Injury Time Out

Let me get the baseball news out of the way. Aaron Judge avoided arbitration by accepting an offer off $8.5 million for the 2020 season. He is still a bargain. Mookie Betts set a record with a $27 million deal from Boston. Cody Bellinger, the NL MVP, did quite well in avoiding arbitration as did the Yankees’ duo of Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.

Alex Cora, already under suspicion for sign stealing while with Houston, now has a similar accusation against his 2018 Boston Red Sox. This sounds like some serious trouble ahead for him after MLB completes its investigations.

More importantly, at least to me, is that I had PRP injections (Platelet Rich Plasma) in my L peroneus tendon. Three to be exact. They hurt like heck, as the needle which is used to send the plasma into the affected areas to promote healing, is moved around just enough to get into the tendon. There is no anesthesia—just some topical coldness spray, which does almost nothing. No fun at all.

It is an interesting procedure—one which Medicare calls “experimental.” That is code for they aren’t paying and the out-of-pocket cost is hefty enough. Blood is drawn from the arm like any other blood work. Then the vial is placed in a spinner for 10 minutes to separate the plasma. Those spinners go for a cool $12,000, with other needed accessories jacking up the cost for the physician. 

Then comes the actual injection. No matter how much the doctor apologized for the pain, that didn’t deter him, nor me. He used a fluoroscope to monitor the locations after we had rigorously identified the pain spots. I had been through this previously almost 4 years ago, in nearly the same spot.  I was definitely encouraged by his gleeful shouts of “bullseye’ and “home run” to punctuate what he thought was a highly successful procedure.

There were differences between the two procedures. I left Manhattan in a walking boot in 1996. On Tuesday, I left the Millburn site in a tennis sneaker. The prior injection had 2 spots, as opposed to the 3 I received on Tuesday. While both required me to ice the spot and elevate my foot, I didn’t recall tas much post-injection pain as I experienced on Tuesday night into Wednesday. I was definitely hobbling, and since I wasn’t allowed any Advil/Aleve/Motrin or topical pain reducers, it was a rather uncomfortable night spent on the cellar couch. The pain was such that I called the doctor to find out if Tylenol was in play. He permitted me to take some, and the pain quickly relented and my limping became almost non-existent. 

I am allowed to conduct normal activities for now. Walks, weights or any other gym-like activities are forbidden. I have reviewed an article on the Internet from the University of Wisconsin regarding recovery from PRP. I am, in this instance, ahead of the Wisconsin formula, which would have kept me non-weight bearing for 3 days, using crutches and in the boot. So for that I am grateful.

I still ice the ankle a couple of times daily and will sleep with it elevated, this time bravely moving back to the bedroom. I am limiting my steps—I did not even leave the house on Friday. Two weeks is the next doctor’s appointment to assess the situation—that conforms with the Wisconsin timetable. 

Physical therapy might be next—that happened the last time. We’ll see. The doctor left me in a positive mindset and I am not going to do much to create problems. It worked well previously—there should be no reason that it won’t work again. 

I am continually amazed at the advances in medical science which puts athletes or those way past their prime back exercising or playing the sports they love. I think about the horrible knee surgeries Mickey Mantle and Joe Namath endured over 60 years ago. Had they had the opportunity for arthroscopic surgery, their careers would have been even more magnificent. Ditto ex-Yankee great Mel Stottlemyer, whose arm soreness was probably a rotator cuff injury for which arthroscopic surgery   could have extended a potentially great career.

Of course, the most famous medical procedure is the one named after the pioneering athlete who was the guinea pig for those who would later follow and earn millions a result of being able to throw again. That is “Tommy John” surgery, named after the left-handed pitcher who pitched in New York, Los Angeles and Anaheim among other stops, recording nearly 300 wins in the process, most of them after Dr. Frank Jobe performed his magic on John’s elbow.

Comparatively, PRP is an easy procedure. Ironically, Kristaps Porzingis, the former Knicks star and now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, underwent PRP injections this week for a sore knee which had sidelined him since New Year’s Eve. The Mavs “commonly" use PRP for pain in “a variety of injuries,” as well as for “preventative maintenance,” according to ESPN.

Porzingis is not alone on the injury report for this week. Josh McCown, the 39 year old back up QB for the Eagles was forced to come into the game when starter Carson Wentz entered the concussion protocol in the second quarter of the home playoff loss to Seattle. McCown suffered a torn hamstring, which he gutted out to end the game, since Philadelphia had no reliable third QB on the roster. The injury is reported to be so severe—he apparently tore the muscle from the bone, which will require surgery to reattach the muscle—that he will be out for about 6 months, assuming the injury does not effectively end his career. 

Julian Edelman, the star receiver on the New England Patriots, has two upcoming surgeries—one for his knee and one for his shoulder. New York Jets QB Sam Darnold underwent successful surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left hand. 

Which makes me think about the grotesque finger displacement which Philadelphia 76’ers star power forward Joel Embiid suffered this week. He, too, will have ligament repair surgery and his return is unknown. My frame of reference is Steph Curry, who is still far removed from returning to the Golden State lineup after his finger injury and surgical repair. 

Even Rutgers has a player, top guard Geo Baker, who suffered ligament damage to his non-shooting hand and is out indefinitely. Rutgers has played well thus far in his absence, racking up wins at Nebraska and at home against #20 Penn State.

Another injury is the wound that Minnesota WR Adam Thelen suffered to his ankle in practice. The injury was significant enough that it required stitches. His status for Saturday’s game at San Francisco is in question. Teammates Jayron Kearse and Stefan Diggs are also banged up.

RB Mark Ingram of the Baltimore Ravens has had lingering calf issues that restricted him in practice this week. He is expected to play against Tennessee. Probable MVP Lamar Jackson has been suffering from the flu and is expected to play. Longtime observers will remind us that at this time of the year, almost every NFL player is banged up or ill.

Buffalo DE Jerry Hughes played in last Saturday’s game at Houston with torn wrist ligaments. That injury did not make the injury report, which has drawn the ire of the NFL. 

Sidney Crosby, the face of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is nearing a return from core muscle surgery. Top NBA Draft pick Zion Williamson, of the New Orleans Pelicans is working out with the team and is close to making his long-awaited debut.

Injured Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, still recovering from season-ending hip surgery, made a decision to opt out of his senior season to play in the NFL. The fact that he still is projected as a high draft choice in the upcoming NFL Draft speaks to his ability to have significant surgery yet be expected to compete at an elite level.

Anthony Davis, the center the Lakers acquired in a trade with New Orleans, tumbled hard to the floor in a game against the Knicks this week at Staples Center. He suffered a contusion to his Gluteus Maximus and was scheduled to sit out in Dallas on Friday night. The injury looked scary and might easily have ended the Lakers run at a championship. Lebron James and crew seemingly dodged a bullet.

Kyrie Irving, the embattled star guard for the Brooklyn Nets, formerly of Boston and Cleveland, had a cortisone shot on December 24 to his aching right shoulder, as Irving tries to avoid surgery. There is no word of exactly when or if he is going to play.

Not to worry. Much ballyhooed Nets superstar Kevin Durant, out for the year after surgery for his Achilles tendon tear during the NBA Finals while still with Golden State, has engaged in a Twitter beef with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Kendrick Perkins about who the better player on the team was. Perkins said Russell Westbrook was the best player on the team. Durant disagreed and the two exchanged personal shots at each other.  Again, this confirms that childish behavior by supposedly grown men can occur off the court.

Enough with the injuries, at least for now. In my Facebook posts, I received encouragement from Jack Simcsak, a former Highland Park football star who went on to punt at Virginia Tech. That, along with all of the other endearing wishes from friends, was so nice. 

I also had contact with another Highland Park alum. Jack Fertig was a three sport star at HPHS who later played at Upsala College before pursuing a career in coaching which led him to stops at Tennessee, USC and Fresno State as the Director of Basketball Operations for legendary basketball coaching icon, Jerry “The Shark” Tarkanian. 

Jack writes a blog and today he posted a Facebook memorial to Mike DePalmer, one of his two closest friends at Tennessee. DePalmer was a jock, just like the athletic lifer Jack became. Those who know tennis recognize the name—he co-founded the DePalmer-Bollettieri Tennis School in Florida with Nick Bollittieri. Bollittieri and his subsequent Academy were known for producing some of the greatest tennis players ever—Andre Agassi was his prized pupil. 

Before his fame, DePalmer did something extraordinary. He taught Jack Fertig tennis by relentlessly going on the court day after day with his adult pupil. 

Coaches might tell you otherwise, that this is what they do. What makes this story unique is that this famous man in tennis circles did this out of friendship. A person could not ask for more. 

Personally, I am sorry for Jack’s loss. As a tennis player, I am saddened as another innovator departs. 

I will remember this story when I make my expected return to the tennis courts from the injury list after the miracle of PRP heals me. 

Early 2020 Musings

David Stern’s death hit me quite hard. I did not know the man, nor was I ever in the same place at the same time with him, unless he was at the Garden or Brendan Byrne Arena and I was not aware of his presence. 

To me, David Stern personified what a leader of a world-wide business should be. He also showed me what a commissioner of a sport must be. Smart, courageous, able to think globally as well as locally, Stern had an uncanny ability to see the future and bring his extraordinary plans to fruition. 

More than that, he was well-educated, having graduated Rutgers and then Columbia Law. Stern found his way to pro basketball by mere happenstance, as the prestigious New York City law firm he was a part of did legal work for the the NBA and Stern was the point man. His charm and intellect won over the owners, who made him the Commissioner. Which was a move that resuscitated and then allowed for the tremendous growth of the league domestically and internationally,

The latter was largely the result of his great idea to form the Dream Team for the 1992 Olympics. This opened up international markets and resulted in top stars from other countries coming to the U.S. to play against the best players in the world.

While he did work for the owners and endured labor strife among the players, he managed somehow to get the league righted and prosperous even when there was tumult. Stern’s acumen and insight, along with an ability to see the grander picture were the unique qualities which made him so great. 

All of this was borne from a 10 year old who, when he lived in Manhattan before the family moved to New Jersey, walked to the Garden to see his beloved Knicks play. Those Knicks, led by Carl Braun and Richie Guerin, were his idols. Which is why, in his actions as Commissioner, he never forgot that he was a fan of pro basketball.

Most leaders of leagues are hired guns for the owners. Roger Goodell is certainly one. He has never cared much for the players and the fans. Pete Rozelle was more the epitome of a visionary leader for the NFL. I liked the lawyerly guidance of Paul Tagliabue much more. 

Bud Selig meant well. Yes, he was a fan. He was also an owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, his primary interest. His business sense came from the car leasing business he owned. A fan of minor league baseball in Milwaukee, he was a significant shareholder for the Braves when they migrated from Boston. When the Braves left, he worked assiduously to bring baseball back to Wisconsin, which culminated in the Seattle Pilots relocating and Selling becoming the face of the franchise. 

I like Selig’s successor, Rob Manfred, largely because he has a seemingly better personality and intellect than his predecessor. Manfred is a Cornell grad with a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, and a J.D. from Harvard.

Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner, called David Stern his long-time friend and mentor. Two lawyers, Bettman worked under Stern in the NBA offices before ascending to the top position in North American hockey. A Queens native, Bettman graduated from Cornell where he studied Industrial and Labor Relations like Manfred and achieved his law degree at NYU. Bettman was at the same law firm as Stern, then joined the NBA in 1981, ultimately becoming the league’s General Counsel and Vice President. His greatest achievement was engineering an agreement of the soft cap system for team salaries, which persists to this day. Bettman has had it much rougher in the NHL, dealing with labor strife and expansion issues. Still, he has managed to remain Commissioner—the prior leaders wore the President title—since 1993.

The current NBA Commissioner is Adam Silver, another attorney with impeccable credentials from the New York metropolitan area—Rye, New York—and mentored by David Stern. The genial leader was first the head of NBA Entertainment then General Counsel and ultimately Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commissioner for the NBA. He attended the top schools—Duke as an undergraduate and The University of Chicago School of Law. Silver, like Stern and Bettman, worked in big law before entering sports administration. His path was a bit different, as he worked in politics prior to law school, and then was a law clerk in the Southern District of New York after Chicago.

Like Stern, Bettman and Silver are Jewish and liberal in their views. I am not sure about Manfred’s politics; he hails from Rome, New York and is Catholic. I am, however, certain about his grasp of what the job entails. 

So you can see that I am partial to lawyers as the heads of the major sports leagues. Goodell possesses a degree in economics from Washington & Jefferson College and, despite his exposure to lawyers in labor negotiations, I believe that his lack of a legal education is pitfall.

Which brings me back to David Stern. The man is an icon as far as the NBA is concerned. As much as the NFL searches for a global identity, it is an American sport not so widespread around the globe. MLB, NHL and NBA players are far more recognizable internationally by the nature of the sports being played in multiple countries. 

Baseball has Asian and Latin American roots which are deep. The NHL is well-known in Russia, the Scandinavian countries, many European nations and originated largely in Canada.

The NBA under David Stern and now his protege Adam Silver, has become the standard bearer for the second most-played sport in the world after soccer. Muhammad Ali was perhaps the most well-known athlete in the world. I am willing to wager that Michael Jordan and now Lebron James and Steph Curry are nearly as recognizable as Christian Rinaldo and Lionel Messi. The aforementioned Dream Team was every bit international as it was national. 

All of this was enabled by a true visionary and fan of the game he loved. When Stern was felled during lunch at a New York eatery, I thought this might lead to his demise. I hated that I was correct in my intuition.

David Stern’s death at age 77, only 8 years older than me, brought the reality that death is always certain, even for a revered figure such as he was. I felt an identity with him even though we came from largely different worlds and his intellectualism and education far exceeded mine. I could appreciate his thoughts and insight from a legal standard and also from a fan’s vantage. 

I felt that another piece of my world was taken from me with his untimely death. I have mourned Mickey Mantle, Mel Allen, the voice of the Yankees and Bobby Murcer, another Yankees great on the field and in the TV booth.  I was sad about Yogi Berra’s death, just like that of Mel Stottlemyer, who was always a favorite Yankee pitcher. These were athletes.

David Stern was different. He was unique. While making money and expanding the NBA empire, he cared about his players and owners the way an attorney cared for his client. His integrity was unmatched. I saw that, and I marveled how he navigated seamlessly between sides that had much in common but at times little empathy for each other. And like me, his love of the Knicks was pure and unabated. 

David Stern had a great sense of the moment. He would needle reporters and he would use self-deprecating humor to navigate through the boos of another NBA Draft. 

Two Jewish kids from New Jersey. Two lawyers in vastly different fields. He would have understood the necessity of my job in defending the downtrodden youth who felt they had no promise. 

David Stern had my admiration and gratitude for what he did to make the world a better place by marketing basketball in a way that kids who might had no future could avoid idolize and emulate NBA stars, and avoid the fate that my juvenile clients faced Such a talent was so rare. Such appreciation of his fellow man was beyond reproach.

I will miss you, David Stern. Your legacy will live on in the NBA and in other sports. I hope that you are properly honored for all that you have done.

The NFL Playoffs began this weekend with the Wild Card rounds. In the AFC, Buffalo is at Houston and upstart Tennessee is at New England. The Bills are missing some key DB’s for this game. Houston finally has J.J. Watt back to bolster the defensive line. Many believe that Tom Brady is showing his age and the Patriots rely on gadget plays to win. Could this be the last home game EVER for Tom Brady? Ryan Tannehill has become a major efficient passer and the league’s leading rusher, Derrick Henry, is a Titan. Tennessee has a very potent offense and I wonder how strong the vaunted New England defense really is. Besides, I like Mike Vrabel and I would find it sweet if a star former player eliminated his old team and coach.

The NFC teams vying this weekend are Seattle at Philadelphia and Minnesota at New Orleans. Seattle is looking for redemption after unbelievably blowing a possible win against San Francisco to secure home field with the NFC West crown. Philadelphia managed to win out in the weak, weak NFC East and, as a division champ, gets to host a game even with a very average record. By the way, Seattle plays better on the road, which this season included a win in Philly. Minnesota is missing key players and New Orleans is an offensive powerhouse. The reward for the winner of that game is a trip to frigid Green Bay next weekend.

One more thing about aging QB’s. I’ve said it before—they find it so difficult to let go and they think that they can resurrect the glory days when it is virtually impossible. Eli Manning turned 39 this week. Let it go, Eli. You have had a marvelous career. Brady is 42. Unless he proves most everyone wrong and takes the Patriots to the Super Bowl, he should give tremendous thought to calling it a career, too. The older they get, the harder it is to stomach the pounding and ineptitude they show. They are playing when they shouldn’t be.

College football has nearly completed it almost interminable bowl season. The National Championship game is January 13, when the Tigers play—defending champ Clemson and top seed LSU, whose campus is a mere hour away from New Orleans. Rooting for LSU is a religion and believe me, as nutty as the Saints fans will be in the Vikings game, that will pale in comparison to the defining noise in the Superdome a week from Monday.

A lot has been said about the officiating in the Ohio State-Clemson game taking away any hopes the Buckeyes had. I disagree—I think the call to eject the player for targeting the Clemson QB was correct. Besides, I always believed that Ohio State was overrated and Clemson devalued. 

LSU overwhelmed Oklahoma. For my money, I thought Georgia and Alabama were more worthy of the final spot in the semi-finals. Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow continued his awesome season with 7 TD throws. However, the LSU defense was not so good against the pass, which I think Clemson will exploit. It ought to be fun.

College basketball conference play has begun in earnest. The sorting out of the solid NCAA teams from the pretenders with gaudy non-conference marks against lesser teams will occur.

Rutgers lost top guard Geo Baker to a left thumb injury which will sideline him indefinitely. RU played unaffected on the road, handling Nebraska. Next on tap is #21 Penn State at the RAC, where the Scarlet Knights appear to be very tough. I don’t see them in person until February when Northwestern and Illinois visit. My final game is highly-regarded Maryland. I picked the game because I felt it would be important to RU’s post-season hopes. We will know if I am right and how the Baker injury affected the team.

Seton Hall is back on track with the return of All-American Myles Powell. The guard suffered a concussion against Rutgers. Without him, the Pirates knocked off Maryland at the Prudential Center. In Big East action, the Hall has bested De Paul on the road and Georgetown at home, living up to their pre-season billing as one of the top tier squads in the conference. 

F&M continues to struggle in its first season without legendary coach Glenn Robinson at the helm. In their home tournament before the New Year, they went 1-1, with a loss to Susquehanna. It is hard for me to see F&M not dominant in the Centennial Conference.

The Devils are starting to string together more wins than losses. The team beat the Islanders on the road on Thursday in a promising start for 2020. I anticipate more improvement during the season, but not nearly enough to contend for a playoff spot. Perhaps another trade and a couple of good draft choices will set the team in the right direction. What they need, however, is a great goalie, and goaltenders like Martin Brodeur are exceptionally hard to find. 

In the NBA, the Knicks are playing much better ball under interim coach Mike Miller. Will they make a playoff run? Don’t be silly. It is just nice to see the New York Knicks win a couple of games. That’s how I look at the Warriors, who were brought back to reality by a huge loss to Dallas.

If still alive, David Stern would be proud that the league is doing well. He would be ecstatic about the LA market being home to two of the best teams. Big ratings and fan following there. So, too, would he be happy about the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat doing so well in the East. While he would also be glad that the 76’ers are in the hunt, he would not be so pleased with Joel Embiid sniping at Ben Simmons, bemoaning the big Aussie guard’s unwillingness to shoot from the outside. Stern would also be encouraged about the young starts like Devin Booker in Phoenix and Trae Young in Atlanta, as well as the surprisingly good return of Carmelo Anthony.

When I watch the NBA for the remainder of the season, I will see the arm bands and initials on the uniforms, remembering their fallen former leader. It is the level of play, the array of stars from the collegiate and international ranks which will be his lasting imprint upon the sport he loved so very much.

These are my early 2020 musings.

Lists

This is the final blog for 2019. As we close the calendar year, so does the NFL season come to an end. The college football playoffs are upon us (finally!) College basketball conference play starts in earnest. The NHL Winter Classic is in Dallas?? The NBA Christmas Show—5 games on national TV—is history. I can almost hear the sounds of bats and gloves at Spring Training …almost.

The NFL has some drama left in Week 17. The Cowboys and Eagles still haven’t decided which team will go out in the first round of the playoffs as the winner of the NFC East.

San Francisco and Seattle meet on Sunday night in the last game of the regular season, with the NFC West crown and possible top seed in the conference at stake. Playoff positioning in the NFC makes the games for New Orleans and Green Bay important. 

Is it Oakland with a miracle finish and a lot of luck or Tennessee that claims the last spot in the AFC Playoffs? Tennessee has to play Houston, which can still move up in seeding. New England’s game against Miami has meaning too for the Patriots in terms of the all-important home field, where historically, Tom Brady and crew have done much better.

On Saturday, LSU meets Oklahoma in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and Ohio State and Clemson tangle in the aptly named PlayStation Fiesta Bowl inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. For the right to head to the CFP National Championship in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Goodyear Cotton Bowl is in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; the Capital One Orange Bowl has its home at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens; the Allstate Sugar Bowl is also being played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Don’t you just love corporate naming rights for bowl games and stadiums?

With Gonzaga the newest team heading the college basketball rankings, how long will it take before the ‘Zags are no longer in the top spot? With conference teams going head-to-head, especially in the Big Ten, which currently sports 6 schools in the Top 25, the rankings are going to go through many changes until Selection Sunday. Heading to Vegas and betting on a team to win the National Championship has to be a crap shoot. 

It was heartwarming to see Steph Curry and Klay Thompson wearing blue and on the floor at the Chase Center when the Warriors took on the Houston Rockets. No matter that neither is anywhere close to playing after their injuries. The team wearing “The City’ jerseys handled James Harden and Russell Westbrook just fine. Steve Kerr’s squad has picked up their third and fourth wins in a row, temporarily escaping the shadows of the Knicks and the Pelicans. 

By the way, Houston is not a contender in the West—the Clippers and Lakers are much better. Those two teams met in the place they both call home—the Staples Center. It was clear that there is more firepower and better personnel on the Clippers when Kawhi Leonard is playing. Patrick Beverley swatted away a three point attempt by LeBron James in the waning moments of Wednesday’s game, deflecting it from King James’ left hand; ball to the Clippers. 

James is playing hurt and it shows. He is still a great player despite the handicap. His groin injury must heal for the Lakers to make a deep run in the playoffs. Anthony Davis too is playing hurt and he needs to get better. Someone said a player like Andre Iguodala is needed to make the Lakers whole. That may be the truth.

The Celtics won their game against the Raptors, who were without Pascal Siakam. Siakam has blossomed into a star for Toronto. Joel Embiid starred for the Sixers as they romped at home over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. New Orleans upset Denver on the road—without Zion Williamson, who is still out, while Nikolai Jokic had a subpar game for the Nuggets. 

What the end of the calendar year brings are lots of awards and recognition. Plus a bevy of lists thanks to the 100th season of the NFL and the 150th season of college football. 

The major sports saw the Washington Nationals overwhelm the Houston Astros to win the World Seies. Clemson won the College Football Playoffs last January. G.O.A.T. Tom Brady and the Patriots again were Super Bowl victors. Virginia won the NCAA Men’s Basketball title. Baylor prevailed on the women’s side. The St. Louis Blues came from the bottom of the Western Conference to garner the Stanley Cup. Rafael Nadal excelled again, as did Novak Djokovic. Serena Williams lost 2 finals at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow. Tiger Woods captured his 15th major championship with a win at the Masters, tied Sam Snead’s record for most wins in PGA Tour history and led the US team to a stirring win in the recently concluded International. And there is the incomparable Simone Biles, the gymnast for the ages and AP Female Athlete of the Year. Let us not forget Team USA, once more winners of the Women’s World Cup in soccer.

I saw an article from  NYTimes.com which proclaimed that Steph Curry (not LeBron) is the N.B.A. Player of the Decade. The takes are interesting from a number of experts. LeBron may be the better player and appeared in more championships along with winning more M.V.P. awards. It is what Curry attained with the Warriors, a team—their 73 wins in a season—along with his redefining what outside and inside shooting by a guard can be. I ask this—whose uniform do you see worn by more kids—LeBron’s 23 or Steph’s 30? In this era of analytics, the answer is in the numbers…

The first list I saw was one that startled me. It was the top Professional Bowlers Association bowlers of all time. And I cannot find it. Such a shame. 

Instead, there are a few lists that I can access and make a lot more sense to me anyway. They are more in line with the major sports.

MLB had a list of unique achievements in 2019. For the pitchers: Chris Sale became the first to fan 17 in 7 innings; Kyle Hendricks pitched a complete game shutout on 81 pitches with 63 of them strikes—the best percentage since stats on pitch count were kept; Gerrit Cole is the only pitcher to strike out 15 and allow 1 baserunner who homered; his former Astros teammate Justin Verlander is the only pitcher to strike out 15 and surrender 3 home runs; Trevor Bauer is the first to hit 1 batter, walk 6, strike out at least 8 and not give up a hit in less than 9 innings. As to the hitters: Boston’s Rafael Devers is the only player to get 6 hits with at least 4 of them being doubles; Caven Biggio matched his Hall of Fame father in hitting for the cycle, but Caven is the first to steal 2 bases and drive in 4 baserunners; Yuri Gurriel drove in 8 runs on 2 hits yet is the only player to score only 1 run in the process; the Diamondbacks Idelmaro Vargas is the first player to come off the bench as a pinch hitter, have 6 plate appearances, 4 hits, with one of them a homer; and Derek Dietrich of Cincinnati is the first to be hit by a pitch 3 times in a game and score 4 runs and then get hit again the next day.

ESPN has gone gaga over college football in its 150th season. I have viewed programs on rivalries and greatest games. They have also generated some lists.

The 50 best college football programs starts with Alabama at the top. 

The next 9 are: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Michigan, Yale, Nebraska, Texas and, drum roll please, North Dakota State for all it has accomplished in Division 1-AA and now the FBS. Princeton, Penn State, Harvard, Tennessee, LSU, Mount Union, Miami (Florida), St. John’s (Minnesota), Florida State Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Boise State, Clemson and Grambling complete the Top 25. The rest are: Penn, Wittenberg, Michigan State, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Appalachian State, Linfield, Georgia Tech, Dartmouth, Virginia Tech, Army, Miami (Ohio), Central Michigan, Colorado, Stanford, Arkansas, Pittsburg State, Arizona State, West Virginia, Georgia Southern, Utah and Wisconsin. Five D-III schools made the list but not  Amherst or Williams. I would have thought that Delaware might have made the list for the championship years they were led by Davey Nelson and Tubby Raymond. Oklahoma State or Iowa might have garnered a mention. It is some impressive list.

Next up are the Top 150 games in college football history. Leading the list is #1Nebraska 35 at #2Oklahoma 31 (1971), Next up is #5 Miami 31 versus #1 Nebraska 30 at the Orange Bowl on January 2, 1984. Appalachian State’s 2007 upset of #5 Michigan is third. The Doug Flutie Hail Mary pass for #10 Boston College at #12 Miami to win 47-45 in 1984 is fourth. Number 5 is #2 Penn State 14 #1 Miami at the Fiesta Bowl on January 2, 1987. Of note is #11, the famous Harvard-Yale game in 1968, which ended in a 29-29, for which Harvard claimed a win. The other games are a who’s who of college football, with many games the most memorable ones for the fans.

The Top 150 of college head coaches is led by Paul (Bear) Bryant, the legendary Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Alabama icon. Right behind the Bear is Nick Saban, the current Alabama head man, who also had stops at Toledo, Michigan State and LSU. Knute Rockne is synonymous with Notre Dame football; his 105-12-5 record and .881 winning percentage remains the highest of all time. The next four men stayed at one school and won big: Tom Osborne at Nebraska, Eddie Robinson at Grambling, Charles (Bud) Wilkinson at Oklahoma and Joe Pa, Joe Paterno of Penn State. Rounding out the Top 10 are Bobby 

Bowden, who spent time at Howard College, West Virginia and most famously at Florida State; Woody Hayes who grabbed fame at Ohio State after stops Denison and Miami (Ohio); and Frank Leahy, who spent time at Boston College before continuing his fabulous career at Notre Dame. The names on the list are the royalty of the sport.

There is a Top 150 of all-time college teams. The number 1 team is that 1971 Nebraska squad. Second is current Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll’s 2004 USC team. The USC team from 1972, Nebraska from 1995, 2018 Clemson, 2005 Texas, 2001 Miami (Florida), 1979 Alabama, 1956 Oklahoma and 2009 Alabama comprise the rest of the Top 10. So Nebraska and USC are the top 4, with Alabama having 2 spots in the Top 10 and the most recent winner of the CFP in Clemson ascending to the exalted list. 

ESPN’s All Time All-America Team is really surprising in some of the picks. The first team offense is as follows: QB Roger Staubach (Navy); RB Jim Brown (Syracuse); RB Herschel Walker (Georgia); WR Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State); WR Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt); TE Mike Ditka (Pitt); C Chuck Bednarik (Penn); T Orlando Pace (Ohio State); Bill Fralic (Pitt); G John Hannah (Alabama); and G Jim Parker (Ohio State). The first team defense is: DE Hugh Green (Pitt); DE Reggie White (Tennessee); DT Bronko Nagurski (Minnesota); DT Lee Roy Selmon (Oklahoma); LB Dick Butkus (Illinois); LB Lawrence Taylor (North Carolina); LB Tommy Nobis (Texas); CB Deion Sanders (Florida State); Charles Woodson (Michigan); S Jack Tatum (Ohio State); and  Ronnie Lott (USC). The specialists are: K Sebastian Janikowski (Florida State); P Ray Guy (Southern Mississippi) and All-Purpose Player, Johnny Rodgers (Nebraska). The Second Team QB is Peyton Manning (Tennessee), with his running backs Bo Jackson (Auburn) and Archie Griffin (Ohio State). These guys were so good that awards have been named for Guy (punting), Bednarik (defensive player), Nagurski (defensive player), Butkus (linebackers), second team WR Fred Biletnikoff from Florida State (wide receivers) and C Dave Rimington of Nebraska (center).

But wait—the NFL Network has been running its own weekly countdown of the Top 100 NFL players in the history of the league. The Top 12 RB are: Jim Brown; Earl Campbell; Marion Motley; Steve Van Buren; O.J. Simpson; Gayle Sayers; Barry Sanders; Emmitt Smith; Lenny Moore; Walter Payton; Eric Dickerson; and Earl (Dutch) Clark. Some may never have heard of old-timers like tailback Clark (Portsmouth and Detroit) and Van Buren (Eagles), the ground breaking black running back Motley (Cleveland and Pittsburgh) or even Lenny Moore of the Baltimore Colts. Each one has his imprint on the way they dominated play.

I cannot argue with the linebackers. Lawrence Taylor, Bobby Bell (Chiefs), Dick Butkus (Bears), Chuck Bednarik (Eagles) Derrick Brooks (Bucs); “The Mad Stork,”Ted Hendricks (Colts, Packers and Raiders), Steelers Jack Ham and Jack Leonard, Junior Seau (Chargers), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Willie Lanier (Chiefs) and Joe Schmidt (Lions). They put a hurting on those who came across the line of scrimmage or who dared to pass.

There are 6 Defensive Ends on the list. Reggie White (Eagles and Packers); Doug Atkins (Bears); Lee Roy Selmon (Bucs); Bill Hewitt (Bears and Eagles); Bruce Smith (Bills) and Gino Marchetti (Colts and fast food fame). Some great names and characters.

The 6 Defensive Tackles are: Randy White (Cowboys); Junious “Buck” Buchanan (Chiefs); “Mean” Joe Greene (Steelers and Coke commercials); Bob Lilly (Cowboys); Merlin Olsen (Rams and Little House on the Prairie and Father Murphy TV shows); Alan Page (Vikings and a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice); and John Randle (Vikings).

Corner Backs included: Mel Blount (Steelers); Willie Brown (Raiders) Darrell Green (Redskins); Mike Haynes (Patriots); Dick “Night Train” Lane (Lions); Rod Woodson (Steelers) and the incomparable Deion Sanders (Falcons, 49’ers, Redskins, Ravens and Cowboys). Jack Christensen (Rams); Ken Houston (Houston Oilers and Redskins); Ronnie Lott (49’ers, Raiders and Jets); Ed Reed (Ravens, Texans and Jets); Emlen Tunnell (Giants) and Larry Wilson (Cardinals) are the Safeties.

Two placekickers and two punters made the list. Jan Stenerud (Chiefs) and Adam Vinateri (Patriots and Colts who is still active) are the kickers while Ray Guy (Raiders) and Shane Lechler (Raiders and Texans) are the punters. The return men are Devin Hester (Bears, Falcons, Ravens and Seahawks) and Widener College’s Billy “White Shoes” Johnson (Oilers, Falcons and Redskins).

Five Tight Ends made the cut. Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs and Falcons); John Mackey (Colts and Chargers); Mike Ditka (Bears, Eagles and Cowboys); Kellen Winslow (Chargers); and, of course, “The Gronk,” Rob Gronkowski (Patriots) are the Fab 5. 

The Offensive Tackles are: Roosevelt Brown (Giants); Forrest Gregg (Packers and Cowboys); Art Shell (Raiders); Cal Hubbard (Giants, Packers, Pittsburgh Pirates); Anthony Munoz (Bengals); Walter Jones (Seahawks) and Jonathan Ogden (Ravens). Guards named to the top 100 are John Hannah (Patriots); Larry Allen (Cowboys and 49’ers); Dan Fortmann (Bears); Bruce Matthews (Oilers/Titans); Randall Mc Daniel (Vikings and Bucs); Jim Parker (Colts); and Gene Upshaw (Raiders and head of the NFLPA). Centers on this squad are: Mel Hein (Giants); Jim Otto (Raiders); Dwight Stephenson (Dolphins); and the late Mike Webster (Steelers and Chiefs), who was the tragical poster boy for the CTE the NFL first denied then has started to react to.

Wide Receivers were narrowed down to 10 worthy ones. They are Lance Alworth a.k.a. “Bambi” (Chargers and Cowboys); Don Hutson (Packers); Jerry Rice (49’ers, Seahawks and Raiders); Raymond Berry (Colts); Elroy “CrazyLegs” Hirsch (Chicago Rockets and Rams); Marvin Harrison (Colts); Steve Largent (Seahawks); Paul Warfield (Browns and Dolphins); Randy Moss (Vikings, Patriots, Raiders Titans and 49’ers) and the still-active Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals).

How to come up with 10 Head Coaches was a daunting task. Nonetheless, there are the usual legendary ones—George “Papa Bear” Halas (founder of the Bears); New Jersey’s own Vince Lombardi (Packers and Redskins); Tom Landry (Cowboys); Paul Brown (founder of the Browns and Bengals); and Curly Lambeau (the Packers stadium is named after him). More recent honorees are: Joe Gibbs (Redskins and NASCAR team owner); Chuck Noll (Steelers); Don Shula (Colts and Dolphins); trendsetter Bill Walsh (49’ers); and the man who may the best of them all, even if he is disliked for so much—Bill Belichick (Patriots). I thought of Hank Stram (Chiefs and Saints); Jimmy Johnson (Cowboys); Tom Coughlin (Giants); and Weeb Ewbank (Colts and Jets). Current coaches on the horizon might be Pete Carroll (Jets, Patriots and Seahawks); John Harbaugh (Ravens); Mike Tomlin (Steelers); Andy Reid (Eagles and Chiefs); Sean Mc Vay (Rams); Sean Payton (Saints) and Doug Peterson (Eagles). They may supplant some of these names on the 150 year NFL team.

Lastly, the most glamorous position was the last to be announced. That would be the Quarterbacks. That list must and did start with Tom Brady (Patriots); Joe Montana (49’ers and Chiefs); and Peyton Manning (Colts and Broncos). Speaking of the Broncos, a no brainer is John Elway. Dan Marino was so prolific that he could not be excluded even if his teams never won a Super Bowl, so he was on the roster. So, too are Brett Farve (Falcons, Packers, Jets and Vikings), Otto Graham (Browns), Roger “The Dodger” Staubach (Cowboys), “Slingin” Sammy Baugh (Redskins) and last and certainly not least, Johnny Unitas (Colts and Chargers). No Eli Manning, Giants fans. No Joe Namath, Jets fans. I expected Drew Brees (Saints), who continues to set almost every imaginable QB record to make the list, but he didn’t.

That’s it. I have had it with lists for now, even if I saw 19 amazing feats from the 2019 MLB season, including the Mets Jacob de Grom throwing his slider at an average speed of 92.5 m.p.h., with it actually topping 95 m.p.h. a number of times. Phenomenal. 

Here’s hoping that you are on somebody’s good list for 2019 and heading into a happy, healthy 2020.

The Best Fan I Know

This is not my normal essay on sports. No reporting on the Yankees, Mets or any MLB team or players. Nope. None of that. 

Even while the end of the NFL season is upon us, there will be no sad or sarcastic comments about the Jets and Giants. Nothing about the playoff contenders. Not even about Drew Brees, Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady or any coach or other team and/or player(s). 

Pro and college hoops are in full swing. As much as I would have liked to discuss the changing landscape in hoops, this is not the time. No recap of Seton Hall-Rutgers. No discussion of the Lakers or Bucks. 

Ditto hockey, golf, Tiger Woods. Plenty to talk about. Just not in this blog.

Same for college football with National Signing Day. Can’t talk about it, Greg Schiano, Chris Ash, bowl games, All-Star teams. Uh uh.

Instead, I am going to talk about a fan. Not a rabid fan, mind you, but a fan who can talk sports. Who knows how to analyze key moments and derives satisfaction when teams win. Yet this fan does not get down when a team of interest loses, which is far different from a lot of my friends, who live and die with the Yankees, Giants, Jets, Rangers and Devils, or Rutgers or even Seton Hall, UVa, etc. 

Understanding and appreciating the subtleties of sports is this fan’s pleasure. And when there is a question to be asked, the question is asked. If criticism is warranted, then the criticism is valid and honest. 

This fan knows baseball. This fan knows football. This fan knows basketball. This fan knows hockey. This fan knows tennis. This fan knows golf. This fan knows gymnastics. All sports which this fan never has played or tried, yet can talk with great expertise on a multitude of related topics.

I grew up a sports fan from an early age. My baseball recollections go back to 1956-57 for Yankees baseball and a brief telecast of the Dodgers. I recall Marty Glickman doing NBA games from Syracuse and Rochester and the Knicks playing at the 69th Regiment Armory.  I followed NHL hockey on CBS with the Saturday afternoon telecasts. I devoured the sports sections of the Daily News, the Daily Mirror, Journal-American, and the Sunday New York Times. Local sports in the Daily Home News. Rutgers football was broadcast on WCTC 1450.

I watched my heroes—Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra. Frank Gifford and Sam Huff of the Giants. Carl Braun and Richie Guerin of the Knickerbockers. I saw enough newsreels on Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. 

I lived, breathed and loved sports—if I could play it I would. Shooting hoops on the basket affixed to the house over the garage door. Having the neighbors throw baseball after baseball to me so I could catch and hit. Swimming laps in the pool developed stamina.

This was what most boys my age did and liked to do. In Highland Park it was the norm.

My love of sports grew exponentially. Baseball cards helped. Talking with my friends about Mantle or other Yankees was great. I watched everything I could on WPIX, the home of the Yankees. I started to go to the Stadium. 60 years ago this past October I was inside Madison Square Garden for my first Rangers game. Back to the Garden to see Wilt Chamberlain demolish the poor old Knicks. More NBA games on TV kept me glued to the TV in the colder months.

When college football or basketball was shown, I was on top of it. Army-Navy. Local college hoops from Manhattan College, Fordham. The NIT with NYU still playing top tier major college basketball. I actually knew where Bradley University was from watching TV. 

Saturday night Rangers or Knicks telecasts were a staple. I even fooled around with the TV to try to get broadcasts from Philadelphia in a grainy, barely visible picture. 

When the Mets arrived, I soaked up their broadcasts. Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy; Kiner’s Corner with Hall of Fame outfielder Ralph Kiner—I watched the Amazins’, with Casey Stengel, lose game after game.

You get the picture. Pun intended. And I still haven’t stopped watching TV or live sports. This is why I have had Rangers, Jets, Devils and Rutgers basketball packages. 

I also have a sister whom I converted into a sports nut. She was every bit the Yankees and Jets fan I was. She could hit a baseball and throw HARD. She played tennis at Monmouth. I don’t know who was the better athlete, but we were highly competitive when it came to sports. She went where I went when it came to attending games. 

Ironically, my father was not as crazy about sports as I was or even my sister. But he watched the Yankees on hot summer nights in our cooler downstairs den, which had a big fan giving us enough of a breeze, eating watermelon or cherries. I can vividly recall games from old Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Washington’s Griffith Stadium with the first incarnation of the Senators, Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox, venerable Fenway Park and Cleveland’s cavernous Municipal Stadium—all before expansion.

Again, this is not about me. I speak of my background so that you can grasp why I am so astonished about this fan I am going to honor. This fan did not have the kind of background I did. Yes, the fan went to the Garden for the Knicks and Rangers, saw the Mets at the Polo Grounds and the Yankees at the old Stadium. Far from the extent that I did.

So who is this best fan I have ever known? It is not my son, who loves his hockey and Jets football along with anything Miami Hurricanes and the tennis majors.

My daughter is very interested in sports—more than he is. She knows baseball, football, Penn State football, hockey. Really well. We share the FOX NFL pool, ruminating over wins or losses. Still, I am not talking about her, despite her great working knowledge of sports and sports broadcasting.

By now you have probably guessed that the person I love to watch anything sports with is the woman I married. Toby Claire Sperber is the best sports fan I have ever known. 

She can’t recite records of teams or players from memory. She has her favorites. And she has some players, coaches, mangers who she disdains.

Toby watches Pardon The Interruption for the humor and sarcasm. She liked the information Ron Jaworski and Steve Young offered. It is her current events for sports. Toby doesn’t need Sports Center. 

I should have known what I was getting into 38 years ago on December 26th when we started a conversation at her cousin’s door on the night we met on a blind date (which her cousin never thought could possibly work), with me trying to leave nicely around 11:00 to get some sleep before the Jets playoff game the next day at 12:00 at Shea Stadium. 

I told her where I was going and asked her if she liked sports. She said “Yes.” I asked her who her favorite sportscaster was and she said Len Berman, who was on WNBC. 

That led to two hours of non-stop talking and a weary me heading to Queens. And a lifetime with the best partner this man could ever have found.

We didn’t really talk much about sports when we dated. I did take her to the Garden to see the Rangers. Once we married, she loved to meet me at our seats in Section 302, Row F, seats 1 & 2, bringing sandwiches from the Second Avenue Deli. She instantly became addicted to the fervor at Rangers games.

She learned that I was a sports junkie. Throughout the years, she watched countless games, went with me to college and pro stadiums and arenas everywhere, with nary a complaint. It was part of partnership which she thought was fun and exciting.

We took our children to many games in many places. My daughter, as I said, was like me, and she talked her way into a closed Stanford Stadium, a 1984 Olympic venue, for her “father to see.” Whether it was a Saturday night game in the Metrodome, the Division III Final Four in Salem, Virginia, or a simple F&M-Moravian basketball game in Bethlehem, she enjoyed the excitement. 

Even the dog was dragged into the sports miasma. Lady loved her spot on the grass peering under the fence from beyond the North end zone at F&M’s Williamson Field. Restrained by Toby, watching the contest unfold.

What I didn’t know was Toby was learning about the games and how they were played. She watched intently, listened to my dialogue and eventually the quietness was replaced by pertinent questions and those questions were then replaced by sophisticated observations.

Toby has watched over 37 years of sports in varying degrees. Not to the extent that I do. Nonetheless, I absolutely love watching or going to a Yankees game with her. She has really gotten into my stadium tour (she loves Pittsburgh and Houston). 

Not overly demonstrative like me, she was really into the Seton Hall-Rutgers game on Saturday. The woman knows a 2-3 zone, a zone press and trap, and switching man-to man defenses.

When the NBA playoffs came around, she would watch the Warriors with great fascination. She loves what Klay Thompson can do on a court, describing him as underrated.  While she understood the money ramifications, Toby hoped that Kevin Durant would stay a Warrior. 

Toby shakes her head in disgust when we talk about the Knicks. Then again, doesn’t everyone?

She asks about Seth Curry—not Steph Curry, who she truly appreciates. She understood the significance of what Drew Brees did with his 29 for 30 passing on Monday night. Toby feels for Eli Manning, until I remind her he is making $18 million.

We were in South Africa and she became enthralled with the World Cup. It might be boring at times. To her, it had major importance. Toby is fully aware of the USA’s decline and is mystified why we can’t be better. 

Toby became a serious watcher of gymnastics from our daughter’s participation. She knows vaulting, floor, the uneven bars and beam. Toby will score the event and let me know if she disagrees with the judge’s opinion.

My wife knows when she sees pass interference—better than the NFL officials. Her thought on past and present Jets head coaches cannot be printed. 

Toby understood the greatness of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. She’s not very fond of Novak Djokovic. 

She always thought that Joe Girardi overused his bullpen. To her, Derek Jeter was more a real baseball player than simply good looking. She loved the character and hustle of Didi Gregorius. Don’t ask for her opinion on Gary Sanchez. 

Toby is not a big fan of Rutgers AD Pat Hobbs. Her dislike started when he banned outside food from the RAC. The Schiano affair and other things which have happened under his watch have soured her. 

No one sees this blog until Toby has read it. She questions things I write or tells me I have done a good job. Because she really knows the subjects I write about. 

Toby is out playing mah jongg while I write this piece. I didn’t turn on any games tonight. I would rather have her stop and peer at the score and offer a comment which would cause me to think how lucky I am to have her knowledge of sports. 

This woman will ask me when I make my weekly NFL selections why I picked the Jets or went with Buffalo over New England (What were you thinking?). Even if she can’t stand Tom Brady, Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick. 

Toby believes that the salaries for athletes are obscene. She was instrumental in my not spending money on a Jets seat license—because she knew it was a bad investment for the product I was getting.  Although the facilities are gleaming, she believes governments could better spend their money on more appropriate things which impact the citizens for generations.

Her pragmatism does not detract from her objectively and subjectively watching games and traveling to so many arenas and stadiums. Toby has sympathy and empathy for the participants and the fans who freeze themselves at Met Life Stadium and other venues (she still dislikes the Giants for not agreeing to enclose the stadium with a roof).

She’ll come back tonight and asked what games did I watch. She will be a bit perplexed that I didn’t watch any tonight. It’s not as much fun without her input. 

She might be sad to know that there was a 30 for 30 on ESPN. Then again, she will ask me to find out if it will be on again. 

I know she will follow the College Football Playoffs. Toby thinks that it is time that someone else other than Alabama participates—perhaps Clemson might repeat, but she hasn’t yet shared that with me.

Her birthday, our meeting and our anniversary all fall between December 22 and 30. I learned early that I made a sizable mistake wanting to go to a Flyers-Rangers game without her on our anniversary. After all, it was a big rivalry in the early ’80’s. She would have enjoyed the Garden crowds’ nasty, throaty castigating of the visitors. And she might have agreed with their opinion based on how the game was going.

Thanks, Toby, for being the best fan I could ever talk sports with. You have allowed me to be me in a way that we fully shared the experience. Your passion and love for sports is something I respect and cherish. Thanks for taking the time to learn the intricacies of the sports and to appreciate the gifted athletes we watch along with questioning the many facets of sports as a business regarding the NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL.

And yes, dear, I concur that Lebron is great, not as wonderful as Michael Jordan, and he whines too much.