Gutted Hogs?
Wow, we have forever subscribed to the theory Bill Simmons put the final touches on the level of losing almost two decades ago.
(Side note: Simmons is a self-made multi-millionaire who was the first sports interweb pioneer, and know this: Back in the day, few folks wrote with more humor and the connection to pop culture than Simmons. In truth there are a whole lot of folks who have been influenced by his style, and this daily conversation certainly falls into that category. Simmons made a lot of enemies along the way - he also was one of the most important players in the birth of the 30-for-30s - but dude changed the game.)
Anyhoo, where were we?
Oh yes, the levels of losing.
And depending on what happens tonight in Game 3 of the College World Series, Game 2 may rank right there with some of the worst losses in modern sports history.
Let's review: Arkansas up one game to none has a 3-2 lead in Game with its shut-down closer on the mound in the ninth. Runner on third, two outs and Oregon State down to its final strike. Foul pop down the first-base line as the first baseman, the second baseman and the right fielder converge. Ball drops between all three of them as the second baseman overruns the pop. Two pitches later, line drive base hit to tie it. Next batter homers to right. Game, Oregon State 5-3.
Now the reality sets in and you wonder how the Hogs will react to being a routine play away from winning it all.
If Oregon State wins tonight, Wednesday will forever rank very high on Simmons' list.
And be a painful memory for Arkansas fans for a long, long time.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, right, shoots as Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) defends in the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Oklahoma City, Sunday, April 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)Domino No. 1
Paul George has opted out with Oklahoma City.
He is an unrestricted free agent.
Yes, he could return. Yes, he could want to resign with the Thunder with the understanding that he will be dealt. (That sign-and-trade scenario would also George to get a max contract.)
But George also has for more than a year told folks he was headed to L.A. this offseason.
So is this the beginning of the "Go West Young Men" movement that could transform the Lakers from stinkers to star-studded.
LeBron will almost assuredly opt out before Friday too, and that will only elevate even more speculation.
Then there is 5dimes.com, the online betting site that now lists Kawhi Leonard playing his first game with the Lakers next season at plus-450. (That means if you bet $100, you get $450.) Leonard playing his first game with any team other than the Lakers is minus-750. (Bet $750 to win $100.)
But in truth, if it's Lakers vs. the field - especially for a player who is currently on another team - makes the Lakers the favorite in the oddsmakers' view.
Is it here? Is it all happening? Who knows, but the next few days could get crazy.
And let's offer this potential situation:
James made more money in endorsements ($52 million) from June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018 than any other athlete not named Roger Federer. He also has a ton to gain financially long-term in the entertainment industry by moving to L.A. What would happen if James agreed to take the veteran minimum next year and signed with the Lakers?
That number would be a little more than $2.3 million for next year and it would still mean James earned at least $50 million next year considering all his endorsements.
And if James taking that big of a haircut allowed the Lakers to completely restock, think of how much L.A. would love him for that. So there's that.
FILE - This is a Feb. 28, 2017, file photo showing Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida State, in Durham, N.C. Krzyzewski has undergone knee replacement surgery. Team spokesman Cory Walton says the procedure on his right knee was performed Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 by Dr. Michael Bolognesi at the university's hospital. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) Bad blood for blue bloods?
Coach K made a momma of a five-star mad for recruiting another five-star at her baby's position.
It's certainly not the first nor the last time Coach K has done or will do that. But Wendell Carter's mother was no-less-pleased about it either way.
In truth, there's no way to know what the Carter's were told during the song-and-dance that is college sports recruiting.
Here's betting they a) had a beef with feeling like they were lied to, and b) naive if they did not go into the process expecting to be lied to.
So this one feels a little run of the mill.
As for the other, well, John Clay - the Weeds of the Lexington Herald-Leader - pinned a column last weekend wondering if John Calipari should have more than one NCAA title considering the stars he has brought to Kentucky and put into the NBA. l
It's a fair question, too, and measuring Coach Cal's success with UK is a tricky proposition.
He took over a UK program that was struggling and in a place unfamiliar for one of the sports most-storied and accomplished programs.
In some ways, he arrived and has mirrored a lot of the things Nick Saban did in a similar position at Alabama, which has a comparable history in football as UK does in college hoops.
Each has dominated annually on the recruiting trail. Each has developed talent and got it ready for the next level. Each has been a year-in, year-out preseason pick to win it all.
But Saban has five national titles since joining the Tide in 2007. Calipari has one in his nine years at Kentucky, and in his last six years - despite having more NBA picks than any team in the country in that time frame - has as many NIT first-round losses as he does Final Four trips.
Does that mean Cal's going to get fired? No, but the pressure - and his Cats will certainly be preseason No. 1 heading into the 2018-19 season - could be mounting for sure.
This and that
- Germany was bounced in the group stage. Some folks think that's a big deal apparently.
- How about that Frank Calends, huh? Gang, we had arguably the world's best impersonator on Press Row on Wednesday and it was awesome in its awesomeness. The link is in the pod center here.
- Adam Silver got an extension through 2023-24 and what we have to assume as a hefty raise. We know Stewwie is not a fan, and we think Silver's best gift is his amazing timing - the league was ascending when he took over for David Stern. And the LeBatard Show says Silver looks like an alien Here's the stat that matters for Silver's bosses (aka the NBA owners): The total value of all the NBA franchises since Silver took has gone from $12 billion to $60 billion.
- Alex Bregman hit a walk-off homer last night as the Houston Juggernauts continued to run roughshod over everyone in their way. Side note: Earlier this week, Bregman tried to reverse a slump by shaving off his nut-duster in between at-bats. In that game his smooth upper-lip finished bagel-for-3. Since, the 'state-less Bregman is 9-of-14 with that walk-off. Hmmmmmmm.
- Here's a video tour of the new Alabama football facility. Wowser. And of course, Jay Bilas retweeted it with the caption, "There's not enough money" as in a sarcastic jab at the claim there is not enough coin to pay the players.
Today's question
We have a few so let's get to it.
Will start with the above hypothetical. So should LeBron consider leaving roughly $30 million on the table - for now - and help the Lakers form a star squad, and who would be more upset about that, the players' union or the other 29 owners?
On this day Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated in 1914. It was the start of World War I. Five years later the Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI was signed.
Happy birthday to Elon Musk. Not sure I trust that cat. He is 47.
Mel Brooks is 92, and he's a national treasure.
John Elway is 57.
Also, Kathy Bates is 70 today. If we start with her scene in "Misery" in which she puts the blocks between James Caan's ankles and swings the sledgehammer, what else makes the Rushmore of movie scenes that make you cringe because you know how bad that would hurt?