Part 1 as we are at the 3/4 mark of the NHL season we will take a look at each team and where they are now as a franchise:
Anaheim Ducks Always a very consistent playoff team over the years the wheels have completely come off losing 24 of 29 including 11 straight while scoring less then 2 goals a game during this stretch which cost coach Randy Carlyle his job. Will not be a playoff team and the obvious priority for the off season will be finding goal scoring
Arizona Coyotes Battling hard to snag one the last playoff spots in the Western Conference they have won 5 of 6 with a grinding disciplined style and Darcy Kuemper went from backup to being one of the best goalies since the start of the year. Their highest goal scorer on the season is Alex Galenychuk with only 14 goals but they are 2nd overall in killing the power play,
Boston Bruins A serious playoff threat who have won 10 of 12 with one of the best goal scorers in the league in David Pastrnak and 2nd in power play efficiency. The key is keeping defensemen Torey Krug and Charlie McAvoy healthy. Both goalies Tuuka Rask and Jaroslav Halak have been outstanding and it will be interesting to see who starts in the playoffs and how long of a leash each will have if they struggle.
Buffalo Sabres After a promising start the Sabres have slowly faded out of playoff contention losing their last 6 of 7 as the defense has sprung leaks. They were prognosticated to improve this year but not make the playoffs. They are on the upward curve and 1st overall pick 18 year old Swedish defenseman has had a solid rookie season and will be a future all star for many years.
Calgary Flames They were looked at as a possible playoff contender but have exceeded all expectations with the most points in the Western Conference and are red hot right now winning 7 straight and only giving up 12 goals in those games. Outstanding goaltending from David Rittich and now the red hot veteran Mike Smith have propelled them into the top slot and getting their usual all star season from Johnny Gaudreau. Elias Lindholm, Matt Tkachuk, and Sean Monahan all have 25+ goals and defenseman Mark Giordano is 2nd in the league in plus/minus at +31. Can you still trust this unproven team in the playoffs even as the possible #1 seed?
Carolina Hurricanes A big playoff push by the Hurricanes winning their last 12 of 16 and would be in if the season ended today. Have only given up 11 goals in their last 9 games and the goalie rotation of Petr Mrzak and veteran Curtis McElhinney has emerged as one of the best in the league. Sebastian Aho has put together an all star season and getting Jordan Staal back in the lineup and acquiring former Winter Hawk Nino Niederreiter with 9 goals in 17 games has given them more scoring threats.
Chicago Blackhawks Still lingering in playoff contention they have been piling up the goals with Patrick Kane on track for 50 goals and Alex DeBrincat on track for 40+ goals but the defense and goaltending have been woeful and it might be time to move on from Corey Crawford.
Colarado Avalanche Another team right on the fringes of the playoffs with high scoring forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog each with 33 goals plus the breakthrough season of Mikko Rantanen will need the power play kill to improve and hope that Semyon Varlamov gets hot between the pipes.
Columbus Blue Jackets We'll see if acquiring Matt Duchene from Ottawa can propel the Jackets into the playoffs. Sergei Bobrovsky who in all likelihood (future Blackhawk?) will be with another team next year is the key. Remember this team had the Caps down 2-0 in the 1st round of the playoffs last year winning both at Washington before the Caps came back and won the series and the Stanley Cup so they are more than capable of making a run if they get in.
Dallas Stars This team is a real enigma with tons of talent but so inconsistent and now right on the cut off line for the playoffs. If they get in they would be a very dangerous lower seed but who knows how they will play down the stretch. Maybe this team will come together if they get in after the owner ripped the star players in the middle of the season.
Detroit Red Wings Still in rebuilding mode so no surprise they will miss the playoffs. We'll see if their longtime GM Ken Holland who built the Red Wing glory years and preaching patience will be around for the long haul. Future Seattle Totem GM?
Edmonton Oilers Losing 11 of 12 from Mid-January to Mid-February pretty much eliminated this under achieving team from any playoff contention. The Oiler fan base is getting very restless with the organization with another playoff flame out. Wasting the prime years of Connor McDavid.
Florida Panthers Many people thought this would be a playoff team but just another inconsistent year and is the end near for Roberto Luongo who has seen better days.
Los Angeles Kings The Ilya Kovalchuk experiment failed miserably and a lack of goal scoring has doomed this team. Will Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty be around for the rebuild or will they tear it all down?
Minnesota Wild Recently lost 9 out of 10 but have won 4 in a row to get back into the battle for a playoff spot. I still think Dallas and Colorado are more talented teams but I think Bruce Boudreau behind the bench will find a way to get his team into the post season. Zach Parise still going strong at age 34 as the leading goal scorer.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
PGA Tour This Week, 2/28-3/4
By Gregory Crawford @wchoops
This week the PGA Tour starts the Florida swing of 4 weeks at Palm Beach Gardens. This is 39th edition of Honda Classic.
Prize Money—- 6.8 million
Par 70, 7,125 yards
Defending Champ—- Justin Thomas
Something to watch this week, could be surprise winner since this is one of the weakest fields you will see all year.
This week the PGA Tour starts the Florida swing of 4 weeks at Palm Beach Gardens. This is 39th edition of Honda Classic.
Prize Money—- 6.8 million
Par 70, 7,125 yards
Defending Champ—- Justin Thomas
Something to watch this week, could be surprise winner since this is one of the weakest fields you will see all year.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Crawford’s NWAC Power Rankings, 2/26/19
By Gregory Crawford @wchoops
Always done in 9s and always tough, such a great league the NWAC is indeed.
WOMEN
9. North Idaho
8. Walla Walla
7. Mt Hood
6. Wenatchee Valley
5. Peninsula
4. Umpqua
3. Lower Columbia
2. Big Bend
1. Lane
MEN
9. Centralia
8. Green River
7. Chemeketa
6. Umpqua
5. Walla Walla
4. South Puget Sound
3. Lane
2. Everett
1. North Idaho
Always done in 9s and always tough, such a great league the NWAC is indeed.
WOMEN
9. North Idaho
8. Walla Walla
7. Mt Hood
6. Wenatchee Valley
5. Peninsula
4. Umpqua
3. Lower Columbia
2. Big Bend
1. Lane
MEN
9. Centralia
8. Green River
7. Chemeketa
6. Umpqua
5. Walla Walla
4. South Puget Sound
3. Lane
2. Everett
1. North Idaho
Monday, February 25, 2019
Portland Timbers Season Preview
By Steven Weldon
Three months ago, the Portland Timbers were devastated. In the shadow of a sold-out raucous crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the Atlanta United used two mid-game goals and great defense to ward off the Timbers in the 2018 MLS Cup.
It's hard to swallow a loss in a championship game. As a fan of multiple teams who must say "There's always next year" every season, I can only imagine how hard it was for the Timbers players, staff and front office. They'll have to go back to the drawing board and drum up another successful season for the rabid fan base.
The thing about the Timbers, and largely MLS soccer, is the leagues, its teams and the international leagues are in flux. Many players that made huge impacts a year ago, may sour their final few months and are sent to different locales. That being said, the opening day roster for the Timbers will more than likely look very different come August. Some major moves happening on the subtraction side this offseason were the departure of Defender Liam Ridgewell, who helped the team to their MLS Cup victory in 2015 and played an integral part of the defense over his five seasons with the Timbers. At age 34, his skill and injury frequency became trouble for the club, leading to his contract being terminated.
Another important defender lost this offseason via trade was Alvas Powell. Powell came to the Timbers in 2013 and was also a member of the MLS Cup championship team. He was sent to expansion side FC Cincinnati for $250K in General Allocation Money. He will join former Timbers Forward Fanendo Adi, who was traded mid-season to the yet-to-be-formed club.
All is not lost on the back-line, as a new player coming in can likely fit the big shoes left by both players. Claude Dielna was sent from New England to Portland in a General Allocation Money trade this offseason. He played 28 games in his only season for the Revolution, and will look to be a solid option for the Timbers now.
In more additions for not allowing the ball to go into the goal by the opposing team, the Timbers added Slovenian Goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic. Ivacic helped his overseas team win their league title in 2017-2018, and will add depth to the goalkeeper core of Jeff Atinella and Steve Clark. However, with both of those players at 30 and 32 respectively, look for the 25-year-old Ivacic to make waves at T2, the second division side, and then possibly move up to the first team later.
Aside from the new players, the core of the team is largely the same. The greatest Portland Timber of all time, Diego Valeri, returns to his post as the anchor of the midfield, as well as Diego Chara, the best central defensive midfielder in Portland Timbers history. David Guzman and Sebastian Blanco, important midfield additions to last season's cup finals run are back.
The Timbers senior squad will rely more on former T2 members this season, the most prominent being Marvin Loria and Renzo Zambrano were signed to the first team in December in preparation for the preseason training from Costa Rica and Tuscon.
With some new faces, the Portland Timbers are still a formidable Western Conference team. We'll see how their form shapes up during the first few months of the season, but this will definitely be a tale of two seasons. Due to the construction of an expansion to Providence Park's west side, the Timbers won't play a home game for three months. The home opener has been pushed all the way back to June 1st, a game against LAFC.
Will the Timbers return home as road warriors, or is this a post-MLS Cup rebuilding year?
Watch the Portland Timbers take on the Colorado Rapids on March 2nd at 3 PM on ROOT Sports.
Three months ago, the Portland Timbers were devastated. In the shadow of a sold-out raucous crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, the Atlanta United used two mid-game goals and great defense to ward off the Timbers in the 2018 MLS Cup.
It's hard to swallow a loss in a championship game. As a fan of multiple teams who must say "There's always next year" every season, I can only imagine how hard it was for the Timbers players, staff and front office. They'll have to go back to the drawing board and drum up another successful season for the rabid fan base.
The thing about the Timbers, and largely MLS soccer, is the leagues, its teams and the international leagues are in flux. Many players that made huge impacts a year ago, may sour their final few months and are sent to different locales. That being said, the opening day roster for the Timbers will more than likely look very different come August. Some major moves happening on the subtraction side this offseason were the departure of Defender Liam Ridgewell, who helped the team to their MLS Cup victory in 2015 and played an integral part of the defense over his five seasons with the Timbers. At age 34, his skill and injury frequency became trouble for the club, leading to his contract being terminated.
Another important defender lost this offseason via trade was Alvas Powell. Powell came to the Timbers in 2013 and was also a member of the MLS Cup championship team. He was sent to expansion side FC Cincinnati for $250K in General Allocation Money. He will join former Timbers Forward Fanendo Adi, who was traded mid-season to the yet-to-be-formed club.
All is not lost on the back-line, as a new player coming in can likely fit the big shoes left by both players. Claude Dielna was sent from New England to Portland in a General Allocation Money trade this offseason. He played 28 games in his only season for the Revolution, and will look to be a solid option for the Timbers now.
In more additions for not allowing the ball to go into the goal by the opposing team, the Timbers added Slovenian Goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic. Ivacic helped his overseas team win their league title in 2017-2018, and will add depth to the goalkeeper core of Jeff Atinella and Steve Clark. However, with both of those players at 30 and 32 respectively, look for the 25-year-old Ivacic to make waves at T2, the second division side, and then possibly move up to the first team later.
Aside from the new players, the core of the team is largely the same. The greatest Portland Timber of all time, Diego Valeri, returns to his post as the anchor of the midfield, as well as Diego Chara, the best central defensive midfielder in Portland Timbers history. David Guzman and Sebastian Blanco, important midfield additions to last season's cup finals run are back.
The Timbers senior squad will rely more on former T2 members this season, the most prominent being Marvin Loria and Renzo Zambrano were signed to the first team in December in preparation for the preseason training from Costa Rica and Tuscon.
With some new faces, the Portland Timbers are still a formidable Western Conference team. We'll see how their form shapes up during the first few months of the season, but this will definitely be a tale of two seasons. Due to the construction of an expansion to Providence Park's west side, the Timbers won't play a home game for three months. The home opener has been pushed all the way back to June 1st, a game against LAFC.
Will the Timbers return home as road warriors, or is this a post-MLS Cup rebuilding year?
Watch the Portland Timbers take on the Colorado Rapids on March 2nd at 3 PM on ROOT Sports.
Forgotten No Longer!
by Harry Cummins
On Jan. 19 of this year, Craw's Corner ran a piece entitled Baseball's Forgotten 5-Tool Talent. In the article we admonished readers to watch closely Minnesota Twins OF Byron Buxton this season, despite being largely forgotten by most of baseball.
A mere two games into the 2019 exhibition schedule, Buxton has come to the plate 5 times for the Twins. In those five spring training at bats, Buxton has gone home run, single, double, single, and home run.!!
5 for 5 with 10 RBI's!!!
Buxton had no home runs and 4 RBI's in 28 regular season games with the Twins in an injury plagued season last year.
Sure, it's only 5 at bats in two exhibition games. But we are just saying.......
Sunday, February 24, 2019
AAF Week 3 Power Rankings
By Steven Weldon
Sadly this week, I wasn't able to catch any AAF action. I was able to quantify how well the teams did and make a power ranking.
1. ORLANDO APOLLOS (3-0)
The Apollos didn't need to make a late comeback, withstood a late rally, and took out the Express and became one of two undefeated teams in the league. They'll head to the furthest point west they could go and take on the Salt Lake Stallions in the first game of next weekend's games.
2. BIRMINGHAM IRON (3-0)
Trent Richardson showed up again and I am now impressed with this Iron team. They dominated the Atlanta Legends, and now stare 4-0 in the face with a matchup with the San Antonio Commanders next weekend.
3. SAN DIEGO FLEET (2-1)
The Fleet came out swinging against the Commanders in their rubber match. They cemented themselves above them, and will attempt to continue their stride on the road against the reeling Memphis Express.
4. ARIZONA HOTSHOTS (2-1)
It seems I was wrong about this team as well, but that's the fickle nature of sports. In a competitive game against the Stallions, the Hotshots had a chance late - even tried the Onside Conversion - but failed. The football gods shine down, however, as they can redeem themselves against the Legends next weekend.
5. SALT LAKE STALLIONS (1-2)
The Stallions picked up their first win, an impressive one against the Hotshots. Let's see if they can surprise the Apollos next weekend.
6. SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS (1-2)
Woof. These guys need to play someone different. A loss to the Fleet after taking them down in the first game ever and a disappointing finish against the Apollos on their back, they need a win. It will not get any easier, as they head to Birmingham.
7. MEMPHIS EXPRESS (0-3)
ALMOST had their first win. Unfortunately, they took on the best team in the league. Next weekend they host the Fleet. Could they finally win? Or will they have to wait until week five?
8. ATLANTA LEGENDS (0-3)
All this team has going for them it seems is their nifty color scheme. Another loss on their record and another game they don't break 12 points. I don't think they sniff victory next weekend unless they can score more than 20 points. The Hotshots are a good team, and good teams respond after losses.
Catch all the AAF action Saturday and Sunday afternoon starting at 1 PM on B/R Live, NFL Network and CBS Sports Network.
Sadly this week, I wasn't able to catch any AAF action. I was able to quantify how well the teams did and make a power ranking.
1. ORLANDO APOLLOS (3-0)
The Apollos didn't need to make a late comeback, withstood a late rally, and took out the Express and became one of two undefeated teams in the league. They'll head to the furthest point west they could go and take on the Salt Lake Stallions in the first game of next weekend's games.
2. BIRMINGHAM IRON (3-0)
Trent Richardson showed up again and I am now impressed with this Iron team. They dominated the Atlanta Legends, and now stare 4-0 in the face with a matchup with the San Antonio Commanders next weekend.
3. SAN DIEGO FLEET (2-1)
The Fleet came out swinging against the Commanders in their rubber match. They cemented themselves above them, and will attempt to continue their stride on the road against the reeling Memphis Express.
4. ARIZONA HOTSHOTS (2-1)
It seems I was wrong about this team as well, but that's the fickle nature of sports. In a competitive game against the Stallions, the Hotshots had a chance late - even tried the Onside Conversion - but failed. The football gods shine down, however, as they can redeem themselves against the Legends next weekend.
5. SALT LAKE STALLIONS (1-2)
The Stallions picked up their first win, an impressive one against the Hotshots. Let's see if they can surprise the Apollos next weekend.
6. SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS (1-2)
Woof. These guys need to play someone different. A loss to the Fleet after taking them down in the first game ever and a disappointing finish against the Apollos on their back, they need a win. It will not get any easier, as they head to Birmingham.
7. MEMPHIS EXPRESS (0-3)
ALMOST had their first win. Unfortunately, they took on the best team in the league. Next weekend they host the Fleet. Could they finally win? Or will they have to wait until week five?
8. ATLANTA LEGENDS (0-3)
All this team has going for them it seems is their nifty color scheme. Another loss on their record and another game they don't break 12 points. I don't think they sniff victory next weekend unless they can score more than 20 points. The Hotshots are a good team, and good teams respond after losses.
Catch all the AAF action Saturday and Sunday afternoon starting at 1 PM on B/R Live, NFL Network and CBS Sports Network.
No More Overtimes In College Basketball
At least give it a day before you yell at me about this please.
I am all for eliminating overtime in college basketball and if high school and pros want to join in, more power to you.
How does this sound in its place.
1. Replace overtime with a free throw shootout.
2. Before the game the head coach presents his list of five shooters to referees.
3. Teams alternate shots at an end they choose.
4. One point for each throw made.
5. If tied after the five players are done , then sudden victory gets to kick in, coach chooses shooters out of original five.
This is exciting. It beats a boring overtime which often are poorly played and officiated.
Don’t worry, it is too good of an idea to be implemented. And so was the 3-point line when first talked about in 1974.
UCLA Basketball: What Is Next
By Gregory Crawford @wchoops
My role as a west coast college basketball guru is overrated to say the least. At best, I do understand history, I know who can coach and I can evaluate players. I also don’t armchair, I see the games in person.
So with all that above my $1.00 on UCLA hoops and a coach.
Pretty simple, give these guys a look and you will win.
1. Dana Altman—- Horribly underrated, might be looking for new challenge.
2. David Rice—- His talents as an assistant at Washington speak for what his coaching all his career has been about, winning.
3. Jim Hayford—- Keeping the theme, everywhere this guy goes they win, including now at Seattle U.
4. Kyle Smith—- A complete winner, the reason San Francisco has already won 21 games this year.
5. Rod Barnes—- What he accomplishes at Cal State Bakersfield is nothing short of sensational.
All of above have 2 things in common. 1) They are not household names 2) All they do is keep winning and winning.
UCLA the glitz and glamor does not come from a big name, it comes from consistent winning.
My role as a west coast college basketball guru is overrated to say the least. At best, I do understand history, I know who can coach and I can evaluate players. I also don’t armchair, I see the games in person.
So with all that above my $1.00 on UCLA hoops and a coach.
Pretty simple, give these guys a look and you will win.
1. Dana Altman—- Horribly underrated, might be looking for new challenge.
2. David Rice—- His talents as an assistant at Washington speak for what his coaching all his career has been about, winning.
3. Jim Hayford—- Keeping the theme, everywhere this guy goes they win, including now at Seattle U.
4. Kyle Smith—- A complete winner, the reason San Francisco has already won 21 games this year.
5. Rod Barnes—- What he accomplishes at Cal State Bakersfield is nothing short of sensational.
All of above have 2 things in common. 1) They are not household names 2) All they do is keep winning and winning.
UCLA the glitz and glamor does not come from a big name, it comes from consistent winning.
Track and Field Spotlight: ATHING MU
by Harry Cummins
The plaudits keep pouring in for 16 year-old high school sensation Athing Mu.
The Trenton Track Club (NJ) runner broke the high school national record for 600 meters this weekend at the USA Indoor Championships in Staten Island, New York, winning her heat in 1:26.23 to break Sammy Watson's record established in 2017.
Mu was one of six qualifiers for the finals today, and will aim for a national senior women's title while still a junior in high school. To do so, she will have to defeat the likes of Nike athlete Raevyn Rogers in the final.
Rogers won her heat in 1:26.53 to set up a Sunday showdown at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex, just a ferry ride from downtown Manhattan.
New Scout's Honor Podcast Forecasts Some NFL Deals
In the newest Scout's Honor podcast (@ScoutsHonorPod) host Paul Crane (@PaulCrane7) and super scout Dave-Te' Thomas, who works directly with NFL teams and publishes the NFL Draft Report, discuss several potential deals in advance of the upcoming Scouting Combine and NFL Draft.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/17133923
Among the many scenarios the two discuss include what the Oakland Raiders may do with their three first round picks. Thomas expects Oakland to trade one of the picks in order to move up to draft one particular player which could cause a huge chain reaction on the team and for the draft.
Thomas also describes why the NY Giants may not wind up targeting the player most fans think they will and explains what he did to change their minds.
Several other possibilities are discussed, including one which could change the front line of the Atlanta Falcons. In addition, more sleepers of the week, this time small school players who stand to make big names for themselves at this week's combine in Indianapolis.
It's another must listen for all football fans.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
What Would the 'Colossus of Clout' Make of This?
by Harry Cummins
Some somnolent news out of Tampa, Fla. yesterday prior to the New York Yankees first exhibition game of the year this afternoon vs the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
Ricky Kalmon, a mindset expert, conducted hypnosis exercises with the team's players, coaches, even the front office staff, with help from Chad Bohling, the club's Director of Mental Conditioning.
"It's amazing to see the power of the human mind at work," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
What do you think the 'just see the ball, hit the ball' collection of Hall of Fame Yankees pictured above would think about all this. Can you picture Babe Ruth in the back row of the room yesterday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Provided the team doesn't sleep-walk thru Spring Training and beyond, here is one person's projected Yankees starting lineup for 2019.
1. Brett Gardner
2. Aaron Judge
3. Giancarlo Stanton
4. Gary Sanchez
5. Luke Voit
6. Aaron Hicks
7. Miguel Andujar
8. Troy Tulowitzki
9. Gleyber Torres
Crawford’s NBA Power Rankings, 2/23/19
Always done in 9s out of respect for game of golf, every Saturday we bring you Crawford’s world famous NBA power rankings. This week’s list actually was easy, not always the case.
9. Portland
8. Boston
7. Philadelphia
6. Indiana
5. Seattle Sonics
4. Denver
3. Golden State
2. Toronto
1. Milwaukee
Friday, February 22, 2019
Fast Start For Pilots Baseball
Sophomore pitcher Eli Morse threw eight innings, allowing just a single run, as the Portland Pilots ran their early season record to 4-1 with a 2-1 win over North Dakota State Friday afternoon in Edinburg, Texas.
Morse, a 2018 All-WCC pick, struck out seven while allowing just four hits to record his first win of the season. The Pilots took 3 of 4 games last week in Hawaii to open the 2019 season. They play a second game Friday night in Texas against UT Rio Grande Valley.
Third year Portland coach Geoff Loomis and his Pilots will open the 2019 home season Tues, March 5 against the Oregon Ducks
Watch Craw's Corner all season for great baseball coverage.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Crawford’s NWAC Power Rankings, 2/19/19
By Gregory Crawford @wchoop
Always done in 9s, out of respect for great game of golf. These darn NWAC teams PLAY so great, this is hard, but I must do it. Here we go.
WOMEN
9. Olympic
8. Highline
7. Mt Hood
6. Peninsula
5. Umpqua
4. Lower Columbia
3. Wenatchee Valley
2. Big Bend
1. Lane
MEN
9. Highline
8. Walla Walla
7. Umpqua
6. Green River
5. Chemeketa
4. South Puget Sound
3. Lane
2. Everett
1. North Idaho
Always done in 9s, out of respect for great game of golf. These darn NWAC teams PLAY so great, this is hard, but I must do it. Here we go.
WOMEN
9. Olympic
8. Highline
7. Mt Hood
6. Peninsula
5. Umpqua
4. Lower Columbia
3. Wenatchee Valley
2. Big Bend
1. Lane
MEN
9. Highline
8. Walla Walla
7. Umpqua
6. Green River
5. Chemeketa
4. South Puget Sound
3. Lane
2. Everett
1. North Idaho
Beach Balls And Other Inflated Subjects
by Harry Cummins
That's a photo of spacious Petco Park in sunny San Diego that you see pictured above.
Good luck Padres on your 300 million dollar bet you just placed today at the always open pari-mutuel window marked 'Fools Rush In.'
Wishing you Manny happy returns on your investment. But you had better hope it's a cloudy summer this year at all the nearby beaches.
Or perhaps peddle some of those gold-plated prospects in your pipeline for some starting pitching!!!!
15 words on this Sunday in Sports
The great creator of this blog has his famous :59 segment....Here's my new 15(or so) words on this Sunday in professional sports....
Daytona ran out of daylight, KD was in the spotlight, JB took almost all night
Daytona ran out of daylight, KD was in the spotlight, JB took almost all night
Monday, February 18, 2019
The Heir Apparent in American Men's Tennis
by Harry Cummins
When 6 foot 11 inch Reily Opelka collected his first ATP tour title yesterday in the finals of the New York Open, he served notice to the tennis world that his ascent to the summit of American men's tennis may not be far away..
The 21-year old, ranked No. 89 in the world coming into the tournament, advanced to the finals of the event by knocking off the top seed and the No 1 ranked American, John Isner. This upset coming on the heels of Opelka's surprising win over Isner in the first round of the Australian Open last month.
Opelka's rocket serve was regularly clocked at 130 miles per hour in his 3-set win over Brayden Schnur 6-1,6-7(7),7-6(7).
American men's tennis is on the up swing!!!
AAF Weekend In Review: Week 2
By Steven Weldon
The first week of the Alliance of American Football went off without a hitch, but the second week is where the league began to show its' weapons. In this weekly series, I will recap all four games and outline any breakout stars or teams in them, as well as a power ranking.
BIRMINGHAM IRON 12, SALT LAKE STALLIONS 9
While watching this game, I said to myself, "The Stallions are a lot better than they looked last week [against the Arizona Hotshots]". I was apparently wrong, as the Iron were able to shake off a 9-0 first-half deficit and win in the final quarter, 12-9. The only two touchdowns of the game came through the ground by Trent Richardson of the Iron and Joel Bouagnon of the Stallions, and while both teams managed to hit field goals, Stallions' kicker Taylor Bertolet missed three field goals, including the potential game-tying kick.
Star of the game: Trent Richardson 19 carries, 41 yds, 1 TD, 6 receptions, 50 yds.
Richardson was the leading rusher and receiver for the Iron, but he will need to give more production if the Iron are going to prove that their 2-0 record is not a result of playing bad teams.
ARIZONA HOTSHOTS 20, MEMPHIS EXPRESS 18
The Express had full control of this game in the first half, forcing John Wolford of the Hotshots into two interceptions and no points. After the half, the Hotshots proved why they are one of the top teams in the league, completing their comeback with 14 points in the fourth quarter. Zac Stacy of the Express barrelled downfield for a total of 101 yards and a touchdown, but half of his gain on the day came on one play. Meanwhile, the Hotshots amassed 209 total rushing yards behind four players. The Express faded into the night in their first home game, and after a promising start, are still looking for their first win.
Star of the game: John Wolford, 14/22, 194 yds, 2 TD 2 INT.
Wolford started cold and ended hot, and while he does have two interceptions now, he still leads the league with six touchdown passes. His play is the key to how the Hotshots go this season.
ORLANDO APOLLOS 37, SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS 29
No shortage of offense here, as the Apollos and Commanders played a competitive game that finished with a 17-point Apollos fourth quarter, including a game winning interception returned for a touchdown leading them to victory. Garrett Gilbert of the Apollos had an explosive day, passing for 393 yards and two touchdowns, tossing to Charles Johnson for 192 yards and a TD and Jalin Marshall for 84 yards and a TD for the bulk of it. The Commanders had a solid nine-point lead going into the final frame, but their questionable defense buried them. While many teams have multiple players with at least six tackles, the Commanders top two tacklers only managed to collect four.
Star of the game: Garrett Gilbert, 19/28, 393 yds, 2 TDs, 1 2PT.
Gilbert shredded the Commanders all day, and I would have given this award to Charles Johnson, but Gilbert found more teammates and willed his Apollos to victory.
SAN DIEGO FLEET 24, ATLANTA LEGENDS 12
The Legends were out to prove their 40-6 loss on opening night was a fluke, and they had a solid case in the first quarter, controlling the ball for most of the quarter and scoring their first touchdown as well as a field goal. The game crumbled from there, as the hometown Fleet charged back behind the rushing of Ja'Quan Gardner, who scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to slam the door shut on the Legends.
Star of the game: Ja'Quan Gardner, 15 carries, 104 yds, 2 TD.
Gardner added his name to 100-yard rushers in league history and cemented his starting spot with clutch running to shut down the Legends.
AAF POWER RANKINGS WEEK 2
1. ARIZONA HOTSHOTS (2-0)
The Hotshots two wins are impressive, and they'll look to extend it to three with another game against the Stallions coming weekend.
2. ORLANDO APOLLOS (2-0)
The Apollos explosive offense and excellent comeback victory make them a top-two team in the league. They'll face off against the Express in week three.
3. SAN DIEGO FLEET (1-1)
I could have interchanged the Fleet and Commanders, because they are two sides of a similar coin. The Fleet made a comeback against a worse team and showed a lot of mettle and potential in their game. They'll face the Commanders in week three, which will give me a better barometer for separation.
4. SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS (1-1)
Like I said previously for the Fleet, the Commanders had a similar game and situation. Their problems came when they lost the lead to a good team, but they still hung in there all day long. In their game against the Fleet, we'll see how far both teams have come since the first week.
5. BIRMINGHAM IRON (2-0)
The Iron are undefeated, but I am unimpressed. They barely squeaked out a victory over the Stallions this past week, and the only reasonable option on offense is Trent Richardson. Their defense can bring them back to where they belong, but their offense makes me sleepy. Good thing they play early games.
6. MEMPHIS EXPRESS (0-2)
The Express have had two reasonable chances to win and wilted in both. They'll experience a tall order when they take on the Apollos in week three.
7. ATLANTA LEGENDS (0-2)
The Legends woke up in game two, but they weren't awake enough to put together a complete game. They'll host Birmingham in their first home game in week three.
8. SALT LAKE STALLIONS (0-2)
The Stallions don't look very good. Their offense isn't anything to sneeze at, and now it seems their special teams need a ton of help. We'll see if they can be competitive in the rubber match against the Hotshots this weekend.
Catch the week three action on Bleacher Report Live, NFL Network and CBS Sports Network, as well as at AAF.com and on the AAF app.
The first week of the Alliance of American Football went off without a hitch, but the second week is where the league began to show its' weapons. In this weekly series, I will recap all four games and outline any breakout stars or teams in them, as well as a power ranking.
BIRMINGHAM IRON 12, SALT LAKE STALLIONS 9
While watching this game, I said to myself, "The Stallions are a lot better than they looked last week [against the Arizona Hotshots]". I was apparently wrong, as the Iron were able to shake off a 9-0 first-half deficit and win in the final quarter, 12-9. The only two touchdowns of the game came through the ground by Trent Richardson of the Iron and Joel Bouagnon of the Stallions, and while both teams managed to hit field goals, Stallions' kicker Taylor Bertolet missed three field goals, including the potential game-tying kick.
Star of the game: Trent Richardson 19 carries, 41 yds, 1 TD, 6 receptions, 50 yds.
Richardson was the leading rusher and receiver for the Iron, but he will need to give more production if the Iron are going to prove that their 2-0 record is not a result of playing bad teams.
ARIZONA HOTSHOTS 20, MEMPHIS EXPRESS 18
The Express had full control of this game in the first half, forcing John Wolford of the Hotshots into two interceptions and no points. After the half, the Hotshots proved why they are one of the top teams in the league, completing their comeback with 14 points in the fourth quarter. Zac Stacy of the Express barrelled downfield for a total of 101 yards and a touchdown, but half of his gain on the day came on one play. Meanwhile, the Hotshots amassed 209 total rushing yards behind four players. The Express faded into the night in their first home game, and after a promising start, are still looking for their first win.
Star of the game: John Wolford, 14/22, 194 yds, 2 TD 2 INT.
Wolford started cold and ended hot, and while he does have two interceptions now, he still leads the league with six touchdown passes. His play is the key to how the Hotshots go this season.
ORLANDO APOLLOS 37, SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS 29
No shortage of offense here, as the Apollos and Commanders played a competitive game that finished with a 17-point Apollos fourth quarter, including a game winning interception returned for a touchdown leading them to victory. Garrett Gilbert of the Apollos had an explosive day, passing for 393 yards and two touchdowns, tossing to Charles Johnson for 192 yards and a TD and Jalin Marshall for 84 yards and a TD for the bulk of it. The Commanders had a solid nine-point lead going into the final frame, but their questionable defense buried them. While many teams have multiple players with at least six tackles, the Commanders top two tacklers only managed to collect four.
Star of the game: Garrett Gilbert, 19/28, 393 yds, 2 TDs, 1 2PT.
Gilbert shredded the Commanders all day, and I would have given this award to Charles Johnson, but Gilbert found more teammates and willed his Apollos to victory.
SAN DIEGO FLEET 24, ATLANTA LEGENDS 12
The Legends were out to prove their 40-6 loss on opening night was a fluke, and they had a solid case in the first quarter, controlling the ball for most of the quarter and scoring their first touchdown as well as a field goal. The game crumbled from there, as the hometown Fleet charged back behind the rushing of Ja'Quan Gardner, who scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to slam the door shut on the Legends.
Star of the game: Ja'Quan Gardner, 15 carries, 104 yds, 2 TD.
Gardner added his name to 100-yard rushers in league history and cemented his starting spot with clutch running to shut down the Legends.
AAF POWER RANKINGS WEEK 2
1. ARIZONA HOTSHOTS (2-0)
The Hotshots two wins are impressive, and they'll look to extend it to three with another game against the Stallions coming weekend.
2. ORLANDO APOLLOS (2-0)
The Apollos explosive offense and excellent comeback victory make them a top-two team in the league. They'll face off against the Express in week three.
3. SAN DIEGO FLEET (1-1)
I could have interchanged the Fleet and Commanders, because they are two sides of a similar coin. The Fleet made a comeback against a worse team and showed a lot of mettle and potential in their game. They'll face the Commanders in week three, which will give me a better barometer for separation.
4. SAN ANTONIO COMMANDERS (1-1)
Like I said previously for the Fleet, the Commanders had a similar game and situation. Their problems came when they lost the lead to a good team, but they still hung in there all day long. In their game against the Fleet, we'll see how far both teams have come since the first week.
5. BIRMINGHAM IRON (2-0)
The Iron are undefeated, but I am unimpressed. They barely squeaked out a victory over the Stallions this past week, and the only reasonable option on offense is Trent Richardson. Their defense can bring them back to where they belong, but their offense makes me sleepy. Good thing they play early games.
6. MEMPHIS EXPRESS (0-2)
The Express have had two reasonable chances to win and wilted in both. They'll experience a tall order when they take on the Apollos in week three.
7. ATLANTA LEGENDS (0-2)
The Legends woke up in game two, but they weren't awake enough to put together a complete game. They'll host Birmingham in their first home game in week three.
8. SALT LAKE STALLIONS (0-2)
The Stallions don't look very good. Their offense isn't anything to sneeze at, and now it seems their special teams need a ton of help. We'll see if they can be competitive in the rubber match against the Hotshots this weekend.
Catch the week three action on Bleacher Report Live, NFL Network and CBS Sports Network, as well as at AAF.com and on the AAF app.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Some NFL Stars Will Be Looking For Work Soon
With the NFL's new fiscal year beginning on March 13th, all teams will be facing tough decisions as they get ready for veteran free agency and the upcoming NFL draft. The salary cap makes it hard for all teams to keep all the players they might like and this week's new Scout's Honor Podcast (@ScoutsHonorPod) previews what could be happening in the days ahead.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/17068956
Paul Crane (@PaulCrane7) and NFL Draft Report publisher Dave-Te' Thomas look at some of the obvious choices, such as Denver releasing quarterback Case Keenum now that the Broncos have traded for QB Joe Flacco, to some of the not so obvious such as Kansas City being forced to lose talented linebacker Justin Houston.
It's another must listen for football fans of all teams especially those mentioned in this week's newest podcast.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/17068956
Paul Crane (@PaulCrane7) and NFL Draft Report publisher Dave-Te' Thomas look at some of the obvious choices, such as Denver releasing quarterback Case Keenum now that the Broncos have traded for QB Joe Flacco, to some of the not so obvious such as Kansas City being forced to lose talented linebacker Justin Houston.
It's another must listen for football fans of all teams especially those mentioned in this week's newest podcast.
Justin Parnell: Keep An Eye On This Guy
Some things never change. That is the case for Oregon Tech basketball. For the record, OIT is located in Klamath Falls, Oregon and is a member of the NAIA Cascade Collegiate Conference.
OIT is a tremendous school academically, but you mention its name and the first words out of anyone is Danny Miles. 45 years as head coach at OIT, 1,040 wins, one of only 5 coaches in history of college basketball to win 1,000 games at 4 year school. For sure an icon, guru, legend and a future Naismith Hall of Famer.
It is an understatement to say OIT basketball has a fanatic following and just not in Klamath Falls or state of Oregon. So when Miles decided to retire, (not even jokingly, some seriously thought he would coach to 100), there was safe to say anxiety. After all it is not easy to replace a basketball icon, just ask UCLA.
But someone has to replace an icon and that someone at OIT was Justin Parnell. This writer will never forget talking with my friend and the man who made the final decision to hire Justin Parnell, Dr. Chris Maples, the OIT President at the time. Chris told me over and over, “Greg, we hired the right person. Justin will win tons of basketball games at OIT and like Danny he will do it the right way”.
Well guess what? The Prez was correct.
Parnell just completed his third regular season at OIT by winning the regular season championship and gaining the #1 seed in the Conference playoffs. Equally as impressive, in 3 years Parnell’s overall record is 70-27 and in conference play, 44-14.
Yes Dr. Chris Maples, you did not make a good choice, you made a great choice.
CCC's Martin Ends Season As Nation's Leading Scorer
by Harry Cummins
With a 40 point performance in his final game Saturday night, Multnomah University's Justin Martin has won the NAIA D-2 regular season national scoring championship by the narrowest of margins.
Martin finishes the regular season with a 31.86 ppg scoring average to edge out Cameron Hunt of Southwestern (Kansas) who posted a 31.74 ppg mark.
Both players registered 40 points in their final regular season game in one of the most spirited national scoring races in NAIA history.
Martin struggled with a leg injury in the closing minutes of his team's loss to Northwest University in a battle for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Martin will return for his senior season at Multnomah.
With a 40 point performance in his final game Saturday night, Multnomah University's Justin Martin has won the NAIA D-2 regular season national scoring championship by the narrowest of margins.
Martin finishes the regular season with a 31.86 ppg scoring average to edge out Cameron Hunt of Southwestern (Kansas) who posted a 31.74 ppg mark.
Both players registered 40 points in their final regular season game in one of the most spirited national scoring races in NAIA history.
Martin struggled with a leg injury in the closing minutes of his team's loss to Northwest University in a battle for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Martin will return for his senior season at Multnomah.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
THE SON ALSO RISES
 |
| The son of a celebrated NBA father has secured a foothold all his own in the NAIA's rugged Cascade Collegiate Conference |
by Harry Cummins
Sitting on a folding chair in a corner of an empty gymnasium, Zach Richardson is explaining to his early morning visitor how the disparate events of his young life have led him to this unlikeliest of landing spots.
With a sweeping glance toward the still half-asleep campus outside, Richardson remarks, "This is exactly where I am supposed to be."
Such perspective on one's positional significance in the world is uncommon and perhaps the proper vantage point to begin our story. The story about the boy who was always looking for the road less traveled. The kid who went right when all those around him were turning left.
Founded on the site of a former mortuary, Multnomah University is a private, non-denominational Christian university situated in a modest neighborhood of Portland,Oregon. It's a home-spun setting where its 300 or so undergraduate students are more inclined to ponder the meaning of life than the fortunes of its basketball team, which at present, happens to be leading the nation in scoring, averaging nearly 100 points a game.
The school's veteran coach, Curt Bickley, operates on a budget so small that he doubles as the team's bus driver on long road trips thru Oregon, Washington and Idaho in pursuit of a playoff spot as the newest member of the highly competitive Cascade Collegiate Conference.
This is where the 19 year-old son of Clint Richardson Jr. currently finds himself, the father's name so familiar as side-kick to Julius Erving and Moses Malone on the 1982-83 NBA World Champion Philadelphia 76ers.
This could be the sort of place, the son reasons, where a person might push away the shadows of a famous father, deflect those half-intended jabs aimed at the imagination. A place where you could finally grab hold of your own identity.
A quick glance at this season's basketball statistics would seem to concur. With the regular season drawing to a close, Richardson is one of the top scoring freshmen in the NAIA, and pacing all first year CCC players with an average of 17.4 ppg. He is among the national leaders in 3-point baskets and has registered eye-popping games this season of 49 and 42 points.
Coach Bickley, in his 16th season at Multnomah, first made a phone pitch to the 6-foot guard from neighboring Washington as Zach was on a return flight from a recruiting visit to one of the several basketball schools courting his services.
Although still waiting to hear back from NCAA Division 1 Texas Christian, along with small college powerhouse Carroll College in Montana, Richardson decided to accept Bickley's invitation to visit the school he had never heard of. By now, he had grown weary of balancing the tangled ball of maybe's and nice words masquerading as his basketball future.
Following a quick tour of Multnomah's compact campus, Bickley and his recruit headed for the gym. It would be a chance for Richardson to shoot a few 3 pointers and Bickley to explain his unique 'shoot before you turn the ball over' theory of offense.
Seventy-five made 3's in one hundred attempts later,coach Bickley had found a future foundation for Multnomah Lions basketball and Zach Richardson could start to straighten out the twists and turns in his life.
Richardson is the youngest of Clint Richardson's four children. He was measured early on with an underdog's collar, obedient to the adulation and clamor for the famous father and forced to carry, by now, what had become a weighted baton as the anchor runner on a generational family relay.
Clint Richardson Sr. was a multi-event All-American track star at Washington State University in the 1950's. His four children, Clint,Craig,Keith and Colleen were no less accomplished. Zach's father, Clint, ascended to NBA royalty as an all-state MVP at O'Dea High School and remains the only player in Seattle University history to lead the team in scoring four consecutive seasons.
Craig Richardson was at one time the leading kick returner in the nation for Eastern Washington University and had brief flings with both the Rams and Chiefs of the NFL. Keith Richardson was a wide receiver for the University of Washington and invited to camp with the Buffalo Bills. Colleen Richardson was a sprint and jump star at UW as well. The pressure to advance this tradition of athletic excellence was unspoken, but no less real for a young Zach Richardson.
"Throughout his life, Zach has really tried to separate himself from the pack and from who people expected him to be" relates his mother Kim Seng. "He would go to basketball camps and nobody would know much about him as a player. I think Zach learned to embrace that role."
"Some would say he had a tough childhood, but the one thing that always kept him going was being told he couldn't achieve something."
It was at one such camp in the summer of 2017 that Zach Richardson's life was altered forever. Showing up as an unheralded 17 year-old just finishing his junior year of high school, Richardson quickly played his way onto a hand-picked team of top players selected to represent Fred Crowell's prestigious NBC camp. The elite traveling squad would soon head to Rome where they would play a series of games against older, more experienced semi-professional teams in Italy.
Richardson's experiences during those indelible weeks in Italy remain embedded in his consciousness. He remembers the carefree afternoons swimming in the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Amalfi coastline. The profound moment spent inside the dark, damp prison chamber once occupied by the apostle Paul.
For the first time he might now understand how suffering could produce good. How light could shine from darkness. "I was, and remain, a seriously changed person", confirms Zach.
At the airport, waiting to return home, a bomb scare and the faces of frightened children stirred something more in this impressionable young athlete. "I was overwhelmed with what I saw, and the feeling that I must do something to help," remembers Zach. He now considers a future as a United States Marshall when his playing days end.
If you want to better understand the maturation of Zach Richardson, pay a visit to Matt Sinnes, his senior year coach at Auburn Mountain View High School. Playing in a conference that showcased the state's current No 1 recruit, Jalen McDaniels, Richardson averaged over 19 points a game and was a 1st team all-league selection.
"One of my favorite parts of Zach's story was how overlooked he was, even after that great senior season," says Sinnes. "To this day, he carries a chip on his shoulder when he plays, tho he probably will never admit it."
Serving as more than coach, Sinnes could resonate with Zach as a fellow traveler on a rutted road. His own father, Lee, was an accomplished athlete and esteemed coach for many years, now enshrined in several state halls of recognition. "Zach and I would often talk about the importance of finding your own path," remembers Sinnes.
"Recently my dad suffered a heart attack and had major heart surgery. Zach would text me several times a week asking how my father was doing and if I was doing alright. At times I'm sure Zach comes across as cocky, but if you know him at all, you know that's not the truth. He is just extremely confident in his abilities as a basketball player."
Richardson's mother, Kim, confirms the "killer" instinct Zach shares with his father. "Zach is driven to win," she says. "But I can see his soft side under the tough guy skin. And when I do, it's a thing of joy."
Since the first day of classes last Fall at Multnomah, Zach began to forge a special friendship with Justin Martin, the team's most notable player and affectionately dubbed 'Big Dog' by teammates.
In one memorable game in mid-November, the two fast friends scored an unheard of 49 points each in a record setting win over NCAA foe Pacific University. The team presented Richardson with a t-shirt that read 'Puppers' in deference to his fledgling status. At practice, coach Bickley can still be heard admonishing Richardson to "be a dog."
Puppers, it seems, has been paying attention.
In recent months, Martin has gone on to post a mind-boggling 71 point game while Richardson recently tallied 42 points in a contest Martin was forced to miss due to injury. Their special bond has been perfectly encapsulated in a single photograph of the jubilant pair chest bumping at center court in the middle of a recent upset win.
Richardson claims Martin is "like another older brother to me" and says the more experienced guard has helped him with the mental aspects of basketball. "He helps me see different reads that I can make on the floor, how to pick out defenses," says Zach. "Because of him,I am able to see things before they happen."
Martin conversely explains how much he has come to appreciate the wisdom and maturity of his understudy. "We can talk honestly about real problems we both face in life," says Martin.
"He also makes me laugh like no one else," says Justin, glimpsing the lighter side of Richardson that Matt Sinnes likes to describe as "just plain goofy."
From inside his cramped office decorated with reminders of his love affair with the Milwaukee Brewers, Curt Bickley can daily look across the hall and watch Zach and Justin alone in the gym working on their games.
"Zach's desire to get better is paramount in his life," says Bickley.
"You have to remind yourself that he is still just a freshman. It is rare that a first year player can come into this conference and put up the numbers he has. He wonders why every game isn't a great game for him," says Bickley
"He has such great expectations every single time he takes the floor. He is a future leader for us for sure. I am proud of the player and the person he is becoming."
A conversation with Richardson is like watching him bring a basketball up-court--straight forward and smooth. "I am an open book," he says. I walk with my chest out. I am a confident person, but I surely don't think I am better than anyone else."
Emboldened by his Christian faith, a tattoo on the inside bicep of his right arm reads, "Fear not, for I am with you."
"I try to think of others first but sometimes I risk being hurt when my kindness is mistaken for weakness," he says.
This infrequent expression of vulnerability can manifest itself on the basketball court as well.
"Sometimes I really do feel like I am in a snipers cross-hairs out there," he confesses."I hear the trash talk from my opponents and feel the hard fouls that go uncalled in the game. It is as if they are saying "we will put an end to this upstart freshman."
" I know now I will experience off-nights and no one is to blame," he says. "Early in the year I thought I should be scoring 20 points a night. I came to realize I wasn't playing the game for the right reasons. When my shot is off, my basketball IQ must remain the same. My defense must remain the same. The reason why I play this game must always remain the same."
Former Multnomah player and now assistant coach Blake Updike says "Zach leads our team in steals but that is not the whole story. Count the number of times his hands deflect a pass or how many loose balls he comes up with during the course of a game. It may be the most important thing that never appears on the stat sheet."
Surprisingly, Clint Richardson Jr. has never once worked out with his aspiring son, but continues to educate Zach in the subtle ways of the game. "He tells me to always dribble to the middle of the floor where I can see things. It's where the value of a smart player impacts the game the most," says Zach.
Clint regularly attends his son's games, symbolically perched in the arena's upper regions, as far from the court as possible. Conversations between father and son these days are frequent but seldom linger on the subject of basketball. A recent evening found Clint more eager to talk about Zach's girlfriend Taylor Altick, a senior at Auburn Mountain View High School, who Zach first met at a volunteer camp.
"She's way smarter than me," laughs Zach.
Although Zach was an honor student his senior year of high school ("I owe that all to my grandmother") and continues to earn good marks at Multnomah, he admits to a fickle passion when it comes to academics. "It can be hard to juggle short term goals with long range plans," he says.
While his focus centers on his next game, Richardson will allow his dreams to drift to a possible professional basketball career overseas. Or maybe he will explore the field of sports psychology, he says, continuing to unfurl the alternate script that has become his life.
For now, tho,Richardson's goal is to increase his physical strength in matching up with the bigger,stronger players that populate the rosters of the rugged Cascade Collegiate conference.
To that end, he will spend another summer with his personal trainer at Big Wu Fitness in Kent, Washington. He says he will bring Justin Martin with him, a sobering thought for the rest of the CCC.
The freshman can still hear the words reverberate from his older teammate and friend, words spoken to him the day after Martin and his 71 points blew-up the nation's sports pages.
"Zach, you won't believe me now, but one day you are going to be better than me,"
As an awe-struck youth, Richardson remembers meeting many of his dad's famous NBA friends, recounting the day he hung with Bill Russell and thinking to himself, "where am I."
He no longer asks that question.
Later this day, Richardson will help unload the team bus in Caldwell, Idaho, where Multnomah will face the No. 3 team in the nation. He will be responsible for lugging his teammates uniforms to the visitors locker room.
One more rite of passage. One more curve on that relay leg.
In the end, how do you really come to understand our story of the little pup with the higher purpose, well on his way to becoming a Big Dog?
You need only wake tomorrow to a new day and all that it holds. See the orange tint of the horizon, rising above the power lines and roof tops. Rising above the pretensions and scars of a modern world. Rising like a jump shooter, arms lifted high in so much expectation.
You wake, too, and think about all those people in your life. The special ones that seem to put others above themselves. Maybe you even think about how you could be that kind of person.
You think about all these things, all these relationships, until you come to realize......
....they are your blessings.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
PGA Tour This Week
As readers of Craw’s Corner, you have asked for more golf so as always we oblige.
Our coverage will come in various forms from opinion, stats to basics.
This week the PGA Tour returns to LA for 93rd edition of Genesis Open. Yes 93 times and not always under the Genesis name.
Site—- Riviera Country Club
Purse—— $7.4 million
Yardage and Par—— 7,322 yards and Par 71
Defending Champ—- Bubba Watson
Our coverage will come in various forms from opinion, stats to basics.
This week the PGA Tour returns to LA for 93rd edition of Genesis Open. Yes 93 times and not always under the Genesis name.
Site—- Riviera Country Club
Purse—— $7.4 million
Yardage and Par—— 7,322 yards and Par 71
Defending Champ—- Bubba Watson
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Crawford’s NWAC Power Rankings, 2/12/19
Always done in 9s out of respect for game of golf. Hard choices this week, but I am proud to step up and support NWAC basketball.
Women
9. Olympic
8. Grays Harbor
7. Mt. Hood
6. Lower Columbia
5. Bellevue
4. Wenatchee Valley
3. Big Bend
2. Lane
1. Umpqua
Men
9. Centralia
8. Edmonds
7. South Puget Sound
6. Walla Walla
5. Green River
4. Lane
3. Umpqua
2. Everett
1. North Idaho
Kyler Murray (Finally) Commits To Something
By Steven Weldon
A collegiate athlete has given up 1.29 million dollars to pursue a dream, and it's not related to any NCAA sanctions. Kyler Murray has announced that he is declaring for the NFL Draft.
Kyler Murray was a quarterback at the same university.
At that time, Baker Mayfield was starting over him. Mayfield crushed the competition in college, won the prestigious Heisman Trophy, and entered the 2018 NFL Draft.
Oklahoma had no choice but to take the next man up. Kyler Murray still had plans to play baseball after his football career in college was over, so being considered an NFL prospect was reasonable but not a solid bet. It definitely helped that the A's gave him a 1.5 million dollar signing bonus, just one part of an over-arching 4.66 million-dollar minor league deal.
Then Murray took Baker Mayfield's statistics and broke them. Then he helped his team become one of the College Football Playoff Finalist teams. Then, he won the Heisman Trophy. Things became a little murkier.
Murray began to do interviews around the country covering him as a player, whether he was going to play baseball or football, and when he was going to make the decision. The most awkward interview of all time occurred on February 1st, where on The Dan Patrick Show, Murray avoided questions about his football decision as much as he could, but he did mention that he would be attending Oakland Athletics Spring Training.
That appears to be all for naught with his recent announcement. Kyler has given back all but 200K of his signing bonus to the Oakland Athletics, and for now, he is a top prospect for the NFL. Maurice Jones-Drew, of NFL.com, has Murray a projected seventh-overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. At 5'11", Murray's not the tallest quarterback, but that worked out just fine for Russell Wilson and Drew Brees.
Will Kyler Murray shine in the NFL? The signs point to yes, but there are a lot of factors in play. The first chance to see how his draft stock goes will be at the NFL Scouting Combine, in which workouts for quarterbacks are scheduled for March 2nd. Murray has not announced a Pro Day, as he avoided the question on The Dan Patrick Show, so that is up in the air.
Let's see if this kid can hit a home run with his football career.
Check out the NFL Combine on NFL Network, March 1st-4th. Times for events are TBA.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Where Will Baseball's Biggest Free Agents Sign?
This week's baseball Scout's Honor podcast looks at the biggest free agents still unsigned as Major League Baseball gets ready to begin spring training.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/17005653
Paul Crane and the Director of Operations of Scouting Services, Inc., which works directly with several MLB teams, Dave-Te' Thomas discuss the two most significant unsigned free agents, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, along with several others.
Thomas also provides insight in to the trade which saw the Marlins send catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies, how that deal was far less than others which had been offered and why Miami ended up in the situation it found itself.
It's another must listen for baseball fans with a new season right around the Craw's Corner.
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/17005653
Paul Crane and the Director of Operations of Scouting Services, Inc., which works directly with several MLB teams, Dave-Te' Thomas discuss the two most significant unsigned free agents, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, along with several others.
Thomas also provides insight in to the trade which saw the Marlins send catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies, how that deal was far less than others which had been offered and why Miami ended up in the situation it found itself.
It's another must listen for baseball fans with a new season right around the Craw's Corner.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
An Impressive Arrival: Alliance of American Football
By Steven Weldon
With one crack of a helmet to the turf, the Alliance of American Football, or AAF, had arrived. Within moments, a huge hit that would ideally be called a flag in the NFL, spread through every social media application possible. What is this? The Super Bowl was last weekend, why is there still football?
The demand has always existed for more football. Thousands travel to spring intra-squad scrimmages at colleges around the country, just to get that fall feeling again. Millions attend NFL training camps; so much so that a television series covers one NFL team every preseason. All of these events came into existence to whet the fans' insatiable appetite for big hits, insane plays, and sweet juke moves.
That won't end any time soon.
The AAF enters with eight teams, six with no NFL team, but large enough markets to support other professional leagues. Only Atlanta and Arizona are located in cities with NFL franchises in the metro area, and the Birmingham Iron is the first professional football team in that city since the XFL in 2001.
The talent and coaching level, at first glance of week one, is there. 81% of the players in the league signed an NFL contract at some point in their career. Three teams allowed less than eight points with their defenses making big plays, and four teams scored over 20 points. The star of the first weekend was former Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford, now of the Arizona Hotshots. His four touchdown, 275-yard day was the most prolific performance football fans have witnessed since January. The league's head coaches include big names such as Mike Martz, Dennis Erickson and Steve Spurrier. Even Michael Vick has a job as an offensive coordinator.
The league also created some reasonable innovations. Play starts at the 25-yard line, no kickoffs of any kind. Even the onside kick was eliminated in favor of a 4th-and-12 rule. There are no extra point attempts; only two-point conversions. Also, to speed up the game, there are no TV timeouts. When there is a short stoppage in play, the station covering the game goes split screen with an ad on one side. Play resumes shortly after. Watching the Salt Lake Stallions take on the Arizona Hotshots start to finish only took about two and a half hours.
One of the most important aspects was the most integral to those who don't live in the immediate area of all eight teams. Luckily, the founders of the league are well-versed in the media business. Charlie Ebersol, son of NBC executive Dick Ebersol, founded the league with former NFL players. The league then signed a deal with CBS as well as NFL Network and Bleacher Report Live. Every single game will be televised on one of five channels that are accessible via cable or the internet.
The AAF has a solid foundation. It has good, solid football. It's very watchable. Let's see how far they can take it.
Watch the AAF on Saturdays and Sundays from February 9th until April 27th on CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, and Bleacher Report Live.
With one crack of a helmet to the turf, the Alliance of American Football, or AAF, had arrived. Within moments, a huge hit that would ideally be called a flag in the NFL, spread through every social media application possible. What is this? The Super Bowl was last weekend, why is there still football?
The demand has always existed for more football. Thousands travel to spring intra-squad scrimmages at colleges around the country, just to get that fall feeling again. Millions attend NFL training camps; so much so that a television series covers one NFL team every preseason. All of these events came into existence to whet the fans' insatiable appetite for big hits, insane plays, and sweet juke moves.
That won't end any time soon.
The AAF enters with eight teams, six with no NFL team, but large enough markets to support other professional leagues. Only Atlanta and Arizona are located in cities with NFL franchises in the metro area, and the Birmingham Iron is the first professional football team in that city since the XFL in 2001.
The talent and coaching level, at first glance of week one, is there. 81% of the players in the league signed an NFL contract at some point in their career. Three teams allowed less than eight points with their defenses making big plays, and four teams scored over 20 points. The star of the first weekend was former Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford, now of the Arizona Hotshots. His four touchdown, 275-yard day was the most prolific performance football fans have witnessed since January. The league's head coaches include big names such as Mike Martz, Dennis Erickson and Steve Spurrier. Even Michael Vick has a job as an offensive coordinator.
The league also created some reasonable innovations. Play starts at the 25-yard line, no kickoffs of any kind. Even the onside kick was eliminated in favor of a 4th-and-12 rule. There are no extra point attempts; only two-point conversions. Also, to speed up the game, there are no TV timeouts. When there is a short stoppage in play, the station covering the game goes split screen with an ad on one side. Play resumes shortly after. Watching the Salt Lake Stallions take on the Arizona Hotshots start to finish only took about two and a half hours.
One of the most important aspects was the most integral to those who don't live in the immediate area of all eight teams. Luckily, the founders of the league are well-versed in the media business. Charlie Ebersol, son of NBC executive Dick Ebersol, founded the league with former NFL players. The league then signed a deal with CBS as well as NFL Network and Bleacher Report Live. Every single game will be televised on one of five channels that are accessible via cable or the internet.
The AAF has a solid foundation. It has good, solid football. It's very watchable. Let's see how far they can take it.
Watch the AAF on Saturdays and Sundays from February 9th until April 27th on CBS Sports Network, NFL Network, and Bleacher Report Live.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Zach Richardson's 42 Points Keep Multnomah In Playoff Hunt
by Harry Cummins
Freshman guard Zach Richardson, thrust into a position of offensive leadership due to an injury to the nation's leading scorer, Justin Martin, responded with a composed 42 point performance from the backcourt in leading the Multnomah Lions to a key 112-105 road win over the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers in a Cascade Collegiate Conference contest Saturday night.
Richardson shot a blistering 13 of 25 from the field, including 8 of 16 from 3 point range. He also registered 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in playing the full 40 minutes. Teammate Ben Grandle was equally as impressive, hitting 9 of 14 3's in scoring 32 points in the game. On the night, the Lions connected for 23 3-pointers.
Multnomah (14-14,5-11), is fighting to nail down one of the final spots in CCC post season play, and was coming off an 108-93 loss to College of Idaho (24-3) Friday night in Caldwell. The Lions were forced to play the weekend road set without Justin Martin, the nation's leading scorer at 31.38 ppg. Richardson scored a game high 31 points in the loss to the nation's 3rd ranked team (COI) the night before, unperturbed in first assuming the team's point guard responsibilities. Martin, nursing a sore knee, hopes to return in time for the Lions final 2 games at home to end the Cascade Conference regular season next weekend.
With the 23 made shots from behind the arc Saturday night, The Lions now lead the NAIA with 494 3's on the year, and remain the highest scoring team in the nation. The 42 points by Richardson was the 2nd highest point total of his young career, just short of the matching 49 points he scored in tandem with Justin Martin in an early season record setting win over NCAA D-3 Pacific University.
Eastern Oregon placed 5 players in double figures in the Saturday loss to Multnomah, led by the 20 points and 14 rebounds of Landon Jones. In winning, the Lions also received major contributions from Brett Blackstock with 23 points and 7 assists and Andy Brown with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Jesuit takes control of Metro race
By Allan Classen
Jesuit’s Justin Bieker may have been the best player
in the gym Feb. 8 in the Crusader’s showdown game against Sunset, but the 6-5
do-everything guard has to thank his teammates from bailing him out of an
embarrassing meltdown.
Bieker blocked a shot in the last two minutes of the
game, protecting a 57-51 lead. But he drew a technical foul for taunting the
shooter, giving Sunset two free throws and a possession that resulted in a
three-point basket.
Before the Crusaders could get their hands on the
ball again, their lead had melted to two. Sunset would have two possessions
more to at least tie the game. Each time, the Crusaders defense turned up,
causing forced shots and a turnover.
Bieker had a chance to pad the lead in the final
minute but missed a one-and-one. That gave Sunset its last chance to knot it
up, which appeared to occur as Cody King powered in a put-back shot. It was nullified
by a traveling violation, however.
Otherwise, Bieker was superb, finishing on drives
and draining jump shots from around the foul line with ease. He had five
rebounds and four assists. He is scoring 17.8 points per game this season.
Braeden Sato, a 5-10 point guard averaging 16 points
a game, scored 14 for Sunset. But only three came in the second half and
Jesuit’s defense gave him no open shots in the closing minutes.
The teams entered the contest tied for first in the
Metro League with 7-1 records. Jesuit now leads by one game with three league
games to go.
Allan Classen is editor and publisher of the NW Examiner
Craw’s Corner Looking To Get Even Biigger
As the editor and founder of Craw’s Corner we can never thank our readers enough, our growth in readership is off the charts. Today we have announced that Harry Cunnins will not only continue his great writing, but is now been named our Managing Editor. A few other thoughts.
1) We are always looking for writers to cover the following, a. NFL b. Ccllege Football c. Soccer d. High School sports in Oregon.
2) We have signed a long term deal to have Allen Perez as our Senior NBA writer.
3. You can rest assured our coverage of golf, tennis, baseball, track & field and college basketball is going to get bigger and better than ever.
4. The icon Bob Rathbun will be contributing a weekly column.
Your thoughts and ideas are always respected.
Crawford’s Sports Biz 59 Seconds, 2/9/19
Mobile ticket marketplace app, Gametime, now will allow you to buy tickets to sporting events up to 90 minutes after a game starts. Yes, there is a market here. Estimated value example, average NBA seat of $125.00, after game start, $40.00. Would you be buyer?
Friday, February 8, 2019
3 Things We Are Watching This Weekend
by Harry Cummins
1. WR Attempt at 112th Millrose
Word out of New York City that Yomif Kejelcha, the 21-year-old Ethiopian middle distance runner, will attempt an assault on the existing world record Saturday in the famed Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile.
The red-hot Nike Oregon Project athlete will attempt to shatter the current indoor mark of 3:48.45 set by the great Hicham El Guerrouj in 1997. Guerrouj also holds the outdoor world record of 3:43.13, established in 1999.
Edward Cheserek, owner of the 2nd fastest indoor mile in history at 3:49.44, is also in Saturday's elite lineup. This could be 'one for the books.'
2. Russell Westbrook's NBA streak
Already a notable year of individual achievement in the NBA, stop to consider this:
OKC's Russell Westbrook goes for his 9th straight triple-double in Saturday's road game vs the Houston Rockets. He has now passed Michael Jordan for the longest such streak in the NBA in the last 51 years.
3. Lame Lady Ducks
A legion of Oregon Duck softball supporters are eager to sift thru the highly publicized rubble of its once proud program as the Lady Ducks begin the 2019 season this weekend with 5 games in Arizona.
For background information, refer to the earlier January 28, 2019 posting on Craw's Corner-'Duck Soup'
I am betting this weekend uncovers diamonds amid the dust!
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