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08/16/2021

Lots of Ball Bits

Add-On…Tues. p.m.

MLB

--Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a successful return from a bout with Covid-19, his first start since July 29.  Cole allowed one run in 5 2/3, striking out nine while improving to 11-6, as the Yanks beat the Angels at the Stadium 2-1, Monday, in a makeup game.

Joey Gallo supplied the offense with a two-run shot in the first inning, his third in three games.

The Yankees are 43-23 in games decided by two runs or fewer – the best record in MLB.

Today, Tuesday, the Red Sox came to town for a day/night doubleheader, the Yanks winning the first 5-3 (44-23) as reliever Jonathan Loaisiga had a sweet 2-inning save, including bases loaded, no outs in the top of the seventh.

And in the nightcap, New York rookie Luis Gil, in his third major league start, went 4 2/3 scoreless, running his streak to 15 2/3 without allowing a run to start his career. 

As Ronald Reagan would have told Nancy while reading the Wednesday morning sports pages, Nancy slow in making breakfast because Frank and Barbara Sinatra treated the couple to a late-night dinner at their Palm Springs home (Nancy long smitten with Frank), ‘Not bad, not bad at all.’

So the Yanks, courtesy of solo shots from Stanton and Voit, won it, 2-0.

And now, look at the wild card standings!

Oakland 68-51…+0.5…but about to fall to 68-52
New York 68-52 (.567)… --
Boston 69-53 (.566)… --

--The Mets traveled from New York to San Francisco – very late Sunday night after getting blasted by the Dodgers 14-4, L.A. completing the sweep of the Metsies – for the start of a 3-game series with the first-place Giants, as the brutal 13-game stretch with both the Giants and Dodgers continues.

And the Giants took the opener, 7-5, the Mets’ fourth straight loss, 11 in 15, and they are suddenly 3 ½ game behind the Braves.  Plus the loss dropped New York to 59-59.

Us fans are very depressed.  Not one player is playing to the back of their baseball card, save for, perhaps, J.D. Davis, who has hardly played this year due to injury.  The likes of Michael Conforto, Dom Smith and Jeff McNeil in particular have been abysmal, and before he went out with an oblique injury, Francisco Lindor was obviously a 2021 bust.

--Fernando Tatis Jr. had quite a return to the lineup Sunday, after sitting out two weeks with a separated shoulder…4-for-5, two home runs, in an 8-2 win over the D’Backs in Phoenix. 

But after going 1-for-4 in a loss in Colorado Monday, he’s still just played in 89 of 121 games and San Diego needs him to stay in the lineup.  With 33 home runs in the 89, that translates to 50+ in a 150-game season.

That said, with the 33 homers, 23 stolen bases, 82 runs in 89 games, and a 1.050 OPS, he’s the favorite to win the NL MVP award.

Tatis also could become the first player to lead the league in homers and stolen bases since 1932, when Chuck Klein of the Phillies hit 38 homers and stole 20 bases.

Another reason why the Padres need Tatis to stay healthy…as they enter play Tuesday, they are only 1 ½ games in front of the Reds for the second wild-card slot.

College Football

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Alabama (47 first-place votes)
2. Oklahoma (6)
3. Clemson (6)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. Georgia (3)
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa State
8. Cincinnati
9. Notre Dame
10. North Carolina
19. Penn State
22. Coastal Carolina
23. Louisiana (Lafayette)

Alabama is preseason No. 1 for the fourth time in six seasons.

Overall, this is ‘Bama’s eighth No. 1 preseason ranking (the AP having started the preseason poll in 1950), tied for second most with Ohio State.  Oklahoma has the most with 10.

Only two teams have gone wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country during a season.  Southern California in 2004, and Florida State in 1999.

No. 8 Cincinnati is the first team from outside the Power 5 to be ranked in the preseason top 10 since Louisville started ninth in 2012, the Cardinals final season as a member of the AAC before joining the ACC.

Wake Forest didn’t receive a single vote in either the AP or Coaches preseason polls, but we’re going to shock the world!  Really…we are…

The season kicks off Aug. 28, with Saturday, Sept. 4 the first day with a full slate of games.

NFL

--The Las Vegas Raiders are the first NFL team to announce they will require fans at home games at Allegiant Stadium to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

The team’s vaccination/no-mask policy will take effect for the team’s Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Ravens on “Monday Night Football.”

Saturday’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks was the first time the Raiders played in front of a home crowd at Allegiant Stadium since relocating to Las Vegas from Oakland following the 2019 season.

50,100 fans attended, with a mask mandate in place, at the 65,000-seat stadium.

--So much for that experiment…Tim Tebow was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars after attempting to make the team as a tight end.

Tebow posted on Twitter shortly after that he thanked the Jaguars for giving him a chance.  “Thankful for the highs and even the lows, the opportunities, and the setbacks,” Tebow wrote. “I’ve never wanted to make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m grateful for the chance to have pursued a dream.

“Thank you to the Jaguars organization and everyone who has supported me in this journey. And we know that…God works all things together for good.  Romans 8:28.*

* “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” [Just had to look this up.]

They say Tebow looked fine in spring camp, after signing a one-year deal with the Jags on May 20, and he was fine early on in training camp, but it became obvious he couldn’t block.

“We knew that was an uphill battle for Tim,” head coach Urban Meyer said.  “Players loved him, locker room loved him, but it was the right thing.”

Meyer also noted that Tebow was unable to contribute on special teams because he couldn’t tackle (not being used to doing so).  “We expect to be very good in special teams.  Tight end position is one of those, and tailback – if he can’t contribute on special teams that’s a tough go.”

Well, you know how I feel about Tim Tebow. Wish there were a lot more in this country like him.

--We note the passing of former Jets coach Joe Walton, 85.

Walton led the Jets from 1983-89, compiling a record of 53-57-1 and taking the team to the playoffs twice.  He is second in all-time coaching wins in franchise history.  Walton became the head coach after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator for two years under Walt Michaels.

The Jets had a high-powered offense in the Walton years, with quarterback Ken O’Brien throwing to wide receivers Wesley Walker and Al Toon, in addition to having running back Freeman McNeil and tight end Mickey Shuler.  That group helped the Jets go 11-5 in 1985 and 10-6 in 1986, making the playoffs those two seasons.

The Jets faded after that and Walton became unpopular with the fan base, which led to “Joe Must Go” chants at Giants Stadium late in his tenure.  He was fired after a 4-12 season in 1989.

Walton, who was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., returned to his home area as the offensive coordinator of the Steelers in 1990-91 before starting up a football program at Robert Morris, where he served as head coach from 1994-2013, accumulating a solid 115-92-1 record.  He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013 and the football stadium there was named after him.

Walton was an All-American at Pitt in 1955 and 1956 as a split end before playing in the NFL from 1957-64.  For the Redskins and then the Giants, he had 178 receptions for his career and 28 touchdowns.

Former Jets lineman Marty Lyons, who played under Walton, said he should have been a college coach his entire career.  “Look at what he did at Robert Morris, he built a football program and stayed there for 20 years, influenced so many young men to go on and probably be successful in life that they named the stadium after him,” Lyons said.  “That’s where he should have been.  He was a man of high character.  Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for him as a head coach. You look back now and say it wasn’t the head coach.  It was all of us.  None of us played well.”

Stuff

--Roger Federer, in dropping out of the upcoming U.S. Open due to another knee surgery, struck a less hopeful note in his announcement that he was taking more time off.  Federer brought up concerns about being healthy and mobile beyond his playing days.  He wants to feel confident enough in his knee to go about his everyday life, not just to compete. But for now, he added, he was committing to a full rehabilitation after the surgery.

“I want to give myself a glimmer of hope also to return to the tour in some shape or form,” Federer said.  “I am realistic – don’t get me wrong – I know how difficult it is at this age to do another surgery and try it.”

So, if he comes back, it would be at the Australian Open, but this seems unlikely.

--Another big max contract in the NBA…Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid signed a four-year, $196 million supermax extension, which keeps him under contract with the Sixers through the 2026-27 season.

The deal is fully guaranteed and includes a player option for the final year.

So no sleepless nights, tossing and turning, for Mr. Embiid…at least on the money front.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

---

[Posted early Sun. p.m., prior to Mets-Dodgers.  I will have an Add-On up top by noon, Wed.]

NFL Quiz: Got rid of some basics before season starts.  Name the only six to rush for 14,000 yards in their career.  Answer below.

MLB

--The Mets had appeared to right the ship after sweeping three from the Washington Nationals during the week, but then the Dodgers came into Citi Field and took the first two in virtually identical fashion, 6-5 and 2-1, both in 10 innings.

Last night was particularly brutal for Mets fans because the struggling Taijuan Walker had no-hit L.A. for 6 1/3.

So tonight is critical, as the Mets then embark on a West Coast trip for three against the Giants and four in Los Angeles, before returning home for three more with the Giants.

Yup, that’s the season.  Somehow, including tonight, they need to go 5-6, at worst.

Of course it doesn’t help that All-World starter Jacob deGrom is close to being shelved for the season, told to rest another two weeks before throwing again by noted surgeon Dr. Near El Attrache, after he examined deGrom in Los Angeles on Thursday.  DeGrom’s elbow inflammation has improved but not enough for Jake to begin a throwing program.  Numerous MRIs have not revealed any ligament damage.

But bottom line, he’s not available until mid-September, at the earliest. 

DeGrom has a 1.08 ERA over 15 starts, but last pitched July 7.

As for the Dodgers’ attempt to chase down the Giants, they entered play today four games back of San Francisco and only face them three more times the rest of the way, in San Francisco.

So L.A.’s attempt at nine consecutive division championships is in full sprint.

At least in one-run ballgames, in which they came into the series with the Mets with an abysmal 13-21 mark, they’ve taken two in a row.  And they also improved their record in extra-inning affairs from a startling 1-12 to 3-12.

--Back to the Mets and the NL East race, the Braves beat the Nationals 6-5 this afternoon, while the Phillies lost to the Reds 7-4, so the standings prior to tonight’s Mets-Dodgers’ affair….

Braves 62-56
Phillies 61-57…1
Mets 59-57…2

--In a shocker, Arizona’s Tyler Gilbert became just the fourth pitcher – and first in 68 years – to throw a no-hitter in his initial big league start, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-0 win over the Padres.  It was also a record-tying eighth no-hitter in the majors this season.

The last to accomplish the feat in his first start was Johnny Mac’s favorite, Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns on May 6, 1953.  The other two were Bumpus Jones with the Reds on Oct. 15, 1892, and Theodore Breitenstein, who threw one in his first start for the Browns on Oct. 4, 1891.

The eight no-hitters match the mark set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was allowed.

What many of us find stunning about Gilbert’s performance was he had thrown just 3 2/3 innings in three relief appearances, prior to this start where he threw 102 pitches, walked three, five strikeouts.

Gilbert also didn’t play baseball in 2020 after the minor league season was wiped out by the pandemic.  He spent the summer learning how to be an electrician from his dad.

“I’d rather be doing this than pulling wires,” Gilbert said last night.  “No offense, Dad.”

[Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie had a one-hitter for eight innings of work today, as the Indians whipped the Tigers 11-0…so almost number nine.]

--After a nice 10 of 12 run, the Yankees were 3-3 over their last six heading into today’s series finale in Chicago, and with closer Aroldis Chapman on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation, New York turned to Zack Britton and he’s been awful, including giving up the walk-off homer to Tim Anderson in the “Field of Dreams” game (discussed further below).

--Boston got a big boost Saturday with the return of Chris Sale, who completed his return from Tommy John surgery by pitching five innings, giving up two runs, striking out eight and walking none, picking up the ‘W’ as the Red Sox slammed the Orioles 16-2.

Sale had last pitched on Aug. 13, 2019.  Wow, think about that.  Boy, the world changed in the interim, and sure as hell continues to change overseas today, if you catch my drift.

--Shohei Ohtani’s magical season continued, as he slugged his major league-leading 39th home run Saturday in an 8-2 loss to the Astros.  He has 86 RBIs, 69 extra-base hits, 17 steals, and a 1.017 OPS.

Thursday, Ohtani threw six innings of two-run ball in a 6-3 Angels win over the Blue Jays, as he improved on the mound to 7-1, 2.93 ERA.

We’ve run out of superlatives to describe his magical season.  It’s just too bad the Angels didn’t have Mike Trout around, basically all but 40 games, or they might have made some noise in the wild-card race.  Trout is still dealing with a calf strain that has kept him out three months.

--What a spectacular job Major League Baseball did on Thursday night with the “Field of Dreams” game between the White Sox and the Yankees in Dyersville, Iowa, the first major league game to take place in the state.

From beginning to end, including a fairy tale finish on the ball field, the production was a total home run for the sport, and picked up the largest audience to watch a regular season MLB game in 16 years, with 5.9 million viewers across FOX and FOX Deportes.  It was also the most streamed regular season baseball game in FOX history.

The game itself was exciting, the White Sox pulling it out in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run homer by Tim Anderson for the 9-8 walk-off win, after the Yankees had gone in front with four in the top of the ninth on home runs by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Finally, great job by Kevin Costner all around.

--Since my last ‘Add-on,’ I have to note the performance of Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes, who became only the third pitcher in major-league history – yet the second this season – to strike out 10 batters in a row, as part of a 10-0 win over the Cubs Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.

Burnes threw eight innings of four-hit ball, striking out 15 in all, no walks, as he improved to 7-4, 2.23.  74 of his 99 pitches were for strikes.

In 121 innings, Burnes has 172 strikeouts and only 22 walks.

The other two with 10 Ks in a row are Tom Seaver, April 22, 1970 and Aaron Nola, June 25 of this season.

--It was inevitable, but the Cubs released Jake Arrieta, one day after he gave up seven runs and eight hits in the first inning on the other side of the Burnes game, Wednesday.

Arrieta finished the year 5-11, with a 6.88 ERA, including a 9.00 ERA since May 19.

Arrieta had signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Chicago for 2021.

--The next night in Chicago, as the Brewers blitzed the Cubs 17-4, Milwaukee’s Luis Urias had quite a game, becoming just the 16th in MLB history to have five extra base hits in a contest, 3 doubles, 2 homers.

--I just have to note that on Wednesday, the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, who turns 40 on Aug. 30, threw a 2-hit, complete game shutout as St. Louis beat Pittsburgh 4-0.

Not for nothing, but the guy has had a helluva season, 11-6, 3.27, 148 2/3 innings.

And it’s a reminder of the great career Wainwright has had as well…178-104, 3.37.

--Baltimore slugger Chris Davis, he of the 7-year, $161 million contract after a monster 2015 season (47 home runs, 117 RBIs), announced his retirement Thursday.

Davis, 35, was going to miss the entire 2021 season after surgery in May to repair the labrum in his left hip

Next year would have been the final season of Davis’ contract.

Davis was never really the same after signing the massive deal, batting .168 in 2018 and then going through an 0-for-54 streak in 2019, finishing at .179, and then hitting .115 over 52 at-bats last year, when he was on the injured list twice with knee problems.

But he got his money!  Good for him.

--The Washington Post reported Saturday that Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, under investigation on allegations of sexual assault in California and currently on a leave of absence from Major League Baseball, was the subject of a temporary order of protection by a different woman last year, according to sealed court record reviewed by the Post.

The woman in Ohio sought the order in June 2020 after repeated threats from the then-Cincinnati Reds pitcher.  Photographs independently obtained by the Post show bruises on the woman’s face and blood in her eyes, which her attorney said were caused by Bauer punching and choking her during sex without consent.  The allegations are similar to ones made by the woman in Los Angeles this summer when she applied for a temporary restraining order.

There was also an incident with the Ohio woman in 2017 when Bauer was on the Cleveland Indians.  The Washington Post learned through emails that MLB has been trying to get the 2017 police report but it has been expunged.

It’s safe to say Bauer is facing, at best, a year-long suspension.  At worst, a lifetime ban from the sport.

NFL

--Training camp is pretty meaningless for fans, unless you are getting your first look at a guy who is supposed to be your franchise quarterback.  And you hope there are no major injuries to key players.

So for Jets fans, training camp, and exhibition games, matter because we are getting our first look at the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Zach Wilson, and he performed ably in the Jets’ 12-7 win over the Giants Saturday night.

Wilson had only two series of action, as planned, but was 6-of-9 passing for 63 yards, no interceptions, and, most importantly, he appeared confident and didn’t rush his throws.

Coach Robert Saleh said after: “We have so much confidence in the young man.  You want him to stack up as many good days as possible but there’s still youth. He’s still a rookie.  There’s still a lot of things that he’s going to learn from. There’s still a lot of opportunities for him to grow.”

So it’s a start to what we hope is a very long career.

Golf Balls

--In the last event for golfers to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., Russell Henley held a 3-shot lead heading into the final round and we ended up with a 6-man playoff!  And Henley wasn’t among them as he shot a one-over 71 to finish at -14, while the six – Si Woo Kim (he of the 13 on the par-3 last week), Roger Sloan, Kevin Na, Adam Scott, Branden Grace and Kevin Kisner – all shot 64-66.

Scott at No. 121 on the FedEx Cup points list coming in, and Sloan, No. 131, were clearly on the bubble and got the job done.

But Justin Rose, No. 138 entering the event, had it to -15 late in his round and was handily inside the 125 cut line, only to bogey 14 and 18, finishing -13, T10, and he ended up No. 126!  Amazing…one putt along the way and he’s in.

On the other hand, Scott Piercy was No. 126 coming in and his T15 was just enough to move up to 116, so his season continues.

Chesson Hadley bagged the 125-slot, moving up from 132 with a clutch T15, thanks to a final round 62!

Well, in the end Kisner won it, No. 4 in his career,

--Rickie Fowler missed the cut by five strokes, and his chances to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs ended.

When asked after his second round how it felt to come up “a little bit short of the goal for the season,” Fowler replied, with a weak smile, “Yeah, I wouldn’t say it was a little bit short, it was a lot of a bit short.”

Fowler played in 24 events this season, missed nine cuts, and recorded just one top-10 finish.

The first event of the new 2021-22 season is Sept. 16-19 in Napa, Calif., and then we have the Ryder Cup, where Rickie will also be on the outside, looking in.

--John Feinstein had some rather trenchant comments on Bryson DeChambeau from his perch at the Washington Post.  In part:

“There’s no doubt that Bryson DeChambeau is a star on the PGA Tour.  At 27, he has already won eight tournaments – including last year’s U.S. Open. Since bulking up his body to look like Popeye (after his spinach), he has been hitting the ball prodigious distances, which fans love to see.  He will play on his second Ryder Cup team at Wisconsin’s Whistling Straits next month, although his debut, in Paris three year ago, was less than sterling: He went 0-3 in the United States’ embarrassing loss to Europe.

“He brings eyeballs to TV sets – especially when he has a driver in his hands.

“He has also become the most polarizing player in the sport.

“His pace of play is appalling most of the time, and the fault always lies somewhere else when things go wrong – the wind, his caddie, the golf gods.  He’s too smart and too talented to be responsible for a bad shot.  Just ask him, if you can – he stopped talking to the print media in Memphis last week.

“He’s also been involved in a silly feud with four-time major champion Brooks Koepka over – who knows what?  The two just keep sniping at one another, and even though Koepka might not be the best-liked guy among fellow players, he’s Arnold Palmer and Davis Love III compared to DeChambeau, who has become a pariah in the locker room and even with the relatively benign golf media….

“Now, though, DeChambeau has gone to a new level – one with potentially dangerous implications.  Just before the Olympics, he tested positive for the coronavirus and had to be replaced on the U.S. team by Patrick Reed. When DeChambeau first spoke to the media after being cleared to play in Memphis last week, he admitted he had not been vaccinated and said he didn’t intend to change that anytime soon.

“It was his excuse that left people shaking their heads.  He claimed he wasn’t getting vaccinated because he was afraid he might be taking a dose away from someone who needed it more. As everyone knows, there is more than enough vaccine to go around, and with the surge of the Delta variant, health officials are begging the unvaccinated to get one of the three vaccines currently available.

“DeChambeau also said the vaccine wasn’t a guarantee against getting the virus, which it’s not.  But the chances of getting it – and getting very sick – go way down if you are vaccinated….

“Those are facts – health-related facts.  They have nothing to do with politics.  DeChambeau claimed that because he’s young and strong he can ‘handle’ having the virus.  That’s fine.  But what about the people he comes in contact with as a public figure?  What about kids too young to be vaccinated?

“And what about his Ryder Cup teammates?  Ryder Cup captains always talk about the importance of the team room, the bonding that is so important to a team’s chances for victory….

“So, with whom does (U.S. captain Steve) Stricker pair DeChambeau?  Chances are good none of his players are going to volunteer.  Jordan Spieth will play with his buddy Justin Thomas; that’s about all we know for sure.

“But the problem now goes beyond the perennial issue of personalities.  Now, who is vaccinated and who is not might become a serious problem.

“So what do Stricker and the PGA of America do? Simple.  If you want to play in the Ryder Cup, caddie in the Ryder Cup, work at the Ryder Cup or attend the Ryder Cup as a spectator, you show up with a vaccination card….

“If people – players included – want to scream that their rights are being violated, let them.  The PGA of America is not the government; it is a private business that has the right to mandate who can and cannot come into a venue it controls….

“(But) the PGA has said nothing on the subject other than a gobbledygook statement about continuing to monitor the situation.  Not helpful.

“Beyond all that, DeChambeau needs to grow up.  He needs to learn the phrase, ‘I’m sorry.’  He needs to sit down privately with Koepka and agree to stop publicly sniping at one another.  He needs to understand that the media’s job is not to promote him but to report on him.

“It isn’t that hard to go from pariah to popular, especially if you are willing to admit you have a problem.  Mickelson and Woods have, in recent years, completely reinvented their locker room images and in Woods’ case his public image.  It can be done.

“The first step is saying, ‘I’ve got a problem.’  DeChambeau isn’t close to that right now.  It’s long past time for him to take step one.”

--According to the National Golf Foundation, rounds played through June are up 23% year-to-date, and running 19% above the 2017-19 average.

Premier League

--The new season got off to a rollicking start on Friday as newbie Brentford celebrated their return to the top tier after a 74-year absence with a memorable 2-0 win over woeful Arsenal; a dreadful loss for the Gunners.

But what a win for Thomas Frank’s side and the hometown fans at Brentford Community Stadium, which holds all of 17,000.  By the way, the team’s nickname is “the Bees.”

Saturday, Manchester United whipped Leeds 5-1, as Bruno Fernandes had a hat-trick and Paul Pogba recorded four assist.

Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 3-0…Christian Pulisic with a tally.

Liverpool shutout Norwich 3-0.

And then today, totally out of nowhere, and playing without star Harry Kane, my Tottenham Spurs, at home before a raucous, packed house, beat champion Manchester City 1-0, in an effort for the ages; Heung-Min Son with a terrific goal at the 55’ mark.

So what a debut for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

NASCAR

I caught a lot of the Cup Series race at Indy today, the first-ever for NASCAR on the road course there, and it was chaotic, to say the least, as the drivers had major troubles late with turn 5, and finally, in the second overtime restart, AJ Allmendinger picked up the biggest win of his career, just his second overall.

It was great action, but if you were watching, I thought for sure they were going to declare the race official after about lap 66 (of 82) due to the conditions in that one turn.

On the other hand, as one of the drivers said after, hey, you know what the deal is with the turn, avoid it.  These are supposed to be the best in their sport, after all.

Stuff

--Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers reached agreement on a four-year, $176.3 million max contract.  Leonard had previously declined his player option for $36 million this coming season to become a free agent.

But Leonard, 30, is expected to miss significant time this season as he makes his way back from surgery on July 13 to repair a partially torn right ACL that kept him out of the Clippers’ final eight playoff games.

Running mate Paul George signed a four-year, $190 million extension last December, so with guard Reggie Jackson having also been re-signed, Los Angeles keeps its core together.

Top 3 songs for the week of 8/16/75: #1 “Jive Talkin’” (Bee Gees…godawful…)  #2 “One Of These Nights” (Eagles)  #3 “Please Mr. Please” (Olivia Newton-John)…and…#4 “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (Elton John)  #5 “Fallin’ In Love” (Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds…good tune…)  #6 “Rhinestone Cowboy” (Glen Campbell)  #7 “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” (War)  #8 “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (James Taylor)  #9 “Midnight Blue” (Melissa Manchester)  #10 “The Rockford Files” (Mike Post…B+ week…)

NFL Quiz Answer: Six with 14,000 yards…

Emmitt Smith 18,355
Walter Payton 16,726
Frank Gore 16,000…might still sign somewhere for yet another season
Barry Sanders 15,269
Adrian Peterson 14,820
Curtis Martin 14,101

I will have a brief Add-On up top by noon, Wed.



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Bar Chat

08/16/2021

Lots of Ball Bits

Add-On…Tues. p.m.

MLB

--Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a successful return from a bout with Covid-19, his first start since July 29.  Cole allowed one run in 5 2/3, striking out nine while improving to 11-6, as the Yanks beat the Angels at the Stadium 2-1, Monday, in a makeup game.

Joey Gallo supplied the offense with a two-run shot in the first inning, his third in three games.

The Yankees are 43-23 in games decided by two runs or fewer – the best record in MLB.

Today, Tuesday, the Red Sox came to town for a day/night doubleheader, the Yanks winning the first 5-3 (44-23) as reliever Jonathan Loaisiga had a sweet 2-inning save, including bases loaded, no outs in the top of the seventh.

And in the nightcap, New York rookie Luis Gil, in his third major league start, went 4 2/3 scoreless, running his streak to 15 2/3 without allowing a run to start his career. 

As Ronald Reagan would have told Nancy while reading the Wednesday morning sports pages, Nancy slow in making breakfast because Frank and Barbara Sinatra treated the couple to a late-night dinner at their Palm Springs home (Nancy long smitten with Frank), ‘Not bad, not bad at all.’

So the Yanks, courtesy of solo shots from Stanton and Voit, won it, 2-0.

And now, look at the wild card standings!

Oakland 68-51…+0.5…but about to fall to 68-52
New York 68-52 (.567)… --
Boston 69-53 (.566)… --

--The Mets traveled from New York to San Francisco – very late Sunday night after getting blasted by the Dodgers 14-4, L.A. completing the sweep of the Metsies – for the start of a 3-game series with the first-place Giants, as the brutal 13-game stretch with both the Giants and Dodgers continues.

And the Giants took the opener, 7-5, the Mets’ fourth straight loss, 11 in 15, and they are suddenly 3 ½ game behind the Braves.  Plus the loss dropped New York to 59-59.

Us fans are very depressed.  Not one player is playing to the back of their baseball card, save for, perhaps, J.D. Davis, who has hardly played this year due to injury.  The likes of Michael Conforto, Dom Smith and Jeff McNeil in particular have been abysmal, and before he went out with an oblique injury, Francisco Lindor was obviously a 2021 bust.

--Fernando Tatis Jr. had quite a return to the lineup Sunday, after sitting out two weeks with a separated shoulder…4-for-5, two home runs, in an 8-2 win over the D’Backs in Phoenix. 

But after going 1-for-4 in a loss in Colorado Monday, he’s still just played in 89 of 121 games and San Diego needs him to stay in the lineup.  With 33 home runs in the 89, that translates to 50+ in a 150-game season.

That said, with the 33 homers, 23 stolen bases, 82 runs in 89 games, and a 1.050 OPS, he’s the favorite to win the NL MVP award.

Tatis also could become the first player to lead the league in homers and stolen bases since 1932, when Chuck Klein of the Phillies hit 38 homers and stole 20 bases.

Another reason why the Padres need Tatis to stay healthy…as they enter play Tuesday, they are only 1 ½ games in front of the Reds for the second wild-card slot.

College Football

Preseason AP Top 25

1. Alabama (47 first-place votes)
2. Oklahoma (6)
3. Clemson (6)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. Georgia (3)
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa State
8. Cincinnati
9. Notre Dame
10. North Carolina
19. Penn State
22. Coastal Carolina
23. Louisiana (Lafayette)

Alabama is preseason No. 1 for the fourth time in six seasons.

Overall, this is ‘Bama’s eighth No. 1 preseason ranking (the AP having started the preseason poll in 1950), tied for second most with Ohio State.  Oklahoma has the most with 10.

Only two teams have gone wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country during a season.  Southern California in 2004, and Florida State in 1999.

No. 8 Cincinnati is the first team from outside the Power 5 to be ranked in the preseason top 10 since Louisville started ninth in 2012, the Cardinals final season as a member of the AAC before joining the ACC.

Wake Forest didn’t receive a single vote in either the AP or Coaches preseason polls, but we’re going to shock the world!  Really…we are…

The season kicks off Aug. 28, with Saturday, Sept. 4 the first day with a full slate of games.

NFL

--The Las Vegas Raiders are the first NFL team to announce they will require fans at home games at Allegiant Stadium to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

The team’s vaccination/no-mask policy will take effect for the team’s Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Ravens on “Monday Night Football.”

Saturday’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks was the first time the Raiders played in front of a home crowd at Allegiant Stadium since relocating to Las Vegas from Oakland following the 2019 season.

50,100 fans attended, with a mask mandate in place, at the 65,000-seat stadium.

--So much for that experiment…Tim Tebow was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars after attempting to make the team as a tight end.

Tebow posted on Twitter shortly after that he thanked the Jaguars for giving him a chance.  “Thankful for the highs and even the lows, the opportunities, and the setbacks,” Tebow wrote. “I’ve never wanted to make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m grateful for the chance to have pursued a dream.

“Thank you to the Jaguars organization and everyone who has supported me in this journey. And we know that…God works all things together for good.  Romans 8:28.*

* “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” [Just had to look this up.]

They say Tebow looked fine in spring camp, after signing a one-year deal with the Jags on May 20, and he was fine early on in training camp, but it became obvious he couldn’t block.

“We knew that was an uphill battle for Tim,” head coach Urban Meyer said.  “Players loved him, locker room loved him, but it was the right thing.”

Meyer also noted that Tebow was unable to contribute on special teams because he couldn’t tackle (not being used to doing so).  “We expect to be very good in special teams.  Tight end position is one of those, and tailback – if he can’t contribute on special teams that’s a tough go.”

Well, you know how I feel about Tim Tebow. Wish there were a lot more in this country like him.

--We note the passing of former Jets coach Joe Walton, 85.

Walton led the Jets from 1983-89, compiling a record of 53-57-1 and taking the team to the playoffs twice.  He is second in all-time coaching wins in franchise history.  Walton became the head coach after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator for two years under Walt Michaels.

The Jets had a high-powered offense in the Walton years, with quarterback Ken O’Brien throwing to wide receivers Wesley Walker and Al Toon, in addition to having running back Freeman McNeil and tight end Mickey Shuler.  That group helped the Jets go 11-5 in 1985 and 10-6 in 1986, making the playoffs those two seasons.

The Jets faded after that and Walton became unpopular with the fan base, which led to “Joe Must Go” chants at Giants Stadium late in his tenure.  He was fired after a 4-12 season in 1989.

Walton, who was born in Beaver Falls, Pa., returned to his home area as the offensive coordinator of the Steelers in 1990-91 before starting up a football program at Robert Morris, where he served as head coach from 1994-2013, accumulating a solid 115-92-1 record.  He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013 and the football stadium there was named after him.

Walton was an All-American at Pitt in 1955 and 1956 as a split end before playing in the NFL from 1957-64.  For the Redskins and then the Giants, he had 178 receptions for his career and 28 touchdowns.

Former Jets lineman Marty Lyons, who played under Walton, said he should have been a college coach his entire career.  “Look at what he did at Robert Morris, he built a football program and stayed there for 20 years, influenced so many young men to go on and probably be successful in life that they named the stadium after him,” Lyons said.  “That’s where he should have been.  He was a man of high character.  Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for him as a head coach. You look back now and say it wasn’t the head coach.  It was all of us.  None of us played well.”

Stuff

--Roger Federer, in dropping out of the upcoming U.S. Open due to another knee surgery, struck a less hopeful note in his announcement that he was taking more time off.  Federer brought up concerns about being healthy and mobile beyond his playing days.  He wants to feel confident enough in his knee to go about his everyday life, not just to compete. But for now, he added, he was committing to a full rehabilitation after the surgery.

“I want to give myself a glimmer of hope also to return to the tour in some shape or form,” Federer said.  “I am realistic – don’t get me wrong – I know how difficult it is at this age to do another surgery and try it.”

So, if he comes back, it would be at the Australian Open, but this seems unlikely.

--Another big max contract in the NBA…Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid signed a four-year, $196 million supermax extension, which keeps him under contract with the Sixers through the 2026-27 season.

The deal is fully guaranteed and includes a player option for the final year.

So no sleepless nights, tossing and turning, for Mr. Embiid…at least on the money front.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

---

[Posted early Sun. p.m., prior to Mets-Dodgers.  I will have an Add-On up top by noon, Wed.]

NFL Quiz: Got rid of some basics before season starts.  Name the only six to rush for 14,000 yards in their career.  Answer below.

MLB

--The Mets had appeared to right the ship after sweeping three from the Washington Nationals during the week, but then the Dodgers came into Citi Field and took the first two in virtually identical fashion, 6-5 and 2-1, both in 10 innings.

Last night was particularly brutal for Mets fans because the struggling Taijuan Walker had no-hit L.A. for 6 1/3.

So tonight is critical, as the Mets then embark on a West Coast trip for three against the Giants and four in Los Angeles, before returning home for three more with the Giants.

Yup, that’s the season.  Somehow, including tonight, they need to go 5-6, at worst.

Of course it doesn’t help that All-World starter Jacob deGrom is close to being shelved for the season, told to rest another two weeks before throwing again by noted surgeon Dr. Near El Attrache, after he examined deGrom in Los Angeles on Thursday.  DeGrom’s elbow inflammation has improved but not enough for Jake to begin a throwing program.  Numerous MRIs have not revealed any ligament damage.

But bottom line, he’s not available until mid-September, at the earliest. 

DeGrom has a 1.08 ERA over 15 starts, but last pitched July 7.

As for the Dodgers’ attempt to chase down the Giants, they entered play today four games back of San Francisco and only face them three more times the rest of the way, in San Francisco.

So L.A.’s attempt at nine consecutive division championships is in full sprint.

At least in one-run ballgames, in which they came into the series with the Mets with an abysmal 13-21 mark, they’ve taken two in a row.  And they also improved their record in extra-inning affairs from a startling 1-12 to 3-12.

--Back to the Mets and the NL East race, the Braves beat the Nationals 6-5 this afternoon, while the Phillies lost to the Reds 7-4, so the standings prior to tonight’s Mets-Dodgers’ affair….

Braves 62-56
Phillies 61-57…1
Mets 59-57…2

--In a shocker, Arizona’s Tyler Gilbert became just the fourth pitcher – and first in 68 years – to throw a no-hitter in his initial big league start, leading the Diamondbacks to a 7-0 win over the Padres.  It was also a record-tying eighth no-hitter in the majors this season.

The last to accomplish the feat in his first start was Johnny Mac’s favorite, Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns on May 6, 1953.  The other two were Bumpus Jones with the Reds on Oct. 15, 1892, and Theodore Breitenstein, who threw one in his first start for the Browns on Oct. 4, 1891.

The eight no-hitters match the mark set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was allowed.

What many of us find stunning about Gilbert’s performance was he had thrown just 3 2/3 innings in three relief appearances, prior to this start where he threw 102 pitches, walked three, five strikeouts.

Gilbert also didn’t play baseball in 2020 after the minor league season was wiped out by the pandemic.  He spent the summer learning how to be an electrician from his dad.

“I’d rather be doing this than pulling wires,” Gilbert said last night.  “No offense, Dad.”

[Cleveland’s Triston McKenzie had a one-hitter for eight innings of work today, as the Indians whipped the Tigers 11-0…so almost number nine.]

--After a nice 10 of 12 run, the Yankees were 3-3 over their last six heading into today’s series finale in Chicago, and with closer Aroldis Chapman on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation, New York turned to Zack Britton and he’s been awful, including giving up the walk-off homer to Tim Anderson in the “Field of Dreams” game (discussed further below).

--Boston got a big boost Saturday with the return of Chris Sale, who completed his return from Tommy John surgery by pitching five innings, giving up two runs, striking out eight and walking none, picking up the ‘W’ as the Red Sox slammed the Orioles 16-2.

Sale had last pitched on Aug. 13, 2019.  Wow, think about that.  Boy, the world changed in the interim, and sure as hell continues to change overseas today, if you catch my drift.

--Shohei Ohtani’s magical season continued, as he slugged his major league-leading 39th home run Saturday in an 8-2 loss to the Astros.  He has 86 RBIs, 69 extra-base hits, 17 steals, and a 1.017 OPS.

Thursday, Ohtani threw six innings of two-run ball in a 6-3 Angels win over the Blue Jays, as he improved on the mound to 7-1, 2.93 ERA.

We’ve run out of superlatives to describe his magical season.  It’s just too bad the Angels didn’t have Mike Trout around, basically all but 40 games, or they might have made some noise in the wild-card race.  Trout is still dealing with a calf strain that has kept him out three months.

--What a spectacular job Major League Baseball did on Thursday night with the “Field of Dreams” game between the White Sox and the Yankees in Dyersville, Iowa, the first major league game to take place in the state.

From beginning to end, including a fairy tale finish on the ball field, the production was a total home run for the sport, and picked up the largest audience to watch a regular season MLB game in 16 years, with 5.9 million viewers across FOX and FOX Deportes.  It was also the most streamed regular season baseball game in FOX history.

The game itself was exciting, the White Sox pulling it out in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run homer by Tim Anderson for the 9-8 walk-off win, after the Yankees had gone in front with four in the top of the ninth on home runs by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Finally, great job by Kevin Costner all around.

--Since my last ‘Add-on,’ I have to note the performance of Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes, who became only the third pitcher in major-league history – yet the second this season – to strike out 10 batters in a row, as part of a 10-0 win over the Cubs Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.

Burnes threw eight innings of four-hit ball, striking out 15 in all, no walks, as he improved to 7-4, 2.23.  74 of his 99 pitches were for strikes.

In 121 innings, Burnes has 172 strikeouts and only 22 walks.

The other two with 10 Ks in a row are Tom Seaver, April 22, 1970 and Aaron Nola, June 25 of this season.

--It was inevitable, but the Cubs released Jake Arrieta, one day after he gave up seven runs and eight hits in the first inning on the other side of the Burnes game, Wednesday.

Arrieta finished the year 5-11, with a 6.88 ERA, including a 9.00 ERA since May 19.

Arrieta had signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Chicago for 2021.

--The next night in Chicago, as the Brewers blitzed the Cubs 17-4, Milwaukee’s Luis Urias had quite a game, becoming just the 16th in MLB history to have five extra base hits in a contest, 3 doubles, 2 homers.

--I just have to note that on Wednesday, the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright, who turns 40 on Aug. 30, threw a 2-hit, complete game shutout as St. Louis beat Pittsburgh 4-0.

Not for nothing, but the guy has had a helluva season, 11-6, 3.27, 148 2/3 innings.

And it’s a reminder of the great career Wainwright has had as well…178-104, 3.37.

--Baltimore slugger Chris Davis, he of the 7-year, $161 million contract after a monster 2015 season (47 home runs, 117 RBIs), announced his retirement Thursday.

Davis, 35, was going to miss the entire 2021 season after surgery in May to repair the labrum in his left hip

Next year would have been the final season of Davis’ contract.

Davis was never really the same after signing the massive deal, batting .168 in 2018 and then going through an 0-for-54 streak in 2019, finishing at .179, and then hitting .115 over 52 at-bats last year, when he was on the injured list twice with knee problems.

But he got his money!  Good for him.

--The Washington Post reported Saturday that Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, under investigation on allegations of sexual assault in California and currently on a leave of absence from Major League Baseball, was the subject of a temporary order of protection by a different woman last year, according to sealed court record reviewed by the Post.

The woman in Ohio sought the order in June 2020 after repeated threats from the then-Cincinnati Reds pitcher.  Photographs independently obtained by the Post show bruises on the woman’s face and blood in her eyes, which her attorney said were caused by Bauer punching and choking her during sex without consent.  The allegations are similar to ones made by the woman in Los Angeles this summer when she applied for a temporary restraining order.

There was also an incident with the Ohio woman in 2017 when Bauer was on the Cleveland Indians.  The Washington Post learned through emails that MLB has been trying to get the 2017 police report but it has been expunged.

It’s safe to say Bauer is facing, at best, a year-long suspension.  At worst, a lifetime ban from the sport.

NFL

--Training camp is pretty meaningless for fans, unless you are getting your first look at a guy who is supposed to be your franchise quarterback.  And you hope there are no major injuries to key players.

So for Jets fans, training camp, and exhibition games, matter because we are getting our first look at the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Zach Wilson, and he performed ably in the Jets’ 12-7 win over the Giants Saturday night.

Wilson had only two series of action, as planned, but was 6-of-9 passing for 63 yards, no interceptions, and, most importantly, he appeared confident and didn’t rush his throws.

Coach Robert Saleh said after: “We have so much confidence in the young man.  You want him to stack up as many good days as possible but there’s still youth. He’s still a rookie.  There’s still a lot of things that he’s going to learn from. There’s still a lot of opportunities for him to grow.”

So it’s a start to what we hope is a very long career.

Golf Balls

--In the last event for golfers to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., Russell Henley held a 3-shot lead heading into the final round and we ended up with a 6-man playoff!  And Henley wasn’t among them as he shot a one-over 71 to finish at -14, while the six – Si Woo Kim (he of the 13 on the par-3 last week), Roger Sloan, Kevin Na, Adam Scott, Branden Grace and Kevin Kisner – all shot 64-66.

Scott at No. 121 on the FedEx Cup points list coming in, and Sloan, No. 131, were clearly on the bubble and got the job done.

But Justin Rose, No. 138 entering the event, had it to -15 late in his round and was handily inside the 125 cut line, only to bogey 14 and 18, finishing -13, T10, and he ended up No. 126!  Amazing…one putt along the way and he’s in.

On the other hand, Scott Piercy was No. 126 coming in and his T15 was just enough to move up to 116, so his season continues.

Chesson Hadley bagged the 125-slot, moving up from 132 with a clutch T15, thanks to a final round 62!

Well, in the end Kisner won it, No. 4 in his career,

--Rickie Fowler missed the cut by five strokes, and his chances to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs ended.

When asked after his second round how it felt to come up “a little bit short of the goal for the season,” Fowler replied, with a weak smile, “Yeah, I wouldn’t say it was a little bit short, it was a lot of a bit short.”

Fowler played in 24 events this season, missed nine cuts, and recorded just one top-10 finish.

The first event of the new 2021-22 season is Sept. 16-19 in Napa, Calif., and then we have the Ryder Cup, where Rickie will also be on the outside, looking in.

--John Feinstein had some rather trenchant comments on Bryson DeChambeau from his perch at the Washington Post.  In part:

“There’s no doubt that Bryson DeChambeau is a star on the PGA Tour.  At 27, he has already won eight tournaments – including last year’s U.S. Open. Since bulking up his body to look like Popeye (after his spinach), he has been hitting the ball prodigious distances, which fans love to see.  He will play on his second Ryder Cup team at Wisconsin’s Whistling Straits next month, although his debut, in Paris three year ago, was less than sterling: He went 0-3 in the United States’ embarrassing loss to Europe.

“He brings eyeballs to TV sets – especially when he has a driver in his hands.

“He has also become the most polarizing player in the sport.

“His pace of play is appalling most of the time, and the fault always lies somewhere else when things go wrong – the wind, his caddie, the golf gods.  He’s too smart and too talented to be responsible for a bad shot.  Just ask him, if you can – he stopped talking to the print media in Memphis last week.

“He’s also been involved in a silly feud with four-time major champion Brooks Koepka over – who knows what?  The two just keep sniping at one another, and even though Koepka might not be the best-liked guy among fellow players, he’s Arnold Palmer and Davis Love III compared to DeChambeau, who has become a pariah in the locker room and even with the relatively benign golf media….

“Now, though, DeChambeau has gone to a new level – one with potentially dangerous implications.  Just before the Olympics, he tested positive for the coronavirus and had to be replaced on the U.S. team by Patrick Reed. When DeChambeau first spoke to the media after being cleared to play in Memphis last week, he admitted he had not been vaccinated and said he didn’t intend to change that anytime soon.

“It was his excuse that left people shaking their heads.  He claimed he wasn’t getting vaccinated because he was afraid he might be taking a dose away from someone who needed it more. As everyone knows, there is more than enough vaccine to go around, and with the surge of the Delta variant, health officials are begging the unvaccinated to get one of the three vaccines currently available.

“DeChambeau also said the vaccine wasn’t a guarantee against getting the virus, which it’s not.  But the chances of getting it – and getting very sick – go way down if you are vaccinated….

“Those are facts – health-related facts.  They have nothing to do with politics.  DeChambeau claimed that because he’s young and strong he can ‘handle’ having the virus.  That’s fine.  But what about the people he comes in contact with as a public figure?  What about kids too young to be vaccinated?

“And what about his Ryder Cup teammates?  Ryder Cup captains always talk about the importance of the team room, the bonding that is so important to a team’s chances for victory….

“So, with whom does (U.S. captain Steve) Stricker pair DeChambeau?  Chances are good none of his players are going to volunteer.  Jordan Spieth will play with his buddy Justin Thomas; that’s about all we know for sure.

“But the problem now goes beyond the perennial issue of personalities.  Now, who is vaccinated and who is not might become a serious problem.

“So what do Stricker and the PGA of America do? Simple.  If you want to play in the Ryder Cup, caddie in the Ryder Cup, work at the Ryder Cup or attend the Ryder Cup as a spectator, you show up with a vaccination card….

“If people – players included – want to scream that their rights are being violated, let them.  The PGA of America is not the government; it is a private business that has the right to mandate who can and cannot come into a venue it controls….

“(But) the PGA has said nothing on the subject other than a gobbledygook statement about continuing to monitor the situation.  Not helpful.

“Beyond all that, DeChambeau needs to grow up.  He needs to learn the phrase, ‘I’m sorry.’  He needs to sit down privately with Koepka and agree to stop publicly sniping at one another.  He needs to understand that the media’s job is not to promote him but to report on him.

“It isn’t that hard to go from pariah to popular, especially if you are willing to admit you have a problem.  Mickelson and Woods have, in recent years, completely reinvented their locker room images and in Woods’ case his public image.  It can be done.

“The first step is saying, ‘I’ve got a problem.’  DeChambeau isn’t close to that right now.  It’s long past time for him to take step one.”

--According to the National Golf Foundation, rounds played through June are up 23% year-to-date, and running 19% above the 2017-19 average.

Premier League

--The new season got off to a rollicking start on Friday as newbie Brentford celebrated their return to the top tier after a 74-year absence with a memorable 2-0 win over woeful Arsenal; a dreadful loss for the Gunners.

But what a win for Thomas Frank’s side and the hometown fans at Brentford Community Stadium, which holds all of 17,000.  By the way, the team’s nickname is “the Bees.”

Saturday, Manchester United whipped Leeds 5-1, as Bruno Fernandes had a hat-trick and Paul Pogba recorded four assist.

Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 3-0…Christian Pulisic with a tally.

Liverpool shutout Norwich 3-0.

And then today, totally out of nowhere, and playing without star Harry Kane, my Tottenham Spurs, at home before a raucous, packed house, beat champion Manchester City 1-0, in an effort for the ages; Heung-Min Son with a terrific goal at the 55’ mark.

So what a debut for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

NASCAR

I caught a lot of the Cup Series race at Indy today, the first-ever for NASCAR on the road course there, and it was chaotic, to say the least, as the drivers had major troubles late with turn 5, and finally, in the second overtime restart, AJ Allmendinger picked up the biggest win of his career, just his second overall.

It was great action, but if you were watching, I thought for sure they were going to declare the race official after about lap 66 (of 82) due to the conditions in that one turn.

On the other hand, as one of the drivers said after, hey, you know what the deal is with the turn, avoid it.  These are supposed to be the best in their sport, after all.

Stuff

--Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers reached agreement on a four-year, $176.3 million max contract.  Leonard had previously declined his player option for $36 million this coming season to become a free agent.

But Leonard, 30, is expected to miss significant time this season as he makes his way back from surgery on July 13 to repair a partially torn right ACL that kept him out of the Clippers’ final eight playoff games.

Running mate Paul George signed a four-year, $190 million extension last December, so with guard Reggie Jackson having also been re-signed, Los Angeles keeps its core together.

Top 3 songs for the week of 8/16/75: #1 “Jive Talkin’” (Bee Gees…godawful…)  #2 “One Of These Nights” (Eagles)  #3 “Please Mr. Please” (Olivia Newton-John)…and…#4 “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (Elton John)  #5 “Fallin’ In Love” (Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds…good tune…)  #6 “Rhinestone Cowboy” (Glen Campbell)  #7 “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” (War)  #8 “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (James Taylor)  #9 “Midnight Blue” (Melissa Manchester)  #10 “The Rockford Files” (Mike Post…B+ week…)

NFL Quiz Answer: Six with 14,000 yards…

Emmitt Smith 18,355
Walter Payton 16,726
Frank Gore 16,000…might still sign somewhere for yet another season
Barry Sanders 15,269
Adrian Peterson 14,820
Curtis Martin 14,101

I will have a brief Add-On up top by noon, Wed.