Weekend winners
All of the Special Olympics athletes, organizers and volunteers this weekend at the Area 4 event. And let's not forget TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer, who shares their stories each year. There are a lot of regular items Weeds does for the TFP, but none may have more impact and meaning than his annual Special Olympics trip.
Charley Hoffman, the veteran pro who looks more slow-pitch softball than PGA winner, finally prevailed on the weekend. After playing as well as anyone in the world through the first 54 holes of just about any tournament in the first half of this season, Hoffman finally finished one Sunday. Coming into Sunday, Hoffman's final-round average was 200th among 201 PGA players with three or more final rounds. But a birdie on the 72nd hole Sunday - his third in the last eight holes mind you - capped a final round 69 and gave Hoffman a one-shot win. It's his first Tour victory since 2014.
Let's stay on golf right here. Baylor School graduate Luke List went 68-73 over the weekend to finish at 4-under at the Valero Texas Open and tied for 29th behind Hoffman. List made more then $37,000 for the work. How big of a career renaissance has this year been for List? In addition to getting hitched, Luke's numbers in 2016 compared to his career golf totals are staggering. According to CBSsports.com, List's career PGA earnings are $861,750 with $597,349 coming this season. His PGA career scoring average is 71.7 but in 2016 it's a full stroke better at 70.6. Overall, he has played 50 PGA events, made the cut 19 times and finished in the top 25 six times and top 10 twice. In 2016, he has both of those top 10s, four of the six top 25s and eight of the 19 cuts made. Well-played Luke.
Bryce Harper. Dude had an off-day on Sunday and all he did was hit a game-tying homer in the ninth as the Nationals went on to beat the Twins in extra innings. Harper's stats - .323, nine homers, 15 RBIs, a .405 on-base percentage - are staggering through 18 games. As for clutch, well, according to ESPN stats, Harper is the only player in the majors with a game-tying or go-ahead homer in the ninth inning or later in each of last five seasons.
Kenta Maeda. The 28-year-old Dodgers rookie became the first pitcher ever to allow just one earned run in his first four career starts after holding the Rockies scoreless in six and a third Saturday. He's 3-0 with a 0.36 ERA. That's winning.
This image released by HBO shows a scene from "Game of Thrones." The series was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best television drama on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. The 73rd Annual Golden Globes will be held on Jan. 10, 2016. (HBO via AP) Weekend losers
Johnny Manziel. we may simply call this category on Mondays "Weekend Manziels." According to this report, Manziel has been indicted on misdemeanor assault chargers against his ex-girlfriend.
Tough weekend for some NBA journalists. First, Chris Broussard was pantsed by Dallas coach Rick Carlisle during the awfulness that is the mid-game interview. He also drew some fire for lifting some photos from another journalist on social media. Then there is the unnamed reporter who Draymond Green rightly rebuked in a postgame interview Sunday. Hey, if athletes and coaches are going to get heat for what they say in interviews - and they do - then reporters should get the same type of backlash when they ask awful questions, too.
Braves. Yes, we are committed to be optimistic, but a weekend sweep to the Mets? Gross. We're still optimistic - did you see the Braves rocked 12 hits Sunday. (Yes, they were all singles and yes, they drew zero walks, which is how you get 12 hits in nine innings and score all of two runs.) But don't let the details get in the way of the optimism. Twelve hits. (Cue Clark Griswald, "50 feet")
Steph Curry's knee. Here's hoping it's not an ACL, which would be tragic, considering it would alter what could be history. We'll know more today, but at the very least, it's hard to see the soon-to-be MVP not on the shelf for at least a while.
Anyone not watching Game of Thrones. Seriously, last night was awesome.
FILE - In this Thursday, April 30, 2015 file photo, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2015 NFL Football Draft in Chicago. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday night, May 14, 2015 he will personally hear the suspension appeal of Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, who challenged the league's punishment for his role in using deflated footballs during the AFC championship game .(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) Draft
This year, to make the draft even more special, Press Row will be broadcasting live from 3-6 p.m. next Thursday from Beef O'Brady's in Ooltewah. That's right, get your pre-draft Co-Cola with Press Row blaring in the background.
We'll go ahead and throw out the rules to the Feeling the Draft (with a draught) Draft Contest.
* Who will be Titans' first pick?
* Who will be the Falcons' first pick?
* How many SEC players go in round 1?
* How many quarterbacks are drafted in round 1?
* Who is the 31st pick of round 1, currently owned by Denver?
We will have a draft chunk each day this week. Of course we will, we love the draft.
Here's a great piece compiled by ESPN's roster of NFL reporters looking at each of the best draft classes for each franchise. Great stuff.
Here are our top three all-time draft classes:
1974 Steelers draft. Pittsburgh added Lynn Swann, John Stalworth, Mike Webster and Jack Lambert in the first five rounds. Yes, that's four Hall of Famers. In one draft.
1964 Dallas draft. Staubach - in round 10 mind you - as well as Hall of Famers Bob Hayes and Mel Renfro.
1983 Chicago draft. Landed eight starters, and edges the Bears draft that landed Butkus and Sayers in the same haul. (That's two world-class icons in one draft, right there.)
Thoughts?
Alabama players celebrate after the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. Alabama won 45-40. (David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic via AP) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT This and that
- Here's an interesting look at some of the early Vegas lines on which teams are the favorites to win the college football playoff next fall. Of note: Your top six are Alabama at 11-to-2, Clemson and THE Ohio State at 6-to-1; Oklahoma at 17-to-2; Michigan 10-to-1; LSU 12-to-1. Tennessee is next, among a group of teams listed at 15-to-1.
- Surprised this didn't get more play than it did, but here's a story from Friday on Knoxville police changing their policy about informing UT coaches about players' arrests. Side question: While they say they are stopping the policy to all UT coaches - which seems like a no-brainer and a awful idea from the start - how many times did a coach not running the football program get a call when an athlete was arrested. The only way we know about this 'policy' is because of Butch Jones' phone records after the rape allegations against A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams.
- We are committed to not overplaying any parts of any spring game for the reasons we previously mentioned. With that in mind, we believe the following things about the UTC football program now that the 7-7 spring square-off is in the books. Defensively, Mocs can be excellent. Offensively, there is a ceiling, but it is answered, the question about replacing Jacob Huesman's play-making skill set (in meaningful moments, especially) will linger.
- Yes, there was a bunch more NBA - and the Hawks-Celtics series is getting interesting - but the divide between the top and bottom is so wide in each conference, it's tough to get too worked up about it, you know?
This photo provided by Paramount Pictures shows Marlon Brando, right, as Don Corleone, in a scene from the 1972 movie, "The Godfather." A New York City house featured in "The Godfather" is on the market for just under $3 million. The Staten Island Advance reports that the house's exterior was used in the 1972 mob classic.Today's question
Weekend winners and losers? Go.
Draft topics and/or questions? Go.
If you need a Rushmore, Al Pacino turns 76 today. Talia Shire turns 70. That's two of Vito Corleone's kids.
Rushmore of Godfather I quotes? Whatcha' got?