College football season is truly upon us. While there were a smattering of games last weekend, things begin in earnest this weekend. Although Northwestern upsetting Nebraska was nice (and I didn’t think it was that much of an upset given the horrific coaching of Scott Frost at his alma mater, to the consternation of Big Red fans, as opposed to how Pat Fitzgerald has been one of the best coaches in the country at his alma mater, to the joy of the Northwestern alumni), the big boys get going on Labor Day Weekend.
Of interest are two games in Atlanta. First, Georgia hosts Oregon in an intersectional matchup on Saturday. After the revelers clear town, the rowdies from Clemson can come into the city for a game against Georgia Tech, not on Tech’s campus, but inside of the same Merceds-Benz Stadium that hosted the Ducks and Bulldogs. I foresee a whole lot of partying in Hotlanta this holiday weekend.
I saw three scheduling oddities that might not have occurred years ago. Blue bloods Virginia Tech, North Carolina State and North Carolina are playing non-ACC in state rivals on the road for their openers. Va Tech heads to Old Dominion; the Tar Heels venture to East Carolina and the Wolfpack heads to Boone to meet with Appalachian State. I hope the bus drivers have road maps. And leave early on account of traffic.
Other interesting contests are Colgate at Stanford; Maine at New Mexico; Albany at Baylor; Rice at USC; and Northern Oregon at Marshall. How do you spell rout?
There are a lot more geographically desirable meetings, such as West Virginia-Pitt; Western Michigan-Michigan State; Richmond-UVA; North Dakota-Nebraska (if the Cornhuskers lose this one, Frost is a goner); Houston-UT San Antonio; and Idaho-Washington State. But there also are some big time games, with Penn State heading to Purdue; Indiana and Illinois meeting; Florida State at LSU; Notre Dame and Ohio State vie in Columbus; Cincinnati is at Arkansas; and Louisville goes to Syracuse.
RU opens up at Boston College, a game Greg Schiano didn’t schedule. I am sure that he would prefer Wagner, next’s weeks’s home opener, to start the season (thanks again to my roommate from law school and his wife for offering tickets to the Scarlet Knights and Seahawks). I feel like RU is in flux and is in for a thumping. I hope that I am wrong.
Ditto for my alma mater. F&M was picked to finish fifth in the Centennial for 2022. In the first ever night game at Shadek Stadium, the Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen come in seeking to down the Diplomats in this historic game. Even with a former head coach from Colgate as offensive coordinator, a new head coach who was an assistant at Williams College, a very successful DIII program, and few returning starters, this looks to be a long season in Lancaster.
As if college football wasn’t enough, baseball is in its last 30-32 games before the playoffs. For some teams, they are in struggles for the division lead.
For teams like the Dodgers, it is simply seeing how not to get injured in a cakewalk in the NL West. LAD came to New York to meet the NL East-leading Mets. I watched the Dodgers to see how good they are. And the answer is that this teams is scary good.
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trae Turner are superb players having fine years. Freeman and Turner are neck and neck for the NL lead in hits. The pitching is a bit suspect with some injuries to Tony Gosolin and Clayton Kershaw is just returning from his latest IL stint. The closer status for LAD may be a bit murky. What can you say negatively about a team that is making a run at Seattle’s 116 victories? Other than hoping that the same fate which happened to the Mariners doesn’t await the Dodgers—losing short of the World Series would be a shame.
Meanwhile, the Yankees muddled through a West Coast trip which ends with a cross-country flight for a pre-Labor Day visit with second place Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg. In July, no one would have believed that this would be a critical series for both teams. Given New York’s misfortunes, it now is just that. The Yankees have the opportunity to give themselves some breathing room with a series win; the Rays can really tighten things with a sweep.
This is where the once fearsome Bronx Bombers have put themselves. With their unprecedented swoon, even the Baltimore Orioles, on the periphery of a Wild Card slot, could overtake the Yankees if the losing continues.
At least Aaron Judge is magnificent to watch. Pursuing the franchise home run record held by the late Roger Maris, to hear his name mentioned with Maris, Mickey Mantle, Alex Rodriguez and Babe Ruth is mind-boggling. That’s how great number 99 has been.
Call me a homer here, but I believe that Judge wins the AL M.V.P. award, despite the clamor for Shohei Ohtani. Sure, Ohtani does something else nobody else does—pitches and is the Angels DH. That is laudatory enough. Especially with his outstanding numbers in both departments,
Overall, Ohtani hasn’t meant as much to the Angels winning as Judge has to the Yankees’s success; Ohtani did hit two game-winning homers in the recent series between the teams. Judge is a superb defender, playing both right and center field, robbing a number of players of home runs with his defense.
I recognize that Ohtani is an All-Star in hitting and pitching. I also recognize that Ohtani is the first to have 30 homers and 10 pitching victories in two consecutive seasons.
However, when there is an assault on Ruth and Maris’ sacred records, along with incredible run production by leading baseball in R.B.I.’s and runs scored and now accumulating a ton of walks, both intentionally and unintentionally, this proves who teams do not want to face. Which is why now, with 30 games left, Judge is ahead for the M.V.P. award while Ohtani is still the unicorn of MLB.
More baseball to comment on. How about the streaking Albert Pujols? The Cardinals’ slugger is making a run at 700 home runs in his career. Only Barry Bonds and Henry Aaron have done that.
This is Pujols’ last season. I hope he reaches that magic number. The what if people have already asked what happens if he does not reach 700 homers? Will he come back next year?
Stop being silly. He has had a tremendous career. He is one of the greats. Whether he stops at 698 or 699, or even remains tied with A-Rod at 696, what does it matter? Albert Pujols’ legacy is a great one, no matter what the final numbers are.
I watched the Mets Old Timers Game on Saturday evening. This is the first one in many, many years, a tribute to 60 years of Mets baseball. It was throughly enjoyable.
So many Mets from the past. From Jay Hook, the pitcher who won the first game for the Mets in 1962, to franchise icons like Mike Piazza, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, Mets history came to life before the viewers’ and fans’ eyes. Name a player or manager who still is alive—they all seemingly were there.
Two things stood out. First, in making good on a long overdue promise made by former owner Mrs. Joan Payson when she brought Wille Mays back to New York, number 24 was retired for good.
Then in what I thought was an incredible feat, Steve Dillon took the mound in the Old Timers’ Game. Dillon pitched in four games for the Mets. That is not important. That he took the mound at age 79 and was competitive was the amazing fact for the Amazins’.
The US Open drones on. Not much for me to watch except for two immortals. Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. The crowds recognize their greatness—a raucous sellout was on hand for Serena’s opening match, which resulted in a win. Arthur Ashe Stadium was also alive for Nadal, the fan favorite who can add to his 22 Grand Slam victories while Novak Djokovic remains unvaccinated.
Serena is giving it her best shot, but as she approaches age 41, it was fitting that she is saying goodbye to competitive tennis at the US Open with her singes matches and then competing in doubles with her sister Venus. GOAT is not used lightly when referring to Serena Williams.
To some her two wins were a surprise and to others it was almost expected. For Williams has ascended to the third round with a three set win over the number 2 seed, Anett Kontaveit. She is keeping the ball rolling. And it is downright captivating.
One last mention. Brian Robinson, Jr. a promising rookie running back out of Alabama who is on the roster of the Washington Commanders, was shot twice in a carjacking in D.C. Remarkably, his injuries weren’t life threatening and he might make it back to play this season. You can bet I am rooting for this kid. Big time.
Enjoy the bonanza of sporting events on the airwaves. Happy Labor Day.
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