Fun and Games

No, Rutgers has not hired Greg Schiano at this time. It has been imminent for awhile. Which has created much angst among the Scarlet Knight faithful. What seems to be holding up this inevitable re-marriage? Is it money? Length of his contract? Written promises to build the new facilities Schiano had demanded? Perhaps it is the protests of rights groups over his role or lack thereof in the Sandusky situation when he was an assistant coach under Joe Paterno,  which tore apart Penn State and its football team and cost Schiano the job as head man at Tennessee? Or is it the trepidation Schiano has about rebuilding Rutgers in the Big Ten, where the odds are stacked firmly against him?

Whatever is holding up the announcement of Schiano’s hiring is driving the RU fans crazy. Maybe it is as simple as waiting until the end of the season or even just after the final home game against Michigan State. We, who read the blogs and the columns, searching for answers, are at a loss. I guess the process is going to take longer than anticipated. Unless it is not going to happen at all. 

Then Rutgers is on to Plan B. Which isn’t going to sit well unless a name coach comes to Piscataway. Except that will not happen in that instance. Possibly an up and coming coach or somebody who wants the lure of coaching in the Big 10, or heavens, a coaching retread. Let’s all hope, for Rutgers’ sake and that of the Big 10, that Plan B is not the option RU must use.

The Myles Garrett saga continued this week with Garrett’s trip to NFL Headquarters in New York City for an appeal of his punishment. At that time, Garrett first alleged that Pittsburgh QB Mason Rudolph uttered a racial epithet towards him during the melee. Rudolph categorically denied this and the NFL did not find any evidence that this had happened. It is just another sad part of this unfortunate episode which, because it occurred on prime time TV, made it even larger and more grotesque. 

I sense that this will not pass until the Browns and Steelers renew hostilities in Pittsburgh next weekend. Rudolph will be a marked man. But isn’t the QB always the target of the defense?  The Browns will be mercilessly booed. The game will go on. Barring any further unnecessary roughness, perhaps this Garrett thing can go on the back burner. 

I watched a documentary on Showtime about Sonny Liston, the former world heavyweight champion. It talked about the seediness of Liston’s past, his mob connections, and it queried whether fights were thrown with Liston cashing in or if he had defied what the mob bosses wanted and he was killed in the midst of drugs and alcohol, both of which had defined the last chapter of his tawdry life. It is worth seeing.

Catcher Yasmani Grandal made the first big splash in the free agent market, signing a lucrative 4 year deal to join the Chicago White Sox. The rumors swirl about who is going where, including the Phillies and Manager Joe Girardi having keen interest in former Yankees SS Didi Gregorius. 

Meanwhile, the Yankees designated for assignment 1B Greg Byrd. Byrd’s tenure with New York was marred by numerous, debilitating injuries. Such a shame, because he could field his position, and he had a fluid swing which was well suited for the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.

Then the Yankees did the unthinkable. They got rid of the albatross contract of Jacoby Ellsbury. Injured even more acutely than Byrd, Ellsbury did not come close to playing in even half of the team’s games for which he was being paid so exorbitantly. 

What the Yankees brass knew when they released Ellsbury was that he sought medical advice and treatment from outside of the organization. The Yankees believe that this voided the contract and they will not be paying Ellsbury’s final $26 million. I sense litigation and a settlement.

New York added pitching prospect Delvi Garcia to the 40 man roster. There are high hopes for him to emerge in the Bronx in 2020. This could add depth to the staff and replace either Dellin Betances or another starter. Or he might be trade bait to secure a proven starting pitcher.

Also overheard is the Yankees purported idea to trade JA Happ and his burdensome $17 million salary. Got to hand it to the Steinbrenners—when they seek to reduce payroll, they can almost do it…

I read an article on ESPN.com about the Rams and Chargers fighting over everything in the LA market as they get ready to enter the gleaming SoFi Stadium next season. In the midst of not so great seasons, both franchises are having difficulty drawing fans to temporary venues. Supporters of other teams out number Rams and Chargers fans. TV rating are down in LA. Plus soaring costs have made the construction of the stadium in Inglewood, visible on the flight path into LAX, in the range of an incredible $5 to $6 billion. And I thought American Dream was a nightmare?

But the article is an in depth view of how Stan Kroenke of the Rams and Dean Spanos, the Chargers owner, constantly try to outmaneuver each other over PPL’s, profits, and a whole lot of other things essential to making a go of football in LA, a town that loves the Dodgers and Lakers much, much more. 

It is also a tell all about the NFL, and what has gone on behind the scenes to make this LA venture happen. Instrumental in this is Jerry Jones, the shrewd owner of the Dallas Cowboys and how he has led this return to LA where he, along with Legends Corp. a company he owns with the Steinbrenners, is going to make a bundle irrespective of what the NFL and the two owners can make.

If you have some significant time, it is worthwhile reading. Go to ESPN.com to read the marvelous expose by Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta, Jr entitled “Inside the Rams-Chargers marriage as the NFL fights for LA.”

Lost in everything is the remarkable start of the season that the New York Islanders team is having. This team has lost just once in its last 16 games and has accumulated a ton of points in the process. They remain behind Washington, only because the Capitals have played 5 more games. Barry Trotz, a proven winner in D.C., has the Islanders playing at a level that is reminiscent of the championship teams. Hockey is not entirely dead in New York as the Rangers and Devils try to find their identities. It is found in both the building that used to be called the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale as well as the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. These nomads know how to play under adverse circumstances, which will make them tough in the playoffs.

Speaking of tough, the St. Louis Blues have picked up right where they left off after capturing their first Staley Cup this past season. Could a repeat be in the offing?

As distasteful as the Myles Garrett incident was to the NFL, the NHL had Washington’s Garnet Hathaway spit at an Anaheim player. He received a 3 game suspension for his actions. At least in the NHL, some justice prevails in Washington. 

The Philadelphia Eagles did a wonderful thing this week. They hosted the end of the Camden-Pleasantville high school playoff game which was halted after gunfire erupted, causing the death of an innocent 10 year old in the stands on the homestanding Pleasantville side. Eagles coaches and players came to the game, which was held in Lincoln Financial Field on Wednesday evening before a small gathering of invited guests. 

For those kids, it was a gem stuck in the midst of something horrific. They will not forget what happened. They will take away a very positive experience offered by the Eagles. For this I say, “Fly, Eagles, Fly.” Great job. 

Rutgers downed Stephen F. Austin 68-57 in a relatively uninspired contest on Wednesday. RU is still looking to find its identity, especially after its loss to St. Bonaventure in Toronto last Saturday. I look at this team and wonder how it will do against steeper competition, which will come in the form of Pitt, Seton Hall and Michigan State in the upcoming weeks. 

As for SFA, they suffered their first loss of the campaign. They next play at Cameron Indoor Stadium against #1 Duke, who handily beat Cal and Georgetown in a two day tournament at Madison Square Garden. I want to see how the Lumberjacks do against the Blue Devils—either they will be pesky or they will be routed. P.S.: Patrick Ewing is doing a fine job at Georgetown. He reminds me of the Thompsons—coaches who brought winning to D.C.

Hofstra beat UCLA the other night. Yes—Hofstra beat UCLA. The ghosts of Westwood must be turning over very uncomfortably right now, let alone the howling boosters of the legendary program. It is sad to see the decline of UCLA basketball is still ongoing. Their dominance under John Wooden was remarkable—he did get tremendous talent and he had them work his system to perfection. Since then, a legion of coaches have had middling success, to the consternation of its fan base. Here’s hoping that the Bruins right their ship without anything untoward and become relevant again, with their name among Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina—the basketball royalty which has succeeded the Wooden-led dynasty.

Saturday I journeyed to the 155th edition of the rivalry between Lafayette and Lehigh. The teams are both below .500 and the rumblings about firing John Garrett, the Fred M. Kirby ’42 Head Football Coach and brother of the Dallas Cowboys coach, are rumbling through the Lafayette alums. Yet they went into the game with an outside chance of winning the Patriot League if they could prevail in Bethlehem and Holy Cross lost at home to Georgetown. At an abysmal 3-8.

Lo and behold, the Leopards won a thrilling contest with the winning field goal kicked with 47 ticks left on the scoreboard clock. The game was defensive at times, with a smattering of offense by Lafayette and a bit more by Lehigh. It also had a strange sequence where the officials mistakenly moved the action to fourth down when a penalty against Lafayette had occurred. Lafayette actually punted the ball before a lengthy stoppage leading to the correction and Lafayette returning to the field with the appropriate third down. This didn’t change the outcome and, since Holy Cross did defeat Georgetown, made the game meaningless for the Patriot League championship but not to the Lafayette fans, who saw their team stop a four game losing streak versus Lehigh.

In the NBA, the two favorites in the West met last night at the Staples Center when the Clippers won a close game over the Houston Rockets . The debate has begun about which is the better duo—Russell Westbrook and James Harden of the Rockets, the latter averaging nearly 40 points ppg or Kawhi Leonard and his new partner in Los Angeles, Paul George? Talk to me in April about this debate. Still no contest with these impressive duos in comparison with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in their primes,

Luka Doncic of Dallas has been making a big splash thus far this season. Then again, so has the reigning M.V.P., Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee. The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have had good starts along with the Word Champs, Toronto, and Philadelphia. In the West, the Lakers lead the early returns, followed by Denver, Houston, the Clippers, Mavericks and Jazz. Poor Golden State is at 3-14, just behind three teams at 4-11, Cleveland, Atlanta and the Knicks. 

And a welcome back to the NBA to Carmelo Anthony, as he tries to shore up losses at the forward spots for Portland. He hit for 18 points the other night. See how easy it is to play in the NBA after some significant time away? 

Finally, F&M’s field hockey team finally beat Johns Hopkins on Saturday on their third try to reach the National Championship on Sunday against the Middlebury Panthers. F&M defeated Albright in men’s basketball and football closed out its season at 7-4 in the CC-MAC Bowl with a 31-13 win over Misericordia . Woohoo!! 

This is why teams compete. Fun and games this week. Nothing but fun and games.

Reactions

Pro football was all over the sports headlines this week. For all the wrong reasons. Which is befitting of a sports loving nation whose heroes don’t live up to expectations. 

I could talk about Thursday night’s game between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Or I could start with the Colin Kaepernick tryout on Saturday. Neither one was a shining moment of the 100th season of the National Football League.

Since I am a fan of Kaepernick’s civil rights, I find this situation to be fraught with problems. Here is a man who stood for principle and was excoriated and blackballed. He settled the lawsuit against the NFL with, of course, a non-disclosure agreement in place. One of the plaintiffs, Eric Reid, found employment in the league to be easy. 

Not so for Colin Kaepernick. Not a sniff for his talents, which have probably dipped from his heights with the 49’ers. Meanwhile, so many retreaded QB’s have filled openings on team rosters, whose talent never matched that of Kaepernick. That’s how you knew that the NFL treated him as a pariah. 

Out of the blue came this “generous offer” from the NFL for Kaepernick to showcase his talents to whomever wants to observe. Usually, NFL teams work out players on Tuesdays, which is an off day in the weekly in-season routine. 

Not so with Colin Kepernick. The NFL picked a Saturday, the day when most teams are traveling to their away games. Take it or leave it, said the NFL.

What choice did he have? With little time to prepare for the showing, and a flight for himself to Atlanta, where the tryout would be conducted by Hue Jackson, a former NFL coach chosen by the league, Kaepernick was left with very little flexibility.

Moreover, he would not be allowed to know how many franchises were coming to this showcase. It seemed like 13-15, from what the media had reported. (The NFL claimed 22) Others would have the video available to them for their review. 

So Kaepernick and his advisers called an audible. They shifted the workout site and left the NFL hanging. He wanted to do it on his own terms, with transparency, and not with a disagreement on terms which would have seriously diminished his free agency.

Of course, this left the unanswered question—what is his stance now about kneeling before the National Anthem? How can a team fairly evaluate the now 32 year old former player on where his morality stands? Would a team pay him a representative amount for his playing, or would they seek to low ball him, as another sign he might not be welcome in the NFL?

I agreed with many talking heads that this had all the trappings of a sham. Will this just be a big ploy to get rid of Kaepernick by concluding his talent has eroded too far below NFL standards? Is there really any fairness here? The NFL is in control and their spin is quite different from what a fan like me would want to see happen. Things didn’t get any better with this spur of the moment change.

I truly hope Colin Kaepernick blew away the personnel who opted to see him throw. That his performance is so great that he must be let back into the league. Except that I truly doubt that will happen and this could well be the last we hear of Colin Kaepernick on a football field. 

Then there is the current black eye that the NFL swiftly set out punish. Having watched the video a couple of times, it is apparent that Cleveland’s Myles Garrett tackled Steelers QB very hard to end the contest. In the scrum which ensued, Randolph slightly retaliated by pushing Garrett’s helmet. 

Garrett’s reaction was the focal point of this wild scene. He ripped off Randolph’s helmet, which led to the Pittsburgh QB to go after him. That’s when Garrett exploded and struck Randolph in his head with the helmet.

At that point, we went from a normal fight to an assault. By viciously swinging the helmet and striking Randolph, who earlier this season was in the concussion protocol, far greater injury could have occurred. This was the use of a weapon against a defenseless individual. 

This was way beyond a standard football fight. When I practiced law, I dealt with enough juveniles who committed less heinous offenses and received time in a juvenile facility. 

This aggravated assault was committed with felonious intent by an individual who had received over $60,000 in fines this season for hits to a QB, one which ended New York Jets QB Trevor Siemien’s season. For the action alone, it warranted the punishment meted out to Garrett by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Given his history, the indefinite suspension for Garrett was fully justified. So was the 3 game suspension given to Steelers lineman Maurkice Pouncey, who pummeled and kicked Garrett while he was on the ground, and one game for Browns’ defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi for pushing Rudolph to the ground. Both teams were fined $250,000. This game was replete with unsportsmanlike, injurious play, sending a number of players to the sidelines with head and other injuries. 

Garrett issued an apology and Rudolph, who will receive some monetary punishment, said he will not file a criminal complaint against his tormentor. Small measure of responsibility in a bigger picture.

The NFL is a violent league. Football at that level, with men so quick and strong, cannot be anything else. We reveled at the slogan “Kill, Bubba, Kill,” which followed the otherwise genial Bubba Smith, a large defensive lineman, from Michigan State to the Baltimore Colts. Historically, there have been hits on players which have had catastrophic results—witness the Oakland Raiders’ Jack Tatum striking New England WR Darryl Stingley so aggressively that Stingley was permanently paralyzed. Helmet to helmet hits are the subject of penalties, as are targeting tackles, given the plethora of men who have suffered injuries in the game which either shortened their careers or led to shorter lives. And this came after years of denial by the NFL that CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) existed. I need not go on.

Here is a culture that has unfortunately adopted sickening, violent behavior as a norm, even when employed by law enforcement. Many attend hockey games for the fights and hard mid-ice collisions. NASCAR—is it the tight races in high speed vehicles or the crashes which too often result in death that the fans pay big money for? Then there is MMA, the new sports phenomenon, which is almost barbaric and is sold to the populace via TV and Pay-per-view. And of course, the highly choreographed drama and action of the WWE, which utilizes steroidal, big men and women to fight in a ring, using props such as chairs and illegal substances, to “entertain” the masses who flock to their events.

Which parallels society’s behavior in its lust to protect the assault rifles used by too many for ill intent on children and adults, almost to the exclusion of sane, rational thought. How many kids are brought up on almost sadistic video games and their gratuitous acts?

Have we suspended laws to the point where aberrant behavior is acceptable? Many would have you believe that. 

I believe that the NFL acted tough here because it had to. Alas, they are selective in their enforcement of bans—was Garrett’s malicious act worse than what Ray Rice did to his then-girlfriend in that elevator in Atlantic City? Rice was effectively banned for his actions, while many others who have had domestic violence in their histories continue to play in the league with that same evilness. 

The NFL applies justice on a case-by-case basis. Condemnation of Garrett has been far-reaching by the players and those who played the game. 

I feel that if the NFL wants to make a statement about the unnecessary wanton conduct displayed by Myles Garrett, then he should receive the same treatment accorded Ray Rice. There should be no place for this kind of craziness in a league too prone to legitimizing so-called “controlled violence.”

These teams meet again shortly. All eyes will be on their conduct. I hope for everyone’s sake that the game is played on a competitive level without detouring to a contentious, non-football place. 

In the battle for Met Life Stadium/New Jersey supremacy, the Jets thwarted the Giants in a sloppy contest. Adam Gase was informed by team owner Christoper Johnson that his job is safe for next season, to the gratitude of his players but the disappointment of loyal Jets fans. Meanwhile, Giants head man Pat Schumer is now squarely on the hot seat. 

The Jets travel to meet the 1-8 Redskins outside of D.C. Washington leads the all-time series 8-3. New York won the last time they played in Maryland in 2011; can the Jets actually have a winning streak this season?

The slumping Giants have the week off. They come out of the bye with a game in Chicago against the Bears. 

Other things happened this week. Jacob deGrom won his second straight NL Cy Young Award. His numbers for 2019 were spectacular, even if his won-loss record was not, playing for the light-hitting Mets. Is he a Hall of Fame pitcher like Justin Verlander, his AL counterpart who won his second Cy Young Award? If based on wins and losses, no. If based on his immeasurable talent, then perhaps. And just a footnote here—I thought former Astros teammate and current free agent Gerrit Cole merited the AL Cy Young Award.

Peter Alonso of the Mets and Yordan Alvarez of Houston were the NL and AL Rookies of the Year. Alvarez was the unanimous winner, while Alonso, who reset the rookie record for home runs and was a solid player and perhaps the soul of the Mets, was one vote short of unanimity. What the hell was that voter thinking in not voting for Alonso?

I have no issue with Clay Bellinger as NL M.V.P. The Dodgers outfielder was spectacular. However, the voting might have been a lot tighter if Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich hadn’t disabled himself when he fouled a ball off of his knee cap.

In the AL, Mike Trout of the Angels won his third M.V.P. crown. Sure he is he best player in baseball. I am angry because DJ LeMahieu didn’t even get nominated. The Yankees, without a full squad for much of the season, would have not made the playoffs without him.

Which leads me to the lack of recognition that Aaron Boone received for managing the Yankees to such gaudy results despite the obvious handicaps and becoming the first manager to have his team win 100 games in the manager’s first two seasons. Rocco Baldelli did a fine job with the Twins, but Boone was more deserving.  

In college basketball, I was happy for the unheralded Evansville Aces with their very unexpected win at #1 Kentucky. Teamwork over talent can be successful. 

Seton Hall was severely punished for recruiting violations by Shaheen Holloway, a former Pirate standout, who made 234 inappropriate telephone calls to a recruit’s family. Holloway, now the head man at St.Peter’s University, is sitting out 4 games, while Kevin Willard, a disciple of the notorious Rick Pitino and his shenanigans, has sat out 2 games. Scholarship and recruiting limitations have been imposed as well. What were they thinking?

Will the real Rutgers team show up? Is it the one which struggled with the likes of Bryant and Drexel, or the one that manhandled Niagara? There is talent on the floor. I don’t necessarily see very many blowouts like the Scarlet Knights triumph over the Purple Eagles. I still cannot distinguish what Rutgers is going do over the course of a season, especially after its loss to a winless St. Bonavernture squad in Toronto on Saturday night. But the team has to do better against the mid-majors than have nail biters at home.

F&M played its first game last night, defeating Lancaster Bible at home. The Diplomats opener against York was postponed after students swarmed the court last Friday in protest of basketball and soccer players inappropriately dressed and acting out for Halloween. The administration and students have engaged in what the President, Barbara Altmann, has described as productive dialogue which will continue regarding sensitivity to others.

The legendary Bill Russell , Boston Celtics icon, belatedly accepted his Basketball Hall of Fame ring 44 years later. Russell felt that he should not have been the first man of color to enter the Hall. When pioneer Chuck Cooper was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame, Russell relented and accepted his ring in a private ceremony. Surrounded by fellow Hall of Fame inductees Ann Meyers, Alonzo Mourning and Bill Walton, along with his wife and others, it showed that his answer to a perceived slight was to wait for justice to be done.

Dartmouth continued its quest to win the Ivy League outright when Cornell invaded intimate Memorial Stadium. A win against the Big Red in their 103rd engagement and then next week at Brown would have give the Big Green and Head Coach Buddy Teevens the outright title in his 14th season in Hanover. The Big Red derailed Dartmouth, to the chagrin of the home fans. Now tied with Yale, Dartmouth faces no easy task in Providence when they visit Brown, a big winner at Columbia this afternoon. Dartmouth must also hope that Harvard has enough firepower and upsets Yale to let Teevens’ team win the crown. 

Who knew that Dartmouth’s all-time winning record is 643-422-46? Or that Harvard and Dartmouth have met 123 times?  Only Ivies Princeton-Yale, Harvard-Yale, Cornell-Penn have met more times than Harvard and Dartmouth. Princeton-Penn and  Columbia-Cornell have met over 100 times.

In reviewing the most played rivalries, after Lafayette-Lehigh and Yale versus Princeton and Harvard, there is William and Mary and Richmond getting together to decide who wins the Capital Cup. A total of 14 rivalries exceed Army and Navy as they await game #120. And I never knew the Iowa State and Kansas State is the 8th longest continuous rivalry and is surprisingly called Farmageddon, a nod to the agricultural, land-grant schools they are.

I did not know that New Hampshire and Maine play the Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket. Or that North Dakota and North Dakota State have the Nickel Trophy on the line when they meet. Baylor and TCU play in The Revivalry. Curiously, Montana and Montana State each seek The Great Divide Trophy, in the game dubbed “The Brawl of The Wild.” 

  Gettysburg-F&M is a trophy game to end the football season. The squads squared off for the Lincoln Trophy, emblematic of the Lincoln Highway, or Route 30, which each team ceremoniously travels every other year when they meet. The game had consequences for F&M, as if they won and Moravian lost to #5 Muhlenberg in Allentown or Ursinus downed Dickinson in Carlisle, F&M could receive a berth in the Centennial-MAC Bowl series, with #19 Susquehanna expected to join the Mules in the NCAA playoffs barring an upset. F&M defeated Lycoming 21-20 last year.  F&M routed the Bullets 55-7, while Moravian and Dickinson both lost. 

Lafayette hosted Colgate as it continued its improbable rise from mediocrity to contend for the Patriot League crown. Still at 3-7 as the team began play, Lafayette was tied for first place with Holy Cross, who the Leopards defeated on the road. A win today meant that next week’s rivalry match at Lehigh would be for the title, since Lehigh played a non-conference foe in Sacred Heart. Colgate shut out the Leopards, who now fall to 3-2 in the conference and must hope that Holy Cross loses to Georgetown in Worcester in addition to defeating the Mountain Hawks.

I depart with this thought. Reaction is critical thinking gone bonkers in certain circumstances. But it shouldn’t be. Reaction can be positive much more than negative. Our dwelling on the negative in this social media, outraged world we live in, fueled by irrational thoughts and unrealistic and twisted facts, must be tempered. The rule of law is there for a reason. There are consequences for intemperate actions. 

Whether it be the NFL or in the societies we inhabit around the globe, rational thought must prevail if allowed the opportunity. America was founded upon a rebellious escape from the tyrannical rule of a British king. We must be cognizant of our wrongs and held accountable in the appropriate places, not necessarily in the imposing adjudication of Facebook or Twitter. 

Sports is a barometer of our ways of life. It is competition that is supposed to be healthy. Once it gets out of hand, there are consequences. Brawls like those that occurred in Cleveland on Thursday night, placing a national audience into a frenzy of disbelief, are too commonplace in society overall. 

Maybe the reaction of the NFL will deter those similarly inclined. If this kind of enforcement becomes unified, then we will advance. If the Colin Kaepernicks of the world are permitted to make a non-violent statement in a violent fish bowl, then we can head towards a better way of life. 

I have hope. At the same time, I am too wary of politics disregarding the self-evident truths we ascribe to. It will take time.

Kaepernick’s tryout and Garrett’s suspension should be happening. Perhaps they should have happened earlier. For the best defense it is said is a a good offense.

That is how I have reacted to the events of this week. At least there was some normalcy—Syracuse beat Colgate in men’s basketball for the 59th straight time. 

Game On

College basketball has begun in earnest. Thursday night in my den I watched Rutgers almost blow a 15 point lead at home over a game Bentley team from the Northeast Conference. For me that represented the same old, same old. Which is why I question my sanity in that I gave up the opportunity to see the Giants and Jets clash at Met Life Stadium and instead I will sit court side as the Niagara Purple Eagles invade the RAC. Warm and comfortable in my anger as opposed to bundled up, exposed to the elements and wondering why am I in the Meadowlands with so many Giants fans?

As to the Giants and Jets, does it matter who wins? Perhaps in terms of draft choices and bragging rights, although who is really going to brag, given the awfulness of their collective seasons? I find it more interesting how the Jets might keep QB Sam Darnold upright and in a good position to throw, especially now when ex-Jet Leonard Marshall is on the Giants defensive line with plenty to show his old team. 

I think the Giants, a least on paper, are the better team. QB Daniel Jones is trying too hard to make things work out ok. A perfect example of that was in the loss to Dallas on Monday night, when he tried to run for a first down and fumbled the ball when hit while starting to slide to the turf. 

` Saquan Barkley will also be extra motivated. Barkley’s father is a die hard Jets fan, with a tattoo. Barkley would love to show his Dad that, while they shared their rooting interest in the Jets, he came out the winner in the game. 

Can the Jets win? Of course they can. If the right factors favor the Jets—not too many penalties, the offensive line congeals, the defense smothers the Giants receivers and puts pressure on the QB, along with the Jets limiting mistakes and turnovers. Yet the same applies to the Giants. I just think that they are the better team and will win this game.

It is a big Saturday in college football. #2 LSU travels to Tuscaloosa to meet #3 Alabama with all sorts of national championship implications on the line. Normally, one does not bet against Alabama at home. But with a banged up QB who is returning ahead of schedule and probably is not fully healed, Alabama is tipping its hand that they cannot win without Tua Tagovailoa at the helm. Alabama’s recent history with Clemson shows that the
Crimson Tide and Nick Saban play tight in bigger contests. Moreover, will LSU QB Joe Burrows rise to the occasion and win in a big game? 

Penn State and Minnesota meet in frigid Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers are 8-0 for the first time in well over 70 years. Penn State is ranked #4, but might be overrated. I can smell an upset here, which will throw the Championship rankings into chaos. Which is fine with me, for I cannot fathom how Ohio State is #1 and how Penn State is ahead of defending champions Clemson. Whatever way the games shake out in the coming weeks, the odds are that the Final Four will look a lot different at the end of the month, starting with the LSU-Alabama outcome.

Almost hidden in the lust for the big boys is the Dartmouth-Princeton game at Yankee Stadium. A capacity crowd will witness the decisive game for Ivy League supremacy between these undefeated rivals. This IS Princeton’s celebration of its part in the first college football game 150 years ago, and nothing could be more magical than to defeat Dartmouth, the team the Tigers used to play every year at home to end the season. 

When I was young, I used to devour the Sunday sports section of The New York Times. The Times catered to the Ivy League in those days. So I was fascinated about Columbia games at little Baker Field, that Dartmouth played a number of their Ivy League games on the road in bigger venues like Penn, Princeton, Harvard and Yale. I knew the season would end with Harvard-Yale, Brown-Columbia and Dartmouth-Princeton. I recalled Cornell and Penn annually, engaging in their battle on Thanksgiving. That Princeton would play either Harvard or Yale on the week before the Harvard-Yale game, depending on which school was host to The Game.

Such different times. The big boys do go to Dartmouth every other season. No more Thanksgiving contests. And the traditional rivalries aren’t so set in stone. Princeton and Penn have a local rivalry to end the season. And Columbia and Cornell play each other as well as Dartmouth and Brown. Maybe it is easier on travel. I liked it as it was. 

Amherst and Williams have their annual soiree this weekend. It is a down Amherst team which journeys to Williamstown. Meanwhile Middlebury goes for the NESCAC crown outside of Boston when it meets Tufts, while Wesleyan is in Hartford to get a crack at a lesser Trinity squad, hoping to lay claim to a tie for the NESCAC title with a Middlebury loss.

In Rutgers news, the best thing is that the Scarlet Knights don’t play this weekend. RU hosts #1 Ohio State next Saturday, a team which is sure to beat on Maryland his week. Ohio State had its star defensive player, Chase Young, suspended for accepting a loan from a family friend for expense money, which he had paid back. Not so fast says the NCAA. We must investigate. 

The Greg Schiano watch is moving quickly. The ex-RU coach has made his demands known to AD Patrick Hobbs, ones which certainly will require significant money to makeover the facilities to his standards. Schiano’s salary desire is unknown. The fact that interviewed candidate Butch Jones withdrew his name for further consideration, shows that the handwriting is on the wall. Unless Schiano is stringing RU out, which is always possible given his sudden departure from the New England Patriots staff this summer. 

To me, this is stupid. Young and his family made a mistake. He repaid the money. Let him play. This unlike the Memphis basketball scenario, where Tigers coach Penny Hardaway paid moving expenses for his star pupil James Wiseman to move to Memphis and play prep basketball—before Hardaway became the Memphis coach. 

The NCAA stepped in and said that the young man could not play. An injunction stayed the NCAA ruling and he played on Friday night, to the howls of the NCAA. This is going to be even uglier than the OSU-NCAA imbroglio. 

A couple of baseball notes. The Yankees are pursuing Brett Gardner, who they need to patrol the outfield one more season. New York signed a relatively unknown 33 year old pitching coach, Matt Blake, who has been described a pitching guru from those pitchers in the Cleveland organization who worked with him. 

Meanwhile, DJ Lemahieu picked up a Silver Slugger, emblematic of his being the best hitter at second base in the American League. I am still miffed that he isn’t in the top three for the A.L. M.V.P. award.

Giancarlo Stanton turned 30 this week. He campaigned for free agents Gerrit Cole and Steven Strasburg to come to the Yankees. If only this would happen…and Stanton can stay healthy and revive his home run stroke.

There is this great discussion about “maintenance days” for Kawhi Leonard and other stars. More so, because Leonard is on pace to play in 60-65 regular season games this season.

From the fan’s perspective, you are quite irritated if you are paying big bucks in the arena to see a star play and instead he is sitting this game out. Ditto if you are watching the game in LA or on the other teams TV outlet. Plus it deprives fans who watch nationally televised games—they don’t have the star playing and the game can be a let down if watched. This hurts ratings and makes ESPN and Turner think they vastly overpaid for a watered down product. 

“Maintenance Days” have always been in baseball. You go to a game as a child hoping that Mickey Mantle plays. But his knee might hurt or his hangover was too great. And when the teams clinch their post-season berths, the pitchers may skip a turn or be limited in their outing as to how many innings, and the starting lineup could be more populated with non-starters.

Football has those kinds of games at the conclusion of the regular season. If the playoff berth is set, Tom Brady may not be in the lineup, to prevent his getting injured in a meaningless affair. 

It has happened in the NHL. Philadelphia’s Bobby Clarke used to receive an in season vacation to a Caribbean island to rest up for the grind of the playoffs. I wonder if he put his false teeth in while he was sunning on the beach?

Michael Jordan rarely took a day off. Lebron James eschews resting, yet at age 35 his age may dictate some rest during the course of the long NBA calendar. These players, experts cite, are what made the NBA great and they don’t take a pass on playing night in and night out, when back-to-back games were much more prevalent.

It is a new normal in the NBA. Analytics drives the team, and even helps the coach who doesn’t utilize them. Which means if rest is required for a certain player and it show he is more effective after a day of rest, then rest assured he will miss a game then come back stronger. It worked for Leonard and Toronto last season. It isn’t going to hurt the Clippers this year. The fans be damned—unless Leonard wins the NBA Championship for Steve Balmer and for the perennially doormat Clippers.  

Back to college hoops. I applaud the opening night matchup at Madison Square Garden between the top four teams to start the season—Duke and Kansas, and Michigan State and Kentucky. When the dust settled, #1 MSU fell to the Wildcats and John Calipari, while Duke prevailed by 1 over the Jayhawks.

Also worthy of praise was how the ACC opened the 2019-20 season by holding 7 conference games. A lot of ACC teams weren’t too pleased. They would rather meet the cupcakes and put a few wins under their belts before they begin conference play. I liked this approach, as did the 7 who won—UNC, UVA, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Boston College. As mentioned above, Duke had a much harder opener against Kansas. 

Which is why I was so angry at Rutgers for nearly losing to Bentley. This was supposed to be a nice opener. Now who knows what to expect from this crew. Gio Baker had a solid defensive game, but his shooting, like that of the entire team, was horrible over all and worse from the 3 point line. Freshman wunderkind Paul Mulcahy lived up to his hype with a solid 19 minutes of play. Still the free throw shooting is as bad as last year and the defense is not solid. I fear that RU will not be in the mix for the post-season if this game was a prophecy of what is to come. They must play better against the 0-1 Purple Eagles, losers at Drexel on Friday night, and build some confidence.

I leave you with this to start the college basketball year. The top 25 championship teams of all time. I think there aren’t too many surprises.

1.   UCLA 1971-72 30-0

2.   Indiana 1975-76 32-0

3.   San Francisco 1955-56 29-0

4.   Texas-El Paso 1965-66 28-1

5.   UCLA 1972-73 30-0

6.   UCLA 1967-68 29-1

7.   NC State 1973-74 30-1

8.   UCLA 1966-67 30-0

9.   UNC         1981-82 32-2

10. UNC         1956-57 32-0  

11. Duke         1991-92 34-2

12. Kentucky 1995-96 34-2

13. UCLA 1963-64 30-0

14. Cincinnati 1961-62 29-2

15. San Francisco 1954-55 28-1

16. Kentucky 2011-12 38-2

17. UCLA 1968-69 29-1

18. UCLA 1970-71 29-1

19. Ohio State 1959-60 25-3

20. Georgetown 1983-84 34-3

21. Arkansas 1993-94 31-3

22. UCLA  1969-70 28-2

23. Kentucky 1977-78 30-2

24. UNLV          1990-91 34-1

25. Loyola (Chicago)1962-63 29-2

The names are familiar, synonymous with the best in college basketball. UCLA and John Wooden. His players Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. Bill Russell and K.C. Jones at USF. David Thompson of NC State. Michael Jordan and Dean Smith from North Carolina. The five black players at UTEP who, behind Don Haskins’ coaching, beat the mighty Kentucky team of all white players led by the legendary Adolph Rupp.

The list of players goes on and on. It is pantheon of greatness at the collegiate ranks. You might even put the 32-3 Virginia Cavaliers, last year’s winners at number 26, given their come back from the disastrous loss to UMBC the prior year, the first #1 seed to fall to a #16 seed. 

So let’s see if Michigan State can recover and win the Final Four. Or can Duke or Kentucky go unbeaten? Or if Rutgers goes to a post-season tournament. Those questions will be answered during the marathon which runs from November to the first Monday of April, 2020 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

Game on.

This Is Why I Miss Baseball

I miss baseball. I miss baseball a lot. I yearn for news about baseball games. Player movement enthralls me. Even the Gold Glove Awards are peaking my interest.

For it seems like it was just yesterday that the most improbable World Series ended. Another 7 game classic. But not like any of its brethren. Not even close.

The Washington Nationals are the World Champions. The Nationals pitching and timely hitting over the course of seven games out did the Houston Astros, their great pitching and their awesome lineup. Just enough to win. This from a team which, in May, was not even a thought for being in a pennant race, let alone the Wild Card. They were so far below .500 that experts wondered what they would do at the trade deadline—sell off which starting pitchers and what hitters. 

Then a funny thing happened. The Nationals started to win. And win. And win some more. They were in a race with the Phillies, then the Mets to challenge the Atlanta Braves for NL East supremacy. While they did not win the division, the Nationals made it to the Wild Card game against the Milwaukee Brewers. With a clutch late inning series of runs which included a misplayed ball in the outfield, the Nationals rallied to stun Josh Hader, the Brewers fireballing lefty closer and advance to the NLDS.

Washington prevailed in the NLDS, behind the big arms of Steven Strasburg and Max Scherzer.  It was the slugging of Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto to first tie the Dodgers in the 8th inning of Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, then to score 4 runs via a grand slam home run off the bat of 36 year old Howie Kendrick in the top of the 10th inning secured an advance to the NLCS.

The St. Louis Cardinals were overwhelmed by the Nationals in a 4 game sweep which was not much of a matchup. Which gave a now very confident Washington its first appearance in the World Series—including the time the franchise was in Montreal.

Houston was deemed the favorites largely due to its duo of Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, along with a batting order which recorded the timely hits against the Yankees in winning the ALCS in 6 games.

Yet the experts underestimated the pitching from the Nationals formidable duo of Max Scherzer and Steven Strasburg. As well as Cole pitched, Strasburg was even better. With a squad that was the oldest in the MLB, they were actually hungrier than the Astros. 

Somehow, at the doorstep of losing, this Washington Nationals team thrived. Whether it was the Wild Card, the NLDS or in the NLCS, the Nationals showed a fortitude that none of the other teams demonstrated. 

Maybe it was the “Baby Shark” thing. Or the crazy dances in the dugout. Or the “Finish the Fight’ motto, encapsulated by their feisty manager Dave Martinez, who had mid-season heart problems and needed to stay calm (which he did not during and after the strange interference call against Trea Turner running to first which got Martinez ejected when the umpires call was upheld after video review).

Whatever it was, the Nationals made sports history by becoming the first team to win a seven game series by winning all of the games of the road. Not in MLB, NBA or NHL annals had this ever been done.

Not before a thrilling Game 7. The 40th Game 7 in MLB history. It was the first time two former Cy Young Award winners had faced off in the deciding game. Scherzer let the Astros accumulate a 2-0 lead, while Astros starter Zach Greinke was virtually unhittable for the first 6 plus innings. Then Rendon swatted a homer and Greinke walked young phenom Juan Soto. 

Astros manager A.J. Hinch went with the analytics and replaced Greinke with Will Harris, instead of using Cole, who had previously warmed up in the bullpen. Bad, bad move. One which cost Houston the World Series. 

The result was that guy Kendrick streaked a ball off  of the right field foul pole screen and gave Washington a 3-2 lead. Patrick Corbin, a lefty starter for the Nationals, provided the team with three scoreless innings and Daniel Hudson shut the door for Houston in the bottom of the 9th inning. 

This was the 6th straight year that the road team won the deciding game of the World Series and the fourth straight win on the road in a Game 7. Strasburg picked up the M.V.P. trophy, which was the first time a former no. 1 overall draft pick won the award.

The composite box score showed that the Nationals outscored Houston 33-30, but 21-10 from the 7th inning on. Both teams hit 11 home runs. Soto and Astros third baseman Alex Bregman each hit 3. 

It was pure theater. Great drama to conclude the baseball season. In the year of the homer, the home runs counted, but strong pitching and opportune hitting counted even more. 

I was fascinated by Soto’s sheer talent. Rendon, a Houston native, grew up as an Astors fan, starred scholastically in the city and at Rice University. He came home and made his mark. He is a free agent whose talent is great. 

Just like that, baseball was over. Cole has declared himself to be a free agent. Hal Steinbrenner said the Yankees are disinclined to pursue him. Strasburg opted out of his contract. It will be interesting to see where he lands and for what price. 

The Nationals celebrated with a parade, riding the Zamboni at the Capitals game and will visit the White House. This is the first World Series title since 1924 for the win starved D.C. populace—even if it is a third franchise in the city. It is okay to go gaga over the victory. Party unlike any other party. For unless the baseball gods align themselves in such a way again, most likely there will not be back-to-back titles in Washington. 

So there is hope in those franchises which have never won (San Diego, Colorado, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and Texas) let alone had a sniff of the Fall Classic (Seattle). Long suffering teams that haven’t won a World Series in this century are Cleveland, Detroit, the Dodgers, the Mets, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Oakland, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Toronto and Atlanta. If the Yankees can’t win it all, then one of these proud cities should have its chance. 

Meanwhile, in Yankees land, Aroldis Chapman has re-signed with the team for more money and another year on his contract. Aaron Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery and is likely lost for at least half of the 2020 season. Edwin Encarnacion’s option was not picked up. Pitching coach Larry Rothchild was let go. And C.C. Sabathia retired.  All this as the Yankees took in the sobering fact that this is the first decade since the 1900’s that a Yankees team has not won a World Series. 

What do they do about their other free agents? Is Didi Gregorius replaced by someone like Xander Bogaerts? Will New York take a run at star 1B Paul Goldschmidt? Unless they keep Luke Voit, who had abdominal surgery and wait for Greg Byrd to finally be injury free? Do they bring back Cameron Maybin and keep him in the OF with Mike Tauchman? Will The Yankees keep Brett Gardner with Hicks out or will they finally go with Clint Frazier? Will Dellin Betances leave and end up with the Astros as has been predicted? And reliable backup C Austin Romine is rumored to be headed home, to play for the Angels. 

Moreover, is Masahiro Tanaka’s arm surgery going to impact him in 2020? Can the bullpen repeat its excellence or are they burnt out from overuse by Girardi and Aaron Boone?What about Jordan Montgomery—is he ready and able to step into the starting spot vacated by Sabathia? Was Domingo German a flash in the pan or is he the real deal—and how will his suspension impact him going forward/? Who will be the Yankees third baseman—Miguel Andujar or Gio Urshela? Will Mike Stanton thrive in 2020 as the DH and remain injury free? Do they make a run at Mets P Zack Wheeler? 

For a team many believe will be the best next year, there are many questions to be answered. Most of all, can the Yankees avoid the injury bug which has plagued them over the past two years and have enough depth to be relevant if not dominant? 

It’s only November and the Yankees have plenty of work ahead for themselves to put together a roster which will be a winner. Yankees fans want more than appearances in the ALCS. It is up to GM Brian Cashman and Steinbrenner to deliver to the impatient fan base what they want.

Managerial hires included former Yankee skipper Joe Girardi in Philadelphia and former Yankee and Met Carlos Beltran will pilot the team that lives in Citi Field. Joe Maddon is back home with the Angels. David Ross goes from World Series hero to broadcaster to Cubs manager—has Theo Epstein made the right choice for success at Wrigley Field? Mike Matheny, a former Cardinals manager, gets the KC job. San Diego hired somebody I never heard of. Pittsburgh and San Francisco are the last two available managerial openings; lots of speculation with those spots.

There are plenty of free agents available. Where they end up will shape the off season dramatically, starting with Cole and Strasburg. Can the Red Sox rebound from the miserable season they had and flourish again? Is J.D. Martinez going to opt out? Are the Mets going to take the next step with Beltran piloting them, given the fact that all of the teams outside of Miami are good enough to win the NL East? Is Todd Frazier gone after one season with the Mets? Could the Mets swing a trade for the much-needed center fielder or take a chance that Cameron Maybin might work for them?

So many unanswered questions. Lots of intrigue. It doesn’t get better than this. Plus the awards season is still to come.

Otherwise I can wallow in the misery that the Jets provide—especially after the woeful performance against the Dolphins. I have opted to see the Niagara—Rutgers men’s basketball instead of the Giants-Jets contest on Sunday. Sitting out in the cold watching this group play like they do is not going to make me warm and fuzzy.

We went to see F&M at Moravian College. Although the Diplomats out gained the Greyhounds, a missed extra point and a missed chip shot FG at the end of the game put F&M on the losing side of a 17-16 score. The ride back from Bethlehem was not that much fun. I bet the team’s return trip to Lancaster was worse.

It looks like Middlebury is going to go undefeated and win the NESCAC. Wesleyan defeated Williams in OT, so only they can tie the Pioneers should they falter in the season finale. 

Three more weeks to go in the Patriot League and apparently everybody is in the hunt for the title, including suddenly resurgent Lafayette, winners over Fordham. While their chances of ending up 5-7 are remote, the Leopards are playing for something besides pride this week.

Unlike Rutgers, who fought Illinois to a tie before succumbing 38-10 to the Illini. Hide your eyes for the last three games are with Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State. The blowouts are going to be bad. Greg Schiano rumors are running rampant right now, with his signing possible as early as Wednesday, if the rumors are to be believed. Something positive in the 150th anniversary of College Football?

Two upcoming games of significance this Saturday. A #1 versus #2 showdown when the top-ranked LSU Tigers come to Tuscaloosa to face the Crimson Tide. This will be a battle of the QB’s and defenses. If Tua Tagovailoa plays this week, Alabama should be favored, even if Tua will be a bit rusty.

Then there is the big Ivy League clash at Yankee Stadium between two unbeaten teams—Dartmouth and Princeton. The Stadium should be buzzing with the championship virtually decided on Saturday in the Bronx. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Tigers won in this celebratory year? Dartmouth supporters think otherwise.

Rutgers has a big image problem which surfaced regarding the softball program. Evidently the coaches decided to run he team into the ground by making them survive hellish conditioning regimens. This is akin to the Mike Rice basketball scandal.

The Scarlet Knights cannot afford any more bad news. To make matters worse, AD Pat Hobbs went off on an obscenity-laced tirade at a reporter over the softball imbroglio. When is the madness going to stop on the Banks of the ‘Ol Raritan? Maybe having winning programs in men’s and women’s hoops along with a strong showing by the wrestling team might help.

To make my sports life worse, Steph Curry suffered a broken hand and is out for about  three months. Draymond Green suffered ligament damage to his hand. D’Angelo Russell is hurting too. The Warriors faithful should cherish their one win, for the cupboard is bare and wins will be hard to come by. I cannot bear to watch Warriors games after such success for 5 years. I have endured years of Knicks and Nets basketball with nothing to show for it and I was in law school when the Sixers had their 9 win season. I don’t want a repeat of that travesty. Which leaves me the Lakers and Clippers to enjoy? Ugh. 

The NHL? New Jersey is struggling and possibly heading nowhere fast. Watching the Capitals and seeing the Blues fall apart isn’t enjoyable. Perhaps the Islanders 9 game winning streak might make me watch them this season if they continue to win. Maybe. 

Which is why I miss baseball so much. Sure the NFL is entertaining and the good teams like New Orleans, Baltimore, New England and maybe Houston are entertaining—although I foresee more losses for the Patriots as they enter the meat of their schedule. Watching the Chargers rout Green Bay was not good TV. Dallas—please—they aren’t that good even if they prevail against the Giants. I pray for the safe return of Pat Mahomes to make Kansas City a solid contender.

But that again is why I miss baseball. Finding out that Greinke and Colorado’s Nolan Arenado again were Gold Glove winners is more exciting. Free agency has a mystique to it. Trades that we never dreamed of are possible. 

Just wait until they start to play the games for real. Then I will have a whole different set of questions and opinions.

This is why I miss baseball.