Weekend winners
Duh, LeBron. With everything on the line in a Game 7 vs. the Pacers, LeBron James was everything anyone would have expected. He made 64 percent of his shot and became the first player in NBA history to have 45 or more points in a Game 7 twice. Wonder all you want about the Cavs’ chances to get back to the Finals since they needed seven to dismiss the Pacers. (Counterpoint here is that the Pacers match-up pretty well with Cleveland, going 3-1 vs. the LeBrons. In the next round, Cleveland was 2-1 vs. Toronto in the regular season.)
The Western Conference Finals. We are set for a thrilling Warriors-Rockets Western Conference Finals/de facto NBA Championship. Side note: As good as the basketball has been this postseason, the best decision may be Golden State electing to rest Steph Curry until the Warriors see the Rockets.
Baseball’s young guns. We said from the beginning we were on the Shohei Ohtani bandwagon. Well, young Mister Ronald Acuna is just as fun to watch at the plate. After crushing spring training and enduring the business move of three weeks in Gwinnett County, Acuna is right back to where he was in Florida. Yes, five games is a very small sample size, but here’s something of import: Dude has eight hits in 19 at-bats (.412) and five of those eight hits are for extra bases. And while every Johnny Braves Fan everywhere has reason to worry about the top of the rotation, the top of the rotation with Ozzie Albies (.293), Acuna, and Freddie Freeman (.314), the top of the order appears to be rock solid.
Nick Kingham. Here’s another one, and whether he’s a flash or the future, the Pirates rookie right-hander retired the first 20 batters he faced in his big-league debut, and no more what that’s a forever moment. Dude used three plus pitches and 95-mph No. 1 with movement. And he did it in those awesome old-school 1970s Pirates unis.
Super Hero movies. Man, unless you are a Star Wars vehicle or have a Captain Someone or a Super That Guy, movie receipts, good or bad, are a coin flip. Well, the latest Avengers movie proves the first part of that formula is rock solid. “Avengers: Infinity War” has remade a record $250 million nationally and topped more than $630 million worldwide, without the China numbers yet. Both are records.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Boston Celtics’ Semi Ojeleye during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)Weekend losers
Everyone who had the Lebron’s minus-5.5 on Sunday. Yes, if we were forced to make a pick, with all that was on the line for James and the Cavs – and being at home in a Game 7, as well as how much the NBA needs LeBron in the Eastern Conference playoffs – we would have taken the Cavs and laid the points. And with time winding down and the game out of reach, there was a pretty good vibe with that pick. Then Victor Oladipo hits an anything-but-meaningless 3 to make the final score 105-101. Wow. That’s a bad beat.
Michelle Wolf. Yes, the White House Correspondents Dinner is supposed to be a pretty salty affair and a roast of the POTUS. But the skewering of the White House Spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders was out of line and petty. (And if you wondering how bad she stepped in it, well, know that her biggest ally is crackpot Kathy Griffin, who may have an ax to grind against the Trump Administration, considering that she ended her own career by her offensive actions and remarks. Here are Griffin’s remarks: “So journalists are willing to demand that a comic hired to roast people apologize but they aren’t willing to demand that Trump or his staff apologize to people?” Griffin tweeted. “Is that where we’re at now? Can someone explain the difference to me?” So yes, she’s alleging that the mainstream media has been light on Trump and his staff. Riiighhhtttttttt.)
Undrafted players who declared early. There are quite a few in that category, including Auburn pass rusher Jeff Holland and Georgia defensive tackle Trenton Thompson. (Here’s a intriguing look at Thompson’s predicament, as TFP SEC ace David Paschall shares, in which he became the first 247sports.com No. 1 overall recruit that did not get drafted.) For those interested, here’s a landing spot that will have the updates of all the undrafted players and where they signed.
Ty Lue. The Cavs de facto coach – and maybe in name only – should be answering questions about why it took until Game 7 to get Tristan Thompson involved. Seriously. Thompson played 24 total minutes before Sunday, then he was inserted into the starting role and dropped 15 points and 10 rebounds to help extend the season (and LeBron’s time in Cleveland). Thompson also had a monster block in the final 100 seconds that led to one of the best left-hanging-then-recovered moments in fan history. Enjoy.
Milwaukee Bucks fans. We know what you’re thinking? “Huh, the Bucks are young and in the playoffs and they have a legit A-list superstar Fat Face.” Well, those young Bucks got bounced by a Celtics team that was without its top two players. The Pacers gave the East favorites a true test. The Raptors had the best record. The 76ers are younger than the Bucks and likely better. Seems that Milwaukee has entered the Atlanta Hawks phase of, “Hey, we’re the 4-5-6 seed and we have a shot to maybe get out of round 1 if the match-up is right. WooHoo.” And oh yeah, there is zero chance than Giannis Antetokounmpo is signing long term there. Zero.
In this Jan. 1, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates after running back Rodney Anderson scored a touchdown against Georgia during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Pasadena, Calif. Mayfield is expected to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)Draft recap
Saturday was too pretty to spend too much time watching the draft.
Even for those of us who love the draft. You know this.
That said, we’ll select a few things that jumped off the screen for us
Browns first round vs. Jets Sam Darnold and Denver’s Bradley Chubb. Yes, the second day and the final rounds of the draft happened over the weekend. But the lasting theme and the measuring stick of this draft will be did the Browns succeed or fail by reaching for Baker Mayfield and addressing need with cover corner Denzel Ward over Darnold and Chubb, each of who were more highly regarded. (Side note: if you are a Jets fan, you have to be pretty tickled at the prospect of Darnold joining an ever-growing list of QBs the Browns could have had.)
SEC players everywhere. Yes, there were 53 SEC players and there were more than a few from Alabama. Those folks saying the SEC is taking a step back, well.. for the 12th consecutive year, college football’s best conference had the most NFL picks. (Also of note: Nick Saban no has more first-round picks than losses in his time at Alabama. Let that marinate. And we’ll go one more: When Shaun Dion Hamilton was picked Saturday, every Alabama defensive starter from the 2016 runner-up team was drafted. And DeShaun Watson beat that team and the Browns passed on Watson.)
Seattle unraveling before our eyes. Three years ago the Seahawks had the most talented roster in the league and were on the verge of dynasty status. Then they had to pay quarterback Russell Wilson. Then they had to cut defensive stalwarts Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett among others. Beast Mode left and was not replaced. They dealt the guts of their offensive line for Jimmy Graham, who also has left. They dealt their 2018 second-rounder for Sheldon Richardson, who left after one year. They drafted a running back (Rashaad Perry) in round one they could have had in round three. Yes taking Shaquem Griffin was a great story. But the Seahawks also drafted a punter.
Three Saturday star picks:
Kyle Lauletta. The former Richmond Spider had more than 10,000 passing yards and 70 TDs and had been thought to be a second-day pick. He fell into round four and the New York Giants grabbed him. Talk about value? If Lauletta turns into a bona fide prospect, the Giants got their running back and their QB of the future in the same draft. The Giants did well in this draft.
Mr. Irrelevant. This year it was Trey Quinn, the former big-time recruit who signed with LSU and transferred because a) LSU has more talented WRs than any team this side of the Falcons, and b) LSU has fewer passing-skilled quarterbacks than any team this side of Oklahoma circa 1982. Last year, he led the nation in receptions at SMU, and here’s betting that he not only makes the Redskins roster, he finds ways to contribute.
The Colts traded down and addressed a lot of issues on the offensive and defensive lines. But the very interesting Saturday pick of North Carolina State speedster Nyheim Hines could be a long-term, explosive replacement for Frank Gore. Very interesting play, and the Colts are one of those team who did not draft a lot of players people are going to go, “Wow” but the team got better.
Bonus pick: Was there any doubt that Braxton Berrios, the pigment-challenged former Miami wide receiver was going to New England? Nope. No doubt whatsoever.
Three teams that got better:
Denver. Yes, the Broncos got fortunate that Bradley Chubb was still on the board. But good fortune is part of the draft. (Let’s not act like the Patriots getting the best draft pick ever – Tom Brady at 199 – was about the scouting. That was good fortune that became the face of an all-time franchise run.) But getting skilled-set players in Cortland Sutton and Royce Freeman were great examples of talent meeting need.
Jacksonville’s defense. Wow. A group that was physically better than everyone else last year and will only get better with experience, added two more truly game-changing defensive athletes. Defensive tackle Taven Bryan has Pro Bowl talent and former Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison is a dude. Add in supremely athletic wide out D.J. Chark and if the Jags had even a serviceable quarterback, they would be the favorites in the AFC. Seriously.
Baltimore. As we said last Friday, we loved the move of getting back into round one and taking Lamar Jackson. Loved it. Also thought there ws great value for Orlando Brown, who fell into round three after showing up fat at the Combine. His 40 time was like 12.06 or something, but how many times are the Ravens going to ask him to carry the ball? Now add in two of the top three or four tight end prospects in Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews and there’s a real chance that former Alabama All-American Ozzie Newsome in his last draft landed two future starters in former Tide stars Anthony Averett and Bradley Bozeman.
Three teams that made head-scratching moves:
The Packers drafted a punter and a long-snapper. Here’s betting that puzzled Aaron Rodgers, don’t cha think?
The Browns. Yep, they are the Browns and they were loaded with draft picks everywhere. The grades are amazingly mixed for Cleveland after the draft, and that’s understandable, because of the swing potential. In four years, this will be either an automatic A-plus or an undeniable F-minus. But with five picks in the first 67, the Browns added a short quarterback with off-the-field questions, a small corner, a guard from Nevada, an SEC running back with a lot of miles on his tires and an erratic defensive end from Miami. The reverse of that is they also drafted the most productive and accurate quarterback in the draft, the best cover defensive back from a school with a lofty reputation of producing great DBs, an instant offensive line starter, a running back with his name right there among guys like Bo, Herschel and Emmitt among the best ever in the SEC and a defensive end who created havoc in opposing backfield. And those descriptions are for the same players. Yep, A-plus or F-minus, right. (And that does not even get to Antonio Calloway, the Florida receiver who had a ton of run-ins with the law. He has first-round skills and Alcatraz character. He also has the swing of A-plus or F-minus: If he follows Jarvis Landry’s lead he could be a Pro Bowler; if he leans toward Josh Gordon, well, hide the women and children.)
The Titans. We are not going to give them a super low grade because we love Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry has upside as an edge rusher – and who could deny the Brady-esque whispers of record-setting quarterback Luke Falk who was picked 199 – but the Titans only had four picks because of a lot of moves and deals.
This and that
– If you don’t like the draft OK. We can respectfully disagree. If you do not like the Shaq Griffin story – the one-handed UCF linebacker – getting drafted by the Seahawks and getting to play with his twin brother, who turned down power program scholarships to play at UCF with his brother in college, well, then we will respectfully ask you to check your pulse to make sure your heart still works.
– LeBron and the Cleveland LeBrons are plus-180 against Toronto, meaning that this the first time the LeBrons are an underdog in the Eastern Conference playoffs in a decade.
– Here’s an example of speaking out of both sides of your program. Jim Harbaugh, who announced Friday that Michigan quarterback Shae Patterson will be eligible next fall, said on Saturday that he’s worried about transfers becoming free agency in football. Hmmmmmmm.
– Speaking of undrafted players, former East Hamilton and Vandy corner Tre Herndon signed with Jacksonville. Former Baylor School standout Colton Jumper signed with New Orleans.
– Speaking of signing undrafted players, how about the former Auburn connections that did not get picked and inked with the Minnesota Vikings? Tray Matthews and Kamryn Pettway signed as did former five-star signee Roc Thomas, who transferred to Jax State.
Today’s questions
Weekend winners and losers. Please add your choices.
As for April 30, well, it’s hard to believe that May is almost here, right?
And hey, how about that sun thing we saw a lot of this weekend? That was fun.
On this day, ol’ George Washington was inaugurated as the first POTUS in 1789.
Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” was first published in a literal periodical in 1859. Installments ran weekly through Nov. 26.
Isiah Thomas and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). Hitler died on this day in 1945.
The World Wide Web code is released and made available to everyone on this day 25 years ago.
Wow. That’s a devastating overhaul of society as we know it in a quarter of a century.
Rushmore of the biggest changes brought by the interweb.
Go.