Sports Musings

 

Time for a post on some random thoughts and musings in the world of sports. 

While the NFL Draft for the upcoming 2025 season is now complete, many people are still pondering why it took so long for Shedeur Sanders (quarterback from Colorado and son of pro football Hall of Fame player Deion Sanders) to be drafted. The Cleveland Browns selected Sanders with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round on Saturday. 

The fact is we will never quite know what the reasoning was for so many teams (including Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New York Giants and the Browns) that have quarterback situations right now. Remember that the great Tom Brady wasn't selected by the New England Patriots from Michigan until the sixth round back in the 2000 NFL Draft. Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas, once the greatest QB of all time, wasn't even drafted. He was a free agent who was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1950's and wound up with the Baltimore Colts and went on to establish so many NFL passing records (long since broken by other quarterbacks) and won multiple championships, including being a member of the Colts Super Bowl V championship team in 1970. 

So don't fret over Sanders huge slide down the draft order this year, because that young man will have the opportunity to make the team and perhaps even win the starting job before the end of the 2025 NFL season. Stranger things have happened throughout the history of the NFL. 

. . . 

As for the playoffs in the NBA and NHL . . . 

The Los Angeles Lakers have their backs to the wall now that Minnesota holds a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series while the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top seed in the Western Conference, swept their opening round series in four games over the Memphis Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors continue to wheeze their way along as they have a 2-1 series edge over the Houston Rockets. The best series so far has been the dead even (2-2) pairing between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. This one has game seven written all over it. 

in the East, the Boston Celtics have had their hands full with the Orlando Magic, holding a 2-1 series lead with game four continuing on Sunday evening. The Cleveland Cavaliers (top seed in the Eastern Conference) have a commanding 3-0 series edge against the Miami Heat . The New York Knicks went up 3-1 in their series against the upstart Detroit Pistons, although their game four win ended in controversy as the referees admitted they blew it by not calling a foul in the closing seconds that could have made the difference for the home team Pistons. And like the Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers are trying to go up 3-1 in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night. 

The NHL playoffs have been what one might expect . . . unpredictability. 

The top team in the Eastern Conference is the Washington Capitals and they have a 2-1 series lead going into Sunday evening against the Montreal Canadiens, perhaps the most storied franchise in NHL history. The Carolina Hurricanes are up 3-1 against the New jersey Devils while the Toronto Maple Leafs are likewise up 3-1 against the Ottawa Senators. The Florida Panthers lead 2-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with each team earning road victories. 

The Western Conference has the Winnipeg Jets (the top team in the NHL this season) struggling with the St. Louis Blues as that one is tied 2-2 so far. Also deadlocked at 2-2 in the series are the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild. The only series not tied is between the Edmonton Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings, with L.A. holding a 2-1 series edge. 

Play on . . . 

The young Major League Baseball season has seen BOTH New York teams (Yankees and Mets) in first place in their division races while the San Francisco Giants lead the rugged National League West with a slim margin over the L.A. Dodgers and San Diego Padres. The Chicago Cubs have the league's best offense so far and have a decent lead over the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. 

The biggest disappointment so far is the Baltimore Orioles (10-17 record) being in last place in the A.L. East with Boston, Toronto and Tampa Bay hanging around the Yankees. The Detroit Tigers are looking solid and lead the A.L. Central with the Cleveland Guardians in second. The A.L. West has the Seattle Mariners getting out of the gate fast and they lead the Texas Rangers along with Houston, the Athletics and L.A. Angels all within shouting distance. 

Play Ball ! 

And next Saturday at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby takes place with Journalism listed as the early odds favorite. But this race will likely go down to the wire yet again, so get ready and place your bets. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Gators Win Basketball National Championship

 The Florida Gators capped a huge second half comeback for a 65-63 thrilling victory against the Houston Cougars to win the Men's NCAA Basketball Championship Game in San Antonio, Texas on Monday night. 

The Cougars had a 12-point lead in the second half, but the resilient Gators (36-4 record) stormed back and took a late lead and then the defense took over as they suffocated Houston, which didn't get a shot off in three possessions in the final minute of play. 

 

       Congratulations to the Florida Gators . . .  2024-25 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions !

 

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - 2025 Season Preview

 

The 2025 Major League Baseball season gets underway in the next week and already most people are just handing over the World Series trophy to the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 

They look practically unbeatable . . . on paper. 

But the fact is the games have to be won on the baseball diamond and there have been numerous teams throughout the ages that looked invincible, but they failed to get it done once October baseball rolled around. 

The Dodgers should be favored with all the talent they have and perhaps the biggest star in the game with Shohei Ohtani (reigning National League MVP) and a deep roster, including some of the best pitchers in the sport. But again, they have to go out on the field and prove it. The Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and perhaps the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks look to be formidable foes to the Dodgers in the National League pennant race this year. 

Over in the American League, there are numerous teams that could raise the flag come October. The New York Yankees are the reigning A.L. champs and they have been bitten by the injury bug already in spring training. They will be without top pitcher Gerritt Cole (Tommy John surgery) for the entire season as well as starting pitcher Luis Gil (out until at least June) and one of their sluggers (Giancarlo Stanton) is sidelined with bad elbow issues. They better pray that last year's A.L. MVP Aaron Judge stays healthy or it could be a long, disappointing summer for the Bronx Bombers. 

This should be another interesting season around the league and here goes another shot at predicting the outcome for the upcoming season with a look at the divisional races as well as the final outcome once the post-season starts. 

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

East 

1. Boston Red Sox - They spent a lot of money on free agent players and are hoping some new pitchers can make a difference. We will see. 

2. Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles sore spot is the starting pitching, but they can score runs. Another playoff appearance should happen. 

3. New York Yankees - They could finish anywhere from first to third place in baseball's best division. They must maintain a healthy roster. 

4. Toronto Blue Jays - The team from Canada could be a dark horse playoff contender this year. 

5. Tampa Bay Rays - They have good pitching and likely too many question marks after that. 

Central 

1. Cleveland Guardians -  This team is solid, but they have to contend with three other teams that could win this division.

2. Detroit Tigers - The roar is back in Motown and this team could make the playoffs again. 

3. Minnesota Twins - Injuries hurt the Twins last year, so don't count them out this summer. 

4. Kansas City Royals - A scrappy team that will be in the mix in a balanced division. 

5. Chicago White Sox - Looking to avoid 100 losses this year. 

West 

1. Texas Rangers - Injuries knocked them out of contention last year. They should be solid again in 2025. 

2. Seattle Mariners - Pitching is strong, but the offense is among the worst in baseball. 

3. Houston Astros - An aging ball club trying to rebuild/reload on the fly. 

4. (Sacramento) Athletics - The future Las Vegas A's are shaping up with a decent roster that could surprise some teams this year. Stay tuned.

5. Los Angeles Angels - This team is still in rebuild mode.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

East 

1. Atlanta Braves - This team could win the World Series if they stay healthy and play up to capabilities. 

2. Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies regressed last year in playoffs, but will contend and they have to be ready once October rolls around. 

3. New York Mets - Juan Soto will thrill the fans, but after that who knows? 

4. Washington Nationals - This team appears to be on the rise, just not quite there yet this year. 

5. Miami Marlins - Looking to avoid another disastrous season after making playoff just two years ago. 

Central 

1. Chicago Cubs - Cubbies looking to rebound after an up and down 2024 season. 

2. Cincinnati Reds - New manager Terry Francona expects this team to contend for division title and they should. 

3. Milwaukee Brewers - They seemed to over achieve last year, so other teams will be ready to play them all summer long. 

4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Pitching sensation Paul Skenes is worth the price of admission. Bucs are building for a better future.

5. St. Louis Cardinals - This team is a mystery. 

West 

1. Los Angeles Dodgers - As long as they spend, they'll win. 

2. Arizona Diamondbacks - This team made it to the World Series two years ago and added ace pitcher Corbin Burnes to their roster this season. Watch out!

3. San Diego Padres - Talented team that needs to get out of the gate sooner if they want to make the playoffs this year. 

4. San Francisco Giants - Another .500 type finish is likely for the Giants. 

5. Colorado Rockies - Young team that looks to be trending upwards . . . should be better this season. 

 

The outlook for the 2025 post-season . . .  

 
AMERICAN LEAGUE 

Wild Card Round - Orioles over Tigers; Yankees over Guardians

ALDS  - Rangers over Yankees; Orioles over Red Sox 

ALCS - Rangers over Orioles

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

Wild Card Round - Cubs over Reds; Diamondbacks over Phillies

NLDS - Dodgers over Diamondbacks; Braves over Cubs 

NLCS - Dodgers over Braves 

 

                2025 WORLD SERIES - Los Angeles Dodgers over Texas Rangers (in six games) 

 

 

 

 

March Madness

 

It's that time of the year again . . .  MARCH MADNESS! 

The 68-team field has been selected and it gets started with the four play-in games and then this weekend the MADNESS begins in earnest. 

 

The four number-one seeds are Duke, Houston, Florida and Auburn and the pick here is for three of them to advance to the Final Four in a little over two weeks. 

Duke vs. Houston and Florida vs. (2 seed) Michigan State with the Duke Blue Devils and Florida Gators playing for the NCAA championship.  

FLORIDA wins it all this time around.

Wisen Up Folks

Wisen up folks! 

The way Trump and Musk have been trying to do things recently is insane and the good people of the United States of America are beginning to rise up and tell them (along with numerous democratic and republican members of the U.S. House and Senate) that this is NOT ACCEPTABLE. 

 

We all have seen the recent actions of this so called presidential administration and all the harm they are willing to inflict on everyday Americans just so corporations and the richest of the rich in this country can have another tax cut. 

Bullshit! 

We are not having it and to put it simply . . .  a foreigner (Musk) has absolutely no business dictating to us what will be done with OUR MONEY when it comes to Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security (an earned benefit we paid into all our lives) just so one percent of the U.S. population can have more. 

Simply put, REAL Presidents of the United States of America do no act this way. 

Trump is a convicted felon and a traitor to this country who tried to lead a coup attempt (which failed) against the United States government four years ago. And now here he is back somehow as the "leader" of this country trying the same old script and we are NOT having it. 

The people of this country are wise to the bullshit of Trump and his minions and the so called news media of this country needs to wisen up as well. Those corporate toadies are useless when it comes to competent coverage of actual facts of this criminal regime attempting to ruin this country. 

Don't let up folks . . . keep the pressure on them and soon enough Trump, Musk and all the rest of their criminal accomplices will fade away into obscurity. 

God Bless America . . . Our country!

Philadelphia Eagles Win Super Bowl

 

So much for the Kansas City Chiefs getting a three-peat Super Bowl title. 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles thoroughly dominated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX with a 40-22 win as their defense held Kansas City's offense in check, including getting three turnovers and six sacks on quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was intercepted twice while throwing for three touchdowns in the blowout loss. Meanwhile, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (pictured above left) was named the Most Valuable Player as he passed for two touchdowns (221 yards on 17-of-22 passing) and also rushed for a score along with 72 rushing yards. Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean took an interception back 38 yards for a touchdown as Philly built a 24-0 halftime lead. 

The Eagles out gained the Chiefs, 345-275 in total yardage as they won their second Super Bowl title in the last eight seasons while avenging a three-point loss to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago.

 

     CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!

SUPER BOWL LIX PREVIEW - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles

 

The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX and if they win, it will be an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl victory for them. They beat the Eagles, 38-35 two years ago in the Super Bowl on a field goal in the final eight seconds of the game.

This year's game should go down to the wire as well as quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts do their thing on offense. The defenses will have something to say about the final outcome. The Eagles defense was tops in the NFL this past season and they can get after the quarterback. Likewise with the Chiefs defense when it comes to quarterback sacks. Philadelphia definitely rates the edge in the running game with Saquon Barkley running wild all season long and also in the playoffs.

These two teams are so evenly matched it would not be a surprise if this one goes to overtime, just like the game did last year when the Chiefs edged out the San Francisco 49ers by a 25-22 count. K.C. Head Coach Andy Reid always seems to pull out something special in crunch time and if they can do that against the Eagles, they will make it three Super Bowl victories in a row. However, if the Eagles get it going with the ground game and the Chiefs don't have an answer to stop Barkley, then the Eagles will be hoisting up the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy. 

                                              PREDICTION  - Eagles 31, Chiefs 27