I want to answer a critic. That individual likes to press my buttons on a range of sports. But I am not that thin-skinned to not weather criticism. I actually welcome opposing or different opinions, as my take on sports-related issues may not be close to popular, let alone mainstream.
His belief is that I don’t offer enough coverage to college sports and gymnastics, and way too much time is devoted to baseball and pro football—especially the Yankees and Jets. He is not wrong.
I talk about my favorite sports because it is what I am most passionate and opinionated. Still, I sometimes don’t offer enough insight about a topic as I try to fit more news and discourse within my allotted a little over two plus pages of typed material.
The latest blast from him regarded the paucity of my coverage of Simone Biles at the recent World Championships. He felt that I did not recognize what she has accomplished and how, comparatively, she ranks in her own sport let alone among other top performers in more mainstream sports.
First, the fact that this blessed athlete has overcome some nasty mental issues which would paralyze a gymnast—whether it is a world class one like she is, or the myriad of youth gymnasts I watched regularly when my daughter competed in New Jersey—is absolutely amazing. And to return to elite status and look even better than when she left the world stage is even more remarkable.
Her ability to weather the most difficult expectations and repeatedly turn in some incredible performances is astounding. The fact that she is the most decorated female gymnast in the sport is testimony to her fortitude and abilities.
Biles reminds me of the top tier tennis players and boxers. Like the fighters, Biles is out there, alone, facing individual failure in a sport which is judged harshly by those who score the events. Yet seemingly she thrives on being in the spotlight.
At a time when Mary Lou Retton, one of the more decorated American female gymnasts of our era struggles with her life while in an ICU battling pneumonia, it is certainly a time to reflect on how much the sport has improved from the days of Olga Korbut and Retton to the superiority of Simone Biles. With no better ambassador than Simone Biles.
The recognition of her accomplishments is not unnoticed. Sure, there is the mania over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and the romance which is budding (she came to Kansas With for the Broncos-Chiefs game on Thursday night and the duet spent private time together afterwards). That pales (to some) in comparison to what Biles has done.
There is only one Simone Biles and she is the best. Period. I won’t get into his arguments about male gymnasts.
I saw a note this week. With the start of the National Hockey League season, the Pittsburgh Penguins trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letting achieved the most number of years any three have been together on a team. The three have been playing together for 18 seasons, surpassing the 17 seasons the Yankees tiro of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera were together. That is quite an accomplishment and the winning that they have done has made it clear that each one will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I did check in on Opening Night in Pittsburgh where number one overall draft choice Connor Bedard faced off against his idol Crosby. Crosby may have won the opening puck drop, but Bedard showed his quickness and skill in leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-2 win. The next night Bedard scored his first goal in Boston in a loss to the Bruins. The kid is good. But does he ever look young.
Staying with hockey. The New Jersey Devils picked up a win and an overtime loss in their first two games. The expectations are high for this team.
The team leader is Jack Hughes. He has two goals and three assists thus far—tops in scoring in the league. I know that there are a lot of very important players on the Devils; how Hughes goes will determine how the Devils fare. He is worth watching.
Baseball has reached the League Championships. Without a top team alive in the bracket.
This is not to demean the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks. Each knocked off a division winner to get to where they are.
Only Arizona is a real surprise— and when I saw the in Milwaukee in June, the team looked like a legitimate contender. A post-All-Star break swoon which had the team lose 25 games while winning only 6 had the team fall out of contention for the Wild Card.
Led by probable NL Cy Young Award winner Zac Gallen and likely NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, Arizona was resilient in the last part of the season, securing the final Wild Card spot, where the team took care of the Brewers and the Dodgers in sweeping each series.
Arizona faces a Philadelphia team which may be better than last year’s group which made the World Series. I am picking the Phillies here, but don’t count out the D-backs quite yet.
In the American League, two teams 250 miles apart which play in retractable roof stadiums and hate each other, get to lock horns. Texas led the AL West for most of the season, dropping the last game to Seattle to tumble from first to a Wild Card, while elevating Houston to a bye.
It didn’t hurt the Rangers, which easily handled the top-seeded Baltimore Orioles to make it to the ALCS., after having dispatched Tampa Bay in the first round. No losses in either round. I like the team’s chances.
They face a formidable Astros team that has made the ALCS for the seventh straight year. Having re-acquired Justin Verlander, the suspect Houston pitching has gotten better. The hitting has never been a problem.
Both series will be good watching for the baseball fan. And it is fans and players who have complained that the format in place for its second year has failed.
Teams winning with over 100 victories—Baltimore, Atlanta and Los Angeles—all did not advance. It has happened twice to a very good Braves team. All receive bye and had to wait 5 days before beginning post-season play. Each looked like they had lost their rhythm, except for the Astros, a non-100 game winner, but nonetheless a veteran team which knew how to navigate the bye week.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says it is too early to make a judgement about how the playoffs have worked. Fans are ecstatic in Phoenix, Arlington, Philadelphia and Houston. Not so in Atlanta, LA, Baltimore and Minnesota, the latter did play in the opening round but fell to Houston.
I know what the obvious solution is—add another Wild Card team and reward the top teams with perhaps all home games. Baseball would love it—the coffers would be that much more enriched. The clamor will grow for changes. We shall see.
College football has some dandy matchups on Saturday with USC and Notre Dame colliding while big time offenses for Oregon and Washington will meet. Oh, and once vaunted Colorado blew a 29 point halftime lead to Stanford at home.
There is much more to discuss. I am seeing the Eagles and Jets on Sunday. Will Zach Wilson get better than he was versus moribund Denver? And we had to watch the Broncos twice within one week—oy! I don’t even have time to write about how good the 49’ers are.
This is what happens when you respond to criticism.
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