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Terry Lyons

Costacos Unveils NFL QB Collection

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff Report from official News Release) – The Costacos Collection unveiled its second NFT drop in partnership with four legendary former NFL quarterbacks: Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Jim McMahon, and Dan Marino. Following the company’s inaugural foray with baseball great Willie Mays, the QB Legends Collection re-imagines the four quarterbacks’ iconic ‘80s/‘90s Costacos posters in new digital form. In addition, the quarterbacks have worked closely with John Costacos and acclaimed digital artist Mike Campau to create all-new 3D art pieces capturing the defining moments and themes from the players’ legendary careers. A portion of proceeds from the drop will be donated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees Assistance Foundation, an organization that assists HOF members and their families.

Collectors can access the drop on the newly-launched CostacosCollection.com marketplace. The Costacos Collection has entered into a strategic technology partnership with GigLabs to build on the Flow blockchain, joining NBA Top Shot, NFL ALL DAY, and UFC Strike, created by Dapper Labs. The partnership has enabled the Costacos Collection to build a proprietary NFT marketplace on the environmentally-friendly Flow blockchain, joining other GigLabs partners that include CNN, Turner Sports, Athletes Unlimited, Speedway Motorsports, the University of Miami, and others. The Costacos Collection marketplace includes full credit card support and simple wallet signup requiring only an email address.

“We couldn’t have hoped for a more exciting group of legacy athletes with whom to partner for the launch of the Costacos Collection marketplace,” said CEO Justin Moorad. “Troy, Warren, Jim, and Dan, all with their own unique personalities and career paths, represent a generation of NFL culture that was captured in their original Costacos posters. It’s an honor to help bring those iconic images back to life, and a privilege to watch John and the players work together to create all-new digital art that we believe their legions of fans will be passionate about collecting.”

“We loved working with all the athletes, the pitchers, home-run hitters, point guards, linebackers, all of them,” said Costacos. “But there was nothing quite like creating an image with an NFL quarterback because the great ones are the guys with all the firepower that make the offense go. Jim McMahon was the first poster we printed back in 1986. There we were in Chicago, 2,000 miles from home, a couple of kids with an idea but no experience, who somehow convinced the NFL’s biggest superstar to dress up like Mad Max and take pictures next to a live bear cub in the middle of a thunderstorm. Jim was larger than life, he’d just led the Chicago Bears to their one and only Super Bowl victory and was at the forefront of sports pop culture. We may not have known how we were going to pull it off but somehow we did and had a ton of fun shooting it, and Jim did too. We got lucky with a break in the weather, the shots ended up working, and we ended up with one of the great posters of all time – and a lifelong friend in Jimmy Mac.”

“Being part of the Costacos Collection was what every athlete from our era dreamed about, it was like being on a Wheaties box but better, because you hung on the wall of every bedroom of fans across the country,” McMahon said. “It’s pretty cool that Mad Mac was the first one and the start of it all. I still have it on my wall. And it’s just as cool to be a part of this new era, I’m having tons of fun working creatively with John again. He’s the most creative guy I know, and when we’re done we always make sure to sit down for a beer or six.”

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Brady Retires

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Tom and daughter, Vivian Brady: (Photo by Getty Images)

Bye-Bye Brady

By TERRY LYONS

Mid-afternoon Saturday, ESPN reported that all-time great NFL quarterback Tom Brady has decided to retire from playing pro football, effective immediately. He leaves with one year remaining on his NFL/Tampa Bay contract.

Brady, 44, is retiring with a record (624) touchdown passes, (84,250) passing yards in 22 seasons of NFL football, mostly with the New England Patriots but concluding with the Tampa Bay Bucs, the 2021 NFL Super Bowl champions. Brady also leaves the NFL with seven Super Bowl championships and a burgeoning business with his TB12 brand.

With the fact Brady’s children are in their formative years, the time for spending valuable days with his family is now. With his wealth, combined with the wealth and celebrity status of his super model wife, Giselle, the timing will allow them to settle in the place of their choosing, most likely New York City or Miami. They are building a home near Miami Beach, in an exclusive paradise called Indian Creek Island.

Late in the day Saturday, Brady’s agent (Don Yee) offered a vague non-denial, denial of the report and Brady’s father, Tom Sr. stated via the NFL Network, “This story Mike is total conjecture. Tommy has not made a final decision one way or the other and anybody else that says that he has is absolutely wrong.”

The take here? You’ve gotta be very happy for Tom Brady and his family. He gave his all to the NFL for 22 years and can retire healthy and at the perfect time to spend time with his wife and children. He deserves nothing but personal happiness and more professional success if he chooses to explore more entrepreneurial outlets like TB12. Otherwise, the links from Pebble Beach Ireland, Pro-Ams and celebrity golf tournaments await.

Side Note: With the announced and now highly expected retirement of Brady, the odds of TE Rob Gronkowski returning to the NFL football field fall to slim and none.

Side Note II: With the retirement of Brady, a Golden Age for Boston sports franchises comes to a full stop with Brady leaving the Patriots (lost to Tampa Bay Bucs), Paul Pierce gone from the Celtics (shipped out to Brooklyn with KG), Zdeno Chara for the Bruins (shipped to DC) and David “Big Papi” Ortiz retiring from the Red Sox and just this week voted as a first ballot National Baseball Hall of Famer. At least Big Papi remained on the Sox and retired as a winner in his Boston uniform, something Sox OF Mookie Bettsdecided against. It is the end of an amazing era in Boston sports history.

SNOWY and WIND-BLOWN BOSTON – The NFL Super Bowl participants will be determined today and the game date will be circled on everyone’s calendar – February 13, 2022 with a 6:30pm (ET) kick-off. Then, if all goes well with their negotiations (see note below), Spring Training for baseball will begin 48 hours later. Pitchers & Catchers reporting is always the first sign of spring.

There will be a February 4-20th time-out for the Beijing Winter Olympics, but with dozens of athletes testing positive for COVID+ and the time change challenges of an Asian Olympics for USA television viewing, the 2022 Winter Games are not generating much buzz or viewer enthusiasm. NBC and Peacock are now beginning 24/7 promotion of the Games, avoiding any connection to China and the obvious human rights protests on-going. NBC Sports is NOT sending broadcasters to call the Winter Olympics on site and, instead, will base much of the coverage out of their Stamford, CT studio. Blah.

That brings us to the “next” season for sports fans. With the NBA and NHL in their dog-days of winter, the focus will shift to NCAA basketball, the various conference tournaments as NCAA “March Madness” fast approaches. The bulk of the college tournaments begin March 9, but some, like the Southern Conference tip-off March 4. Here’s your pocket schedule for planning:

  • March 4: Some mid-major conference tournaments begin
  • March 9: Bulk of NCAA conference championships tip-off
  • March 13: NCAA Selection Sunday
  • First Four: March 15-16
  • First round: March 17-18
  • Second round: March 19-20
  • Sweet 16: March 24-25
  • Elite Eight: March 26-27
  • Final Four: April 2
  • NCAA championship game: April 4
  • MLB Regular Season: March 31

Each week, the Associated Press Top 25 and the NCAA Basketball Coaches Poll rank the best college hoops teams. There’s rarely a spot or two difference between the two polls. As of this week, there’s 99.9% agreement on the Top 10 programs in ‘22:

  • Auburn
  • Gonzaga
  • Arizona
  • Baylor
  • Kansas
  • Purdue
  • Duke
  • UCLA
  • Houston
  • Michigan State

In the Top 11-25 ranked range, these teams should be noted as contenders to go deep into the tournament:

  • Wisconsin
  • Villanova
  • Kentucky
  • Texas Tech

Of course, in the NCAA’s, you can always count on at least one or two teams to catch fire in late February and the first week of March, then become the Cinderella darlings of March Madness. Loyola (Chicago) certainly qualifies in that realm, as does a well-coached and scrappy Providence team from the Big East. UConn and Marquette are two clubs to keep an eye on throughout February.

Winning in-Conference road games by any margin is always the key indicator for this reporter. Don’t let those rankings, Quad-1-to-4 victories, RPI or NET rankings fool you.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Saturday, January 29th, 2022 (yesterday – or tonight if you’re reading the bulldog edition) marks the first Saturday without “real” football since August 21, 2021. The NCAA football season began the following Saturday (August 28) and the nFL filled what might’ve been a dormant January 8 with two games of their final regular season weekend. (KS 28-24 over Denver) and Dallas 51-26 over Philadelphia). … The NCAA All-Star exhibitions don’t count.

POWER RANKINGS: Green Bay, Buffalo, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Tennessee all tapped-out last weekend, leaving the January 18 NFL Power Ranking in shambles. No. 7 LA Rams and No. 8 Cincinnati Bengals both advanced and the San Francisco 49ers surprised everyone but the Las Vegas bookies. That leaves us:

Cincy at KC, 3pm (ET) on CBS

SF at LA Rams, 6:30pm (ET) on FOX

Prediction: The home teams win and cover. … That said, Cincinnati is dangerous and will be a team to be reckoned with for at least five more years. KC and Buffalo both in that category, too. Anyone else? Let’s hear it.

PITCHERS & CATCHERS & LAWYERS: The MLB Spring Training countdown clock reads 14 days as of January 30th, with most teams asking pitchers & catchers to report on February 15th. This week, there was a Floridian-style ray of hope as consecutive meeting days (this past Monday-Tuesday) between MLB and the MLBPA concluded with reports of progress in their negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. … The deadline for a deal is fast approaching so it is reasonable to think the two sides will continue to meet and chip away on the details for a new deal. … The good news, there has been surprisingly little said to media as the negotiations continue.

TL’s Sunday Notebook | Clark Gillies RIP

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By TERRY LYONS

Clark Gillies, an NHL Hall of Fame winger and one of the great New York Islanders players of all-time, passed away on Friday night, January 21 at the age of 67. His story is as amazing as the ‘69 Mets, as entertaining as the “Dr. J” Nets and as important to the fans of the glory-years New York Islanders as any story that can be told.

It is the story of the strongest piece to be placed in the foundation of an expansion NHL franchise. It is the story of a young man from Western Canada finding a new home on Long Island, New York and his return to that new home, even after serving his last two NHL seasons in Buffalo. Sadly, it is a story with a very unhappy ending, one that came quite suddenly to those who just saw him at Christmas 2021.

Let the story book dissolve and fade, as the calendar pages turn back in time.

On November 8, 1971, the National Hockey League awarded an expansion franchise to play at the brand new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island. The team – to be known as the New York Islanders – would join the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association as primary tenants of ‘The Coliseum” The Islanders and the Atlanta Flames joined the NHL and played each other on opening night, October 7, 1972.

The Islanders lost, 3-2, with team captain Eddie Westfall scoring the team’s first goal and hot shot rookie draftee Billy Harris netting the second. Isles’ goalkeeper Gerry Desjardins took the loss. I remember it all because I can state proudly – I was there.

The expansion New York Islanders had a few pieces in place from the expansion draft and the wise choice of Harris, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1972 NHL amateur draft from the Toronto Marlboros. Harris and the highly respected Westfall, gobbled-up in the dispersal draft from the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, were joined by fan favorites like Terry Crisp, Brian “Spinner” Spencer, defenseman Gerry Hart and a handful of others who weren’t ready for primetime NHL minutes.

There were only two foundational pieces in place that first year. The back-up goal-keeper was a young Billy Smith, a fifth round draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings in 1970 and team General Manager Bill Torrey who had signed as GM on February 14, 1972 getting an upgrade in title from that of the California Golden Seals. Happy Valentine’s Day, New York Islanders, little did we all know.

The Islanders struggled mightily as an expansion franchise, going 12-60-6 in their first year. That qualifies as the ninth worst start for a team in NHL history but it did earn the right to choose first in the 1973 amateur draft and the astute Torrey turned down many an offer for money and veteran players to select defenseman Denis Potvin with the No. 1 overall pick. Torrey also coaxed St. Louis Blues coach and former NHL defenseman Al Arbour to become the Islanders’ head coach.

A year later, Torrey scored again. With the No. 4 and No. 22 picks in the 1974 NHL amateur draft, the Islanders selected Clark Gillies, a 6-3, 210 pound left wing from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan at No. 4 and 5-11, 195 pound center Bryan Trottier, hailing from Val Marie, Saskatchewan, at No. 22, a second-rounder that every team had a chance to pick.

Fast forward to 1975 and the Islanders upset the New York Rangers in the first-round of the NHL Playoffs, went down 0-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round but managed to come back to take the series, the first time since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs for a team to accomplish the feat. The Islanders nearly repeated the miracle against the Philadelphia Broad Street Bullies Flyers in the third round Stanley Cup semi-finals, but fell short in Game 7.

The Islanders needed one or two more pieces, addressing the need for more scoring, some second-line depth and another solid defenseman or two. In 1977, the scoring issue was checked-off when Torrey used the No. 15 pick to select Michel “Mike” Bossy, arguably among the greatest scorers and snipers in league history.

The next season, Trottier would play center with Bossy on his right and Gillies on his left to form one of the great lines of all-time. Potvin paired with his brother, Jean, or with the steady Dave Lewis and Smith anchored the goalkeeping duties, combined with amazing performances by Glenn ‘Chico” Resch. The foundation for a Stanley Cup champion was in place.

In three short seasons since expansion mayhem, the Islanders were competitive. In eight years, they became an NHL dynasty, reeling-off four Cup victories in a row. A team that was dropped in our laps as Long Island hockey fans allowed us to sing “We ARE the Champions” at the top of our lungs from 1980-to-1984.

When we played Street Hockey on the asphalt school yards, you’d be asked, “Who do you want to be?”

This columnist went to Gerry Cosby’s sporting goods store and had a road, royal blue Islanders jersey affixed with No. 9 for Clark Gillies. I wore it everyday. Every single day when we played on the streets, in the parks, on the cement of ice hockey rinks in the heat of summer.

I was Clark Gillies, growing tall, with some size and a wicked left-handed wrist shot. The only thing Gillies did a thousand times better than i could ever dream of was FIGHT, and fight he did against the toughest enforcers in the NHL. Philly’s Dave Schultz, Behn Wilson of the Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks or the epic playoff fights between Gillies and Boston’s Terry O’Reilly.

This is the fight Gillies had in mind:

It’s important to note, Gillies was NOT an NHL “goon” as he scored 30 or more goals in a season six times and scored 47 playoff goals with 46 assists in his 12 year career which concluded in 1986-87 and 1987-88 as a member of the Buffalo Sabres.

More importantly, Gillies, the native of Western Canada, became an Islander forever and returned to his Long Island digs after his career, bringing up his family and enjoying life with an occasional golf outing and return to the Nassau Coliseum or helping the team open its brand new UBS Arena, near Belmont.

The Islander roots are deep as Gillies’ daughter, Brianna, married the son of one of his best friends’ (NYI center Bob Bourne) son in Justin Bourne.Gillies frequently made appearances and raised money for Islanders great Pat LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage charity but his own charity work funded Huntington (LI) Hospital’s Pediatric unit and emergency room to the tune of a $2 million check to get started and frequent fund-raising efforts of $50,000+ all to help the children of Long Island. (Please see Clark Gillies Foundation).

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Jim Johnson, Holy Trinity High School ‘76 and a former member of the New York Islanders’ front office staff, now runs the Companions in Courage Foundation along with his friend in NHL Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine. Over the last decade or more, the Islanders insiders raised millions of dollars for charity, much of it going to help children. Johnson can express the feelings of many of us better than any of us.

“The tributes are pouring in from the hockey world and from an adopted community that Clark Gillies made his home,” wrote Johnson, an accomplished scribe. “But the shock and grief have yet to set in. Even if you only met him once, he made you feel like you had been a friend for life. Clark Gillies had that kind of impact on all of us.

(Left to right): Jim Johnson, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine.

“Some of us just saw him around Christmas, and he was laughing and dancing, seemingly without a care in the world. He was one of those guys who embraced life and stared down any obstacle that might arise. He once told a friend that he had culled the cutest filly from the herd, and that’s how he married Pam. They had three beautiful daughters who made him a grandpa several times over.

“The hockey world is mourning the loss of a guy nicknamed “Jethro,”(dubbed that because of his resemblance to the big, goofy son of Jed Clampett in the ‘60s-70s TV comedy The Beverly Hillbillies). They remember the fierce fighter who never lost a fight until (Friday) night. They remember him riding shotgun on the famed “Trio Grande Line” with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier. Maybe they remember the image of him crushing a beer can on his head on the center-ice scoreboard at last year’s playoffs. Rangers fans will no doubt remember his one-punch throw down with Ed “Boxcar” Hospodar, and Bruins fans will reflect on the heroic actions of Clarkie and Terry O’Reilly in the 1980 semi-finals.

“But some had an extra special bond with Clarkie that was something completely different. Yes, we all knew the ferocity that the man represented, but it was his kindness and adoption of our town as his own that made the friendship so special. Plus, he was one of the funniest bastards we’ve ever met.

“I often talk about how the most important reason why you want a pro sports franchise in your neighborhood is not necessarily to win championships (though those four straight Cups didn’t hurt!). Rather, it’s the athletes who become a part of the fabric of the community where they play. The Islanders introduced guys from Hinton, Alberta; Waterford, Michigan; Peterborough, Ontario; and yes, even Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (where’s Moose Jaw? 6 feet from the moose’s ass!) to this lovely little island we call home. We were all so lucky that guys like Bob Nystrom, Pat LaFontaine, Steve Webb and Clark Gillies came here and stayed.

“Clarkie loved kids, and he has raised more than one million dollars to support Huntington Hospital. If you’ve never visited the pediatric wing and the “Cub Room” he built in that facility, you should do yourself a favor. As I’ve heard more than one hospital administrator say, “this is such a great idea. Why did it take a hockey player to come up with it?”

“We had a running gag at the CiC Golf dinner. How many standing ovations could we get for Clark in one night? I’m really proud that we got it to NINE this year. A personal favorite moment was the night Pat LaFontaine honored Clark for all of his charitable work in the community. He cried when we presented him the plaque. The big tough S.O.B. was such a soft touch when it came to helping kids.

“So, we’ll process the grief over the next few days and weeks over the loss of this very special friend. We’ll get together and share our own stories of how he impacted our lives, and we’ll cherish every one of them. We’ll celebrate a life that helped make us all just a little bit better. RIP, big fella – until we all skate again on that big negative-edge pond in heaven. Save us a spot “in the room” #9,” concluded Johnson.

BRIAN “SPINNER” SPENCER: Mentioned in the story of our beloved Clark Gillies and the New York Islanders was another Long Island fan favorite in Brian “Spinner” Spencer, who played in 11 NHL seasons from 1969-70 to 1978-79. … If you haven’t heard about it, his career story is incredible, unbelievable but sad. … In December of 1970 when Spinner was called-up to play his first NHL game, he called his father, Roy, who was in his hometown of Ft. St. James, British Columbia to tell him the good news and that he’d be on TV for “Hockey Night in Canada” that weekend. A very serious problem arose when a Vancouver Canucks vs California Golden Seals game was aired by the western affiliates of CBC instead of Spencer’s Toronto Maple Leafs eastern game. Spencer’s father – upset by the programming selection – drove 84 miles to Prince George where he ordered the production crew and staff at the station to air the Maple Leafs game. He did so at gunpoint and, although the station complied with his wishes, when Roy Spencer exited the TV station, the Royal Canadien Mounted Police confronted him and he was shot and killed on the spot. … As time went by, Brian Spencer had a decent NHL career, being a fan fave who loved to mix-it-up. His best seasons came with the Buffalo Sabres (1974-75 to 1976-77) and he labored for another few years, eventually finishing-up in the American Hockey League, playing 30 games in 1979-80 with the Hershey Bears. … After his hockey career was over, he turned to crime, violence, alcohol abuse and was arrested for kidnapping and murder in 1987. He was jailed and faced the death penalty. believe it or not, this reporter and Spencer became “pen pals” of sorts that year, while he was in jail awaiting trial. I wrote to say he could take pride in the fact those expansion Islanders games he played in meant a lot to a whole new generation of hockey fans, and that no matter what trouble he was in, he could smile that night, knowing he played a role. … His return letters were incredibly well-written, perfect penmanship by hand, always very appreciative and on-point – the subject matter only about hockey. He did not ask for a thing, but I sent some letterhead, envelopes and stamps. In his last letter, he assured me he was innocent and that he was hopeful he would be declared so and set free after a fair trial. At his trial, many of his former NHL teammates testified and the jury returned a NOT guilty verdict. … Despite the acquittal, Spencer returned to a life of crime and drug abuse and was shot dead in a crack cocaine purchase gone bad in Florida. He died on June 3, 1988 at the young age of 38.

CBS SPORTS: CBS Sports colleague Bob Fishman is calling it a career as one of the top remote, live sports directors of our time. The late Sandy Grossman and Fishman televised NFL, NBA and college basketball games for a generation of sports fans, both foregoing any chance to be at home on a weekend for decades at a time. Fishman will retire after the NCAA Final Four, marking 50 years at CBS Sports.

New Commitment to Women’s Hockey

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BOSTON – (Staff report from Official News Release) – At a sports business conference by the The Carnegie Initiative for inclusion and acceptance in the sport of hockey staged today in Boston, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) made public a commitment from its Board of Governors to invest over $25 million in direct payments and benefits to its players in the next three years. The pledge includes more than $7.5 million in salary and benefits for the 2022-23 season. The commitment represents the largest one-time independent investment in the history of professional women’s hockey and will ‘provide more financial opportunities for athletes while directly enhancing the player experience,” said a league statement.

“The PHF has been steadfast in its vision to grow the game under a new era that truly provides leading opportunities for athletes in the sport who deserve to be treated as professionals,” said Tyler Tumminia, PHF Commissioner. “This amazing investment by (franchise) ownership reaffirms the strength of their commitment to being difference-makers who advance the professional game so that our athletes can thrive as role models who continue to inspire the next generation.”

The investment to our professional players, which includes cash, full healthcare benefits provided by their club, and equity in the teams, will support the current athletes and attract new players. At the heart of the financial commitment  is a substantial salary cap increase to $750,000 for next year, 150 percent more than the current record figure of $300,000 that is available per team.

The PHF will further support its growth and the development opportunities for its athletes through expansion, updating facilities, purchasing new equipment, and increasing ice time in the form of more practices and an expanded 28 game schedule. All players will benefit from 10 percent of the equity of each team, which will be contributed to an investment pool owned by the PHF players, enabling them to share in the league’s financial success. Additionally, players will have control over their own likeness and be able to profit from their image.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors we are proud to play a part in bringing women’s sports to the next level by investing in the PHF,” said John Boynton, Chairman of the federation’s Board of Governors. “We see the PHF as a platform to address the inequities that women athletes face. We also believe in the sustainability of our developing business model and embrace our responsibility to build a platform that grows this dynamic league to historic heights.”

Over the last 18 months, the PHF has pivoted from a single entity structure to a joint venture model, with all six member clubs owned and operated by private ownership groups in their respective markets. The PHF also generated landmark broadcast and corporate partnerships, the largest sponsorship revenues in its history, and received record digital viewership and engagement during a shortened season. Prior to the 2021-22 campaign, the league announced a historic name change and refreshed logo to redefine the brand based on the skill and talent of the athletes as opposed to their gender.

 

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Jan 16th

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Looks at FIBA, Golf Etiquette and Parting Words from NBPA’s Michele Roberts

By TERRY LYONS

This one almost made it right past us all. If it weren’t for the backdrop of the spectacular Giza Plateau in Egypt, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup might’ve gone astray, like a Russell Westbrook turnover.

FIBA, the international basketball federation, conducts several basketball tournaments throughout the years, including the FIBA World Cup (formerly the World Championship of Basketball) and by declaration of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), FIBA oversees the men’s and women’s hoop tournaments at the Olympics Games. FIBA also dabbles with a European-wide pro league, is partners with the NBA on the Basketball Africa League and now organizes the Intercontinental Cup, as new basketball tournament with representative professional (not national) teams from the Americas, Africa and Europe.

The draw for the February 11-13 event took place a three-point field goal distance away from the great Pyramids of Cairo and that attention-grabber of a draw resulted in the Americas bracket of South America’s Flamengo of Brazil to face none other than the 2020-21 NBA G-League winners Lakeland Magic (near parent club Orlando).

In the other semi-final bracket, Basketball Champions League 2020-21 winners Hereda San Pablo Burgos of Spain will face the inaugural Basketball Africa League champion and tournament host Zamalek SC of Cairo.

According to a FIBA news release, “the ambassador of the 2022 event, Egyptian soccer legend and former Zamalek player Mido, accepted the task of conducting the draw at the Giza Plateau and took the opportunity to profess his love of basketball.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: “Honestly, I’m a little bit tired of the situation,” said Rafa Nadal when asked about the Australian Open tennis saga of Novak Djokovic. “The Australian Open is much more important than any player,” Nadal said in his pre-tournament media session. “If he’s playing, finally, OK. If he’s not playing, the Australian Open will be a great Australian Open, with or without him. That’s my point of view.” … There should be more focus on the game of Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets than “Novax” Djokovicplaying tennis (or not) on the other side of the world.

What else?

The sport of golf deserves better than to have SONY Open reigning champ Kevin Na trading cheap shots (on Twitter, no less) with Tour hack Grayson Murray. If only one sport can survive the brutal, insensitive nature of life in 2020-21-22, you’d think it might be golf. But, no…

We’ve got Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau barking at each other before they teed-up a made for TV event in the PGA silly season and now, just as the 2022 PGA Tour is fully underway, we have this:

Twitter avatar for @GraysonMurrayGrayson Murray @GraysonMurray

Kevin Na taking 3 minutes to putt them. does get old.

Chantel McCabe @chantel_mccabe

Kevin Na walking in putts does not get old.

January 14th 2022

56 Retweets

Twitter avatar for @GraysonMurrayGrayson Murray @GraysonMurray

If they penalized you like they should for slow play you’d never make another cut either.

Kevin Na @kevinna915

@GraysonMurray u missing the cut is getting old!

January 15th 2022

69 Retweets

COMINGS & GOINGS: Nice ‘get” by ESPN in hiring Pete Thamel away from Yahoo Sports (anyone remember that Verizon, Yahoo thing called OATH)? … You’d think ESPN would re-hire Andy Katz before Yahoo Sports signs him? … Michele Roberts has officially retired from her gig as the Executive Director of the NBA Players Association. She’d been on the job since 2014. Taking over the prestigious job representing the players’ union is little known Tamika Tremaglio, former Managing Principal of Deloitte’s Greater Washington practice, where she has served as an advisor and consultant to the NBPA since 2012.

EQUITY STAKE: In one of Ms. Roberts’ final interview before departing the NBPA, she waxed philosophic on one serious regret of her tenure repping the players and that was not negotiating equity stakes for the players or Players’ Association (as one) in the rising valuations of NBA franchises. Said Roberts to the Sports Business Journal: “The biggest challenge which I sorely wish I could have met was securing player ownership in the 30 teams they have historically and continue to enrich.” … When contemplating the concept Roberts has in mind, three things immediately come to mind: 1). Do the players as a whole benefit? And, if so, when there’s cash calls during the tenure of various team ownership, does the current roster pony-up or does the Union as a whole pay-in? Can you imagine the 10-day roster signee finding out on Day 2, “Ahh, you owe $100,000 to the team for the recent cash call.” … 2). If a franchise sells, does every single player in its history get a piece of the action? … 3). If a franchise decides to invest in a privately-owned new building, do the players have to help fund the construction? Again? every player on current roster or every player who ever wore that team’s jersey?

The concept seems to be more of some kind of “Flip Tax” on a franchise that increases in value, much like the hated flip tax on a New York City co-op. If LA’s Jeannie Buss decides to sell the Lakers, does the estate of Wilt Chamberlain get a few bucks?

TL

Big East: DePaul Defeats Seton Hall

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CHICAGO – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – DePaul recorded its first BIG EAST win of the season on Thursday, while Butler nailed a win at Georgetown to start a three-game road trip.

The Blue Demons got a scare in the final minute, but never trailed in a 96-92 win against the 20th-ranked Pirates. Transfer Jalen Terry, in only his third start, scored a career-high 28 points. David Jones added 24 points and eight rebounds. Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 12 points before leaving with an injury in the second half.

Jared Rhoden led Seton Hall (11-4, 2-3 BE) with 25 points and seven rebounds. Bryce Aiken added 22 points. The Pirates trailed by 11 points with one minute to play before cutting the deficit to two in the final seconds.

Butler used an 18-4 run to start the second half en route to a 72-58 victory at Georgetown. The Bulldogs (9-6, 2-2 BE) were led by Jair Bolden’s 23 points. Bryce Nze helped with 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Butler plays Villanova at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.

The Hoyas (6-7, 0-2 BE), who were led by Tyler Beard’s 15 points and five assists, were without regulars Donald Carey and Dante Harris along with coach Patrick Ewing.

Both games on Saturday tip at noon ET. FOX will telecast Creighton at No. 17 Xavier. Both teams lost to Villanova in their last games. The Bluejays (10-4, 2-1 BE) lost 75-41 on the road on Jan. 5. The Musketeers (12-3, 2-2 BE) dropped a 64-60 home decision on Wednesday. Both teams feature balanced scoring attacks with four players averaging in double figures.

Seton Hall will look to bounce back when it plays at Marquette on FS1. The Golden Eagles (11-6, 3-3 BE) have won three in a row after Tuesday’s 87-76 win against DePaul. Seton Hall has taken the last six meetings between the two teams.

TLs Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 9th

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While We’re Young (Ideas) and the 2022 Winter Games

BOSTON – When we last left the 2022 Beijing (China) Winter Olympic Games, there was the newsworthy reporting of a Diplomatic boycott of the Games by the United States government. It was a strike against the government of China and a USA protest that specifically addressed “genocide and crimes against humanity” in Xinjiang, a northwestern region of China.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki spoke of the decision which, according to the New York Times report of her conference, was addressing the treatment of “Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in that region, including mass detentions and forced use of contraception and sterilizations.”

Aside from the previously reported support of the diplomatic boycott by US allies Australia, Canada and Great Britain, there was barely a whimper in the global community. Additionally, pre-Olympic promotion of the 2022 Winter Games was dialed down to a very low simmer in the United States.

The low level promotion could be tagged on the lack of participation by the National Hockey League, a decision announced by the league on December 22, just before the annual January 1st NHL Winter Classic would be televised – not by NBC Sports – but by TNT. The NHL noted, however, they were passing on the Beijing Winter Games because of the increasing threat of the COVID-19 virus and its Omicron variant.

The Beijing Winter Games, however, can carry-on without the players of the National Hockey League as the ice hockey competition in both the men’s and women’s games will be scheduled and will have some interest. After all, the athletes are not being asked to boycott the games and that is about the only good news to report.

In the months leading up to the February 4-20 Winter Games, local NBC affiliates laid low in on-air promotion. Daily viewers of The Today Show have not been subjected to endless Winter Olympics features and programming plugs. On January 1, NBC pulled the plug on its NBC Sports Network and shifted programming to its old school USA Network and cable business outlet CNBC. NBC’s OTT network – Peacock – will host many of the events. That strategy is certainly within NBC Universal’s prerogative in their attempt to promote Peacock, but it comes with a cost to the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committee (USOPC) which also represents the Paralympics in the USA. That cost is eyeballs as OTT (Over-the-Top) – even without a paywall – is not OTA (Over the Air).

Bits of Winter Games qualifying events are now dancing in our heads. Figure skating has been on-going in Nashville where veteran skater Mariah Bellwon the women’s national title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, likely earning a spot on the three-person U.S. Olympic team when it is announced (right around press/posting time). Bell will be the oldest USA national champion to compete since the 1920s. Karen Chen finished second and Isabeau Levito came in third. Alysa Liu, considered the top American female figure skater, dropped out of the US championships after testing positive for the coronavirus but still can be named to the team for the Beijing Olympics.

There’s been some speed skating qualifying and some snow boarding, glimmers of hope for the upcoming games. Peacock will live stream all of NBC Universal’s coverage of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, including every minute of every live event that airs on broadcast and cable TV. They will not put a pay wall up for those with the Peacock app.

Regardless, viewership of the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Games will likely be at an all-time low. Reasons are plentiful, starting with 2016-2022 American-China relations at a crossroads and possibly at the lowest point since the 1970s. The Chinese government’s record vs. Human rights is reason enough for viewers to take a pass. The stodgy Olympic suits will make excuses and point to the huge time zone difference between Asia and the USA. The split audiences – traditional TV vs Streaming – will be the built-in excuse for low ratings.

One thing is for sure: the Chinese government doesn’t give a granite Curling stone’s damn what an American viewer thinks or does. China couldn’t care less if an American diplomat shows up.

What will this lover of Olympic Games do?

I’ll watch it all.

I’ll dream of glorious Olympic Games of the past. Dreams of downhill and slalom races in 1968 with Jean-Claude Killy of France or Innsbruck ‘76 with Austria’s Franz Klammer. I’ll think of Italy’s Alberto Tomba or Austria’s Hermann Maier.

I’ll think of all the different Olympics, the many years, the US broadcasters from ABC Sports to CBS Sports to NBC Sports. I’ll fondly remember broadcaster Pat O’Brien hosting an 11:30pm (ET) cozy nightly recap at fireside from Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. And, of course, I’ll think back to Lake Placid and the greatest sporting moments of many of our lifetimes – the 1980 USA Olympic gold medal ice hockey team.

Glory days, all gone by.

Pat O’Brien Late Night from Lillehammer in ‘94 … (Get a load of the theme song and opening graphics).

I might have written about this once before, but you need to understand “TheOlympic Gene.” Either you have it or you don’t. It is passed down along with all the other 20-to-25,000 human DNA-based wirings in our body. Those carrying the Olympic Gene have a little more “pep” in their polypeptides. While the human condition is inborn, it grows with leaned conditioning as the Olympic Games are played in places all over the world.

The Olympic Gene can be limited to love the Summer Games more than the Winter Games, but love of any one sport – whether it be figure skating or curling, handball or weight lifting – tosses the gene pool upside down and all the lovely chromosomes tumble together for, yes, MUST SEE TV.

Those of us with the Olympic Gene pass it along to our children and they queue-up like automobiles at the Field of Dreams and watch alongside us. They are on a first name basis with “Bob” (Costas). They want silence in the room during the women’s free skate or the women’s team gymnastics competition, no matter who is competing or what country they hail from.

Until this day, I can not fathom a family that doesn’t love and experience the world of sports. Whether they participate or watch from the stands or via television. Sports is such a unifier and exactly what we need in 2022.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Politics are very much a part of the international sporting events, especially the Olympic Games. Look back to 1936 and Jesse Owens incredible performances for the USA in Berlin, Germany or look so very sadly back to Munich in 1972 when the pro-Palestine Black September terrorist group invaded, captured and killed members of Israel’s Olympic Team.

US athletes have protested at the Games, too, with Tommie Smith and John Carlos of USA Track & Field raising their black-gloved fists in protest of civil rights in the United States during one of the most tumultuous years (1968) in our country’s history. There is no escaping politics and the Olympics and maybe that’s actually a good thing if it is done in peace.

The youth of the world gather to compete and the youth of the world must solve the problems the prior generations have dumped in their laps.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Blast-off … The NBA made an interesting sports business announcement this week with the fact it selected five companies for the inaugural NBA Launchpad program. In a statement, the NBA said Launchpad is “the league’s latest initiative to source, evaluate and pilot emerging technologies that impact the future of the game.” … Says the NBA, “Launchpad was introduced in June 2021 with a global search to identify cutting-edge solutions that directly addressed the following priority areas identified for the inaugural season of the program: Ankle Injury Innovation, Elite Youth Player Performance, Referee Training and Development and Youth Health and Wellness. NBA Launchpad received hundreds of submissions from a diverse applicant pool across 25 countries, ranging from early-stage startups to large research institutions. … To conduct the “pitch” review process, the NBA partnered with Pitchtape, an online pitch platform, and enlisted subject matter experts from the League Office and teams to evaluate each submission. The inaugural class of the NBA Launchpad program includes:

  • BetterGuards (Berlin, Germany): Adaptive ankle protection system that provides advanced freedom of motion for athletes while actively preventing injuries.
  • Breathwrk (Los Angeles, California): Health and performance app that provides science-backed breathing exercises, helping athletes wake up, calm down, increase stamina and fall asleep.
  • Nextiles (Brooklyn, New York): Materials science company that quantifies human movement by merging sewing technologies with flexible electronics.
  • Rezzil (Manchester, United Kingdom): VR-based solution for cognitive training, rehabilitation and game analysis.
  • Uplift Labs (Palo Alto, California): AI-powered technology that delivers real-time movement tracking and 3D analysis to enhance health and performance.

“We are thrilled to introduce our NBA Launchpad program with such a diverse group of innovative products and solutions,” said Evan Wasch, Executive Vice President, Basketball Strategy & Analytics. “Each company brings something unique to the table that will improve the game of basketball.”

Over the next six months, NBA Launchpad portfolio companies will work alongside league and team advisors on R&D projects. Companies will also receive unique access to NBA events and exposure to the NBA’s ecosystem of partners and investors.

HERE’s A COUPLE NEW ONES: The NBA fined New York Knicks forward Julius Randle $25,000 for “the egregious use of profane language during media interviews.” Randle made his comments to the media on two separate occasions — after a Jan. 5 practice and postgame following the Knicks’ 108-105 victory over the Boston Celtics on Jan. 6 at Madison Square Garden. … Earlier in the week, the Sacramento Kings organization was fined $50,000 for violating league rules prohibiting team owners and executives from interacting with scorer’s table personnel during game play. Kings’ Assistant General Manager Wes Wilcox was also fined $15,000. … The incident took place during a timeout with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter of the Kings’ 115-113 win over the Miami Heat on Jan. 2 at Golden 1 Center, when Wilcox left his seat to confront operations personnel at the scorer’s table about their handling of a clock procedure during a jump ball. The clock procedure at issue was, in fact, administered correctly by the shot clock operator.

TLs Sunday Sports Notes | Jan 2, 2022

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While We’re Young (Ideas)

DIGGIES 2022 and Suggestion Box for Baseball

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Back by popular demand, we give you the very first “DIGGIES 2022,” the top start-ups, new companies and other assorted things to anticipate with great expectations in 2022. One thing you can be assured of, Theranos will NOT be on the list.

To begin, we’ll start you off with a “Lucky 7” DIGGIES in sports investments.

Guru.Club – Remember where you “heard it first,” as Guru Club will be making a major impact in dozens of verticals, including sports, ticket sales, and everything associated with the industry. The Boston-based brand loyalty and new wave/social advertising start-up has very reasonable prices and room for growth for all brands.

HYDROW – Boston-based HYDROW is to rowing as Peloton is to cycling, complete with a monthly fee/membership to experience new and innovative content. HYDROW has been a product, engineered and marketed to the very serious “Head of the Charles” level rower. CEO Bruce Smith competed and coached in the Head of the Charles and 2015 World Championships.

Nex/Homecourt – Parent company Nex has two products and one is Homecourt, an application that allows young basketball players to train smarter, learn from the pros, and gear their training while improving skills that are applicable to NBA Combine level. Nex investors include Samsung, Blue Pool Capital, Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment, Alibaba Entrepreneurship Fund, NBA, soccer great Thierry Henry, WNBA and USA Basketball legend Sue Bird, Harvard star and NBA phenom, now playing in China Jeremy Lin, former NBA MVP and current Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, baseball legend Albert Pujols, actor and entrepreneur Will Smith, Steven Chen, co-founder YouTube, Matt Mullenweg, Co-Founder WordPress, RohamGharegozlou, Founder, Dapper Labs, NBA TopShot, Mark Cuban, team owner, Dallas Mavericks, and executives from Facebook, Uber, YouTube, Disney, and MasterClass.

PGA TOUR Brunch – A brand you’ve read about before in this column, the six days a week e-News to your Inbox is designed to give PGA Tour fans a mobile-first, and mobile-friendly tournament previews, betting odds, news updates and the most important links to content to save you time as you read the news on your device over lunch, brunch or whenever. Compiled and written by this reporter (Terry Lyons) who enjoys weekly competition in a couple Fantasy Golf leagues, too. Sign-Up or gift PGA TOUR Brunch to your favorite golfer or PGA TOUR fan and receive a special 205 discount by visiting HERE. (Notification: PGA Tour Brunch is not affiliated with the Tour and is a publication by Digital Sports Desk and TERRY LYONS)

Real Response – Real Response is designed to help sports organizations empower their student-athletes and give them the tools needed as the marketing world changes via Name, Image and Likeness opportunities (and eventual regulation). RealResponse partners with over 100 collegiate institutions and athletic organizations like the NFL Players Association, and USA Gymnastics. Through surveys, real-time reporting, and a comprehensive documentation repository, Real Response provided over 50,000 athletes a safe space to deliver concerns and feedback to their administration(s) and reps.

ShotTracker – A ‘not too’ oldie but goodie, here, Shot Tracker is growing its influence. ShotTracker is a sensor-based system that automatically captures statistical and performance analytics for (mostly men’s and women’s basketball) teams in real-time. Up-to-the-minute shot charts, optimal lineups, box scores in game, all streaming instantly into coaches and/or video assistants hands. the late David Stern was on it early, via Greycroftinvestment arm, and now Magic Johnson, Seventy-Six Capital and a host of others are onboard.

Too Good To Go – A global start-up from Europe, now expanding in the USA. They work with Restaurants, Bakeries, Grocery Stores and Households to combat the waste of good food. There’s certainly a future application for sports venues, caterers, and vendors.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Between college and pro basketball, a few Bowl games, a slew of NHL games, along with airline flights, there’s been more cancellations than a postmaster detailing stamps at the Post Office. Everyone from bus drivers to vendors to NBA referees are quarantining after positive tests from any and all variants of the COVID-19 virus, but somehow, the band plays on.

Schedule makers in the NHL might have an easier time making up lost games, as they now have the gap in the original schedule, pre piously being held for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. … College conferences will struggle mightily to find dates to reschedule games and we’re already seeing games that were previously planned to be played in the big time sports arenas, now being relegated to the small on-campus gyms. That’s bad for season ticket holders, but possibly good for added home court advantage but the idea of seeing a packed house in Seton Hall’s tiny Walsh Gymnasium screams super-spreader.

THE BOWLS: The concept, formerly known as the College Football Bowl Season, is in deep trouble. Not only are teams cancelling because of COVID-19 concerns (which is unavoidable at this point in time), but the changing tides of college football result more and more in bowl teams arriving without their head coach, a defensive coordinator (who took on a job opportunity elsewhere) or star players who opt-out of the bowl game to work with professional trainers and strength and conditioning coaches to better prepare for the NFL Combine and Draft.

This column tries best not to be by-lined by Captain Obvious, but a MAJOR change needs to be made and the powers-that-be in college athletics and college football need to act now, rather than later.

There is no simple solution.

One thought is to expand the College Football Playoff system from four to 16 teams and draw a line in the turf right there. Only 16 college football teams would qualify for post-season and four pods of four teams each would be established to create a “Final Four” scenario that we currently enjoy.

Purists – a.k.a. lovers of the Bahamas Bowl, the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl or the Jimmy Kimmel Bowl – might lament. The option there would be to create a college football version of the “National Invitational Tournament” (NIT) and have an “on-campus” game or two to create the NIT Final Four which could be played in the likes of Dayton Ohio or Las Vegas.

The NCAA would also have to create a “No Fly Zone” or moratorium against the hiring or firing of college football coaches from November through January 15.

Michigan and Georgia at the Orange Bowl (Photo by Jeff Goldstein)

DIAMOND DUST-UPs: If the College Bowl Season is broken in two, Major League Baseball has been smashed to pieces.

Currently in lock-out mode, MLB players are working-out on their own and have 42 days until Pitchers & Catchers report for Spring Training. Negotiations are on-going for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to govern the sport for years to come and the process might become quite painful for both team owners and players.

There are drastic steps that need to be taken in the next agreement. Here are a few:

  1. SALARY CAP SYSTEM: MLB, like football, basketball and hockey before it, must negotiate a Salary Cap (minimum and maximum team salary structure) to govern the Majors. Unless on-field miracles occur, there’s easily 15-20 MLB teams that have little to no chance of competing for a World Series title. Every year, there’s one or two surprise teams that might make the Wild Card playoffs and ride a “hot” pitching or a few “hot” bats, but for the most part, the system is so broken, only the big time teams can compete. A Salary Cap system seems unavoidable, but the MLB Players Association will fight, claw and scream their way out of any collective agreement that includes team salary limits, and curtailing the free agency market.
  2. RULES: MLB must address the designated hitter, the extra-inning rules brought on by COVID-19, including seven-inning doubleheaders and the man-on-second-base rule for extra innings. I’d go with the DH in both leagues and that would be a major “get” for the Union as the jobs of aging players unable to play the field would be protected for all 30 teams. On the others, I’d lean hard against the seven-inning twin bills and the “man-on-second-base” rule. Additionally, there needs to be major change in the way relief pitchers are being utilized. While the purists can claim that MLB managers should be able to do whatever it takes to win a ballgame, the use of eight-to-10 pitchers every game is excessive and the TV audience simply tunes out. The DH should go one way or the other. In or out. (It’s currently only in the American League and has been since 1973. That’s 49 years of inequity. … The pace of play also comes in under the area of game rules that need to be addressed in the CBA. Recent reports have noted the Office of Baseball and the MLB Players have been meeting/discussing non-economic or core issues. Here’s a “Six/Fix” for Baseball:
    • Suggestion One: No mound visits in the first three innings unless a pitcher is going to be removed from the game. (Of course, MLB Trainers can assist a pitcher if there’s an injury from a come-backer).
    • Suggestion Two: Limit the number of pitchers to be ‘active” for any one game. Ten or 12 pitchers max. Others can be healthy scratches, ready for the next game.
    • Suggestion Three: Limit shifting. Each position would have a range of space where the defensive players can be positioned. The range could be on electronic notification that would “beep” in a players’ fielding glove if he approached his space limitation area.
    • Suggestion Four: Address bench-clearing. Bench clearing brawls in Baseball are often no more than pushing-shoving or square-dancing, but there’s always the potential for an all-out “Rudy T” moment and serious injury. There is NO REASON players should leave the dugout. a minimum 20-game suspensions would take care of it. Second offense? How about 50 games?
    • Suggestion Five: Bench clearing from the bullpen is just ridiculous. It’s the easiest fix of the bunch. If a reserve pitcher/catcher/coach leaves a bullpen area during an altercation, Baseball should be able to suspend the player for 50 games.
    • Suggestions Six: (This might sound ridiculous, but a cumulative 10-15 minutes every game is spent as batters nervously re-adjust their batting gloves for every pitch). Once a player steps in the batter’s box, he can no longer adjust his batting gloves. Period. First infraction, a warning. Second infraction? Off come the batting gloves for the rest of the game.

 

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLB Unit Exec Director Tony Clark

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook – Dec 26

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“He spoke not a word and went straight to his work.” – Clement Clarke Moore (or Bill Belichick?)

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – When there’s 52+ weeks of Sunday notebooks to review, there are plenty of topics, notes, tidbits and remembrances to point out as we look back at the strange year of 2021 and look forward to (hopefully) better days ahead in 2022.

Upon quick review, here’s a list of the most prominent items in TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | While We’re Young (Ideas) over the past 52 weeks:

January 2021:

Big Story: Alabama defeated Ohio State, 52-24, in College Football Playoffs National Championship game

  • A Few of My Favorite Things
  • Diggies: Outstanding TV Ads and Hard Knocks NFL Jinx
  • Tons of NFL Talent (Unfortunately, many were hurt in 2021)
  • Hank Aaron Tribute
  • Sekou Smith Tribute

February 2021:

Big Story: QB Tom Brady and Tampa Bay defeated Kansas City, 31-9, in Super Bowl LVI

  • Super Bowl | Salute to Tom Brady
  • Baseball Spring Training | Red Sox Equipment Truck Heads South
  • Second Chances in Life, Sports | Alex Cora
  • NBA Logo | Great Logos and Branding

March 2021:

Big Story: Justin Thomas shot four-under (68) in the final round for 274 (−14) to win his first PGA Tour Players Championship, one stroke ahead of runner-up Lee Westwood, the 54-hole leader.

  • NBA All-Star Notes | International Players | Zion was an All-Star
  • The Concept of TIME | Precious TIME of a sporting career
  • 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 | March Madness Brackets
  • March Madness without Duke and Kentucky
  • Sportico News: NBA Franchise Valuations; Fanatics $ Merch

April 2021:

Big Story: Baylor defeated Gonzaga, 86-70, in nCAA Final four Championship game

  • MLB Opening Day Brings Excitement, Joy | Underrated Events
  • The Masters | Rick Welts Announced retirement from GS Warriors
  • MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day | Mark “The Bird” Fidrych
  • European Super League Futbol Flop

May 2021:

Big Story: Medina Spirit crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, giving his trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh win in the race and jockey John Velazquez his fourth Derby win. However, the horse tested positive for betamethasone after the race.

  • Must Win Time in NHL and NBA | Kentucky Derby
  • NFL Franchise Valuations | IVY League Sports Comeback
  • Basketball: Hall of Fame | WNBA 25th | Africa League
  • ATL: Us Against the World and NBA
  • Fan Behavior | Mark Eaton RIP

June 2021:

Big Story: In the 121st U.S. Open golf tournament, Jon Rahm made a birdie on each of the final two holes to become the first U.S. Open champion from Spain and win his first major championship.

  • Fragile Nature of Sports | Sports Perfection
  • The Sports Window of Opportunity | PGA Tour : The Travelers
  • Father’s Day | USA Swimming/Nick Fink
  • Red Sox: Dustin Pedroia Tribute

July 2021:

Big Story: The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games with the decisive contest played on July 20th.

  • Name, Image, Likeness | #SportsBiz
  • NBA/ESPN Reporter Bickering | Olympics on Horizon
  • The Open
  • Memories of Olympic Games Past

August 2021:

Big Story; MLB stole the show with its first-ever regular season game at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, a site popularized by the 1989 baseball motion picture.

  • More Great Olympic Games Memories
  • Modified Stableford Scoring for Hoops
  • PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs
  • Northern Trust = No Pro Golf in Boston

September 2021:

Big Story: Daniil Medvedev defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 to win the men’s singles tennis title at the 2021 U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows. On the women’s side, Britain’s Emma Raducanu defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the final, 6–4, 6–3 to win the women’s singles tennis title at the 2021 US Open. Raducanu became the first qualifier, male or female, to reach a major final and win a major title, as well as the first singles qualifier to reach the semifinals at the US Open.

  • The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Sports
  • US Open Tennis: 18-year old Emma Raducanu of Great Britain defeated 19-year old Leylah Fernandez of Canada
  • Ryder Cup Golf and Hard Knocks NFL
  • More Ryder Cup Golf | Hope for BC Eagles Football

October 2021:

Big Story: The Chicago Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in four straight games to win the 2021 WNBA title.

  • NBA at 75 Tip-Off
  • The people behind the NBA at 75 Impact: Off the Court
  • NBA at 75 | Final List | #SportsBiz Sports Gambling Update
  • Preseason College Basketball Preview

November 2021:

Big Story: The Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games to win the 2021 MLB World Series.

  • 30 Year Look-Back at Earvin “Magic” Johnson
  • Best Sports Towns in America
  • Olympic Boycotts – Athletes & Diplomats
  • Paying Thanks on Thanksgiving Day 2021

December 2021:

Big Story:  New York City FC defeated the Portland Timbers (1-1) in penalty kicks after a scoreless overtime. It was NYC FC’s first MLS Cup title.

  • A Look at Deep, Dark December | NFL Power Rankings
  • #Sports – The Land of Confusion | Bill Russell Auction
  • Dreaming of a “Wilt” Christmas | NBA Christmas Day Preview
  • 2021 Year-End Review

January 2022: As you can see from the photo up top, the lads are welcoming in a New Year with hopes for a much better 2022 than was experienced in 2020 and 2021.

Overall, it’s somewhat daunting to look back at the year in sports. So many things happened – good and bad – in such challenging circumstances, yet again. It’s even harder to look back at the year in news. The “real world” headlines of 2021 absolutely drops us to our knees, especially the way the year started out on January 6th. Nevertheless, we must move on and move forward. And, with that in mind:

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Despite the fact this is being written before the NFL games of December 25, now is the time for TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | While We’re Young (Ideas) to do its second installment of NFL Power Rankings. A reminder of my last list (dated December 4):

  1. Buffalo Bills
  2. Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Dallas Cowboys
  4. Arizona Cardinals
  5. Green Bay Packers
  6. Baltimore Ravens
  7. New England Patriots
  8. Tennessee Titans
  9. Cincinnati Bengals
  10. Tampa Bay/SF 49ers/Washington/Miami/Others

Here’s the current Digital Sports Desk Power Rankings of the NFL’s Top 10 (dated December 24):

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: Both on offense and – surprisingly on defense, the KC Chiefs have stepped-up.
  2. Green Bay Packers: The (11-3) Pack are healthy and have Aaron Rodgers primed for a playoff run, most likely with a much-needed first round bye.
  3. Buffalo Bills: The Bills can prove they’ve earned this high ranking on Sunday when they face the New England Patriots at Foxborough. Let’s see where each club ends up?
  4. Dallas Cowboys: Quarterback Dak Prescott and the ‘Boys are lurking, and in good position to do some damage in the NFC Playoffs.
  5. Tennessee Titans: The Thursday night win over the epic collapse of QB Jimmy Garappolo and the San Francisco 49ers placed Tennessee (10-5) in prime position for the AFC Playoffs. A loss would’ve been trouble.
  6. Indianapolis Colts: The Colts (8-6) won a huge game last weekend over the New England Patriots and it thrust Indiana into contention.
  7. Arizona Cardinals: At (10-4), the Cards remain a team no other wants to see in the NFC Playoffs. The question? Can QB Kyler Murray, RBsJames Conner/Chase Edmonds/WR AJ Green remain healthy?
  8. New England Patriots: As the NBA’s great Hall of Famer Rudy Tomjanovich once said, “Don’t EVER underestimate the heart of a champion.” … The question is whether that champion is on the sidelines in Foxborough, Mass or at QB in Tampa?
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: After dropping two important games (Chargers and 49ers), the Bengals bounced back with a 15-10 win over Denver last week. They’re in MUST win territory with their next two games (Ravens and Chiefs). The AFC North is up for grabs and is in the midst of the tightest NFL divisional race in 44 years.
  10. Everyone Else, including the LA Chargers, Rams, SF 49ers.

G-LEAGUE PUSH BACK: With dozens of NBA teams signing players to 10-day contracts to fill-out rosters, the G-League was forced to delay their season. The league noted in a statement of December 24: «The NBA G League will delay its regular season, originally scheduled to tip-off on Dec. 27, will now begin on Jan. 5, 2022. The delay will give teams an opportunity to safely return players to market after the Christmas holiday and to replenish their rosters following NBA call-ups. Information regarding games originally scheduled between Dec. 27 and Jan. 4 will be provided at a later date.»

NO HAWAI’I in HAWAI’I BOWL? – The lone sporting event of December 24 was abruptly cancelled when the powers that be cancelled the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl. The University of Hawai’i could not play in the game due to players and staff with COVID-19+ test results. Hawaii’s college football bowl opponent, Memphis, had travelled to Honolulu for the game. … “The health and safety of our student-athletes is the most important part of this decision,” David Matlin, Hawaii AD, said in a statement. “The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has forced us to not participate in the game.”

REVERSE DECISION: The BIG EAST Conference modified its game cancellation policy for men’s and women’s basketball for the 2021-22 season. The adjustment was the result of the recent sudden and significant increases in the number of COVID-19 cases nationally and within BIG EAST programs due to the spread of the Omicron variant. … Under the modified policy, a Conference game will be canceled in the event a school has fewer than seven scholarship players and one countable coach available for a game. The BIG EAST conference office will attempt to reschedule any such game(s) in accordance with parameters approved by BIG EAST Directors of Athletics. … In the event the rescheduling parameters cannot be fulfilled, the canceled game(s) will be designated as a no contest.

To date, four BIG EAST men’s Conference games had been designated as forfeitures under the previous COVID-19 game cancellation policy. The forfeiture classification will be removed from these games, and efforts are now underway to reschedule them at a later date. (Since then, two other games were scrapped: St. John’s and Butler in Jamaica Estates, Queens; and Georgetown at Creighton. No women’s games to date have been designated as forfeitures. … The new ruling seems much more in line with the rest of the sporting world, all doing the most to get complete season scheduled played in their entirety.

NHL BUYS ANOTHER DAY: From a formal statement released December 24/Christmas Eve, the National Hockey League said its regular-season schedule will not resume prior to Tuesday, Dec. 28. The league had planned to resume its schedule on Dec. 27, but in order to allow adequate time to analyze league-wide testing results and to assess clubs’ readiness to play, the target date for resumption of game play will be pushed back an additional day. Teams will return to practice on Dec. 26 and it is expected that the league will provide an update on its return to play plans by the end of day on Sunday.

The league plans to stage its annual outdoor Winter Classic on January 1 at 6pm ET with the St. Louis Blues visiting the Minnesota Wild at Target Field.

BOOKS CLOSED ON THE STAPLES CENTER: The Los Angeles sports scene will now watch concerts, conventions and sporting events at the Crypto.com Arena, after cryptocurrency website Crypto.com purchased the naming rights to the arena, formerly known as The STAPLES Center.

Official photographer Andrew D. Bernstein recalled nine of his favorite memories of the original, going first with opening night with the great Bruce Springsteen.

1: Bruce Springsteen opens the arena 1999
2: Lakers championship 2000
3: Democratic National Convention 2000
4: LA Sparks WNBA championship 2001
5: Michael Jackson Memorial 2009
6: Blake Griffin Slam-Dunk at NBA All Star 2011
7: Grammys 2012
8: LA Kings first Stanley Cup 2012
9: Kobe’s final game 2016
10: LeBron James 2020

Check out Andy’s series of podcasts at Legends of Sport: HERE

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  1. NOTES, NOTES, AND MORE NOTES: A year-long subscription to TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – While We’re Young (Ideas) is a perfect way to have the sports fan in your life look forward to an old-fashioned, weekly, notebook full of sports insights. All Year Long! Sign-up for this special offer: HERE

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Parting Words & Music:

In Excelsis Deo: On this Christmas night of 2021, I give you the genius of Aaron Sorkin and his work on the television drama – The West Wing – from 1999. Whether you were a fan/viewer of the show or not, I simply ask you to view this scene and the detail of every single word, every single cut, every single edit and every single decision made to produce the poignant scene.

The assembly of The West Wing cast at the White House, each viewing the choir celebration, is striking. Only one other character asked Tobias”Toby” Ziegler (played by Richard Schiff) to accompany him to Arlington National Cemetery and that was dear Mrs. Delores Landingham, the President’s executive assistant. This episode was one of the first when actress Kathryn Joosten’s character became such a focal part of a scene.

Earlier in the episode, Presidential aide/body man Charlie Young (played by Dulé Hill) had asked why Mrs. Landingham was feeling “down,” and she opened up to him that she had “lost her two twin boys” in the Viet Nam war. (They died as medics in a fire-fight at Da Nang on Christmas Eve 1970).

The West Wing and Sorkin, in general, just ace the art of character development and this clip shows you one small reason why. In Excelsis Deoand Two Cathedrals are the two most powerful episodes in the entire drama series.

In Excelsis Deo’s most dramatic scene:

The West Wing won Emmy Awards for:

Outstanding Writing of a Drama Show – Aaron Sorkin and Rick Clevelandsingled out for this episode.

Outstanding Single Camera Editing

Schiff won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Outstanding Sound Mixing in a Drama Series

Sorkin and Cleveland won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama at the 53rd Writers Guild of America Awards

Merry Christmas everyone.

TL

Villanova, UConn Bounce Back

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MILWAUKEE – (Staff Report from Official news Release) – After dropping their respective league openers, Villanova and Connecticut evened their BIG EAST records on Tuesday.

Villanova, ranked 23rd in this week’s Associated Press poll, recovered from an eight-point deficit at halftime to record a 71-58 win against No. 18 Xavier. UConn grabbed the lead midway through the first half and went on to win 78-70 at Marquette.

The Wildcats (8-4, 1-1 BIG EAST) started the second half with a 12-3 run and used a late 10-spurt in its win against the Musketeers (11-2, 1-1 BE). Justin Moore led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points. Caleb Daniels added 16. Xavier’s Dwon Odom scored a team-high 13 points.

UConn (10-3, 1-1 BE) got some offensive punch from Tyrese Martin and R.J. Cole at Marquette. Martin netted a career-high 25 points and reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career. Cole scored 20 points while eclipsing the 2,000-point mark. The Huskies welcomed back Adama Sanogo, who had missed four games due to injury. Justin Lewis led Marquette (8-5, 0-2 BE) with 20 points and seven rebounds.

The lone game left on the BIG EAST schedule before the Christmas holiday is Butler playing St. John’s at Carnesecca Arena on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The teams split their two meetings last season with St. John’s winning 69-57 at home.