him from producing when he’s seen the field, as the young Texan has racked up six goals across all competitions and leads the Eredivisie in expected goals per 90 minutes and comes in second in goals per 90 minutes with a nearly two goal per 90 average.
Pepi delivered the highlight of his young club career in November, when he came on as a late sub in a crucial Champions League match against Sevilla and delivered a game winning header in injury time. He and Tillman also combined for a highlight-worthy play to set up the tying goal in an important 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the Champions League as well.
A few other Americans who have seen their stocks rise in the first half of the season are Kevin Paredes, Auston Trusty, and Johnny Cardoso. The 20 year old Paredes has seen his role gradually increase for 10th place Wolfsburg in Germany, earning three starts and appearances in nearly every game.
Auston Trusty has become a regular starter in the Premier League for Sheffield United after helping them get promoted last season. Though he hasn’t stood out for his performance, he is gaining valuable experience. Unfortunately Sheffield has been greatly outmatched by the Premier League competition, sitting comfortably in last place and looking likely to head back down to the second tier next season.
Johnny Cardoso was impressive enough with his play in the Brazilian league that he has earned a move to Real Betis in Spain, who currently sit 7th in La Liga. The move will be a big step up in competition and gives Johnny a chance to prove himself in one of Europe’s top leagues and increase his profile for the national team.
Stock Down –
The biggest disappointment of this season has to be Brenden Aaronson. The USMNT regular secured what seemed like a great move to go from relegated Leeds United to last year’s fourth place German Bundesliga side, Union Berlin. His hard-pressing style seemed to fit perfectly into Union’s tactics as they entered the Champions League for the first time in years.
After beginning the season as a starter, Aaronson failed to click as the team quickly slid down the standings and now finds themselves out of the Champions League and battling relegation in the Bundesliga. The former Philadelphia Union product has yet to record a goal or assist this season and has seen his role reduced to a late game sub, logging just 44 total minutes in December.
With competition like Malik Tillman and Kevin Paredes pushing for spots on the national team, Aaronson will need to step it up in the second half of the season and turn his season around for Union Berlin.
Veteran centerback Tim Ream has also had a somewhat inevitable dropoff from his career-year last season after leading the US back line at the World Cup.
Ream has not been quite the stalwart at the back he was in Fulham’s last campaign as they have had one of the worst defenses in the league this season. Ream has been out since early december with a calf injury, so perhaps that was hindering him during the fall, or it could just be father time starting to catch up to the 36 year old.
Another star of the US World Cup run has had a bit of a down season in the Premier League, as goalie Matt Turner has had some ups and downs in his first season with Nottingham Forest. Turner moved from Arsenal, where he was a backup, to Nottingham Forest this summer to get a shot at a consistent starting job.
Turner had a solid start to the season and it certainly hasn’t been all bad for the US top keeper, but he has had a few critical errors that cost his team goals as they fight to avoid the relegation scrap. The team brought in the Greek national team keeper to give Turner competition and he briefly lost the starting job in early December, though he appears to have won it back.
None of this should really affect his stock with the US team, as he has been supremely reliable in the national team shirt no matter what his club minutes or form have been and there is no other keeper option really pushing for his US job.
One final player who has seen his stock diminish over the first half of the European season is Djordje Mihailovic. The 25 year old midfielder moved from MLS to AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch first division last year to challenge his game at a new level and boost his national team profile.
After a decent season last year, Mihailovic has stagnated a bit in this campaign. Though Alkmaar has worked their way to fourth in the standings, the US midfielder has seen his role reduced to more of a second half substitute than starter. There are rumors Mihailovic could be on his way back to MLS over the winter to try to regain his form.
Stock Even / Incomplete –
This group contains two groups of players, those that have largely played right in line with preseason expectations and those that have missed too much time to injury to have changed their stock much.
That first group includes recent dual-national recruit Folarin Balogun, who has stepped into the starting striker role for the USMNT. Balogun moved up the pecking order in France’s Ligue 1 this offseason with a transfer from Lille to Monaco. His new club currently sits third in the league standings and Balogun has been a contributor to that.
He has earned and kept the starting striker job at his new club, but he falls in this group because thus far he hasn’t been able to match his production from last season that generated a lot of hype. Balogun has just four goals at the midway point, but he has been good at finding space and making runs and that suggests he may be in line for a scoring uptick.
He has had some great moments, including a big game against league leaders Paris St. Germain where he scored a goal and forced a turnover that set up another. He remains the top choice at striker for the US, but Ricardo Pepi may be gaining ground on him.
Chris Richards is another player whose stock remains about the same with the US, where he’ll be a likely starter at centerback in the Copa America. On the positive side, Richards has worked his way into a starting role for Crystal Palace. The downside is that it is mostly due to a run of injuries to some other starters and it means that Richards is starting out of position at defensive midfield instead of at centerback.
While Richards has held his own at this position, he doesn’t really have the skill set to thrive there either for the US or for a high level Premier League team. Any playing time is valuable and the new position will probably help to round out his skill set, but it would be more ideal for him to be getting the reps at his natural position.
Fellow young standout, Gio Reyna has also had an uneven season thus far. After missing much of the early season with the injury he picked up in the Nations League final over the summer, Reyna has not been able to work his way into the kind of minutes he or US fans would like to see.
He has been a sporadically used sub, mainly when Borussia Dortmund has needed an attacking spark, but it’s clear that he is slightly down the depth chart in the eyes of current coach Eden Terzic.
Reyna has largely produced when he has seen the field, playing mostly as an attacking midfielder. He is Dortmund’s second best player in expected goals and assists per 90 minutes. At 2.4 chances created per 90 minutes, he has one of the better chance creation rates in the league.
The real question for Reyna is why his coach doesn’t trust him enough to play him more minutes and whether that is more on the coach or the player. It may not matter much soon, as Terzic is under pressure with Dortmund struggling to stay in the Champions League places and rumors of a winter transfer surrounding Reyna. Perhaps a change of scenery may be the best for him at this point.
Two other US regulars have had solid but unspectacular first halves of the season. Both Joe Scally at Borussia Monchengladbach and Luca de la Torre have been fairly regular starters for mid to lower tier teams in top leagues. Neither has jumped off the screen with their performances but they have done enough to remain contributors for their teams and firmly in the picture for the US team.
The rest of the players in this group get an incomplete for the first half of the season due to time missed for injuries. USMNT captain Tyler Adams heads this list. Adams moved to Premier League club Bournemouth after Leeds was relegated, but he only made one appearance before re-aggravating an injury that has kept him out all season. He looks close to a return but the team will likely be cautious with his minutes.
Josh Sargent was in a similar position with Norwich City, where he got off to a hot start to the season, scoring in three of his first five games before getting an injury that kept him out until this past weekend.
Sargent returned with a bang, scoring a nice goal in his first action back. He’ll need to have a strong second half of the season to push Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi for a spot on the US roster this summer.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Taylor Booth are both players coming off very strong seasons last year who have missed most of this season due to injuries. Carter-Vickers is due back in mid to late January and Booth has slowly been returning to action over the last few weeks.
| Friday January 5, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3423 |
These people and their "hot takes".
It's hilarious sometimes.
I totally understand that people wait for their chance to chime in on sports talk radio and when they finally hear that "click" and they know they're about to get on the air, they don't want to waste their opportunity.
So they'll say something a tad outlandish just to be different and an outside-the-box thinker.
The same goes for social media.
People writer goofy stuff sometimes just for the sake of writing it.
Yesterday was a prime example.
The Ravens signed veteran running back Dalvin Cook for the remainder of the 2023 season after he wasn't claimed off of waivers. The Jets let him go earlier this week to give him precisely the kind of opportunity the Ravens gave him -- to play for a contender.
And yet, people around town were still complaining.
"He's washed. Can't believe we're going to give him the ball."
"What's Eric DeCosta thinking? This guy hasn't been good for years."
"Whatever they're paying him, it's not worth it."
Maybe.
Cook is definitely in the November of his career.
He was once a standout in the NFL. Now he's just trying to hang in there and help a team if they need it.
But he's essentially playing for nothing in Baltimore.
The Jets are paying him.
Cook is 28 years old. And despite his playing time dwindling significantly with the Jets as their season progressed, that doesn't mean he doesn't have a game or two of greatness (or even "goodness") in his tank.
If Cook carries the ball 5 times for 31 yards against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game and plunges into the end zone from four yards out to give the Ravens a 30-24 lead, no one will be yapping about Dalvin Cook.
All it takes is one contribution and he more than pays for himself.
People complaining about Cook completely whiff on the fact that he's barely costing the team any money.
If he doesn't play, it's no big deal.
If he does play and makes a contribution, it's a big deal.
If he plays and stinks it up, it didn't cost the Ravens much of anything to find that out.
And the reality is, there's very little chance Cook will make any kind of dramatic impact because he's probably nothing more than an insurance policy in the event something happens to Gus Edwards or Justice Hill. And even then, the Ravens still have Melvin Gordon III hanging around, too.
Insurance is a good thing to have, as we all know.
And the Ravens have themselves a reasonable policy with a low-cost premium.
We haven't tackled the mailbag in the last couple of weeks and there are piles of questions waiting to be answered.
I can't get to them all. Or even half of them. But I'll go ahead and do my best to knock a few of them out today and over the weekend.
Dave asks -- "Drew, what do you think the odds are that the Ravens are going to lose Mike Macdonald this off-season and if he goes, who do you think gets the defensive coordinator job?"
DF says -- "Some of that might depend on what happens in the playoffs. I don't think the Ravens are going to flame out on the weekend of January 20-21, but if, for instance, Buffalo comes in and wins 33-21, Macdonald's reputation might take a small hit.
But if you made me bet it right now, not knowing what happens in January, I'll say Macdonald gets a head coaching gig this off-season.
Where?
How about Washington DC?
If Atlanta doesn't make the playoffs, will the Falcons finally jettison Arthur Smith?
LA Chargers?
Any chance Bill Belichick gets the heave-ho in New England?
Mike Tomlin has probably saved himself in Pittsburgh now that his Steelers are guaranteed to finish above .500, but you just know the Steelers would love to steal a valuable piece from the Ravens.
My guess?
Macdonald takes the job in Los Angeles with the Chargers.
As for Macdonald's replacement? It's a no brainer. Jesse Minter, the current defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan, seems like a natural choice for John Harbaugh and the Ravens.
Do I need to explain the connection?
I didn't think so."
Brad Kipp asks -- "Here's one for your Q&A feature. It's actually from my brother in law in Georgia, indirectly. He asked me this over the holidays because he's taking over as the head baseball coach at his local high school.
Over the last three years, the team has gone 21-61. He says the culture and the attitude in the team has been terrible during that time. He asked me and I don't know, so I'm asking you. Is there any one thing he can do to change the culture in the team before their season starts in March? Thanks Drew."
DF says -- "Sure, there's something he can do right away. He needs to announce to the team that the culture is changing, effectively immediately. And then he has to figure out as he goes who are the guys willing to help him change it and who are the guys he needs to get rid of in order to help facilitate the change.
One of the best ways to do it is to give every guy on the team the freedom and luxury of calling out someone who steps out of line by saying this: "That's not how we do things here now."
Whatever that might be, whether it's late to practice, not taking enough fielding or batting practice, not running out ground balls, etc.
Any time the "culture" is violated, players on the team have to have the right to say to that offending party, "Nope, we don't do it that way here any longer."
That's the first and simplest thing to do. It won't fix everything, of course. It's just the first step. The first and most important step to changing the culture is to.......change the culture. Make everyone accountable. Good luck to him. Please report back and let us know how it's going."
Ed asks -- "Was hoping you would discuss this in a future edition of The Morning Dish or just answer it in one of the mailbag columns sometime. Why is it that college basketball in Baltimore is such a non-factor? Everyone cares about college basketball in Philly, no one cares about it in Baltimore. Any thoughts why that is?"
DF says -- "Wow, that's a great question. Well, first of all, it's probably unfair to compare us to Philadelphia. The big schools up there (Villanova, St. Joseph's, Drexel, La Salle, Temple and UPenn) are all pretty much right on top of one another.
Imagine if you took the area from Johns Hopkins University down to the Inner Harbor and put Towson, UMBC, Morgan State, Coppin State and Loyola within that territory. That's pretty much what they have in Philadelphia with those six schools.
Anyway, I guess one of the things we don't have in Baltimore is the most obvious thing of all: None of those schools are known for their athletics and/or college basketball.
The two biggest accomplishments of any of our schools over the last decade are a final four appearance from Towson University in lacrosse and UMBC beating Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament five years ago.
In Philly, you have Villanova, which is a national basketball power. Temple is very well known. St. Joseph's is very well known. And even UPenn has a decent following as an Ivy League school.
Back to Baltimore for a second. If just one of our schools became some sort of consistent NCAA basketball tournament entry, things might be different. That's basically how VCU and George Mason built a name for themselves.
It's also fair to point out, as much as it pains me, that Philadelphia is a top-of-the-line, class A sports city. Baltimore can't come close to comparing, as we all know. Philly is one of the top 5 sports towns in the country. So that has something to do with it, too."
Paul asks -- "Drew, the O's need at least one quality starting pitcher. Is there any thought at all they should give Trevor Bauer a chance?"
DF says -- "This one is tough. I mean, really tough.
There are two issues. The first is the obvious one. He was involved in a very high-profile "violence" case, which wasn't exactly "domestic violence", but it had pieces of that puzzle in it. It was more about sexual assault, but it's very complicated. I don't need to get into it here.
And even though we later found out that much of the case was a set-up in an effort to help negotiate a settlement of millions of dollars, it was still a high profile, graphic story that will never go away.
How does that situation impact the potential of signing Bauer?
And, next...can he still pitch and be effective in the big leagues? That's the other question.
I believe God wants us to give people second chances.
And when a second chance is granted, He then wants to see people use that second chance to make the world a better place.
I'm inclined to believe Trevor Bauer deserves a second chance.
I know his story was terrible, even though later we discovered it wasn't exactly the way it appeared to be at the outset.
It's still not a good story, nonetheless.
For his part, Bauer has opened up recently, if that matters. Here's what he said this week.
"I agreed to do things I shouldn't have done," Bauer said in a television interview." "It was reckless. It hurt a lot of people along the way. It made things very difficult for Major League Baseball, for the Dodgers, my teammates, friends, family, people close to me. So, I've done a lot of reflecting on that and made a lot of changes in my life to address that."
I assume he can still pitch.
Is he a $35 million per-year pitcher? I doubt that he is.
Can he still get people out? I assume he can.
And, so, here's my answer: If the Orioles believe Trevor Bauer is the kind of player who can help the team AND IF THEY BELIEVE HE IS NOT THE SAME PERSON WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT SITUATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO, then I would be OK with them signing him.
At the same time, if the O's said, "Look, we think he can still help, but we just don't think he's a good fit for our organization given everything that has transpired over the last three years," I'd see the logic in that, too.
I guess I'll conclude this by saying: I hope he gets a second chance somewhere. We all need second chances."
|
faith in sports |
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As you will see below, today is the day -- once a year -- where I run my favorite Tim Tebow video of all-time.
It's the magical "John 3:16" video that has been part of Tebow's history for well over a decade now.
If you've never seen it, please watch it. It's amazing.
But I'm also doing something here today that I do once a year.
I'm making an appeal for your help with my FCA Golf program.
We build and run through our own budget at FCA Maryland Golf. Like most ministry-based programs, whatever we want to spend, we also have to generate.
We're now in our 3rd year with FCA Maryland Golf and things are going great.
Last year we had over 250 participants in 8 junior golf tournaments.
We ran monthly free clinics at Pine Ridge for junior golfers and adults.
We developed our first ever (free) "Club Golf" team, with eight of the area's top junior golfers all serving as FCA Golf "ambassadors" during their summer tournament schedule, wearing FCA apparel, carrying an FCA golf bag, and helping spread the good news about what we are doing with FCA Maryland Golf.
A lot of friends -- non golfing and otherwise -- often say to me, "How can I help you and FCA Golf?".
Here's the best way for any of you who would like to help to do so. And you also get 26 chances to win GREAT prizes from us at the same time.
We have put together our annual "Raffle Drawing" again in 2024. It's called "Prize Cup 2024". For a donation of $100, you get an awesome plastic cup with the FCA Maryland logo on it.
I know what you're thinking: $100 for a plastic cup?
Yes, but that cup has a number on it, from 1 to 200. That's how many cups we need to sell.
And then, twice a month, we draw a number from 1 to 200. If that number matches the number on your cup, you're the winner!
And every prize generally has a value of equal to or MUCH greater than $100.
We have foursomes of golf that we give away. We just gave away an awesome Titeist hybrid golf club last month. We give away TaylorMade wedges and putters. We give away one golf trips to places like Queenstown Harbor, Moselem Springs and more.
We have Royal Farms gift cards to give-away.
And we give away apparel, framed golf pictures and much, much more.
It's a one-time "buy in" of $100 and you're in for the entire year.
If you're looking to help FCA Maryland Golf, this is, by far, the best way you can help.
There are a variety of ways you can contribute the $100, so please just send me a quick e-mail and I'll get back to you with the various donation methods: 18inarow@gmail.com
Thank you for considering us!
And now......enjoy Tim Tebow!
Thanks, as always, to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their continued support of #DMD and our Friday "Faith in Sports" feature.
| Thursday January 4, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3422 |
It might seem weird to give kudos to a guy who will make $2.2 million this year, but Patrick Queen deserves our applause.
This time next year, he'll probably be the enemy. So we should acknowledge him now while we're still on good terms.
Last off-season, the Ravens decided not to exercise Queen's 5th year option for the 2024 season, which meant, more than likely, the club will be willing to let him go elsewhere this upcoming off-season.
"No hard feelings."
"It's just business."
You can almost hear Eric DeCosta telling Queen that last spring when the Ravens opted not to pick up that 5th year option.
According to industry experts who analyze these sort of things, Queen could be in the mix for a contract of somewhere around $70 or $80 million this off-season. The Ravens, of course, still have the ability to make the linebacker a fair offer and it wouldn't be out of the question that he stays in Baltimore.
But as Ozzie Newsome always used to say when the Ravens had a key player enter free agency: "It only takes one team."
A few years ago, for instance, that one team was the New York Jets and the one player was C.J. Mosley. The Ravens wanted him back but only at their price. The Jets, as we saw, had other ideas.
So it stands to reason that Queen will find a new home this off-season.
But that's mainly because he did the right thing in the 2023 campaign.
When the Ravens decided not to opt-in for the 2024 5th year of his rookie deal, Queen could have easily turned sour, brooded throughout training camp, and then plodded through an on-again, off-again 2023 season where his stock dropped off.
If we're being honest, that's probably the way most former first round picks would have handled their business. It's tough being told you're probably no longer wanted before you've even played the fourth year of your five year deal. Talk about jumping the gun, right?
But Queen didn't brood. He didn't mope. And he didn't become a locker room problem when things didn't go his way.
You know what he did?
He earned himself $70 million.
With a good attitude and a friendly co-worker in Roquan Smith helping him along the way, Queen parlayed his sensible approach to 2023 into a huge payday next season. It might not be in Baltimore, but all's well that ends well. The former LSU star might even be lugging a Super Bowl ring with him this time next year as a reward for his good outlook in his final season with the Ravens.
Professional sports is filled with men who walk around like entitled lunatics.
They think everything revolves around them.
It's always "look at me" when things go well and "look at those guys" when things go south.
And there's a lot of whining about not being treated fairly when they're making millions and millions of dollars throwing a football, hitting a baseball, making a 3-pointer or shooting a hockey puck into a net.
We encounter far more bad attitudes than good attidudes in sports, which is connected more to media coverage than those actual attitudes themselves.
But on this occasion, Patrick Queen deserves credit.
He did it the right way this season.
And no matter where he winds up in 2024, one of the reasons he'll be there will circle back to the way he conducted himself this season.
It went largely unnoticed, but Patrick Queen manned up and handled his business the way a professional should handle it.
All credit to him.
There's something wrong with fining someone $300,000. It's just not right.
And it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Carolina Panthers' owner David Tepper is a billionaire and, so, fining him $300,000 is like fining you and I the grand sum of $30.00.
I talked about this on Glenn Clark Radio yesterday. $300,000 because he threw a cup of water (or soda, or beer, or whatever it was) on a Jaguars fan last Sunday? Seriously? $300,000 for a cup of water?
That's just insane.
And I'm not necessarily defending Tepper. Not in the least. I agree that a team owner shouldn't be engaging with fans in that sort of way, no matter what sort of discourse was going on between the two of them during the game.
If a punishment needs to be handed out, come up with something. I don't know, maybe dock the team 3 days of padded practices next summer or drop them to the last pick in the 5th, 6th and 7th rounds next season. Smart people can come up with a way to punish Tepper if they really think it's that important to slap him on the wrist.
But taking $300,000 from him is just as crazy as fining a player in the league $19,103 because of what they deem a "dangerous tackle".
This is real money that gets shelled out.
Heck, if you're gonna fine the dude $300,000, give the money to Charlotte's version of Helping Up Mission in Baltimore so some people looking for a second chance get the treatment they need for drug and alcohol addiction.
Or give that $300,000 to a school district and provide every teacher with a $2,000 raise.
Hey, here's a novel thought: Donate the $300,000 to the Charlotte police and fire departments and let them give their employees a few grand as a token of appreciation for what they do.
I realize the fine money in the NFL goes into some sort of charity pool, but that's really here nor there.
It's just wrong to take $300,000 from someone for something as petty as throwing a cup of water on someone.
But my question to the NFL is this: How do you think you're going to reform David Tepper? By punishing him? Or embarrassing him?
"Punishing him" isn't the answer. Absent taking the team away from, there isn't much you can do to the guy where he doesn't just shrug his shoulders.
$300,000 to him is a trip to Five Guys for your family. He couldn't care less.
You want to reform him?
Embarrass him.
Take away draft picks, move the Panthers down in the draft order, reduce their off-season OTA's by a couple of days. Do something that when he walks past his players and coaches, they say, "Thanks a lot there, chief."
Sure, that kind of decision by the NFL hurts other people besides Tepper, but that's the point entirely. It's his team, after all. Maybe if he loses a draft pick or two, he'll get the message to start acting like a decent man.
Then there's the other side of the coin. The punishment fitting the crime itself. This, I'm know you won't be surprised, is where the NFL once again whiffed.
Clark and I joked during his show yesterday about starting a podcast called "This is what's wrong with our country."
Fining someone $300,000 for throwing a cup of water on a fan is Exhibit A of what's wrong with our country.
People drive their vehicles and get pulled over with a .16 BAC and they get probation before judgement. They could have killed someone. Or multiple people.
They have to shell out $10K to a lawyer and put an Interlock on their steering wheel for a year.
This guy in Charlotte threw a cup of water on someone and got fined $300,000.
As Kobe Bryant famously once said: "Soft."
The punishment doesn't fit the crime, I'm telling you.
Then again, it's the NFL.
Did you see the end of the Lions/Cowboys game last Saturday night?
They do a lot of screwy stuff in the NFL.
 |  The Stats Nerd | |
Contributed by #DMD's data and numbers analyst The Stats Nerd | ||
At this point, it seems highly likely that Lamar Jackson will win his 2nd NFL MVP Award.
Considering that he won’t see the field on Saturday evening against the Steelers, I think we can comfortably start etching his name on to the award. In fact, oddsmakers have him as a MASSIVE favorite and it appears to be a done deal.
But the Coach of the Year award (COY) is still to be determined. The conversations revolve around Kevin Stefankski (Browns), DeMeco Ryans (Texans), Shane Steichen (Colts) and Dan Campbell (Lions).
The Ravens’ John Harbaugh is 5th on the list at least in terms of odds to win the award. My question is: why?
I would posit that there are three separate paths to winning the COY award.
The first involves drastically exceeding pre-season expectations. This is the path that Ryans and Steichen voters will lean into. Both teams were expected to be cellar dwellers in the AFC South but remain in the hunt for a playoff berth heading into the final week of the season.
The second path is success in spite of major setbacks, namely injuries. This, of course, is the path that would mostly favor Stefanski. He lost his starting QB (plus multiple backups) and RB as well as several other expected contributors throughout the season and yet has the Browns solidly in the 5th playoff slot of the AFC.
The final path is simply having the best record or being one of the best teams in the league. Presumably this is where support for Campbell comes from as the Lions, while expected to be vastly improved, appear set to earn either the 2 or 3 seed in the NFC.
This should also be where Harbaugh should find support. His team has been historically dominant throughout the season. The Ravens have the largest point differential in the league and have allowed the fewest points against. They also have the best record in the league, of course.
But it is their record against the best teams they have played (MIA, SF, CLEx2, DET) that truly shines a light on the job Harbaugh has done.
In those 5 games, they have outscored the opponent by a combined 106 points (that includes a 2 point loss to CLE). Thus they have beat these teams by an average of over 21 points over those 5 games.
I’m guessing that Harbaugh is not up for the award because everyone kinda, sorta expected the Ravens to be good. I get that. But Vegas put the Ravens preseason Over/Under win total at 10.5 games. They have won 13 and if Saturday night’s game meant anything they would be a substantial favorite to win #14.
My contention would be that there are more paths for a team to go from an expectation of 5 or 6 (or even fewer) wins to 8 or 9 then to go from 10 or 11 wins to 13 or 14 wins.
Iknow what you want to ask: What do you mean by that Stats Nerd?
Well, the nature of the league is for there to be a lot of close, one score game. It is not unreasonable for poor teams to eek out more than expected wins just based on luck or variance.
An untimely turnover by an opponent or a poor call by an official can impact the outcome of a game. Stack a few of those on top of each other and all the sudden a 5 win team can finish with 8 wins.
Want an example? Last year’s COY was Brian Daboll of the New York Giants. That team went 9-7-1 and snuck into the playoffs.
They also had a negative point differential-that is they gave up more points than they scored. There were 5 teams in the league that won at least 13 games last year. They won 9.
Somehow the Giants did manage to squeak a wild card weekend win over a pretty fraudulent Vikings team (I wrote about that team a few weeks ago) and then got road graded by the Eagles in the Divisional round.
This year the Giants got run out of the building by the Cowboys in week 1 and have been irrelevant ever since. They have a grand total of 5 wins. Same coach. They are probably an average to slightly below average team in almost all measures last year and this year.
Mean reversion meant that some of those narrow 2022 wins and good fortune went the other direction and their record shows that this year.
But they had a path to the playoffs last year with a slightly better than .500 record. With 32 teams in the league there are always teams that exceed their projected mediocrity. This year the Colts and the Texans are two such teams.
Does that mean that their coaches haven’t done a good job? No, of course not.
I’m not close enough to those teams to have a strong opinion on them but the Colts have a negative point differential, play in a weak division and have won 2 OT games (including the comeback win over the Ravens in late September). There is a lot of positive variance in that resume that could just as easily have gone in the opposite direction.
The Texans also play in that same weak division but have been a bit more consistent on both sides of the ball. They also have the benefit of the #2 overall pick playing vastly above expectations in his rookie season. Great job done by that coaching staff for sure.
But I think excellence and consistency should be the standard. In my opinion, the race should be between Stefanski and Harbaugh. Stefanski has overcome some injury issues and all of the hoopla surrounding Deshaun Watson.
I think he has done a good job catering his offense to the talents that Joe Flacco provides the team. But being honest about it, the Browns have feasted on some rather poor opponents over that stretch. You can only beat the team on the schedule…I get all of that.
But the resume simply doesn’t compare in the end. The Ravens have been prepared in every game and have dismantled the so-called elite of the NFL over the last handful of weeks.
While other teams have had their share of stinkers along the way, Harbaugh’s team seems to be getting better and better each week.
The Ravens have led for a larger percentage of games than any team in the league. They have held the lead in every game in the 4th quarter this season. But for a few early season stubbed toes they may well have been undefeated (admittedly that is something that could be used “against” Harbaugh).
Does any of this matter? No, not at all. Harbaugh would take another Super Bowl over the next 5 COY awards in a heartbeat. But I think the mindset of this COY voting just makes little sense.
Discounting a coach's accomplishment when they exceed already lofty expectations is harder than exceeding significantly lower expectations.
Harbaugh being 5th in COY odds makes zero sense to me. We will see how it shakes out when the voters actually have to register their votes.
 | NOTES & COMMENT |  |
George McDowell is #DMD's foreign correspondent. His international reports are filed from a hardened outpost just across the U.S. / North Carolina border. He writes on sports topics that interest him that he feels might also interest some segment of the wildly esoteric #DMD readership. George has been a big fan of DF and his various enterprises since the last century, and for several seasons appeared as a weekly guest on his Monday evening radio show, Maryland Golf Live, delivering commentary as The Eccentric Starter. George also donates his time and talents to the less fortunate, and currently volunteers as secretary of the Rickie Fowler Fan Club. | ||
So the phone rings the other day and I decide to answer it.
Caller: Are you George McDowell?
Me: I am.
Caller: Are you the George McDowell who finished tied 14th at the Maryland Senior Amateur Championship at Indian Springs in 2004?
Me: I am indeed.
Caller: Praise Allah! We’ve been trying to contact you for over a year. As-salamu alaykum.
We need your demonstrated expertise in golf as shown by this outstanding performance.
Me: Let’s not waste time here. Who is “we?”
Caller: We are the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Me: I don’t like the Saudis. You killed and carved up a Washington Post journalist. That was bad.
Caller: We are very sorry about that. But we have executed a few of the kill team.
Me: But not the ones who ordered the hit.
Caller: Alas! But that’s not the purpose of the call. We want you and your demonstrated golf expertise to salvage the trainwreck that the LIV Golf experiment has become.
Me: OK. I’ve got a few minutes to solve your problem for you. How much will you pay me?
Caller: We are authorized to pay you $1 billion.
Me: I have principles. I can’t accept a mere billion from a corrupt and murderous regime to legitimize your administration.
Caller: OK. How about $2 billion?
Me: That’s good. You found my price.
Caller: Done deal. What do we do now?
Me: Fire Greg Norman. Tell him never to darken your doorway forevermore.
Caller: What? He’s our leader.
Me: How are things going so far? And why are you and I talking now?
Caller: --- prolonged and painful silence. ---
Me: Just stop paying him. Then let your lawyers settle for whatever shakes out in pretrial negotiations when he sues. Or, remind him of Khashoggi’s fate after his little disagreement with you.
Caller: Ah, yes! Let me make a note of that.
Then what?
Me: Fire all the golfers you’ve lured away from the PGA Tour.
Caller: What? We’ve contracted to pay a fortune for them.
Me: I repeat. How are things going so far? And why are you and I talking now?
Let them sue, and settle for what your lawyers say are the best deals.
Look, the total amount you’ve agreed to pay them is about 10 or 15 minutes worth of oil production on any given day in Saudi Arabia. To you, it’s less than peanuts. It's mere camel dung.
Caller: But where do we go moving forward?
Me: “Moving forward” is surplusage. A sign of weak thinking. How could we move backwards?
Caller: Sorry English is my fourth language, and I adopt and use meaningless wording like native speakers do as a matter of course.
Me: Scrap Norman’s ridiculous concepts of team golf and three-day, 54-hole events. LIV golfers don’t earn Official World Golf Ranking points for 54-hole events, and there are maybe 14 or 15 people on earth who care about who wins team golf events. I'll say it the simplest possible way — your events are uninteresting.
Caller: But Greg Norman said they would be interesting.
Me: He would say that, wouldn't he?
Face it, the guys you've signed are not star power in and of themselves. They are lauded only after winning a major event and then quickly recede in public consciousness. As Drew Forrester says, there are only two golfers who truly move the needle — Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler. And one of them has stopped winning and the other never won at all. But the public still loves them — despite the one's peccadillos and the other's résumé.
Caller: Ah, yes! Drew Forrester. His wisdom is celebrated in all of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Me: Pay appearance fees to Woods and Fowler. Believe me, the rest will follow. They will chase that prize money.
Now, in the PGA Tour’s off-season, lease or buy the six best golf courses in the world. Prepare them perfectly. Host tournaments on them for which the 156 best golfers in the world are invited to compete. Treat the golfers themselves like royalty and the caddies and media media members like nobility. Make the payouts at least twice what the most lucrative current major championship pays, and better yet, make it three times that. Make the format the same for major championships that has been refined over a hundred years: 72 holes of stroke play. Cut to 70 after 36 holes. Re-pair on both Saturday and Sunday and send the last place guys off first. Name the series of events something like the Saudi World Golf Major Championships. Buy an international TV network like The Golf Channel or Al Jazeera and televise the events around the world. Streaming your events over a website screams "Bush league."
Caller: Wow! That’s wildly different than than the format we have now.
Me: Yes. The object is to make your effort successful. What you have now is destined to fail, and in fact, is failing.
Caller: But won't some golfers boycott on principle?
Me: For the first tournament, one, two, maybe a handful. But when they see the size of the winners check and it sinks in to them that one of their own is cashing it, you can be certain that no one will boycott the second event.
Caller: Do we keep the same golf courses every year?
Me: No! Begin a process of designing and building sustainable courses in various places around the world. Use sustainability like major corporations do -- talk incessantly about it and do nothing. When the new golf courses become available, incorporate them into the rota. When they are not being used for Saudi World Golf Major Championships, allow the public to play them at outrageous prices.
Caller: Thanks, George. That's brilliant!
Me: One final item, no extra charge. It will boost your prestige even more in the eyes of the world. Do the same format for women professional golfers.
Caller: Alas, that would be impossible.
Me: Why so?
Caller: Because women are, well . . . women.
Me: Silly me.
Caller: When can you come into our Embassy and finalize this deal?
Me: You're funny. Never. Just mail the check.
| Wednesday January 3, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3421 |
2024 is here, as you know by now.
Things are cookin' here in the Land of Pleasant Living.
The football team is one win away from hosting the AFC Championship Game in Baltimore for the first time since 1970.
We haven't had a World Series game in this city since 1983, but I think we'd all agree the flowers are starting to bloom and our baseball woes are over.
I was talking with someone about the AFC title game ticket/party package we had on sale earlier this week and it dawned on me: "There's an argument that January 28th, 2024, will be the single most important sports event in this town since the Ravens kicked off at Memorial Stadium since 1996.
If nothing else, there's no argument that a January 28th AFC title game at M&T Bank Stadium would be the biggest event that facility has ever hosted.
This could be one special year in Baltimore.
I feel like it's owed to us, honestly.
I know nothing's guaranteed in sports.
But after almost 30 years of the Orioles floundering and getting beat up like Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers, it strikes me that the baseball gods owe us one.
And while the Ravens have delivered two world titles to us since 2000, we've also endured more than our fair share of football heartbreak over the last two-plus decades. We aren't the Browns or Lions, obviously, but the memories of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Tyler Boyd, Philip Rivers and Sam Hubbard linger on.
I can still see Derrick Henry lofting that short touchdown pass into the end zone of that playoff game a few years ago and turning to my friend who was in the stadium with me and saying, "Well, if that's not the ultimate kick in the nuts. Derrick Henry just threw a touchdown pass against us in the playoffs."
So, yeah, I think we're owed some good grace.
And 2024 might just be the year we get it.
But who else is owed "good grace" this coming year in the world of sports?
I'm glad you asked.
I'm doing my best to not make any of these completely far fetched.
I mean, it's entirely possible that the Lions and/or the Browns could win the Super Bowl. They're both in the playoffs and neither of them skated in by the skin of their teeth.
I don't think they're winning the Super Bowl. But it's the NFL. And weird, weird things happen. So I wouldn't rule either of them out.
And so, there's my first wish for good grace in 2024.
I'm obviously rooting harder-than-extra-hard for the Ravens to make the Super Bowl and, once they get there, win the whole thing.
But if the Ravens somehow stub their toe along the way and it's either Cleveland or Detroit that winds up getting there and winning, I'd be perfectly fine with either of them earning their first ever Lombardi Trophy.
Those fans have suffered long enough, particularly in Detroit.
So good grace wish #1 is a Cleveland or Detroit Super Bowl win on February 11 if, sadly, the Ravens don't make it to Las Vegas.
And, please, don't be that guy who says, "No way I'd want the Browns to win the Super Bowl. If they won it, their fans would be insufferable."
Have you been around us when the Orioles or Ravens are winning? Insufferable called and asked us to tone it down.
Yes, we're "that bad" when our teams win.
I love history. No, not "history", history. I love sports history. In particular, golf history,
There are four major championships each year in professional golf.
The Masters is played every April. Depending on your view of things, it could be the most important golf tournament of the entire year. I believe that to be true, mainly because the tournament (or, "toonamint" as they say down there in Augusta, Georgia) is played on the greatest piece of golfing land ever built.
The PGA Championship is played in May these days. It rotates from course to course each year. In 2024, it's at a place called Valhalla in Kentucky. Tiger Woods once captured a PGA there. So, too, did Rory McIlroy.
The U.S. Open is in June. It too moves from venue to venue, playing at primarily a dozen of the top courses in the United States. This year's event is at famed Pinehurst #2, where Payne Stewart once turned back Phil Mickelson with an improbable 72nd hole par that included an 18-foot par "make" on the final hole of the tournament.
And the British Open is the final major now, held each July in the U.K. It's rotation of courses is smaller than the one used for the U.S. Open. This year, they'll gather at Royal Troon to battle it out for the Claret Jug.
There are two players we like who are vying for a shot at capturing the career grand slam. There's one player we no longer particularly care for who is also a major away from his career grand slam.
We don't want Phil Mickelson to win the U.S. Open this year. He's a LIV player now. Our rooting interests have ended for him.
But we'd love to see good grace fall upon Rory McIlroy at the Masters and Jordan Spieth at the PGA Championship.
A win at those events by either of those two and they will each complete the career grand slam. Both have a solid chance of winning this year, with McIlroy likely more of a favorite than Jordan based on course and field.
On a personal level, I'd love to see Denny McCarthy finally win his first PGA Tour event in '24-25. I actually have a few quid on him this week at the Sentry in Hawaii. That place is a putter's paradise and Denny can roll the rock.
I wouldn't mind seeing one of the guys without a major championship finally break through; any of these four would be fine by me: Cantlay, Schauffele, Fowler or Kuchar.
I am enough of a realist to know this isn't going to be "The Year of the Caps" the way it was in 2018 when they won the Stanley Cup.
Speaking of the Stanley Cup, did you know the last time the Flyers won the title was in 1975? If you didn't know, now you do.
And, yes, I know what you're thinking: You must really stink to go from 1975 until 2023 without winning a title. Yes, that's true, my friend. Very true.
So, if the Caps don't win the Stanley Cup, I don't really care at all who wins, as long as you-know-who doesn't win it.
But I do care about Alex Ovechkin and the pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's career goal scoring record. Like I wrote above, I love sports history.
And I'd hate to see Ovi get up in the neighborhood of The Great One's 894 goals-scored-record and not break it.
He scored his 8th goal of the season last night. He has 65 goals to go to reach that historic figure of 895.
It's been a dreadful offensive campaign to date for #8. There's no sugarcoating it or trying to analyze his production to make it seem like he's played great when he hasn't played great at all.
So, some good grace to Ovechkin in the remainder of 2024, please. How about 24 more goals this season, to finish with 32 for the year? And then how about 18 before the end of December next season?
That would get him into the 870 goal territory with half the '24-25 campaign remaining.
And while he might need a month of the '25-26 season to finally reach 895, I think he can manage that.
We need Ovechkin to get going now, though. He's on a pace to score roughly 20 goals this season. That's not good at all. If he can finish with 32 or so this year, he's still in the game.
I would never say "never" with Tiger Woods. I think we all learned back in 2019 that it isn't wise to completely count out the G.O.A.T.
That said, I don't see him being able to win three more major championships to tie Jack's record of 18 major titles. Impossible? Of course not. Like I said, "never" doesn't fit with Tiger, even as he closes in on 50 years of age.
But what's far more realistic than 3 more majors is simply one more victory on the PGA Tour to claim the all-time career wins record at 83.
I'd love to see good grace fall upon Woods in the 2024 golf season. Just a win, of any kind, to give him the record all by himself. I think after a career that changed the sport of golf for this generation and the next one, too, it's the least he can get from the golf gods.
Playing a somewhat limited schedule is tough enough for Tiger. But competing in 8 or so tournaments a year and playing a majority of them in either majors or "significant" events makes it all that much more difficult to win.
Tiger still has enough game to win.
But now he has to beat players half his age or are just starting to blossom in their own right.
It was different when he was 32 and beating everyone with one arm tied behind his back.
Now he's 48 and these kids that are 24 years old are coming out on TOUR and just making gobs and gobs of birdies every week.
It's no longer a walk in the park for Woods like it was for such a long time in the early part of his career.
Just one more win. It doesn't matter where or when. Just one more victory, please.
Much like the political landscape in our country, the manner by which bands and artists are elected to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame is puzzling indeed. "How on earth did he/she get in?" has been uttered a lot over the years. Both in government. And in music.
Take, for instance, Darlene Love.
She couldn't sell out the auditorium at Calvert Hall.
Name 3 good Darlene Love songs.
OK, name 2.
Well, just one then.
Can't do it can you?
In fairness, you've never heard of Darlene Love, so you wouldn't know any of her songs. Neither does anyone else.
Meanwhile, the likes .38 Special, Three Dog Night, Soundgarden, Styx, Stone Temple Pilots and the Dave Matthews Band aren't in the Hall of Fame.
Heck, it's not even my style of preferred music and I can see where the likes of Motorhead, Tool and Korn should be in there.
It's beyond bizarre to look at who is in and who isn't.
Like, The Go Go's are in and REO Speedwagon isn't in. The Go Go's were decent, don't get me wrong. They definitely had 4 good songs. But if they're in, that should open the door for the likes of REO Speedwagon, Jethro Tull and Oasis, don't you think?
That said, the greatest snub of them all continues to be Warren Zevon.
So, here's hoping some good grace will be sent in the direction of the late Warren Zevon when the 2024 Hall of Fame class is announced later this year.
It's a little too late for Zevon to enjoy the honor, but it's long overdue nonetheless.
The man was a genius.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
Last night, the Boilermakers of Purdue used a familiar recipe to cook the Maryland Terrapins.
A healthy helping of Zach Edey combined with a nice side of three-point shooting was all the visitors needed to cruise to a 67-53 win in front of a less than packed XFINITY Center.
Edey tossed in 23 points on a very efficient night of 8-13 shooting. He also collected a game high 12 rebounds. It was his mere presence in the paint that dictated many of the offensive decisions that Maryland made.
Purdue connected on 9 of 20 three-point shots (45%) to complement the inside play of Edey. The Terps hit just 5 of 22 from long range.
For Maryland, the only real scoring threat continues to be Jahmir Young. Young pulled the offensive load for Maryland on Tuesday night, shooting 23 times on his way to a 26-point game. While he was connecting on 12 of those 23 shots, his teammates, collectively, were 9 of 40.
The game was never close and the 14-point gap at the end did not do justice to Purdue’s domination.
The game started ominously for Maryland.
Purdue’s offensive night began with a swished three off the hand of Trey Kofman-Renn that was followed by two Terp turnovers and then a bucket inside by Edey. When Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer drained another Boilermaker triple, Maryland found themselves quickly behind by 8-0, forcing coach Kevin Willard to call a timeout only 2:30 into the game.
Maryland responded by getting to the foul line a couple of times and also scored on a Scott put back, cutting the lead to 6, 10-4. The Terps then went into a scoring funk that lasted over 4 minutes and their deficit found double digits.
It took a Jamie Kaiser three ball to break the scoreless spell and put the Boilermaker lead back to single digits, 16-7 at the under 12-minute TV timeout. Edey had already tallied 8 points on 4-5 shooting.
Coach Matt Painter then gave Edey a 2-minute break, and when the big man returned, the Terps greeted him with a zone defense. Purdue is a vastly different team without the giant center, and with him on the bench, Maryland was able to whittle a 12-point Boilermaker advantage down to 7, 19-12.
When the last TV timeout of the first half came at around with 3:15 left, Maryland was behind 26-14.
Both teams struggled to score during the previous 4-minute segment with neither team putting up a point in over 2 minutes. Purdue had yet to go to the foul line in the game and Maryland had only been whistled for 2 fouls so far that half.
Edey finally got to the line when Reese hacked him while in the act of shooting. He made both tries and the Terps had been doubled up, 28-14.
A couple of Jamir Young floaters preceded a nice fade-away by Loyer to end the first 20 minutes with Purdue leading 32-19. The Terps had made just 7 of 28 shots from the field (25%) and only 1 of 8 threes. Oddly enough, they held a 9-2 advantage in offensive rebounds and their 8-0 gap in second chance points was the only thing keeping this game relatively close.
Purdue started the second half in a similar fashion to the first. Just like in the first half, Purdue scored 8 points in the first 2:30 of the second half. Maryland was able to counter with four points of their own, but a 13-point gap had swelled to 17, 40-23.
Willard called timeout, but a dry Terrapin possession was followed by another Lance Jones three (his third in the first 4 minutes of the second half).
Just like that, college basketball’s #1 ranked team had a 20-point lead.
While Jones was collecting his 9 points early in the second half, Maryland’s Young was his equal. The Terp point hit 4 buckets, one being a three, to keep his team’s hopes somewhat alive.
Maryland called yet another timeout with 12:08 left in the game. The score was 52-32 with Edey leading his squad with 18 points while Young had 17 for Maryland. It’s also notable that Juju Reese had yet to score a point.
With Edey taking a breather, Purdue went into a mini funk offensively. They went almost 4 minutes without a score before Braden Smith knocked down a three to push their lead to 19, 55-36 with just under 8 minutes to play.
Things got somewhat interesting when Scott was awarded 2 foul shots on a questionable flagrant 1 call, and then Kaiser hit a three. The score was now 57-43 and the crowd showed some enthusiasm. Purdue, of course, went to their star, and Edey responded with 2 foul shots.
On Maryland’s next possession, Noah Batchelor rushed a three which missed badly. Purdue corralled the rebound and Purdue’s Mason Gillis found himself wide open under the basket for an easy layup. The scoreboard read 61-43 with under 4 minutes left in the game. Game over.
The Terrapins continued to put forth significant effort, but outside of Young, they just didn’t have the horses.
When the final horn sounded, the scoreboard would show that the Terps were defeated by 14, 67-53.
There were numerous scouts in the house last night, presumably to watch Edey, but perhaps to also get a glimpse of Young.
What they saw from the Purdue star was a really big body who withstood a beating. Edey alone draws 10 fouls a game. Last night, the entire Terp team was only whistled for 12. The refs let a ton of slapping and grabbing go last night.
It was impressive that Edey could be efficient despite getting beat up. It also was a good showing for Young. This kid can play, and he has mountains of energy. Despite the NBA having just 2 rounds in their draft, Young might get selected. If not, he’s a sure-fire free agent signee.
What the scouts did not see was any reason to think that Reese finds a home at the next level. He has virtually no outside game, and has now failed to collect a field goal against the two best big men he has faced this season. Reese was 0-2 when matched up against UCLA’s big man Aday Mara and Edey held him scoreless (0-4) last night.
Granted, Reese is undersized as a 6’9” center in a very physical Big Ten, but as a four, he’d still be entirely a back to the basket guy. The show has no room for a thin 6’9” guy with no handles or range.
Reese willl get another chance on Sunday when he faces Minnesota and their 6’11”, 230-pound center, Dawson Garcia.
| Tuesday January 2, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3420 |
I realize the games have to end in some fashion, so the conclusion to last night's Alabama-Michigan game wasn't all that out-of-whack.
But it felt a little hollow at the end when Alabama couldn't get in the end zone in six plays and that was the end of the night for the Crimson Tide.
Then again, Michigan's overtime TD only took them two offensive plays.
So in that regard, the better team won. I guess.
Is college football's overtime format really the best way to decide the game?
I don't know.
How about you start at the 40 yard line instead of the 25?
Or midfield, even.
The 25 yard line just seems too easy.
Unless you're Alabama, that is.
I saw someone on Twitter last night suggest a "playoff overtime" change, similar to the way they do things in the NHL. During the regular season, do the 25-yard line thing if you want.
But in the playoff(s), you play a 10-minute sudden victory session, similar to the NFL, where each team gets the ball once at the very least.
Thereafter, if no one wins in the 10-minute period, you can go to the goofy 25-yard format or the 40-yard format.
I don't think that's a terrible way to do it. Play an extra 10 minutes of "real" football and go from there.
That said, my interest in college football has dwindled so much over the last decade that they could end the game in a tie for all I care.
A group of us from FCA Maryland Golf took in the Caps/Predators game in D.C. last Saturday night and I have to say, it's pretty remarkable that the Capital One Arena is no longer "good enough" for the NHL and NBA teams down there.
The game production on Saturday night was as spectacular as any sporting event I've ever seen that wasn't the Super Bowl.
Lights, music, PA announcer --- all of it was just about flawless in its presentation.
I realize the area around the facility has really eroded over the last few years. The building itself might not be nearly as outdated as the neighborhood is troubling. I get it.
But it's a sad state of affairs when you have a remarkable arena like that and it's suddenly no longer viable.
I'm not in D.C. enough to "know" this, but it's going to seem weird for both the Capitals and Wizards to no longer call Washington D.C. their home.
They're only moving about 5 miles away as the crow flies, yes. But they're moving out of D.C. proper, for sure. Will they still be the Washington Capitals? Or will they now by the Virginia Capitals? I keep searching and looking for those details and I asked a couple of folks in the arena on Saturday night and no one seems to know the answer.
I'm guessing they're going to remain the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards despite playing in Alexandria, Virginia. But not having both of them calling D.C. home is going to feel awfully odd, I'm guessing.
Speaking of the Capitals, I'm going to keep saying what I've said about them from the start of their '23-24 season.
I don't see how they're going to make the playoffs.
Maybe the imminent return of veteran Max Pacioretty off the injured list will spark their beleagured offense. Let's hope that's the case.
Otherwise, the Caps are in trouble.
Dylan Strome is having an excellent season.
Anthony Mantha is actually showing a little life after a couple of seasons of dreadful production.
And, well, that's really about it.
Alex Ovechkin has 7 goals on the season. Yes, 7.
T.J. Oshie has 2 more goals in 21 games than your Uncle Bill.
In their last 15 games, the Caps have scored more than 3 goals just four times. They've scored 13 goals in their last 8 games.
The Washington defense isn't all that bad.
The goaltending is decent, nothing more.
But the offense is beyond puzzling.
There's just nothing there on a nightly basis.
Maybe Pacioretty helps get something started. There's still four months of hockey remaining, let's not forget. Plenty of time left.
But with Ovechkin clearly on the downside of his career and Oshie adding almost nothing, two of the team's most celebrated offensive players are contributing very little.
The bet here is the Caps can't make the playoffs if Ovechkin finishes in the 25-30 goal range and Oshie doesn't reach the 20-goal mark.
Right now, you'd probably be safe to take the "under" on Ovechkin at 29.5 and Oshie at 19.5.
And that means a second straight spring with no playoff hockey in D.C.
I sure hope I'm wrong.
I assume the #1 topic this week will continue to be the amount of playing time Lamar Jackson is going to get this Saturday when the Ravens host Pittsburgh in the season finale.
I'll keep weighing in with the same commentary I offered the first time someone asked me about it on Sunday following the win over Miami that clinched the #1 seed.
There's ZERO benefit to playing Lamar on Saturday.
That's ZERO in all CAPS for a reason.
And please spare me the "rust" angle, as if playing two or three offensive series' on Saturday will somehow matter on the weekend of January 20-21 when the Ravens host their first playoff games of the '24 post-sesason.
The only thing that can happen on Saturday that really matters is Lamar plays......and gets hurt.
If there was a tangible benefit to Jackson playing, I'd listen. But there isn't.
The potential negative in no way comes close to matching the potential positive. And for anyone saying, "Well, to be fair to the rest of the teams battling for a playoff spot in the AFC, the Ravens should play their starters," I'll be the guy in the corner still laughing at you five minutes from now.
This isn't chess or blackjack.
It's football. A contact sport.
Players get hurt. Often.
The Ravens accomplished what they needed to accomplish in the regular season and it only took them 16 games to do it. That their 17th game doesn't matter isn't a reason to worry about the Steelers and why the game matters to them.
If Lamar plays one down, Harbs has lost his mind.
And just who will the Ravens play on the weekend of January 20-21? Well, that depends in part on what happens this weekend, obviously.
Here's who I think wins the various games of importance in the AFC.
Baltimore wins at home over Pittsburgh.
Buffalo wins at Miami.
Indianapolis wins at home over Houston.
Jacksonville wins at Tennessee.
Las Vegas wins at home over Denver.
And....if.....those results happen that way, the ESPN Playoff Machine says the following will happen, playoff wise.
#7 Indianapolis at #2 Buffalo
#6 Miami at #3 Kansas City
#5 Cleveland at #4 Jacksonville
Two things stand out:
1. There's almost no way I'm going five-for-five. Someone above is losing that I have winning. It could be anyone, really.
Miami's chakras could line up offensively and they could beat the Bills, 34-30.
Houston could definitely go into Indianapolis and win, 23-20.
If Trevor Lawrence is healthy, that helps the Jaguars' chances big time, but we just saw them stink it up against the Ravens a few weeks back. Tennessee could beat them with a late field goal, 24-21.
And I guess Denver could scrape by with a weird 19-13 win over the uninterested Raiders in Vegas.
Here's the other thing I know: It's unlikely all three home teams win in the first round of the playoffs.
Oddly enough, in the AFC over the last two years, the #2, #3 and #4 seeded teams have all won their first round playoff game.
In the NFC, there has always been at least one road winner in the first round in each of the last three years.
If you made me bet it, I'd bet all three home teams don't win in the AFC on opening weekend of the post-season.
And you know what that means...the Ravens get the team with the highest number next to their name on the weekend of January 20-21 in Baltimore.
It could be Miami again.
It could be Cleveland and Joe Flacco.
Or it could be Buffalo, somehow.
Heck, the Steelers could win up as the #7 seed for that matter and somehow get lucky and win their first playoff game and be right back in Baltimore the following weekend to lose 37-10.
Of those four, I'd probably want the Ravens to play the Bills the least, primarily because we haven't seen Buffalo in person this year and Josh Allen can pull a Lamar Jackson on any given Sunday (or Saturday) and beat you with his arm and his legs.
But no matter who comes to town the weekend of January 20-21, they better be ready to man up. The Ravens are flying.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
It's certainly understandable if Terps coach Kevin Willard has been having nightmares centered around Purdue’s 7’4” paint-monster, Zach Edey.
It is not just Edey’s 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game that should concern Maryland’s 2nd year coach, because Edey affects a game in several other ways.
Maryland and number 1 ranked Purdue meet tonight in a Big Ten game at the XFINITY Center in College Park. Gametime is 7 pm and Peacock will be carrying the action.
The front runner for national player of the year, Edey has been drawing over 9 fouls per game. That spells doom for a Terrapin front court that picks up fouls quickly and struggles defensively against opponent’s “bigs”.
In the Terps win over UCLA and their 5-man Aday Mara, both Julian Reese and Caelum Swanton-Rodger fouled out.
Swanton-Rodger collected his 5 fouls in less than 4 minutes of court time (that has to be some kind of record for non intentional fouls). Reese tallied just a single point against Mara. Edey, with his 300-pound frame, is way more formidable than Mara
Absent some type of early injury, Edey will dominate this game.
He’s just too big and too skilled not to have his way with whatever Kevin Willard throws his way. The only way to limit him, somewhat, is to double down every time he puts the ball on the floor.
Maryland cannot allow Edey to play one-on-one down low. If allowed, he’ll torch anyone Maryland puts on him. Because he draws so many fouls, he often winds up at the free line where he connects on a respectable 76%.
Doubling Edey can be dangerous because his teammates knock down 38% of their 3-point shots. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer are 2 players benefitting from open perimeter looks. Loyer makes 39% of his triples while Smith makes a whopping 47.6%.
I think it’s the shifty and quick point guard Smith that drives this team. He can get to the paint and will either score himself or hand off to Edey for a dunk. That ability to get past his defender is a big reason for his 6.7 assists a game. Of course, it helps when the recipient of your pass is Edey.
Loyer is a steady, heady, guard. At 6’4”, he may struggle to guard either Donta Scott or Jordan Geronimo. And I hate to go back to Edey, but Loyer can afford to give up a few inches down low when Edey is around to reject, alter, or otherwise influence shots in the paint. Expect Loyer to be a pesky offensive weapon who hits a few key jumpers.
Guard, Lance Jones (6’1”), forwards Trey Koffman-Renn (6’9”) and Mason Gillis make up the rest of Purdue’s main rotation. All three are nice pieces, but you aren’t scheming to stop any of the three. Jones is a quality defender.
Offensively, look for the Boilermakers to run a bunch of sets that set up Edey for an entry pass deep into the paint. He’s impossible to stop when he catches it deep. Defensively, Purdue plays a straight up man although they find themselves just 10th in points allowed in the Big Ten.
Already this year, Purdue has wins against #11 Gonzaga, #7 Tennessee, #4 Marquette, and former #1 Arizona. Their sole loss was in overtime to Northwestern.
When dissecting the Northwestern game, it jumps out that of the Wildcats 92 points, 80 came from their guards. The Terps have absolutely no way to get that kind of production from their backcourt.
With the paint clogged and the Terps still showing to be a poor three-point shooting team, the points just aren’t there for them to pull off an upset tonight.
The Boilermakers were ranked #3 last year when they rolled into College Park where they absorbed a 58-55 defeat. The Terp fans stormed the court, creating an indelible image for the visiting Boilermakers.
I expect Purdue to eclipse last season’s 55 points midway through the second half. This is a battle tested crew with certain goals in mind. Losing to Maryland isn’t in their cards. The line is currently 8.5, with the Terps as underdogs.
Edey will dominate and his supporting cast will make more threes than the Terps do. As a fan, it pains me to say that an 80-66 Purdue win would come as no surprise.
| Monday January 1, 2024 | | #DMD | | Issue #3419 |
Happy New Year to all of you who are up and reading this on a beautiful Monday in Bawlmer.
I hope 2024 is safe and healthy for you and your family.
So, while there might still be an argument over the 2023 NFL MVP, there's no longer a debate about the NFL's best team over the course of the regular season.
That honor goes to the Baltimore Ravens.
Sunday's 56-19 win over Miami was a masterclass in every facet of the game.
The offense had a field day.
The defense did more than hold their own despite a myriad of injuries both before and during the game.
Special teams even made an impact with a huge kick-off return to start the second half.
It was a complete blistering of the Dolphins, who came to town full of themselves and left with their tail firmly tucked between their legs.
And with the win, the Ravens secured the #1 overall seed in the AFC. They'll host a playoff game on the weekend of January 20-21 and, pending a win there, would then host the AFC title game on January 28.
#DMD has a limited number of lower deck tickets available for the January 28 AFC Championship Game, which includes a private pre-game party with food and adult (and non-adult) beverages. If you're interested in seeing the AFC Championship Game live on January 28, please reach out today via e-mail -- 18inarow@gmail.com
And, yes, I realize "they still have to get there first". Sadly, it doesn't work that way in the ticket sales world. We buy the tickets now and hope the game gets played in Baltimore on January 28. If it doesn't get played, you get all of your money back.
Back to yesterday's game...
Miami looked good on their opening drive and, later in the first quarter, were poised to take a 14-7 lead when Tyreek Hill inexplicably dropped an easy touchdown pass.
That faux pas wasn't a total game changer or anything like that. The Dolphins probably still would have lost if Hill would have brought that ball down in the end zone.
But that moment definitely seemed to take some steam out of Miami, as they added just one field goal and one touchdown thereafter.
Meanwhile, the Ravens moved the ball up and down the field with such ease it made the University of Georgia jealous. Lamar Jackson threw five touchdowns and the receivers caught nearly everything thrown their way.
It was an emphatic win over a supposed good team that left jaws dropped around the league.
56-19 is a thumping no matter the opponent. But in week 17? Against the Dolphins, who needed a win to wrap up the AFC East? That was a butt kicking for the ages.
And so, now, all eyes turn to next Saturday's season finale against the Steelers (4:30 pm).
The Ravens have not a thing to play for in that game.
Pittsburgh needs a win to make the playoffs, although there is a way they win can next Saturday and still not make the post-season.
If Pittsburgh wins but the following results happen, they don't make it --
Buffalo beats Miami.
Jacksonville beats Tennessee.
In a weird twist, the Steelers could actually make the playoffs even if they lose next Saturday if these results occur --
Denver beats Las Vegas.
Tennessee beats Jacksonville.
Editor's note: I have no idea how a tie impacts any of that stuff above. I'm sure it does, somehow.
So the $64,000 question for John Harbaugh and the Ravens is this: Who plays next Saturday and who sits out?
It makes ZERO sense to let Lamar Jackson step on the field against the Steelers.
One high ankle sprain or MCL tear and the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes are gone.
That's the first and most important decision. No matter what Jackson says this week, he shouldn't see the field on Saturday.
There are others who are also obvious, no-brainer decisions.
No Kyle Hamilton.
No Marlon Humphrey.
No Ronnie Stanley.
No Patrick Queen.
No Kevin Zeitler.
And, even though he's healthy, there's no real reason to play Roquan Smith, either.
But Lamar and the others are easy decisions. They all should sit out.
There will be chatter about "rust" and a 3-week layoff and all that stuff. John Harbaugh might even buy into that kind of mindless banter, thinking back to 2019 when the Ravens laid a massive egg as the #1 seed in a sloppy loss to Tennessee.
In all fairness, that 2019 team was good. Maybe even close to "very good".
This 2023 edition of the Ravens is beyond that. This squad is "special". And what they need right now, more than anything, is rest.
And they'll be much better served with a full, (nearly) healthy team on the weekend of January 20-21.
There was some internet whining about the Ravens "running up the score" in the aftermath of the 56-19 thrashing.
It's important to note this didn't come specifically from Mike McDaniel, who seems to actually be too smart to invoke that sort of discourse given that he coaches a professional football team.
In fact, McDaniel said just the opposite after the game, noting that when a team is multiple scores ahead they are pretty much free to play however they want.
That didn't stop some reporters, podcasters and other ne'er do wells from claiming that Harbaugh and the Ravens ran up the score on the Dolphins.
Some kickback from Ravens enthusiasts included a mention of Miami hanging a 70-burger on Denver earlier this season and scoring at will in the 4th quarter when the game was out of reach. But McDaniel and his staff eschewed a late field goal that would have given Miami a 73-point day and a new NFL record for points scored.
And, either way, it doesn't really matter what Miami did earlier in the season. Not to me, at least.
What matters is the concept of "running up the score" when it was 42-19 midway through the fourth quarter and -- important to note this, here -- both teams are still trying.
Miami was definitely still engaged in the game at 42-19. It might not have looked like it from the score, but they were still tackling, still hitting people (sometimes after the whistle) and still trying to create turnovers on defense.
The Ravens, accordingly, were also still trying.
When it became 49-19, the Ravens went with a JV lineup, which is really saying something given that a lot of the players who played yesterday were already JV guys because of injuries. I'm not even sure Rock Ya-Sin would make the JV squad, actually.
Anyway, the Dolphins then coughed up the ball on offense and the Ravens scored again.
Sure, they "threw the ball" in that situation. What's the big deal? Is there a difference between throwing it or running it? The way I see it, there are far more interceptions in the league than fumbles recovered.
But none of that matters, really.
It's professional football.
You play hard until the game ends or one of the two teams says, "OK, we don't want to play any longer."
It's one thing, entirely different, if the Ravens are winning 56-19 with 40 seconds left and they throw the ball in an effort to score another TD. That, I'm comfortable saying, would be super-bush-league stuff.
But when there's 4 minutes left? Or 3 minutes left? Unless the Dolphins gave some sort of sideline signal that THEY were going to stop playing -- which they didn't -- the Ravens had every right to continue playing football.
If you want to argue about something that has merit, it would be this question: Why on earth was Lamar Jackson still in the game at 42-19 with 4 minutes left?
Now that.....that is worth getting fussy over.
But the idea of running up the score is amateur-hour stuff.
This isn't the CYO. It's the NFL.
You're big boys. Getting paid big bucks. Check your ego at the door and play until the clock hits 00:00.
Oh, and here's another novel concept you might want to try: Don't give up 42 points in 50 minutes next time. That might also help.
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens 1:00 PM EST M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, MD Spread: Ravens (-3.5) |
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It's certainly not the biggest home game in franchise history, but today's encounter with the Dolphins is probably on the Top 10 list.
A win and the Ravens secure the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
That's huge, of course.
It not only gives them some freedom to flex their roster a bit in next weekend's season finale -- particularly if Pittsburgh loses today in Seattle -- but it also allows for an extra week of recovery for injured starters like Hamilton, Stanley, Flowers and Queen.
A victory today over the Dolphins means the Ravens only have to win two playoff home games to advance to the Super Bowl.
Are you nervous?
No need to be.
Miami's not coming to Baltimore and winning in late December in a critically important game.
They like to say "Fins Up!" in Miami. Their fins won't be up today around 4:15 pm.
Both teams are potentially missing key figures this afternoon. Baltimore could be without Kyle Hamilton and Brandon Stephens, which has to have Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill both foaming at the mouth. But the Dolphins apparently are going to be missing both Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert, so their offense loses a little something with those two being on the sideline.
If all four of those guys were in their respective lineups, the Ravens still win. With those four guys out...the Ravens win anyway.
Sure, if Hamilton misses the game it's huge for the Ravens. Someone will have to step up and do the job.
That someone...will be Lamar Jackson.
No, Jackson's not playing safety and quarterback this afternoon. I mean Jackson will simply amplify his already MVP-possible season with another virtuoso performance.
Lamar's not losing to Tua in Baltimore with the #1 seed on the line. At least I don't think he is.
The good news for the Ravens is they're not in must win territory today. They could still drop this encounter and claim the #1 seed by beating the Steelers next Sunday. Miami has to win today to ensure they're not only AFC East champions, but to maintain a slim hope of claiming that #1 seed in the AFC.
But make no mistake about it, a Baltimore win changes a lot of things today for John Harbaugh's team.
It doesn't set them on "easy street", per se, since the post-season is generally filled with capable teams, but it gets just a block or two closer to their destination without having to travel down "difficult street".
The bet here is they're not going to squander it.
My guess?
There's a far better chance this one winds up looking like the Detroit and Seattle games from earlier this season than it does the recent Rams visit to Baltimore.
Baltimore scores on their first two offensive possessions to take a 10-0 lead.
Miami rebounds with a Tua to Hill TD to make it 10-7 late in the first quarter, but the Ravens move right down the field again before settling on a Justin Tucker field goal to make it 13-7.
The Dolphins kick their own field goal with 4 minutes left in the first half to cut the lead to 13-10 but Lamar has one of those vintage drives where he throws for 43 and runs for 32 and the Ravens punch it in on a Jackson 2-yard scamper to make it 20-10 at the half.
An early 3rd quarter interception by Geno Stone leads to another touchdown, this time from Jackson to Likely, and the rout is on.
It's 27-10 in the 4th quarter when Lamar and the offense complete a 13-play drive with a Gus Edwards 3-yard TD run to make it 34-10.
The Dolphins score a late "no one cares" TD while the crowd chants that awful White Stripes song.
And the Baltimore Ravens secure the AFC's #1 seed for the upcoming playoffs with a resounding 34-17 win over the Dolphins.
Part of the backdrop to today's season finale will be a pre-game on-field appearance by former Ravens running back Ray Rice, who will be the team's featured "Legend of the Game" for the contest.
The Ravens did a nice job of slowly getting this information out to the public, waiting until late in the week to formally publicize it (even though a team official told me yesterday it's been in the works all season and it's been "public" for more than a month...people just weren't picking up on it).
Rice, of course, was cut by the team after a 2014 domestic violence incident and never again played in the league.
Today's appearance has sparked a significant amount of discussion within the community over the last 24 hours.
Some people think Rice's appearance is acceptable and well within the parameters of giving someone a second chance, particularly someone like Rice who has done outstanding work over the last half dozen years to educate the public about domestic violence.
Some people believe it's unacceptable to "spotlight" someone who was essentially kicked out of the league for punching his girlfriend (now wife) in a hotel elevator in Atlantic City, an event that was captured by hotel security cameras.
There are generally no in-between-opinions on this one. You're either good with Rice's appearance today or you're dead-set against it.
My opinion?
I'm simply going to defer to the Ravens.
It's not really for me to judge Ray Rice. Everyone -- most importantly Rice himself -- knows what he did in 2014 was wrong. Rice needed two acts of forgiveness in the aftermath of that ugly incident. He needed God to forgive him. And he needed his girlfriend (now wife), Janay Parker, to forgive him.
God forgives the sins of those who prayerfully ask for it.
And Parker, now his wife, has obviously forgiven Rice for that moment that forever changed his life.
And the Ravens, if it matters, didn't divorce themselves of Rice despite the incident. He's been involved in countless organizational events over the last half-dozen years and has been part of Super Bowl 47 celebrations and other team functions, in addition to "counseling" rookies and other players on the dangers of domestic violence.
In my opinion, it's very fair to say Rice has not only paid his dues, he's gone to great lengths to rehabilitate both himself and his image with with his steadfast work in the community.
What happened in that hotel elevator in 2014 is none of my business.
That he wasn't employed thereafter while others in the league who have been involved in the same sort of misconduct is a problem for the NFL to look at, not me or you.
Tyreek Hill is playing in the league still, and could be the MVP of the NFL this season, and he's had multiple domestic violence incidents in his career, dating all the way back to college.
Rice was banished because his "act" was caught on video. Yet, Browns running back Kareem Hunt also once struck a woman in a hotel and that incident was also captured on video. For some reason, he's still in the league to this day.
So, I'm not overly concerned with Rice being expurgated a decade ago as it relates to his appearance at today's game.
That he was involved in a domestic violence incident shouldn't necessarily equate to a lifetime banishment by the Ravens (or the NFL).
I would probably have a stronger opinion if, for example, the Ravens were putting Rice in the team's Ring of Honor. That move, I'd say, would require some real consideration.
That said, Terrell Suggs was allegedly involved in an ugly domestic violence incident once during his career and he's firmly in place in the team's Ring of Honor.
This is all classic "what about'ism" that is a huge part of our culture in today's United States.
We attempt to accept or reject anything based on something else that has happened or not happened along the way. It's everywhere in our society.
For today's Ray Rice event, I'm going to defer to the Ravens. I'm quite certain they've thought it through and talked it over for hours, if not days, within the walls of 1 Winning Drive.
If they believe it's the right thing to do, I'll sign off on it.
It's their organization, after all. If they're not concerned with potential collateral damage, why should we be concerned with it?
And in a time where "pardons" are potentially going to be a signficant part of our future political landscape with both the 45th and 46th Presidents, we should all probably do a better job of understanding the power of grace and forgiveness.
Everyone that truly matters has forgiven Ray Rice.
I think the fan base can, too.
| Saturday December 30, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3417 |
I'm sure you've heard, but Joe Flacco is on quite the heater with the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco and the Browns clinched just their 3rd playoff berth since 1999 on Thursday night with a win over the Jets. And they still have half-a-chance to win the AFC North if the Ravens spit the bit in their last two games and the Browns go on to win their regular season finale at Cincinnati next Sunday.
At worst, Cleveland's likely going to be the 5 seed and play the AFC South champion on the road. That means Flacco and the Browns will have to win in Houston (where they just won), Jacksonville or Indianapolis in their opening playoff game.
Baltimore football fans are particularly interested in what happens with Flacco because he was the Super Bowl MVP in 2013 when the Ravens beat the 49'ers in New Orleans.
Sure, he had his fair share of detractors when he played in Charm City, but there's no denying that Flacco was a huge part of the organization's success from 2008 throughout 2018.
While he can afford to buy every bar or restaurant in Baltimore, it's reasonable to say, "Joe Flacco should never have to buy another beer in our town. Like, ever."
But now he's the enemy.
And we're somewhat conflicted here.
Which seems very, very odd to me.
I like Joe Flacco.
I got to know him a little bit on a personal basis when he first got to town and found him to be one of the more personable, authentic athletes I ever encountered.
He always seemed to me to sheepishly accept his stardom. It was almost like he felt it was a little too much for a guy from New Jersey who failed at Pitt and then made his mark at a small, off-the-radar college in Newark, Delaware.
Flacco never said that to me, specifically, but that was always the feeling I got. He was proud of what he did on the football field, but he was also a tad bit surprised at the same time.
That kind of attitude made him easy to like, I thought.
He never, ever came across to me as entitled.
He wasn't full of himself in the least.
He was confident, yes. But he was never in-your-face with it.
Joe Flacco was just a guy with an arm touched by God who parlayed his athleticism and smarts into a $150 million golden parachute.
And unless something weird happens, his final landing spot will be Cleveland. Whether he returns for another season in 2024 is unknown. But if his 2023 stop with the Browns is Flacco's final act, it's been a heckuva run.
But we still have that lingering issue in Baltimore.
Do we want the Ravens to face Flacco and the Browns at some point next month?
Or would we rather steer clear of them?
I don't know many people in town who consider themselves legitimate Ravens fans who would choose Flacco over the Ravens if the two teams collide in the playoffs.
You're either a Ravens fan or you're not.
I mean, Ed Reed once came back to Baltimore to face the Ravens when he was with the Texans. I don't remember anyone in Baltimore wanting Reed and the Texans to win that day.
I don't have Flacco fever.
I think what he's done with the Browns is great, although it's not like they're beating a murderer's row of opponents, either.
But when the playoffs start, I hope the Browns lose. Quickly.
I'll be the first to admit two things: I don't have Flacco fever. And I hope the Ravens don't face him in the playoffs.
I'm a believer in the football gods.
You might not be. And if you're not, that's fine.
But I sure am.
And I think the football gods would be licking their chops to have Flacco come back to face the team that kicked him to the curb five years ago. In the stadium he once called home, no less.
I want no part of the football gods.
Or Joe Flacco.
I'm not that worried about the Browns.
They're always gonna be the Browns until they prove otherwise.
But I'm worried about Flacco teaming up with the football gods the weekend of January 20-21 in Baltimore, that's for sure.
I'm hoping the Browns turn into the Browns again on the first weekend of the post-season. History says they probably will.
If, though, the Browns eventually wind up facing the Ravens in this year's playoffs, it will be a game build-up for the ages.
And we all know this: The football gods are smiling and rubbing their hands together. They'd love to be involved.
And speaking of the football gods, I have to assume they've paid particular attention to the events transpiring in Denver this week as the Broncos created one of the more unprofessional and unethical situations in recent memory.
It basically went like this: The Broncos attempted to change the terms and conditions of Russell Wilson's contract in the middle of the season, asking him, among other things, to remove an injury guarantee clause in his deal that could have cost the veteran quarterback upwards of $37 million dollars.
The Broncos told Wilson if he didn't agree to the contract change he'd be benched.
Head Coach Sean Payton announced earlier this week that Wilson will not start either of the team's final two games despite the Broncos having an outside shot at the playoffs with a current record of 7-8.
Payton, to no one's surprise, denied the benching was in any way connected to the mid-season contract saga.
"I'm not privy to any of the discussions with George (Paton, the team's GM) or Greg (Penner, the team's CEO/owner), I'm handling the football," Payton said yesterday.
"That's something with George and the front office, I'm not involved in any of that, certainly I'm involved in a lot and there will be a time and place at the end of the season that maybe some of the questions that you may have someone else will be able to answer."
Payton added, "I know how this has been written, but this decision is strictly what I believe gives us a chance to win No. 8. Hard decision. There will be no other reasons."
Yeah....I'm not so sure I believe that.
Russell Wilson was the quarterback earlier this season when the Broncos beat the Chiefs. And he was the quarterback when the Broncos beat the Bills and Browns in December.
Sure, his play recently has been spotty. He and the Broncos lost a key home game to lowly New England ten days ago.
But it's almost impossible to believe that some dude named Jarrett Stidham gives Denver a better chance to win their last two games than Russell Wilson would give them.
You can actually strike the word "almost" out of that sentence above.
Russell Wilson might very well have been a bad investment for the Broncos.
Every team in the league is capable of signing a player to an awful contract. The Ravens did it a few years ago with Earl Thomas. Some folks might say the Ronnie Stanley contract hasn't turned out to be favorable for John Harbaugh's team.
But trying to shark a guy in the middle of the season?
That's low class.
It's one thing if you have to cut ties with a veteran player midway through a lucrative contract. That happens all the time. "It's business", as the players like to say.
But mid-season? With threats and extortion embedded into the saga? Amateur hour.
There was a time when the Broncos were one of the top five organizations in the NFL. They were excellent on the field and a well-liked, model franchise off the field.
Veteran players wanted to sign in Denver the same way they've wanted to sign in places like Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Seattle over the years.
Those days are probably gone now.
And one would assume Russell Wilson is also gone.
Whether you're a fan of his or not, there's no denying that Denver's treatment of him is not something Wilson deserves.
No player deserves it, actually.
| RANDY MORGAN | |
Americans are playing more and more of a vital role in international soccer these days, and Randy Morgan has his eyes on all of them for #DMD. Each week here, he looks at recent performances of American players and highlights upcoming games of importance. | ||
As we reach the turning of the new year, the top European soccer leagues are all near their midway points. With several leagues breaking for the holidays or the winter, it is a good time to review the first half of the season and see how the title races may take shape as we head into the Spring.
Champions League –
The Champions League completed the final two rounds of the group stage in December to cut the field down to the sixteen knockout round qualifiers. Several of the groups went as expected with heavy favorites Manchester City and Real Madrid completing perfect group stages with six wins out of six.
Bayern Munich nearly advanced with a perfect record but were shocked by the Cinderella story Copenhagen, who held them to a scoreless draw in the second to last group game. Copenhagen followed that up with a dramatic home win over Galatasaray to secure second place and a spot in the knockout stage.
Groups F and H had the most drama heading into the final group games. In the “Group of Death”, Group F, the four teams went into the final game each alive to advance after Borussia Dortmund defeated AC Milan 3-1 and Paris St. Germain pulled out a 1-1 draw with Newcastle on a Kylian Mbappe penalty in the final minutes of round five.
In the final round of games, AC Milan and Newcastle squared off with each needing a win and a PSG loss or tie to have hopes of advancing. Meanwhile Borussia Dortmund hosted PSG just needing a draw to secure the top spot. The German team managed to hold off the Parisians to get a 1-1 home draw to finish in the top spot.
The result left the door open for Newcastle but AC Milan dashed their hopes with a 2-1 comeback win in hostile territory. Christian Pulisic scored the equalizing goal early in the first half and Samuel Chukwueze got the winner late. Unfortunately for Milan it wasn’t enough as they finished behind PSG on goal differential and will head down to the Europa League.
In Group H, Barcelona notched a crucial 2-1 home win over Porto in round five with goals from Portuguese stars Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix bringing them back after Porto went up in the first half.
The win proved the difference in the group as Barcelona was upset by Royal Antwerp in the final group game and Porto emphatically defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 5-3 to finish even on points with Barcelona. However the win in the previous round gave Barcelona the head to head tiebreaker to win the group.
The draw for the sixteen team knockout round fell nicely into place for a few of the top contenders but also produced several enticing matchups. The top three teams in Europe right now are arguably Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Manchester City.
Two of those three received favorable draws, with City and Bayern getting Copenhagen and Lazio respectively, who they should easily outclass. Last season’s runners-up Inter Milan were not so lucky, as they drew an Atletico Madrid team that has been playing some of its best soccer heading into the winter break.
The other top pairings feature the winners of the Italian and Spanish leagues from last season in Napoli and Barcelona. Both teams haven’t been at their top level this season, but they will be looking for a Champions League run to turn their seasons around.
Arsenal won Group B comfortably and drew a tricky matchup with Porto, who are always capable of a knockout round upset. Paris St. Germain will get a tough test against Real Sociedad, who drew 0-0 with Inter Milan in the last group game to edge them for the top spot in Group D only to be rewarded with one of the most expensive teams in Europe.
Of particular importance to American fans will be the matchup of PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund, with Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi all playing a role for PSV and Gio Reyna on Dortmund.
PSV has been outstanding in the Dutch Eredivisie with a perfect record after sixteen games, while Dortmund has been struggling a bit at fifth place in the German Bundesliga.
Another of the top favorites, Real Madrid is paired with RB Leipzig, who are capable of holding their own against bigger teams.
England –
Instead of breaking for the holidays like most of the other major European leagues, England piles on even more games in the “Festive Fixtures” period. Aside from Manchester City, who had a short excursion to Saudi Arabia to win the Club World Cup, almost every team in the Premier League has completed nineteen games, putting them exactly halfway through the season.
Surprisingly, at the midway point, the Premier League has one of the deepest and most competitive title races in all of Europe.
When City got off to a strong start it appeared they may run away with their fourth straight league title, but some recent stumbles have opened the door for as many as five teams to harbor title hopes heading into the second half.
At the midway point it's Liverpool leading the way with 42 points, after a 2-0 win over Burnley to complete their first trip through the league. Arsenal topped the league after they drew 1-1 in their showdown with Liverpool in round 18, but they blew their lead with a shocking 2-0 home loss to West Ham the following week, leaving them two points behind Liverpool on 40 points.
They are followed by surprise title contenders, Aston Villa, who have vaulted into the chase in their second year under coach Unai Emery and are just three points off the lead.
Man City currently sit in fourth place with 37 points and a game in hand on the rest of the field. Tottenham has been impressive under new coach Ange Postecoglu, but have been decimated by a recent rash of injuries and sit in fifth with 36 points.
Despite missing a decent amount of time in December, Erling Haaland still paces the goalscoring leaderboard with 14, two goals ahead of Mo Salah and Dominic Solanke. However Salah leads in combined goals and assists, followed by Haaland, with Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min also near the top of that leaderboard.
Italy –
The past month saw a well defined top two emerge in the Serie A title race. Inter Milan and Juventus both went undefeated over the last five league games to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the pack.
The two teams met in late November and drew 1-1 at Juventus but Inter then rattled off an impressive four game win streak, defeating Napoli, Udinese, Lazio and Lecce by combined score of 11-0. The streak put Inter four points ahead of Juventus after 17 games.
It appears to be Inter’s title to lose as they have dominated on both sides of the ball, leading the league in both Goals per Match and Goals Conceded per Match as well as expected goal difference. With a great deal of continuity from last season’s Champions League runners-up campaign, Inter is flying high at midseason.
After Juventus there is a drop off to AC Milan and Fiorentina who both sit eleven points off the lead with 33 points. AC Milan is returning to full health after a wave of injuries derailed their title hopes and they will have a large mountain to climb to get back in the race.
The competition for Champions League places should be fierce down the stretch as Bologna, Roma and Napoli are all within five points of fourth place Fiorentina.
Last season’s champions, Napoli, failed to capture the same magic after losing coach Luciano Spalleti to the Italian national team job. They have already fired his replacement, Rudi Garcia, and replaced him with Walter Mazzarri, who led the team from 2009-2013.
Germany –
Once again there appears to be a title race in the Bundesliga at midseason. However it remains to be seen if this will be another mirage resulting in a 12th consecutive Bayern Munich title or if their competition can actually overcome them this season.
Bayer Leverkusen appears to be up for the task, as they have nearly matched Bayern’s impressive offensive output and have been more solid defensively. They have played one more game than Bayern Munich, but currently lead by four points. Leverkusen hasn’t just been the best team in the Bundesliga, but one of the best in all of Europe, making it to the winter break without losing a match in either the Bundesliga or Europa League.
Bayern has once again been a juggernaut, with perhaps the most potent attack in Europe after the quick assimilation of star striker Harry Kane, who paces the league in goals and goals plus assists by a comfortable margin. They did have an uncharacteristic hiccup against Eintracht Frankfurt, who blew them out 5-1 in early December, putting them behind Leverkusen’s torrid pace.
In the competition for the rest of the Champions League places, surprise entrant Stuttgart sits in third place, four points behind Bayern, followed by perennial contenders RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund.
This season has been a bit of a disappointment for Dortmund after they came minutes away from the title last season. Despite a strong showing in the Champions League group stage, they have faltered in the league, winning only one of their last five games and drawing suspicion around the status of head coach Eden Terzic. Dortumund find themselves six points behind fourth place Leipzig at the winter break.
Spain –
In La Liga it is once again a two team title race as expected, except, it’s not a race between the two traditional powers. Upstart Girona has pushed their way into title contention, proving their early season success was no fluke.
At the midway point they lead the league in goals scored and sit tied with Real Madrid at the top of the standings with 45 points. Their only loss of the entire campaign was a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid back in September. Since then, Girona has gone 10-0-2 in all competitions.
Real Madrid has held serve with Girona despite some significant injury losses. Before the season the league giants lost starting keeper Thibaut Courtois and top center back Eder Militao. They have also missed star attacker Vinicius Jr. for long stretches.
None of it has made much difference because top offseason acquisition Jude Bellingham has been nothing short of amazing. The 20 year old English midfielder is off to one of the best starts in league history, producing goals and assists at an even better rate than he did for Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He has papered over all the holes for Madrid so far.
Things have not gone as well for Madrid’s top rivals. Barcelona has dropped to seven points behind Real Madrid and Girona, in a tie for third place with Atletico Madrid. Though they did manage to win their Champions League group, Barcelona has not found the chemistry that led them to a league title last year and there are rumblings that coach Xavi’s job could be on the line.
While they’ve had some injuries themselves, it hasn’t been nearly as bad as what Real Madrid has dealt with. Barcelona has seen a drop off in production from some of their stars, especially Robert Lewandowski. Although they lead the league in expected goals, Barcelona is just fifth in goals scored per game, indicating they have not been converting their chances well or perhaps have had some poor luck.
Atletico Madrid sits tied with Barcelona on points but they have been on the upswing recently. Bucking the defense-first stereotype of a Diego Simeone team, Atletico have actually been quite potent in attack this season, placing third in goals scored per game. Antoine Griezmann has continued to play at a high level ever since his strong run at last year’s World Cup and currently sits just behind Jude Bellingham and Girona sensation Artem Dovbyk in goals plus assists.
Midseason Europe Best XI –
G: Vicario - Tottenham
D: Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool; Saliba - Arsenal; Kounde - Barcelona; Grimaldo - Bayer Leverkusen
M: Bellingham - Real Madrid; Rodri - Man City; Griezmann - Atletico Madrid
F: Haaland - Manchester City; Kane - Bayern; Mbappe - PSG
Midseason Player of the Year –
Jude Bellingham - Real Madrid
There really is only one choice for this award at midseason. Jude Bellingham has arrived on the scene in Madrid and blasted past any reasonable expectations. At just 20 years old the English midfielder has pushed himself from the crop of promising prospects to the discussion of best player in the world. Through half a season there is no contest, Bellingham has been the class of Europe.
Known as an all around midfielder from his time at Dortmund, Bellingham was forced into a more attacking role at Real Madrid after the departure of Karim Benzema. Not only has he fit nicely into the role, but he has managed to lead La Liga in goal scoring and top the Champions League in combined goals and assists.
As mentioned above, Bellingham has more than compensated for the missed production from Benzema as well as the injured Vinicius Jr. and several other midfielders. Not only that, but he has saved his best play for the most crucial moments.
He single handedly turned the tide in the first Clasico of the season, scoring a long range golazo to tie the game and a sneaky tap in to seal the victory. At this point his greater than $100 million transfer fee is looking like a bargain.
| Friday December 29, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3416 |
There's two days remaining in 2023. God willing, we're all going to see 2024 ring in on Monday morning.
I tend to spend a little bit of time near the end of each year looking back on what transpired over the previous 12 months.
I've been doing that a lot this week, in fact. I'll miss a few things along the way, probably, but the four events and stories that stick in my mind are jammed in there in such a way that I can't forget them.
It's here where I'll mention I'm not including anything "family" here today. I've had a personal accomplishment or two and my family has, as well, but those are best kept private.
My "best of 2023" only includes matters of public knowledge and consumption.
Four stories stick out to me as my "best of the best".
Calvert Hall Golf winning the MIAA A-Conference golf championship, with playoff wins over two teams that nearly everyone in the conference -- except us -- assumed we'd lose to: Loyola and St. Paul's.
The Texas Rangers going undefeated on the road in the baseball playoffs to win their first ever World Series.
The Orioles cruising through a remarkable 101-win regular season that invigorated the city and gave all of us a reason to think that maybe, just maybe, our 40-plus-year World Series drought is potentially coming to an end sometime soon.
The ongoing saga/dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which was apparently going to result in a formal "alliance" between the two by December 31 but has now been delayed while the two entities continue to sift through the varying parts of the agreement.
When I took the head golf coach position at Calvert Hall for the 2013 season, I inherited an incredibly talented and dedicated group of 12 golfers.
They had been to the semifinals three straight years and had lost three straight times to Mount Saint Joseph in the playoffs.
We put together a good regular season and beat McDonogh in the first round of the playoffs, setting up a semifinal match with -- you guessed it -- Mount Saint Joseph. We did something in that semifinal match that hadn't been done in four previous years. We beat Saint Joe at their home course (Rolling Road) to eliminate them from the playoffs.
It was eerily similar to the 1980 U.S. hockey team in that we beat "Russia" but that was only the semifinal. We had to win two days later against Gilman in the final -- the Gold medal game, if you will -- to win the title. And that we did.
I bring up that story as a backdrop for 2023. After that 2013 championship win, a number of key players left and we went through a brief period of rebuilding as I went out into the junior golf community and started piecing together a roster of players who would come in over the next few years.
That 2013 team was "my" championship, but it wasn't "my" team. Those players were there when I arrived. And I was grateful for each and every one of them. But I felt like the captain of the boat who pulls it into the harbor after the assistant captain had navigated the rough waters for three days prior.
The 2023 team...were "my" players. Nearly every one of them I had seen play junior golf in the area. I captained the boat from start to finish, if you will.
So as we pieced together an excellent regular season, I felt a very special connection to them. And privately, earlier in the spring, I was confiding in people at the school that I thought we were going to be the best team in the conference in 2023.
But words don't make birdies.
Golfers do.
And we had the best team and the best golfers in 2023.
Our regular season record was 9-3. And perhaps the most telling part of that regular season, to me, at least, was that even in our three losses we didn't play poorly. We coulda, shoulda, woulda won all three of those, but the other guys try, too.
And so we earned the #2 seed in the post-season and faced a very talented Loyola team in the first round of the playoffs.
We played a lot of great golf in 2023. We had an incredible cast of players, with five of our six starters (in the playoffs) all returning to us this coming spring. We were young, but we were tough. And on that day against Loyola in the semifinals, we played our best golf of the entire season in one 3-hour stretch.
Our six starters played a total of 71 holes that day. Remarkably, we made 48 pars, 12 birdies and just 11 bogeys. I can't ever remember a high school golf match that I've been involved in where one team of six players made more birdies over the 12-hole match than they made bogeys. Until that day.
Two days later, we beat St. Paul's in the championship match. Had you polled the players and coaches from the other 6 teams in the A-Conference, 90% of them would have picked St. Paul's to beat us.
Our "back six" was where it all came together. We trailed throughout the 7th and 8th holes, but our play on #9, #10, #11 and #12 was nearly flawless.
When the green cleared on #12 and the final groups were finished, Calvert Hall had 12 points. St. Paul's had 9 points.
It's one thing to win a title at any level in any sport.
It's another thing, entirely, to beat two programs that we have a great amount of respect for at Calvert Hall. Loyola and St. Paul's both had wonderfully talented teams last year. So, too, did Calvert Hall.
I have no idea what lies ahead for the Cardinals this spring. We're excited to get back out there and start competing.
But last season's championship is an occasion that I'll never, ever forget. Those Calvert Hall golfers were incredible competitors.
The records will show that the Orioles fizzled in the playoffs last October, losing three straight quick games to the Texas Rangers in the opening round of the post-season.
Some people in town called the season a "failure" after the 3-game rout at the hands of Texas.
It was anything but a failure.
Baseball is a marathon.
No one winds up winning the division or making the playoffs by accident. Nothing's a fluke in baseball. The grind is what makes the sport special.
Lots of teams start 25-15 and finish the season with 75 wins.
Lots of players hit .400 in the first month of the season and finish the season hitting .245.
Anyone can do it for a month.
When you can do it for six months, you're special.
The 2023 Orioles were special. No one goes 101-61 if they're not special.
But it was far more about what lies ahead than what transpired in 2023.
Last season's Orioles gave us hope.
We haven't felt this energized for baseball in Baltimore since the mid 1990's. The winning teams of 2012, 2014 and 2016 were good, don't get me wrong. But those just felt like "good teams".
This current Orioles roster feels "special". A pitcher here and there, an extra bat or two, and the experience that comes with getting there and failing is the perfect tonic for the O's in 2024 and beyond.
Whether guys like Gunnar and Adley are going to become Cal and Eddie in Baltimore remains to be seen. We all know what we're dealing with ownership-wise. And long gone are the days when players played and stayed because they loved the community, the crabcakes and the way Baltimore loved its baseball.
Someday in the not-too-distant future, players like Henderson, Rutschman and Holliday will either get paid and they'll stay or they won't get paid and they'll leave.
But in the meantime, we have a window of 3 or 4 years to enjoy what's being built.
And if 2024 is anything like 2023, we're all in for an incredible treat.
Baseball in Baltimore: No longer a punchline. No longer a laughingstock. The Orioles are back.
Winning on the road in any sport is incredibly difficult, no matter the league, conference or division.
We won't go into the "why" of it all.
It's just hard to win on the road.
The best teams each season, in any league, are the ones who win an abundance of games at home and more than their fair show on the road.
Sometimes, though, we see something happen that we probably won't ever see happen again.
That happened in 2023.
In the first round of the baseball playoffs, the Texas Rangers had to go to Tampa Bay for a 3-game series, with the Rays hosting all three (if necessary).
The Rangers won the first two games to advance to the ALDS against the Orioles.
That series was a best-of-5. The O's had home field in Game 1, Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 5.
Texas won Game 1 and Game 2. They then finished off the Orioles in Game 3 in Texas. And that was it for the Birds.
In the ALCS, the Rangers locked horns with Houston, their in-state rivals. The Astros had home field in that one.
Texas won on the road in Game 1 and Game 2. The Astros, improbably, won the next three in Arlington.
And then the Rangers beat the Astros in Houston in Game 6. And then again in Game 7.
Through 3 playoff series', they were 8-0 on the road.
In the World Series vs. Arizona, the Rangers split the first two games at home, then won Game 3 on the road, 3-1, Game 4, 11-7, and finished off their miraculous run with a 5-0 shutout win in Game 5 in Arizona.
11 road playoff games. 11 road wins.
Depending on your age, you're going to see a lot of remarkable things, sports wise, in your life. But the bet here is you'll never again see a World Series champion go 11-0 on the road in the playoffs.
Last June 6, the golf world was rocked with news that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf were creating a partnership that would bring the two organizations together under one umbrella.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia wanted "out" of their financial obligations to LIV. Instead, they were willing to help fund the PGA Tour in exchange for a seat at the table of the TOUR's vast board of advisors.
That was announced back on June 6.
A deadline of December 31st was established to have the "alliance" in place.
We're closing in on December 31st. There's no deal. Stories are starting to circulate that the two entities have pushed the deadline back to early April.
We all take guesses at things in sports. Sometimes we predict who might win a certain game or championship.
Occasionally we bet on the outcomes of games.
Every once in a while we're right. Sometimes we're wrong.
I was right back on June 6 when I said, "I don't think this so-called alliance will ever happen."
And why should it?
What's in it for the PGA Tour to suddenly embrace LIV Golf?
And why would LIV, as they continue to poach star players from the TOUR, suddenly want to be friends with the very organization they've been trying to kill off for the better part of two years?
The lawsuits are over.
The PGA Tour's biggest previous fear was litigation. The PIF had billions to spend on legal fees. The PGA Tour didn't have billions.
So, when LIV withdrew their lawsuits and the TOUR withdrew their countersuits back in the summer, the landscape of the "alliance" changed.
Now...it was just back to fighting and stealing players and creating havoc.
The TOUR wants to run the sport of professional golf. LIV wants the one thing the TOUR has that they don't have and can't get; American sponsors.
The players are secondary.
PIF wants to stop funding LIV. They want sponsors to fund LIV the way sponsors fund the PGA Tour.
So when they couldn't get the "alliance" finished and they couldn't connect with corporate America, they went back to stealing players.
It is, after all, what they do best.
The big blow occurred in December when Jon Rahm, who previously indicated he wouldn't leave the PGA Tour, had a change of heart and took a reported $400 million from the PIF to join LIV on a 3-year deal.
Or was it a big blow?
Rahm is a Spanish-born golfer who played collegiately at Arizona State. That's about as "American" as he is, though.
While his play on the course was undeniably outstanding, he was, in no way, a "huge part" of the PGA Tour in terms of marketability and fan interaction.
He joins the likes of other LIV golfers who weren't PGA Tour needle movers; Reed, Gooch, Howell III, Perez, Poulter, McDowell, Garcia and a number of others.
There's one major needle mover in golf. His name is Tiger Woods.
There are three "impact golfers" in the sport: Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.
McIlroy is a great player who has been deeply involved in the inner workings of the PGA Tour for the last 3-4 years. He helps sell golf clubs and apparel as well as anyone in the sport not named Tiger Woods.
Spieth is an outstanding player who is particularly connected to the corporate world and has recently assumed many of McIlroy's former duties as an advisor to the TOUR.
Fowler is a good player with undeniable marketability and is, despite his so-so playing record over the last ten years, still one of the most recognizable faces in the sport today. That he is still adored by junior golfers worldwide is equal parts commendanble and mysterious.
Those three players and Woods are arguably more important than the rest of the TOUR...combined.
And those four are infinitely more meaningful to golf, worldwide, than the entire LIV tour times five.
The players LIV confiscated from the PGA Tour are just golfers.
Patrick Reed was a guy who cheated on the PGA Tour. At LIV, he's still just a guy who cheated on the PGA Tour.
Bryson DeChambeau was a guy who changed his body in an effort to transform the sport. When that fizzled, he was still Bryson DeChambeau, now employed by the Saudis, and still a guy trying to be better at golf.
There's no need to go through the other names.
They're all just guys.
No one's watching LIV.
No one's following it.
I only know Talor Gooch was their "Champion Golfer" because the bots that LIV purchased on Twitter rammed it down everyone's throats in September.
I've never watched one second of LIV Golf.
And I never will.
As long as its funded by the same government that was involved in the attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, I'll never watch it, follow it or promote it.
The Americans who took the PIF money and jumped ship are forever scarred.
They're forever rich, too, you're probably saying.
Well, they were all rich before they left the PGA Tour. They're now simply "more rich".
But while they have a lot of money, they have no integrity.
It's been gone ever since the day they went to work for the Public Investment Fund.
If you're not sure about whether or not LIV is a sporting organization you should support, here's all you need to do: Ask the families of the 3,300 people who died on 9-11 what they think.
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faith in sports |
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Jordy Bahl is one of the top softball pitchers in the entire United States, attending defending NCAA champion Oklahoma.
If you have a high school daughter (or, honestly a son as well), please take 12 minutes to sit with her and watch today's video.
Ms. Bahl is an incredibly gifted player and wonderful human being.
Her testimony in the video below is worth showing to anyone, but it should be of particular interest to young adults who are trying to navigate the occasionally choppy waters of high school and college.
Thanks, as always, to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their continued support of #DMD and our regular Friday feature, "Faith in Sports".
| Thursday December 28, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3415 |
Through the work of Glenn Clark and his daily internet radio show, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mike Florio yesterday for 25 minutes.
It was, by every account, a pleasant discussion.
Clark dove right into "the issue" from the start, discussing at length the comments made by Florio last week that supposedly helped ignite the Ravens to a big win over the 49'ers on Monday evening.
I've always liked Florio. He was a regular guest on my show 15 years ago when he was just breaking into the football-reporting business from an office somewhere in Morgantown, West Virginia.
He created a small, aggregate-style website called "Pro Football Talk.com" and turned it into a million dollar enterprise, later purchased by NBC Sports, which is how he worked his way into the Sunday Night NFL gig he enjoys today.
That said, I've never had it out for him or otherwise thought he was bad for the football world.
And, so, perhaps that's why I didn't think what he said last week was all that bad. Clark and I spent a few minutes "debating" the topic early in yesterday's show.
Clark said -- in so many words -- that there's no room for that kind of descriptive narrative in today's world of sports coverage.
"He could have just said, 'I think the 49'ers are going to beat the Ravens on Monday night' and that would have been totally fine," my former radio co-host announced.
I don't see the big deal about what Florio said. It turned out to be wrong, obviously, so if you want to have a go at the guy for predicting a 49'ers win when, in fact, they wound up losing, go right ahead.
But I don't see why it was all that out of place to descriptively forecast the 49'ers were going to "kick the s**t" out of the Ravens. I just don't understand why we get so worked up about that kind of stuff, especially in sports, where players bad-mouth, s**t talk and taunt one another throughout the entire game, no matter the sport.
In the aftermath, after hearing Lamar talk about it on Monday evening following the win, I thought one interesting point he made was relative to Florio's career; "he never put on a uniform", as Lamar mentioned.
Would anyone have judged last week's comments any differently if, say, Steve Smith Sr. or Shannon Sharpe would have said the exact same thing as Florio?
Would Lamar (and the Ravens) have been any less agitated if it would have been Richard Sherman or Rodney Harrison who would have said, "Look, I'm just being honest. If the 49'ers are healthy they're going to kick the s**t out of the Ravens on Monday night."?
I obviously don't know the answer.
I also don't know if matters if a football player's race would have mattered, either.
If Rodney Harrison would have said the same as Florio would those comments carry the same weight as, say, Kurt Warner saying the exact same thing?
Glenn brought up an interesting sidebar in yesterday's show as it relates to Lamar and the way his teammates and opposing NFL players rally around him based somewhat on the fact that he and other African American quarterbacks have long been subjects of stereotyping and, shall we say, "overbearing scrutiny" (that's my definition, not Clark's or anyone else's).
Could that narrative then spill over to the other side of the sports world?
In other words, is it not out of the question to assume that perhaps white players on the Ravens roster weren't all that concerned with what Florio said but the African American players were because of the bias African American players have felt over the years?
And on the flip side, had that been an African American journalist -- let's say it was Stephen A. Smith -- who said, "The 49'ers are going to kick the s**t out of the Ravens", would those words have ignited Jackson and the other African American players on the team in the same way Florio's words apparently did?
It's also here where I will point out, in complete fairness, that it's entirely possible that Lamar and the Ravens weren't really playing any more hard on Monday night because of what Florio said about them. It could have been a convenient backdrop for them in the aftermath of the win. No more, no less.
Prior to a Calvert Hall golf match against an arch-rival school last spring, that team happened to secure a practice round on our home course and were there on the same day as us a few days in advance of our match.
As they were walking past the entrance to the clubhouse, I was coming out of a side door near the locker room. It was the perfect combination of timing as I heard their star player, their #1 guy, say to several of his teammates, "We're going to steamroll those guys on Tuesday."
They passed by without seeing me and I, of course, didn't let them see me.
But I certainly made it a point to tell my team the story after practice.
We clobbered them the following week.
Did that commentary ignite my team to play better? I have no idea. It was brought up again in the huddle before the match, but I have no way of knowing if it really mattered.
In the same way, I have no idea if Florio's words mattered to the Ravens on Monday night. My gut says it didn't change a thing. The Ravens won 33-19 because they played better football, made bigger plays, and out-schemed the 49'ers.
I could be wrong.
But in a sport where "s**t talking" and taunting occurs on almost every single play, I'm just not sure I believe one sentence uttered by a media member on a podcast that none of the players probably heard in real time was the difference between a 33-19 win and a 24-21 loss.
All that said...
It's a compelling story, for sure.
We've become afraid of racial issues in our country.
Not because we're not sure if it's an issue. Racism still exists in our world, for sure.
But it exists on all levels.
Earlier this week, former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown was involved in several hours worth of social media messaging with white football fans that he addressed as "crackers".
I stopped reading the whole back-and-forth after a while, but I don't recall seeing any African American players jump into the fray and admonish Brown for using a racial slur in a public forum.
My guess is all of those guys are tired of Brown the same way all the rest of us are.
I bring that story up only to remind everyone that racism is everywhere and exists on a variety of levels. It's not just "white on black". It's everywhere.
And, so, the conversation Clark and I had yesterday touched on a number of things that are worthy of further exploration as we all try to create a better place for ourselves and our children.
Are we offended because someone s**t talked to us and about us?
Or are we more offended because they don't look like us?
I'll be the first to admit I tend to let those kinds of things go quite easily.
I don't care what you say or write.
In the end, we'll figure out what the score is and either I won or you won.
All of that other stuff is just eye wash.
But I do see where it becomes a story and something more to ponder based on the history we've created for ourselves.
Whether it matters to you is your call.
In our contiuning series with LifeMed Insitute's Eric Rittmeyer, today we spend some time focusing on the start of a New Year and what you can do to make 2024 a better, more healthy year for you!
As a lot of you know, I've been following a plan devised by LifeMed for the last two months or so and I'm starting to feel great. I discuss some of that with Eric in today's video.
LifeMed Institute is a total wellness organization. There's almost nothing they can't do for you there to get you feeling better, looking better and living better.
This month's VideoCast with Eric lays out the blueprint for you to start working on a better you for 2024.
Please take time to watch it.
| Wednesday December 27, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3414 |
Before I bring up the meat of today's piece, I'll first do something that's probably not going to go over well. But in accordance with balance and fairness it has to be said.
Baltimore sports fans are among the biggest whiners in the country.
I have no way of putting the Top 5 list together. I don't frequent other cities all that much. But it would be hard to top the whining that goes on in Baltimore.
I told you it wouldn't go over well.
Everything is blown out of proportion.
"Lamar better be the MVP."
"Did you hear what Shannon Sharpe said about the Ravens?"
"Why are the 49'ers still the favorites to win the Super Bowl when we just hammered them?"
Heck, we whine when the team wins, let alone loses.
There were goofs complaining on Sunday night when John Harbaugh lost a challenge in a game he was leading by double digits because he was looking to give his defense a two minute rest in lieu of burning a time out.
It never ends.
Someone opined late Monday evening that Brock Purdy's entire season shouldn't be cast aside because of a miserable 45 minutes vs. the Ravens.
I guess I can see that. I mean, San Francisco was 11-3 going into Monday's game largely because of him.
But that comment on Twitter ignited a firestorm with Ravens fans who were outraged at the thought that Purdy could be the MVP over Lamar after their respective performances on Monday evening.
It's the MVP award. Who cares?
I mean, I'm a Lamar fan through and through. And I couldn't care less if he wins the MVP award. He got $50 million for playing football this season. I think the MVP award comes in a distant second place in terms of "what's important".
So even when the Ravens win, people still get worked up about something. It's really weird, man.
Then there's the other side of the coin.
Crying about losing.
And that's the real reason I'm here today. To light up up a few goofs who watched the same game as you and I on Monday night but couldn't handle the truth.
In the aftermath of the 49'ers getting the woodshed treatment, a bunch of "analysts" took to Twitter on Tuesday to explain to everyone what happened.
"The Ravens didn't beat the 49'ers," someone wrote. "The 49'ers lost to the 49'ers."
"They could play one another 10 more times and what happened on Monday night would never happen again," someone else opined. "That was the fluke of all flukes."
Then there was this analysis:
"The 49ers had more passing yards than the Ravens: 308-241.
The 49ers had more rushing yards than the Ravens: 121-102.
San Francisco outgained Baltimore: 429-343.
Niners had 6.3 yards per play to the Ravens 5.4 yards per play.
But when you turn the ball over FIVE TIMES, it's impossible to win. That's the story of the game. 49ers had no trouble moving the ball against the no. 1 defense in the NFL. They beat themselves."
I don't know when this happened in our country, but it's been an issue for a while now.
Everything has to be sugarcoated.
We spend hours trying to piece together just the right words to use to make sure no one is offended.
We're no longer allowed to just "say it".
Here's what happened on Monday night: The 49'ers got their rear ends kicked, 33-19.
Short and sweet.
They didn't play well.
And the Ravens played very well.
Sure, there's some nuance involved in the analysis of how it all unfolded. People are certainly entited to an opinion. I'm certainly not one to discount someone's right to an opinion.
But there's a difference between having an opinion and making an excuse because you're afraid to confront the truth.
The Harbaugh haters in Baltimore have been a perfect example of this phenomenon all season.
On the three occasions when the Ravens have lost, it's always been Harbaugh's fault.
Whenever the Ravens win, it's because Lamar's the G.O.A.T., Roquan's a beast and Hamilton is the next coming of Ed Reed.
When you back yourself into a corner with silly stuff like "Harbaugh has to go, he's a terrible coach," you have nowhere to turn when the team's 12-3 and you look like a fool.
And when the 49'ers lose 33-19 and you're afraid to just say, "Damn, they got beat," you have to figure out a way to explain what happened without hammering away too hard on Kyle Shanahan's team.
This is not just a sports problem.
This is a United States problem.
No one's allowed to be honest any longer.
Every conversation has to be carefully mapped out so no one gets their feelings hurt.
What happened on Monday night is the same thing that happens week in and week out in the NFL. One of the two teams outplayed the other one.
Making excuses for the 49'ers is amateur hour stuff.
They lost. Fair and square.
No one cares who had more yards or threw more completions or held the ball on offense longer.
The only thing that matters is the scoreboard: 33 for the Ravens. 19 for the 49'ers.
Why we insist on trying to put a spin on everything is beyond me.
"Here's my hot take. The Ravens didn't really deserve to win on Monday night. They got outgained and outfootball'd. But the 49'ers turned it over five times and that's how they lost."
Hot take, hot take, hot take.
It's nauseating.
The Ravens clobbered the 49'ers on Monday night. It was a total dismantling.
They might meet again on February 11, by the way, and the 49'ers could win 33-19. I have no idea. The league's crazy like that.
But I have an idea what happened on Monday in San Francisco. The Ravens won. Going away.
You don't need to know anything else.
And for heaven's sake, just be a man and say it. "We got beat..."
This is very difficult to do. Mainly because you're never right on all the games.
Someone comes along and upsets the apple cart and everything you put together is null and void.
But let's play along and see what the playoff picture in the AFC is going to look like if what we think's going to happen actually winds up happening.
Here are our winners of this week's games: Baltimore over Miami, Cleveland over NY Jets, Indy over Las Vegas, Buffalo over New England, Denver over L.A. Chargers, Houston over Tennessee, Jacksonville over Carolina, Seattle over Pittsburgh and Kansas City over Cincinnati.
None of those seem out-of-whack, right? Maybe Vegas can handle the Colts in Indy, but probably not. Everything else seems like a done deal.
On to week 18: Baltimore over Pittsburgh, Cleveland over Cincinnati, Indianapolis over Houston, Kansas City over L.A. Chargers, Denver over Las Vegas, Miami over Buffalo, Tennessee over Jacksonville.
OK, now week 18 is VERY tricky because a number of teams might play their starters in a limited capacity given they've made the playoffs and/or secured their division title. So, the results of those games could easily shift the playoff matchups on the weekend of January 13-14.
But if those results above pan out as predicted, here's the seeding in the AFC.
1. Ravens
2. Dolphins
3. Chiefs
4. Indianapolis
5. Browns
6. Bills
7. Broncos
First round playoff match-ups:
Denver at Miami
Bills at Chiefs
Browns at Indianapolis
The Ravens would then play the highest seeded team that wins on the opening playoff weekend.
If the three home teams win, let's say, it would look like this:
Ravens vs. Colts
Dolphins vs. Chiefs
But.....
Let's say Miami, Kansas City and Cleveland win on the first playoff weekend.
Well, then. Joe Flacco comes to Baltimore on the weekend of January 13-14 to take on the Ravens.
Yes, I went to all that trouble just to point out that it's a very real possibility: Flacco, in Baltimore, trying to get the Browns to their first-ever Super Bowl. And having to beat the Ravens to do it.
It would immediately become one of the top 5 most anticipated Ravens games in history.
For the record, I actually think Buffalo would beat Kansas City (in the scenario above) and the Ravens would face the Bills, not the Browns, in their first playoff game. But I'd darn sure be rooting for Kansas City in that one just to increase the chances of the Ravens facing Flacco and the Browns.
Come on Joe...let's see how elite you really are.
| Tuesday December 26, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3413 |
Throttled.
And even that word might be an understatement.
The Ravens throttled the 49'ers last night in San Francisco, ending, at least temporarily, any debate about which of the two is the NFL's best team.
It was a masterclass in coaching and a textbook performance from the Ravens on both sides of the ball, even if the first half was a bit disjointed on the offensive end.
When it was over, the visitors posted a 33-19 win to improve to 12-3 and create a massive Sunday showdown with the Miami Dolphins in Baltimore.
A win this Sunday and the #1 seed is locked up for the Ravens.
A win and they can pick-and-choose their roster for the regular season finale vs. Pittsburgh. They can give some much needed rest to guys like Stanley, Hamilton and Queen, each of whom continues to battle injuries, and even consider giving Lamar and some other key members the day off as well.
A loss to the Dolphins on Sunday and the January 7 home game vs. Pittsburgh could turn into a "must-win" scenario for the Ravens if they want that #1 seed.
All of that was made possible by last night's disruption of the 49'ers, who led at one point in the game, 5-0, but were beaten and battered by a ruthless Baltimore defense and yet another night of the Lamar show, with the quarterback running and throwing to his heart's delight.
The 12-3 record should confirm it for you, but if not, let me say this: John Harbaugh's team is rock solid from top to bottom. Sure, their run defense isn't all that great, but no one in the NFL really runs the ball any longer. Other than that blemish, Baltimore's body looks like it belongs in Magic Mike 5.
Editor's note: I have no idea if there's actually a Magic Mike 5. So please don't go running to the theater nearest you.
Lamar's record against NFC teams is now 20-1 in his career. That bodes very well for Baltimore should they figure out a way to win three more games between now and February 11. If the Ravens can win one of their last two and then a pair of home playoff games, they'll almost certainly be the Super Bowl favorites in Las Vegas.
I'm not certain that 20-1 mark is really important in any way. The Ravens seem to fare better when they're the hunter, not the hunted, but everyone's buying in on Lamar's dominance of NFC teams. Who will be good enough to beat Baltimore on that Sunday in Las Vegas? San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas seem to have the only chance to make a long run in the NFC playoffs and none of those three teams should worry John Harbaugh, Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald.
Speaking of Macdonald, you can start dropping off moving company circulars at his mailbox if you're in that line of work. He'll be getting a new gig sometime in mid-February.
Several interesting job openings will be available to him this off-season; Washington, Carolina and perhaps even New England, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. The latter three positions include stable, well-defined NFL ownership, something every rookie coach covets. Macdonald is gone, friends. But let's be happy it happened instead of sad that it ended.
In the meantime, there's still work to be done.
The Dolphins are down to their last gasp in terms of capturing the #1 seed. And as crazy as it sounds, they still don't have the AFC East locked up due to Buffalo's resurgent play of late. So Sunday's encounter with the Ravens in Baltimore is more than huge for Tua and Company. They could finish anywhere from 1st to 5th in the AFC playoff picture.
NFL players and teams worship media praise. I won't say it's what they "live for", per se, but they certainly love reading positive commentary about themselves.
The Ravens are going to see and hear a lot of love this week.
John Harbaugh will need to work overtime to make sure his club is engaged in the task at hand. Every national outlet and writer that matters has called the Ravens "the best team in the NFL" over the last 16 hours. Believe it at your own peril.
I wrote this here a few weeks ago and it bears repeating now in the wake of last night's dismantling of Brock Purdy and the 49'ers: This has almost become too easy for the Ravens. I know it's every team's goal to breeze through the regular season and then own home field in the playoffs. I get it. And the Ravens have done just that.
But it always worries me when things are set up "too perfectly", which is most certainly going to be the case with the Ravens. They're going to win either this Sunday or the following Sunday. They're going to earn the first-round bye. And then they'll need to win just two home games in order to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2012 season.
It's all coming together nicely.
But it's almost been too easy.
Then again, maybe that just shows how much better the Ravens are than every other team in the NFL.
They're 12-3 and cruising to the #1 seed in the AFC for a reason.
They have the best coaches.
And the best players.
After last night's performance in San Francisco, there's just no way you can claim otherwise.
Bruce P. asks -- "Hey Drew, I'm looking to make a wager on any four players to win a major championship in golf in 2024. If you can name all four it pays +35000. They don't have to be in the order that they win. Just pick any four. Who do you have for me?"
DF says -- "It pays +35000? It should pay +250000. It's hard to pick two winners, let alone four. But last year, for example, wouldn't have been tough to get two (Rahm and Koepka). It's the other two (Clark and Harman) you wouldn't have considered.
OK, so let's do this if you're serious about this wager. Let's pick eight players and you then have to group them together into several bets. That's actually the way to potentially win this wager.
Here are the five you have to include: Hovland, Rahm, McIlroy, Scheffler and Koepka.
The next three are going to be guys who haven't yet won a major, but seem like they have to win one at some point, so why not this year? Cantlay, Schauffele and Aberg.
Group those guys together into teams of four and see what you come up with.
Personally? I think Hovland and Aberg are winning a major this year. And I think Scheffler will as well. My fourth guy -- if you only allowed me to place ONE wager -- would be Rory.
C.J. asks -- "Does John Harbaugh need to get to another Super Bowl to be a Hall of Famer? Thanks and Go Hall!"
DF says -- "I don't think so. It surely wouldn't hurt if he makes another one. But I think his body of work now (16 years and counting) is more than enough to get him into Canton.
It's pretty much a done deal at this point. Harbaugh is going to the Hall of Fame someday."
Miles asks -- "What was the best new (to you) golf course you played in 2023? And do you have any bucket list golf trips planned for 2024?"
DF says -- "I had the pleasure of playing Lancaster CC back in the summer with my friend Kevin Fruman. I had played it a long time ago but didn't really remember any of the holes. So I'm classifying it at "new". And that would be my answer.
If you ever get the chance to play Lancaster CC, it's a must-do. They'll be playing the 2024 U.S. Women's Open there this summer. It's that good.
One other local'ish course I played for the first time in 2023 was Moselem Springs in Reading, PA. They held the 1968 U.S. Women's Open there and will host the 2024 Pennsylvania Mid-Amateur Championship this September.
It's spectacular. The 18th hole is one of the best finishing holes in the mid-Atlantic.
I don't have anything in particular planned for 2024 yet, but I'd love to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open and play up at Newport CC in Rhode Island."
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49'ers 8:15 PM EST Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, CA Spread: 49'ers (-5.5) |
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For lots of reasons tonight, the Ravens need to win.
The AFC North is far from locked up.
The #1 seed in the AFC is still available.
And as weird as it seems, the Ravens could still finish as low as the 5th seed in the post-season if things go sideways, starting with tonight's contest vs. the 49'ers.
These last three games are going to determine quite a bit for John Harbaugh's team.
And this is a big one for the 49'ers as well. They're trying to do the same thing as the Ravens, namely secure the #1 seed and home field throughout their conference playoff schedule.
This is more than just Purdy vs. Jackson, although the play of the respective quarterbacks will certainly go a long way in determining tonight's winner.
San Francisco has feasted on a lot of bad defensive teams this season. Their 11-3 record isn't a fluke, but it remains to be seen if they can carve up the Baltimore defense the way they've carved up inferior opponents in 2023.
The thought here is they'll find the going much more difficult tonight.
One thing for sure: The Ravens are living on the edge with three games remaining, particularly in light of Miami's last second win over Dallas yesterday.
If they can win tonight and next Sunday vs. Miami, Baltimore will lock up the top seed in the AFC.
But if they drop two of their last three, it opens the door for the Browns -- yes, the Browns -- to win out and finish 12-5, which would give Cleveland the AFC North title no matter what the Ravens do against the Steelers in the season's final game.
The Dolphins can also still be the #1 seed in the AFC if things swing their way in their last two games (at Baltimore and home vs. Buffalo).
Kansas City is still hanging around, somehow, and there's a weird configuration in place where they could still wind up as the #1 seed.
For the Ravens, tonight's game is much more than a possible Super Bowl preview.
This one sets the stage for next week's game vs. Miami and makes it either a "critical game" or a "super duper critical game".
And then there's all the national talk about the Ravens and whether they're legit or a paper tiger. As we wrote here earlier this week, John Harbaugh's team seemingly puts a lot of stock in what's thought of them by the national and local media. A win tonight will silence their critics. A loss will open the "I told you so" floodgates.
How do we see this one going?
#DMD looks at this one like a "stock" game. Who would you rather own stock in before this one? Lamar or Purdy? The San Francisco offense or the Baltimore defense? Both teams have high quality players on both sides of the ball. But which team has the more valuable stock?
The feeling here is that Baltimore always tends to do two things under John Harbaugh; they play well in primetime national TV games and they fare well against NFC opponents.
We're going to buy stock in those two elements tonight.
Lamar throws for 237 yards and runs for 77 more yards. The Ravens jump out to a 17-14 halftime lead on a late 2nd quarter Jackson to Zay Flowers TD pass.
The Ravens extend that lead to 24-14 in the 3rd quarter before Purdy gets into gear and engineers a long TD drive to make it 24-21 heading to the final 15 minutes.
But Lamar continues to shine, with a huge 14-yard run on a 3rd and 11 situation with 7 minutes remaining. He then finds Charlie Kolar in the end zone to give the Ravens a 31-21 advantage.
San Francisco is forced to go for it on 4th and 6 from their own 32 yard line with 1:45 remaining and Patrick Queen knocks the ball out of Purdy's hands and Kyle Hamilton scoops it up and scampers in for a late TD that finalizes the scoring, as the Ravens improve to 12-3 with a resounding 38-21 win over the 49'ers.
Last week here at #DMD, I talked about a tradition we've developed here at #DMD over the last three years, where we meet-and-greet random customers at a local store during the holiday season and pay for their products at the check-in line.
As I mentioned last week, we inform them "neighbors in the community" have pitched in to pay for their things.
I choose the people completely at random. I do look for someone with a cart full of "things", whether that's toys, clothes, home appliances, etc.
And I do tend to select someone who is by themselves, although I'm not sure exactly why I do it that way.
The number of people we help is based solely on the funds we have available to use for the occasion. This year, thanks to many of you donating $20 and a matching friend/donor, I was equipped with just over $600 to spend. As you'll see below, it wound up being a little more than that, but that extra amount was covered with no problem.
Target was the location. This past Friday, December 22, was the date.
I approached a (mid 30's?) female and said, "Who are you shopping for?"
"My three children and my mom and dad," she replied.
Her cart was filled.
"A local group of neighbors who are spreading goodwill would like to pay for your items," I told her.
She looked at me and said, "I don't think so."
I said, "Yes, please. We'd love to help you out."
"Why me?" she asked.
"There's no reason it's you other than I walked in here at 3:30 pm and you happened to be here at the check-out as I walked in. Luck of the draw, mostly," I explained.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"I don't know..." she said.
"Put the things up there and let us help you," I said to her as she started placing items from her cart in front of the register.
Her total was $185.77.
"Merry Christmas," I said to her as she walked out the door. "We're glad you allowed us to be part of your holiday season."
"Merry Christmas to you, sir, and please tell everyone I said thank you so much. This means a lot to me."
An older gentlemen was next. I figured he was in his 50's.
"Shopping for my grandkids," he said. "I have four of them."
"You're a trooper for coming out today and tackling this," I said. He laughed. "I wanted to get out earlier this week but I wasn't feeling well. I knew this place would be packed."
When I told him we were paying for his cart, he initially refused as well. "I couldn't take that money," he said. "But I appreciate it very much."
"God moved people in our community to do this," I explained. "I'm just here as the messenger. I have the money. But people in the community felt a calling to help out and you're one of the people we want to help."
"This is a real blessing," he said.
His total was $259.45.
Our final gift was to a young female, perhaps in her mid 20's, sporting a McDaniel College sweatshirt.
"Do you mind if I ask who you're shopping for?" I said to her.
She was nervous.
"Why?" she asked.
"Just curious..."
I realize it's definitely weird to have someone walk up to you and ask you that question.
"Well, everyone basically," she replied. "My mom, my dad, my grandmother and grandfather, my brother and sister. My roommates. I waited until the last minute, I know."
"A group of neighbors in the community would like to pay for your gifts," I told her.
"Why?" she asked.
Because God moved them to help someone out and it's you.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Just a group of people in the community who wanted to help. I asked people to step forward and help out with a small donation and a bunch of people did that. We'd like to pay for your things if that's OK.
"That's amazing," she said. "That's really amazing."
Her total was $241.13.
"Can I give you something to put towards it?" she asked.
"No need," I said. "We're all good here."
I make it a habit of never asking anyone's name when I do this, but in this case, I learned her name when she introduced herself: Brenay
"Can I give you a hundred dollars and ask that you help someone else out with it?" she said.
"How about you just promise me to use it next Christmas for someone in line behind you?" I replied.
"Why don't I just do it now?" Brenay said. "I'll spend it by next Christmas."
And with that, she turned to an elderly woman behind her and said, "Can I give you this and you use it to buy your things?"
They were involved in a conversation, smiling and laughing, when I walked away.
Thank you to all of you who pitched in $20 last week when I told you about this annual event I'm blessed to be part of.
It's truly amazing to see our community at work, helping people for no reason other than to help. We gave four people (our three and the elderly woman who received the $100) a great Christmas story to tell this holiday season.
God willing, we'll be back again next December to continue the tradition.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Christ the King is born!
| Sunday December 24, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3412 |
We all thought the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team was a great story, didn't we?
There's a better one.
A little boy was once born to a virgin mother with the hope that his arrival and the teachings in his life would lead to a better world.
Angels broadcast the news of his birth. These days we use the internet to tell our friends a baby has been born. Back then, angels delivered the details.
That must have been a great time to be alive!
Today is the day we remember what it was like for Joseph and Mary on that final day before their son was born. Tired from their travels and weary from an all night search for a bed where they could rest, the two of them were finally out of options when an innkeeper allowed them to stay in a stall that was previously occupied by horses and donkeys.
"It's better than nothing at all, thank you so much for your kindness," Joseph told the innkeeper.
A few hours later, a baby boy was born and his name was Jesus. While it was Mary that birthed him, Jesus was, in fact, God's son. He was sent to Earth to change the world.
And so, here we are on Christmas Eve, 2023, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The world changer himself.
For 33 years, Jesus walked on Earth and spread God's word, in accordance with the scriptures he had read and studied.
Much like in today's world, where people are often criticized for spreading God's word, Jesus wasn't everyone's favorite son. His detractors said his teachings were changing people's attitudes and beliefs. Critics said citizens of the land listened to Jesus more attentively than they listened to the rulers and leaders.
He carried on, though, spreading God's word and preaching throughout the land until his death.
But his message lives on today.
And so we celebrate his birth, still, every year. Christmas is a time of joy and happiness as we all come together in an attempt to make this world a better place.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve celebration!
Christ the King is born!
The Buffalo Bills got some huge help yesterday.
First, Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati, giving both teams records of 8-7 with two games remaining.
The Bills then got a late field goal from Tyler Bass to beat the Chargers in L.A. and improve to 9-6 on the year.
Buffalo has New England at home and Miami on the road left on their schedule.
Pittsburgh has road games at Seattle and Baltimore.
Cincinnati is at Kansas City and home vs. Cleveland.
The Bills are likely going to make it at 10-7, but could still win the AFC East at 11-6 if Miami falters in their last three games (Dallas, at Baltimore, Buffalo).
Meanwhile, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are somehow still alive despite the fact that neither of them are any good.
These last three weeks of the NFL season are going to be crazy, that's for sure.
We'll be here tomorrow with a preview of Ravens/49'ers on Monday night. In the meantime, there's plenty of football to watch today while you're wrapping gifts.
COLTS (8-6) AT FALCONS (6-8) -- Both teams absolutely have to win this game today. Indy can still win the AFC South or make it as as a wild card team. Atlanta can only get in if they win the NFC South. The Falcons are not very good. The Colts can be dangerous if they get the right match-up. I'm not putting much stock in what they did in Baltimore earlier in the season, but they're exactly the kind of team that could come to Charm City in January and concern the Ravens if they were to sneak as a wild card team and then upset the #2 or #3 seed in the opening round of the post-season.
SEAHAWKS (7-7) AT TITANS (5-9) -- This one is huge for Seattle, as they creep closer to a playoff spot in the NFC. 10-7 would do it for sure...9-8 might also get in them in. Tennessee has nothing left to play for, which is why Ryan Tannehill is starting, I guess. Will Levis (injured) has been their man throughout the year, but with no playoff hopes in Nashville this season, why risk Levis? Seattle is happy to see that, of course.
LIONS (10-4) AT VIKINGS (7-7) -- Minnesota is pretty much just like Seattle. They need to win out to make sure they're in the post-season or they can finish 9-8 and give it a shot that way. Detroit is still in the hunt for the #1 seed in the NFC, believe it or not. Worst case scenario, Detroit is looking for the #2 seed, which would give them at least two home games as long as they keep winning in the post-season.
COMMANDERS (4-10) AT JETS (5-9) -- If they can find someone in NY who bought a ticket to this game on the secondary market this week, that person should win free season tickets for 2024. Who on earth would go to this game on Christmas Eve?
PACKERS (6-8) AT PANTHERS (2-12) -- Green Bay has to win out and hope that 9-8 somehow gets them into the post-season. Carolina is just trying to do anything good to make 2023 end on a solid note. Don't expect Green Bay to just waltz in there and win, though. Ask the Falcons if Carolina is still trying despite their league worst record.
BROWNS (9-5) AT TEXANS (8-6) -- This might actually be the "Game of the Day" in the NFL, since both teams desperately need a win for their playoff hopes. Cleveland can pretty much seal the deal with a win. (Sorry, the NFL PLayoff Machine on ESPN isn't working today or I'd have much better info about who gets in with a win, etc.). Houston is right there, too, tucked into a fierce race for both the AFC South title and a wild card spot. Houston needs this one more than Cleveland, that's for sure. A Browns fan somewhere would point out that Cleveland can still actually win the AFC North if they run the table and finish 12-5 and the Ravens lose their last three to finish 11-6. So, there, I presented the game properly for everyone.
JAGUARS (8-6) AT BUCCANEERS (7-7) -- A huge game for both teams. Jacksonville is hanging on for dear life after getting throttled by the Ravens last Sunday night. Tampa Bay can win the NFC South by winning out (or, perhaps, even finishing 9-8) and they could also snag a wild card spot if things fell into place for them in some other ways. Jacksonville looked "real" earlier in the season. Now? Not so much.
CARDINALS (3-11) AT BEARS (5-9) -- Another lousy game, although fans in Chicago will be excited to see how this one unfolds since it's likely they're going to see a rare win for Da' Bears. Arizona should be relegated to the SEC.
COWBOYS (10-4) AT DOLPHINS (10-4) -- A massively important game for both teams, with tons of "stuff" at stake for the winner and loser. Dallas is trying to hold on to the #1 seed in the NFC and/or win the NFC East. Miami is trying to clinch the AFC East, potentially steal the #1 seed from the Ravens, and keep Buffalo from having a chance to scoot past them in the final three weeks of the season. The status of Tyreek Hill is potentially the biggest issue of the entire day. If he plays, Miami has a great chance to win. If he doesn't, the Dolphins are going to have a huge fight on their hands.
PATRIOTS (3-11) AT BRONCOS (7-7) -- Denver somehow still has a shot at the playoffs, but this one tonight in New England is a must win for them. New England's season was over at Halloween.
| Saturday December 23, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3411 |
The Detroit Pistons have lost 25 games in a row.
If you don't follow the NBA, that might be "new news" to you.
25 straight.
You'd assume at some point along the way over the last eight weeks that the other team would have an "off" night of some kind, right?
Hungover after a big win the night before they played the Pistons.
Three guys wake up with the chills and a runny nose.
Two key players get agitated with something Stephen A. Smith says about them and they spend 48 minutes trying to prove him wrong, only to work against one another and produce two stinker outings.
I mean, at some point along the way over the last 25 games, the other team's chakras were out of whack. Right?
Wrong, apparently.
No one has lost to Detroit since the Bulls failed to beat the Pistons way back on October 28.
At one point in the '23-24 season, the Pistons were actually 2-1. Now they're 2-26.
Crazy, right?
You were shopping for Halloween candy the last time the Pistons won a game.
And in case you care, it's not looking like Detroit's winning anytime soon.
They're in Brooklyn tonight. The Nets aren't great, but Detroit's not going to Brooklyn and winning.
The Nets are in Detroit on Tuesday evening. I don't follow the NBA much, but those who do think Tuesday night might be the streak-stopper. Brooklyn's nothing if not inconsistent.
After that, Detroit's next five games are at Boston, vs. Toronto, at Houston, at Utah and at Golden State.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, the league record for consecutive losses in a row is 28.
I've spent roughly 40 years of my life "involved" in sports and there's something I learned a long time ago. I've said this a lot here over the years: The hardest thing to do in sports is stop losing.
There's no book for it.
There's no app you can download on your phone.
Colleges don't teach a class on it.
You have to stop losing by...figuring out how to win.
I'd love to see the Pistons win a game tonight or Tuesday so they don't have to face the Celtics next week with a record-tying streak on the line.
Losing's tough on everyone. There might be a hockey team I wouldn't mind seeing lost 25 straight games, but other than that, 25 straight games in a row is just too much.
Pro Football Talk and NBC Football contributor Mike Florio has ignited quite a firestorm this week by offering an interesting commentary on Monday night's Ravens-49er's showdown in San Francisco.
"The 49'ers are going to kick the s**t out of everyone," Florio wrote this week. "They're going to dismantle the Ravens."
You can imagine how that went down in Baltimore.
The Ravens themselves published the comment on their own website and social media pages, stirring the pot as best they can.
And that, of course, got everyone in town completely wound up in advance of Monday's big game.
Lamar Jackson and Roquan Smith already spoke earlier in the week about the feeling of "disrespect" when the point spread was published and the 49'ers were favored by 5.5 points.
I understand the need for motivation. Anyone who has been involved in sports has either been motivated by something someone's said or they've used what someone said or did to motivate themselves to perform at a higher level.
Florio was "just doing his job", of course.
His job isn't really to offer insightful commentary on the NFL. I mean, he might act like that's his job, but his job is to get people to tune into what he says and offer their own commentary on it.
If Florio says, "You know, both teams are really good. I'm excited to see a competitive game on Monday night", everyone yawns.
"The 49'ers are going to kick the s**t out of everyone..."
"They're going to dismantle the Ravens..."
There's no yawning there.
But the reaction to Florio's words is what's funny.
I get it. Motivation is important in sports.
But are grown men really going to get wound up by a dude offering commentary on their proposed performance?
I hope John Harbaugh has more tricks up his sleeve than Mike Florio's words.
Then again, I hope Harbaugh does whatever needs to do to get the Ravens to win on Monday night. If it takes Florio's commentary to do it, that's fine I suppose.
Just win, baby...
Rich asks -- "Are you concerned about the Orioles lack of activity in the off-season so far?"
DF says -- "Not at all. I mean, A) what did you expect?, and B) who was out there that they missed on?
They were never signing Ohtani or one of the big names. Even pitchers like Eduardo Rodriguez (Arizona) were out of their price range at $20 million per-season.
The Orioles, at least under Mike Elias, are just not an organization that's going to be throwing a lot of money at free agents.
And while a trade for someone like Dylan Cease would be nice, it's also important to remember they won 101 games last year without Cease. If they wind up getting him this off-season, that's great. If not, that's fine, too.
I do think they need another starting arm or two, but they'll find someone, just like they found Kyle Gibson last off-season. Someone will surface who can give them 30 starts and 160 innings. I don't know who that will be, but Mike Elias does.
The Orioles aren't "active" in the off-season because it's just not what they do. If you haven't come to grips with that by now, you never will."
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
It was the Jahmir Young show last night at Pauley Pavilion.
His 23 first half points propelled his Terps to an early lead that would later grow to as much as 20 points. After that lead was reduced to just a single bucket, it was Young’s late 9-point burst that finally secured the win, 69-60.
The Terrapin point guard’s numbers were outstanding. He finished with 37 points on 13 of 19 shooting while knocking down 4 of 6 threes. He also led the Terps with 7 rebounds. Donta Scott chipped in with 17 points. No other Maryland player reached double digits.
Sebastian Mack led UCLA with 17 points in a game that appeared to be a Terrapin blowout, but ended up being one that was much tighter than the 9-point final margin made it look.
During the game’s opening segment, only two players scored points. Young had all 8 of Maryland’s points in the first 4 minutes while Adem Bona had all 5 of UCLA’s. Bona was 2 for 2, continuing from last year his interior mastery of Julian Reese. Young was doing most of his damage from long range, going 2 for 2.
After a series of turnovers by both teams, Donta Scott hit another Terp 3 and the Terps led 11-5. It took an acrobatic layup “and one” by Sebastian Mack to finally get the Bruins back on the scoreboard, making the score 11-8.
Scott returned the “and one” favor, pushing the Terp lead to 15-8. That play also gave Bona his second foul, sending him to the bench. The second TV timeout came with Maryland hanging onto the 15-8 advantage. The scoring difference being the 3 triples that Maryland buried compared to zero for the Bruins.
The under 8-minute timeout came with 7:27 left in the half and Maryland leading 26-16. Young had amassed 16 points on his own, greatly helped by his perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the three-point line.
By the time the last TV timeout occurred, Maryland had rolled to a 36-21 spread. Young had 21 points himself. Offensive rebounding was keeping UCLA from being blown out. They held an 8-2 advantage on the offensive boards.
The first half ended with Scott blocking a Bruin shot and securing a 43-28 Terrapin lead. Young was everything for Maryland, scoring 23 of his team’s 43 first half points. His numbers were impressive. He was a perfect 4 for 4 from the three-point stripe, 3 for 3 from the foul line, and 8 for 9 from the floor.
The halftime locker room speeches were not hard to figure out.
UCLA head coach, Mick Cronin, had to be drawing up a strategy to stop Young, while Maryland was trying to figure out how to get more people involved in their offense.
The second half began with both teams struggling to find the bottom of the net. UCLA was 1-5 during the first 5 minutes while the Terps had a similar number from the three-point line.
UCLA was able to shave the Terp lead to 13 with 11:31 left to play. Young had scored just 2 second half points and the Maryland team was shooting 3-12 in the second half. A Bruin 5-0 advantage at the foul line was the difference maker, as they connected on just 2 of their first 8 second half shots.
The Terrapins were deep into a 4-minute scoring drought and their scoring frustrations were not helped by Reese’s 0-4 from the foul line.
The lead was soon shaved to 9, as Maryland couldn’t get a field goal. Seven minutes had elapsed since Maryland’s last successful field goal try. That number went to more than 8 minutes without a Terp field goal as the Bruins found themselves behind by just 6 points, 55-49, with 7:25 left to decide the outcome.
A ridiculous 46 fouls had been called at this point in the game. It seemed every possession was ending with a whistle.
A timeout by Maryland was required after 4 consecutive points by UCLA further reduced what was once a seemingly insurmountable Terrapin lead. Now trailing by a scant 4 points, the Bruins had all of the momentum. It’s inconceivable that a team who produced 43 first half points had not made a field goal in over 9 minutes of play.
With 5:43 left, Reese fouled out. His stat line showed 0-2 form the field, 1-6 from the foul line, and 5 fouls. It was a terrible showing from the Terp center. The lead was down to 2 points.
Young finally hit a bucket for the Terps, and then another, slowing the Bruin onslaught. He would take over the game for a while, scoring 9 points in the next three minutes.
His personal run started at 4:26 with the Terps ahead by 2, and ended at 1:27. It turned a huge blown lead and potential devastating loss, into a comfortable 8-point lead with less than a minute and a half left. UCLA contributed by not making a field goal for the last 5:27 of the game.
Three Scott foul shots closed out the 9-point Terp win, 69-60.
This win really exposed Maryland’s offensive weaknesses when Reese gets shut down.
He wasn’t strong enough to navigate inside against Adem Bona. Reese was held without a field goal, scoring just a single point by making 1 of his 6 foul shots. UCLA held a 30-16 advantage in points-in-the-paint while also outrebounding Maryland 40-32.
The Terps come back to College Park to play Coppin State next Thursday. That contest is followed by a Tuesday home game with the dangerous Purdue Boilermakers.
| Friday December 22, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3410 |
I'm sure there will be pushback from folks who see the word "quitting" and take exception to it, but in your heart of hearts -- if you're one of those providing the pushback -- you know it's the appropriate word.
Our great country and it's people spend a lot of time these days involved in what I like to call "wordsmithing".
In an effort to make a point or validate a thought, we have to find just the right word to use, mainly because we're keenly aware that someone, somewhere is likely going to offended, put-off or just downright angry by the word or phrase we use.
Maryland football quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa announced this week he will not play in the team's bowl game vs. Auburn on December 30.
"He handled it the right way," Maryland head coach Mike Locksley stated when the school released the news that his team's starting quarterback was going to sit out the game as he prepares for the upcoming NFL Combine and Draft in April.
"He handled it the right way..."
No, sir. He did not.
Perhaps the "way" he delivered the news to Locksley and the staff was handled "correctly". Instead of posting it on social media first, maybe he called or texted the coach and informed him of the news before releasing it to the public. Sure, I'd call that "the right way".
But quitting on your team is in no way, shape or form, "handling it the right way."
See what I mean about choosing the words correctly? Or making sure the phrase you use is appropriate?
This isn't about the way the quarterback delivered the news, though. No one really cares whether he posted it on his Instagram account or flew a plane over College Park. At least I don't.
What we should be caring about is kids who quit on the rest of the team and the incredibly awful message it sends.
I'll repeat it again for you, in case you're aggravated and this just makes it worse: Tagovailoa quit.
I know all the reasons. I don't need it to be justified, explained or pieced together in an effort to get me to say, "Oh, yeah, sure, now I see it. He wants to be drafted and doesn't want to risk getting hurt in the Auburn game. It's about money. And a signing bonus. Right. I see it all now."
I know why he's quitting.
And it's wrong.
It's not wrong because the kid shouldn't be protecting himself. Of course the young man and his family should be doing whatever they can to protect him, financially, in advance of the Combine and Draft.
It's wrong because the rest of the kids on the team helped Tagovailoa get to where he is, today, and might be, next year, and he's quitting on them.
They didn't quit on him when he was losing three straight games this past season.
They've been with him every step of the way at Maryland. Coaches, players, and everyone involved in the program has been lockstep with Taulia since he arrived in College Park.
And now he's quitting on them.
It's a terrible character blemish on a young man who we otherwise assumed wouldn't do something like this at the 11th hour.
But more than what it does to him, it establishes protocol with other young men down the road that it's OK to quit on your team to justify your own needs.
What, exactly, is the coach supposed to tell the rest of the team about Taulia? What does he say, exactly, to explain why it's OK for the quarterback to opt out of the bowl game but the other guys have to play in the game?
I'm not a huge college football bowl guy, personally.
When 6-6 or 7-5 teams can go to bowl games, I'm pretty much out. In the old days, bowl games were reserved for really good teams. These days they're reserved for schools with fan bases who "travel well".
But for some of those kids at Maryland, playing in a bowl game against Auburn could be a seminal moment in their development as an athlete or young man. In other words, it might not be important to Tagovailoa, but the Music City Bowl might be really important to the starting right defensive tackle.
And that scenario above is the real crosshairs issue of the whole Taulia-quitting-the-team situation.
How do athletes know what's important and what isn't important? When Maryland called for a pass play on 3rd and 13 in a game back in October, everyone on the offense had a role. In an effort to make the play work, everyone had to execute their specific duty. A number of those duties involved making sure the quarterback was upright and capable of throwing the ball to the receiver.
Taulia needed everyone on that pass play.
They were there for him.
Football players aren't dumb. They know that the guys who touch the ball get most of the attention and accolades and the "trench guys" don't get much of that at all.
Quarterbacks get the girls and glory. Offensive tackles get broken fingers and turf toe.
What message does it send to your offensive brothers when you quit on them and say, essentially, "I needed you back in October and November when I was piling up stats, but now I don't need you any longer."?
This isn't about a kid quitting the team to prepare himself for a future in football. I mean, the quarterback might tell people that's what it's about, but that's not really what it's about.
It's about the worst thing that can happen to an athlete: Caring only about yourself and disregarding your teammates.
Once an athlete stops caring about his teammates, the whole thing is over.
For those who are solution-oriented and are looking for one, I think we all know what it is: You play in the bowl game and you do the exact same thing you tried to do during every regular season game.....stay healthy.
You played against Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State and did so because the games were on the schedule and you needed to compete in those to upgrade your stock.
And your teammates played, too, in an effort to help you raise your stock.
You weren't worried about getting injured against Michigan or Penn State. You played.
Now, though, you're suddenly worried about getting injured.
And that leads you to taking the easiest of routes: quitting.
But it's also here where we should applaud the significan number (95%?) of football players who don't quit during bowl season. I'll stop short of calling them heroes. But they're the ones we should be writing and talking about.
They're the student-athletes who get it.
Taulia doesn't get it.
And that's a real shame.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
As the second part of a 2-year home-and-home series, tonight the UCLA Bruins will host the Maryland Terrapins at Pauley Pavilion.
If you can force yourself to remember last year’s disaster, a blowout win by UCLA where the Terps trailed 49-20 at the half, don’t expect a repeat despite the Bruins being on their home court this time.
UCLA’s roster bears little resemblance to last season’s NCAA tournament 3 seed. That team made it to the Sweet 16 where it lost by 3 to the #3 seed Gonzaga.That version only lost 4 regular season games. It’s not even January and the current team has already dropped 5, including 3 in a row and 4 of their last 5.
Four of those defeats should cause no shame as UCLA was beaten by #4 Marquette, #11 Gonzaga, a tough Villanova team, and a decent Ohio State team. They also lost to Cal State Northridge.
The Bruins feature 7 freshmen and a transfer. They lost all 5 of last season’s top 5 scores too. This team is a United Nations squad with players from 7 different countries. I’m going to make a statement here: They are not very good, but they have a few nice pieces.
I’m particularly fond of the 6’10” 245-pound sophomore, Adem Bona. He plays with great energy, and really moves well. He has decent athleticism and used it to go 7 of 8 from the floor against the Terps in last season’s match-up with Julian Reese.
I also like the guard tandem of Sebatian Mack (a team high 15 points per game) and Dylan Andrews. Mack is a very athletic 6’3” freshman who can get to the lane and score, but he has yet to find his stroke outside of the key. He’s a tad under 40% from the floor, and a woeful 26% from three. He also commits more turnovers than assists.
Andrews is a 33% 3-point shooter and the top assist guy on this team. He and Lazar Stefanovic both get over 30 minutes of action per game. Stefanovic plays almost 35 minutes a game, but he’s mostly an outside guy, where Andrews’ game is more impactful around the whole court. He posted a season best 22 points in the loss to Cal State Northridge.
The Bruins have other weapons, like Will McClendon and the very tall (7’3”) Aday Mara, but neither is a game changer. McClendon is a decent hold over from last season’s team, while Mara was a hotly recruited freshman big man.
In my opinion, Mara is nowhere near in shape enough right now to compete at this level. He’s slow getting up and down the court and does so on wobbly legs. He might be good at some point, but it’s not now.
Here's what I like about the Terps chances tonight. In the battle last December, Jahmir Young had his worst game as a Terp. Yes, the future NBA bound UCLA backcourt had something to do with it, but the UMD point guard was 0-8 with 5 turnovers. He must be drooling to go at this team tonight with their new lineup.
Likewise with Reese. Bona owned him in the first half last time out. Reese was nursing a bad shoulder at the time, and I’m sure Juju is licking his chops at his shot for redemption.
It’s my belief that the Terps have more talent than the Bruins. Can they overcome the difficulties of traveling across the county, and also handle the bright lights of a national TV audience? I guess we’ll find out starting at 9 p.m. tonight. You can watch on ESPN2.
I’m expecting a huge night from Young. While the Bruins of 2022-2023 were a top 20 defense, this current collection of Bruins is nowhere nearly as efficient defensively. Young should frequently get to the bucket tonight. So should Maryland’s DeShawn Smith-Harris.
UCLA shoots just 32% from long range and they commit almost as many turnovers as they get assists. Yes, those numbers are better than Maryland’s, but the Bruins have yet to beat anyone ranked higher than 250 by Kenpom.
It’s tough to favor a poor shooting road team traveling 2700 miles to play a night game, especially when the opponent is hungry for a win. But I do favor the Terps tonight.
The oddsmakers don’t agree with my assessment, having posted Maryland as an early 3.5-point underdog.
If Young can get 20 points, and Reese 15, then we are looking at a 68-65 Terp win.
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faith in sports |
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We're excited to have yet another "local angle" to show you today here at "Faith in Sports", as you'll get to learn more about the Ravens outstanding team chaplain, Johnny Shelton, in the video below.
Faith is extremely important within the Ravens organization. Shelton is a critical piece to the Ravens' success, although his name isn't up in lights or on the scoreboard very often.
And let's give some credit to NBC for being willing to run this piece last week. We're in a time in our country where a lot of people resent the public message of God and His word. That NBC was willing to produce and run the segment is very exciting to anyone in the faith community.
As always, thanks to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their continued support of Drew's Morning Dish and "Faith in Sports" here every Friday.
Please take just over 4 minutes of your time today to watch the video below and learn more about Johnny Shelton and the great work he's doing with the Ravens and the NFL.
| Thursday December 21, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3409 |
#DMD publishes every day of the year, as I assume everyone reading this knows.
There are -- rough count here, as it might vary from year to year -- probably three or four days per calendar year where sports might take a back seat for 24 hours while we parse through some other issues that are important to us.
Perhaps it's fitting that today's discourse here at #DMD comes during the holiday season, which is a celebration of the birth of a child God put on Earth to help spread peace and joy to those who saw the light of His ways.
We can share commentary like we're going to share today anytime, of course. But today seems a bit more fitting for some reason.
Perhaps it's the decline of what we're seeing all around us, every day.
In case you haven't noticed, our country is going through an incredibly difficult period in history. I wasn't around for other generations of national tension and civil distress so I can't offer any kind of comparison to what we're experiencing now. In some ways, you'd think we'd be much smarter than to allow what's happening now to have ever happened in the first place.
But here we are.
In a mess.
We have undocumented migrants being transported from Texas to various points of the country, without proper medical and criminal screenings.
We have one state in the country -- with more to follow -- removing the name of a Presidential candidate from their general election because they decided that's what they wanted to do.
We have on-going tension in both gender and sexuality. Earlier this week, a gym teacher in California was suspended because she refused to allow a female student to shower with male students after "Sarah" announced on Monday she no longer identifies as a female and would prefer to be addressed as "he" and "Scotty" from that point forward.
Those are just three stories making the rounds this week. There are gazillions more, obviously.
We have a mess on our hands.
It seems reasonable to think that we -- as a country -- would be smarter than allow ourselves to get into these situations, but yet here we are.
We're in a mess.
But I'll tell you what's not a mess, friends.
Helping Up Mission isn't a mess.
Oh, sure, the people in there have all had a "mess" on their hands at some point. That's why they're in there, getting the help they need to get back on track.
But that place in downtown Baltimore is really something special.
While our state and local government is busy giving sports franchises $600 million to build themselves "social gathering areas" at their facilities, Helping Up Mission is serving more than 400 men every single day who need something money can't buy: A second chance.
The guys (and gals) at Helping Up Mission are there in an effort to create their second chance. They might have wasted their first one. But they desperately want that second chance.
And without giving their names, let me just tell you this. I met three men yesterday who might as well have just been you and I.
I say this all the time: When you go to Helping Up Mission as an outsider -- as Glenn Clark and I were yesterday during our annual "Helping, Helping Up" event -- it's probably the first thing that hits you.
"Most of these guys look like me..."
I did a 15-minute faith huddle with three men yesterday.
A 47-year old white male who looked like the guy you'd play 18 holes of golf with this weekend. Clean cut, nice looking, well spoken, smart. And addicted to alcohol for the last two years of his life, when he went from making a great living with a beautiful house in Baltimore County to sitting next to me talking about how he hit rock bottom and wound up on Baltimore Street.
A 38-year old white male who told an incredibly honest but horrifying story about how he stayed high for 35 straight days, didn't sleep for a week straight, stole license plates, year and month stickers, tools, and anything else he could get his hands on to support his out-of-control lifestyle. On the morning he checked himself into Helping Up last summer, he drove a stolen vehicle to his mother's house and dropped off his dog.
"I didn't have anything else," he told me. "Just my dog. I had some clothes that hadn't been washed in a month, maybe. But all I had was my dog. I dropped him off at my mom's house and said, 'Take care of him for me. I'll see you in a year and I'll be better.'"
A 30 year old African American male, who bore an interesting resemblance to the pop singer The Weeknd. If you would have told me that young man was a model you'd see on a Target circular wearing tee-shirts or their line of "Goodfellows" jackets, I would have believed you. He ran into trouble in Philadelphia, somehow, and was spiraling out of control when his Aunt told him about a "place in Baltimore that will straighten you out."
If there's anything you take from reading this today, I hope it's this: Anyone can wind up at Helping Up Mission. Anyone.
If you think you're above the fray, I'd submit to you the stories of those three men above. They were all good, hard working guys with their you-know-what together who unraveled over a year or so and wound up at rock bottom.
And so, yesterday marked the 15th year (I mistakenly claimed it was #14 here yesterday, but it was actually year 15) that Glenn Clark and I have done a Christmas season event at Helping Up Mission.
On Wednesday, we dropped off hundreds of pairs of new underwear and tee-shirts, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body spray and thousands of pairs of socks for both men and women.
Glenn and I spent several hours at the main location with the men. The folks at Helping Up will distribute the items to the 100-plus women in the female HUM shelter.
Those of you who helped us with donations through our Ravens raffle and College Football Bowl contest are the real heroes. Glenn and I did the easy part. We took your money to Target, spent it, and put everything in our cars and drove it to Helping Up Mission.
The hardest part of the whole thing is getting the $3,000 to buy the stuff. It's through your generosity that the event continues to happen every Christmas season.
Without you helping out, there's no event.
When Hall and Oates were a thing -- before their current ugly legal fight -- they'd go out on stage and play the hits for 100 minutes or so and everyone would dance around and feel great as they heard "Private Eyes", "Maneater" and "Say It Isn't So".
But those shows never happen if hundreds of people don't set the place up for Hall and Oates.
Those two went out on stage and did their thing and they absorbed the spotlight and made the money, but only because the road crew put the entire thing together for them hours in advance of the curtain rising.
Clark and I are the same way.
Without all of you, there's no event yesterday.
We know that.
And what we also know is that your generosity is helping turn men's lives around.
I come here once a year to tell you about it because I want you to know where your donations go and what impact you're having even though you're not on stage with us.
If you donated $25 this year or dropped off underwear and socks to us on Monday night at the Michael Pierce event, you helped. Without you, yesterday doesn't happen.
And all you'd need is one tour of Helping Up Mission yourself and you'd understand why Glenn and I have done that event for 15 straight years.
Yes, there are a lot of "messes" in Baltimore and in our country these days. We can't act like that's not true.
But the folks who run Helping Up Mission are doing their part to clean it up as best they can.
We'll be back again next year, God willing.
I hope you will, too.
Thank you again for your support.
We'll be back to sports tomorrow here, friends. We'll tackle the issue of college football players quitting on their teams during bowl season.
| Wednesday December 20, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3408 |
A number of people have asked me about the proposed shift of the Capitals and Wizards from their downtown DC arena to a new state-of-the-art facility and property just four miles away in Northern Virginia.
This, of course, comes on the heels of the lengthy, miserable "lease agreement" fiasco the Orioles finally just completed on Monday.
Anytime a team moves or there's even a (false) hint of a move, folks get jittery. And, let's be honest, no one should be more nervous about teams moving than us here in Bawlmer.
We once had the Bullets. Gone.
Colts. Gone.
I won't actually list the CFL football team, because we all know what that was about. But they also moved, if that matters.
That said, the Capitals and Wizards are moving to a new location that is actually closer, distance wise, than the Blast's move seven years ago from the downtown arena out to the campus of Towson University.
The difference is, it can take up to 30 minutes to navigate those four miles from the current DC building to their new location in Northern Virginia. You can make the trip from the arena in Baltimore to the facility at Towsn in half that time, pretty much.
But those are just numbers. Not many people around here care about the Blast. When they moved 10 miles north, it impacted a couple of thousand people who go to the games on a regular basis. And, as their own studies indicated, a large percentage of their attendance was already coming from north of the city anyway.
The Caps and Wizards draw a lot of people from south of their current DC home. Those fans have created travel schedules to accommodate their needs, traffic, etc. They know when to catch the Metro, where to park, etc. If you're someone who regularly attends games of either franchise down there, this transition is definitely unsettling.
The reality is, the teams aren't "moving".
They're just going to play their games in a new building in a different location.
I assume they're still going to be called the "Washington" Capitals and "Washington" Wizards, but perhaps as part of the deal he struck, Ted Leonsis might have to call them "Virginia". I have no idea. I don't care, really.
But my assumption is they're going to remain being labeled "Washington" teams, because it's all one and the same down there for the most part. I can't imagine any one who lives in D.C. proper is going to stop going to games because the team no longer technically resides in D.C., in the same way no one in downtown Baltimore would stop going to games if they wiped out White Marsh Mall in 10 years and built a new baseball stadium there and that's where the Orioles started playing their games.
Now, the why question of why Leonsis did this is far more interesting than anything else.
The Capitals draw great crowds in D.C.
The Wizards draw good crowds, with occasional sell-outs, but there's no disputing which of the two teams is more popular in the area.
Leonsis is moving the teams for two reasons. A) He got an amazing deal and a landmark opportunity to create a once-in-a-lifetime property in Northern Virginia. B) Downtown D.C., particularly the Chinatown area, has a number of issues that most of us in Baltimore are keenly familiar with and deal with ourselves on a regular basis.
The longtime Caps and Wizards owner tried to soft-peddle the latter issue during his press conference last week, saying "they can still play women's basketball and hold concerts in the D.C. building if they upgrade the facility", but those anticipated upgrades wouldn't have been enough to keep his NHL and NBA teams there. Thank you very much.
In some ways, it's surprising the Orioles themselves didn't threaten a similar move in the wake of the unrest in downtown Baltimore nearly a decade ago. If ever there was a time when no one would have blamed the baseball franchise for holding the city and state up for ransom, it was in the aftermath of the Freddie Gray riots.
I don't think any of us would have blamed the Angelos family for wanting to move out of downtown Baltimore in 2015.
Even today, eight years later, there are still significant pockets of the population who simply "don't go downtown". I ate at one of Baltimore's most well-known, treasured restaurants last week as part of a holiday gathering with some longtime golfing friends. From 3 pm on a Tuesday afternoon until we left just after 6:30 pm, there were a grand total of 12 people in the place. Six of the 12 were at our table.
A manager-type came over to greet us and chat. "Tough times down here, still," he said. "We're making it, but I'd say it's more like we're just hanging on."
That's not any kind of grand-scale assessment of downtown Baltimore, of course. Just a small example of how things are still not clicking on all cylinders anywhere south of Northern Parkway, let's say.
As it relates to actual "downtown" Baltimore, there's definitely still lingering concern from folks outside of the city who once traveled into the Inner Harbor without much concern or fear at all.
Leonsis has been dealing with similar concerns in the Chinatown area for a long time. They've recently started to become major worries for him and the move to Northern Virginia remedies those issues, if nothing else.
So, as someone who lived through the Colts move, I understand the cosmetic appearance of the teams moving out of DC, but they aren't the same. Not even close.
There's not one single person who regularly attends a Capitals or Wizards game now who won't be able to do the same thing in a few years when they're playing in Northern Virginia. Sure, it might cost a few more bucks to get there. It might increase (or decrease, remember) your travel time a bit. But you're still going to see the "Washington" Capitals and "Washington" Wizards.
When the Colts left Baltimore, they didn't go to Annapolis and become the "Annapolis" Colts.
They went to "Indianapolis". And we couldn't see them in person any longer.
I'm sure the move is a blow to the downtown D.C. area and Chinatown in particular. You're talking 80 or so events there per-year that bring 15,000 people into the area. Restaurants, ride sharing, parking garages. They all benefit.
But Leonsis is nothing if not an opportunist.
He goes from dealing with an unsettling situation in downtown D.C. to basically helping shape what might very well become the biggest and best state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex in the entire nation.
And he didn't have to move the teams to Richmond to do it.
It's one thing if Leonsis had to shift his two franchises 2 hours down the road to Richmond. At that point, the teams are "moving out of Washington DC."
That would be akin to the Orioles and Ravens moving to Wilmington, DE or even Northern Virginia themselves.
Leonsis is moving the teams the equivalent of from Towson University to Hayfields Golf Course off of Shawan Road.
It really is that close, as the crow flies. It's not a 10-minute drive, though. That's for sure. But Caps and Wizards fans will figure it out.
Someone asked me this week if Leonsis "deserves" the treatment he's receiving from the state of Virginia.
Like almost every sports owner in the country, Leonsis is a polarizing figure. Some folks love him, others not so much. But I can say without question he's been a terrific owner for the Capitals. I haven't followed the Wizards enough to know much about his accumen there, but the Capitals have certainly flourished as a franchise during his ownership tenure.
His most recent creation of a TV network to support his two sports entities and other interests is yet another way he's trying to distance himself from other owners.
Leonsis is a visionary. He was a visionary at AOL and he's remained a visionary as a sports owner and executive.
If he hasn't earned the trust of people in the DC/Northern Virginia area by now, he never will.
And let's be honest: We'd love to have Leonsis, or someone like him, in Baltimore.
Our lives might be much different, as sports fans, if Ted Leonsis would have set up shop in Charm City 25 years ago.
Glenn Clark and I wiped the White Marsh Target store out of every piece of men's and women's underwear we could find last night.
And I wouldn't be going there looking for men's razors, shaving cream or deodorant today, either. Those shelves are empty.
Through the generosity of listeners to Glenn Clark Radio and readers of #DMD, we racked up a $3,000 bill last night at Target.
Today, we're taking it all down to Helping Up Mission to distribute to the men and women who are spending their holiday season in each of those outstanding facilities.
This is year #14 for Clark and I.
The first time we went to Helping Up, we walked into the facility with 440 coats and jackets. We thought we had conquered the world.
Two years ago, which turned out to be the final year of the "coat drive", we took over 5,000 items into their Baltimore Street facility.
That's when the good people at Helping Up said, "OK, we have enough coats for a few years. We need something else from you guys."
And now we've moved on to the newest iteration of our annual event. Men's and women's personal items and toiletries.
Most of the people who wind up at Helping Up facilities arrive in a bit of a hurried state. Things hit rock bottom for them, they have nowhere to turn, and someone says, "You need to get to Helping Up Mission...now."
So they show up without much of anything except the clothes on their back.
We outfit them with new underwear, socks, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, etc. They can start each new day with something "new" themselves. As one of the guys said to me last year during the distribution event, "You don't know how much you miss clean underwear until you don't have any. It's a self-esteem thing."
One of my favorite parts of the annual December trip is the "huddle" I host at 11:30. Helping Up sends me 4-6 guys of their choosing and I share a verse or two or a story from the Bible that hopefully uplifts them during the holiday season and throughout their stay at Helping Up.
This one, that I'll share today, seems particulary poignant for men (and women) who find themselves at Helping Up.
Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
There's a certain amount of shame that Helping Up clients feel upon arrival. They've finally given in. There's nothing else left for them to do to change their situation, so they go to someone with the hope they (Helping Up) can change it for them.
And with that shame and suffering comes the belief that better days are ahead.
Glenn and I love doing this event every year. It has certainly helped me see the world differently, that's for sure.
Thanks to all of you who have contributed, both this year and in the past. You have no idea how important your contributions are and have been to men and women you'll never meet, but you've certainly helped.
God Bless you all.
| Tuesday December 19, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3407 |
OK, so unless something really, really wacky happens, the Orioles stadium lease is a done deal.
I know what you're thinking.
But my guess is you're safe. We're safe. There's nothing else to worry about. The "lease saga" is over.
For now, at least.
I'll take this space here today to issue appreciation to the Governor, the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Orioles for bringing everything to a successful conclusion yesterday.
But I'm sorry in advance if I'm not interested in driving the Grand Marshal's car at the parade commemmorating this significant event.
No, I don't have a "sour demeanor" about it as a friend suggested last night on Twitter.
I'm happy the lease got signed.
The Orioles were never leaving Baltimore, as I said roughly 79 times over the last 18 months, but Monday's announcement ends any worries about a move to Nashville, Salt Lake City or anywhere else.
But I'm happy the lease got signed, even if the lease was always going to get signed.
What I won't do, though, is bend over backwards thanking the Orioles for their participation in the event and gracing us with their presence over the next 5, 8, 15 or however many years it takes for them to take umbrage with something that's changed in the world of professional sports and stadium benefits and attempt to "re-work" the lease into a more favorable agreement for themselves.
And I'll stop short of giving the Governor and the Stadium Authority overwhelming praise for what turned out to be a laughable exercise in public business.
I realize they were dealing with the Orioles. And when you flop around in the mud with pigs, you generally get muddy. But allowing the Orioles to run point on the entire thing was woefully inept.
So, yes, the lease is done, and everyone is happy. Or at the very least, everyone appears to be happy.
The only thing left for the Orioles to do now is play in a World Series.
This might be the old man in me coming out. And if so, I'll wave from the back of the room and say "here I am."
But I couldn't care less about stadium improvements, Camden Crossing, selling the naming rights of the stadium to a bank or an internet provider or any other money-making scheme the O's generate as a result of the lease they were given.
All I want to see is the Orioles go to the World Series.
If they win it all, great.
But only one team can win every year. Getting to the World Series is really the goal.
I was there the last time they were in one. I attended both home games in Baltimore (1 and 2) and was there, at the stadium, with four of my derelict Glen Burnie besties when the buses pulled into Memorial Stadium in the wee hours of the morning after that Game 5 win in Philadelphia.
I'd like to experience at least one more World Series, if that's OK.
I don't care how they do it, either. They don't have to shell out $700 million for Ohtani. They don't have to give Bellinger $250 million or trade for Dylan Cease.
I mean, if they sign Bellinger and trade for Cease, I'm fine with that. If Mike Elias wants it, I approve.
But I want them to win. Period.
If they can make it to a World Series with a $77 million payroll, that's fine.
If they have to spend $200 million to get there, that's fine as well.
I don't care how they win. Just win.
In their world -- and this is where semantics come into play -- the current ownership group considers "winning" selling the naming rights to the stadium.
"Winning" to them is piecing off part of the land they've been graciously handed and convincing some gambling companies and national eateries and bars to fork over huge monthly rental payments in exchange for being part of an awesome stadium neighborhood where the O's get to make more money and "hopefully" win some games along the way.
If you said to the Orioles right now, you have two choices: A) Go to a World Series in the next 5 years or B) make $100 million in profit over the next 5 years, they're taking "B" every single time.
I couldn't care less about "B".
They can call the stadium Oriole Park at Camden Yards forever for all I care and Lot H can stay Lot H forever and it wouldn't matter one bit to me.
Now, it would be entirely different if the Orioles said, "You can mark our words on this one...if we sell those stadium naming rights for $500 million we're going to take every nickel of that revenue and give it to Gunnar and Adley to keep them in Baltimore forever."
But you have a better chance of naming your own house after Verizon or FanDuel than we have of the Orioles taking stadium naming rights money and spending it on baseball players.
So, for now at least, I'll assume the new lease affords the O's with one luxury and one luxury only: the ability for their organization to make more money and keep it for themselves.
Perhaps a new owner comes along in a year or two and understands there's no real difference in bathing in $125 million in profits or $40 million in profits. It stands to reason a new owner might come along and want to actually provide the city and state with a winning team on the field above all else.
But in the meantime, we have what we have. And we all know what that means.
And for anyone who is goofy enough to accuse me of being "too hard on them", check the scoreboard, as the Calvert Hall kids said to Loyola on Friday night when they beat them in basketball.
"Scoreboard" is still the greatest response to any kind of rebuttal in sports.
If you're silly enough to think I'm being "too hard" on the Orioles, check the scoreboard.
Three decades of ownership. Constant strife and friction within the community, including this very excercise called "the lease agreement".
A poorly-timed marriage with Washington DC and Northern Virginia 20 years ago that alienated the fan base in Baltimore but resulted in a free $75 million check in exchange for giving up that territory.
A lengthy, supremely embarrassing legal battle over television rights payments which resulted in the ownership group losing more often in the courtroom than anyone thought was mathematically possible. And yet, they plowed along anyway, losing gazillions of dollars (to lawyers) that they could have spent on baseball players.
Oh, and most important of all: No trips to the World Series since 1983 Or 1993, as it pertains to them.
Scoreboard.
The Orioles get what they deserve, which is this: Scrutiny.
They don't deserve to be treated poorly. They don't deserve "community hate". They don't deserve to be raked over the coals.
They deserve "scrutiny". And with that comes a check of the scoreboard to see how they've performed over the last 30-plus years.
No one really scrutinized the Ravens when they were handed $600 million of free money from the state because nearly every person in the area assumes the Ravens will put it to good use.
The Ravens don't get the same scrutiny as the Orioles because they've earned our trust.
Scoreboard.
The Orioles have a long way to go -- even with the remarkably outstanding job that's been done by Elias and Brandon Hyde -- to earn back our trust.
For me, they win back the trust when they go to a World Series.
I don't care if they "only" make $10 million next year and have to lower themselves to eating chinese carry out instead of dining in at Joey Chiu's and having a bowl of their delicious $7.95 Hot and Sour soup.
What the Orioles make in profit doesn't matter to me at all. They've made enough money over the years. A lot of people have ignored it or swept it under the rug. If you knew how much they've made, you'd have a stomach ache.
Just win.
Thanks for getting the lease done. I know it was nip and tuck there for a while. Nice work with those leaked stories to the Business Journal about Nashville, too. That got a lot of gullible people in town really worked up.
You know what else would get us worked up?
Seeing something happen in Baltimore that hasn't happened since 1983.
Give us the chance, for the first time in four decades, to say the word: "Scoreboard."
Apologies for the mailbag pile-up.
I'm on it.
We'll get a bunch of them knocked out this week and weekend, I promise.
Glen asks -- "I have until the end of the month to get into my yearly golf pool with my group of 20 guys. We have to pick 5 players for the season, one of them has to not have ever won a major. The only 6 tournaments that count are the majors and the Players tournament, plus the first FedEx tournament.
It's money based on those 6 tournaments. Who would your six be for the season? Thanks Drew!"
DF: "Well, I assume three or four of everyone's six are going to be the same, so the key is to find the "other 2" that might make the difference for you. And you didn't say if there's anything for second place. In other words, do 19 of the 20 guys get nothing and 1st place guy gets all the money (assuming you're all kicking in something for the season)?.
If you're getting money for a top 5 finish, that might make a small difference. I'm going to assume you're paying out more than one spot so taking two totally off the radar screen guys in hopes of scooping the other entries is probably not the way to go.
The good news is your first pick hasn't won a major yet. The bad news is I'm guessing 90% of the guys are taking him. Your first guy has to be Viktor Hovland.
I don't know how you wouldn't take Rory. At some point he's winning a major (or two) again. He just is. I'm always willing to be ON him before I'd bet AGAINST him. Maybe 2024 is the year.
I have no idea what impact Jon Rahm turning-into-a-charlartan is going to do for his golf game. My guess is he'll be fine. But we still have to see it all play out. That said, at least for this season upcoming, he has to be on your list.
I also think Scheffler is a must play. If he putts even remotely "average" last year he wins 6 or 7 times and wins 2 majors or more. He's by far the best tee to green golfer in the world. He just can't get the ball in the hole quickly enough. If he figures out his putting, event a little bit, 2024 will be massive for him.
Those four seem to be "locks" for me.
I'd probably think long and hard about adding any of these next two: DeChambeau (feels like he's back on track after that 2-year fixation with looking like a tight end instead of a golfer), Justin Thomas (his golf swing issues have been fixed), Jordan Spieth (the four major venues are perfect for his golf game in '24, especially the PGA and British), Sahith Theegala (here's one of those "longshots" I've mentioned...you'll be the only guy to take him, I bet); Lucas Aberg (another longshot type, this kid might win MORE than one major in 2024); Russell Henley (could be this year's Brian Harman or Lucas Glover; putts the lights out of it every week); Tony Finau (Valhalla, the PGA site, is perfect for him); Tiger Woods (a huge longshot given his planned tournament schedule, but if he wins early on, watch out).
Me? I'd take Scheffler and Aberg from that list, with Bryson a very strong consideration. But you can easily insert any of the others and have a great chance at winning. Good luck to you."
Dan P. asks -- "What impact do you think losing Keaton Mitchell will have on the Ravens playoff chances?"
DF says -- "I'm sure I'm in the minority on this one, but I'll say "medium-high". And it's not because he's Barry Sanders-in-waiting or anything like that. It's because those 40-50 yards he's capable of gaining per-game have to be game planned for as an opposing defensive coordinator.
You know, when he's in the backfield, you have to keep some kind of containment on the edge, which means playing the defensive end a step or two more outside his normal spot which gives him less time to get to Lamar if, in fact, they don't give the ball to Mitchell. It's a chess game, obviously.
With Mitchell in there, you're thinking "30/70 he carries it", but if you're not ready for that "30", he might gain 20 yards on you.
And if he's in there and you structure that defensive formation around him and you give Lamar extra time to throw it, you're getting beat that way as well.
So, I think losing Mitchell definitely hurts them."
Jeff asks -- "Hey Drew, longtime Capitals fan like yourself. I'm wondering two things about the Capitals. Any thought at all that maybe giving Ovi a few games off might help him? Does he need a break to maybe sit upstairs and "see the game" differently? And do you think as of now they'll be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?"
DF says: "Well, first thing to remember is the salary cap goes up $4.5 million to $87.5 million next season. So there's already more money to spend on free agents or retaining your own. The Caps might wind up having upwards of $24 million to spend on their cap next season, too, given the structure of a few of their veteran contracts that are "coming off the books" this off-season.
I still think, personally, this semi-hot start of theirs (15-9-4) is a bit of a mirage. I definitely wouldn't bet ON them to make the playoffs right now, but unlike last year, I don't think that will be apparent at the deadline.
And who do they have, really, to ship off that anyone would want? Mantha? LOL. No chance. Kuznetsov? Maybe, but unlikely. Carlson? Perhaps, but he's still one of their best three players on any given night. Plays almost as many minutes per-game as anyone in the whole league. Strome? Sure, he'd have value. He's also your leading goal scorer, somehow. Oshie? Injury prone and quickly showing his age. Not sure he'd be coveted.
This is all a way of suggesting they're far more likely to try to add a player or two then ship off two or three guys.
As for Ovechkin being a "healthy scratch", the only way I'd sign off on that is if he actually isn't healthy, which doesn't seem to be the case. The data and analytics support he's the same Ovi, if you will. He's getting ice time, getting power play opportunities and creating 5 or 6 legitimate goal scoring chances every game. He's just not finishing.
If he was in a slump where the chances weren't coming to him, maybe you say, "Wanna watch from the press box one night to see if you see things differently from up there?". But he's getting chances. He's just not finishing them."
| Monday December 18, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3406 |
Lamar.
Lucky.
Those two words summed up Baltimore's 23-7 win over the mistake-prone Jaguars on Sunday night in Jacksonville. The Ravens clinched a playoff spot with the victory and can clinch the #1 seed with two wins in their last three games as long as one of those wins comes against Miami.
There is still a way the Ravens can finish as the 3 seed if they stumble and finish 12-5 and both Miami and Kansas City finish 12-5. But all of those configurations seem unlikely.
Back to the 23-7 rout.
Lamar pretty much beat Jacksonville by himself last night.
That is, when the Jaguars weren't busy beating themselves.
Yes, there was some luck involved on Sunday night, but as I always say, would you rather the Ravens get a dose of good fortune and win or bad fortune and lose?
Last night they got many a gift thrown their way by the Jaguars, including two missed field goals, a laughable turnover by Trevor Lawrence, a bumbling clock management fiasco at the end of the first half, and some confusing play calling in the second half when they were trailing by double digits throughout the final 30 minutes.
Jacksonville is still Jacksonville until they prove otherwise. They've got the makings of some good things down there, but they're 8-6 for a reason. They (generally) beat the bad teams and lose to the good teams.
The Ravens have something this December they didn't have in December of '21 or '22: Lamar Jackson. With him, they're among the best teams in the entire NFL. Without him, they're fighting for first downs, let alone wins.
All of that makes you wonder why Lamar was in the game with 1:30 left when the result was in the books, still running around and zig-zagging his way through Jacksonville defenders. One wrong step or bad tackle and the Ravens season is over. But now we're just nitpicking for the sake of nitpicking, folks will say. So we'll leave that one alone.
But speaking of season ending injuries...
The only real downer of the evening was a horrific knee injury suffered by speedy running back Keaton Mitchell in the 4th quarter. John Harbaugh said after the game Mitchell won't be back in 2023 and that veteran Melvin Gordon will move up from the practice squad to take on Mitchell's role. Contain your enthusiasm. It's not going to be the same.
And then there's Ronnie Stanley and his ongoing issues with a right knee injury that has bothered him throughout the season. Stanley was shockingly ineffective on Sunday night, eventually leaving the game due to concussion symptoms. Harbaugh said afterwards the left tackle is in the concussion protocol program and his status for next Monday's game in San Francisco is unknown.
When healthy, Stanley is an All-Pro performer. Key words there: when healthy. This season has been a mixed bag, at best, for the former first round pick. He's playing hurt, playing poorly at times and, in general, more of a liability than a help at this point.
The prudent thing to do at this point is sit him out for the rest of the regular season and basically give him a month to heal and get ready for the second weekend of the playoffs.
Back to last night's game. It's called Jackson-ville for a reason. Lamar owned the Jaguars for most of the 60 minutes.
Sure, as I referenced above, the Jaguars were their own worst enemy (a top 10 all-time underrated Springsteen song, by the way: Your Own Worst Enemy) for most of the night, but Lamar carved them up with his feet and his arm throughout the game. If anyone doubted he should be in the MVP conversation, those doubts were firmly erased last night.
The reality is there are a half-dozen "MVP's" in the league. The term "MVP" is stupid. The award should be called "Outstanding Player of the Year".
Without Brock Purdy, San Francisco is 4-10.
Without Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City is 4-10.
Without Dak Prescott, Dallas is 4-10.
Heck, without Josh Allen, the Bills might not even by 4-10.
So trying to call Lamar the "MVP" over any of those guys is just as silly as calling them an "MVP" over Lamar. Without Lamar, the Ravens are cooked just as much as the Chiefs would be lost without Mahomes.
Personally? I think Tyreek Hill is the MVP of the league. Sure, Miami beat the Jets, 30-0 yesterday without him, but that doesn't mean much. Without Hill, Miami would be a 4 or 5 win team.
All of that is simply a way of saying, "MVP is a dumb, technical term."
If you want to talk about who has had the most outstanding season of any NFL player, Lamar most certainly is right there in that discussion with several others.
Last night's national TV performance should have quieted any Lamar doubters that are still lingering. He was the reason the Ravens won, period.
His detractors and Negative-Nancy Ravens fans will say "he has to do it in January" in order for Lamar to get his due, but you actually need to play well in September, October, November and December just to get to the playoffs in January. We tend to overlook the 17 games in the regular season and focus on one or two playoff games. That's just how we are.
And while the Ravens are most certainly more eager to host playoff games than travel for them, it's also fair to point out the "heat" changes in January when you're the #1 seed and hosting at home. You're expected to win, period.
Anything short of Lamar and the Ravens winning two playoff home games and going to the Super Bowl will be deemed a failure.
And rightfully so.
We should know more today about the (signed?) lease agreement between the Orioles and State of Maryland, but one thing worth watching will be the terms and details of the deal.
The ratified agreement is apparently not a 30-year lease, rather a 15-year agreement (which, by the way, is what the Ravens signed, with two options for renewal) with several built-in loopholes for the Orioles to get out of it if they so choose.
A source told me over the weekend the issue ten days ago was the O's trying to force the State to accept a 10-year deal, which is when Bill Ferguson stepped in and said, "Hold on a second, this doesn't make sense for us."
What was once a 30-year agreement is now half that. How it gets "officially announced" today is another story, but it's not a 30-year deal etched in stone. It's a 15-year deal with several "outs" for the Orioles if things don't go the way they want them to go.
So, yes, a lease might be announced today. Hooray for that.
But in typical Orioles fashion, it's never quite what it seems to be.
They're here for the long haul.
Sort of...
That is, until something doesn't go their way in 2032 and we're back to square one again.
Glenn Clark and I are once again involved in a holiday project that culminates next week by dropping off a truck load of men's and women's underwear, socks and other utilities to our friends at Helping Up Mission.
We've been doing this for 15 years now.
And we have a special treat for you tonight, Monday, December 18 at Chick fil-A in Nottingham Square. Michael Pierce of the Ravens is coming out for an autograph and photograph session with any of you who bring us $25 worth of new socks and underwear or simply donate $25 to the cause and Glenn and I will buy the goods on Monday evening after the event.
Either way, you're meeting Michael Pierce and helping the men and women at Helping Up Mission.
So that's tonight, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Chick fil-A in Nottingham Square. Please don't go to the Chick fil-A in the White Marsh Mall or the Chick fil-A on Belair Road. Nottingham Square is "in" White Marsh, and close to the Mall, but it's not in the mall itself. If you go to the Mall looking for Michael Pierce, you won't find him.
Please bring with you on Monday a few packs of men's and/or women's underwear or new socks, gloves, winter hats, etc. All of those items will be distributed to Helping Up Mission next Wednesday by Glenn and I.
I look forward to seeing you tonight.
The first person to come up to me and say, "The Flyers are the worst team in the history of professional sports" gets a free chicken sandwich.
Tiger looked great.
Charlie looked good for a 14-year old who can pound it off the tee but still can't putt.
That was the basic summary of this weekend's hit-and-giggle 36-hole "Parent/Child" tournament in Florida, where Woods and Charlie played a two-day scramble at 19-under par. They shot a "decent" 64 the first day but then ramped it up yesterday with an 11-under round of 61 that included a deft chip-in from the younger Woods after both players missed the green on a par-4 hole.
The chatter over the two days was about Charlie, but the real story was, of course, Tiger.
He hit a lot of quality shots over the two days, playing from the "back tees" and all, and looked razor sharp with his wedges, which is probably the number one thing he took from the weekend.
Sure, Charlie might be good someday. 14-year old scratch golfers in Florida are like juice bars in California. There's one on every street corner. He's only going to get better, obviously.
But those two days were mainly about Tiger. His leg held up well, he hit a lot of great shots and he looked like a guy -- maybe for the first time in two years -- who can string together four solid rounds and compete on the PGA Tour again.
It remains to be seen if Woods can be competitive playing just one tournament per-month, as he has indicated he plans on doing in 2024. I've long said I don't think that's possible, even for the greatest player of this generation. Golf is just too hard to play when you're not in a regular playing routine.
But if anyone can do it, it's Tiger.
The general consensus is he'll make his debut at the Genesis in L.A. in February, then play The Players in March. From there, it's on to Augusta in search of his 16th major title and record-setting 83rd career win (assuming he doesn't win #83 before that).
The Capitals slogged their way through a fairly lousy road trip, scoring just 5 goals in regulation in games at Philadelphia (shootout loss), Nashville (loss) and Carolina (shootout win last night, 2-1).
Darcy Kuemper was the man-of-the-match last night, as the goaltender was superb throughout regulation and then stopped all three Hurricanes shootout attempts. Evgeny Kuznetsov provided Washington's lone tally in the skills competition to give the Caps the win.
Alex Ovechkin?
He's mired in the worst scoring slump of his career, having now failed to score a goal in 13 consecutive games.
The Capitals are 28 games into their '23-24 campaign and the captain has just.....5 goals.
The betting total for him for the season is now 30.5 goals. It feels like the under is the play there, right?
Ovi started the season needing 73 goals to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal scoring record of 894.
He still needs to score 68 more times.
And he's not getting any younger, obviously.
Even if he somehow still gets to 30 this year, he'll need to score 43 more goals to break the record. If you made me bet it right now, I'd still bet he breaks it -- but I don't think I'm wagering a whole lot on it, that's for sure.
Two years ago it was a done deal.
Last year, even, it was a done deal.
5 goals in 28 games......it's no longer a done deal.
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars 8:20 PM EST EverBank Stadium Jacksonville, FL Spread: Ravens (-3.5) |
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If you're a sports fan that thinks record and data matters, you're probably feeling pretty good about tonight's match-up in Jacksonville between the Ravens and Jaguars.
Oh, sure, Baltimore is just 4-4 vs. the Jaguars in John Harbaugh's 16-year NFL career. And, yes, they lost last season in a wild one down there, 28-27.
But those are probably about the only two pieces of data that lean against the Ravens heading into this evening's Sunday Night encounter with Trevor Lawrence and Company.
Something happens to the Ravens when the kick-off is later than 4 pm.
That "something" is good football. Great football, actually.
John Harbaugh's teams are 37-17 lifetime in primetime games. That's a very good record. It becomes an almost "great" record when you remember the majority of primetime games come against upper-echelon teams that the league is looking to showcase against the Ravens.
If NFL seasons were 18 games, a 37-17 record would essentially break out to 12-6 each year. I know the math isn't precise, but you get the analytical picture.
Tonight's game is critical for both teams.
The Jaguars don't have the AFC South locked up just yet, so they're playing for a home game in the post-season. They come in at 8-5 but are a puzzling 3-4 at home. Left on their schedule after tonight are Tampa Bay (away), Carolina (home) and Tennessee (away). Indianapolis beat Pittsburgh yesterday to improve to 8-6, so, yes, this game tonight is huge for the Jags.
The Ravens are cruising to the AFC North title but their sights are set on something much bigger: the #1 seed in the AFC and the promise of two home games if they can get by that pesky second weekend (their first game) of the AFC playoffs.
Baltimore controls their own destiny in that quest, but their schedule is anything but easy for the next two weeks. After tonight, they visit San Francisco on December 25 and then host Miami on December 31 before a creampuff final game with the Steelers in Baltimore.
The Ravens can afford one more loss, it just can't be to Miami on December 31. If the Ravens finish 13-4 but beat Miami, they're the #1 seed.
So tonight isn't super-duper critical for the Ravens, but it would nice to win and maintain that lead over the Dolphins, who don't have a cakewalk in their last four games, particularly if Tyreek Hill remains banged up. They play the feisty Jets today, host Dallas next week, then finish at Baltimore and home against the Bills. Buffalo could enter Week 18 needing a win to make the post-season, so that one -- unlike the final game in Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh -- will be anything but a cakewalk.
The Jaguars are an interesting team in that they don't do anything great, but they do a lot of things "well".
Trevor Lawrence is obviously a competent quarterback. He might not yet be a "franchise quarterback" as they call the elite guys these days, but he's close to it. He has a couple of nice weapons at the wide out spot (Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley) and a very reliable tight end (Evan Engram) that he targets often, similar to the way Lamar likes to use his group of tight ends.
Travis Etienne Jr. is a solid #1 running back, averaging 3.7 yards per-carry this season.
The Jaguars can score points.
In all 8 of their wins, they've reached the 20 point mark. In 4 of their 8 wins, they've scored 30 or more points.
But, as we saw a couple of weeks back against the Bengals, they can give up points in bundles. Their defense started out the season on a nice roll, allowing just 54 points in their first 4 games, but since then they only way they win is by scoring 27 points and trying to hold the other team to 26.
The Ravens should be able to negate Lawrence and the Jacksonville offense tonight. Given what we've seen from Mike Macdonald's group this season, a 30-point output by the Jaguars seems unlikely. Possible? Of course. But I wouldn't think they can hit 30.
The question, of course, is what will the Jacksonville defense have for Lamar and Company?
And what tricks does Doug Pederson have up his sleeve?
If I know this I assume Harbaugh and his staff are aware of it. Pederson is the lover of trick plays at the most opportune times.
Watch out tonight for a fake punt or a fake field goal. Or maybe an out-of-the-ordinary onside kick at just the right time.
Pederson isn't afraid to gamble.
So, what happens?
We're going with history.
These are the games John Harbaugh wins.
Not Harbaugh himself, obviously. But in his tenure, the Ravens typically win these games.
Baltimore leads 7-3 after the first quarter and 14-10 at the half.
Jacksonville takes a 17-14 lead in the third quarter, but a Geno Stone interception return for a TD puts the Ravens back on top, 21-17.
Justin Tucker makes it 24-17 as time expires in the 3rd quarter.
Lawrence directs a lengthy drive in the 4th quarter and a field goal makes it 24-20.
Facing 4th and 1 at the Jacksonville 44 yard line with 3 minutes remaining, the Ravens go for it and Lamar picks up the first down.
A minute later, Tucker hits a 48 yard field goal to make it 27-20. The Jaguars get down to the Baltimore 31 yard line in the waning moments of the game but two throws into the end zone are knocked away by Baltimore defenders and the Ravens improve to 11-3 with a 27-20 win.
Glenn Clark and I are once again involved in a holiday project that culminates next week by dropping off a truck load of men's and women's underwear, socks and other utilities to our friends at Helping Up Mission.
We've been doing this for 15 years now.
And we have a special treat for you this Monday, December 18 at Chick fil-A in Nottingham Square. Michael Pierce of the Ravens is coming out for an autograph and photograph session with any of you who bring us $25 worth of new socks and underwear or simply donate $25 to the cause and Glenn and I will buy the goods on Monday evening after the event.
Either way, you're meeting Michael Pierce and helping the men and women at Helping Up Mission.
This Monday, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Chick fil-A in Nottingham Square. Please don't go to the Chick fil-A in the White Marsh Mall or the Chick fil-A on Belair Road. Nottingham Square is "in" White Marsh, and close to the Mall, but it's not in the mall itself. If you go to the Mall looking for Michael Pierce, you won't find him.
Please bring with you on Monday a few packs of men's and/or women's underwear or new socks, gloves, winter hats, etc. All of those items will be distributed to Helping Up Mission next Wednesday by Glenn and I.
I look forward to seeing you next Monday. First person to come up to me and say, "The Flyers are the worst team in the history of professional sports" gets a free chicken sandwich.
Our cantankerous friend Larry is back with his 4 picks for the week, so take those with the grainest of grains of salt you'd like.
Larry says he's 14-4 picking games. If so, that actually is very good. Follow or fade at your discretion, though. Those kinds of hot streaks generally don't last long.
BEARS (5-8) AT BROWNS (8-5) -- I guess the Bears are holding on to hope that four wins to end the year at 9-8 could somehow snag a NFC playoff spot, but this one today is about Cleveland holding serve and inching closer to their own post-season berth. Joe Flacco gets the start in Cleveland. This is starting to get interesting out there. Imagine if Flacco and the Browns somehow wind up in Baltimore for a playoff game...
BUCCANEERS (6-7) AT PACKERS (6-7) -- Two hot and cold teams do battle in frigid Green Bay, with someone getting to .500 today (barring a tie) and creeping deeper into the playoff picture. Heck, Tampa Bay could still win the NFC South and host a playoff game.
TEXANS (7-6) AT TITANS (5-8) -- Houston's starting to go sideways a little bit now as they show their true colors. And they're going into an almost-must-win game today with ageless Case Keenum at QB after C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion last week. The Titans probably still think 9-8 might get them in (and it might), so they're revved up today for sure. The Texans were probably always a bit of a paper tiger, but today will definitely show us if they have anything under the hood. Larry says: Take the Titans outright in this one vs. Houston.
JETS (5-8) AT DOLPHINS (9-4) -- If Tyreek Hill doesn't play, this one could be interesting. If he's healthy and plays, Miami wins by 20. This is it for the Jets. A loss today and there's no reason for Aaron Rodgers to consider playing the final three games. But a win in Miami means New York could still finish 9-8 and potentially earn a playoff spot. Dolphins need this one. Jets need this one. It should be a good one. Larry says take the Dolphins outright in this one vs. the Jets.
CHIEFS (8-5) AT PATRIOTS (3-10) -- Boy, do the Chiefs ever need a lay-up like this or what? Only thing is.....it might not be a lay-up for K.C. and their scuffling offense. New England probably can't do much damage on offense, but they can defend and try to turn the whole thing into a field position game. I know it "feels" like K.C. wins 34-10, but I'm not so sure about that.
GIANTS (5-8) AT NEW ORLEANS (6-7) -- New York is somehow still alive if they were to finish 9-8, which seems almost impossible given how bad they were two months ago. The Saints aren't very good, but they could still win the NFC South or somehow be a Wild Card team, which is also very hard to comprehend. Two bad teams going at it. Maybe it winds up being a good game after all?
FALCONS (6-7) AT PANTHERS (1-12) -- Everyone in the NFC South gets a pair of gifts this season. They're called "the Panthers". Atlanta simply has to take advantage of this one today if they want to win the division. They finish with games against the Colts (home), Bears (away) and Saints (away). A win today and those three victories at the end of the season will give them the division for sure. Larry says today's the day Carolina shows up. Take the Panthers in an outright win.
COMMANDERS (4-9) AT RAMS (6-7) -- As we saw last week in Baltimore, the Rams are a very dangerous team. The Commanders are a very lousy team. But D.C. does like to hang around and make things interesting, as they did twice this season with the Eagles. Los Angeles needs to win out and finish 10-7 to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. Washington has nothing at all to play for today. This one might be a blowout.
49'ERS (10-3) AT CARDINALS (3-10) -- I know all about any given Sunday and all. But this one is going to be a laugher.
COWBOYS (10-3) AT BILLS (7-6) -- Dallas is hoping for a San Francisco slip-up down the stretch so they can steal that #1 seed. The Bills need to finish at least 10-7 to make the playoffs for sure. 9-8 probably won't do it for them based on the tiebreaker(s). The Cowboys offense seems to be just too good for Buffalo. But the Bills are coming on as of late. This could be the start of a really nice run for them if they beat Dallas. Larry says take the Cowboys outright in a win at Buffalo.
| Saturday December 16, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3404 |
I noticed some back and forth in the Comments section below about "Purple Friday" and the whole community-excitement thing as it relates to the Ravens and their ongoing effort to win the AFC North and snag the #1 seed in the playoffs.
This is not new, meaning the drop-off in anticipation and enthusiasm for a regular season Sunday (evening) game.
It's been this way now for a few years, at least.
Give the Ravens credit. They sense it. They have the pulse on the community better than any franchise this town has ever had.
That's why they're spending a lot of that $600 million the state (i.e., you and I) gave them on stadium enhancements and upgrades over the next three years.
They're constantly searching for new fans. And they know the main way to attract them to is make the stadium experience better than the home-based, man-cave experience. And that's not easy.
It's also worth mentioning that 20-somethings are more prone to going out than the 50-somethings are. So that's why a lot of the things the Ravens do from a game operations and "stadium environment" standpoint are geared towards the 25 year old and not the 55 year old.
It makes total sense, as much as people like me (in the "older" demographic) don't connect with it.
But one of the reasons why the Ravens are constantly re-booting themselves is because things do dry out and run stale over time. "Purple Friday" used to be a big deal in town. It's not any longer.
That doesn't mean the Ravens did anything wrong. It doesn't mean the city has lost total interest in Sunday's game. But it used to be "purple" in every office in town on Friday. The receptionists at medical offices wore purple. Bartenders wore purple. Heck, the school my two children attended used to have "Purple Friday" and they no longer do it, either.
It's funny this was brought up in the Comments section because yesterday, I made a brief stop in a local grocery store and then hopped over to Target (I don't know what you call them -- a "department store", still?) for a minute or two. I saw a purple "Andrews 89" jersey in the grocery store and two black "Tucker 9" jerseys in Target. Leaving the store, someone walked in with a purple "Jackson 8" jersey.
I have no idea how many people were in and out of those two stores and I was only there for a total of about 14 minutes. Maybe I physically saw 100 customers? Four had Ravens stuff on, which, by the way, might have been the same number of people with Ravens stuff on had I walked in those two stores on, say, Wednesday.
And, yes, that's a very, very small sample size. Two stores in Towson at 1:00 pm on a Friday in December.
But we just don't have "purple fever" any longer the way we did back in 2014.
I don't think that's a shock to anyone reading this. And I don't think that means the city is "down" on the Ravens. I just think we do things in stages and there was a stage of about 5 years where Friday meant "getting ready for the Ravens game on Sunday."
Sure, the home crowds have been "off" a little bit over the last two or three seasons, but, again, we're talking about a very small reduction. Where they were once crowds of 71,000 every Sunday we're now seeing crowds of 67,000 or thereabouts.
The Orioles went from drawing crowds of 44,000 to crowds of 22,000 and then went from 22,000 to 14,000. As we all know, weeknight crowds in Baltimore are mostly "family and friends" occasions, even still now, with the team winning and all.
But the baseball team plays 81 home games and the football team plays 8 or 9. There's a huge difference there, obviously.
As for #DMD and our "level of excitement", we offer commentary here when there's something to be said or opined on related to the Ravens.
Just writing a "this is a big game on Sunday" piece for the Thursday or Friday edition of #DMD seems pretty shallow. Of course it's a big game. Aren't they all when you're 10-3 and trying to hold on to first place?
It also bears repeating, as nearly everyone reading this understands, that public commentary in any forum is far more prone to highlighting the negative than the positive. It's human nature, sadly.
Whether it's here on a sports website, a political website, or just a social media platform like Twitter (no, sorry, I'm not calling it "X"), people are generally more enthusiastic about posting something negative or critical than they are posting something uplifting or positive.
It just is what it is. Many of you are guilty of that, as you already know. I don't have to tell you, even though I just sorta-kinda did.
The Ravens are still an incredibly important part of our community. For those 15 years where the Orioles were (mostly) a laughingstock, the Ravens kept our spirits up and intact in Charm City.
Frankly, we, as a community, owe the likes of Art Modell, David Modell, Brian Billick, Dick Cass, Kevin Byrne, Steve Bisciott, Ozzie Newsome, John Harbaugh, Eric DeCosta and all of the staff and players a huge amount of gratitude for giving us something special for five months while the baseball team continually floundered year after year after year.
Just because we don't all wear purple on Friday doesn't mean we've lost any affection for them.
We're blessed to have the Ravens no matter what we wear.
Glenn Clark and I are once again involved in a holiday project that culminates next week by dropping off a truck load of men's and women's underwear, socks and other utilities to our friends at Helping Up Mission.
We've been doing this for 15 years now.
And we have a special treat for you this Monday, December 18 at Chick fil-A in Nottingham Square. Michael Pierce of the Ravens is coming out for an autograph and photograph session with any of you who bring us $25 worth of new socks and underwear or simply donate $25 to the cause and Glenn and I will buy the goods on Monday evening after the event.
Either way, you're meeting Michael Pierce and helping the men and women at Helping Up Mission.
This Monday, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Chick fil-A in Nottingham Square. Please don't go to the Chick fil-A in the White Marsh Mall or the Chick fil-A on Belair Road. Nottingham Square is "in" White Marsh, and close to the Mall, but it's not in the mall itself. If you go to the Mall looking for Michael Pierce, you won't find him.
Please bring with you on Monday a few packs of men's and/or women's underwear or new socks, gloves, winter hats, etc. All of those items will be distributed to Helping Up Mission next Wednesday by Glenn and I.
I look forward to seeing you next Monday. First person to come up to me and say, "The Flyers are the worst team in the history of professional sports" gets a free chicken sandwich.
| Friday December 15, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3403 |
Basketball and football have both long been sports where high school phenoms come along and essentially establish "celebrity status" within their peer group or local athletic conference.
Some, like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the old day, even become household names throughout the country.
It also happens all the time in football, too. Deion Sanders was a huge name in his youth. His flirtation with stardom started at age 13 or so.
Golf isn't quite like that.
Oh, sure, golf nerds like me know who wins the U.S. Junior Amateur each year and you can almost guarantee the winner of that event will go on to be a significant name in golf at some point in his life.
Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Min Woo Lee, Will Zalatoris and, yes, way back when, some kid name Eldrick Woods won it three straight times.
I knew of those "kids" when they were high ranking junior golfers. You most likely didn't know about them until they broke into the professional ranks.
Well, this weekend, if you're up for watching a little mid-December golf, you'll see one of those up-and-coming juniors playing in the Parent/Child event in Florida. His name is Charlie Woods.
Yes, he's who you think he is.
He's Tiger's son.
This is not a normal 14-year high school freshman teeing it up. You probably realize that going in. He's not only an accomplished junior golfer, but he also happens to have the most famous active athlete in the world today.
And that makes him the most "unnormal" kid playing golf in this country.
To be fair, he's not (yet) a great player. He's a very good player for 14 years old, but Florida is filled with rock-stars-in-waiting when it comes to junior golf. But if you watch the tournament this weekend, you'll see bits and pieces of greatness in him already.
And there's little doubt that someday, maybe around 2030, you'll be hearing about Charlie Woods qualifying for the U.S. Open or getting his Korn Ferry Tour card or, like his dad did, turn professional and win on the PGA Tour right away.
Is Charlie Woods going to be Tiger 2? That seems unlikely, just given that Tiger has done things in golf that no one else ever managed to accomplished.
But can Charlie Woods carve out a great professional career, win tournaments, and become much more than "Tiger's kid"? You bet he can.
When you watch him this weekend, consider the challenges he has to deal with at 14 years old that you and I never encountered.
For starters, his 14-year old golf game will be seen by MILLIONS of people over the next two days. If your kid shanks a ball at Mount Pleasant this weekend, no one knows about it. If Charlie Woods hits a "lateral", as I like to call it, it's immediately on Twitter and the whole world laughs at him.
If your son fires a 114 this Sunday at Rocky Point, not one soul finds out about it.
If Charlie shoots 87 in a tournament, it's on Florida Golf Today by the time he puts his clubs in the trunk.
Now, it's also fair to point out -- as I'm sure you're thinking -- that Charlie also has a lot of benefits at 14 years old that you and I never received. The best instruction, private plane, top equipment (before the public sees it), access to the nation's top golf courses, personal trainer and so on.
But I'd argue the challenges might rival the benefits. Charlie Woods isn't "that kid Charlie". He's "Charlie Woods, Tiger's son."
It's far from easy being 14-year old Charlie Woods. Your kid can go to the local coffee shop unbothered. Charlie can't. There are more things like that, but you know what I'm talking about. Tiger grew up as a golfing prodigy. Charlie's growing up as a golfing prodigy with the most well known Dad on the planet.
Golf.com wrote an outstanding piece recently on Charlie, highlighting his successful 2023 high school season and offering an interesting portrayal on what it's like to be Charlie Woods.
If you're interested in reading it, just click right here.
As for the golf this weekend from Florida, bad weather in the south is forcing tournament organizers and the TV networks to scramble a bit.
It looks like the golf will be played early tomorrow (8:00 am or so) and then aired on tape delay later in the afternoon on The Golf Channel. It may be streamed live tomorrow morning, though. I'll be searching for that offering.
As the saying goes: consult your local listings for a broadcast time.
There's apparently a lease agreement in place between the State of Maryland and the Orioles. Late Thursday night, word started to circulate that an agreement has been reached and the whole thing will be signed, sealed and delivered at a special meeting of the Maryland Stadium Authority this Monday.
I think I'll wait until Tuesday to offer an opinion on it all.
There's some old saying about burning me once or burning me twice or something of that nature.
I'll wait until next week, if you don't mind.
You either have to tip your hat to the Dodgers or you want to abandon your love entirely for Major League Baseball.
There's no in between, I don't think.
They recently gave Shohei Ohtani $700 million for 10 years.
My first reaction?
"Well, that's good. Because now they can't afford anyone else for the next 10 years."
Except Ohtani actually signed for $20 million over the next ten years.
And he'll get the other $680 million sometime down the road.
Genius move by the Dodgers.
Awful loophole, if you will, allowed by Major League Baseball and the Players Association.
To make matters worse, arguably the #1 arm on the trade market this winter also went......you guessed it......to the Dodgers yesterday when they acquired Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The worst part of the whole thing from an Orioles standpoint?
Tampa Bay improved their ballclub yesterday. Big time.
The Dodgers might have, as well, but Tampa Bay got some young, talented players who will almost certainly shine for them for the next four or five years.
Los Angeles has to sign Glasnow to a long-term contract extension sometime soon in order for the deal to go through, but that's a slam dunk. Glasnow to the Dodgers doesn't cement L.A.'s spot in the 2024 World Series or anything like that, but it's a big piece of what they are missing out there, particularly with Ohtani not being available to pitch at the start of the '24 campaign due to off-season elbow surgery.
Baseball is very weird.
The Dodgers have the best roster, by far, of any of the 30 teams.
But they're no more of a lock to make it to the World Series than are the Braves, Phillies, Blue Jays, Orioles or Astros.
Ohtani and Glasnow will help. But nothing's guaranteed.
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faith in sports |
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I'm doing something today I wouldn't normally do here on "Faith in Sports" on Friday.
I'm providing an almost 23 minute video below.
Yes, 23 minutes.
Typically, knowing we're all cramped for time and such, I tend to post videos here that are in the 4-8 minute range.
But this one is special.
It's John Harbaugh.
And he talks football for 6 minutes and faith for 16 minutes.
That this was recorded just prior to the start of the season makes it even more interesting. You'll hear Harbaugh talk about what he "hopes" to see in 2023.
We are blessed in Baltimore to have a head football coach who is also deeply embedded in the community and devout in his faith.
I hope you enjoy this video. It's a real treasure.
| Thursday December 14, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3402 |
"And with the 32nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select...Amarius Mims, offensive tackle, Georgia."
Oh wait, that's the April 14 edition of #DMD. This is December 14.
I wanted to jump into the fray a bit today with rules and such, mostly in football. There's been a lot of talk this week about "offsides". Just yesterday, word got out the owners are talking about some other rules for 2024, including some tackling do's and don't's and a revision to the rule that covers fumbling out of the end zone.
On Wednesday, NFL VP of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, said the NFL's officiating program is a "constant work in progress."
That's one way of putting it.
Football has some wonky rules that the officials have to handle in a split-second of action.
The other sports do as well.
Golf's rule for a tee shot hit out of bounds is dumb. You can swing and miss the ball, entirely, and it simply counts as one stroke.
You can hit the ball 330 yards off the tee, a powerful blow by anyone's standards, and if the ball goes one inch out of bounds, you're now hitting your third shot from the tee box.
That one has to be fixed at some point down the road.
The NBA has to figure out what they're going to define as "traveling" and either call it or not. Currently, you're allowed to take two steps in the NBA. I don't watch the league much these days, but last week I stumbled on a Pacers-Celtics game and there must have been six travels not called by the game officials. I can see missing one or two here and there. But there were a half dozen missed in the 25 minutes or so I watched the game.
If you don't care if the guys take 3 steps, change the rule. Of course, the likely counter argument to making it 3 steps is "that will just give guys freedom to take 4 steps".
But a travel in the 1st quarter on a Wednesday night should be called and so should a travel in the 4th quarter on a Friday night.
Back to football, for a second.
College has it right. The receiver needs only to have one foot in bounds in order for the pass to qualify as a "reception".
The NFL's two-foot rule needs to go.
One foot in and it counts as a catch.
The whole pass interference rule has to be tweaked, too. Torrey Smith once had 767 passing yards for the Ravens. If they would have added in the yards Smith picked up due to penalties called against guys defending him, he would have finished with over 1,500 yards in that season.
The "spot foul" thing, at least for pass interference, is too punitive.
Maybe the answer is "half the distance" between the line of scrimmage and the point of the infraction. I realize that requires some quick math that some of those dudes might not be able to handle at the drop of a hat, but if you're on the Browns 40 and you throw a ball down to the 10 yard line and a flag gets thrown for pass interference, the ball would go to the 25 yard line (15 yards...or half of 30) instead of the 10 yard line.
It just seems a little more fair.
Now, I might agree that pass interference in the end zone should mandate the ball be placed at the one or two yard line. That would make sense.
But when you throw a pass from your own 30 down to the other team's 20 and there's pass interference, it just seems goofy to give the ball to the other team on the 20.
Your mileage may vary on that one.
Oh, and while the NFL is fixing things, they should change the dumb rule about defensive players "launching" from another player on a field goal or extra point. You should be allowed to launch or do anything else creative that helps you block a kick. Sign a 7'6" guy for all I care. Or do some sort of gymnastics routine during the kick where you throw the guy in the air and he blocks it while he's airborne.
I think the "no launching" rule is really dumb. Let people figure out new, creative ways to block kicks. I'm here for it.
The whole challenge thing has been dumb from jump street. You're now asking the coaches (and players) to essentially officiate the game. It's beyond goofy.
But it's not going away anytime soon. So make the best of it by tweaking the challenge rule. You get three a game. Period. Use them whenever you like. And you don't need a time out to challenge a play. So keeping a flag in your pocket can essentially supply you with one extra time out down the stretch.
But if you throw it away on a "fake timeout" with a minute left, who knows, you might have needed that challenge with 11 seconds left.
So I say just give each coach 3 challenges at the beginning of the game. They can use them whenever they want. It doesn't matter if they get them right, wrong, etc. They get 3. Use them well, I say.
I've personally never liked the offsides rule in hockey, both when I played for 10 years as a youth and now as a hockey fanatic.
It's just like the idiotic offsides rule in soccer.
All you're doing with those two rules is reducing the amount of action near the goal(s) of both sports.
Notice the key word there: Action.
I didn't say you're reducing the amount of scoring that could take place without offsides, although we all know there would be more scoring for sure.
More importantly, you're reducing action in and around the goal, which is the most exciting part of both hockey and soccer.
I love hockey and like soccer. In both cases, their offsides rule hurts them.
Come up with another way to stop "cherry picking" in both sports without that razor-thin offsides rule. Make it so the rule says you have to skate back to center ice first and "clear the zone" before you can go back in. But if you want to skate to center ice, check back, and then skate down to the goal and cherry pick while your team is defending, go ahead and take that chance.
A friend of mine last summer created a funny rule for baseball in the aftermath of one of those beanball incidents where guys throw at someone and then all heck breaks loose.
"If you hit a batter with a pitch, that pitcher should have to be the first guy up in the next inning," my friend Kevin said.
Now, you've not only put a guy on base, but you now essentially start the next inning with an out. No more "sending messages" or throwing at guys because they pimped a home run.
I'm not saying I'd vote for it. But it's not the dumbest idea I've ever heard.
One baseball rule I'd think about votng for is this one: Once during the game, at any point of the manager's choosing, he can bat any player he wants at that given moment without disruputing his lineup or defensive positions.
In other words, the Angels trail 5-2 in the bottom of the 9th and the bases are loaded. Their manager should be allowed to let Mike Trout come up to the plate and hit at that point.
You're giving him $35 million a year. Why not use him in a situation like that to take advantage of your highest paid (best) player?
I'd probably be in favor of that rule, or some variation of it.
The only basketball rule I'd love to see is a 4-point shot somewhere within a few feet of midcourt. Just a spot on the court, where you have to be positioned when the shot leaves your hand. Make it: 4 points.
Now, when you're down 8 points with 40 seconds left, you're still in the game.
Maybe only "barely".
But you're still two, 40 foot shots from tying it up.
We'll finish up with the other quirky golf rule that people talk about all the time.
Despite having been in a divot or two at the wrong moment in my golfing life, I still don't think you can call a divot "ground under repair" and allow a player to drop his/her ball out of a divot.
I think golf is all about one concept: you hit the ball and you play it where it ends up coming to rest.
So I'm not in favor of moving the ball out of a divot. You hit it there. You play it.
Speaking of divots, I may have shared this story before so, if I have and you've heard it, forgive the repeat mention of it.
An old dear friend, Dr. David Bimestefer, was a longtime member at Baltimore Country Club. He had a gazillion golf contacts in the mid-Atlantic.
One day I mentioned to him I was playing in a significant tournament within the next couple of months at DuPont Country Club in Delaware.
"I know the head pro there very well," Dave said. "I'll organize a day for us to go up there and you can play a practice round."
When we got up there, the pro had reached out to a couple of members who were also playing in the event and organized a "game" for the three of us. Dr. Bimestefer was in his late 60's by then and was no longer competitive, but the other three of us were all of similiar ability.
We agreed on a very small, fun 18-hole game. I think each guy was in for $100 for the day, if you somehow shot a billion and lost every hole.
I was 4-under on the back nine and in position to not only shoot a great score on a tough course, but also win a lot of that money. That was, until my tee shot on a par 4 hole ended up in a divot right in the middle of the fairway.
My two playing competitors were in a cart over in the rough getting ready to play their shot(s).
When we stopped at my ball in the fairway, I naturally started complaining about my ball coming to rest in a divot.
"Turn your back for a second," Dr. Bimestefer said.
"What?" I asked. "Why?" It dawned on me that the good doctor might nudge my ball into a "clean" spot in the fairway, which would have been wildly out of character for him. He was a golf sportsman through and through.
"I'll pee on it," the Doctor explained. "And then you can claim casual water and take a free drop."
He let out a loud laugh and I decided I'd just play my ball out of the divot with no further complaints.
And you? What sports rules do you want to see changed, tweaked, removed or added? Use the comments section and let us know.
| Wednesday December 13, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3401 |
My football-watching friend Neil had something interesting to say yesterday.
"I almost wish it wasn't like this for the Ravens. It never winds up going their way when they're on easy street."
Easy street?
They're 10-3.
Miami is right on their heels at 9-4.
Kansas City, despite some shaky play in the last month, still has one of the best offensive duos in the league in Mahomes and Kelce and they're "only" 8-5 on the year.
I don't know that the Ravens are on "easy street", at least not until the January 7 game vs. Pittsburgh comes and goes and we see where John Harbaugh's team finishes in the standings.
But, yes, if they wind up as the #1 seed, they will at least be siting at the stop light of easy street. They'd need to win just two home games to get to the Super Bowl at that point.
As it stands now, it's likely the AFC playoff participants will be seven of these ten teams.
Baltimore (lock)
Miami (lock)
Kansas City (almost a lock)
Jacksonville (almost a lock)
Cleveland (needs 2 more wins)
Indianapolis (needs 3 more wins)
Denver (needs 3 more wins)
Buffalo (needs 3 more wins)
Houston (needs 3 more wins)
Cincinnati (needs 3 more wins)
It's going to take 10 wins to guarantee a post-season spot. One team might sneak in with 9 wins but a bunch of tiebreakers will come into play in that case.
So, back to "easy street".
If the Ravens snag the #1 seed, they'll face the highest seeded team that escapes from the first weekend of post-season play.
2 plays 7
3 plays 6
4 plays 5
If 2, 3 and 4 win, the Ravens would play the 4 seed in their first game, which is likely going to be either Kansas City or the AFC South winner.
But if anyone higher than the 4 seed wins, the Ravens would play the highest of those seeds.
Of those 5, 6 and 7 possibilities, who among those teams would concern you?
Buffalo? Sure, maybe a little. Their defense is pretty lousy, but on any given Sunday, and with the right scheme, you never know what they might cook up to try to stop Lamar. The Bills can score some points on offense. They're not going to ring up 30 or more on the Ravens, I don't think, but they could put up 24 or so.
Denver seems to be getting hot at the right time, which should be a concern for any team facing them. Two months ago I would laughed if you would have suggested that a January visit from the Broncos would be a game to worry about. I'm not laughing so much right now.
I'm not overly concerned about anyone else, although it's fair to point out that Cleveland would have a unique situation if Joe Flacco winds up coming back to Charm City for a playoff game.
You know how the football gods are...
The Bengals, Colts and Texans would all get chewed up and spit out by the Ravens in the playoffs.
But Buffalo, Denver and Cleveland could make for an interesting challenge that second playoff weekend.
That said, if the Ravens wind up with the first round bye and don't win that first home game to get to the AFC Championship game, they don't deserve any kind of post-season success. How much more on a silver platter do things need to be for them?
Neil's point about easy street potentially not being so easy after all is one a lot of Ravens fans fear. We remember 2006 and 2019, although those teams are structured much differently than the one that will play in January of 2024. And Lamar was still in diapers -- NFL wise -- in 2019, let's not forget.
Personally, I'd like to avoid Flacco in the first round because of the football gods. And I'd like to avoid Josh Allen in the first round because on any given Sunday, he can put some points on the board.
I'm not overly concerned with anyone else.
Of course, I'd prefer the Ravens not face the Chiefs or the Dolphins, but it's pretty much a given you'll have to face one of those two at some point along the way in the playoffs.
But Baltimore has to get to that point, first.
We know this much: "easy street" will eventually include a home game against a good team. We don't know who, obviously, but any of the teams that make the post-season are worthy foes in January, particularly if they're somehow able to figure out a way to slow Lamar and the Baltimore offense.
Oh, and just for kicks and giggles, I utilized ESPN's "Playoff Machine" and punched in my predicted winners of all the remaining games involving AFC playoff contenders.
Here's what my final standings and seedings looked like:
1. Baltimore (13-4)
2. Kansas City (12-5)
3. Jacksonville (11-6)
4. Miami (11-6)
5. Cleveland (11-6)
6. Indianapolis (11-6)
7. Denver (10-7)
That means...
1st round --
Denver (7) at K.C. (2)
Indianapolis (6) at Jacksonville (3)
Cleveland (5) at Miami (4)
Of course, there's almost zero chance that the results pan out the way I punched them in. Which means those seedings and first round match-ups aren't worth the paper they're typed on.
My gut tells me the Bills are somehow gonna make it, but I have the Cowboys beating them in Buffalo next week and that's their "swing" game, I guess, when I punch in the other results.
Somehow Denver gets in and Buffalo doesn't.
That "Playoff Machine" thing sure is fun to play around with.
Something about golf's "ball rollback" has surfaced recently that makes the argument even more interesting and, perhaps, odd at the same time.
If the suggested data is correct, the new golf balls that are made starting in 2028 (for the professionals and "elite" amateurs) will be impacted much more by higher swing speeds.
Normal, recreational golfers, with swing speeds in the high 90's, low 100's, won't have their distance off the tee impacted as much.
The whole golf ball change is clearly aimed at the professional game and is being done mainly to protect some of the legendary courses in our country who host many of the national championships each year.
That seems kind of weird to me, but anyway.
If you're trying to get professional players to stop hitting the golf ball 325 yards (or more) off the tee, here's a very simple solution: Make the professional players tee the ball lower. That would automatically create a lower launch angle and almost certainly take off some degree of yardage.
Smarter people than me -- there are lots of those folks out there -- can figure out the exact tee length, but if you make an accomplished player tee off with a 2 inch tee, their distance will be much less than allowing them to use, say, a 3 inch or 4 inch tee, which is currently the maximum permissible height for a tee.
You could also reduce the driver length by an inch and that would also yield shorter distance off the tee.
I don't understand why those two remedies weren't used on a trial basis.
Then again, for all I know, perhaps they were considered and discounted for some reason.
I understand the need to rein in distance off the tee. These dudes hitting it 350 yards and hitting wedges into 480 yard holes are "de-skilling" the game, if that term makes sense.
But I don't see why it's the ball taking the brunt of the change. There are many other ways to curb distance off the tee.
Today and tomorrow marks our annual "Christmas for Everyone" event at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Parkville.
We initiated this three years ago and have worked diligently over the last couple of months to make sure this year's edition is our best event ever.
We have 60 families signed up over the next two days. Over the last month, parishoners from IHM and St. Thomas More have donated new toys, winter coats, hoodies and gloves/hats for our event. Today and tomorrow, each of those families will come in and "shop" for themselves and their family.
We also offer bags of food and free blood pressure screening for anyone interested.
Last year, I did something else that wound up being enjoyable. Many of you contributed to it. I asked for a nominal donation ($20) and then pooled all of that money together (over $800) and basically met people at the cash register at a local store and paid for their purchase.
I didn't know them. I didn't have a "process" for choosing them. I did my best to split it up by gender, race, age, etc.
And for the most part, I would size up someone's purchase as they were in line and try to find someone with what looked to be roughly $50-$100 of goods.
Then I would walk up and say, "A local church would like to pay for your purchase today. Would you be OK with that?"
Surprisingly, a couple of folks declined my offer. But, if memory serves me, I found eight willing "customers" who allowed us to make their holiday season a little brighter with our offer.
I didn't identify the church or give "credit" to anyone or any entity. I didn't mention Drew's Morning Dish or give my name/identity, either. I basically mentioned "church" just to let them know the monies were "on the up and up" and I do enjoy connecting "church" with "helping others", particularly during the holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
In two or three of the cases, I did ask their name and for whom they were shopping. I wrote a small piece about it here at #DMD, just to let readers here know what happened.
I would love to find a couple of people this year who will allow me to briefly interview them on camera and post those videos here, with their permission, naturally.
If you're interested in helping out this year, I have a #DMD sponsor who will match every reader contributed dollar. I'm again asking for $20.
If you'd like to participate in our "Adopt A Family" program, please send me an e-mail and I'll go through payment directions and so on.
You can reach me at: 18inarow@gmail.com
| Tuesday December 12, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3400 |
Someone once asked Lucas "Luke" Jackson why he decided that 50 eggs was the appropriate total he would try to eat as part of a jailhouse contest.
"I don't know," Luke said in the movie Cool Hand Luke, "50 just sounded like a nice, round number."
You'll notice above that today is our 3,400th consecutive day of publishing here at #DMD.
I don't know why I'm mentioning it, actually. Day 3,400 feels no different than day 2,400, day 3,399 or, I presume, day 4,000, if we're lucky enough to get to that point.
It's just a nice, round number. So I figured it's worth mentioning.
3,400 straight days. Someone asked me a few months ago if I had a new goal in mind after I hit the 3,000 consecutive days mark. I told them I think it would be cool to reach 10 consecutive years. Every day. 10 straight years. If you're wondering, that day would come on August 25, 2024.
God willing, I'll be here for it.
God willing, you will be as well.
Thanks for being here for part of the first 3,400 days.
Maybe we'll throw a little party on August 25, 2024 for anyone who has been here every single day with me. I don't know how many of you there are, but it won't be open bar, that's for sure.
A lot has been made about the reaction of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid following Sunday's loss to the Bills in Kansas City.
One theory being whipped about by Ravens fans looking for any opportunity to pile on was this one: "If that had been Lamar Jackson, everyone in America would have been all over him for being a bad sport."
Well, as best I could tell, everyone in America bashed Mahomes for being a bad sport.
And Andy Reid took a beating, too.
Were they "bad sports"? Sure, maybe.
I remember once when John Harbaugh met up with Mike Tomlin near midfield in Baltimore after a disastrous Ravens loss to the Steelers and Harbaugh's hand barely made contact with Tomlin's before he veered off in the direction of the home locker room.
"Bad sport"? Sure, maybe.
Or perhaps it's as simple as this: We can't give these athletes one minute to themselves before we intrude on their space. Mahomes and Allen met at midfield. That moment between them was intended to be private, but it was anything but private. Cameras and microphones in their face, recording what they said, and, worst of all, making it immediately available everyone with access to the internet.
The reality is what was said between those two at midfield was none of our business.
Athletes are allowed to have a moment or two between them to share some private commentary, after all.
A few years ago against a school/team I won't mention just for privacy sake, I approached an opposing player on the perimeter of the green and congratulated him on an outstanding career and a hard fought 12-hole match. That day marked the end of his high school career as we had eliminated his team from the post-season.
The entire conversation lasted maybe 30 seconds. I told him I thought he was an outstanding competitor and an excellent representative of his school. He thanked me and we shared a handshake. I wished him well in college golf and that was it.
A few minutes later, his father approached me and said in a stern, concerned voice: "What did you say to my son over there behind the green?"
"If your son wants to tell you, he can," I said. "That was between the two of us. It wasn't bad or negative, though, if that's what you're worried about."
"I'd like to know what you said," he countered.
"I'm sure he'll tell you," I said again. "That's up to him."
Not everything that gets said between athletes and/or coaches is meant for public consumption.
The Mahomes/Allen exchange took place 30 seconds after an incredibly tense game. One of the quarterbacks was happy. The other wasn't happy. It's very natural that one of them was going to be agitated.
And, yes, I realize they make millions of dollars for playing a kid's game and blah, blah, blah. I get it. But Mahomes' reaction was more than expected. At least to me.
Now, if you want to criticize him for the whole "that shouldn't have ever been called" hot take he gave to the media after the game, have at it. But, again, you're asking him -- and the coach -- to opine on something they've had very little opportunity to digest and rationalize.
Sure, TV pays the bills. They have to get some sort of preferential treatment for the billions they spend. So they stick a microphone in the coach's face at halftime and ask him things like, "Coach, your defense just gave up 130 yards rushing in the first half, what do you need to do better in the second half to slow them down?"
After the game, when the coach hasn't had time to pee, let alone look at the last three minutes of the game on film, someone in the press conference says, "What happened on that last series? They were able to move the ball right down the field on your defense."
Brian Billick had the best line ever.
"I know this for sure: The guy who invented the post-game press conference where we have to get up and talk 10 minutes after the game never had to do it himself."
And the guy who decided it was OK to put a camera in everyone's face at midfield never had his privacy invaded, obviously.
As for the call itself, it's pretty simple: The dude from Kansas City was offside.
It's not all that difficult to figure out.
While it's a penalty that's only called roughly once a week in the NFL (CBS reported it had been called 11 times all season prior to Sunday's call against the Chiefs), it's still a penalty, no matter if it's the 2nd quarter or 4th quarter.
Some folks were whining on Twitter last night because a Miami player lined up offside and it wasn't called.
There's holding on every play that doesn't get called. Other times, it does get called.
If they would have called blocking-in-the-back on Charlie Kolar on Sunday during the game-winning punt return, Ravens fans would have gone ballistic.
But if it's the Rams returning that punt for the win and the call was made and the TD was called back, Ravens fans would have said, "Simmer down, it was a penalty."
I'm sure the players are frustrated by the lack of consistency from the officials. But just like Lamar misses a wide open receiver occasionally or Marlon Humphrey loses his man on a pass play, the refs aren't perfect.
And while I'm personally a fan of the "let 'em play" club and think the officials take matters into their own hands far, far, too much, there's no way to deflate the argument that the right call was made on Sunday in Kansas City. The wide receiver lined up offside. End of story.
But it's understandable that anyone -- Mahomes, Jackson, Hurts, Prescott, et al -- would be aggravated with a marginal call like that impacting the outcome of the game.
It's a crazy league, the NFL. Cameras, microphones, notebooks, cell phones...they're everywhere. No one has a minute to themselves.
And then when the players and coaches act "human", we're outraged.
Weird times we're in.
Rico asks: "Drew, is the PGA Tour on its last legs? With Rahm now defecting and Wells Fargo leaving as a tour sponsor how long until they're out of business? If Tiger or Rory skips out on them then it's over, right?"
DF says: "They're nowhere near "their last legs". In fact, if they continue to plow along with the proposed "alliance" with LIV Golf, the PGA Tour will actually operate LIV if they are both still going to follow the original game plan that was outlined last June.
But I said from the very beginning (last June) that I don't believe the two sides will ever formally work together. I didn't buy it back then and I don't buy it now.
Why would LIV pour all this money into a product they are essentially going to dump off on the PGA Tour? It doesn't add up.
The Saudi's goal, like always, is to own. Control and own. They don't really care about golf, per se. They just want to own something and Greg Norman convinced me them that a bunch of players would be willing to sell their souls to them for the right price.
Jon Rahm leaving the PGA Tour is essentially no different than D.J., Brooks, Reed or Bryson leaving. In fact, it could be argued it's less impactful than Bryson or Koepka, for example, because Rahm isn't American. He's well known and all, but he's not Jordan Spieth or Justin Thomas.
We've all learned to never say never, of course, but I just can't see any way Tiger or Rory bolts for LIV. Unlike Rahm, Koepka, Bryson, etc., I think "legacy" really matters to Tiger and McIlroy. I think their position in the golf world is important. Rahm, we know, simply took the money when it became too much to pass up.
Tiger and Rory don't need the money. Neither did Rahm. But he had a price. Tiger and Rory don't. At least that's what I think. If Tiger wanted LIV's $900 million, he would have taken it last year."
Dave Markham asks -- "Hi Drew, wondering what you think of the current betting total for Ovi for 2023-2024 goals. It's currently at 32.5. Would you bet over or under? Thanks! Go Hall!"
DF says -- "At this point I think you have to take the "under". They're 25 games into an 82 game season. He has 5 goals. That's not even a 20-goal pace. Can he get hot and have a big month where he scores 12 or 14 goals? Sure. But I don't see that happening.
The offense isn't very good for starters. They don't have a lot of other guys who can help him. Their power play is terrible. And he's not getting any older. He still needs 68 goals. I'm guessing, as of now, he finishes with 28 this season. That will leave him with 45 goals left to catch Gretzky.
I still think he's going to break the record, but he has his work cut out for him thanks to this slow start. He needs to put some pucks in the net soon and start making up for lost time."
T.J. asks -- "Did you read the latest article from Eamon Lynch about Jon Rahm? Do you think he went overboard (if you read it, which I guess you did)? What ever happened to a man providing for his family?"
DF says -- "I did read it, yes. I thought it was spot on, as is almost everything Lynch writes about when it comes to LIV and the players who defect.
Overboard?
You mean, he was too harsh on a guy who last year and this year repeatedly denounced the thought of joining LIV and then had the temerity to say, "LIV has changed and so have I."?
He was too harsh on that guy?
The guy who finally caved in and joined forces with the same Saudi regime who beheaded a Washington Post journalist? The same regime who continually violates human rights in their country?
I'm not sure it's possible to use the written word to be "too harsh" with someone who aids in the Saudi's attempt at sportswashing.
The only thing that has changed is Rahm's price tag. Nothing more. Nothing less. LIV hasn't changed one bit. Rahm's price tag went up and the Saudis met it. And then what changed was his place of employment.
Because Rahm isn't American, 9-11 doesn't hit home for him the way it does for those of us here who lived it. I understand that. But his principle place of employment and the benefits he received came from American wealth and way of life. If he had any pride in that at all, he would realize the destructive nature of the Saudis and tell them he wasn't available for purchase.
Don't look now, but I'm sounding a lot like Eamon Lynch.
Every guy on the TOUR could join LIV and it wouldn't change the way I feel about that enterprise. If LIV were Canadian based/funded or Australian based/funded, I wouldn't harbor any of the animosity I have for the current entity.
All of those charlatans who took the Saudi money should be ashamed.
I've said recently that Jon Rahm leaving doesn't surprise me in the least. He was always a guy I thought you might not be able to fully trust.
And I kind of feel the same way about Tony Finau, despite his announcement yesterday that he's staying on the PGA Tour.
There are lots of reasons why it makes sense for Finau to "stay loyal" through the first 3 months of the TOUR's '23-24 schedule. He continues to build up world ranking points, stays eligible for the majors longer, etc.
If they offered him $75 million to jump, he probably turned that down. If they offer him $150 million to jump, then it's a different story.
And Tony will be the next one to say, "LIV changed. And so did I. I'm just trying to grow the game."
| Monday December 11, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3399 |
In this country of excess, where greed and accumulation of wealth are becoming more and more prevalent by the day, the mere thought of someone having to "earn" their $50 million salary almost seems like an impossibility.
How would it be possible to do that, after all?
$50 million for roughly six months of work. How can that be earned and justified by anyone?
Well, Lamar Jackson earned his $50 million salary yesterday. That's for darn sure.
Let's first tackle the facts so no one gets their undies ruffled. Jackson isn't actually "making" $50 million this season. In the off-season he signed a 5-year, $260 million deal. That's roughly $52,000 million annually, although he doesn't get paid in those exact denominations each year.
We're just using the $50 million figure to prove a point.
It's not easy to justify a salary of that magnitude.
Jackson justified it yesterday in the 37-31 OT victory over the Rams.
Sure, the story of the game was Tylan Wallace returning the punt for a touchdown in overtime. Or the ref missing an obvious block in the back call on the Ravens that would have negated that punt return entirely.
But none of that stuff happens if not for Jackson's heroic performance.
The Ravens offense managed 449 yards of offense yesterday. Jackson was involved in 386 of those yards. He wasn't quite a one-man-show, but it was close.
His performance on the final offensive drive of regulation was, should we say it, Tom Brady-like. He picked apart the L.A. defense -- admittedly, not all that hard to do -- and found Zay Flowers on a perfect pattern for what was a go ahead TD. A moment later, he made a terrific, athletic throw to Flowers for the 2 point conversion.
It wasn't Jackson's career Mona Lisa or anything like that, but Sunday's performance was massive. It kept Baltimore locked in as the #1 seed in the AFC and keeps them pointed in the direction of a New Year's Eve showdown with Miami. There are still trips to Jacksonville and San Francisco on the horizon, of course, but the Miami game is the one everyone has circled on the schedule at this point.
It's not easy to justify a salary of $50 million to do anything, let alone run around a field and throw a ball 25 or 30 times in 60 minutes.
But Jackson did that on Sunday and then some.
Without him, the Ravens are 9-4.
Well, obviously, without him, the Ravens are probably 4-9.
But you know what I mean.
If Jackson gets the bird flu Saturday night and can't play on Sunday, the Ravens lose that game and they're 9-4.
Lamar earned his keep on Sunday in a big, big way.
He should have no problem at all cashing that game check.
It's very much deserved.
Social media blew up in the 4th quarter on Sunday when John Harbaugh threw a challenge flag after a Rams touchdown. Since touchdowns are automatically reviewed and are not part of the "challenge" rules, Harbaugh was throwing the flag for no reason at all.
Or was he?
The Ravens were about to defend L.A.'s important 2-point conversion (which would have made the score 30-23) when Harbaugh threw the flag.
The Rams would go on to miss the conversion.
Harbaugh and the Ravens lost a time out in the process.
So what happened there?
Did Harbaugh commit the brain fart of all brain farts there?
Or did he, as he suggested afterwards in the press conference, throw the flag to create additional time for his defense to get themselves situated for the 2 point conversion?
For what it's worth, I remarked to a friend who was watching the game with me that Harbaugh threw the flag to "get more time" for the conversion.
A simple time out would have been 30 seconds. Maybe a few seconds more, but 30 seconds was the called-for-timeout-length.
The fiasco that ensued after Harbaugh threw the flag took almost two minutes to sort out.
Anyway, when it all happened in real time, I figured Harbaugh did that to gain some time.
Whether he did or not, I have no idea.
Afterwards, in the press conference, that's what he said he was doing.
"It was more about getting the timeout. I thought maybe Demarcus stepped out of bounds. I know the guys upstairs look at that, but really what it was, was just getting organized for the two-point play call. They go fast in those now. They don't give you time, really. We all did, but I really wanted to make sure we had the right call, so that's a way to get a timeout there from 20 yards away."
Looks like Harbaugh outfoxed the officials and the Rams by throwing the challenge flag.
In that case, he was playing chess while everyone else thought he was playing checkers.
Maybe he wasn't, either.
Perhaps it all just worked out in the end and he found an easy escape route from what would have been an embarrassing admission.
I don't know what happened.
If you take Harbaugh at face value, it was a pretty brilliant tactic. Those were, as it turned out, two huge points that L.A. didn't pick up.
If you don't believe him, you're in the company of a lot of others in town who were howling at the moon after the game at how inept Harbaugh is with his "game management".
I have no idea.
Nor do I care, really.
The Ravens won.
The time out didn't mean anything on that last drive, anyway. Lamar cruised down the field and rallied the offense to a go-ahead touchdown before the Rams countered with a drive of their own that resulted in the game-tying field goal.
But in the end, all's well that ends well.
Whether Harbaugh meant to do it or not, the ill-timed challenge flag throw helped his defense negate a huge 2-point conversion.
It was a weird, wacky game that contained a very odd but successful moment authored by John Harbaugh.
And speaking of "weird and wacky", I'm continually amazed at how many fans -- who give off the impression they "know" sports -- expect the Ravens to pitch the equivalent of 17 perfect games.
Yesterday was another prime example.
"Jackson can't throw the deep ball worth squat."
"Harbaugh's a buffoon."
"Shoot Monken to the moon for not using Keaton Mitchell the right way."
"Humphrey's washed, get him off the field."
"Can't believe we let them go right down the field at the end of the game again and tie it."
Have any of you people have actually watched the NFL this season? Or last year. Or in 2021? Or, like, forever?
The games are all entirely unpredictable.
Detroit waltzed into Chicago yesterday and got lathered up by the Bears, who pretty much stink.
Denver couldn't get out of their own way in the first month of the season. They gave up 70 points to the Dolphins. They looked hopeless. Now? The Broncos look like a team you might not want to meet in the playoffs.
Everyone, at least in Baltimore, just expects every single piece of the game to go exactly as planned. We see the entire game through our lens only. It's comical and maddening at the same time.
When Lamar drives the Ravens down the field at the end of the game to put them ahead, he's the GOAT. "That's what a MVP does right there..."
When the Rams go down the field at the end of the game to tie it up, "Macdonald getting schooled by McVay again" and "Humphrey is a bum, get him out of there."
When things go well for the Ravens, it's because "we" did something right.
The other team didn't do something wrong. We did something right.
But when things go sideways for the Ravens, it's also because of "us". We did something wrong.
It's as if the other team isn't allowed to be successul at times, too.
82% of the people who opine on football must not have played a second of sports growing up.
Every week, three teams beat someone they're not supposed to beat.
You're good this month, rotten the next month.
The Chiefs can't beat anyone now. A month ago they were printing Super Bowl tickets in KC.
The Eagles already sent the team chef out to Las Vegas to talk to the host hotel about food needs for Super Bowl week. They've now lost two straight and appear like they're defensively challenged.
Above it all, though, the Ravens fly.
They almost never lose a game they're supposed to win.
In the Harbaugh era, NFC teams simply don't come to Baltimore and beat the Ravens when they have their "A" lineup.
National TV games? Might as well just assume the Ravens are going to win, because they almost always do.
The aforementioned Eagles have been split in two by San Francisco and Dallas the last two weeks on national television.
Imagine if the Ravens got blown out at home by San Francisco on a Sunday night and then came right back the following Sunday night and get bloodied in Cincinnati.
You think people cry about Harbaugh now? When they're winning?
Holy cow......two straight losses on national TV would be the end of the world.
Week in and week out, it's the same old rhetoric. "Lamar stinks" (until he doesn't), "Harbaugh's the worst" (except for the winning), "We can't stop anyone in crunch time" (except when they do, like in OT yesterday).
It's as if people don't watch the rest of the league to see how it all unfolds on a weekly basis.
Three weeks ago, Joe Flacco was playing catch with his 10-year old son in the backyard of their New Jersey home.
Yesterday he authored a key late season win for the Browns over Jacksonville.
I'm not sure what that says about the quality of play in the NFL, but it reminds you that it's one weird and wacky league.
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens 1:00 PM EST M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, MD Spread: Ravens (-7.5) |
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OK, so the good news is this: At least the Travis Scott concert in Baltimore wasn't last night.
In other words, Lamar will be fully healthy and ready to go for today's important clash with the Rams.
The bad news, if any, comes in the form of the anticipated weather the two teams might have to play in during today's contest.
Heavy rain, wind and even thunderstorms are possible for the area throughout the afternoon. Sure, it's an outdoor sport and all, but no one likes playing in the rain, particularly the quarterbacks and receivers, who just happen to be key cogs in the offense of both teams who are taking the field in Charm City this afternoon.
Jackson, fully recovered from his Thursday "illness" that forced him out of practice, has had both good and bad performances in sloppy conditions throughout his career. The Rams, of course, play at least 9 of their 17 games in an indoor/controlled environment, with their home schedule at SoFi and at least game per-season in Arizona.
There's no telling if one team has an advantage today, but a slippery ball for the Ravens is a slippery ball for the Rams.
The better news for the Ravens comes in the form of their record against NFC teams in Baltimore when John Harbaugh is operating with his #1 quarterback at the helm. They've lost once, ever, according to the folks in Ravens P.R.
I believe that came in the 2017 season when Joe Flacco and the Ravens lost at home to the Bears in overtime, 27-24.
There have been other home losses to NFC teams, of course, including the L.A. Rams a couple of years ago. But those came against quarterbacks who weren't #1 on the team's depth chart.
Harbaugh is the master of winning the game before Thanksgiving (look it up) and winning games against NFC teams at home with his #1 quarterback. He's good at the other games, too, but this one, today, looks like a lock before the first kick-off.
But it's not a lock.
Not in the least.
Under "normal" circumstances, this would be a very problematic encounter with a pass-centric Rams team who, if their chakras are lined up right that day, can put a hurtin' on your defensive secondary in a hurry.
They have more quality wide receivers than the Ravens have team doctors on the sideline during the game. L.A. is stacked in the pass-catching department. And their quarterback, Matt Stafford, can get the ball to those guys all day long.
The Rams also feature a guy you might have heard of once or two: defensive lineman Aaron Donald. If he's not the most impactful defensive player in the league, he's in everyone's top 3. Under normal field conditions, he's a beast. In slop, where the game might be won in the trenches, he could even be more of a factor.
If this one gets played on a sunny 55-degree winter day, there's no telling what might happen.
But the weather coming in is likely going to have a distburbing impact on today's game. And the Rams (6-6) need this one worse than Baltimore needs it, frankly. The Ravens are basically "in" the playoffs at this point unless something completely wacky happens. The Rams are a loss or two away from being out of the post-season for the second straight year.
This one is a gambler's nightmare because there's no telling when the bad weather hits, how long it stays, and how much it impacts the flow of the game.
Will the wind diminish the quality of both team's kickers?
Will there be standing water?
Will thunderstorms force a delay in the game and disrupt the tempo and pace?
No one knows.
One thing for certain, though: Lamar is healthy. And when the Ravens have their #1 quarterback and a NFC team comes to town, it's almost always Baltimore who comes out on top.
We're going to make our weekly game prediction here by assuming the worst of the weather conditions is in the mix throughout the game. With great weather -- like we saw in Baltimore yesterday -- I probably would have sadly gone against the Ravens in this one. I feel like they're due for one of those fourth quarter stinkers where they're up 24-19 heading into the fourth quarter, go ahead 27-19, then watch the Ravens score two TD's in the air to win 33-27.
Alas, I don't see it that way today based on the weather.
Lamar and the Baltimore offense will be able to move the ball in the slop better than Los Angeles. The Rams high-powered passing game gets negated by the rain and the wind. The Ravens own a 13-10 halftime. It's 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter. The Rams score a late TD to climb within three, but Baltimore holds on from there to win 20-17 and improve to 10-3 on the season.
When the schedule comes out in April, there's no way of knowing what December 9th games will look like.
You knew back then that Chiefs/Bills today would be a big one.
You kind of expected Cowboys/Eagles tonight to matter a bunch.
But did you think Browns/Jaguars would be crucial? Or Colts/Bengals? Vikings/Raiders?
Each of those three games contain huge playoff implications this afternoon.
There are a couple of dud games, sure. But for the most part, other than the Cardinals and Panthers, every team playing today is still trying to figure out how to get to 9 or 10 wins and make the playoffs. Some have no margin for error in that quest, others have a little wiggle room, and a few teams could tolerate a loss and still be OK.
Here's today's schedule along with Larry's "Follow or Fade" predictions. Larry would like to point out to all of you that he's 12-2 in this endeavor.
BUCCANEERS (5-7) AT FALCONS (6-6) -- Atlanta and Tampa Bay are pretty much the same team with different uniforms. In other words, you never know what kind of game they're going to produce. The Bucs started out great but have fizzled since late September. Atlanta is somehow winning games with Desmond Ridder at quarterback, which is hard to believe. Falcons should win this one today, which means Tampa Bay probably wins in OT.
LIONS (9-3) AT BEARS (4-8) -- The Lions are always involved in those "test" games and this one is no different. If these guys really are no longer the Detroit Lions of old, they'll go into Chicago today and win 33-17 and that will be that. No fuss, no muss. But if they're still the Lions, they'll look this gift horse in the mouth and lose 23-20. The Lions are *this close* to being a legitimate NFC contender. Let's see what happens today. Larry says take the Lions in an outright road win today over Chicago.
COLTS (7-5) AT BENGALS (6-6) -- I don't know what's more surprising. That Gardner Minshew is the quarterback of a 7-5 team in the NFL or that Cincinnati went to Jacksonville on Monday night and beat the Jaguars with Jake Browning as their quarterback. It's a complete toss up. This is a huge game for both teams today. Given their schedule down the stretch (Steelers, Falcons, Raiders, Texans), the Colts could almost lock up a playoff spot today, assuming they'll win at least one of those four if not two of them. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is trying to scratch and claw their way to the 9 win total as well. There's a lot on the line today.
JAGUARS (8-4) AT BROWNS (7-5) -- Something has to give today. Jacksonville is 5-0 away this season and Cleveland is 5-1 at home. The Jaguars are in dire need of a win to keep any hopes alive for the #1 or #2 seed in the AFC. Cleveland has to win two more games at a minimum to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Jaguars are facing the possibility of having to play this game without starting QB Trevor Lawrence. That Browns defense would love to see a back-up QB in there, that's for sure. Cleveland has their own QB dilemma. Do they go back to Joe Flacco or do they give the start to Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Larry says take the Browns outright at home over Jacksonville.
PANTHERS (1-11) AT SAINTS (5-7) -- Everyone in the NFC South gets two, 2-foot putts per season and the Saints get their 2-footer today. Just roll it in and move on to the next hole. New Orleans is still alive in the playoff race. They could actually still win the NFC South. They'll be 6-7 after today, obviously.
TEXANS (7-5) AT JETS (4-8) -- With the bad weather looming on the Eastern seaboard, there's no telling what these two teams might encounter today in New Jersey. Houston really needs this one. The Jets are on life support. Unless something really weird happens, there's no way the Jets can put up enough points to win this one. Houston would have to encounter some serious offensive issues to not leave NJ with a win.
VIKINGS (6-6) AT RAIDERS (5-7) -- Two teams with no-name quarterbacks go at it today and the oddest part of it all is this: The team that wins this game has a real shot at making the post season. How? Who knows? Both teams aren't very good. But the Raiders have hung around since dismissing Josh McDaniels and the Vikings have somehow stayed relevant despite losing Kirk Cousins. This one might actually wind up being quite entertaining.
SEAHAWKS (6-6) AT 49'ERS (9-3) -- This one sets up to be the classic "let down game" so many people talk about in the NFL. The 49'ers come in on the heels of throttling the Eagles in Philly. Seattle is just plodding along at .500 needing a win to stay in the mix of the NFC playoff race. Something has to give today. Does San Fran stub their toe? Or does Seattle start to bow out gracefully? Larry says take Seattle outright in a huge road upset.
BILLS (6-6) AT CHIEFS (8-4) -- Both of these teams have put themselves in the position where this game is HUGE for each of them. Buffalo is legitimately in danger of not making the playoffs. Kansas City could wind up as the #3 seed if things go sideways for them and the Ravens keep on winning. K.C. comes in on the heels of a loss in Green Bay, so it's hard to think they're going to lose two straight. But Buffalo can put points on the board when things are going right for Josh Allen.
BRONCOS (6-6) AT CHARGERS (5-7) -- Another huge game (that's today's NFL theme) between two teams who are clinging to their playoff lives. Someone's season probably gets busted today. And the winner keeps thinking they might just sneak in after all. Denver has dramatically improved since some of their early season disasters. Los Angeles looks terrible, but they're 5-7.
COWBOYS (9-3) AT EAGLES (10-2) -- Dallas is a perfect 6-0 at home thus far in 2023 and they can score points in bunches in their home ballpark. The Eagles have the NFL's best record, but they're coming into this one on the heels of a home drubbing vs. San Fran and they have to be bruised from that one, still. This one tells us a lot about the Cowboys. Are they the NFC's potential Super Bowl representative? We're going to know a lot more about the question tonight. Larry says take the Cowboys outright at home in a double digit win over Philly.
| Saturday December 9, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3397 |
That old saying, "the ink isn't even dry yet" apparently didn't apply to the Orioles and the state of Maryland yesterday when "someone" let it get out that an agreement on the new lease had been agreed upon.
Sure, they used the word "tentative" to describe the deal. But they were apparently convinced enough that a deal had been made that one of the two sides told a P.R. lackey to spread the word.
Not only was there no ink to dry, there wasn't even a ratified agreement.
As it turns out, the lease deal is still not complete.
Will it get done? Most certainly.
Has this been a laughable exercise between the Maryland State Authority, State of Maryland and the baseball franchise? Most certainly.
There's no other way to describe it.
Someone has now come along and decided that giving the Orioles the land surrounding the stadium is actually a problem after all.
Gee, ya think?
"Fundamentally, I believe that the long-term lease for the use of the ballpark should not be conditioned on whether or not a private owner receives a 99-year ground lease to develop land owned by Maryland taxpayers," Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said in a statement. "This is more relevant today, as recent news has heightened uncertainties about the future ownership of the team."
Here we are, at the proverbial 11th hour of the supposed-deadline of December 31, and someone with a brain is finally willing to acknowledge that giving the Orioles rights to develop land around the stadium that Maryland taxpayers "own" is not smart, nor fair.
Why is that just now coming out?
Shouldn't that have been addressed and solved months ago? A year ago? I mean, I'm a dummy from Glen Burnie and I can figure out that part of the deal.
Oh, and you want something else to drive you completely batty over your morning coffee?
John Angelos is telling people there is no plan to sell the team.
On Thursday, David Rubenstein of The Carlyle Group was buying the Orioles.
On Friday, John Angelos said the team actually isn't for sale.
It's more than fair to point out, of course, that there are zero direct or indirect quotes from Rubenstein indicating he's interested in buying the team. His name appeared on Thursday and every news agency in America ran with the story.
If you do connect-the-dots, it certainly adds up. But that doesn't mean in any way that Rubenstein is actually buying the Orioles.
And if you put any stock in anything John Angelos says -- your mileage may vary on that one -- it would appear Rubenstein isn't buying the Orioles because the current ownership group says they're not selling it.
That could also be a collosal smokescreen. Rubenstein could be flying to Baltimore today to sign the papers.
Angelos...fib? Twist a tale? Not be completely forthcoming?
Nah. That never happens.
I wrote this earlier in the week and it bears repeating now.
It stems from the fact that the fans never have a voice in these matters. But here's a quick and easy solution.
Hold off on buying your 2024 Orioles tickets until the lease is done. Keep your money. And when the O's ticket folks call you in mid-January to urge you to send along your payment -- they'll remind you that you don't want to miss a minute of Gunnar and Adley next season -- just tell them you'll send your money in as soon as the lease is signed.
I saw a headline on Wednesday: A's expect lowest attendance ever in 2024.
Gee, really? You mean the baseball fans of Oakland aren't going to rush out to the stadium to support a team that's leaving? That's hard to believe.
And so it should go in Baltimore, too.
Once the Orioles get their act together -- don't giggle, it could happen someday -- you can go ahead and send in your money for season tickets and mini plans.
That seems like a good idea to me.
If you'd rather send them your $300 now, go ahead. But all you're doing is confirming what John Angelos thinks and tells people over dinner at Petit Louis.
"These people in town are stooges. They'll send in their money as soon as we tell them to send in their money. Heck, I'm about to snag all the land around the stadium to develop myself so the Orioles can make even more money that we won't spend on Gunnar Henderson in 4 years when he goes to the Dodgers."
A lot of people around town laughed 15 or so years ago when that radio station in town stood up to the Orioles and said, "Enough's enough..."
Well, it's almost 2024 and enough still isn't enough.
They're still fumbling and bumbling like Earnest Byner on the goal line against the Broncos.
Not much has changed since 1993. Oh, sure, we've had some wins to enjoy. A division title here and there. Almost a trip or two to the World Series, even.
But for 30 years, the city (and the state) have been led around on a leash while the ownership group of the baseball team pretty much does whatever they want to do.
And most of what they've done has been aimed at making themselves more wealthy without regard for their obligation to provide Baltimore with a baseball team they can be proud of and support with dignity.
This week is Exhibit 159 at the Trial of Public Opinion.
Every person involved in this fiasco should be ashamed of themselves.
Guilty as charged.
Fallout and discussion continued on Friday in the wake of Jon Rahm leaving the PGA Tour and signing a mammoth deal with LIV Golf.
No one has yet come up with the exact number Rahm received. U.S. media has the figure at just under $400 million. Spanish media has it closer to $500 million. Other media folks in Europe are saying it's closer to $650 million.
One reason why the money is so secretive is because of the looming December 31st deadline for the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund (the controlling financial arm of LIV) to complete their "working agreement" that was rolled out back on June 6.
That deal still isn't done yet, although both sides met this week in an effort to hash out the final details.
If the initial report of the June 6 "leak" is right, the PGA Tour will effectively take over and run LIV Golf, with the PIF pouring billions of dollars into the TOUR's coffers in an effort to stitch the two sides into one somewhat-nice-neat enterprise.
Rahm might wind up back on the PGA Tour after all. Only as a LIV member instead. If you're confused, don't worry. Everyone else is, too.
And Rahm won't formally announce what he received this week because the Saudis have told him not to do that and, well, Rahm probably knows enough about recent history to know what happens when the Saudis tell you to do something and you fail to comply.
And it's certainly not in LIV's best interest to confirm the amount Rahm received. This is akin to the Deshaun Watson deal with the Browns a couple of years ago.
As soon as Watson's contract was fully guaranteed, every quarterback in the league wanted their deal guaranteed, too.
When "that guy" makes $250 million, your agent rubs his hands together and says, "That's great. Now we're getting $260 million."
If Jon Rahm is worth $500 million to LIV, let's say, what is Rory now worth? $750 million? More? Maybe.
Rumors persisted last year that Tiger turned down upwards of $900 million to join LIV.
No wonder Tiger turned it down. If Rahm's worth $500 million, Tiger's worth $1.5 billion.
So we're not going to find out -- at least not from Rahm or LIV -- how much money he got for selling himself to the folks who helped influence the attacks of September 11, 2001. Or the people who beheaded a Washington Post journalist. I'd go on, but those of you with a morsel of decency don't need me to tell you about the Saudi government. You know the deal.
The pushback on Rahm throughout the day on Friday was connected to his continued public statement about "growing the game" of golf by joining LIV.
If "growing the game" was vital, why didn't Rahm leave in 2022 and be part of the start-up group that defected from the PGA Tour?
He says he's watched LIV from afar over the last two years and has seen them make great strides. "They've changed and so have I," he said on Thursday.
LIV hasn't changed at all.
Their format is the same.
Their competitors are still not awarded world ranking points.
They still have that wonky environment at their tournaments that resembles more of a mid-May fraternity party than an actual golf tournament.
LIV hasn't changed.
All they've done is "stayed around" for three years and paid out massive amounts of money to get people like Talor Gooch, Charlie Howell and Pat Perez to play golf for them.
And now, they've convinced Jon Rahm to take their money, too.
If Rahm really wanted to change the game, he tell Callaway to keep their $10 million a year they give him and donate that to the First Tee so they have funding to help bring golf to the kids they're trying to connect with all over the world. That's "giving back".
I personally don't care that Jon Rahm went to LIV. In my golf world -- mine, not yours, but mine -- he's not a needle mover in the least. He made me some money last April when he won the Masters that I said he was going to win, but other than that, he's pretty much just another great player that I enjoy watching compete.
But he's the same as Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Finau, Jason Day and K.H. Lee. He's just a guy who can shoot 18 under and is enjoyable to watch. Other than last April when I had a vested interest in his performance, I'm not sure I've ever actually "rooted" for Jon Rahm to win a golf tournament.
My only contention with Rahm is the garbage about "growing the game". Golf is a sport built on honesty. You made a "4" there. You write down "4". You hit the wrong ball? You tell your competitors of your mistake and take the appropriate penalty.
Rahm took $400 to $600 million because it's $200 million more than LIV offered him last time around.
As Charley Eckman would have said: "It's a very simple game."
You took the money. And that's your call. Your wife and kids are thrilled with your decision.
But in no way, shape or form is golf "better" or "bigger" because Jon Rahm took money from LIV.
One thing for sure, though. The next guy to come along who is a few strokes better than Rahm is sure thrilled by his decision.
The Saudis have their Deshaun Watson now. His name is Jon Rahm.
If you're in the Towson area tonight and you'd like to get your holiday month off to a great start, the Outreach Office that I run at Immaculate Heart of Mary church is hosting a Live Nativity program at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm right in front of the parish.
It's essentially a small "play", if you will, with IHM students serving in the role of the characters who were present on the night Jesus was born.
We'll have music from the IHM choir as well as free hot chocolate and cookies for all who come out.
The first showing is at 5:30 pm and should run until about 6:00 pm. The second showing is at 6:30 pm and should run until 7:00 pm.
Adults and children are welcome. It's free.
Come out and celebrate the birth of Jesus with us tonight!
IHM is located at 8501 Loch Raven Blvd. There's a 4 pm mass for those of you interested in attending service before the Live Nativity.
| Friday December 8, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3396 |
One piece of news was very surprising on Thursday.
The other...not so much.
A week of rumors connected to Jon Rahm signing with LIV Golf were put to rest, finally, late Thursday afternoon when the 2023 Masters champ took to FOX News to announce he has resigned his membership from the PGA Tour and joined LIV.
The reported price tag for Rahm to shred his integrity was just under $400 million.
In the twist-of-all-twists, it was that very $400 million number that Rahm specifically mentioned in June of 2022 when he pledged to stay put on the PGA Tour.
"Money is great, but when (wife) Kelley and I...when this first thing happened, we started talking about it, and we're like, will our lifestyle change if I got $400 million? No, it will not change one bit," Rahm said at the 2022 U.S. Open. "Truth be told, I could retire right now with what I've made and live a very happy life and not play golf again. So I've never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world. I've always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that."
18 months later, Rahm reportedly received an offer of just under $400 million to make the move.
And he took it.
Are you surprised?
I'm not.
Rahm is a great player. Where he ranks on your personal list of the top golfers in the world is your call, he's certainly in my top 5. He's a bit of a horse's for courses kind of player, but when the layout fits his game, he's extraordinarily tough to beat.
But this move to LIV shows us what we all might have suspected deep down in places we didn't talk about at parties. He wasn't a guy you could trust.
He said one thing.
And then did the other.
"I'm not leaving. The money doesn't matter to me."
"I'm leaving. I'd be lying if I said the money didn't matter. It did."
That summed up Jon Rahm's last 18 months.
And then to stand there yesterday and spew that hilarious rhetoric about "growing the game" (golf's most mysterious buzzwords) and having this deep desire to play "team golf" and blah, blah, blah.
Give it a rest, Rahmbo.
You left because they gave you $400 million.
You didn't leave because they gave you $25 million. Or $50 million. Or $100 million. All three of those sums are beyond what any of us who make up the great unwashed would ever fathom we would earn.
Had you taken $50 million and said, "I'm doing this because I think LIV is the best way for me to help grow the game," I might listen to that.
Instead, it took $400 million for you to sell your soul.
And it's all good, actually.
There are guys who didn't care about their legacy and their reputation and their ability to balance humanity with greed -- and all of them had one thing in common. They said "yes" to LIV.
There are other guys who care about their reputation and their history in the sport and how it would be perceived if they french kissed the Saudi government given their various atrocities and human rights violations. They said "no" to LIV.
Rahm said all the right things at one point, but his true colors were revealed yesterday when he showed up in the black and white motorcycle jacket with the LIV logo on it.
You can't possibly be surprised by his reversal.
I know I'm not.
He always had a sliver of "don't trust me" in his eyes, I thought.
It turns out I was right.
So on the same day it was confirmed Jon Rahm could be bought, we learned of a potentially earth-shattering story involving the sale of the Orioles to Baltimore native David Rubenstein, the co-founder of the wildly successful financial and investment firm, The Carlyle Group.
Some reports are saying the sale might not be completed until February or March. The two sides are now in the beginning stages of hammering out the important stuff; terms, asset acquisitions, financing the purchase, etc.
Just because the Orioles said to Rubenstein, "We want $1 billion for the team" and he replied with, "Done deal. I'll give you $1 billion for it," doesn't mean the sale is complete. Or anywhere near complete.
But the nuts and bolts of it can't be discussed until someone says "I'll buy it," which is apparently what has transpired thus far.
The biggest question, as we all know, is this: Will Rubenstein also acquire MASN with the purchase of the Orioles?
And if he does acquire the regional sports network, what happens to the (still) ongoing legal battle between MASN and the Washington Nationals?
And if Rubenstein's group doesn't purchase MASN in conjunction with the baseball franchise, how and where are the games going to be aired?
On MASN?
On another cable network?
Channel 13?
If it's the Angelos family who retains MASN, all that means is Rubenstein has to involve himself in negotiating with the family every five or ten years, which is a complete recipe for disaster.
Imagine "only" owning the baseball franchise and having to negotiate the MASN deal with John Angelos or his designated representative.
Talk about an exercise in futility.
It seems almost impossible to think, given MASN's on-going legal problems, that Rubenstein will buy both the Orioles and MASN.
I think we all hope it goes that way. That would certainly be a clean(er) way to do it.
But if I'm wagering on this one, I don't think Rubenstein is getting both the team and the TV network. I don't think that's something he'll want to involve himself in from a legal standpoint.
Either way, though, everyone in town is pretty happy with the news that David Rubenstein -- or anyone, honestly -- is willing to write a check to the Angelos family in exchange for the baseball team.
We've been dealing with these people for 30 years now. The highs (not many) and the lows (far too many), the unprofessional (at times) roster compilation and the disengagement with the Baltimore community circa 1995 when the organization was busy trying to collaborate with Washington DC in an effort to make the Birds a "regional" team.
If it's David Rubenstein who buys them, we'll take it. And we're taking it pretty much sight unseen.
Oh, sure, people are town speak favorably of Rubenstein. I know someone who has been a friend of his for 25 years. "Great guy. Loves Baltimore," that person said to me yesterday.
It's here where I'll remind you that you, back in 1993, could have found a number of people within his own community to say the same exact words about Peter Angelos.
"Great guy. Loves Baltimore."
And....yeah....we'll just let that one go now and move on from there.
I have no idea what a new owner would do for the Orioles, but I wonder, for example, if David Rubenstein would pony up $600 million for Shoheil Ohtani? Or a $250 million extension for Gunnar?
We know the Angelos family isn't forking over $600 million or $250 million. That's just not in their ownership DNA.
But it might be in Rubenstein's DNA. I have no idea.
I'm not going to tell you Rubenstein's proposed ownership is a slam-dunk "make the Orioles better" kind of move. I have no idea.
He has a lot of money, though.
And he knows a lot of people who have a lot of money, too.
If resources are the number one factor, Rubenstein's ownership group won't have to worry about that.
But as we all know, owning the team is more than just spending money. You have to treat your employees right. Treat the customers right. "Manage" the business right.
I'm excited about the potential for new baseball ownership in Baltimore.
But until the day of the press conference arrives, I'll proceed very carefully.
It feels like this might be the real deal.
But we need to give it time.
|
faith in sports |
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Dabo Swinney, as most of you know, is the ultra-successful head football coach at Clemson University.
He's also a man deeply rooted in faith, as he has shared on countless occasions throughout his career.
Do you know where Swinney's faith journey really commenced?
If you'll give this 3 minute video a quick watch today, you'll find out. And hopefully, be encouraged as well.
Thanks, as always, to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their continued support of Faith in Sports here at #DMD every Friday.
| Thursday December 7, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3391 |
As you probably heard yesterday, the Orioles turned on the hot stove in Nashville.
No, the Birds aren't moving down there.
But Craig Kimbrel is moving to Baltimore.
The veteran relief pitcher signed with the O's on Wednesday for $13 million for the 2024 campaign. Where he fits in is anyone's guess, but the initial thought is he'll likely serve as the team's closer while Felix Bautista recovers from off-season Tommy John surgery.
There are some baseball analysts who suggest Kimbrel will eventually settle into a role other than closer, with either Tyler Wells, D.L. Hall or some combination of those two closing games at some point in the '24 campaign.
As usual, social media was split on the right hander. Half the people think Mike Elias picked up a gem at a reasonable cost, others think Kimbrel is "washed" and a waste of money.
Me?
I don't mind the signing. I trust Elias and his analytics people.
I'm not sure Kimbrel's a 50 save arm any longer, but I don't think they're bringing him to Baltimore with that expectation. If he registers 25 saves and only blows a handful of chances, that will be more than sufficient. Wells, Hall and potentially another off-season acquisition can fill in the missing pieces.
In case you haven't noticed, this is the way the Orioles go about things these days.
Last year, it was Adam Frazier, Kyle Gibson, James McCann and, later, Shintaro Fujinami who showed up without a lot of fanfare and more questions than answers.
All four of those guys were reasonable contributors to the team that won 101 games. Championship-caliber teams are pieced together like that. The guess here is you'll see more of that this coming season.
The O's won't be signing guys like Ohtani or Bellinger. Instead, they'll ink the Kimbrels of the world and perhaps package some prospects and one or two bonafide major leaguers for a starting pitcher.
There have been persistent rumors that Elias and his staff are interested in bringing Tanner Scott back to Baltimore, which would really make sense if the club has a legitimate interest in giving D.L. Hall a shot at the closer role.
One thing for certain: The O's aren't suddenly going to shift their philosophy and spend a bunch of money on free agents. I mean, the team's ownership group basically told us this past summer they're likely not even going to sign their own guys when the time comes to fork over $300 or more million for them.
What would make anyone think the Orioles are going to give Cody Bellinger $300 million now when the O's are already saying they (likely) won't give Gunnar Henderson $350 million in a few years?
They're going to keep adding veterans at reasonable prices and hope the roster-meshing continues to be successful.
Unless you've been in a cave over the last two years, you have to agree that Elias and the blueprint he's devised are working quite well.
Mike Elias believes Craig Kimbrel is someone who can help the Orioles next season.
If that's the case, I believe it as well.
Those of you who watched the Monday night game this week between the Bengals and Jaguars saw Trevor Lawrence get hurt late in the game with what appeared, at the time, to potentially be a serious injury.
As Lawrence got up from the tackle, Cincinnati's Trey Hendrickson approached the Jacksonville quarterback and put his arm around him to assist him as he tried to walk off the field.
Lawrence walked a step or two and then went to the ground in obvious pain.
Hendrickson immediately took off his helmet, went down on one knee, took two or three seconds to pray, stood up, made a gesture at the sky, and moved back into formation with his teammates.
Nothing unusual about that, right?
Later that night, the NFL posted a message on their "X" platform that read the following: After Trevor Lawrence's injury, Trey Hendrickson got down on a knee and took a moment for Trevor.
Why wouldn't the NFL just write the word "pray", "prayed" or "prayer"??
Why would the NFL be afraid to give everyone the indication that Trey Hendrickson said a quick prayer for Trevor Lawrence?
"...got down on a knee and took a moment for Trevor."
"...got down on a knee and said a quick prayer for Trevor."
What's the difference?
The NFL knows that Hendrickson is a devout Christian. There's nothing to hide there.
He was praying.
What was wrong with acknowledging that on social media?
I just don't get it.
It's sad.
Dale Williams can handle all of the unpacking of last night's 81-75 overtime win for the Maryland Terps. You can see his game review below.
I'm not here to beat up Maryland.
They're 5-4 and sorta-kinda stumbling and bumbling their way through the early portion of the 2023-2024 Big Ten schedule.
I wouldn't say they were lucky to win last night. Penn State isn't very good, honestly, but the Terps are a hair or two better than the Nittany Lions. At least I think they are.
What's concerning about the Maryland team I've seen in the three games I've watched is how out of sorts they look.
And I have to assume that's tied directly into the way Kevin Willard has been forced to compile his roster.
It's not all related to the transfer portal, but I'm guessing a lot of it is. Just the mere thought of players having the freedom to transfer if things don't go well probably isn't helping college coaches in any sport.
There was a time when student-athletes were thrilled to have a scholarship and would have been incredibly nervous about somehow running against the grain of the coach and his or her style.
These days, if things don't go well, players get on their phone after practice, ship out a handful of texts and start their own recruiting tour.
I have no idea what's going on at Maryland. I know they've looked mostly "meh" through 9 games, without much real hope that they're going to vastly improve over the last 20-some games of the season.
Growing pains? Sure.
Will they be playing better basketball in early February than they are in early December? You would think so. I do.
But are the going to be a 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, catching fire after the New Year and winning 13 of their last 16 games? I can't see that happening.
Something is "off" down there. And I'm not sure it's anyone's fault in particular.
Sure, they need better basketball players.
That's not a secret.
But there's more to it than that.
There's just something "off" at College Park.
Earlier this week, three prominent U.S. colleges were asked a direct question about the treatment of Jewish people.
"Is it the position of your university that the suggested genocide of Jewish people doesn't fall under the category of harassment and bullying?" was the question.
Not one of the three college presidents who were questioned was willing to say "Yes, suggesting genocide of Jewish people is harassment and bullying."
All three were given ample opportunity to walk back their initial reluctance. And not one of them would.
Harvard, M.I.T. and the University of Pennsylvania all have Jewish students, faculty members and administrators on their campus.
That those three schools weren't willing to emphatically denounce genocide on Tuesday was reprehensible.
Yes, the mere mention of genocide is, by definition, harassment and/or bullying. It doesn't require action or context.
I am proud to have a significant number of Jewish friends.
The only perfect human being ever created, Jesus, was Jewish, of course.
We should never be comfortable with genocide of any nation or ethnicity. That goes without saying.
But in this case, as the situation in Israel continues to unfold, we in the United States are faced with protecting our friends and colleagues of Jewish descent.
And that should start with a firm and convincing statement: We denounce genocide and harm to the Jewish community. Period.
If we're not able to say that, we are, by default, supporters of the idea that genocide and harm to Jews is acceptable.
And it's simply not acceptable.
It's wrong. On every human level possible.
I stand with my friends in the Jewish community, both here and abroad.
I hope you do as well.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
The Maryland Terrapins withstood another very poor shooting night from the field as well as some really dumb fouls on their part, to hand Penn State their fifth loss in a row last night while running their own home winning streak to 16 straight. It took overtime to finally hold off Penn State, 81-75.
The Terps improved to 5-4 with the win and are now 1-1 in Big Ten play.
Jahmir Young tossed in 28 points, including 14 in the second half and 4 in overtime. He also connected on all of his 12 foul shot attempts. Juju Reese added 24 points and 15 rebounds. On the court, he physically dominated Qudus Wahab, and from the foul line he converted a huge 9 of 11 chances in the second half.
Penn State was led by Kanye Clary’s 25 points and Ace Baldwin’s 16. Maryland made just 5 of 25 threes, and shot just 34.3% overall. Their 39 to 21 advantage in foul shots attempted was a major factor in this win.
Some bad fouls in critical situations robbed the Terps of a chance to put the game away in regulation.
Reese had just given the Terps a three-point lead with 6:08 left and momentum was building for Maryland. That’s when PSU’s Leo O’Boyle was left open for a three, which he buried while being fouled in the act. The 4-point play immediately returned the lead to Penn State. It was a bad play by Jordan Geronimo, but not nearly as impactful as the next too braindead fouls.
With just 4 seconds left in the game and Maryland clinging to a tiny 2-point cushion, Penn State inbounded the ball underneath their own bucket hoping for a chance to pull off the miracle. The pass went to the left side line, perhaps half way between the baseline and mid court on Penn State’s side of the court. Jahari Long decided an attempt at an interception was warranted, but instead, he wound up with what would be a pass interference call in football. That whistle sent Baldwin to the line where his 2 free throws sent the game into overtime.
The last not-so-smart foul came with 1:44 left in overtime and the Terps up by 5. A stop here and the Terps chances looked really good.
With the shot clock winding down, and PSU in possession way out on the right wing, Kaiser’s overly aggressive defense caused some contact and he was called for his 5th foul, ending his night. The Terps got away with the play, but it was not a smart play in that situation.
Speaking of Jamie Kaiser, his second half defense may have propelled Maryland to this win. He did add a massive timely 3, but his 3 steals in a 3-minute span were essential in turning a 4-point deficit into a 2-point lead midway through the second half. It was by far his biggest contribution as a Terp.
It was another ominous start for Maryland. The initial 5 plus minutes saw them turn the ball over 4 times and connect on 2 of 6 shots. Penn State capitalized on a pair of offensive rebounds as well as a couple of runouts to grab a 9-4 lead at the 14:37 mark of the first half.
A put back from Jordan Geronimo, after getting his first shot blocked, opened the scoring after the break. Wholesale Terrapin substitutions saw Noah Bachelor, Jahari Long, and Jamie Kaiser on the court together until Willard called for timeout after the Nittany Lions rolled off 6 straight points.
The game was just over 8 minutes old, and the numbers were very familiar for this group of Terps. They were 3 of 11 from the floor (27%) and 0-4 from the three-point line. Need I do the math on the second one? The scoreboard read 15-7 in favor of Penn State.
Each team then hit their first 3’s of the contest. Zack Hicks drained one from the right corner for Penn State while Young answered for the Terps. A scrappy bucket by Reese on a corralled loose ball was immediately followed by a nifty spinning layup by Young. The PSU lead was now 4, 20-16, with Maryland in possession of the ball. There was 7:35 left in the half.
Three successful Young foul shots brought the Terps to within a trio of points at 22-19. After Jahari Long made a single foul shot, the PSU advantage had dwindled to just 2 points. Clarey final hit a shot from the field, as both teams were in serious field goal droughts. His three made the score 25-20 going into the final TV break of the first half. The Terps had missed their last 5 field goal attempts spanning just shy of 4 minutes.
Kaiser single handedly closed the gap at 25 all with 2 foul shots and a made three. The score was finally tied at 25 all, but Penn State ran off 4 in a row before Long connected on the Terps third triple of the half. Penn State led 29-28 with 43 seconds left.
The half ended with Maryland trailing by just 2 points, 30-28. Notable stats were Maryland’s 28% shooting from the field, and their dominance on the offensive glass, 9-2.
Reese started the 2nd half scoring by hitting a little jumper in the lane while going to left. That was followed by a Geronimo jumper and the Terps finally had a lead. Wahab answered by scoring over Reese. The first 4-minute segment ended with a walking call on Donta Scott, but Maryland held a 37-35 lead.
Scott, again, was struggling mightily. His 4 rebounds were offset by 0-6 shooting with 2 turnovers.Consecutive passing mistakes from Maryland led to 3 points for Penn State and they regained the lead by one, 38-37. It was at 13:58 that the Nittany Lions picked up their 6th team foul. Maryland would be shooting free throws from here on in. That would factor immensely in the eventual outcome.
The Terps had gone 3:35 without a score of any kind and trailed by 4 after Clary hit his 2nd three. The shifty guard had 21 of PSU’s 41 points on an efficient 7 of 10 shooting.
Maryland’s scoring woes reached 5:15 seconds. The Nittany Lions had dropped 9 in a row and built a 44-37 advantage. Let’s credit 6 Terp turnovers during that span with facilitating the PSU surge. There was 11:08 left in the game with Reese at the line.
Reese hit 2 and after a steal by Kaiser, Young was fouled and hit 2 more, cutting the lead to 3. The teams traded buckets, the last a three by Young. The under-8 TV timeout came at 7:39 with Maryland trailing 49-48 and Kaiser on the line shooting 2.
Kaiser, the freshman, had been giving his Terp mates some solid minutes defensively with a trio of steals. His 2 made free throws allowed the Terps to regain the lead, 50-49.
A Reese power drive gave him a conventional 3-point play, but Penn State answered with a 4-point play when Leo O’Boyle made a three while being fouled by Geronimo.
Two Terp foul shots were answered by 2 from PSU’s Baldwin. The score was now 57-56, Penn State. Maryland was staying in the game from the free throw line where they had gone 11 for 12 so far in the second half, and from their dominance on the offensive glass (21-7).
A monster 3 from Kaiser on the right wing put the Terps up by 2 with 3:18 left in the game. It was his second triple of the game to go along with his perfect 4 for 4 from the line.
With each possession now intensified, Maryland went to their #1 option. Young delivered with a bucket followed by 4 good foul shots. The Terps now led by 3 with under a minute left. But Penn State wasn’t finished.
Clary finished off a driving three-point play to tie the game at 69-69. On the critical next Terp trip, they continually dumped it to Reese on the right low post. On his second touch, he found a seam off the dribble and was fouled going to the bucket. He was 8 of 9 from the line at that point. His hot hand ended, but he made one, giving Penn State a chance at the lead with a final shot.
PSU got what they wanted, a short jumper from Clary going to his strong side. He missed. The Terps Deshawn Harris-Smith was immediately fouled with 4.6 seconds left. He went to the line shooting two, but making only the second attempt. The Nittany Lions had hope.
On the throw in, the unthinkable (for Terp fans) happened. Long went for the steal and knocked down Baldwin. The fans were upset with the call, but the refs got it right. It was a bonehead play. Baldwin made both. Looking for the win, Young raced down court for an uncontested 6-foot jumper. He airballed it, badly short-arming the potential game winner. Overtime.
Maryland drew first blood in OT. Kaiser missed a 3 from the left corner but Harris-Smith was fouled after hauling in the offensive rebound. He made 1. A tear drop on the right baseline by Young put the Terps up by 3.
Scott made a driving bucket putting the Terps up 5 before another dumb foul, this time by Kaiser, putting Baldwin back on the line to hit 2 more freebies. Kaiser had fouled out.
Two questionable 3 point tries by Harris-Smith and Young left Maryland with a dry possession. Clary followed that with 2 foul shots and the Terps lead was a single point with under a minute left.
On Maryland’s possession, Harris-Smith found himself with the ball on the left wing with time running out on the shot clock. He went to the hole strong, converting the layup and tacking on a foul shot as well.
PSU tossed up another miss (they shot 0-8 in OT). Young was then hacked after Maryland secured the rebound, and his 2 foul shots provided the final margin 81-75.
Scott had 10 rebounds for Maryland, but this guy is in an epic shooting funk. He did start the game last night, but went over 35 minutes of game time before making a shot. He hit only 1 of 10 shots in regulation and is shooting 5 for 25 in his last three games combined. He hasn’t made a three in his last 3 games and looks very tentative right now.
The Terrapins will play Alcorn State next Tuesday, followed by Nicholls the Tuesday after that. Their next “marquee” game will come on December 22nd when they travel to Los Angeles to take on the UCLA Bruins.
| Wednesday December 6, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3390 |
I called this one.
Now, granted, this wasn't like calling, say, Brian Harman to win last year's British Open. That would have been an "out of nowhere" pick if ever there was one.
But the news released by the NCAA yesterday regarding future payments to college athletes is something I called as far back as 2010 when I was still on the radio.
I'm still not totally in "I told you so" territory yet, though. There's one missing piece, which is definitely looming sometime soon.
To be exact, roughly 13 years ago, I predicted the NCAA would someday create a "Super League" where 24-32 of the biggest schools in the country would break off from their respective conferences and form their own large entity. From there, they'd battle it out for the best players, be able to pay them, and even have "free agency" of sorts over the four or five years the "student-athletes" are actively playing.
Well, we have the money part already in place.
Student-athletes are now getting paid.
We have the "free agency" element, too, in the form of the transfer portal, which allows the athletes to peddle themselves to the highest bidder.
And now, yesterday, the NCAA essentially said the schools should be allowed to pay players themselves in exchange for their Name, Image and Likeness.
Here's a snippet from ESPN's article yesterday:
NCAA president Charlie Baker proposed rule changes Tuesday that would allow Division I schools for the first time to pay their athletes in ways that are not tied to educational resources.
Baker shared the proposed changes in a letter sent to member schools. If Division I schools choose to adopt the rules, they would be allowed to enter into name, image and likeness deals directly with their athletes. The new rules would also create a new subdivision of Division I schools that would be allowed to create its own set of rules for recruiting, transfers, roster size and a wide range of other policies. To be a part of that subdivision, each school would have to put millions of dollars each year into a trust fund for athletes.
Key words in that piece: The new rules would also create a new subdivision of Division I schools that would be allowed to create its own sets of rules...
There's one small catch. Title IX is still in place under the propsed new guidelines, which should make the female student-athletes happy since the proposed $30,000 annual payment has to go to an equal number of female athletes at each school.
But the biggest schools in the country will continue to do what they do now; feign enthusiastic support for women's sports, pay them whatever Title IX mandates they be paid, and move on from there to trying to win football and basketball games.
Oh, and in the fine print of the NCAA's suggested proposal yesterday was this beauty: Schools can decide to provide more money to their student-athletes if they so choose. $30,000 is apparently the suggested retail price, if you will.
In other words, the NCAA is pretty much saying: "Just pay them whatever you want. You've been doing that anyway."
Up next: The Super League.
You know it's coming.
Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Notre Dame, Auburn, LSU -- there's the first group who will "apply" for admission. There are others, of course, who will want to be part of it.
In basketball, legendary programs like Villanova, UConn, Kentucky and Kansas won't be able to compete with the big boys in football, but the NCAA will figure out a way to appease them so they can still be successful in basketball even though they're losing 38-7 in football ten times a year.
The NCAA will follow the same formula as the NFL in terms of TV. The networks will all get a hunk of games and pay a billion dollars for the "right" to show Auburn vs. Alabama, they'll stream the Saturday "Game of the Week", and goofy people will shell out $9.99 to watch Michigan and Ohio State in late November every year.
What happens to everyone else?
Well, there will still be Maryland and South Carolina and Wake Forest and Illinois and Kansas State and TCU. They'll have to go back to being just regular old colleges again, with sports that matter, but their playing rosters will be comprised mainly of "B level" players that couldn't make the squad at Alabama, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M and elsewhere.
You have to give the NCAA credit.
They might be 10 or 15 years too late on this, but they finally caved in and have decided to just get it over with and pay the players.
"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."
Student-athletes and big time coaches haven't been interested in playing by the rules for decades now.
40 years ago, when the NCAA first started sniffing around people like Jim Valvano, Jerry Tarkanian and Rollie Massimino, it was considered "shocking" to find out that a school gave a football player a first-class airline ticket for his Aunt Jenny to fly out to College Station to watch him play.
Then along came guys like Pitino, Calhourn and Calipari and they became a bit more brazen about it, but still acted totally surprised when one of their star players was seen cruising around town in a brand new Escalade.
Now......
It's no longer a secret.
Everyone's doing whatever they want. They have been for years, in fact.
And the NCAA finally said, "OK, we give up."
Have no fear, though. The NCAA isn't going broke or anything like that. Their upper level execs will still have big houses and huge swimming pools. Don't worry about them.
Along the way, I assume schools that still care about educating student-athletes -- you know, like Penn, Dartmouth, Princeton, Brown, Harvard, etc. -- will continue to have athletics and, in doing so, will aspire to weave sports and education together in the same way they have been doing since their inception(s).
They won't have the best players. They won't get the big bucks from NBC, CBS, ESPN and the others.
But if you're still around in 10 or 15 years and you're looking for a respite from the money-grubbing schools in the Super League, the "B Level" will be your place to turn.
The ongoing story about transgender athletes competing in both collegiate and amateur sports continues to percolate this week with a forum in Washington DC involving both political and sports figures in our country debating the topic.
I don't think the "topic" itself is a waste of time.
But I think trying to solve it is most certainly a collosal failure-waiting-to-happen.
If you believe a naturally-born male should be allowed to compete against females, I can't imagine there's much that's going to change your mind.
And if you, like me, believe naturally born males shouldn't be allowed to compete against females, I can't imagine there's much that will change your mind. Speaking for me, which is easy to do, I can assure you there's nothing you can say to me that will think it's OK for a naturally-born male to compete against females.
But I think there's a possible solution.
Why can't there be men's sports, women's sports and transgender sports?
Isn't that feasible?
If you're a male soccer player, I can only assume you're more than comfortable competing against other men.
If you're a female soccer player, I assume you're more than comfortable competing against other females.
And if you're a transgender athlete, wouldn't you be more than comfortable competing against other transgender athletes?
I mean, maybe that only makes sense to me. And if so, that's OK too.
But I don't see the harm in creating a "transgender division".
I can't imagine a male athlete or female athlete would be offended in any way with a "transgender division". I know, as a country, we've become ultra-sensitive to the feelings of the transgender community, but at the same time don't our male and female athletes deserve the same sensitivity?
Creating a "transgender" division for sports seems like a more-than-sensible option and allows for male and female athletes to fairly compete against one another within their own gender.
There was a report last spring where an athlete at a school (I honestly don't remember where) who considered themselves non-binary wanted the right to swim for their school as both a male and female. But what's odd is if they don't consider themselves a male or female, why swim as one of those genders?
Wouldn't that athlete be more comfortable simply swimming against other non-binary or transgender athletes?
They would avoid the conflict of swimming "against" a gender, per se.
And it would certainly make the playing field level for the males and females swimming in their traditional gender roles.
I don't know if there's a right answer, but I think we're at the point now where smart people need to figure this out so we're not spoiling amateur sports for men, women and those in the transgender community.
Sports is always about "fair". I show up on the first tee with my clubs. You show up with your clubs. You play by the rules, I play by the rules. Lowest score wins. See you on 18 green for the handshake.
We both show up with our team. There are 40 minutes on the clock. The ref throws the ball up to start the game and we shoot at a basket. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
If you asked the UConn women's basketball team to play a game against the UConn men's basketball team and that game counted in the standings for both teams, the women's team would most certainly object to that based on one thing: "It's not fair."
Sports is about "fair". I can accept losing if I lose fair and square. That's not to say I "like" losing. I don't like it at all.
But I'll accept losing if the competition was fair.
What's not fair, in my opinion, is to have a naturally-born male decide at age 19 that he is going to identify as a female and suddenly compete against naturally-born females. If you think that's fair to the females, we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that one.
What would be more than fair, though, would be to have that transgender athlete compete against other transgender athletes.
I assume that's where we're headed at some point. It makes the most sense.
Let's make it happen. And let's get back to making amateur sports fair for everyone involved.
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
The Penn State Nittany Lions roll into College Park for a 7pm game tonight.
First year head coach, Mike Rhoades, and his team of new faces are on a roll, and it’s not a good one. After beating up on the Morehead States of the NCAA hoop world, the Nittany Lions have lost 4 straight to Texas A&M, Butler, VCU, and Bucknell.
Penn State lost 95% of their scoring from last year. The roller coaster transfer landscape in college basketball has allowed Rhoades to replace that scoring with many new faces.
Some of those faces came from his former school, VCU. Leaving VCU after 6 years, he brought Ace Baldwin and Nick Kern with him. Penn State also has roster spots occupied by 2 former UNC players, and one each from Miami, Temple, and Georgetown. The Georgetown transfer should be familiar to Terrapin fans. It’s the former Terp, Qudus Wahab.
Wahab did a year at Maryland sandwiched between two stints at Georgetown. He’s seeing significant minutes (25) at Penn State and leads them in rebounds with 9.4 per game. He looks to have added a few pounds to his slim frame and has played with decent intensity in the two games I reviewed. He has led his team in scoring twice, getting 11 points per game on almost 70% shooting.
Juju Reese needs to play much better defense tonight than he did at Indiana. Letting Wahab get off will spell doom for Maryland’s chances to get a conference win.
It's the guard tandem of Kanye Clary and Ace Baldwin that gets the bulk of the PSU points.
Baldwin, the Baltimore product (St Francis Academy), is a VCU transfer who was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year as well as Defensive Player of the Year last season. He’s a strong, aggressive defender who I would suspect gets assigned to Maryland’s Jamir Young (maybe – see below). His 14.4 points per game is second on the team, but his 2.4 steals are first on the Nittany Lions. He’s tough.
The main Penn State offensive threat is Clary. He’s getting just over 15 a game, and has been the team’s high scorer in 5 of their 8 contests this season. That includes a 28-point burst in a loss to VCU. One of the few players in the main rotation to return to Penn State, the sophomore has seen his minutes rise to 27 from just over 10 last year. He’s shifty and strong while getting to the rim. Contain him, and Penn State will struggle to get the points needed to contend.
Zack Hicks (Temple transfer) and Puff Johnson (UNC) are both 6’8” forwards. Hicks has taken the most 3’s on the team, while Johnson does more work closer to the bucket. Both shoot about 31% from the three-point line, and warrant some attention when stepping outside. Each one lacks bulk, pushing about 205. Watchout for Puff, he uses his length to get scoring opportunities.
The sixth Penn State player to average at least 20 minutes a game is Nick Kern. Also a VCU transfer, Kern is listed at 6’6” and prefers the inside and slash game. In his career, the junior has only attempted 21 threes while connecting just twice.
Connecting at just 29%, Penn State won’t throw up a bunch of threes, instead electing for post ups to Wahab and allowing Clary, Balwin, and even Hicks to slash or create off of the dribble. They’ll also push the ball downcourt and straight to the bucket.
Like many Nittany Lion teams in the past, this is a scrappy bunch of athletes who like to pressure the ball. They thrive offensively by getting inside, and don’t shoot well as a team from the three-point line.
They have good athletes who have defensively smothered the weaker teams, but have given up a ton of points in their losses. Are the Terps a weaker team that gets smothered, or are they a team that can score on the Nittany Lions?
Perhaps even a bigger question is what lineup sees the floor to open the game tonight? Does Donta Scott sit? If so, who takes his place? Will it be Jahari Long? Or perhaps Willard goes with Jamie Kaiser. My guess is that Long gets the start, but that may be necessitated by the ankle injury to Jamir Young.
Young is questionable for tonight’s game and has missed several practices this week. He’ll be a gametime decision. If you follow Terp hoops at all, there’s no need for me to tell you his value to this team. If he’s out, the Terps will have to find other ways to get this win. Long and DeShawn Harris-Smith will have to run the point in Young’s absence, and that won’t be pretty.
Talent-wise, assuming a healthy Young, the Terps are on par with Penn State. The home court and the “red-out” should help the team maintain some energy. Reese plays better at home, and I expect him to outshine Wahab, especially after getting abused last week by Indiana’s Kel’el Ware.
If Maryland continues its horrendous long-range shooting (22%, 349th out of 351 D1 teams) they can’t win this game. Somebody needs to show the form that was expected before the season began.
Defensively, I watched Bucknell frustrate PSU with a 1-2-2, or 3-2 zone defense. I expect the Terps to employ some of that strategy to force the Nittany Lions to more of an outside game.
As for a prediction, there are too many variables for me to even try to post a likely score. Will Young play, and if so, how limited will his injury render him? Does Willard bench Scott? Who gets the nod if Scott gets benched? Does Reese step up tonight or does Wahab look at this game as a statement game against the guy that claimed his spot? Will the Terps try the zone or will the Terps try to contain the Nittany Lion guards with straight up man to man?
I’ll go with this, if Young is healthy then his Terps can win this game. Can they cover the 6.5 points by which they are favored? I’m not so sure about that.
At some point, Maryland has to break out of this all time low for shooting triples. Could it be tonight? Who knows? I’ll go two ways with this. One, if Young is 100%, the Terps win a close game. If he’s out, Penn State will win by 10 unless Maryland hits at least 8 threes.
All of the questions will be answered at 7 p.m. on BTN.
| Tuesday December 5, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3389 |
You'll recognize the 3-word headline from a great scene in the hilarious movie Caddyshack, where Ted Knight's character is pushing Ty Webb (Chevy Chase) to place a bet on a big golf match.
"Well...we're waiting," the Judge says in the movie.
And so it goes here in Bawlmer, where we're all still waiting for the O's and the state of Maryland to complete the stadium lease they told everyone they completed back on September 28.
The Baltimore Banner ran a piece on Monday telling us what we already (mostly) knew. There is no formal lease agreement in place, the O's are still bickering over money and other benefits they're chasing, and the deadline of December 31 is rapidly approaching.
Someone I've known for a long time in the Orioles organization says it's been business as usual in the Warehouse and they went as far as to predict a one-year "rollover" extension to give the two sides at least 12 more months to finalize the long term deal.
Another source familiar with the O's organization says he wouldn't be surprised if the team is trying to see what happens with the Ravens in the playoffs, potentially waiting until the day before a significant post-season home game to leak the news about the lease finally being signed.
"There's petty and then there's John Angelos," the source said.
Personally, I'll take the first remedy over the second one. I'd be far more inclined to believe the two sides are simply going to carry the current lease over one more season and continue to fine tune the language throughout 2024 before finally announcing something during the baseball season.
I realize the Angelos family has done some goofy stuff over the last 30 years, but I just don't see holding off on making an announcement about the lease in an effort to squelch community enthusiasm for the Ravens and a home playoff game. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think they're that awful.
What we do know, though, is this: On September 28, the message above was flashed on the screen at Camden Yards. The entire stadium erupted. Governor Moore was a hero. John Angelos was a hero. All was ending well.
That was then.
This is now.
And as of December 5, there's no lease.
Both parties distributed some vague commentary a couple of days later, re-wording the message to say the state and the Orioles had agreed on a "memorandum of understanding" but that the actual, formal lease hadn't yet been ratified.
Someone screwed up.
Was it Governor Moore and his office who jumped the gun?
Or was it the Orioles who blabbed about a lease being signed when that wasn't the case?
Or did both parties think an agreement had been reached, only for the Orioles to move the goalposts a day or two later, necessitating the reissued "memorandum of understanding" in an effort to save face?
The latter seems like the most realistic situation.
But no matter what happened in late September, someone, somewhere, owes the community a full and better explanation.
We're 26 days from the deadline. People are starting to get nervous, and rightfully so.
And more than anything else, the Baltimore sports community doesn't deserve this sort of treatment.
I know we're never surprised at the shenanigans the Orioles pull.
They once took my media credential from me because, they said, I created a "crusade" to have the word Baltimore on the road jerseys and turned some members of the Baltimore sports community against them while doing so.
Laughable, I know. But Orioles gonna Orioles.
This stuff has been going on for the better of three decades now. Most of their downfall they created themselves. But this lease situation is a total farce. The state is giving them $600 million and the Orioles are saying, "Yeah, I don't know. Let us get back to you on that."
And now we read in The Baltimore Banner that there's a chance a new lease won't be in place by December 31 after all.
Let's go back to September 28 in that case.
Someone needs to speak up. And spill the beans.
I know they've already commented on it once, but that story was a joke and everyone knows it.
What really happened?
There was a lease agreed upon. Both parties knew it was getting announced at the game. You know, given the delicate nature of the story, that both the state and the Orioles had to proof read and sign off on the scoreboard message that was posted that night.
And if anyone would have had full authority that night, it would be have been the team, obviously. Their game operations folks run the scoreboard. They typed the message into the scoreboard computer and hit "post".
So who isn't telling the truth?
And why?
If nothing else, Baltimore deserves to know the answer to those two questions.
Who isn't telling the truth about September 28?
And why?
Speaking of crusades, if we were well organized as a community, we'd somehow band together and say, "We're not purchasing ONE season ticket or mini-plan until the lease is signed."
That's the message the baseball fans of Baltimore should send to the Orioles.
I know it seems far-fetched to think the Orioles will care what the fans think about their dilly-dallying act. I mean, if they don't care about $600 million, why care about season tickets and mini-plans?
It's always been in their nature to not really care all that much about the fan base.
But if the Governor and the state of Maryland aren't willing to put their foot down, maybe the ticket buying community should.
No lease. No tickets sold.
We're waiting...
As discussion and opinions roar on regarding golf's "ball rollback", one thing is very clear: A lot of people yapping about the decision don't really know how it's going to impact them on the course. They're just mad for the sake of being mad.
I thought this through over the weekend when I was playing a round at Eagle's Nest. I enjoyed a solid day hitting the ball and finished at 71.
I only made 3 birdies. My two bogeys came at the 1st and 2nd holes. So let's discount those two and look at just a handful of other holes I've picked out to showcase why the ball rollback isn't going to be the game-killer a lot of people think it will be.
On the third hole, a 350 yard par 4, I hit a good (not great) driver into the fairway and a 70% pitching wedge from 105 yards out to within a few inches of the hole.
With the rollback, I might have had 110 yards in. It's still a pitching wedge from that distance. But I'm hitting it at 90 or 95% instead of 70%. No real difference there.
At #5, the number one handicap hole, I again hit a "good" drive on the 400 yard hole and had 135 yards to the pin. I hit a 9-iron, nearly full, to about 20 feet. With the rollback ball, I might have had 145 yards in. Now it's an 8-iron.
Again, I just don't see how that's going to present that much of a problem with the new ball.
On the two par 5's on the front, I had a lob wedge in for my 3rd at both. At #7 I was left with 70 yards and at #9 I had 65 yards in after my second shot.
With the rollback ball, I'd have 75 or so yards in at #7 and maybe 60 yards in at #9. Not a big deal in either case.
I understand the importance of length and how it relates to scoring. I get it.
But on par 5's you can't reach in two, what's the difference? At #12 and #15 on Saturday, I had a sand wedge in on both holes. With the ball rollback, assuming I hit two good shots in the first place, I'd still have a sand wedge in for my third on those two holes.
Length matters. A 350 yard hole is almost certainly easier to par than a 450 yard par four.
But I can take you to a short golf course like Rolling Road or Green Spring and you'll have just as much difficulty scoring there as you would at Woodholme or BCC's East Course.
Sure, when you have seven wedges into holes at a place like Rolling Road (#1, #5, #8, #9, #10, #11, and #12), you expect to light that place up. But you forget you have to hit it close and make the putt(s).
I played a lot of golf at Clifton Park in the late 1990's. For three or four years, I played there every Saturday and Sunday. There were a dozen or so low handicap players there on the weekend, there were some good, competitive money games, and I found the course to be very beneficial to me from a scoring standpoint.
I don't remember the exact number, but I went something like 15 or so consecutive rounds under par there. I mentioned that to a friend of mine who scoffed and said, "Anyone can do that at Clifton Park."
The next weekend, he came out and shot 75.
A couple of weeks later he played with our group again and shot 74.
He blamed the kids riding their motorcycles through the course, the occasional police siren wailing in the streets around us, golf balls bouncing into us from other nearby holes and "slow greens" for his mediocre play.
"It's not as easy as you think, even though it's 6100 yards," I said.
So they can go ahead with the golf ball rollback. Will it change some things for all of us? Sure, maybe a little bit? Enough to disrupt our game and our scoring? I don't know about that. Maybe a shot or two per-round. But it's not going to take a guy who shoots 75 regularly and suddenly turn him into a guy who doesn't break 80 very often.
If you can't break 100 yet, now, the rollback isn't going to permanently keep you from getting your score into the 90's.
Don't let the naysayers fool you. It's going to make a bit of a difference for the guys who make a living playing golf. The rest of us won't see much of a change at all.
And even if we have to hit 6-iron into that hole where we used to hit 7-iron or maybe even 8-iron, who cares? Just get better at hitting the 6-iron and you won't notice a change to your scorecard.
| Monday December 4, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3388 |
It shouldn't take more than a couple of more weeks for the Ravens to wrap up another AFC North title.
They're separating themselves from the rest of the pack and they didn't even have to play this weekend.
Pittsburgh lost at home to Arizona yesterday.
Cleveland lost in Los Angeles yesterday.
And the Bengals will lose in Jacksonville tonight.
When the dust settles later this evening, the North will look like this:
1. Ravens - 9-3
2. Browns - 7-5
3. Steelers - 7-5
4. Bengals - 5-7
And all three of the rivals in the division don't have a real quarterback playing for them.
Cleveland has the ageless Joe Flacco at the helm now, which might be OK if he had any receivers to help him. The Browns do have the benefit of a couple of cupcake games remaining on their schedule, but they have their work cut out for them to get to 10 wins.
The Steelers are done with or without Kenny Pickett.
And the Bengals are finished, obviously, with Joe Burrow sidelined for the rest of the season.
In case you care and like doing this sort of thing, here's what's left for the three AFC North rivals.
Cleveland -- vs. Jacksonville, vs. Chicago, at Houston, vs. NY Jets, at Cincinnati
Pittsburgh -- vs. New England, at Indianapolis, vs. Cincinnati, at Seattle, at Baltimore
Cincinnati -- vs. Indianapolis, vs. Minnesota, at Pittsburgh, at Kansas City, vs. Cleveland
Flacco and the Browns have the best chance of getting to 10 wins. They have home "gimmes" against the Bears and Jets. That gets them to 9 wins. They need to win one more game from Jacksonville (at home) or at Houston or at Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh just lost at home to Arizona. How can they be trusted to beat anyone? Sure, they're probably going to beat New England next Sunday and they might beat Cincinnati in three weeks but that will probably be their last hope for a victory in 2023.
Cincinnati can only win 10 games if pigs learn to fly.
Sure, 9 wins might squeeze someone into the post-season. Denver, the Chargers, Indianapolis and Buffalo also have chances to win 9 or 10 games, too.
But 10 wins figures to be a slam dunk post-season spot.
The Ravens will cruise to at least 11 wins, if not 12 or maybe even 13.
The three AFC games remaining on Baltimore's schedule (at Jacksonville and home vs. Miami and Pittsburgh) are likely going to determine if the Ravens first 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the AFC.
Barring an injury to Lamar, the division title is pretty much a wrap at this point.
That said, it's critical for the Ravens to put their foot on the gas in an effort to garner that all-important #1 seed in the AFC.
We know from past history that the #1 seed doesn't yield a guaranteed trip to the Super Bowl, but it's certainly the most favorable spot in the playoff picture. You get an extra week's rest, for starters, and you only need to win two games to earn a trip to Las Vegas on February 11.
This Sunday's visit from the Rams will be particularly interesting given L.A.'s ability to throw the ball. A loss to a NFC team is far less crippling than a loss to an AFC squad, but make no mistake about it, the Ravens don't have any interest in losing to the Rams this Sunday.
The good news for Baltimore? In the John Harbaugh era, a Ravens team using their #1 quarterback has rarely lost to a NFC visitor in Baltimore.
I'm the first guy to admit I'm about a "5.5" when it comes to following college football. I've chronicled the reasons why I've lost my enthusiasm for college sports over the last decade. There's no use in going into it again here, today.
So because I'm a 5.5 on a scale of 1-to-10, I can honestly say "I don't have a dog in the hunt" when it comes to discussing and analyzing yesterday's announcement of Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama earning the four sports for the college football playoff.
None of those schools ring my bell in any way.
Other than Michigan, you can poke a hole in any of the other three in an effort to award either Georgia or Florida State a spot in the playoff.
If Alabama doesn't connect on that fluke-hail-mary against Auburn on 4th and 31, they're out.
Washington didn't lose a game all year, true be that, but go through their schedule and tell me how many powerhouse schools they beat along the way. I know they can score points. But they beat Oregon twice and 21st ranked Oregon State by two points.
And the same goes for Texas, who beat Alabama but lost to Oklahoma. Here's one thing I'm fairly certain we all agree on: Texas is in because Alabama got in. If Alabama didn't beat Georgia, it would have been Michigan, Washington, Florida State and Georgia.
When Alabama beat Georgia and the committee wanted Nick Saban's team in the playoff, they also knew they had to give Texas one of the four spots since they were the only team to beat Alabama.
Of the two programs who got the shaft, the one you feel the worst for is Florida State.
Georgia had the playoff spot on their racket and lost to Alabama. And they lost at home, sorta-kinda. If Georgia wins that game, they're in. And for those saying, "It's not fair to lose a game at the end of the season and have it impact you differently than an early-season loss" (like Alabama and Texas suffered), I counter by reminding you it works the same way in the NFL. You could go 16-1 in the regular season and play a 9-8 team in the playoffs and if you lose, you go home.
Georgia effectively played a playoff game on Saturday in Atlanta and lost. So be it.
Florida State had the playoff spot on their racket and they won. Sure, they "only" beat Louisville 16-6 and they lost their quarterback along the way, but the score or their roster's health shouldn't impact the committee's decision. When they had to play and beat LSU and Clemson to maintain a perfect season, they did that.
They lost their quarterback to injury and the committee used that against them? That takes some serious nerve.
What else could Florida State do?
They won every game they played this season.
They beat some good teams along the way.
When they had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, they did.
The committee's insistence that Alabama be in the playoff was the "X factor". It forced their hand on Texas and left out an undefeated team and a Georgia team that would likely beat Washington or Texas 5 out of 5 times.
You wanted Nick Saban in there. And you got him.
But while doing that, you shafted Florida State.
So Tiger Woods did something over the last four days in the Bahamas he was incapable of doing last April at Augusta National.
He played four rounds of competitive golf.
That Woods finished in 18th place in the 20 man field isn't at all a surprise. I said last week that anything inside the top 15 would have been a really good showing for him. Four days of even par golf for a guy who hasn't played a golf tournament in almost 8 months is certainly a favorable showing.
What was more important that Tiger shooting 3 straight rounds of par or better (after an opening 75 on Thursday) was the way he "looked" on Sunday. Coming down the stretch, he hit some great drives, made a few birdies and, critical to anyone who is a Tiger fan, the 15-time major champion walked along as if Sunday was round one instead of round four.
There were no visible signs of a limp or a change in his gait as he played the final round on Sunday.
Score aside, nothing was more important than that. That Woods could play 72 holes of golf without pain was far and away the best news of his trip to the Bahamas.
He'll be playing again this weekend in the Parent-Child event in Orlando. That's only two days and participants can ride in golf carts if they so choose. It's pretty much "hit and giggle" golf, so not much can be taken from it.
But the tournament in the Bahamas was exciting for anyone who is a Tiger Woods fan.
He'll be 48 later this month. The career calendar is definitely into November. But as he showed this weekend, there's plenty of quality golf left.
He made 19 birdies in four rounds.
His ball speed was well into the 170's.
And he drove the ball, distance wise, roughly the same as he did back in 2019 when he won the Masters.
Tiger's back.
2024 can't come soon enough.
We're now getting to the point in the NFL season where the MVP discussion is really starting to heat up.
Glenn Clark and I talk about this a lot during my Wednesday visits on his show.
Why is the default selection for MVP always the QB of one of the most successful teams in the league?
For years...it was either Brady, Peyton or Rodgers. Patrick Mahomes has started to dominate the award now.
Sure, occasionally a Lamar Jackson or Matt Ryan squeezes in there and gets the honor, but it's rare.
This year?
You can go ahead and name your favorite QB now. Jalen Hurts, Lamar, Mahomes and maybe even Brock Purdy are the guys starting to get the most "heat", if you will.
But there's at least one player far more valuable than all four of those guys.
There's a month left in the season, but Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins is the most valuable player in the league and the 49'ers' Christian McCaffrey is a close second.
If those two get hurt and don't finish out the season for their respective teams, there's no chance of playoff success in either Miami or San Francisco.
Hill has made the Dolphins into a legitimate championship contender. He can't be stopped.
McCaffrey is of a similar ilk. And he obviously does some things in the 49'ers offense that Hill doesn't do for Miami.
Forget about a quarterback this season. They're valuable and all. But it's Hill and McCaffrey at the top of the MVP list in 2023.
| Sunday December 3, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3387 |
The Ravens are off again today.
It's been a weird few weeks around here.
A Thursday night game. No game that following Sunday.
Then a Sunday night game in L.A.
No game today.
Hopefully the club is using this down time to get some ailing players back to full health.
Just like they did in the two previous years, the Ravens have moved into December with an excellent chance to make a deep post-season run. If they can keep the quarterback healthy and go at least 4-1 in their last five games, they could very well wind up with the #1 seed in the AFC.
So with the Ravens off again today let's tackle a bunch of e-mails that have piled up.
Dave P. asks -- "What do you make of the rumored move of Jon Rahm to LIV Golf and the $300 million payment he's supposed to receive? Would that force the PGA Tour's hand to expedite the merger with LIV?"
DF says -- "It would be incredibly hypocritical of Rahm to take the LIV offer after months and months of publicly speaking out in support of the TOUR and against LIV. That said, I'm never surprised when someone caves in. You never know if these people have integrity or not.
I also thought LIV had expressed some dismay at not generating any real revenue and overspending on their player roster. Giving $300 million to Rahm doesn't seem like a company worried about their finances.
I suspect they're going to work out the PGA/LIV "alliance" no matter if Rahm moves over there or turns down the money (if that story is even true).
I said when LIV first started trying to corrupt the PGA Tour that the ultimate easy "fix" would be to have the TOUR schedule run from mid-January through the end of August and then let LIV play their events (outside of the US) from September through December.
PGA Tour players would have the freedom to play both tours. I'm not sure why that's so hard to figure out."
Dave O. asks -- "I know the Masters is four months out but can you give a few names of some guys to possibly throw down some early futures money on before they win once or twice in February and March and their odds dramatically decrease? Thanks, Drew and Go Hall!"
DF says -- "I'm using the FanDuel odds that were posted on December 1, 2023, in case you're wondering. Viktor Hovland has to get some of your money at +1700. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him win.
I think Ludvig Aberg is incredibly underpriced at +4400. Grab him now before he wins twice early in the season and drops to +1600.
Min Woo Lee at +9000? Ummmm, yes please. We might even want to double the bet there. +9000 for one of the best players in the world is an outrageous steal.
And I'll give you two former champions who are both at +13000 that are worth a small wager; Adam Scott and Eldrick Woods. Former champions always have a shot to win at Augusta. Put down $100 and win $13,000? Yes, sign me up for that, please."
Adam asks -- "Hey Drew, any update on what's going on with the Blast and all of the veteran players they've lost like William Vanzela and Lucas Roque? The team sent out a press release saying Vanzela's contract was suspended due to interaction with the GM who is under indictment. What do you know?"
DF says -- "I have no idea what's happening other than what we've all read or heard in the media. I saw the statement from the team's legal team about William Vanzela. It was certainly an awkward way of telling the fans Vanzela is no longer with the team. Blaming his injuries was a weird take.
Anyway, I assume they want a younger roster. They certainly had several veteran players in their 30's who were nearing the end of their run. But I don't follow the league closely enough any longer to know if the guys they brought in will help keep the club competitive.
I don't know anything about the situation involving the team's former GM. I know his court case is in January. I guess we'll all learn more at that point. It's a sad story all the way around."
Chris asks -- "We're a quarter of the way through the NHL season. Are you shocked at the Capitals start to the season?"
DF says -- "Very surprised. They have no offense. Ovechkin is struggling. They only have one good goaltender (Lindgren). And yet somehow they're 12-7-2 (after last night's loss in Vegas). Obviously Strome is having a great start to the year and that's helped out a lot, but overall, the team just doesn't look all that good on paper.
You have to assume Ovi is going to hit a hot streak where he scores 6 or 8 goals over a 10-game period. He's not going to continue at this pace where he scores 5 goals every 20 games. At least I don't think he will.
I have to assume Caps management is just as surprised with this start as we all are. I figured this would be a "lost season" for them and my guess was they thought that internally as well. But so far, they're one of the surprise teams in the league. I hope it continues."
D.J. asks -- "Still feeling confident that Maryland basketball is going to turn this thing around and have a good season in the Big Ten?"
DF says -- "Well, I'm not sure what to think. They're only one game into Big Ten play, obviously, and Indiana isn't chopped liver. Let's see how they do against Penn State this week.
Dale Williams is our eyes-and-ears down there at College Park and his piece below looks at the team's loss at Assembly Hall and some of their early season woes.
I'll let him handle all of the heavy lifting as it relates to the Terps.
I'm definitely surprised at their slow start, but I assume Kevin Willard has things under control over the long haul. Reese and Young are too good to not have some degree of success down there this season."
T.C. asks -- "Who's the best coach in the NFL?"
DF says -- "Holy cow, I have no way of answering that. I mean, Andy Reid has to be in that conversation but he has Patrick Mahomes to thank for a lot of his success in recent years.
Look at the guys who have been around the longest; Harbaugh, Tomlin, Carroll, even Sean Payton, I guess. They'd have to be in the discussion, right?
The new guy in Miami is getting a lot of attention these days.
I think you'd have to go with Andy Reid. His "coaching tree" is extensive. He has made a lot of his assistants into NFL head coaches. And his teams keep winning. And his offense is always dangerous.
But that's such a tough question. I might even be missing someone. Dan Campbell? Sean McVay? I have no idea. Andy Reid, that's my final answer."
Alan asks -- "Hey Drew, just wondering if you have any musical artists or groups on your 2024 concert "must see list"?
DF says -- "Hmmmm, great question. I don't even know if they're touring next year but I need to see Kings of Leon at some point. They're probably the one band I haven't seen live that I'm desperate to see at least once.
I know Elvis Costello is doing some shows in the south in the early part of 2024. If he gets up this way, I'd love to see him as well.
Most of the bands I want to see aren't really around any longer!"
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
If you only saw the box score of Maryland’s Friday night loss at the hands of Indiana, and you didn’t see the whole game, you might think that the 65-53 loss wasn’t too bad.
Maybe you’d assume it was a defensive game where the Terps played nice “D”, but failed (again) to put up enough points to contend. That would be incorrect.
The box score may also have you thinking that the Juju Reese / Kel’el Ware matchup was a standoff, with Reese getting 14 points and Ware tossing in just 4 more, with 18. In reality, Ware dominated Reese all night long and his Hoosiers handed the Terps an embarrassing blowout defeat.
The Hoosiers raced out to a 16-4 lead and were never challenged by a Maryland team that wasn’t ready to compete. The lead grew to 23 in the second half before Indiana slowed down the game, allowing Maryland to make the score look somewhat respectable. It wasn’t.
Ware was dominant on both ends. His 18 points were a team high and his 14 rebounds were a game high. He altered numerous shots and prevented others. Reese had no answer for him, and the other Terp bigs were manhandled too.
Maryland was outrebounded 46-30. The effort on the glass was so bad that Reese, at one point, screamed “Box out” at Donta Scott.
Speaking of Scott, his 2 point and 3 rebound performance warrants a spot on the bench, but I’m not sure Maryland has other options. Perhaps coach Willard will go to a three-guard lineup, but it’s hard to leave 6’8”, 230 on the bench when your team is getting smoked on the boards.
In his post-game interview, Willard mentioned that 1 or 2 players are causing breakdowns. Scott had to be one of those guys.
The 5th year senior was 1-8 from the field and at times played like a zombie on defense. You almost have to try to be that bad. Ill advised passes, air ball layups…you name it, he did it. Everything but consistently play hard.
Maryland did get a solid effort from Jamir Young on Friday night. His 20 points led all scorers, but the left hander struggled again from the three-point line where he made just 1 of 7 attempts.
As a team, the Terps made only 2 of 16 triples. They solidified their spot as one of the worst shooting teams in all of D1 basketball.
The game started with Indiana showing some interior dominance. They opened with 8 points in the paint being scored by 3 different players. The Terps tailed 8-4 at the first break, with only Jahmir Young scoring for Maryland. Juju Reese was being bothered by the length of Ware and badly missed his first 2 shots.
Coming out of the break, the Hoosiers knocked down back-to-back threes and pushed their lead to 16-4. By the under 12-minute timeout, the duo of Malik Reneau and Ware were a combined 5 for 5 and each had hit a three. The Terps, meanwhile, were 0-3 from long range and all of their points had been scored by guards. The paint was being owned by Indiana.
When Young drained a triple after Reese hit an inside jumper, the lead had been cut to 7, 18-11. Turnovers and poor foul shooting were keeping Maryland from cutting deeper into the Hoosier lead.
The Terps were 1-4 from the line and had committed all 5 of the game’s turnovers. The lead was still 9, 27-18 at the 7-minute mark.
Paint points favored Indiana 20-10 at this point, and fast break points were 7-0. Maryland’s defense just lacked the energy that the Hoosier’s offense had.
Indiana’s lead grew to 13, but a Terp mini-run closed it to 7. The run was cut short when the Hoosiers went back to Ware, who again easily roasted Reese. The Hoosier big man was now 5 for 5 from the floor and sent Reese to the bench with his second foul. The ensuing successful foul shot put the lead back to double digits, 34-24 with a little more than 3 minutes left in the half.
The lead returned to 13 points after Maryland missed two threes and Indiana made one. At this point of the game, the Terps were 1-8 from the three-point line, and just 1-5 from the foul line. Both Reese and Jordan Geronimo were riding the pine with 2 fouls.
The half ended with Indiana up 40-28. The Terps are too poor, offensively, to allow their opponent to out-hustle them like Indiana did in the first half and still contend. Add in the fact that the Hoosiers shot an uncharacteristic 50% from the three-point line, and you have a 12-point deficit at the half.
The first 20 minutes saw Indiana’s big men outscore the Maryland bigs, 30-8. Donta Scott was just 1-4 from the field and Reese had 6 points. That the Terps scored just 28 points in the half was bad, but the real story of the opening half was the lack of defensive intensity by Maryland.
The quick second half start that the Terps needed was not to be. Donta Scott missed three shots in a row, and Indiana’s Trey Galloway got to the rim three times in a row. Maryland was sloppy and without enthusiasm, and they paid the price for it, being down 52-31 at the first TV timeout. Ballgame.
Maryland was blown out before the first TV timeout of the second half. There were 15 insignificant minutes left to play.
I feel pretty foolish for thinking the trio of Reese, Scott, and Geronimo could hold their own against Ware, Reneau, and Mackenzie Mgbako.
Those 3 Terps were thoroughly outplayed on both ends of the court. I also thought, and still do, that the Terp guards were better than their Hoosier counterparts. But the Indiana backcourt played much harder and way smarter than Maryland’s.
This team has issues that extend beyond the court. It could be a really long season. Or should I say, a short one.
We're into December now.
All of the games are important throughout the season, but now they're really critical.
And because the league is completely watered down, there are only a handful of teams around the league who are pretty much out of the playoff picture at this point.
Even someone like Tampa Bay, at 4-7, is still fighting for their post-season lives.
All three AFC North teams not called the Ravens are in action today, with Joe Flacco getting the starting nod in a -- say it ain't so, Joe -- Browns uniform.
It's going to be a fun final month of the season.
Oh, and our friend Larry is back this week with four picks instead of his customary three. As you know, you're welcome to fade or follow Larry. He has no idea what he's doing. He's just making picks.
Here's how things shape up today.
COLTS (6-5) AT TITANS (4-7) -- This really is last-gasp-Sunday for the Titans. A loss today and a 4-8 mark would pretty much put the 6th and final nail in their 2023 coffin. The Colts, meanwhile, need to pick this one off today in Nashville and they'll have a decent shot at making the post-season with a fairly accommodating schedule still remaining for them.
CHARGERS (4-7) AT PATRIOTS (2-9) -- I think we all know the Chargers aren't making the post-season but they'll still be alive in the race after they go into New England and win today. The Patriots, meanwhile, are chugging along nicely in the direction of that first overall pick in the draft. You can bet Bill Belichick isn't all that concerned with what happens today vs. L.A. -- Larry says take the Chargers outright on the road in this one.
LIONS (8-3) AT SAINTS (5-6) -- We've been led to believe Detroit is the "real deal" this season, then they go out and stub their toe on Thanksgiving Day to the Packers. In Detroit, even. New Orleans is alive and well in the race for the NFC South, but they're in need of a win today for sure. Are the Lions really any good? Today will help us answer that question.
FALCONS (5-6) AT JETS (4-7) -- You could ask the same thing about the Falcons. Are you guys really any good? Because if they are, they'll go into the Meadowlands and win today. The Jets are trying to steal one today, win again next week over Houston, and at least present Aaron Rodgers with a puncher's chance of the post-season if he comes back for the 12/17 game in Miami. New York's final three games after that are against Washington, Cleveland and New England. New York really needs a win today.
CARDINALS (2-10) AT STEELERS (7-4) -- This would serve as the ultimate embarrassment if Pittsbugh somehow coughed up this automatic win. Arizona's battling New England for the #1 pick in the draft, but the Cardinals might actually still be trying to win for some weird reason. The Steelers awful offense gets a chance to put something together today. But will they? If Pittsburgh harbors any thought at all of still winning the AFC North, this one is pretty much must-win for them. --Larry says take Arizona to win outright in a collosal upset today in Pittsburgh.
DOLPHINS (8-3) AT COMMANDERS (4-8) -- Miami could still wind up as the AFC's #1 seed, but three losses is probably the max they can lose without getting into tiebreaker situations down the road. D.C., meanwhile, is clinging to playoff hopes and can't lose today or they're in deep doo-doo. The crappy mid-Atlantic weather should help the Commmanders today. -- Larry says take the Commanders in a surprising outright win.
BRONCOS (6-5) AT TEXANS (6-5) -- This has "Game of the Day" material written all over it, which is kind of hard to believe based on the teams playing. Denver has somehow lifted themselves from a horrendous start to the point where they control their own destiny. And despite last week's home loss to Jacksonville, Houston could still be an AFC South title contender if they keep on winning and put the heat on the Jaguars. Russell Wilson actually earning his gazillion paycheck? I didn't see that one coming.
PANTHERS (1-10) AT BUCCANEERS (4-7) -- Poor Carolina. Things looked so promising for them back in August. And....yikes. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, continues to hang on in the NFC South. This is about as close as a team can get to an automatic win in the regular season, but the Bucs aren't exactly a concrete lock in games like this one.
BROWNS (7-4) AT RAMS (5-6) -- Ol' Jersey Joe makes his debut for the Browns. Wouldn't it be something if the Browns somehow make the playoffs and come to Baltimore in the post-season? Holy cow would that be wild. The Rams can't afford to lose this one, though. They're not going to win the NFC West, obviously, but if they can get to 9-8 they have a 35% chance of making the playoffs and 10-7 would almost be a post-season lock. This is a huge game for both teams. -- Larry says take the Rams in an outright win over the Browns.
49'ERS (8-3) AT EAGLES (10-1) -- Is this the week Philly's charmed life gets spoiled? They've had several close calls this year, including wild home wins over Washington and Buffalo. If they're as good as they say they are up there, they'll need to beat the 49'ers to prove it. San Francisco, meanwhile, could still steal the #1 seed from the Eagles with a win today and some help down the road. Don't count out the 49'ers just yet.
CHIEFS (8-3) AT PACKERS (5-6) -- Green Bay is somehow still very much in the NFC playoff race. With no quarterback or offense to speak of, really. Kansas City is battling Baltimore and Jacksonville for the #1 seed in the AFC. They can't afford to drop this one tonight in Green Bay. Sunday Night Football at Lambeau Field in December? What's not to love, right?
| Saturday December 2, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3386 |
My phone lit up yesterday when the various major golf media outlets broke the big news.
The golf ball is changing.
It's not a total shock, of course. The United States Golf Association (USGA) and Royal and Ancient Golf Association (R&A) have been hinting for the better part of 18 months about a golf ball "rollback" in an effort to gain more control on how far people are hitting the ball off the tee these days.
This has actually been in the works for at least a decade. It took five or six years for the USGA to complete a lengthy study about distance, another year or two to put their decision in place and evaluate the legalities of it and, now, they're finally ready to formally announce the rollback sometime next week.
The new ball will definitely travel a shorter distance.
But there are a lot of moving parts involved when it comes to answering the question everyone has: "How much shorter will I hit it?"
First of all, the news won't impact normal, recreational golfers until 2030 or so, when every golf ball that's manufactured will have to conform to the new standards.
Between now and then, the rollback will introduced gradually.
The USGA will likely use the "new ball" for their events in 2026.
The PGA Tour might not use it until 2028.
This is not something that will go into effect immediately, like a rule change would. Ball manufacturers are still making today's golf ball and will continue doing so in the short term.
So how much shorter will you hit the ball off the tee with the new ball? That depends on your swing speed, plain and simple.
The rollback is designed to create a maximum distance reduction of roughly 5%. A professional (or amateur, for that matter) who hits the ball 300 yards off the tee would see his/her driving distance reduced to somewhere around 285 yards.
Professional and high ranking amateur elite player with swing speeds in the 120 MPH range are the ones who will feel the most impact.
Amateurs with swing speeds under 110 MPH might only see a 3% reduction in total distance, according to a study that was done in 2022.
Why do it, though?
That answer is simple: Given the carry distances people are hitting the golf ball off the tee in 2023, there are just not enough golf courses in the U.S. who can structurally handle everything associated with hosting a significant professional or amateur golf tournament.
25 years ago, the USGA had roughly 60 courses in its portfolio that were "tried and true" host clubs for events like their U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur.
A significant number of those facilities can no longer host events, while others, like Congressional in Washington D.C., had to underdo significant changes to the course in an effort to get back on the "hosting" track for golf's biggest tournaments.
Even Augusta National had to re-design several of their holes over the last few years in an effort to keep pace with length.
It's a problem, for sure.
Designers that built courses a hundred years ago never thought players would carry the golf ball 300 yards. So they created movement throughout the golf course with a carry distance of between 230 and 260 in mind.
For those of you who have ever played Baltimore Country Club's East Course, the 6th -- called "the Barn Hole" -- is a perfect example.
When Tillinghast designed that hole, he assumed the player would ALWAYS play a straight tee ball to the right of the barn. That would leave a lay-up shot over a row of lateral fairway bunkers or, if your drive wasn't in the fairway, a lay-up short of those bunkers.
You were either going to have 100 yards in or 180 yards in.
I've played in many events at Baltimore Country Club over the last decade where long hitters simply hit their tee ball over the barn, carry it 280 or 300 yards, and leave themselves 200 yards into a par-5 that Tillinghast probably never dreamed of hitting in two shots.
For those more familiar with public courses in the area, #18 at Pine Ridge is another prime example. A large gathering of trees some 230 yards off the tee to the left make the "regular" player place his tee ball out to the right, leaving a 260 yard shot into a green that plays 10 or 15 yards uphill depending on conditions.
In the old days, you might hit that green in two shots once or twice per-summer, and everything had to be going in your favor. You needed a tail wind, firm fairways and draw spin off the tee to get the ball to finish may 215 yards from the hole.
Today? Players just hit their tee ball over the trees and they have a mid-to-short iron into the hole.
At our FCA Junior Match Play Championship this past August, all four of the semifinalists hit their drives over the trees on the left and each player had under 200 yards in on a 515 yard hole.
So, I'm one of the golf-playing enthusiasts who understands and accepts the golf ball rollback.
It's probably not great for my game. I'm at the stage where I'm losing a little bit of distance every year as it is.
I can still hit it 275 yards on occasion if I really catch one. But I'm far more likely to hit three or four in a row 250 or 260.
It's been three summers since I played in the U.S. Senior Open, but even out there in Omaha I saw firsthand how much longer off the tee the game's best players are over me. Retief Goosen is a long hitter, particularly (then) for a 52 year old. He hit it 60 yards past me on every tee shot.
Billy Andrade is not considered a long hitter at all and he was routinely 20 yards past me, if not a few more.
Now, let's circle back and understand something about the golf ball. It's not the golf ball that goes far on its own. The distance the ball travels is directly connected to clubhead speed.
People think golfers are hitting the ball longer these days because of "equipment". That's not entirely true.
They're hitting it longer distances off the tee because they're generating more clubhead speed. Part of that is equipment-related, particularly when it comes to driver shafts. But it's also connected to fitness and a much better understanding these days of what goes into creating a powerful golf swing.
But the USGA and R&A know one thing for certain: Players and instructors are going to continue their search for the perfect body, perfect swing techniques and perfect clubs to match their swings.
No one is going to say, "OK, keep the ball like it is and I'll stop working out and stop trying to understand how to use ground force more in my golf swing."
So the golf ball rollback is the only way to go.
I get it.
I'm not sure that's going to allow the USGA to go back to places like Oak Tree or Canterbury or Medinah, but it's worth the effort I suppose.
What the rollback is going to do more than anything is put a temporary hold, at least, on how far people are hitting the golf ball. They'll have a new five-year period to study distances off the tee and determine if rolling the ball back can help put more courses back into play.
It's also worth mentioning that club manufacturers will start trying to figure out how they can build clubs that still confirm within USGA specs and yet aren't impacted by the golf ball rollback.
There's also a small concern in the golf world about "knock off" balls and clubs that will deliver the same qualities as the current balls and clubs but "appear" to be legal once the rollback takes place.
It will be up to the players themselves to play within the rules of the game.
And it's reasonable to remember, too, that those of us who comprise "the rest of the golf playing world" will ultimately just hit it a bit shorter off the tee and with our irons, but our scores probably won't change all that much. Sure, we might hit have a few holes at our course that play differently with the new ball in play, but I can't imagine you're a guy shooting 80 now who will suddenly have difficulty breaking 90.
I don't think you'll see dramatic scoring differences in the pro game. Maybe a shot or two per round. Augusta National, for example, might see a score uptick because it might be harder for players to reach #2 and #8 in two shots (the front nine par 5's). But today's elite TOUR players will still hit #13 and #15 in two shots.
Everyone will be impacted a little bit, but I don't see scoring being all that dramatically different.
So I'm willing to accept the rollback without much pushback.
I don't like the thought of having a 6-iron into #8 at Eagle's Nest instead of the 8-iron I generally hit into that green now, but there's not much I can do about it.
I have friends who hit the ball a mile off the tee. They're going to be impacted by this more than I will.
And while I understand the nuances of course design and how 300 yard drives are hurting the playability of some of our country's best "old" layouts, I also think the game of golf can be played in a variety of ways. Just because you hit it 300 off the tee and I only hit it 270 doesn't mean you're a lock to beat me.
In the end, I'm a rollback supporter, if you will.
It's all fine by me.
| Friday December 1, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3385 |
Before we move into other topics, let me first thank those of you who took the time to participate in our Helping Up Mission fund-raiser over the last two days.
We were able to successfully hit the $2,500 mark yesterday and two friends -- Mark McGrath and Eric Van Estel -- chipped in $250 to play golf with me (and they're bringing a guest) next spring. Those monies get tossed into our fund as well, so Glenn Clark and I are going to be well stocked with cash next week when we go on our annual shopping trip.
I'll write more about Helping Up Mission later this month, but the idea that this event has become an annual rite of passage is incredibly significant to me. And to Glenn, as well.
So, thank you, again, to all of you who contributed. You have no idea how much your generosity means to the men and women at Helping Up Mission.
Our friend Mark Suchy has been a regular advocate for the Orioles to sign the new stadium lease throughout most of the last six months.
As we know by now, there was an "announcement" at a September home game that was presented as a "lease agreement", then quickly revised the next day to something totally different.
Here we are on December 1st and there's no new lease yet.
No one is surprised, I assume.
Orioles gonna Orioles.
I mean, this is so much on point with "the Oriole way" that we'd all be shocked if a lease agreement actually does get announced sometime this month.
And the funniest part of the whole situation? The Orioles don't have any leverage. They're not going anywhere. John Angelos, representing his family who owns the franchise, is very aware that he has nowhere to go.
But he rolls on nonetheless.
I guess what I have a hard time understanding is why wouldn't the state of Maryland simply say to Angelos and Company, "The lease is either signed by December 1st or the offer we've made is off the table."?
Why would the state allow the Orioles to control this situation?
Just tell them how it's going to be: Sign the lease or we start all over.
What's wrong with adopting that strategy?
The Ravens -- you know, the good guys in town -- have long ago already agreed on their portion of the new lease.
Why are the Orioles dragging this out? Just to get more money?
Tell them to kick rocks. Sign the lease or take the deal off the table.
I just don't understand why the state allows the Orioles to control this entire narrative.
They only care about the money. We know that. They know that we know. We all know.
Orioles gonna Orioles. Always.
The Caps picked up another nice win last night, 5-4 on the road in Anaheim.
Tom Wilson was the big story, collecting his first career hat trick in the game.
But the sub-story to every Caps game, it seems, is the ongoing goal scoring chase being authored by Alex Ovechkin. We've now reached the 20-game mark of the '23-24 season and Ovi, after another night without a goal on Thursday, now has just 5 goals in 20 games.
And last night in Anaheim marked the lowest amount of ice time he's ever seen in a game in which he wasn't injured or ejected. Ovi played just 14:45 in the win.
It's fair to point out the Caps did play the night before in Los Angeles, so playing reduced minutes 24 hours later isn't all that much of a surprise.
But 5 goals in 20 games? That's a surprise.
And he's now on a pace of just over 20 goals for the entire season.
Caps officials have been privately hoping Ovechkin would score 40 or more this season and then they could start adequately planning for the '24-25 campaign when, barring some kind of long-term injury, it would be expected that Ovechkin would reach Gretzky's mark of 894 goals sometime in March of 2025.
It's now looking like he might need to play this season, next season and into the beginning of '25-26 before reaching 895 goals.
It's also looking like he might not reach the record at all.
He still needs 68 goals to break the record.
If he scores even 25 more this season to finish with 30, that will leave him needing 43 next year. That's a lot of goals for a guy clearly in the November of his career.
Two years ago, we figured this goal scoring chase was a slam dunk.
Now......maybe not so much.
The NFL Hall of Fame list has been narrowed down to 25 names. Unlike Major League Baseball, there aren't steroid issues in football to eliminate people the way, say, we're able to say "no" to A-Rod, Sheffield or Ramirez.
So you can make an argument for each of the 25 guys who made this year's semifinalists list.
As is always the case, some of those guys are "considerations", some are "gotta really think about this" and a few are "slam dunks".
Here are the 25: Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Tiki Barber, Anquan Boldin, Jahri Evans, London Fletcher, Dwight Freeney, Antonio Gates, Eddie George, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison, Devin Hester, Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, Robert Mathis, Julius Peppers, Steve Smith Sr., Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters, Reggie Wayne, Vince Wilfork, Patrick Willis, Darren Woodson.
Guys like Barber, Evans, the two Harrisons, Mathis, Taylor and Wilfork are "considerations".
They were very good players. But unlikely to be football Hall of Fame selections.
You can make an argument for everyone else on the list, though.
And remember, football is different than baseball. You can only choose 5 from the list. The field of 25 will get reduced to 15 in January and then the final 5 will be announced on February 8.
In my mind, there are three no-brainer, "have to take them" guys on the list: Freeney, Gates and Jared Allen.
There are six others who are on the cusp of being no-brainers: Peppers, Holt, Wayne, Johnson, Ward and Willis.
The big knock on Willis is his 7-year career. Is that a big enough body of work to gain entry into Canton?
Peppers is getting in someday. It might be this year. I think Andre Johnson is also a definite at some point. Maybe this year, maybe next.
Ward and Wayne are likely to gain entry someday as well. Torry Holt should have already been in. Why he hasn't been inducted yet is a mystery.
So the question is, of the six above, which two am I taking?
I think I'd add Peppers and Holt.
That would make my five in 2024 the following: Freeney, Gates, Jared Allen, Holt and Peppers.
Your five would be?????
| dale williams aims the | |
| DALE WILLIAMS returns for his 9th season of covering all things Maryland men's basketball for #DMD. Terps Spotlight will preview and review all games in the 2023-2024 season. | ||
There may not be a better season-opening Big Ten road opponent for Maryland than the Hoosiers of Indiana. While I have yet to see the entire league, I’ve seen enough of Indiana to know that this could be an interesting game tonight at 7 p.m. int Assembly Hall.
Despite having 10 years of combined experience at the guard position (6 for Xavier Johnson and 4 for Trey Galloway), this isn’t a potent Hoosier backcourt. The scoring numbers for this pair currently read 10.5 and 8.7 respectively, but in their recent win over Harvard, they only scored a collective 7 points.
In fact, out of the 36 made Indiana field goals in that game, only 4 came from the guard position. Johnson is 50% from the three-point line, but he’s only attempted 10. Galloway is a very Maryland-like 3 for 18. The team, as a whole, only hits 24.1 from long range, but they don’t fire too many.
The Hoosiers are very much a team reliant upon points-in-the-paint. Kel’El Ware (the clear team leader and Oregon transfer) is going to be a major test for Juju Reese. Ware is averaging 17.7 points and 8.8 rebounds. When the long-armed and mobile center isn’t the focus of the Indiana offense, 6’9” sophomore Malik Reneau will be.
Reneau might be a bit too much for the Terp’s Donta Scott. Jordan Geronimo may be the better defensive option to stop Reneau from getting his 15 plus points per game. This guy will be a matchup problem for a lot of Big Ten teams, Maryland included. Like Ware, he is interior focused, having gone 0-4 from the three-point line.
Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako, (6’8” 217) is the remaining Indiana starter. After posting just 2 points against UConn and 4 against Louisville, he broke out for 18 in Indiana’s 89-76 win over Harvard. But that win may have exposed a crack in this Hoosier team.
Harvard’s sensational point guard, Malik Mack, toasted Indiana for 27 points in that contest. His game is similar to that of the Terp’s own Jahmir Young, with Young being a bit stronger. Mack was getting to the rim at will, and he hasn’t been the only one to penetrate the Hoosier defense.
I’ve seen similar issues with their defense against both Louisville and Connecticut. This weakness also bodes well for the slashing style of Deshawn Harris-Smith. His strong moves to the bucket with the left hand finish will be successful against the Hoosier defense.
The Terps have some advantages in this game, but they won’t prevail if they lack poise. “Poise” is what I have yet to see en masse, and it’s what this team needs. Now, the question is, is it achievable, and what effect would it have?
I saw a lack of poise in all 3 of Maryland’s losses and in segments of their wins against some inferior competition. The lack of poise, to me, was most obvious in their shot selection and the tentative nature of their “stroke”.
To make proper decisions with the ball (pass, dribble, shoot), and make a smooth stroke once you decide to fire, you need a clear and calm mind. Too many of the current Terps roster, both rookies and vets, just aren’t there yet. There’s a lot of indecision and questionable actions.
One might expect that from the newcomers, but the issue is prevalent throughout the lineup. Freshman Jamie Kaiser can flat out stroke it. Watch him in practice for a few minutes and you would immediately say, “This guy has the green light”.
But, coming into last Tuesday’s game he was just 3 for 23 from the three-point line. Why? I find it tough to believe that he lacks confidence. Rather, it’s a lack of poise.
It’s knowing you’ve made the right decision and then letting it go. It’s like trying to hit a great chip shot in golf while thinking, “Should I putt this?” The resulting blade or chunk won’t be pretty.
Noah Batchelor, a sophomore, is in the same boat. Some of his threes are so quick that he hasn’t had time to commit mentally to the decision. It’s like he’s thinking, “Is shooting this the right decision?”
Hopefully, the game will slow down for some of these guys, but it’s going to take some more time. Last Tuesday, he took a very quick and questionable three, and missed badly. His next shot was a shot-clock buzzer beater. He HAD to shoot it, and it was a bullseye.
In the first half of the UMBC game, the stat sheet would tell you that Kaiser went 1 for 4 from the three-point line. What it doesn’t tell you is that he missed all 3 conventional threes, while making a near half-court buzzer beater to end the first half.
The difference? One is a decision and the other is a shot that you have to take. No decision, no negative effects if you miss. Of course, the no-brainer goes in. There was no decision to be made. No doubting what you should do.
Juju Reese plays with more poise than he did as a freshman, but he’s in his third year and needs to be a leader on this team.
He has immense physical skills, but he needs to play with an abundance of poise to get his team, or himself, to the next level. In tonight’s game, he’s a key figure on both sides of the court. He needs to keep his head in the game and play smart.
Donta Scott has been here for half a decade and still does things that make me shake my head. Some of his decisions and shots totally lack (here’s that word again) poise. He makes contributions with his physical talent, but that talent is wasted without that certain court sense, and calm.
The Terps will need his defense and rebounding tonight against Indiana. Points from him will be a bonus.
The matchup against Indiana tonight slightly favors Maryland. Ware and Reneau could be a problem, and there’s always that Big Ten home court advantage also working against Maryland.
The game comes down to Reese and Ware. If Julian can hold his own, the Terp’s can win. Young should have a big night and Harris Smith could surprise with his offensive contribution. The Maryland backcourt advantage wins out over the frontcourt heavy Indiana team.
If the current three-point form holds up for both teams, Maryland can escape Assemblu Hall with a “W”. It’s a bit crazy to try to predict a score here being that the Terps have so many new parts and Indiana has 10 new players themselves, but I’ll go 68-65, in Maryland’s favor. You can watch it on BTN.
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faith in sports |
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John Bostock was a 15-year old soccer playing phenom in England, signing at an early age for Crystal Palace.
What else could a kid want from England, right?
Well, as Bostock explains in today's edition of "Faith in Sports", he needed more.
And he found it by connecting his faith with the sport he loved.
Thanks, as always, to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their continued support of #DMD and our Friday "Faith in Sports" segment here. We hope you enjoy today's video.
| Thursday November 30, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3384 |
The story that Glenn Clark and I circulate around this time every year never really changes.
Some tales take on new twists and turns and, you know, the 10 pound fish you once caught on a sunny summer afternoon becomes 30 pounds a few years down the road.
How we got started with Helping Up Mission back in 2009 has never changed or needed embellishment.
Clark was my sturdy and occasionally overconfident morning show producer. "I don't care what you say, Maryland isn't losing to Duke in football..." he once said on a Friday afternoon. But I digress.
In the middle of November or so, I was talking on the air about the need for Clark and I to get involved in a community project we could call our own.
"I think we should collect coats for the homeless downtown," I said.
"Great idea," Clark countered. "It's going to get very cold soon. And we know there are people down there who need to stay warm over the next few months."
"We'll ask the listeners to help us out," I reasoned. "People can drop off new or gently used coats to us here at the studio and we'll give them to the homeless."
"I love it," Clark said. "How are we going to get them distributed?"
"I don't know," I replied. "Maybe we'll get a listener with a truck to drive us around. You and I will sit in the back of the truck and toss them out to people along the streets."
There was silence on the other side of the glass.
More silence.
And then Clark chimed in.
"You know, I have to think there's a better way of doing it than that."
And by the time the show ended that day, a better way had been created.
My friend Tony Young -- who helped launch Drew's Morning Dish five years later -- called in and mentioned Helping Up Mission. Tony suggested we reach out to Kris Sharrar there and organize an event where we could give the coats and winter clothing to the men who were in the program at HUM.
And so, we did that.
That very first year, Clark and I dropped off 440 coats and pieces of apparel to Helping Up Mission. We felt like kings.
Fast forward ten years later, and we were routinely dropping off 4,000 coats and pieces of apparel every December. Let's just say it grew into a significantly special event for Glenn and I.
A couple of years ago, Sharrar asked us to take the annual donation in a different direction.
"What we really need," he said, "are men's toiletry items. The guys who come in here often show up with nothing. No clean underwear, no soap, no toothpaste, no razors, etc."
And so a couple of years ago, Clark and I switched from collecting coats and apparel to simply collecting small donation amounts and going out in mid-December and spending a couple of thousand dollars on men's (and now women's, too) toiletry items.
We've been spending upwards of $2,500 or more on the items, then dropping them off to Helping Up Mission before the Christmas holiday.
And that's where you, hopefully, come in.
Glenn has created an awesome raffle opportunity that you'll read about by clicking the link below. If you'll donate $25 to our Helping Up Mission event, you'll get a raffle ticket and a chance to earn some great prizes, including a Ravens helmet autographed by a bunch of guys on the team.
I'm adding something special today. If you'll donate $250, you and a friend will join me for golf and lunch next spring at a private club in the Baltimore area.
You'll need to contact me directly if you're interested in making that donation so I know who it is that's doing the donating.
If you just want to donate $25, go ahead and follow the information Glenn provides in the link below.
But if you're interested in joining me for golf and lunch next spring (and you can bring a guest), just e-mail me today and I'll make that happen. Your $250 will go to our purchase of toiletries in a couple of weeks.
If you're interested in making the $250 donation, e-mail me: 18inarow@gmail.com
For those who would like to learn more about what we're doing and to get in the raffle and buy your $25 ticket, all you have to do is click here and you'll get all of the details.
Please consider making a $25 donation today and help us give the men and women at Helping Up Mission a special holiday season.
Thank you, as always, for supporting this unique event we created 14 years ago.
Sure, on the surface it looks like another silly season golf event where 20 guys get together and play four days of golf and someone wins a million bucks and giggles about it over a bottle of $500 wine sometime Sunday night.
But this year's edition of the Hero World Challege in the Bahamas is much different. The format is the same. It's still 72 holes and all. It's still a stroke play event. It's a regular, run of the mill golf tournament.
Except this year, Tiger Woods is competing.
And, unlike the last few times he beat it around the course down there, this year he's actually healthy.
At least that's what he says.
And by the looks of his golf swing and the way he's been moving around in practice rounds and pro ams, Woods appears to be experiencing a bit of a rebirth, if you will.
Time will tell.
There's no way of knowing what this latest version (4.0?) of Woods will provide all of us. But all of the pre-tournament stuff looks great.
If nothing else, today's 12 noon first round will be followed by a lot more people than usual. As is almost always the case when Woods tees it up these days, the tournament actually means something now.
The Orioles announced earlier this week they are introducing some new starting times for games in 2024 and "cleaning up" some of what they started this past season in regards to first pitch times.
In 2024, all weeknight (Mon-Thurs) games will begin at 6:35 pm. Last season, they did that during "school months", but in the summer, games started at 7:05 pm. In 2024, any weeknight game begins at 6:35 pm.
Friday night games now start at 7:05 pm instead of 7:35 pm.
Saturday games all now feature a 4:05 pm start time, a change from last year's 7:05 pm start for most of them.
And Sunday games begin at 1:35 pm.
There was some angst on Tuesday when all of this was announced.
I guess you only really care if you're someone who goes to a lot of games.
If you're like me and you go to 4-6 games a year, the games start when the games start. What do I care if they start at 4:05 pm on Saturday instead of 7:05 pm? I either go at 4:05 pm or I don't go to the game that day.
I personally don't like "day baseball". I never have. I don't know why, but I don't. I would never go to a 1:35 pm baseball game unless it was a playoff game. So the Sunday start at 1:35 pm doesn't faze me, because I'm not going if it starts at 1:05 pm or 2:05 pm.
Now, I will admit that a game starting at 4:05 pm on a Saturday might impact me. I'm less hesitant to go to a game that start at 4:05 pm in July or August.
But I don't do much weekend baseball anyway.
I went to 7 games last season and all 7 were in the middle of the week. I love Tuesday and Wednesday baseball. No one is generally in the ballpark, you can stretch out, watch the game, it's not searing hot, and it's just more appealing to me for some reason.
So I don't care about the start times all that much.
I totally understand the 6:35 pm first pitch times. With baseball's new rules to help speed up play, I was back home by 9:15 pm or thereabouts on several occasions last summer. I loved it.
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd made the news earlier this week after he ripped into an ESPN reporter who was questioning him about Kyrie Irving.
The clip is below. We're using the censored version but the "beep" you hear means he used bad language. There are lots of beeps.
The interesting part about this incident it is how out-of-character it was for Kidd to react like that.
He apparently reached his boiling point with the constant negativity he reads and hears concerning his team and players.
And, so, he snapped.
I remember a moment in time way back when Brian Billick was coaching the Ravens. They had just lost an early season home game (I think it was to Tampa Bay?) in a downpour and it was an ugly loss.
Billick stood at the podium after the game, drenched, fielding questions about the defeat.
As he was getting peppered with questions about poor individual performances, he said, "You know, the person that invented this idea of me standing up here and talking to you about the game that just ended 10 minutes ago probably never had to do it themselves."
That moment stuck with me.
It's indeed a difficult thing to finish a game, win or lose, and then be expected to offer insightful commentary on it that doesn't somehow impact the players you're talking about.
In a lot of cases, the coaches haven't had the opportunity to look at one minute of game film to see how that touchdown was scored, how that basket was scored or how that goal was scored.
But they're asked about it and expected to answer it right then and there.
I sat in hundreds of Ravens post-game press conferences in my radio career, both with Billick and Harbaugh. And I'll say, for sure, that Billick's commentary that day shaped the way I framed questions of my own if I even decided to ask one in the first place.
As for Jason Kidd, you'll see in the clip below his outburst this week had more to do with the negativity he perceives to encounter throughout the season.
It's hard to blame him for finally losing it.
| Wednesday November 29, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3383 |
This seems like a cozy topic for a mid-week edition of #DMD.
It's been making the rounds the last two days in the aftermath of Sunday night's win over the Chargers.
Was Zay Flowers wrong for scampering into the end zone from 37 yards out in the final two minutes of the game?
All he needed to do was fall down once he was past the first down marker and the game was over and the Ravens would have themselves a 13-10 win.
Los Angeles only had one time-out remaining. Unless the Ravens somehow inexplicably fumbled the ball in the final 1:40 of the game, the win was in the books if Flowers just goes to the ground.
Instead, he runs into the end zone and it's a 20-10 lead with 1:36 remaining.
Right thing to do?
Wrong thing to do?
I think we all know the answer: Running into the end zone was the wrong thing to do.
But who gets the blame?
On Monday afternoon, offensive coordinator Todd Monken fell on the sword and took the heat, saying he should have specifically told Lamar Jackson to pass on his directive to fall down once any player gained a first down inside of 1:50 left in the game.
So, yes, Monken might have failed.
But should we expect professional football players to know that kind of stuff without being urged by their coaches?
I'm not sure about that one.
There's a lot going on in those final two minutes. And we're presupposing the scoreboard clock operator has the down, distance and time outs listed correctly. As we've seen in the past, there's no guarantee of that.
Should Zay Flowers know how to salt away a football game?
Logic says "Yes".
Reality says "Yes, as long as there's a coach explaining it all to him."
We all know -- or at least you know if you saw the end of the game -- that Flowers had an elaborate post-TD celebration planned for Sunday night. On his first one of the game, he threw a bouquet of flowers over his shoulder. On the second, he kicked a soccer penalty kick past a sprawling Odell Beckham Jr., who served as the imaginary goalkeeper.
I know what you're thinking: If only these players would spend as much time learning the nuances of the last two minutes of the game as they did practicing their post-TD stunts and skits.
You're right.
But those guys -- particularly wide receivers -- think "entertainment first" and all of the other stuff comes thereafter.
A lot of people laughed at the penalty kick skit that followed the late fourth quarter TD.
Those same people wouldn't have been laughing if the Chargers would have somehow scored 10 or 14 points in the final 1:36 after getting the ball back, down 20-10.
I know, I know. "Drew, come on, that's not happening."
I hear you. And I believe you.
That said, I've also seen the NFL. And the game officials.
With 1:36 remaining, Herbert throws a pass to the 50 yard line. He gets up to the line of scrimmage and spikes the ball. On the next play, he throws a deep ball to Keenan Allen.
"Pass interference, defense, #26."
Chargers have the ball on the Baltimore 8 yard line. One play later, they score a TD to make it 20-16 with 1:14 left in the game. The extra point is good. It's 20-17.
The onside kick is improbably recovered by the Chargers.
You can fill in the rest from here because you've seen how the Ravens can give away a game with the best of them. Chargers win, 24-20.
Suddenly, Flowers' faux pas isn't so funny and Mike Tirico isn't giggling up there in the booth.
And if you don't want to believe that wild late-game scenario above could actually occur, you can easily believe this one.
Flowers doesn't fall down. Chargers get the ball back with 1:36 remaining down 20-10. On the third play in that series, Roquan Smith crumbles to the ground with one of those "non-contact" injuries.
As he's driven to the locker room on the back of one of those medical carts, everyone is thinking the same thing.
"None of that happens if Zay just falls down instead of running into the end zone."
Now, yes, I realize we're playing the "if game" in those two instances and we all know about "if" and our "Aunt being our Uncle" and all that stuff. But we're also talking about the very reason why you play the game in the first place.
You're trying to win. If that takes 59:59, that's the way it goes. But if it takes 58:20, why bring anything else in play over the remaining 1:40 that could spoil the party and/or potentially impact the rest of the season?
Thankfully, none of that evil stuff happened and all's well that ended well.
I can't imagine Harbaugh, Monken and the team, even, were all that thrilled with Zay's late-game scamper.
Time will tell if Zay learned his lesson.
| The Stats Nerd | |
Contributed by #DMD's data and numbers analyst The Stats Nerd | ||
Drew noted in his game recap Monday morning that he was surprised the Ravens didn’t go for it on 4th & 1 from the Chargers 26.
As you may recall, the Ravens were up by 3 with 3:02 on the clock when Harbaugh made the decision to send Justin Tucker out for what was a 44 yard attempt.
And Drew was right to question that decision. Both of the models I frequently review saw this as a STRONG Go For It spot. One model liked it as adding over 5% WP% (Win Probability %) and the other roughly 3.5%. That’s a big difference.
It is fair to argue that with Justin Tucker the FG make rates are certainly higher than average and thus the model’s WP% increases may be overstated for the Ravens. But as we saw his make rate isn't 100% as much as we were all surprised by the result.
But more than that, this is about closing games out. The Ravens had a chance to close out the game (more or less) right then and there with a successful first down conversion.
Of course, neither the FG or the conversion attempt are guaranteed, just as no other play through the course of a game is guaranteed. These big decisions just become more magnified because of the finality of the plays and their proximity to the end of the game.
I also think the jump from a 3 point lead to a 6 point lead is a bit overrated.
In fact, the modeling only reveals an increase in WP% of 3-4% being up 6 versus 3. The increased WP% from a successful 4th down conversion is more like 7-8%. Simply, getting the first makes it more likely that the team wins the game than adding 3 points. That’s what the modeling is telling us.
But why? Well conventional wisdom is that the 6 point lead is bigger and thus must be better. And it is. But in either case, a touchdown and extra point still takes the lead from either size lead.
Now it is true that an opponent’s FG no longer ties the game if the lead is 6. And that, of course, accounts for the increased WP%.
But a 6 point lead also gives clarity to the opposition about what to do. They know they need to score a TD and can play accordingly. They can use all 4 downs knowing that they must get in the end zone.
This is not to say I would rather be up by 3 than up by 6. That would be illogical.
But that isn’t the question. The question is would I rather be up 3 with a fresh set of downs and a chance to put the game away or be up 6 kicking to the opponent?
I’d rather take the former and not give the other team the chance to score a TD. And the data would back up that decision.
2023 Season –
If it seems like Harbaugh has been deciding to Go For It on 4th less frequently this year than in prior years, your perception would be correct.
In fact, after Sunday night’s game the Ravens went for it on 2nd the least percentage of times where the models said they “should” (defined as opportunities where the models calculate a +1.5% WP increase or greater).
Surprising? Yes. But to be fair they had the second fewest opportunities that fit that criteria (8). That was second only to San Francisco (3) in the number of opportunities to make the correct decision.
This is likely because the Ravens have had such large leads in games and the 4th down WP% aren’t as affected in games with sizable leads.
Interestingly, the teams around them that have also eschewed proper 4th down decisions are: Cincinnati (annual issue), Tampa, Pittsburgh (annual issue) New England (annual issue) and Denver. These are teams that either don’t believe in analytics as strongly as others or have been slow to warm to them.
What that means is that at least through week 12 the Ravens simply haven’t been in that many high leverage 4th down spots. Quite a contrast to prior years where it seems these 4th down decisions were a weekly occurrence.
Fourth down decisions are often extremely high leverage meaning they have a large impact on game results.
In Sunday evening’s game the Ravens overcame a poor decision late in the fourth quarter. Because they won, most fans and media members have forgotten about that play. The results overshadowed the decision, if you will.
But as I always warn, the key to long term results is stacking marginally beneficial decisions on top of each other. The teams that do that are the teams that give themselves the best chance to stack wins.
Harbaugh would never give us a straight answer as to why he elected to kick Sunday night. Nor do I think he owes anyone that decision analysis, by the way.
But I would hope he and his staff are analyzing these decisions after the fact and realizing they probably got it wrong there.
The Fix is In? –
I have seen a lot of people on social media implying that the league games are fixed or that Vegas can influence games in some way. I’ve even seen it implied in the comments on this very site. At this risk of sounding naive, are these people for real?
If you are a conspiracy theorist, let’s think through this a bit. I’ll concede that the officiating in the league is pretty bad and has impacted some games. If we agree that is the case, I suppose there are two possible reasons for the hot garbage officiating: 1) the league is fixed or 2) the officials just aren’t very good.
Occam’s Razor is a philosophical theory that the explanation that requires the fewest possible assumptions is usually the correct explanation. In this case, do we truly believe there is a cabal of nefarious NFL hangers on pulling the levers of each and every game to dictate outcomes?
Or is a simpler theory that there are 7 human beings on the field that are not nearly as good athletes as the people they are observing and they are attempting to make split second calls on the plays they observe? C’mon man….this needn’t be that hard.
Further, if the fix was in, why are 2 LA teams, 2 NY teams, Chicago team, Boston team and DC team allowed to lose while teams in Jacksonville, Detroit, Kansas City and, yes, Baltimore permitted to win?
It simply doesn’t make any sense to permit the largest TV markets in the country to lose while these small market teams win.
| Tuesday November 28, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3382 |
No, I'm not talking about the public, very ugly legal spat between Daryl Hall and John Oates.
I know, it breaks my heart as well to see those two fighting.
I'm talking about the big story that emerged on Monday connecting Sports Illustrated with AI-generated stories and writers, according to the fine folks at Futurism, whatever that might be.
Sports Illustrated quickly rushed to defend themselves and denounce the story, but if you put any stock in the investigative work of Futurism, it sure looks like there's smoke and a fire.
But why?
Why on earth would a long-standing, (mostly) reputable publication like Sports Illustrated stoop to the level of allowing AI-generated content on their website and in their sports writing?
I see how it starts. Quite easily, in fact.
These days, given the vast number of people out there who provide web-based content, it's incredibly easy to hide among the masses.
I'm not comparing Drew's Morning Dish to Sports Illustrated, but I see it here every single day. People comment here with great regularity using fake names, someone else's name and, in an almost daily occurrence, they'll post comments within minutes of one another using two different names.
It's the internet. It's supposed to be wacky and mysterious, right?
So it seems kind of natural for Sports Illustrated to try some trickery of their own, perhaps in an effort to save on editorial expenses such as writers, editors and so on.
"No one will ever find out," the S.I. higher-ups probably surmised in a board room somewhere.
And, in fairness, a lot of what you see these days from AI-generated content is so good and so well done that it really is hard to tell the difference.
Who gets hurt by it, anyway?
I mean, if you're a Sports Illustrated reader and "Bob Smith" writes a piece about the baseball off-season and an AI-generated platform constructs a similar piece, what's the harm as long as all the facts and data are correct?
That's the way the magazine thinks, anyway.
"What's the harm?"
We all know what the harm is.
The harm comes in the change itself. The acceptance that the human being is now getting replaced by a computer who can write about any subject better than we can write about it.
That's the harm.
Here's a small excerpt from the story Futurism broke on Monday.
Needless to say, neither fake authors who are suddenly replaced with different names nor deplorable-quality AI-generated content with no disclosure amount to anything resembling good journalism, and to see it published by a once-iconic magazine like Sports Illustrated is disheartening. Bylines exist for a reason: they give credit where it's due, and just as importantly, they let readers hold writers accountable.
The undisclosed AI content is a direct affront to the fabric of media ethics, in other words, not to mention a perfect recipe for eroding reader trust. And at the end of the day, it's just remarkably irresponsible behavior that we shouldn't see anywhere — let alone normalized by a high-visibility publisher.
That's called "taking Sports Illustrated to task", if you couldn't tell.
AI-generated stories and input from computers might be the wave of the future, but some things should always remain clean.
Sports Illustrated sold their soul? It just can't be.
I recently wrote a very lengthy piece for a national golf outlet about my experience at the 2021 U.S. Senior Open. I have no idea when they plan on running it, but an editor reached out to me recently and said, "Would it be OK if we touched up a few things?"
I objected to that, without even asking what it was they wanted to touch up.
It's my story. In my words. There's nothing about it I want to see different.
And the last thing I'd ever want -- or accept -- is for the outlet to feed my own 5,000 words into a computer and have the machine spit out something else. Even if, somehow, it was deemed "better", I still wouldn't tolerate it.
Sports Illustrated was, throughout most of my life, at least, the most well respected sports magazine of its kind.
Sure, maybe they lost their way a little bit with the advent of the "Swimsuit Issue", but, hey, sales are sales, especially in February when there's nothing else going on.
How has it come to pass that we're now learning -- again, assuming Monday's story is true -- even Sports Illustrated can't be trusted?
They've apparently made up names of writers, shared their "headshot" (an AI-generated picture/character that you, yourself, could purchase, much like clip art) with us, and then led us to believe the content those "people" provided was work produced by a human being.
Sports Illustrated sold their soul.
Say it isn't so.
Bill asks -- "Hi Drew, what's your take on the story about the Bengals hiding Joe Burrow's injury and the NFL's investigation into the whole thing? Do you think there's a chance they'll get fined or lose a draft pick?"
DF says -- "It's a joke. The league is a joke. Why on earth should any team have to report an injury that another team can take advantage of during the upcoming game? It's stupid. Of course Burrow's hand was hurt before the Ravens game. But why on earth should Cincinnati have to tell the Ravens and the whole league about it?
I know the reason. I know the answer. "Gambling". That's all it is, plain and simple. That's the only reason there's an injury report every day. Las Vegas demands it. And the league long ago caved in on that subject.
We all know Bill Belichick has disguised or not reported player injuries over the years. News flash -- HE WAS TRYING TO WIN FOOTBALL GAMES. I'm sure the Bengals were doing the same thing when they tried to hide Burrow's injury.
The NFL does a lot of dumb stuff (and still makes billions of dollars). Forcing teams to tell everyone else what's wrong with certain players is about the dumbest thing they do.
And, yes, I'm guessing there will be a fine or penalty of some kind. The league has to make sure Las Vegas is happy."
T.J. asks -- "What do you think would be a successful tournament for Tiger at the Hero next (this) week?"
DF says: "Considering he hasn't played in a real golf tournament since last April and looking at the field he's assembled in the Bahamas, I'd say anything in the top 10 would be really impressive.
I mean, there's definitely a chance he doesn't beat anyone in the field. All of the other 18 guys could beat him over the four day tournament. But if he can finish in the top 15, that's a nice start to his "new" season. Anything in the top 10 would be great.
My guess is he'll do something newsworthy the first two days. Maybe a 66 or 67 in there somewhere. But he'll run out of gas over the weekend. My official prediction? A tie for 17th place."
Daniel Covington asks -- "I'm a new reader of your website. I basically started reading it every day in late 2022. Congrats on a nice website. I'm curious why you don't cover Maryland football more closely? Thanks, Drew."
DF says -- "You might honestly be the first person that ever asked me that question. In almost 10 years of doing this, you might be the first. And therein lies the reason we don't cover Maryland football.
No one cares.
Maryland football is a nothing-burger in Baltimore.
It's pretty much a nothing-burger throughout Maryland and Washington DC, too.
I've opined on it a lot over the years. They have zero presence in Baltimore because they don't try to gain a presence in Baltimore.
No one in Baltimore can name four guys on the team.
That's not a low blow. It's just a fact."
David Obie asks -- "OK, Drew, you make the choice. Ravens get to the AFC Championship Game in January but lose at home to the Steelers, 33-7. But in exchange the Orioles win the World Series next October. Or Ravens beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, 33-7, but Orioles lose the World Series in 4 straight to the Phillies next October."
DF says -- "Come on, man, you know the answer to this before you even hit "send". The Orioles haven't been to the World Series since 1983. The Ravens have enjoyed plenty of success since they arrived here in 1996. I'd hate like heck to see Pittsburgh beat us in the playoffs in Baltimore (or anywhere), but the answer here, of course, is "the Orioles winning the World Series".
Now, if you would have said the Capitals losing to the Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals or the Orioles winning the World Series...that one, I would have really needed to think that one through."
Carl in Owings Mills asks -- "I'm wondering if you see any similarities in the way John Harbaugh is being treated by the fan base over the last few years and the way Brian Billick was treated on his way out? And do you think there's any chance Bisciotti caves in to public pressure and fires John?"
DF says -- "I don't know. Maybe? I mean, Billick was only here from 1999 through 2007. John's been here since 2008. It's kind of inevitable people would eventually grow tired of John. The issue with Billick was he never really had a legitimate quarterback to work with. Sure, they brought in Steve McNair, but he was in the November of his career when he got here. The only reason they brought him in was because Boller had flopped.
Harbaugh, as we know, is never getting fired in Baltimore. At least not publicly, anyway. Steve would never do that to him. The only way John leaves is if he decides to leave. I've talked about this before. Bisciotti's making $100 million a year these days. What's he care if they win or lose on the field? He won a Super Bowl. It was nice. But if you said to Bisciotti, "Make $100 million and lose or make $50 million and win", I'm pretty sure he's taking the $100 million and losing like the other 30 guys in the league who don't win.
So when people say, "Bisciott's fed up with not winning", it's not like it was back in 2007 when the team was making $10 million a year and they couldn't win in Billick's final couple of years.
They're not winning now (the Super Bowl, that is) and yet they're raking in $100 million annually in profits. Who cares if they win?
So that's the biggest difference I see in the Billick era and the Harbaugh era. Bisciotti used to be really invested in how they did on the field because that's where he got the biggest bang for his investment, emotionally. Now, his emotional "bang" is tied into the bottom line, the league TV deal, and so on. I'm not saying Steve wants to lose. I don't think that's true at all. But I am saying he's fine with losing if they continue to make $100 million."
| Monday November 27, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3381 |
I know, as someone who has seen every game in the John Harbaugh era, that we've all witnessed our fair share of "weird" Ravens games.
Last night's 20-10 win in Los Angeles goes right into the Top 5 list, for sure.
Neither team deserved to win.
That the Ravens could only muster 13 points in the flow of the game before they tacked on a weird, fluke touchdown late in the 4th quarter on what was almost a botched handoff was pretty much embarrassing.
The Chargers entered the game with the worst defense in the league.
The Ravens should have chewed them up.
Instead, it was a dogfight.
That said, the Chargers certainly didn't deserve to win.
Their Jake Plummer-clone at quarterback didn't do anything to distinguish himself. Without Keenan Allen, L.A. wouldn't put up 200 yards of offense in any game. The fact that they scored 10 points last night is a mini-miracle.
It was a weird, weird game.
The Ravens were a little bit lucky to win.
But they were always going to win.
Justin Herbert wasn't beating Lamar Jackson. He just wasn't.
That said, things got a little dicey when Justin Tucker missed the equivalent of a 3-foot putt (44 yard field goal) late in the game.
And when the Baltimore offense comes off the field on 4th and 1 on the play prior to that missed kick, you have to ask no one in particular, "What on earth is going on tonight?"
That was a perfect spot for the Ravens to go for it on 4th and 1. If they get the first down, one more first down would practically salt away the game.
Instead, Tucker came on, missed the kick, and suddenly the Chargers had life, trailing only 13-10.
In almost every similar circumstance over the last five years, the Ravens would have gone for it there. Get one yard, put the game away.
I don't know what went down in that situation, but it was bass-ackwards.
Oh, and the Ravens defense looked like it was going to do what it has a habit of doing -- coughing up a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter. Instead, they tightened up and suffocated the Chargers on the biggest drive of the game with just over 2 minutes left on the clock.
Baltimore scored 20 points against a terrible defense.
And the Ravens defense didn't collapse under the heat of a fourth quarter uprising by the Chargers.
I told you it was a weird game.
Let's pause for a second. Not for station identification. But to bring up Eric DeCosta.
Because we're a society that loves to hit-and-run and never return to the scene of the crime, DeCosta has been castigated at times by a knee-jerk fan base for the various rosters he and his staff have produced over the last five years.
Some of you -- and you know who you are -- owe that man an apology.
Kyle Hamilton.
Roquan Smith.
Keaton Mitchell.
Zay Flowers.
Jadeveon Clowney.
Those were your five MVP's of last night's win over the Chargers.
Oh, and it was DeCosta who finally put the Lamar Jackson contract saga to bed as well, don't forget.
I'm not only bringing up that game to support what DeCosta has done. Those guys and others he drafted or signed have played vital roles for the team throughout the last few years.
But as I watched last night's game unfold, it really dawned on me what kind of impact those specific players are having on the 2023 season and how all of them showcase DeCosta's fingerprints.
And it wasn't like all of those guys were slam-dunk, can't-miss-decisions by DeCosta. He put his acumen on full display with each of them.
Not many people had Hamilton going in the first round. DeCosta did.
Most experts thought Smith was going to be a rental and would bolt from the Ravens as soon as someone threw more money at him in the spring. DeCosta didn't think that.
Keaton Mitchell? Who is he?
The Ravens already had one failed experiment with a small, speedy wide receiver in the first round. DeCosta didn't let the Hollywood Brown experiment faze him. Enter Flowers in the first round.
Clowney? Isn't he "washed" as the kids like to say? DeCosta didn't think so.
Man up, guys. Those of you who bashed DeCosta have some humble pie to eat.
Don't worry, we brought enough for all of you.
And so, we'll file last night's victory away in the same manner we treat them all.
A win is a win.
There are no style points, despite the people crying on the internet throughout the game. Whether you win 7-6 or 37-36, it still counts as "1" in the win column.
That one should just about lock up a playoff spot for the Ravens. They're now 9-3, with 10-3 on the horizon when the Rams visit Baltimore on December 10. Then they'll finish up with road games at Jacksonville and San Francisco, followed by home contests with Miami and the Steelers.
I'm still thinking 12-5 is almost a definite and 13-4 is well within reach.
14-3 is a tad ambitious, particularly when you take into account that each of their final four opponents will be fighting for playoff seeding or, maybe in Pittsburgh's case, a playoff spot.
But 12-5, 13-4 or 14-3 will be good enough to make the Ravens dangerous in the post-season, especially if the defensive performance we saw last night continues into mid-January.
Sadly, though, the Ravens won't play a team like the Chargers again this season.
They'll breeze past the Rams in a couple of weeks and then stuff gets real for the final stretch run.
As long as Lamar stays healthy throughout December and into January, the Ravens will be a tough out when single elimination time rolls around.
It's almost December.
Before you know it, the ESPN "playoff machine" will be up and running and you'll be able to plug every game in to see what happens if we win and they lose or they win and we lose. It's an awesome piece of technology.
In the meantime, here's what the schedules look like for the top 9 AFC playoff hopefuls.
Baltimore (9-3) -- vs. LA Rams, at Jacksonville, at San Francisco, vs. Miami, vs. Pittsburgh
Miami (8-3) -- at Washington, vs. Tennessee, vs. NY Jets, vs. Dallas, at Baltimore, vs. Buffalo
Kansas City (8-3) -- at Green Bay, vs. Buffalo, at New England, vs. Las Vegas, vs. Cincinnati, at LA Chargers
Jacksonville (8-3) -- vs. Cincinnati, at Cleveland, vs. Baltimore, at Tampa Bay, vs. Carolina, at Tennessee
Pittsburgh (7-4) -- vs. Arizona, vs. New England, at Indianapolis, vs. Cincinnati, at Seattle, at Baltimore
Cleveland (7-4) -- at LA Rams, vs. Jacksonville, vs. Chicago, at Houston, vs. NY Jets, at Cincinnati
Houston (6-5) -- vs. Denver, at NY Jets, at Tennessee, vs. Cleveland, vs. Tennessee, at Indianapolis
Denver (6-5) -- at Houston, at LA Chargers, at Detroit, vs. New England, vs. LA Chargers, at Las Vegas
Indianapolis (6-5) -- at Tennessee, at Cincinnati, vs. Pittsburgh, at Atlanta, vs. Las Vegas, vs. Houston
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers 8:20 EDT SoFi Stadium Los Angeles, CA Spread: Ravens (-3.0) |
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Tonight's game in L.A. is one the Ravens should win.
And I'm not saying that because the oddsmakers have the Ravens installed as a 3-point favorite in the game.
I'm saying the Ravens should win because the Chargers don't generally win "these kind" of games. Whenever the Chargers step up in class, they lose.
Home or away, it usually doesn't matter.
Chargers gonna Chargers.
They're 4-6. Their wins have come against the Vikings, Raiders, Bears and Jets. The University of Georgia might go 2-2 in those games.
The only win the Chargers have this season that was even close to "good" was in Minnesota and that was back when the Vikings were still trying to win a game themselves.
Their six losses? Miami, Tennessee, Dallas, Kansas City, Detroit and Green Bay.
On every occasion this season when Justin Herbert and the Chargers have had a chance to beat a good team, they've failed.
Why would tonight be any different?
Could the Ravens lose? Of course. John Harbaugh's team has figured out a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory three times themselves this season. They're 8-3 and coulda, shoulda, woulda have an 11-0 record (or at the least 10-1) if a few things were pieced together better for them in the waning moments of their three losses.
But in the same way the Chargers rarely win games like the one being played tonight, the Ravens -- at least in the Harbaugh/Lamar era -- rarely lose games like this one.
The Chargers are a horse in a mile-and-a-quarter race who would prefer to run six furlongs.
The Ravens are in a six-furlong race and they'll have tons of energy at the finish line, enough to keep running another couple of furlongs if the race allowed for it.
Other than the obvious "on any given Sunday" theme, there's almost nothing about tonight's game that suggests Los Angeles is going to win.
They're not going to be able to stop Lamar and the Baltimore offense. The Chargers have given up 20 or more points in 7 of their 10 games to date. At home, they've allowed 30 or more points in two of their five games.
The L.A. defense is lousy.
And while Justin Herbert is a good quarterback, they have trouble finishing off scoring drives. Dropped passes, fumbles and other mistakes have haunted them all season. Herbert generally does a good drive of getting them into position to score, but the offense can't get the ball into the end zone.
Oh, and L.A.'s Brandon Staley is probably the most maligned head coach in the entire league. He somehow creates a blunder or two in every loss that NFL critics point to as another example of why he shouldn't be the top guy with the Chargers.
Let's be clear on something: This would be a bad loss for the Ravens tonight if they don't leave SoFi with a win.
This is not a Chargers team that beats good teams, home or away. The fact that the game is in Los Angeles tonight just means the Ravens should win 27-20 instead of 34-17, like they would if the game happened to take place in Baltimore.
The Ravens will have too much offense, just enough defense, and better game-planning.
The Chargers, simply put, just don't win games like the one they have at home tonight.
It's not in their DNA, especially in the Brandon Staley era.
Sure, once upon time the Chargers came to Baltimore in the playoffs and stunned Lamar and Harbaugh, but that was a different team entirely. Different coach, different quarterback, different everything.
This version of the Chargers isn't beating a good team like the Ravens. At least nothing about their season or make up (other than "any given Sunday") suggests they have the horsepower for an upset tonight.
Lamar soaks up the national TV spotlight with one of his vintage performances, running for 81 yards and throwing for another 208 as the Ravens jump out to a 17-13 halftime lead, extend that to 23-16, then add a fourth quarter TD and field goal to win 33-23.
Justin Herbert beating Lamar Jackson?
I just don't see it happening tonight.
SAINTS (5-5) AT FALCONS (4-6) -- In the "anyone can win" division of the NFC South (well, except for Carolina), this is a big one today in Atlanta. The Falcons have once again handed the ball to Desmond Ridder, which should last for a few weeks until he costs them a couple of games and they kick him to the curb. New Orleans has looked the part at times this season, but on other occasions they look like a team that has Derek Carr at quarterback.
STEELERS (6-4) AT BENGALS (5-5) -- It's extremely unlikely that Cincinnati can survive without Joe Burrow. They have a better chance of finishing 6-11 than they do 9-8, most likely. But if they have any morsel of hope of making the playoffs, they have to win their home games, like this one today against the Steelers. Pittsburgh has a real quarterback, but only because he can walk and chew gum at the same time. Other than that, Kenny Pickett might as well be Desmond Ridder. If the Steelers don't win today, they should be charged with two losses in the standings. This is a 3-foot putt. Just roll it in...
PANTHERS (1-9) AT TITANS (3-7) -- I'm kinda surprised this one isn't on Sunday Night Football. Or Monday Night. It fits the theme of the games we've been saddled with recently. There are a lot of candidates for "worst game of the NFL season" on this year's schedule. This is definitely a leading contender for the award. Quick, name 4 guys on either team. Right, I couldn't either.
BUCCANEERS (4-6) AT COLTS (5-5) -- Two very similar teams lock horns today in Indianapolis. They both have QB's who everyone thought once upon a time might be good in the league. They both have wins this season that looked impressive at the time. And they're both still in the playoff hunt. This is a big game today. For both sides.
PATRIOTS (2-8) AT GIANTS (3-8) -- Geez, and I was making fun of Panthers vs. Titans. This one might be worse, actually. Bill Belichick is finally getting a visit from the Cleat of Reality. And the Giants are terrible and, yet, still might win today's game somehow. The final of this one could be 6-3. It might set the NFL back a few decades. How's life without Tom Brady, Bill?
JAGUARS (7-3) AT TEXANS (6-4) -- With all due respect to Ravens/Chargers, this is the game that should be on Sunday Night NFL. Of course, no one realized back in April that the Houston Texans would actually be somewhat legitimate in 2023. Jacksonville is a remarkable 4-0 on the road this season, but one of their home losses was to Houston earlier in the season. So the Jaguars desperately need this today or Houston owns the tiebreaker. A win for the Texans this afternoon would also go a long way in helping them feel confident about securing a playoff spot, division title or not. This is a huge game.
BROWNS (7-3) AT BRONCOS (5-5) -- Somehow, against virtually everything reasonable, Denver has worked their way into the playoff picture, without a real quarterback or running game. And their defense that once gave up 70 points in a game earlier this season has actually turned into a sturdy group. Cleveland also doesn't have a real quarterback, but their defense is better than Denver's. A win by the Browns today would all but wrap up a playoff spot since they still have both the Bears and Jets left to play in Cleveland. In a weird way, this should be a very entertaining game.
RAMS (4-6) AT CARDINALS (2-9) -- One would be wise to assume the Cardinals are trying to lose every game they can in an effort to potentially have the chance to draft Marvin Harrison, Jr. next April. The Rams are still barely clinging to playoff hopes in the watered-down NFC, but a loss today to the lowly Cardinals would just about put those hopes to bed. I can't imagine L.A. loses this one, but "on any given Sunday" might happen out in Glendale.
CHIEFS (7-3) AT RAIDERS (5-6) -- If the Raiders are seriously capable of a quick turnaround with Antonio Pierce now at the helm, this is one of those games they'll win...against all odds. Kansas City comes in on the heels of last Sunday night's loss to the Eagles, so they need a bit of a "rebound game" to get that taste out of their mouth. This one should be good. Vegas actually believes they're better than their 5-6 record indicates. Kansas City is good, obviously, but let's see how this one turns out for them today. Maybe they're not as good as they think they are.
BILLS (6-5) AT EAGLES (9-1) -- At some point, Buffalo is going to have to beat someone decent, right? Maybe it's today, in Philadelphia. The Bills are just hanging around, losing games they shouldn't and beating most of the bad teams they play. Are they a one-and-done playoff team or could they string together a couple of decent wins in the final month of the season and hit their stride at just the right time. Or might they flame out entirely and miss the playoffs? The Eagles, meanwhile, appear to be the best team in either conference. Another win today over a good team will further prove that statement.
| Saturday November 25, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3379 |
It's pretty late in the calendar year but I think I've found my most interesting sports story of 2023.
It's not only Gregg Popovich grabbing the microphone on Wednesday night and chiding the home crowd for booing Kawhi Leonard, who was in town playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard was once a member of the Spurs and his departure from the team was met with criticism from the fans.
Popovich doubled down last night, elaborating on the situation prior to San Antonio's home game vs. Golden State.
He might have even tripled-down, if that's possible.
It's an incredibly interesting story to me. Some folks think it's no big deal. Others see where Popovich is coming from.
I'll admit that in 2023 in the U.S., the concept of "decency" is pretty much a forbidden fruit. We either don't know what it is or we don't care that it's not present. Either way, we've pretty much stopped caring about being nice to one another. Our nation has a lot of problems, but that one, in my opinion, is probably our core issue.
So Popovich was asked on Friday night before the game if he had any regrets about standing up for Leonard and admonishing the crowd on Wednesday night.
"Absolutely not," Popovich said. "It's pretty easy to understand. I listened to it for a while and it just got louder and louder and uglier and uglier, and I felt sorry for him, and I was embarrassed for our city, for our organization. Because that's not who we are, that's not how we've conducted ourselves for the last 25 years. It's the opposite of the way we've conducted ourselves, the way we've worked in the community."
There's a lot to unpack right there. But there was more.
"It's kind of an indication of the world we live in today. It was hateful," Popovich said. "It was really disrespectful, it was just mean-spirited. We're the team that when somebody comes back to town after having been a Spur, so you first come back to town, we show a video of them. I can remember when Kawhi and Danny Green came back from Toronto, we showed videos of those guys and the crowd didn't react like that. That tells the whole story, and now it's five years later, six years later, and that's going to happen."
Gregg Popovich gets my Coach-of-the-Year vote and we're a month into the NBA season.
I'm not expecting his words to enact some kind of wholesale change in the way people behave at games in San Antonio. And I don't anticipate full compliance around the league, either.
But there's a saying in golf that's applicable here: You can't change something without changing something.
If you're hitting big high whiffs to the right with your driver and you want to change that, you're going to need to change the way the face of your club meets the ball at impact. And that probably means changing your takeaway. And that might also mean changing the way you bring the club into the golf ball on the downswing.
Popovich, as I see it, doesn't want to change the NBA. He just wants to change the way things are in San Antonio. He can't worry about what they do in Charlotte or Salt Lake City, but he can worry about his franchise.
When I first took over at Calvert Hall in 2013, there was a general disregard for a lot of simple things, like punctuality to practice, dress code and on course behavior. With all due respect to the coaches who were involved in the program before me, those issues just weren't considered important. It also didn't help that nearly every other team had issues keeping their shirts tucked in and wearing their hats the right way and on course behavior was, in some instances, embarrassing.
So in 2013, Calvert Hall Golf changed.
Shirts tucked in. Hats forward at all times. No club throwing. Like, none. Not even a frustrated club "toss". No swearing after a bad shot.
In 2023, the same rules still apply. Shirts tucked in at all times. Hat forward. We don't even think about throwing a club, let alone actually throwing one.
Other teams don't comply with those standards and I couldn't care less. I see kids from other teams milling around the course with their shirts untucked or their hats backwards. I see club throwing and hear foul language.
But as for Calvert Hall, as Gregg Popovich said this week, "that's not who we are".
Win or lose, we dress the right way. We play the right way. And, unlike some other coaches in the conference, when we lose we lose the right way, with a handshake and a tip of the cap.
If you don't do it, how do you expect others to follow suit?
So Popovich should be applauded for what he did this week. He stood up for someone who was once part of his team. He stood up for another human being as well.
Popovich knows he isn't going to change the world. He realizes people are still going to boo. But he also knows if he doesn't change something, nothing's getting changed.
And his words serve as a reminder to his players that San Antonio, hopefully, is a different place to set up camp and play basketball.
I've tried hard to do the same thing at Calvert Hall. Other high school coaches that I know -- both in golf and other sports -- try to do it as well. We're trying to show our young student-athletes that you can be everything you want to be and be successful and it can all be done without showboating, not dressing the right way, lashing out at the referees, showing up late, and so on.
Popovich was trying to remind the fans on Wednesday night that you can come to the game and be a great fan and it doesn't require you to be a flaming a-hole at the same time.
Of everything Popovich said, this really stood out to me: "Because that's not who we are, that's not how we've conducted ourselves for the last 25 years. It's the opposite of the way we've conducted ourselves, the way we've worked in the community."
"We" is a number of things.
"We" is Popovich himself.
"We" is the organization.
"We" is the basketball community, whether that's the fans, sponsors, etc.
It's a culture that Popovich has built.
Win or lose, he's trying to change something. And the only way he can change it is by changing it.
It's a simple effort.
I doubt it gets much traction because people are far more inclined to say, "F-him, I'll do whatever I want" rather than say, "You know, maybe being nice to people isn't such a bad idea after all."
But Gregg Popovich knows, if nothing else, that he's not going to change. He knows he isn't going to start mistreating visiting players or advocate creating a hostile in-arena environment.
So he'll work on trying to get others to change.
God Bless him.
| Friday November 24, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3378 |
While involved in several different sports conversations with friends yesterday, one of them turned the topic to college sports and a recent article about the NIL money student-athletes are raking in.
"Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are both making over a million bucks," one friend proclaimed as he showed me the piece on something called Andscape.
I laughed.
"What's funny?" he asked. "I'm serious, they're both making over a million."
I laughed again.
"No one knows who those two guys are," I said.
"You're crazy," he replied. "They have over a million followers on TikTok."
There were 11 people in the room at that moment. Seven males and four females. The males ranged in age from 22 to 66. The females were all adults -- over the age of 40 (you know how women are about their age...).
"Time for a quick roll call," I said to the group. Some were watching football. Others were talking about a cruise several of the people in the room had just enjoyed last month.
"Who is Travis Hunter?" I asked.
"If you know, don't shout it out," I explained. "Just hold up your hand."
Two people raised their hand: The 22-year old I had been talking to and a 35 year old male. A 27-year old and 29 year old looked at me dumbfounded.
"Shedeur Sanders? Anyone know him?"
The same two hands went up.
"Back to what you were doing," I said.
"No one knows who those two guys are," I repeated to my young friend.
"And I'm not saying that makes them irrelevant or anything like that. They are relevant. In their own little world. College football fanatics know who they are. But even then, I'm guessing there are plenty of college football followers who don't know who they are, either."
"What's your point?" the young man asked.
"My point is these companies are out of their minds for giving away that kind of money to college athletes that no one knows anything about," I said.
I understand the realities of Name, Image, Likeness and from 35,000 feet, I see the fairness in it. I've always been an advocate of college athletes going to school and earning a degree in exchange for their participation as an athlete at said school.
These garbage hot-takes about the "school making all of the money" doesn't take into account the $250,000 (or more) the student-athlete saves by agreeing to play (insert sport here) for the school.
But if you're going to sell a kid's jersey in the school store, he should get $10 of that. Or whatever the decided-upon-fair-price-is for that kind of transaction. I do understand the fairness in that.
However, there's a big difference between peddling a player's jersey in the school store -- where almost everyone knows him -- and giving him $500,000 to hawk yogurt for you on national television.
The blame here goes to the yogurt people and the rental car people and the pizza people.
No wonder it's $18.99 for a (mediocre) large pizza at that pizza chain. They're giving a half-million dollars to some dude no one knows to help them market their product.
The kids are just taking the money that's out there for them. They might be lazy in some cases, but they're sure not dumb.
Meanwhile, these companies are aligning themselves with college athletes who are barely scratching the surface of "impact".
Here's the aforementioned article on Sanders and Hunter that outlines their respective NIL deals and income. If you're interested in what's transpiring in college sports, you can read it all right here.
Personally, I've been tuning out of college sports more and more over the last 10 years. I've had this discussion with a lot of my friends and written about it here as well on numerous occasions.
It's not one thing in particular that has soured me. It's a pizza kind of thing -- there are a lot of slices to go around.
More than anything, though, there was a time (way back when) when it felt like college sports had some purity and integrity embedded into its infrastracture.
I don't know when those days ended, but they're long gone.
And please understand: Everyone's to blame. The NCAA, the schools, the coaches, the players, their parents. Everyone has played a role in the dissolving of the basic goodness of high-level college sports. And when I say "high-level", yes, I'm talking mainly about men's football and basketball.
I realize there's dirty pool being played in women's sports as well, but no one cares at all about that. And I mean that with no disrespect to the fact that women are playing those sports. I'm saying no one cares if UConn or South Carolina bends the rules to improve their women's basketball team. It's a nothing-burger to 98% of the sporting world.
So when I hear about two football players from Colorado cashing in and making millions peddling pizza and jewelry and cars and yogurt, I just chalk that up to another example of how bass-ackwards it all is.
You're gonna buy a watch because some kid who plays college football for a team you've probably never watched once is telling you how great the watch is?
If so, maybe the joke is on you and not the watch company.
I'm also willing to admit I'm more of a lone wolf on this one and that's OK, too. I "vote", if you will, with my TV remote and my credit card. I rarely watch any college football and the only college basketball I'm really glued into these days are games involving the Terps.
And even then, I'm mostly just a casual observer, although I'm wise enough to know that Hakim Hart somehow convinced Villanova -- a better program than Maryland -- to take him for a season, which seems like the sales job of the century by Hart or his representative.
I'm also wise enough to know that I'm not renting a car or buying jewelry because a 19-year old who went around the country with hat in hand while he was in high school is telling me to do so. You might do that. Your neighbor might do that. The rental car folks and the jewelry honchos are banking on it, actually.
I'm in the minority, admittedly, but I find the entire thing laughable.
| RANDY MORGAN | |
Americans are playing more and more of a vital role in international soccer these days, and Randy Morgan has his eyes on all of them for #DMD. Each week here, he looks at recent performances of American players and highlights upcoming games of importance. | ||
This weekend European leagues will reconvene after the short international break. Most leagues are fast approaching the midway point of their season and the Champions League has just two rounds left before heading to the knockout stage.
Today we’ll take a look at the highlights from the past month in the top leagues and where the title races stand as we head towards the winter.
But first we’ll take a quick look at how the US men fared in their recent CONCACAF Nations League games.
USMNT November Window –
The US men played a two game series with Trinidad & Tobago this past week, home and away, as part of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals. The games also served as the qualification for next summer’s important Copa America.
It was a mixed bag for the USMNT. They ultimately got the results they needed to advance in the Nations League and qualify for the Copa America, but they weren’t especially convincing in doing so.
In the home leg last Thursday, the US largely dominated, though it took them until late in the game to finally find the net. Trinidad & Tobago managed to hold the US off until the 82nd minute, when Ricardo Pepi directed in an Antonee Robinson cross and then the Americans quickly piled on two more with goals from Robinson and Gio Reyna.
With a 3-0 win and 26 shots for the US to just 1 for T&T, it’s hard to say the US needed to do better. However, this was another game where the team struggled to break down a lesser opponent with a deeply packed defense.
In this one the US even held a man advantage for a large chunk after a red card for T&T. Although they did eventually break through, it would have inspired more confidence if the US could have found goals more easy to come by.
The second leg was the more disappointing of the two, though there was one large mitigating factor. The US started the game off well, dictating the game with a large share of possession and creating several solid chances. They struck first when Antonee Robinson headed in a Sergino Dest cross in the 25th minute and looked on their way to an easy victory.
However, Dest had other ideas. The young right back proceeded to completely lose his mind late in the first half, punting a ball into the stands in protest of a simple out of bounds call and then going off on the referee to earn two yellow cards and a quick ejection.
The ejection of Dest certainly threw a wrench in the American plan, as Berhalter was forced to remove an attacker to introduce a defensive replacement for Dest and that happened to be their most creative player, Gio Reyna. It seems Reyna was scheduled to come off at halftime anyway due to injury concerns, thus the reason he was sacrificed.
Trinidad & Tobago quickly took advantage, equalizing just minutes after Dest’s departure. Then they took the lead early in the second half on a long free kick thanks to an absolute howler from Matt Turner, who had his worst day in a US shirt.
To be completely honest, after the reduction to ten men, it seemed the US was just playing out the string to preserve the four goal aggregate lead they held in order to secure their advancement in the competition. There was a lot of time wasting and conservative play in the second half and T&T was never realistically going to score three more goals. So it’s hard to take too much away from this game after the red card.
For Dest’s part, he apologized to the team and made a statement expressing his regret. He will be suspended for the March Nations League semifinals, and it is possible Berhalter may leave him home for that window entirely to consider his actions.
Nevertheless, he is too important to the team to suffer any extenuated punishment, there is no like for like replacement for him in the team, so I imagine he will have his spot back by the Copa America.
Champions League –
The sixteen team field for the knockout rounds is starting to take shape as the Champions League heads into the final two group stage games. Several groups have already been decided but a few remain closely contested.
Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all stayed perfect in the group stage. Bayern was tested both times by Turkish side Galatasaray but prevailed in both legs with three goals and an assist from Harry Kane.
Manchester City got two relatively easy victories over Switzerland’s Young Boys, winning 3-1 and 3-0 with Erling Haaland scoring four over the two games. Real Madrid downed Portuguese team Braga twice to stay atop Group C.
Group F has provided the most dramatic battle in the group stage, with all four teams still alive. Borussia Dortmund leads the group with seven points after picking up back to back wins over Newcastle United, 1-0 on the road and then 2-0 at home.
AC Milan and Paris St. Germain split their home-road series with the Parisians winning 3-0 in Paris but Milan bouncing back for a 2-1 in Italy. Christian Pulisic had a hand in creating the second goal of the home win.
Barcelona and Porto are now tied atop Group D after Shakhtar Donetsk shocked the Spanish giants with a 1-0 home win and Porto took care of Royal Antwerp fairly easily in both matches.
In Group D its Inter Milan and Real Sociedad in the driver’s seat after four games, tied with 10 points and both sure of advancement. Arsenal has a comfortable lead in Group B after beating Sevilla at home and away. PSV Eindhoven and Lens are tied behind Arsenal, with each having games against Arsenal and Sevilla remaining.
Group E is another tight competition after four rounds, with Atletico Madrid on top but Lazio and Feyenoord both within two points and the race still wide open.
England –
In the Premier League a familiar face is back on top. Manchester City has risen to the top of the standings once again, getting three wins and a draw over the past month to capture a one point advantage over second place Liverpool.
Liverpool has jumped into second place with an undefeated record over the past month, partially due to a favorable schedule. They are tied with Arsenal at 27 points. Arsenal lost to Newcastle but beat Sheffield United and Burnley.
Tottenham was knocked off their top spot and slid all the way down to fourth place, losing their last two in a row to Chelsea and Wolves. The first was unfortunate after they suffered a questionable early red card and the loss to Wolves was a total meltdown that saw them concede two goals in injury time to lose.
Upstarts Aston Villa have put themselves in the race for Champions League, moving up to fifth place by winning three of their last four, and sitting just three points from the top of the table.
Italy –
Serie A came out of the last international break with a pivotal showdown between Juventus and AC Milan where Juventus managed a 1-0 win to gain the upper hand. They then strung together three more one goal wins for a perfect month that moved them into second place, just two points behind leaders Inter Milan.
Inter got a perfect four wins from four in the league since the last break, moving to the top of the standings. Lautaro Martinez continues to lead the way for them, leading the league in scoring.
AC Milan dropped from the top spot with loses to Juventus and Udinese and draws in their other two games. Meanwhile, reigning champions Napoli faltered as well, winning just two of their last four and finding themselves in a tight race with Atalanta and Fiorentina for fourth place.
Germany –
After eleven rounds, both Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich remain undefeated in the Bundesliga. They each won all four games over the last month, allowing Leverkusen to maintain their two point edge over Bayern.
The title battle is beginning to look like a two horse race as the remaining contenders all dropped off a bit over the past month. Despite their success in the Champions League, Borussia Dortmund have struggled in the domestic league.
They were completely dominated by Bayern in a 4-0 Der Klassiker loss where Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel completely outmaneuvered Dortmund’s Edin Terzic. After failing to win in their last three league games, Dortmund has fallen to fifth place, ten points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Stuttgart dropped two of their last three as well, but managed to beat Dortmund to stay in third place, seven points off the top. RB Leipzig has moved into fourth place, winning three of their last four.
Spain –
Thirteen rounds into the La Liga season there is an extremely surprising leader, as Cinderella story Girona continued their magical start to the season with a perfect last month. The win streak has propelled them to a two point lead over second place Real Madrid.
At this point it seems no fluke that Girona is leading the league, as they have the highest scoring attack and are near the top in goal differential as well.
Real Madrid had a couple of disappointing draws while dealing with several key injuries, including missing Jude Bellingham for a few games. However, the season’s breakout star was available for the first El Clasico of the season against Barcelona and he only solidified his case as perhaps the best player in the world right now.
After an early Barcelona goal, Bellingham sparked a Madrid comeback with a rocket golazo from long range and then sealed the victory for Madrid with a late game winner from close range in the box.
The win put some separation between the country’s two biggest rivals, with Barcelona now trailing in third place, two points behind Real Madrid and four behind leaders Girona. Atletico Madrid are currently fourth, two points behind Barcelona.
Team of the Month –
G: Ter Stegen - Barcelona
D: Hakimi - PSG; Araujo - Barcelona; Tah - Bayer Leverkusen; Grimaldo - Bayer Leverkusen
M: Bellingham - Real Madrid; Rodri - Man City; Zaire-Emery - PSG
F: Simons - RB Leipzig; Kane - Bayern; Mbappe - PSG
Player of the Month –
Harry Kane - Bayern Munich
Yet another Englishman abroad takes the honors this month. Similar to his countryman Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane made a high profile move this summer, leaving Tottenham to join Bayern Munich. Also similar to Bellingham, Kane’s move has been a huge success.
Since the last break, Kane put up twelve goals and two assists between the Bundesliga and the Champions League, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 drubbing of Borussia Dortmund. Kane now leads the German league in goals and goals+assists. The latter of which he leads by a wide margin. He also leads the Champions League in goals and assists combined.
After struggling to find a true goal scoring striker since the departure of Robert Lewandowksi, it seems Bayern has found that man in Harry Kane. Not only has Kane been scoring goals, but his all-around skillset at the striker position and ability to set up his teammates has helped winger Leroy Sane to the best season of his career.
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faith in sports |
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The Oklahoma Sooners made national news last spring when they won the national softball championship and spent most of their post-title press conference speaking openly about their faith.
That is not something new in Norman, Oklahoma. The Lady Sooners have been doing that for a long time.
To see how they've grown in their faith as a program, here's a 6-minute video of where it all started.
Thanks, as always, to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their support of #DMD and our Friday feature, "Faith in Sports".
| Thursday November 23, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3377 |
Thanksgiving Day is upon us.
I guess that officially makes it the "holiday season" in these parts.
I hope you and your family have a meaningful gathering today, wherever you might be settling in for food, fellowship and football.
I'll be starting my day with some friends from the Calvert Hall community. We'll have coffee and head to the Turkey Bowl, where the Cardinals and Loyola Dons will do battle at Towson University.
I'm obviously rooting for the Cardinals, but what I'm really hoping for is an injury free game from both teams where all of the participants can celebrate the holiday afterwards with their friends and family. If everyone who plays in the game is healthy at the final whistle, that's the biggest "win" there can be.
A crowd of close to 10,000 is expected for today's clash.
May the best team win.
There was an incident in a recent college basketball game that is important to highlight, I believe, for anyone who is connected to competitive sports.
There are many tentacles to the story involving Fardaws Aimaq, who plays for the California Golden Bears.
Aimaq is the son of an Afghan refugee who grew up in Vancouver. Throughout Monday's game, a fan constantly harrassed Aimaq and allegedly called him a "terrorist" on several occasions. After the game, the Cal player went into the stands to confront the heckler.
School officials are trying to have the fan banned from the arena for any games in the future.
Cal coach Mark Madsen said his player shouldn't have to put up with that kind of behavior from fans, but also criticized his player for taking matters into his own hands.
"Fardaws and I had an important conversation today about how he needs to maintain his composure regardless of what takes place in a game or what is said to him directly," Madsen said in a statement. "I am disturbed that Fardaws was allegedly on the receiving end of such language, and I'm disappointed that he confronted this fan in the stands. Fardaws understands my expectations for how he as a student-athlete conducts himself. The consequences related to this situation will be managed internally."
OK, I get it. The coach has to say all the right things after an incident like that. He's right, the young man can't go into the stands after the game. Those kinds of moments can blow up in a hurry.
But these people who go to games (in every league) and think they have a free pass to say anything and everything they want to the athletes and game officials are the real problem.
Schools try hard to offer friendly, positive messages before games. I hear them all the time when I go to MIAA high school games, whether they're at Calvert Hall or elsewhere.
People have listening issues.
And decorum issues.
Without mentioning the school, I'll just say that earlier this fall at a soccer game at Calvert Hall, a visiting female fan came down from the stands and stood next to the perimeter fence, right next to the track, some 10 yards or so from sideline.
She wasn't there 30 seconds when he started berating a Calvert Hall player who is small in stature. She called him "minnow" and "small fry", berated the referee for "not knowing there are two teams playing" and at one point said, "The league can't have us win this game, can they Mister Ref?"
Worst of all? There were several other parents of players from the visiting team standing down there near the fence and none of them said a word to her.
And "double worst of all"? She's a mother. Of a kid on the visiting team.
Eventually, a Calvert Hall parent tried to rein her in and that didn't work, either. It only made her more obnoxious.
She continually lashed out at the Cardinals player anytime he came near the sideline.
It made me wonder.
"What's wrong with you people? It's a high school soccer game. These are, still, "kids". You know, your own son is playing in the game, too, and he could be the victim of similar treatment from fans as well. Is that what you want?"
I bring that story up because it's one of the more recent episodes I've witnessed as it relates to "fan behavior".
Just last in fact, San Antonio head coach Greg Popovich went to the microphone during the game and admonished the crowd for booing Kawhi Leonard, a former member of his team that Spurs fans have turned against.
"Will you stop booing and just let these guys play?" Popovich asked the crowd.
I sent out an early morning message to my golf team today about this morning's football game. "Go have fun. Be respectful. Don't overdo it. You're there as a Calvert Hall student and member of the golf program today."
We all need to do our part, individually, to curb bad fan behavior at sporting events everywhere, whether it's at the rec level (where there's a lot of it), the high school level, the college level and even the the professional level.
It's gotten out of hand.
In some games, particularly in the pro sports, too much alcohol is a contributing factor.
In a lot of other cases, though, just being a goof is the main issue. Some people just don't get it.
I realize the young man at Cal was wrong for going in the stands. But everyone has a breaking point. He reached his when the man subjected him to "terrorist" taunts.
Let's blame the right party.
Adults who know better.
On this Thanksgiving Day, let's be grateful that we have children, grandchildren, friends and professional athletes to watch.
Let's be grateful for their willingness to compete and put themselves in the spotlight for everyone to watch and judge.
And, as fans, spectators or whatever term you want to use: Let's be better at being a human being.
It's really not that hard.
May God bless all of you with a wonderful Thanksgiving Day today. If you're driving to and from, please drive safely.
| Wednesday November 22, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3376 |
This is one of those really weird -- but awesome -- weeks of the year where everyone pretty much gets four straight days off starting at close of business today.
I know a lot of people who are actually off today as well, turning this into a 5-day llloooonnnnngg weekend.
Then there's our emergency responder professionals. Police, firefighters, doctors, nurses, ambulance/EMT. And you're welcome to even throw in utility professionals at BGE.
For those people, there's no 4-day Thanksgiving weekend. Some of them even work tomorrow, while 98% of the rest of the country eats turkey and watches football.
A few years ago, I started doing something every Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I'll continue the new tradition today.
While I'm out and about, any emergency responder I see in my immediate surroundings gets a "thanks for what you do" greeting.
I have actually tried to incorporate this into my daily routine over the last year or so. If I see a police officer in Royal Farms, I thank them. If I'm at the grocery store and I see an EMT, I thank them.
But today is a day for all of us to make it a point to say thank you anytime we encounter one of those emergency responders.
I'm not suggesting at all this could snowball into a nationwide thing when I say this, but how cool would it be if our country made this a "national effort" every Wednesday before Thanksgiving?
I realize we live in a time where people have developed this bizarre dislike for police officers, but the older I get and the more crazy stuff I see on TV and the internet, I'm actually more impressed with law enforcement professionals than ever before. They deserve our praise and appreciation, in the same way firefighters, doctors, nurses and EMT's do as well.
Anyway, if you're up for it today -- or at any point over the long weekend -- just a simple, "Hope you have (had) a great Thanksgiving, thank you for what you do!" would be an awesome gesture. And it might make someone's day as they help keep the rest of us safe while we enjoy our food, friends and football.
Oh, and if you're in one of those occupations and you're reading this right now, experience it here first: THANK YOU!!!
Jim asks -- "I enjoyed your coverage of the Hall of Fame voting today (Tuesday) and was wondering what you see long term for these five players. Max Scherzer, Manny Machado, J.D. Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Jose Altuve. Thanks and good luck to the Hall on Thanksgiving Day."
DF says -- "Scherzer's a lock. 214 career wins, 3.15 ERA. He's what Curt Schilling wanted to be. Probably a first ballot guy.
Manny is certainly on his way. 1,700 hits, 300+ home runs. Career average of .280. Kind of what we saw from Torii Hunter except people actually liked Hunter. If Machado plays six more years and creeps up near 3,000 hits, he'll make it for sure.
J.D. Martinez definitely gets a spot in the Hall of Very Good, but that's his zenith. Very good hitter. Very good career. But he won't even finish with 2,000 hits. Sorry, no Cooperstown for him.
Adam Wainwright is interesting. His numbers suggest he should definitely receive legitimate consideration but he's never really been a guy most of us thought about as a top pitcher in the game. 200 wins, a career ERA of 3.53 (albeit in the N.L.), a top 3 finish in Cy Young voting on 4 different occasions. Honestly, he's a bit of a "modern day" version of Mike Mussina. 200 wins in this day of baseball is like 275 or 300 in the old days. Anyway, I'm going to say "no" on Wainwright ever getting in, but I wouldn't call you crazy if you made a strong case for him.
Jose Altuve is 100% getting into Cooperstown someday. He has 2,000 hits now. Will probably play at least three or four "full time" years and get somewhere near 3,000, barring some kind of weird injury issue. Will also get close to 300 homers when it's all said and done. He's a former MVP, has a couple of rings, might get one or two more as well. He's a slam dunk."
M.C. asks -- "Hypothetical Tiger Woods question for your website. I know you always say we shouldn't expect much from him given his age and injuries but what if the reports out there are true that he's been playing a lot of golf in Florida and looks the best he's looked in five years? What do you think Tiger's ceiling is if everything came together great for him? What could he accomplish, in other words?"
DF says -- "Well, this one is hard to answer because I just can't imagine he's ever going to be healthy enough to play the number of competitive rounds he needs to play to maintain his sharpness. I know what you're asking. But even a hypothetical situation means I have to assume he's a "normal" 48 year old and I don't think that's realistic.
But I'll play along.
If Tiger were somehow healthy enough again to play 8-10 tournaments a year, sprinkled throughout the season to keep his game sharp, he could do anything, still. He can always win at Augusta. Even into his 50's he can still win there. The golf course can't get much longer. He knows the greens and the way to move the ball around the course better than anyone alive. He could (with your caveat of being fully healthy mixed in) win two or three more times there. I don't think he will. But that's the one course where he can still win and compete against the younger generation.
I also think he can win another British Open. Those layouts are generally flat and benign, so if there's one course, again, where length doesn't really matter, it's the rotation of courses they use for the British Open.
I don't know about winning any "regular" TOUR events. I mean, he could always win at Bay Hill or Torrey Pines, but, A) I don't see him play those events any longer, and B) The length of the course is working against him as he ages.
I'm really hoping we can get one more win out of Tiger and that will quench his desire to finish on a high note. I don't know if "82" drives him nuts or not, but to play your entire career and finish tied for the all-time lead in career wins would probably be maddening."
Sean asks -- "With (basically) one month left in the NFL season who is the darkhorse we should be watching for in the AFC? Denver? Houston? Who do you think?"
DF says -- "Well, here's the thing: I don't think Cleveland can win in January without a real quarterback. That said, I think their defense is definitely good enough to go into K.C., Baltimore, Jacksonville or Houston and beat one of those teams in the playoffs. And if they somehow got the right mix of teams in there -- like, say they somehow got to play Jacksonville in the second round after upsetting someone in the first round -- they could win two games with that defense.
I think Denver is a poor man's version of Cleveland, which is weird to say based on the fact they gave up 70 points in one game earlier this season. They have a "semi real quarterback" in Russell Wilson and a couple of decent wide receivers. Their defense is much better of late. Again, do I think they're going to the Super Bowl? I do not. But could they beat someone 19-13 in the first round of the playoffs? For sure.
I don't see Houston as a legit threat yet. But they're definitely on the uptick down there. Give them another year or two.
The only other team you shouldn't write off is Buffalo. I don't know what's going on up there, but it's certainly not "the same Buffalo team" we've seen in recent years. But maybe this is the year where they actually do something in the post-season. You know, the year they sneak into the post-season on the final weekend of the season and finish 10-7 turns out to be the year they put it all together in January.
The rest of the teams in the hunt aren't doing anything. Pittsburgh is done. Cincinnati is done. The L.A. Chargers are done. The Raiders are done. Those teams aren't beating anyone with their respective flaws.
My final answer as the darkhorse is Cleveland. I don't think they can win three games in January and go to the Super Bowl, but that defense is awfully good. If they somehow get any kind of representative play from one of their QB's, they could be a surprise."
Owen asks -- "Hi Drew, are you as shocked as the rest of us at what the Capitals have done so far with Ovechkin off to such a horrible start?"
DF says -- "Very much so. More than shocked. They don't have any goal-scorers at all. And somehow they're 9-1-1 in their last 11 games. It's bizarre.
Goaltending is a key for them. Kuemper isn't very good. I like Lindgren a lot, but he also gets nicked up quite a bit. If Lindgren can stay healthy, maybe that's the key for the Caps.
I still think Ovechkin will get untracked, but 5 goals in 15 games is very concerning. That averages out to right around 28 goals for the season. I highly doubt he finishes with 28 goals, but if he gets injured and misses a dozen games this season, he might be hard pressed to break 30 goals based on this awful start to the '23-24 season.
I haven't really changed my tune on them overall, though. I would be surprised if they make the playoffs. But I'd love to be wrong on that one. The NHL playoffs are no fun at all if your team doesn't get in. Just ask fans of the Flyers. They're used to that feeling."
Adam asks -- "Are you up for some Over Rated and Under Rated for your next Q & A at Drew's Morning Dish? If so, your thoughts on Depeche Mode, Green Day and Duran Duran?"
DF says -- Asking me questions about bands and musical artists is no fun because I think everyone is pretty much underrated except for the Beatles and Slipknot.
Anyone who can play an instrument or sing (well) is underrated in my book. I have a lot of respect for all three of those bands you listed. They're all underrated, especially Duran Duran.
Sorry I can't pontificate about how Green Day stinks, Duran Duran is "too poppy" or Depeche Mode is "too dark" but I think all three of them are really good.
Now, if you want an opinion on the Beatles or Slipknot, we can have some fun there."
| Tuesday November 21, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3375 |
I don't get a vote.
But if I had a vote, I'm fairly convicted on the names I'd check off on my ballot.
I love the baseball Hall of Fame discussion that comes around every year. I enjoy the commentary about stats, and home stadiums, and how important things like wins, hits and saves are in the process we go through in determining someone's Hall of Fame status.
Todd Helton is an interesting example. His numbers were great. His detractors always point to the fact that he played his entire career in Colorado. They forget, of course, that 81 of his 162 games each season were NOT played in Colorado. But his albatross has always been Coors Field. And that's too bad.
Pitching wins used to matter, way back when pitchers actually wanted to pitch and they weren't afraid of throwing 120 pitches or more.
They don't matter much these days. 200 is now the old 300, as in "wins" for starting pitchers. There was a time when you were a lock if you earned 300 pitching victories. These days, 200 appears to be the magic number.
Below are the 26 players who are on the ballot this season and my thoughts on each of them, plus my seven picks.
James Shields, pitcher -- He was a good pitcher for most of his career, but nothing more. Won't be on the ballot for more than a few years. Probably wouldn't even qualify for the Hall of Very Good.
Victor Martinez, catcher/DH -- He was a very good offensive player (.295 career average, 2100+ hits) but certainly not worthy of a spot in Cooperstown. Might get some Hall of Very Good votes, though. Underrated performer throughout most of his career.
Brandon Phillips, 2B -- Another very underrated performer, but not nearly strong enough overall to warrant Hall of Fame consideration. Definitely one of the better 2nd baseman of his era though. Four-time Gold Glove winner and had decent power for a middle infielder.
Jose Reyes, SS -- I'm sure you're immediately poo-poo'ing the idea that Reyes is a Hall of Fame player. I did too. But understand this. Reyes is one of only eight players in MLB history with 2,000 hits, 300 doubles, 100 triples, 100 home runs and 500 steals, and with the exception of Kenny Lofton, everyone else on that list is in the Hall of Fame. Will he get in? Probably not. Is he worthy of discussing? Maybe.
Omar Vizquel, SS -- Was a great defensive player but hit with the same proficiency as Mark Belanger. If you're willing to concede he had fewer big hits than Hall and Oates and you're going to super-focus on his defense, then you can talk about Vizquel in Cooperstown. I'm not willing to make that concession. Hitting matters. Sorry, Omar.
Jose Bautista, OF -- Don't blame me. I didn't put him on the ballot. Sure, he had a 5-year run where he was one of the game's most dangerous power hitters. But you can't put a guy in the HOF because he had 5 or 6 great years. Albert Belle had 10 great years. He's nowhere to be found in Cooperstown. Bautista is a no-go.
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B -- A lot like Bautista, but a little bit better overall. Was a very good defensive player and could hit for power and average. Definitely a Hall of Very Good candidate, but not close to a Cooperstown invite.
Jimmy Rollins, SS -- Was a league MVP in 2007, but for the most part he was just a very good player for a long period of time. Was never really "great", other than in 2007. Not Cooperstown material.
Bartolo Colon, pitcher -- No, no, no. I realize we'd all like to give him the "great for the sport" vote, but Bartolo Colon wasn't a Hall of Fame pitcher. He had a good career with a few very good seasons scattered in there. He won the Cy Young award with the Angels in 2005 but that was his zenith. He did win 247 times, which is impressive. But a career ERA of 4.12 doesn't cut it.
Francisco Rodriguez, relief pitcher -- Was dominant for the better part of a decade. Not sure he's a Hall of Famer, but he was certainly one of the more reliable closers of his era. Doesn't get my vote, but if you're hellbent on voting for him, I won't fight you over it.
David Wright, 3B -- The first of several "sad stories" on the ballot. Was probably going to Cooperstown had he not encountered back issues in his late 20's. As it is, he still had a terrific career, but it was really only 6 (great) years in length. Not a Hall of Fame player because of his early retirement.
Matt Holliday, OF -- He's 100% a first ballot "Hall of Very Good" player but that's as far as he goes, unfortunately. 316 career home runs and 2100 hits. If he could have reached 400 and 2500, then you could really make a case for him. Sadly, there's no Cooperstown for him.
Torii Hunter, OF -- It's kind of crazy that Hunter, with his numbers, has never received more than 9.5% of the vote. 2400+ hits, 353 home runs, 9 Gold Glove awards. He was one of the best all around baseball players of his era. Yet he's been widely disrespected by the voters. I'm not sure what else he needed to do to earn selection to Cooperstown? 400 homers? 2700 hits? So we're keeping him out over 3 homers per-season and 15 hits per-season? He should be in Cooperstown just the way he is. Hunter would be on my ballot in 2024.
Mark Buehrle, pitcher -- It's a colossal embarrassment that Buehrle is still not in Cooperstown. Three years of eligibility and the best he's done is 10.8%. The voters...did they actually watch baseball in the 2000's? Buehrle made 30 or more starts in 15 consecutive years and threw 200 or more innings in 14 straight seasons. He won 214 games. Compiled a 3.81 career ERA while pitching every year but one in the American League during the roided-up period of MLB. He threw both a no-hitter and perfect game. How he isn't in the Hall of Fame is a bigger mystery then what happened to the career of Dido. If you only allowed me to pick one player for Cooperstown in 2024, I'd pick Buehrle. He's on my ballot.
Andy Pettitte, pitcher -- The PED issue clouds his candidacy, but the stats certainly support the southpaw's selection to the Hall of Fame. With 256 career wins and a 3.85 ERA in over 3100 regular season innings, he's really close to being Cooperstown-worthy. Throw in a 3.81 ERA in 276 innings of post-season pitching and now you have a real case for him. I, unfortunately, have a hard-and-fast rule as it relates to Cooperstown. I wouldn't vote for anyone who tested positive for PED's. And Pettitte did. If he's on your ballot because you don't care about that stuff, I won't argue with you. But he's not on my ballot due to the PED admission.
Bobby Abreu, OF -- Extremely productive and equally as underrated. Hall of Very Good without question. Hall of Fame? Nope. 2,500 hits. 288 home runs. 400 steals. If "WAR" is your thing, he was a 5-WAR player seven times. Outstanding career.
Billy Wagner, relief pitcher -- Almost made it last year with 68% of the vote. Just needs a few more votes this year (assuming those who voted for him last year vote for him this year) and he's going to make it. The stats would tell you he's the best left-handed closer of all-time. 2.31 career ERA. 1.00 career WHIP. Only two relief pitchers (Rivera and Hoffman) had a better career WAR than Wagner. Wagner is on my ballot in 2024.
Chase Utley, 2B -- Was very good once he became an everyday player, but that's not enough for Cooperstown. Didn't even reach 2,000 career hits. Solid career, but nothing more.
Gary Sheffield, OF -- Such a shame he was on the juice, because he was one of the more dynamic offensive players of his generation. Almost 2700 hits, 509 HR, 253 stolen bases. But all of that goes out the window thanks to his steroid admission and involvement in the BALCO scandal. Can't be a Hall of Famer when you admitted you were on the juice.
Todd Helton, 1B -- 2,500 hits. 369 homers. The argument against him is "he played in Colorado for 17 seasons." With a .287/.386/.469 career line on the road in his career, Helton was more than competent away from Coors Field. He was 11 votes shy of reaching the 75 percent threshold last year in his fifth year of eligibility after starting out with only 16.5 percent support in 2019. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't make it this year. Helton would be on my ballot in 2024.
Joe Mauer, C/1B -- Was one of the best hitters in all of baseball for a span of six years, but concussions forced him to first base and his career never fully blossomed into Hall of Fame worthy. Just not enough of a body of work to gain entry into Cooperstown. Great hitter, for sure. But needed to put in 15 or 18 years of that kind of production.
Carlos Beltran, OF -- He's one of only five players in MLB history with 400 home runs and 300 steals, joining Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Willie Mays and Andre Dawson. Would be automatic had he reached 3,000 hits (finished with 2725) or 500 homers (435), but there's no doubt he was one of the most talented offensive players in either league throughout his career. The sign-stealing issue in Houston might be his black cloud and there were always rumors that he was on the juice. Received 46.5% of the vote last year in his first go-round of eligibility. Will likely get to 75% as long as the sign-stealing stuff doesn't haunt him. He's a sticky one for me because I *think* he was on PED's, but without a positive test or public admission, I can't hold that against him. Beltran would be on my ballot in 2024.
Manny Ramirez, OF -- Would have been a slam-dunk Hall of Fame player if not for two PED-related suspensions late in his career. Was one of the most feared hitters in baseball for 10-12 years, but there's little doubt that most of his career was spent fiddling around with steroids. 555 career homers should get him into Cooperstown without any thought, but it's unlikely he'll get the 75% vote that he needs. I wouldn't vote for him, despite his prolific offensive career.
Alex Rodriguez, SS/3B -- Well, you're talking about one of the best offensive baseball players in history. But he's an admitted steroid user. He's only received 35% of the vote in his first two years of eligibility. I can't imagine it's going to go up from there. There's no use in spewing his stats. They were all great. He was a tremendous player. But he can't go on my ballot.
Andruw Jones, OF -- If ever a player without 2,000 career hits deserved to be in the Hall of Fame, this is the guy. There have been four players IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL who hit 400 home runs and collected at least 10 Gold Glove awards. Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Schmidt and -- Andruw Jones. He reached 58.1% of the vote last year in his 4th year on the ballot. He's closing in on Cooperstown. Jones would be on my ballot in 2024.
Adrian Beltre, 3B -- What didn't he do? Had over 3,000 hits, hit 477 home runs, was a 5-time Gold Glove third baseman. Anything you wanted him to do on the baseball field, he did. Only 58 players have earned Hall of Fame selection in their first year on the ballot. He should be the 59th this December. There's no way Adrian Beltre isn't a Hall of Famer. Why the wait? Vote him in now. Beltre would be on my ballot in 2024.
So there's my 2024 ballot.
Adrian Beltre
Andruw Jones
Carlos Beltran
Todd Helton
Billy Wagner
Mark Buehrle
Torii Hunter
You've seen the 26 players on this year's ballot. Who are your picks? Remember, you're allowed to make anywhere from 0 to 10 selections.
| Monday November 20, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3374 |
Declan sent me an e-mail on Sunday that got me to thinking.
And while I don't have an answer for him, I completely agree with his premise.
"Have you ever charted the bad beats you get vs. the lucky wins?," Declan wrote. "I think it's 5/1. For every 5 bad beats you get, you pick up 1 win where you were on the good end of the bad beat, if that makes any sense."
Of course it does.
I guess that depends on what your opinion of a "bad beat" is in gambling. I tend to say anything is a bad beat where you were on the wrong end of a half point in football or a basket in basketball. Those two are the worst.
I had one on Sunday, of course. I played an admittedly all-over-the-place small wager on the Browns/Steelers under (hit), the Lions/Bears over (hit), Dallas covering (hit), the Bills covering (hit), the Jaguars covering (hit) and Houston covering.
All I needed was Houston to beat Arizona by 5.5 points. Or six, as it were. They beat the Cardinals by 5, 21-16.
In my world, that's a bad beat. 5 of 6 right, all I needed was a team to win by 5.5 or more and they win by 5. You can't make that stuff up.
Now, let me also say this: It was one of those "shot in the dark" wagers where I knew all along I probably wouldn't win. It's hard enough to hit a 2-team parlay, let alone a 6-way parlay. But had it hit, I would have been one really happy guy.
And when it got down to Houston/Arizona (with Houston up 21-16 throughout the 4th quarter) and needing a 6 point win, I thought I was in good shape and out of harm's way.
Alas, the bad beat.
In fairness, "real" bad beats are more about when one side has the spread or the total in their hip pocket and something wacky happens and you go from holding the winning ticket to the losing ticket in a flash. Scott Van Pelt on ESPN does a wonderful job on Monday nights of chronicling a handful of bad beats from the weekend.
It's funny. And Van Pelt plays it perfectly, laughing along with what we're all about to see. But it's only funny if you didn't have Toledo minus 5.5 and they give up two meaningless three pointers in the final 3 seconds of the game to win 78-73.
Anyway, Declan says bad beats should be charted. Because, somehow, it's a 5/1 ratio. I don't know if that's right, but I'm going to pretend that it is.
And so, that begs the question: Why is that? Why isn't it 5/1 the other way around?
I think Declan is right. I think you see a lot more instances of the team you have getting snipped by a half point than you do the team you have squeaking out a win by a half point.
But why?
Any smart people in the room have an answer?
Matt P. sent me an e-mail about Tiger Woods that I thought was worth answering here.
"Drew, why do you continue to fly Tiger's flag? I'm surprised a guy like you wouldn't have figured it out by now. He's an attention whore and a less than stellar human being. As soon as he announces he's playing again in a made for TV tournament that benefits him, you're right back on the band wagon flying his flag. I'd rather read about the Ravens or Orioles any day of the week other than a washed up golfer with an ego the size of California."
DF says: "There's a lot to unpack with that one, Matt. Seems like you're not a Tiger fan. Well, I am. I always have been. I was "with him" during his good times and stuck with him during his "bad times".
It's very similar, I'd say, to being a fan of a sports team. You're with them when they're winning and things are going well. And you're with them (or supposed to be) when things go south, too. I mean, what's the logic in abandoning your favorite team or player when they're down? That's actually when they need you the most, I'd say."
So, yes, I'm still here, waving Tiger's flag as you say. I laughed at the "attention whore" comment because my guess is Tiger has had enough attention in his life. What he probably really wants is to not be Tiger Woods any longer. Of course, that's impossible. And he'll never have anonymity in his life.
But I highly doubt Tiger needs any more attention than he's already received. I don't know much about Tiger, but I think I know that. He can't go get a coffee in West Palm like you and I can. He can't go out for chinese food like you and I can. He can't go Christmas shopping like you and I can. Purely from an attention standpoint, I think he'd trade places with you and I tomorrow.
I'm excited he's playing again. Golf is way better and infinitely more interesting any weekend Tiger's playing. It just is. Anyone arguing golf is better without Woods is a candidate for "Moronic Comment of The Year". He has two records within his reach, although I think it's a massive longshot to believe he can win 3 more majors. But one more "regular" win and he sets the all-time record with 83 career wins. That's worth following, in my opinion. It's golf history, potentially.
Most people I know who don't like Tiger have disdain for him and his personal flaws, which have all been made very public over the years. I tend to compartmentalize those by acknowledging my own sins and blemishes. I have plenty of them, too. I'm just glad I don't have people following me around 24/7 holding out their cell phones to see what kind of cream I put in my coffee or what kind of running shoes I'm wearing.
I don't know Tiger at all. I've been in his presence twice. Both times it was in a "golf setting" and he was locked in, talking golf, and I saw him in his environment, comfortable and pleasant. Perhaps when he's not in a golf setting he's different. I wouldn't know. Neither do you, of course.
But what I see of Tiger is a guy who is just trying to move through life and do whatever it is he can to make an impact, whether that's by playing at a high level, designing courses, doting on his two children or running his charitable foundation that employs 40 people and raises millions of dollars for boys and girls in Southern California.
Skeptics always say, "Sure, Tiger has a foundation. For tax purposes." Saying that discounts any of the children Tiger's foundation has impacted. Would you rather a high profile athlete organize and run a foundation that benefits people or would you rather them not do that? I want the foundation being run and the community benefit, myself.
So, I just don't see why there's so much disdain and angst for Woods, other than the obvious issue that still rears its head in our country even though we're in the year 2023. Other than race, I'm not sure why you would have so much dislike for someone who hasn't ever done anything wrong to you, personally. Mistakes? He's had some, indeed. So have the rest of us.
I don't care much about the Hero World Challenge and I'm not even 100% I'll watch it, but when the Masters rolls around next April and Woods is in the field, the tournament will be bigger than life. That's why Tiger's iumportant to golf. He makes the Masters in 2024, not the other way around."
Brian T. asks -- "Can Joe Flacco help the Cleveland Browns, Drew?"
DF says -- "I'm not sure that's even the question, really. The question is can he help more than the other two guys (Thompson-Robinson and Walker) they already have?
And I don't know the answer to that question. I do know this, though. Joe's style is much different than the other two. That's 100% for certain.
And with that style comes a certain comfort level, I guess. The Browns know if they have to play Joe that they're going to get a guy with a wealth of experience who will probably protect the ball at all costs and not be quite as turnover prone as the others.
The Browns know they're not getting a fleet-footed guy who can run for 50 yards on a series just as easily as he can throw for 50.
But they also know they're getting a guy who won't vomit in the huddle when it's 24-20 with 1:30 to go and he has to drive the offense 70 yards for the winning touchdown.
Can he help?
I don't think he can hurt, that's for sure.
By signing him, the Browns also made sure the Bengals didn't sign him. That's another consideration that makes sense.
I don't think Joe is "washed", as the kids say, but I also think he's clearly in the December of his career.
Would it shock me if Joe makes little to no impact? Not at all.
Would it surprise me if he somehow engineers a couple of wins for the Browns that help them make the post-season? Not at all.
Cleveland's schedule is pretty easy, really: They have Denver (away), L.A. Rams (away), Jacksonville (home), Chicago (home), Houston (away), New York Jets (home) and Cincinnati (away).
They're 7-3 right now, somehow. That looks like a 10-7 record (or better) no matter who quarterbacks the team. They'll beat Chicago and the Jets in Cleveland and win one of those other games against Denver, the Rams or Jaguars.
Whether it's Flacco getting them to 10 wins remains to be seen, but my summary of his signing is this: He can't hurt."
BROWNS 13 - STEELERS 10 -- This was a real thriller in Cleveland. The Steelers showed us just how fraudulent they are. Couldn't beat the Browns with a back-up QB when they held them to just 13 points on the day.
TEXANS 21 - CARDINALS 16 -- Texans move to 6-4 and are very much alive and well in the AFC playoff picture. C.J. Stroud is on the fast track to Rookie of the Year honors and, frankly, should be a consideration for league MVP with the way he's helped the Texans come up off the mat. He did throw 3 interceptions in yesterday's win over hapless Arizona, though.
JAGUARS 34 - TITANS 14 -- Jacksonville: back on track. Tennessee: off the rails. Tennessee better find themselves a quarterback and quick.
DOLPHINS 20 - RAIDERS 13 -- Not the offensive explosion we thought we might see from the Dolphins but a win is a win. And the Raiders are back to earth after beating two JV teams.
COWBOYS 33 - PANTHERS 10 -- This was a good win for Dallas. Comfortable, methodical and without worry. Dak Prescott only had to throw for 189 yards in this one. The Dallas "D" did most of the work and the Cowboys scored almost at will.
LIONS 31 - BEARS 26 -- Bears gonna Bears. Or something like that. Chicago had this game locked up right up until they didn't. Detroit scores two touchdowns and a safety in the final 3 minutes of the game to steal one in Detroit and improve to 8-2. The Lions are dangerous. They're actually starting to believe they're a good team.
PACKERS 23 - CHARGERS 20 -- Justin Herbert has to be the best QB in the league who gets almost ZERO help from any of his offensive players. Dropped passes, fumbles near the goalline, etc. The Ravens will get to see him next Sunday night in Los Angeles. Let's hope L.A. offensive woes continue for just one more week.
GIANTS 31 - COMMANDERS 19 -- It's amazing how poorly Washington plays against the Giants. No matter how bad the Giants are, they can always beat D.C. I assume this game is the one Commanders' execs will point to when they fire Ron Rivera.
49'ERS 27 - BUCCANEERS 14 -- San Francisco is legit, but they were just "ho hum" yesterday against the Bucs. Tampa Bay is actually still alive in the NFC South despite being 4-6 now.
BILLS 32 - JETS 6 -- Holy cow, the Jets are bad. I guess we knew that, but yesterday it was in high definition. They are B-A-D, bad, bad, bad. Buffalo needed a breather like that to get their chakras back in life and scratch their way into the playoffs.
RAMS 17 - SEAHAWKS 16 -- Seattle missed a field goal at the buzzer to fall in this one. Los Angeles is still hanging in there despite not being able to score any points. The Seahawks, as we saw in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago, are very hot-and-cold. There's not much there, that's for sure.
BRONCOS 21 - VIKINGS 20 -- That loud bang you heard around 11:30 pm was Josh Dobbs falling back to earth. With a thud. Denver is pretty lousy, but Russell Wilson engineered a late drive that included a remarkable catch Courtland Sutton for the Broncos' only TD of the game. Maybe that was just an off night for Dobbs, but he looked out of his element at times. Denver's defense is decent, it's worth noting.
| Sunday November 19, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3373 |
This edition of #DMD has become a rite of passage around here during the NFL season.
I use the first weekend where the Ravens aren't playing and I take a trip down memory lane, if for no other reason than to remind myself that having a coach to ridicule or a quarterback to complain about is far better than what we had in these parts from 1984 through 1995.
A lot of you reading this only heard about the Colts leaving Baltimore. You've seen the video of that snowy night in March. You've seen or heard people like me talk about the uniforms, helmets and disdain for all things Indianapolis. You've sensed the tension in the stadium anytime the Colts come back to town, even some 40 years later.
I experienced it.
A number of you reading this experienced it with me. For some, like me, it might have been the first time you say your father cry.
I say this with absolutely zero disrespect intended for the Ravens and what they've built here. They have been a wonderful addition to our community and have impacted us all greatly since 1996. But if they announced tomorrow they were moving to (insert city here), I most certainly wouldn't shed a tear over it.
I bring that up more to point out what the Colts meant to the community back in those days.
The Ravens are a football team that plays in Baltimore.
The Colts were Baltimore. Embedded. Stitched in and unable to remove. The Colts gave Baltimore life.
And then, suddenly, in 1984, it was all gone.
Two decades ago when I was on the radio, the annual discussion about Art Modell being selected to the Hall of Fame would always present itself around this time of year.
From day one, I said it and I never changed my tune: I don't think any owner who moves a sports franchise should ever go into the Hall of Fame.
Including Art Modell.
That's just my opinion. You can obviously point to people like Al Davis and say "He's in, so shouldn't Art be in?" and that's your rebuttal and your argument to make and I'll hear it. But I'm not changing my stance. I didn't back then and here we are, in 2023, and I still feel the same.
Sure, the people in Cleveland got to keep their name, colors and history. And that, for sure, was an incredibly noble gesture by Modell, although there's little doubt that "Baltimore Browns" wouldn't have looked, felt or sounded "right" in the long run.
But the reality is, Modell did to Cleveland exactly what Irsay did to Baltimore. He took the team and left their stadium empty on Sundays in 1996.
But I digress...
I take this first "empty" Sunday of each football season and, personally, almost treat it like a holiday of sorts. Sure, I'm here today working (insert your quip here), writing, thinking about sports. But I use this day to reflect on what life was like back in 1984.
There was no mention of "Baltimore" in the NFL round-up.
No reference to the Baltimore team in the pre-game shows.
No halftime highlights or post-game discussion about the Baltimore whatever-they're-called.
Today, if you play along, this is what it was like in 1984. There was no football in Baltimore from September through December.
I'll spend my Sunday doing non-football stuff. Church this morning, some much needed yardwork and winter-prep in the afternoon, and then maybe I'll head to Eagle's Nest and hit some golf balls around 3:00 pm for an hour or so.
My 16-year old son will be hanging out today while his mother and sister go to the Mercy High School musical. I'll take some time to mention to him how we didn't have football for a decade or so. I'll tell him about the team moving. He's heard the stories before, but it's always going to remind him of what he has and what I didn't have.
I've said this here before. At the time the Colts left, I was knee-deep in the early days of my Blast front office career. It's certainly not a stretch to say we, the indoor soccer team, benefitted from the Colts leaving. There were more sponsor dollars available, for starters. And we didn't have to schedule around the Colts playing a home game, either.
But the best Blast seasons in Baltimore, from a combined attendance and general enthusiasm standpoint, came when the Colts were in Baltimore.
The Blast were on fire as a product from the 1981-82 season through the 1984-85 season. It was during that stretch we sold out the arena 56 consecutive nights.
Something happened when the Colts left, though. We stayed around and continued to draw good crowds and all, routinely putting 10,000 in the building, but the city lost a hunk of its zeal for sports circa 1985.
I bring up the Blast merely to reflect on my personal experience of the Colts leaving. It didn't impact me all that much simply because I worked nearly every weekend anyway. But I could feel what it did to my mom and dad and I could feel what it did to the community on the whole.
Like most boys who grew up in the 1960's and 1970's, perhaps my two fondest memories in my life were going to football and baseball games at Memorial Stadium with my father. I always used to joke with Toni Linhart when we see one another at a summer charity golf outing that I was one of those people who claim to have been at the "fog game" who actually was there. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Someone remarked here earlier in the week that Oriole Park is the "best stadium ever built". I realize that was mainly hyperbole and not intended to be a scientifically-proven statistical fact, but it's also wrong.
Oriole Park doesn't hold a candle to Memorial Stadium.
Memorial Stadium was a place where men showed up to play sports.
The field wasn't always perfect.
There were football lines on the infield in September.
The grass wasn't always green.
It reeked of beer and discarded mustard packs.
It was, for anyone my age who grew up back then, a cathedral unlike anything I'd ever seen.
In a lot of ways, I'm sad I never got to show Memorial Stadium to my son. All he knows are the two stadiums we have now, beautiful in their own right, but 100% fabricated and heartless.
In 1980, the biggest complaint about Memorial Stadium were the poles that made a number of lower deck seats "obstructed view".
These days, the biggest complaint is the food stands ran out of tartar sauce for your crabcake. Or the person next to you smokes enough weed to qualify as a Dave Matthews Band roadie.
But I digress...
Today, if you're so inclined, "feel" what it's like when you go to the store and no one is wearing their Ravens jersey.
"Feel" what it's like in church when your friends aren't quizzing you about your thoughts on today's game and whether we'll win and hang on to first place.
"Feel" what it's like when you run out to Home Depot and you find the Browns/Steelers game on the radio and you're hearing someone else play football while you're out stocking up on salt for the driveway.
Those "feels" should take you back to 1984, when we started a decade-long run of having no team in Charm City.
We're blessed to have the Ravens.
That's for sure.
But a lot of us still remember what it was like from 1984 through 1996.
Maybe, as I get older, I tend to let football losses drip off of my like water beads after a shower.
I don't like losing. Never have.
But even now, when the Ravens lose a game, I always know this: Losing a game is a lot easier to take than losing a team.
Enjoy your "off" Sunday.
We're back to the grind next Sunday night in Los Angeles.
No Ravens, but still plenty of games.
And some important ones, too.
Our friend Larry is back with another edition of "Fade or Follow". You make the call on the three games he presents.
STEELERS AT BROWNS -- This would have been a good game if Watson was under center for Cleveland. Instead, it will be another ugly win for Pittsburgh, I'm guessing, and we'll have to put up with another week of the "are the Steelers for real?" (Answer: no).
CARDINALS AT TEXANS -- Don't look now but the Texans are 5-4 and firmly in the AFC playoff picture. They should be 6-4 after today's win over Arizona. I realize "any given Sunday" and all, but the Cardinals aren't going to Houston and winning, right? Larry says take the Texans in this one.
TITANS AT JAGUARS -- The Jaguars need a win today to erase the memory of last Sunday's home whipping at the hands of the 49'ers and to also stay ahead of surging Houston. The Titans are 3-6 and just about done in the AFC playoff race. Larry says take the Jaguars in this one.
RAIDERS AT DOLPHINS -- After beating the two New York teams and everyone thinking Antonio Pierce is the next Vince Lombardi, we get to see the Raiders play a real team today. Good luck trying to stop Tyreek Hill, Mr. Pierce.
COWBOYS AT PANTHERS -- Dallas is prone to losing these kind of games. You know, where they face a 1-8 team and should go in there and beat them soundly (like that trip to Arizona a month ago) and somehow wind up in a dogfight with 3 minutes left. The Panthers are better than their 1-8 record indicates. Watch out, Cowboys fans.
BEARS AT LIONS -- This is an epic mismatch, which feels weird to say when the Lions are involved. Because we all know, the Lions are always capable of going back to being the Lions. I don't see that happening today, but I would never bet my house on Detroit's football team to win a game. Like, never. Larry says take the Lions in this one.
CHARGERS AT PACKERS -- Los Angeles really needs a win today to stay alive and vibrant in the AFC playoff picture, especially when they're 4-5 right now and have the Ravens coming to town next week. They could be 4-7 in a heartbeat.
GIANTS AT COMMANDERS -- Giants are done, Commanders are hanging on for dear life. Washington can not afford to lose today. Period. This is a 3-foot putt. Just take your time and ram into the bottom of the cup.
BUCCANEERS AT 49'ERS -- San Francisco got some life pumped back into them with last Sunday's win at Jacksonville. Tampa Bay is starting to look like a team that deceived us in the first month of the campaign.
JETS AT BILLS -- This was routinely a walk in the park for Buffalo, but the Bills aren't very good this season. Neither are the Jets, mind you, but Buffalo just lost at home to Denver. Anything could happen today.
SEAHAWKS AT RAMS -- Baltimore football fans should be rooting for Seattle in this one. The Rams still have to come to Baltimore next month. We'd much prefer the Rams come to town with nothing to play for. A loss today drops them to 3-7 and they're pretty much eliminated.
VIKINGS AT BRONCOS -- I guess this one is interesting because we get to see if Josh Dobbs is really that dude...or not. And we get to watch Russell Wilson "attempt" to play quarterback. Three weeks ago, this game was a mega-dud. Tonight? Might be worth watching.
Tiger Woods gave golf fans an early Christmas gift yesterday when he announced he will play at the Hero World Challenge in two weeks in the Bahamas. Woods hasn't played in a tournament since April's Masters. The Hero World Challenge is an event he runs, inviting 20 of the world's top players to compete over four days. Tiger's back. And golf just got more interesting again.
That was a nice performance by Maryland football yesterday. It might have been as much about Michigan not having their coach, but the Terps hung tough with the #3 team in the country before losing 31-24. This is one of those rare occasions where you can say "the football team was more exciting than the basketball team" over the weekend.
Alex Ovechkin picked up his 5th goal of the season last night as the Caps beat Columbus, 4-3. Of course, I had a lovely 3-team (minus 1.5) parlay that would have helped pay for the Forrester family Christmas that went in the tank when Washington, up 3-1 entering the third period, couldn't win by 2 goals or more. And they had an empty net to shoot at and still couldn't finalize the scoring at 5-3. Rat finks...
Speaking of the Forrester family Christmas, it gets helped out big time today if Eric Cole (trailing by one) can win the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia. I won't even watch it. I'll just do what everyone else does in 2023. I'll refresh my phone every six minutes to see if he can hold on for me.
Towson football got a last minute touchdown yesterday to beat visiting Rhode Island, 31-30. The Tigers are now 5-6 in Coach Pete Shinnick's first season on York Road. Thanksgiving will taste a little better for the Tigers this Thursday after that nice win yesterday.
And speaking of Thanksgiving and Towson University, that will be the site of this Thursday's annual "Turkey Bowl" game between Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield. Tickets are available at either school. Kick-off is set for 10 am.
| Saturday November 18, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3372 |
OK, so that's the end of the Bengals season.
Cleveland was done earlier this week.
These are unfortunate circumstances and one has to be careful not to revel too much...but the season ending injuries to both Deshaun Watson and Joe Burrow have removed two teams who could have been problematic for the Ravens in January.
It goes without saying that every team in the league is always a quarterback-injury away from being done. See the Ravens in 2021 and 2022. As soon as Lamar went out, the Ravens were no longer a threat to do anything in the play offs.
And the same would go this January for Baltimore, Kansas City, Miami, Jacksonville and, if they make it, Buffalo. If the quarterback in those teams can't play in the post-season, that's the end of the road for them.
As it stands right now, only four AFC teams are capable of winning the conference title; Baltimore, Kansas City, Miami and Jacksonville.
In fairness, Jacksonville is a bit of a stretch. But if they get the right post-season draw and have a home game by virtue of winning the AFC South, they could pose a problem for the rest of the conference.
Buffalo is also a stretch. They have a quality QB and WR, but not much else, it appears. They just lost at home to Denver. It's kind of hard to take the Bills seriously.
Pittsburgh is somehow 6-3. It's more of a mystery than the end of The Departed, where Mark Wahlberg wound up being the only guy who survived the entire 2 hours and 20 minutes.
But they're incapable of winning the AFC. The Steelers offense is lousy and their defense is not going to be able to beat three or four really good teams in January (or December for that matter).
One of these four AFC teams is going to the Super Bowl: Baltimore, Kansas City, Miami and Jacksonville.
The Ravens lost Mark Andrews on Thursday, which isn't going to help their cause. He could potentially be back in mid-January, but that seems very unlikely.
Baltimore gets ten days to recover and hopefully have both Ronnie Humphrey and Marlon Humphrey back for the game in L.A. vs. the Chargers on November 26. But even if those two miss that game, they should definitely both return after the bye and be available for the final five games against Jacksonville, L.A. Rams, San Francisco, Miami and Pittsburgh.
The AFC North has been practically gift-wrapped for the Ravens. Their real goal now should be to secure the #1 or #2 seed in the AFC, which would likely mean they avoid Kansas City until the AFC title game.
In order to finish either #1 or #2, the Ravens will have to beat both the Dolphins and Steelers in Baltimore. Those two games will probably be the swing games that determine Baltimore's post-season seed.
Kansas City and Miami can both score points in bunches, obviously. Their offenses can do more than Baltimore's but neither of those teams have anything close to the same defense as the one in Charm City.
Home field will matter.
Health will matter.
And good fortune will matter.
But with Cincinnati and Cleveland now forced to play without a quality quarterback, the Ravens' chances of appearing in the AFC title game for the first time since the 2013 season.
Two more months of fun to go. Hang on, it's going to be a wild eight weeks.
The Mark Andrews injury on Thursday night sparked a lot of media debate on Friday as players and analysts alike talked about the "hip drop" tackle that contributed to the tight end's (potential) season-ending injury.
Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson was the guy who applied the tackle. It might be worth noting that later on in the game he was also involved in a bit of an "interesting" tackle on Lamar Jackson near the sideline. But the tackle Wilson put on Andrews is the one getting the most scrutiny.
A few of you e-mailed asking what I thought about the tackle and whether Wilson should be suspended based on the severity of Andrews' injury.
I could be wrong on this one, because in order to determine what I "think" about the tackle, I'd have to know Wilson's intent. Was he trying to hurt the Baltimore tight end? Or was it just a tackle gone wrong? I doubt Wilson would ever admit that he wanted to injure Andrews.
And I honestly don't think he did. I don't Logan Wilson wanted to end Mark Andrews' season. I think it was a tackle gone wrong.
It's worth nothing that at end of the play, Wilson gets up and gives Andrews a shove with his leg. It might not have been anything or it could have been one of those "how's that foot feel?" kind of reactions after you know you've put a hurtin' on the guy.
But overall, I think it was a tackle Wilson makes 20 times a year and on this occasion, the guy he was tackling got injured.
I'm not flatly defending Wilson by saying this, but I think it rings true in 2023: No one knows how to tackle anyone any longer. And by "knows", I'm talking about from a rules interpretation. Can't tackle the QB, it might be a penalty. Can't hit a wide receiver, it might draw a penalty.
No one knows what's a good tackle and what's a bad tackle. I realize the inherent dangers of the hip drop tackle. I'm assuming the NFL is going to do something about it this off-season. But when you eliminate the hip drop, you've now, once again, altered the landscape of "what's a tackle and what isn't a tackle?"
It's hard enough for these guys to play football and follow the rules. Adding new rules and forcing them into learning new techniques just makes it harder, not easier.
Andy asks -- "Should the NFL Network fire the female reporter who said she's been faking halftime interviews?"
DF says -- "From what I've read, she made those comments about a halftime interview from 15 years ago. It wasn't a current story. If I'm wrong on that, I'm sorry, but that's the way I read the story a couple of days ago.
Obviously, it's not a good thing for a reporter to admit. I mean, when you say, "I just talked with Coach Harbaugh and he told me....." we are all assuming you actually did speak with Coach Harbaugh. If you say you spoke with him and we find out you didn't, you've lost your credibility moving forward.
If the story was current, meaning if she would have admitted to doing that this season, I think she would eventually be fired.
But because it apparently happened 15 years ago, no harm, no foul.
You also know this, though. If she did it once, she probably did it again."
Bart asks -- "The lease still hasn't been signed by the Orioles. What's your gut tell you is the reason?"
DF says -- "Because the Orioles are holding out for more money? Is this a trick question? That can be the only answer, right? They're holding out for something and money seems to be the only thing it could be."
M.J. asks -- "Maryland just got trampled by Villanova tonight (Friday) and only scored 40 points. And now people on the web are asking "Where's Turgeon?". Is this Terps team going to get it together or are they in trouble this season?"
DF says -- "This is a question better suited for Dale Williams because he's the guy who knows everything about Maryland hoops. But it's now starting to look like something Kevin Willard should be concerned with when you see how they're losing. It's one thing if you fight Villanova tooth and nail and lose 77-74 or even 64-60.
Getting run out of the gym and only scoring 40 points? That's a double whammy.
I assume the Terps are going to figure some things out and be decent by the time conference play starts but this 1-3 start is most certainly concerning. They just can't score. You might win a few Big Ten games 53-50, but not many more than that. You need to get into the 60's and 70's regularly. This team looks ill equipped to do that on a consistently basis."
Craig asks -- "Hi Drew, golf question for you that you're welcome to answer in the mailbag instead of a personal reply. I'm a 12.5 index golfer. 44 years old. I hit my tee shot (when I use a driver) about 275 yards. My overall iron game is average and so is my putting but I find myself always having trouble with one aspect of my game. Anyway, my question is this, Is there any reason why playing from the blue tees than the white tees would help my game? At my club the difference in distance is about 300 yards. I'm curious if you think playing from the blues might help make my iron game better since I'll be hitting different clubs than I hit now? Thanks and good luck to Calvert Hall in The Turkey Bowl game."
DF says -- "I actually think the opposite is what you need, but I know you'd be hesitant to do it. You should play ten rounds from the red tees. Your short game will get much sharper that way, you'll hit more greens, make more putts and probably gain some confidence from shooting lower scores.
I know that seems odd given you're actually trying to get better by being able to compete from the blue tees, but I don't see how moving back a set of tees would help you. I tell people this all the time. The best golf I played in my life, from a competitive standpoint, happened from roughly 1998 through 2005 or so. Those also happened to be the years I played at Clifton Park nearly every weekend.
I was able to learn how to score there. I was able to learn how to get to 4 under par through 8 holes and not vomit all over myself. I was able to make birdies in bunches. And I could then take all of that and use it in tournament golf.
As a 12.5 handicap, you probably need to be better in every aspect of the game, but my guess is your short game probably needs a lot of work. Play ten rounds from the red tees, chart your scoring, your fairways hit, your proximity to the hole from 100 yards and in, and your putting, and see if doesn't help you. And check back in with an update please."
| Friday November 17, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3371 |
All the drama of last night's game ended within a 3-minute span midway through the 2nd quarter.
Joe Burrow left the game with a bad wrist.
The refs -- via the eye-in-the-sky in New York -- overturned a Bengals catch and first down that should be a catch in any game of any "reputable" professional football league.
Minutes later, they handed out a pass interference call on a deep ball thrown to Zay Flowers that was laughably not anywhere close to pass interference.
Oh, and earlier in the game they also stripped the Ravens of a touchdown on a phantom holding call.
But the football game changed on the three moments initially listed above.
Once Burrow went out with his injury, the game was over.
Any chance Cincinnati had of winning with his replacement, Jake Browning, at the helm was quickly erased by the video reversal and bad officiating.
The Ravens won, by the way. And that's a good thing.
The final score was 34-20.
With the win, Baltimore pretty much put an end to Cincinnati's division title hopes. The Ravens improved to 8-3 with the win while the Bengals fell to 5-5. And because they lost twice to the Ravens in the regular season, Cincy would have to finish with a better record than the Ravens to win the division.
That's not happening.
The evening wasn't all cake and ice cream, unfortunately. Mark Andrews suffered what is likely a season-ending ankle injury in the first quarter. The Ravens offense is already challenged enough without losing one of Lamar's favorite targets.
And Odell Beckham Jr. went down awkwardly on his shoulder late in the 3rd quarter and left the field with the team doctor. After the game, John Harbaugh said it didn't look too serious, but I think we all know about the history of reporting injuries in Baltimore and how "he'll miss a few days" turns into "6 to 8 weeks".
But, as we suggested would happen in yesterday's edition of #DMD, Lamar Jackson put on the cape and played like a franchise quarterback last night.
And for one night at least, because the team won, John Harbaugh, Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald are back in everyone's good graces.
Oddly, you didn't find many compliments on the internet for those three last night. Last Monday morning, in the aftermath of the loss to Cleveland, the fan base wanted those three chased out of town. This morning, those same people aren't giving the coaches any credit.
It always works that way.
But a win is a win, especially when it comes against one of your AFC North rivals.
The Ravens offense was efficient last night, even without Andrews for the bulk of the game.
The defense was good, although it's fair to point out that the Bengals offense moved the ball nicely when Burrow was in the game.
John Harbaugh's team is now 3-2 in the division with a home game against Pittsburgh remaining on the final weekend of the season.
Thursday's game was far more critical for the Bengals. They really needed a win. As it stands now, they're 5-5, might not have a healthy quarterback moving forward, and their schedule down the stretch is very difficult.
They didn't get it.
And the Ravens and Steelers are now on a collision course for the division title.
M.C. asks -- "What do you think the PECOTA predicted win total will be for the Orioles next spring?"
DF says -- "Great question. You're trying to create a number that will get people to really think about which end they want to take, right? I'll say their total is 85.5. Take the over and they have to go at least 86-76. Take the under and they have to go 85-77 or worse. I feel like they're a steal at 86 wins. But they always a Gunnar knee injury or back injury away from going 78-84. I'll remember to check it out next spring. You've piqued my interest now!"
Conway asks -- "I'm not sure if you read the article in Golfweek today about Rory leaving the Player Board and what Lanto Griffin had to say. If you did, what do you think? If you didn't, go read the article and then tell me what you think!"
DF says -- "I read it. Thoroughly, in fact. I get Lanto Griffin's point. The TOUR is tilted heavily towards rewarding the top 10 or 15 guys. There's no two ways about that. The fact is, though, no one's going to their TV set in mid June to watch Lanto Griffin play golf. I'm sure he realizes that.
His main point about going head to head with the top players in the FedEx Cup playoffs and not playing for the same amount of points in various events is definitely a fair one. At some stage, shouldn't all the players have to play one another on a completely level playing field?
But, again, what winds up flying under the radar is the obvious: Don't like the way McIlroy and the other top stars get a bunch of benefits? Play like them and join the club.
The scorecard is always the equalizer. Want the same benefits and treatment as Justin Thomas? Beat him."
B.R. asks -- "With Oakland's move to Las Vegas now official as of today (Thursday), are you willing to concede that the Orioles leaving for Nashville is now a little bit more of a reality. I've heard you say that 24 owners would never approve the Orioles leaving but 24 owners approved the A's moving to Vegas."
DF says -- "Get a chair. Take a seat. Listen to me. The Orioles are not moving to Nashville. One more time. The. Orioles. Are. Not. Moving. To. Nashville.
There have been two lousy franchises in baseball, attendance wise, over the last 15-20 years. Two teams. The Tampa Bay Rays. And the Oakland A's.
Tampa Bay has been rumored to move two or three times over the last 20 years. They got scared down there and did the smart thing. They're building the Rays a new stadium.
If they would have built the A's a new stadium in Oakland, they wouldn't have ever moved.
It's all about the stadium. No one goes to the games in Oakland. The team is pretty much irrelevant.
And without a stadium and with no one going to the games, why keep the team there?
I hate that any city loses their team. I hate it. Hate it. Hate it.
But this is all on the city of Oakland. They failed the A's.
The Orioles are not the Rays or A's in any way.
They have fan support. They have a functional, working stadium that is still very much a "modern" facility. The team's performance on the field is on the upswing.
The Orioles aren't going anywhere."
David Rosenfeld asks -- "DF, thought I'd throw a question(s) at you. What do you think of all the YouTube golf? Do you or your son watch a lot? I love it. Not gonna say I'm obsessed with it, but I absolutely spend hours watching it. I even bought some merchandise from Good Good. And why didn't I think of a career developing golf content for a living?"
I love "golf" on YouTube. I've discovered and follow the work of several outstanding instructors on YouTube. One of my favorite lessons is from an instructor named Milo Lines shown below.
It's all about the set-up. It's 5 minutes long. It's one of the best 5 minutes you can ever invest in your golf game.
I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of "Good Good". I don't feel like getting into it, but in general I just don't like the "presentation" the guys make. It's just not the way I think golf should "look".
But I respect the fact that they're producing quality golf content, as are plenty of others out there.
I love that all the Masters tournaments that have been televised are now on YouTube as well. I think most of the U.S. Opens are, too. It's great to have golf history available with a click.
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faith in sports |
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There's been discussion here recently about the subject of athletes giving praise to God or Jesus in a press conference/interview type setting where their message gets broadcast to a large audience.
I found a very interesting interview with former professional wrestler Shawn Michaels that fits right in with the topic of athletes giving credit to God.
Michaels has an incredible personal story. It's filled with massive ups and downs. It's also filled with redemption, too.
Thanks, as always, to our friends at Freestate Electrical for their continued support of #DMD and our "Faith in Sports" section here every Friday.
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#DMD GAME DAY |
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Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens 8:15 PM EDT M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, MD Spread: Ravens (-3.5) |
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This game, tonight, comes down to the quarterback.
The one in Baltimore, that is.
With Ronnie Stanley officially out, the burden increases on Lamar Jackson.
The bet here is he rises to the occasion in a big way.
It's very cliche-like to say it, but it's true: This is why you pay Lamar $50 million a year. He wins games for you like the one you're facing tonight.
Is this a game the Ravens could lose tonight? Of course. The Bengals aren't chopped liver, despite their injuries and wobbly 5-4 record.
But Lamar Jackson isn't going to take another home "L" tonight. He's just not.
Jackson shines brightest in these kind of games, particularly when they're in Baltimore. Joe Burrow is going to have to come to town and beat Lamar in his own building. I just don't see it working out that way.
Lamar will get some help from the running game this evening. Gus Edwards (77 yards), Keaton Mitchell (41 yards) and Justice Hill (19 yards) will rack up decent numbers to help support Jackson's 60 yards on the ground. The Ravens finish the night with 197 yards on the ground.
Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has done a super job game-planning against Burrow and the Cincy offense in his four efforts over the last two years. Whatever he's done previously, he should continue to do tonight. With wide receiver Tee Higgins expected to be out, Burrow's options are even more limited. Macdonald and the Baltimore defense should be able to feast this evening.
With Wednesday's news about Deshaun Watson's injury, the Ravens, Bengals and Steelers are now the only teams left in the division with a chance to win 11 or 12 games. 12 will most certainly win the division. 11 should easily garner a playoff spot. 10 wins would probably be enough, even.
But in terms of the AFC North title, tonight's game is critical for the Bengals. A loss this evening and they're cooked. They'd fall to 5-5 overall, 0-3 in the division, will have lost the tiebreaker to the Ravens, and will be pretty much eliminated from the division race.
A win and they're still in the hunt.
The Ravens need to win too. But they have a little bit of breathing room thanks in part to that week #2 win over the Bengals in Cincinnati.
The pressure is all on the Bengals tonight. A loss and they're in big trouble.
How will the Ravens attack this game? With Lamar doing the bulk of the heavy lifting is my guess.
Gus Edwards lugs it in for one TD and Jackson also rushes for a touchdown as well.
Lamar throws for 249 yards on the night, including a 44-yard paydirt strike to Zay Flowers in the 3rd quarter.
In the fourth quarter, up 24-19, Jackson engineers a critical 11-play, 81 yard drive that culminates in a Justin Tucker field goal to make it 27-19 with 2:44 remaining. The Bengals go down the field and score a touchdown with 38 seconds left, aided in part by two defensive penalties called against the Ravens.
But Cincinnati fails to successfully complete the 2-point conversion and the Ravens pull out a narrow 27-25 win.
Brian asks -- "At what age should junior golfers start a golf specific exercise and diet program? My 14 year old attends a public high school in Harford County (fall sport) and their "training" consists of practice two days a week. The coach doesn't care what they eat or drink or how much exercise or physical activity they do. Should he be involved in golf specific training at his age?"
DF says -- "Well, the answer to that question has to come after another question is answered first.
"How serious is he about golf?"
If the answer is "very serious", then now is the time to get him started. My suggestion would be to get him into a swimming pool regularly. I believe swimming and biking are two of the best forms of exercise you can do for golf. At Calvert Hall, we do a lot of work with 16 pound medicine balls. Those exercises are all over the internet (YouTube). Get him a 16-pound medicine ball and let him work with those.
I'd also suggest you get him involved in a very serious, daily, 15-20 minute stretching program. Again, the internet or a personal trainer is the way to go for this one. Stretching is one of the more simple, but vital, things a young golfer can do to start preparing their body for a lifetime of strenuous golf.
There is a direct correlation between exercise, training, stretching and playing better golf. It's also probably a good time to start working good foods into his diet. Research has showed that apples, carrots, green peppers and cucumbers are outstanding "snack foods" for young golfers. I know it's hard to do this at 14 years of age, but keep him away from soda and or any beverage with added sugars in them. Water and green tea are best.
If you can get him to buy into the swimming/biking/medicine ball plan and limit his soda/sugar intake, he'll see benefits in his golf game for sure. I hope it goes well for him!"
Rick C. asks -- "Is it over for the Boss? Canceled summer tour. Everything moved to next year. Have we seen him reach the end of "Thunder Road" so to speak?"
DF says -- "I can't imagine it's "over". It sounds like he had a legitimate health issue that required time off and rest. Once he gets the health concern under control, I'm sure he'll be back touring. I'm not very locked into the Springsteen underground, if you will, so I don't know what the streets are saying.
But I'm guessing he'll be back good as new next year."
Jerry G. asks -- "I know you wrote about the hockey situation in England a couple of weeks ago but now that there's been an arrest has your opinion changed about the intent of the kick to the throat? Just curious if you've changed your outlook."
DF says -- "Not really. I said from the start that I think he was definitely trying to hurt the guy. But I certainly don't think he thought he was going to kill him. Therein lies the issue, I guess. Was he trying to inflict pain on the guy or injure him in some way when he kicked at him? I think so.
But did he say to himself as the shift started, "You know, if I get a clean shot on that Johnson guy, I'm going to try to kick him in the throat, cut him, and maybe kill him."?? I don't believe that for one second.
It was a terrible hit. It was reckless and dangerous and negligent. But his intention wasn't to kill him. Should he be playing hockey again? No way. Should he be severely punished for what he did? Without question."
Wayne asks -- "Are we going to get any kind of update from you on the Blast's upcoming season? Any news involving Giani Tuminello, the ex-GM facing charges for signing bad checks and stealing money?"
DF says -- "I'd be fibbing to you if I said I follow the Blast closely enough to know anything about their upcoming season. I always make it out to a few games each season to catch up with old friends but I'm certainly not a day-to-day follower of what they do.
I sat with Kevin Healey -- their ex-coach and GM -- a month or so ago at a Calvert Hall soccer game and I got an update on the league and other things. Kevin is now the GM in Harrisburg where his son, Pat, is the head coach. But that's about the extent of my indoor soccer interest these days.
I don't have any kind of update on Giani's situation other than I know his court date is January 24 and he's facing a number of very serious charges.
The Blast's home opener is Saturday, December 2nd at Towson (nee SECU) Arena. I hope you can make it out there!"
| RANDY MORGAN | |
Americans are playing more and more of a vital role in international soccer these days, and Randy Morgan has his eyes on all of them for #DMD. Each week here, he looks at recent performances of American players and highlights upcoming games of importance. | ||
This week brings another break in the club soccer schedule for international games. With the first round of their playoffs completed, MLS is also breaking for this international window, ready to pick up with the conference semifinals late next week.
The US men will play a pair of games during this window in a home and away series with Trinidad & Tobago.
These games are technically the first meaningful games they will play since Gregg Berhalter was re-hired as head coach. The games are part of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals and more importantly will also serve as the qualifiers for next summer’s 2024 Copa America.
Despite some unpleasant memories from the failure in Trinidad during the 2018 World Cup qualification, the US should breeze to victory in this two game set, as they have dominated the small Caribbean nation ever since and also get the first leg at home.
The US will host Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday night at 9pm in Austin, Texas, then they will head to T&T for the return leg on Monday at 7pm. Even with important starters Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, and Tyler Adams missing with injuries, they have more than enough talent to easily secure Copa America qualification.
MLS Playoffs –
The MLS Playoffs wrapped up the best of three first round series this past weekend, narrowing the field to the final eight.
In the Eastern Conference, the favorites advanced in each series. Top seed FC Cincinnati lived up to their favorite status, sweeping the New York Red Bulls in two games with a dominant 3-0 win at home and a dramatic win in a penalty shootout to secure game two. They move on to face a dangerous Philadelphia Union team looking to defend their conference title after dispatching New England in two games, 3-1 at home and 1-0 on the road.
The Columbus Crew leaned on their league leading attack to pull out a 2-1 series win over Atlanta United, scoring eight goals over the three games including a 4-2 win in the decisive game three. They will see Orlando City in the quarterfinal round, who scraped by Nashville with two 1-0 wins, relying on a strong defensive approach and setting up an interesting contrast in styles.
Over in the Western Conference it was less chalky. Top seeded St. Louis City saw their impressive inaugural season come to an abrupt halt as Sporting Kansas City swept them with 4-1 and 2-1 wins. Sporting KC will face the fourth seeded Houston Dynamo in the next round, who won the closest series of the opening round, winning their two home games to defeat Real Salt Lake, with games two and three both going to penalties.
Reigning MLS Cup champions Los Angeles FC have emerged from the first round as the co-favorites, easily dispatching Vancouver over two games with a 7-2 aggregate score line. They will be up for a stiff test though from a veteran Seattle Sounders team, setting up the most evenly matched of the quarterfinal pairings.
The second seeded Sounders knocked out FC Dallas in three games, winning both the home fixtures and seeing out a 1-0 win in the decisive game. They bring a wealth of playoff experience to their showdown with the highly talented LAFC.
Americans Abroad –
The past month in Europe since the last international break has been relatively quiet for the American contingent. A handful of players were out of action for nearly the whole period with injuries and others saw limited minutes for one reason or another.
Italy remains the center of attention for USMNT fans, with the duos at AC Milan and Juventus part of the Serie A title race. Since the last break, Juventus has been on the rise while AC Milan has dropped a bit in the standings while dealing with some injury issues.
The teams met just after the last international break with Pulisic and Yunus Musah starting for Milan and both Weston McKennie and Tim Weah starting for Juventus. The latter came out victorious with Tim Weah providing the assist on the only goal of a game that turned on a first half red card by Milan defender Malick Thiaw. That forced Pulisic off before the half as he was sacrificed for an extra defender.
Unfortunately for Weah, he would only play 45 more minutes the rest of the month. After earning the starting right wingback spot, he was forced to leave the next game with an injury that has kept him out since.
McKennie has picked up the slack, playing every minute for Juventus during the month, splitting time between Weah’s right wingback spot and central midfield as Juventus rattled off four straight league wins to second place in the standings.
At AC Milan, Yunus Musah has become a fixture of the midfield over the past month, with several players out injured. The 20 year old has played in every AC Milan game since the last break, starting all but one, including an impressive win over Paris St. Germain in the Champions League.
Pulisic was another player hit with the injury bug who will miss this window for the US. He managed to start both the Champions League matchups with PSG, and provided an assist against Napoli, but left that game at halftime and missed the past two league games. He continues to be an integral part of the Milan attack, with it noticeably suffering in his absence.
Over in the Netherlands, league leading PSV Eindhoven features a trio of Americans who have all been contributors to their commanding seven point lead at the top of the table. PSV is undefeated in all competitions since September and are also well positioned to advance from their Champions League group.
Sergino Dest has continued to be a regular starter, alternating between right back and left back. His move to PSV has led to a strong bounce back season for the young fullback, after poor spells at Barcelona and AC Milan over the past year.
Attacking midfielder Malik Tillman has been a rotational starter for PSV, gradually earning some more playing time over the past month and getting called back into the US team. Both he and Ricardo Pepi have managed to make an impact off the bench for PSV, with Tillman scoring five league goals and Pepi scoring three.
Over in the English Premier League, Fulham is home to another pair of Americans. Both Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson have played every Premier League minute for Fulham since the last break and both are back with the US team in November. Antonee Robinson should return to his starting left back spot for the US after missing out on the last window to recover from a nagging injury.
At Fulham their results have been mixed over the past month, with the team only managing one point from the last four league games. Ream has yet to reach the peak form he exhibited for Fulham last season, but Robinson has largely been a bright spot for Fulham.
Last weekend highlighted the up and down nature of their season, with Robinson giving up an own goal and committing a costly turnover that led to another, but then making up for it with three chances created and a nice assist on the only Fulham goal against Aston Villa.
Another young center back is gradually emerging in the Premier League at Sheffield United. Auston Trusty has become a regular for Sheffield, starting their last five EPL games, usually at the center of a three man back line.
The last two of those games included a win over Wolves and draw with Brighton which helped move Sheffield out of last place, though they still have a tough battle to avoid relegation. Trusty was not called in for the November US roster, but he could easily earn a spot in the team by next summer’s Copa America if he continues to hold his own in the Premier League.
Fellow young center back Chris Richards was called into the US team for November and is a possible starter for both games against T&T. However, Richards has found it difficult to get minutes at 13th place Crystal Palace, with just four minutes of playing time since the last break.
In Germany the playing time has mostly been limited for the Bundesliga Americans over the past month. However, one young player appears to have worked his way into a starting role. 20 year old Kevin Paredes, who was called into this US roster, has seen his minutes increase for Wolfsburg as the season has progressed.
Paredes has now started their last three Bundesliga matches and managed to find the back of the net in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen a couple weeks back. Paredes is a versatile player who could line up at left back or on either wing for the US. If he isn’t with the full team for the Copa America he could be one of the key players for the U-23 team at the Paris Olympics.
The only other Bundesliga player getting significant time is recent US debutant Lennard Maloney. The 24 year old defensive midfielder has been a regular for Heidenheim the past month, though they have struggled to compete in their first season back in the top division, winning just one of their last five games.
Maloney won’t likely see much time for the US in these two games but he has potential as a backup to Tyler Adams in midfield.
Over at Borussia Dortmund, Gio Reyna made a rare start after returning from US duty in October and has generally impressed when on the field. However, manager Edin Terzic has taken a more defensive approach and that has limited the minutes for Reyna, who has not shown the defensive rigor the coach demands.
Despite his limited time for Dortmund, Reyna figures to be a crucial player for the US in these two games as the main creative attacker with Pulisic and Weah both missing.
Joe Scally has continued to get regular playing time for 9th place Borussia Monchengladbach, shifting between right back and right center back. He has largely been competent but not exceptional, though he does arrive off one of his best games of the season, where he assisted one goal and earned a spot in the FotMob team of the week.
Both Aaronson brothers, Paxten and Brenden have seen sparse minutes for their clubs over the last month. Brenden was a starter early in the season but seems to have lost his place as Union Berlin has faltered and dropped into the relegation battle. Paxten has been a limited bench option for 7th place Eintracht Frankfurt. Both brothers did manage to get the call into this US roster and could see time with the aforementioned starters missing.
In Ligue 1, starting US striker Folarin Balogun has cooled off since returning from the last USMNT camp. He hasn’t found the net in his four games since the break as Monaco has dropped slightly from 1st to third place in Ligue 1, but remain just three points back of the lead. Despite his cold streak, Balogun will be a key figure in the two game Trinidad & Tobago series.
Lastly, midfielder Luca de la Torre has also found himself in a relegation fight in Spain’s La Liga, as his Celta Vigo team has dropped their past few games and sit in 18th place. His play has been decent enough to mostly maintain his starting role but it hasn’t been enough to lift the team out of trouble.
| Wednesday November 15, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3369 |
It's amazing how difficult it is for people to accept honesty in the world of sports.
Last week in an interview with the New York Daily News, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said this about Giancarlo Stanton:
"We try to limit the time he's down," Cashman explained. "But I'm not gonna tell you he's gonna play every game next year because he's not. He's going to wind up getting hurt again more likely than not because it seems to be part of his game."
There is nothing at all dishonest about that commentary.
Harsh?
Maybe.
Dishonest?
Not in the least.
Stanton is due to make $98 million over the next four years. In his five previous campaigns in New York, Stanton has played in 391 out of possible 708 regular season games.
Last season, he hit a robust .191 while collecting his $25 million.
Cashman was asked about Stanton's role in 2024 and whether the Yankees might consider trading him this off-season.
That's when he mentioned "getting hurt" in his response to the Daily News.
Stanton's agent got his feelings hurt when he read those words from Cashman.
"I read the context of the entire interview," Joel Wolfe said. "I think it's a good reminder for all free agents considering signing in New York both foreign and domestic that to play for that team you've got to be made of Teflon, both mentally and physically because you can never let your guard down even in the offseason."
"Made of Teflon..."
Wolfe's client is apparently allergic to Teflon.
He's also allergic to playing 162 games.
It would be one thing if Stanton played 140 games in 2019, 2021, 2022 and then, this year, only played in 40 games. The commentary from Cashman might seem a little out of line if Wolfe's client played nearly all of the games in exchange for the $25 million he's paid.
Here's the year-by-year data for Giancarlo Stanton in New York.
2018 -- 158 of 162 games
2019 -- 18 of 162 games
2020 -- 23 of 60 games
2021 -- 140 of 162 games
2022 -- 110 of 162 games
2023 -- 101 of 162 games
He played the full season in 2018 and 2021.
The rest of the time, he was just a check collector.
This a fact: Giancarlo Stanton is an injury prone baseball player.
That Joel Wolfe tried to gaslight the Yankees by encouraging free agents to think twice about signing with a team that would have the audacity to TELL THE TRUTH is Exhibit A of what's wrong with these goofy player representatives.
If Giancarlo Stanton would have played 140 games every season and wouldn't have spent 2 or 3 stints per-season on the disabled list, Brian Cashman wouldn't be bad mouthing him. And, again, it's not like Cashman called him a bum or a has-been. He basically said what everyone already knows: Stanton can't be counted on to play a full season. He's injury prone.
That's the truth. It's not out of line at all.
OK, play along if you will.
Your friend gives you $1,000 and says to you, "I only have one rule. You have to bet that $1,000 on Giancarlo Stanton's games played total for 2024. The over/under is 120 games."
Which way are you going?
Right, me too.
"Give me the under, please..."
We haven't handed out a #clownshoes award here in a few weeks, so I'm pleased to bring it back today and present it to none other than Mr. Joel Wolfe.
Enjoy your prize, gaslighter.
The Ravens and Bengals will do battle in Baltimore tomorrow night on national television.
The Bengals have lost 14 straight road games on prime time television (any game that starts after 6:30 pm), so something has to give on Thursday in Baltimore.
Either Cincinnati snaps a lengthy, embarrassing losing streak in front of a national audience.
Or the Ravens take advantage of an opportunity to bury the Bengals, who would all but be eliminated from winning the AFC North with a loss tomorrow night.
It's likely that Baltimore will be without Ronnie Stanley and Marlon Humphrey, at a minimum, tomorrow night. That means Patrick Mekari steps in for Stanley and Rock Ya-Sin gets the start in place of Humphrey.
Mekari is a capable short-term back-up for Stanley. He's no Pro Bowl candidate or anything like that, but Mekari isn't chopped liver.
Ya-Sin, though, is going to have his hands full, even without Tee Higgins in the lineup for the Bengals.
Those two injuries and how the Ravens rally around them are going to be critical keys to Thursday's game.
I mean, the Ravens just lost at home to the Browns, of all teams. If they can lose to Cleveland, they can lose to anyone. Tomorrow is not going to be a walk in the park, especially with Stanley and Humphrey absent.
Say what you will about John Harbaugh's teams over the years, but they're generally effective at home in prime time. They've lost here and there, but for the most part, the Ravens are stepping up when the lights are on at M&T Bank Stadium.
Can they do it one more time tomorrow night?
It's a short sample size, but Mike Macdonald has done a good job of slowing down Joe Burrow in his four games against the talented Cincinnati quarterback. Macdonald will have to produce another stellar defensive effort on Thursday.
Yes, it's a big game tomorrow night. No, it's not "must win".
But for the Ravens, it's most certainly a game they really need to win.
A loss to the Bengals tomorrow night -- on the heels of that collapse against the Browns -- and it will be a sticky ten days for John Harbaugh and his staff.
Mackie supplied a few questions yesterday in the Comments section. Here are the answers he asked for.
1. Do you think the Masters should let Angel Cabrera play now that he's out of jail and back on the course?
DF says -- "Sure. He's eligible to play because of his status as a past champion. I realize his domestic violence charge and jail time aren't necessarily things Augusta National is proud of, but he won the Masters and was told he could play the tournament again for the rest of his life. I realize Augusta has the right to invoke a "morality clause" of some kind, but Cabrera made a mistake, paid his debt to society and is apparently ready to resume his career. I hope he gets to play next April."
2. Aaron Nola to the Orioles no matter the cost? Yes or No?
DF says -- "Sure. I don't care what the cost is. The Orioles have a gazillion dollars. Spend it on a pitcher. If Elias thinks Aaron Nola is the right guy for the team, go get him. Pay whatever you have to pay him. This is all on Elias. If he wants him, I want him."
3. Bigger surprise this season so far? How good Clowney has been or how bad Rock Ya Sin has been?
DF says -- "Well, I didn't really think Ya-Sin was all that good to start with, so I'm not really surprised at his subpar play. I wasn't sure about Clowney. I'm not shocked he's playing well, mind you, but I just wasn't sure he was going to come here and make an impact. I guess I'm still reeling from Jason Pierre-Paul and Yannick Ngakoue coming to town and laying an egg for us. Clowney's definitely been a surprise to me."
4. In one of the Q & A segments someone asked you about high school housing for athletes. You said you think it's fine as long as the school is the one paying for the housing. Do you think the same thing about full scholarships for high school athletes? Should they be allowed?
DF says -- "It's important to clarify I think high school housing is fine for a student. He/she doesn't have to be an athlete. If the school pays for housing on their campus and they want to bring in 50 international students, who am I to judge that? It's their money. Full scholarships for high school athletes? No thanks. We've already seen what those have done to college sports. It creates as much bad as it does good."
And Mr. Underwood had a question as well:
Where was God on opening Sunday of the football season when Stroud and the Texans got beat by the Ravens? How come all of the sudden when the Texans win, God is on Stroud's side? But when they lose God isn't there?
DF says -- "I realize you're trolling, but the question is one that should be answered, troll or not. Where was God on opening Sunday of the NFL season? The same place he was this past Sunday. No one ever said the Texans beat the Bengals last Sunday because God wanted them to beat the Bengals. C.J. Stroud didn't say that in his press conference. All Stroud did was "give thanks". That's a very evergreen term, if you will.
I've been around a lot of faith-based athletes in my life, both past and current, and I've never heard one person ask for or pray for a win. We pray before every Calvert Hall Golf match. Verbatim, part of our prayer says: "Give us the ability to handle victory or defeat with equal degrees of humility. Give us peace no matter the outcome."
Athletes realize the blessings God bestowed upon them -- for which they are grateful -- are present whether you're winning or losing.
Non-faith-based people have a hard time understanding prayer and devotion. No hard feelings. It's difficult to understand if you're not immersed in it."
| Tuesday November 14, 2023 | | #DMD | | Issue #3368 |
There have been occasions, after certain wins by the Orioles or Ravens -- or after Tiger won the Masters in 2019 or the Caps won the Stanley Cup in 2018 -- where I've said, "Doing radio today would be fun."
Doing radio yesterday...not much fun.
I mean, I guess it would be fun if you have a twisted mind and take glee in people calling in and saying completely insane stuff. But for every "rational" call I heard on Monday, I heard three or four incredibly dumb calls.
It's amazing that people watch the exact same game and come up with a variety of different observations.
I heard one guy clobber Lamar for missing Zay Flowers on that deep ball in the corner near the end zone.
Twenty minutes later, someone called in to take a jab at Flowers for not "selling the route earlier" and gaining separation at the 20 yard line which, the caller said, would have made the throw much easier for Lamar to make.
Lamar missed that throw. Plain and simple. No big deal. It happens. But to call in and somehow pin the blame on Zay Flowers was laughable.
A lot of people called in about Keaton Mitchell yesterday. I get it. Hot hand and all. Or "hot feet" as it were.
This, of course, is what we all do. We find something we think would have worked and we run that into the ground. And I'm one of those people that believes Mitchell deserved more activity on Sunday, remember. I'm in that camp.
But I'm also not going to say dumb stuff like, "I guarantee you if Mitchell gets 12 or 15 carries like he should have, we win that game going away."
I have no idea what would have happened. Mitchell might have fumbled on the 8 yard line for all I know.
Listening to the callers on Monday, you'd think the Ravens have themselves the 2023 version of Barry Sanders.
Lots of folks were hammering away at Marcus Williams, too.
The man's playing with one good arm and one non-functioning arm. Does everyone realize that? You can certainly say "Well, in that case he shouldn't be playing," but you have to admit the dude's a football warrior. He's out there busting his hump trying to make a play. And the next day people are calling in saying he's "washed" and stuff like that.
There was even a "Justin Tucker doesn't look good" call. You know you're scraping the bottom of the barrel when you're trying to light up the best kicker in football.
But the best one came from the guy who blasted Eric DeCosta for his roster compilation. "This defense is old and slow," the man said. "We might have to go out and get Suh this week and beef up that defensive line."
That's a great idea. In an effort to improve the defense you say is "old and slow", you want the team to sign Ndamukong Suh, a 36-year old, 13-year veteran.
It's all so funny. Sad, sort of, but still funny.
It's what we do.
"What's my hot take?"
"Oh, I know, I'll call in and say 'Lamar should have never been re-signed if this is the way he's gonna play.'"
Yeah, that 7-3 record this season is really bad.
People, man. They're unreal.
If the Ravens lose to the Bengals, don't even think about turning on your radio Friday. At least not the local stations, anyway.
You likely don't know and probably don't care, but U.S. women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe played the final game of her career this past Saturday in the championship of the National Women's Soccer League.
Rapinoe only played six minutes, unfortunately. She suffered an achilles injury and was forced to leave the contest, bringing to an end one of the best careers in the history of U.S. women's soccer.
That wasn't the biggest news Rapinoe made, though.
Afterwards, during an expletive-laden press conference, she said this: "I'm not a religious person or anything and if there was a God, like, this is proof that there isn't. This is f----d up. It's just f----d up. Six minutes in and I do my achilles."
A lot of folks took the "some role model she is" angle in the aftermath of those comments.
I think that's being unfair to Rapinoe and her career. She is a role model. But no one would look up to her if not for soccer.
She's not a role model because she's Megan Rapinoe. She's a role model because she's Megan Rapinoe, the professional soccer player.
Rapinoe made her mark in life through one thing: soccer. She was given those extraordinary abilities by God. She is (was) a role model because of soccer. But she's a role model because God granted her a wonderful gift.
What Rapinoe needs, frankly, is education.
She clearly doesn't understand how she got put on Earth in the first place.
While she was busy lamenting about the absence of God on Saturday night when she got hurt, she forgot about a lifetime of blessings God has bestowed upon her.
Someone has failed to educate her on those points, sadly.
She got raked over the coals on Saturday night once her comments started making the rounds on the internet.
I was actually shocked her comments didn't generate more heat. But that shows the level of interest -- or lack thereof -- that our country has for women's soccer.
Imagine after a game if Mike Trout said, "Well, I struck out 4 times tonight so that proves there is no God."
Or if LeBron said that after going 2-for-15 from the floor. Or, here, locally, if Lamar said after an "off game", "Well this proves once and all that God doesn't exist."
Thankfully, not many people heard about Rapinoe's comment. Or, if they did, they said, "Who is she?"
C.J. Stroud, meanwhile, spent the first 2 minutes of his post-game press conference on Sunday praising God.
The Texans quarterback sounded intelligent.
Rapinoe sounded goofy.
People who are afraid of God and the power of faith take umbrage witih athletes and celebrities who use their platform to -- like Stroud did on Sunday -- to show gratitude for God and His deeds.
God never decides who wins or who loses a game. That's a misnomer.
God does, though, give everyone whatever talents it is they possess.
You're an actuary? Great with numbers and data? God gave you that acumen.
You're a musician? Able to play the guitar or the drums? God gave you those skills.
You're an athlete? Able to throw a baseball 95 miles per hour or hit a golf ball 300 yards? God gave you those abilities.
Someone failed to get that message to Megan Rapinoe in a way she could understand.
So, while she thought Saturday night showed her that God doesn't exist, what really happened on Saturday was a career-closing moment for a woman who impacted many people for 15 years because of the abilities and skills God granted her.
MFC left some questions in the Comments section yesterday. I'm not going to answer them all, but I'll knock several of them out here today.
Would the Ravens have been better off with Huntley or Levis at QB and used the Lamar money for O-line and secondary help?
DF says -- "No, they wouldn't have been better off with Huntley or Levis instead of Lamar. They have a high-quality roster in 2023. They need a legitimate, top 10 quarterback on their roster. Huntley and Levis are not top 10 material. Lamar still has to prove he can win in the playoffs. But Huntley and Levis instead of Lamar? No thanks."
Has Odell Beckham paid dividends? Would the Ravens be just as good without him and used his money for other positions instead?
DF says -- "Beckham is in the November of his career. I think that's obvious. But for all I know, he's been a great influence in the locker room. I have no way of knowing that, but if he's been a good steward and a positive contributor on and off the field, he's a worthy investment. OBJ is the least of their problems at this point. Sure, they gave him a lot of money, but good wide receivers aren't cheap."
If DF's best golfer was caught drinking at the HS Xmas dance would he still be on the team? (I'm sure the kids a quality kid but HS kids do stupid things, it's not out of the question) And it's not a "trick or gotcha" question.
DF says -- "That sort of incident would never even reach me to adjudicate. That would be a school decision. And I would comply with whatever decision the school made. Every student-athlete at Calvert Hall knows the rules. So do the coaches. We do our best to make sure our players don't make bad decisions."
This could be a tough year for Willard at Maryland. He just lost 2 games that I'm sure he had circled as wins. The Big 10 awaits. What is he's under .500 for the year? How much of a leash does he have?
DF says -- "I have no idea how long his leash is, but I can assure you that Kevin Willard isn't under any kind of pressure to "perform or else" in 2023-2024. Maryland basketball will be just fine. I realize they don't have anyone coming in (yet) for next season and everyone's worried about that, but the transfer portal will take care of that next spring. The Terps will be fine this season."
Should the MIAA reinstate St. Frances in football? Should there be recruiting guidelines? Should there be guidelines for all sports? What about the schools that provide housing? McDonogh girls best athlete in the school is from NC. Boys Latin has a 7' basketball player from overseas. Should there be limits. My Gaels aren't clean having brought in a kid from Canada three years ago. John Carroll had an international thing going a few years back. Or should it just be open season and may the best recruited team win?
DF says -- "There's a lot of questions in there. Should St. Frances be reinstated? I don't know. I'd have to go through the pros and cons of it. There are a lot of moving parts to that question. There already are recruiting guidelines. To my knowledge, everyone follows them as I read them in the handbook. What about the schools that provide housing? I mean, they built the housing with their own money. What's the harm? If a student-athlete comes from another part of the country or world, I don't see any issue with that as long as they're going to class and they remain academically eligible. In a lot of cases, these young men and women might not be going to school at all if not for sports. Would you rather have them in school or out of school? I'd rather they be in school, learning."
In golf should the lost ball rule for amateurs be revised? Amateurs don't have volunteers along the fairway with little flags saying here's your ball. And should you be able to drop out of a divot in the fairway?
DF says -- "No, the lost ball rule is fine. I've never lost a ball in the middle of the fairway. If you hit it offline and it's lost, hit it straighter next time. And, no, you should not be allowed a drop out of a divot. We'd be out there all day arguing over whether this is actually a divot, or a new divot, old divot, etc. The game takes long enough. When you hit your ball, go find it and hit it again as quickly as you can."
NFL: Bills continue late-season surge with sixth straight win, eliminate Steelers, 31-17; Mayfield, Buccaneers end Eagles bid to repeat as NFC champs with 32-9 victory.
Falcons interview 6-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick for vacant head coach spot.
Tomlin abruptly leaves post-game press conference after question about his contract and future in Pittsburgh.
Big Ten hoops: Michigan beats Ohio State, 73-65.
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| SCOREBOARD | |
| Friday, October 13 |
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| PENGUINS 4 |
AT CAPITALS 0 |
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CAPS GOALS: none GOALTENDER: Lindgren RECORD: 0-1-0 NEXT GAME: 10/16 vs. Calgary |
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