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05/08/2023

The Playoffs

Add-on posted early Wed. a.m.

NBA

-Sunday night in Phoenix, after I posted, the Suns evened their series against the Nuggets at 2-2, with a 129-124 victory.  Devon Booker and Kevin Durant each had 36 for Phoenix, while Nikola Jokic had 53 points and 11 assists for Denver.

I watched about a half of this one and Booker was amazing, finishing 14 of 18 from the field, after he was 20 of 25 in the prior game where he went off for 47.  So 34 of 43 the last two games.

Both teams shot 56%+ from the field for the game.

But Tuesday, the Nuggets took a 3-2 lead with a 118-102 win in Denver, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant falling back to earth with a combined 54, while Jokic had another triple-double, 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists.

The big player for Denver was Bruce Brown, who had 25 off the bench.

Game 6 in Phoenix, Thursday.

--The Knicks looked largely dreadful again Monday night in Miami, the Heat winning 109-101 to take a 3-1 series lead.  Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been totally outcoached by the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, who is without key cogs Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo.

Nonetheless, Spoelstra is now 11-3 in the playoffs against Thibodeau, who has a 30-40 overall mark in the postseason.

Once again Monday it was all about the Knicks getting beaten up inside and the awful play of the duo Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein in the post, who were held to a combined 8 points and 10 rebounds, after 2 and 8 between the two in Saturday’s 105-86 debacle.  For Miami, Bam Adebayo alone has gone 23-13 and 17-12 (pts., rebs.) the last two.

Jimmy Butler had 27 points and 10 assists.

The Knicks are toast, Game 5 Wednesday back at Madison Square Garden.  Maybe they win that one, but there is zero reason for optimism.

Actually, Miami is 14-0 all time when leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven series, while the Knicks are 0-14 all time when trailing 3-1 in such series.

--The Lakers beat the Warriors in L.A. Monday night, 104-101, increasing their series lead to 3-1, as reserve Lonnie Walker IV, who has been mostly out of coach Darvin Ham’s playoff rotation, turned in a playoff performance for the ages, scoring all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter, the first Laker with 15 points or more in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant did it 26 years ago.

Walker went 6-for-9 in the closing frame, including a pull-up jumper over Steph Curry with 1:53 remaining that put the Lakers up 100-99.

LeBron James had 27 points, while Anthony Davis chipped in with 23 and 15 rebounds.

Curry had a triple-double, 31 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists, but he missed two big shots down the stretch, and was only 3 of 14 from 3 for the game.

--The surprising Sixers are suddenly up 3-2 after defeating the Celtics Tuesday night in Boston, 115-103, Celtics fans raining boos down on their boys.  Joel Embiid had 33 points, and Tyrese Maxey 30 for Philly, while the Celts shot just 39.8% from the field.

Game 6, Thursday, in Philadelphia.

--In College Basketball, West Virginia coach and Hall of Famer Bob Huggins could be out of a job shortly.

Dan Wolken / USA TODAY

“There is nothing particularly complicated about what should happen to Bob Huggins.

“If his boss, West Virginia athletics director Wren Baker, went on a radio show and said the highly offensive, homophobic things Huggins said Monday, he would be fired before nightfall.

“If Baker’s boss, West Virginia president Gordon Gee, had said those things, his tenure would also be over in the blink of an eye.

“Heck, if a public-facing employee or executive of any American company said those things, we all know what would happen.

“Why would anyone hold a basketball coach to a different standard?

“This isn’t about wokeness or cancel culture. This wasn’t a slip of the tongue or an innocent mistake. This was a 69-year-old man going on a radio show in Cincinnati and gleefully using a term to describe gay people that was intended to denigrate fans of Xavier University, Huggins’ formal rival when he coached the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1989-2005.

“And he did it twice, without even a hint of hesitation or apology as it was happening.

“You may not like where the line has been drawn.  You may have grown up saying that word and don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.  Maybe you even use it now in private because you believe certain groups of people aren’t worthy of equality.

“But our society, which has come a long way in acceptance and celebration of the LGBTQ community but still has miles to go, has decided that slur is no longer acceptable.  And so when it is used so callously, so cavalierly and said with the seeming delight that Huggins employed in order to make two lame radio hosts laugh, there is nothing to be done other than the obvious.

“He must go, or West Virginia might as well rename itself University of Bob Huggins.  At some point, he may be worth forgiveness and grace on a human level. But as large of a figure as Huggins is, both literally and figuratively in the history of Mountaineer basketball, he cannot remain in his position as the most highly paid public employee of West Virginia’s flagship university.

“If Huggins wants to be remembered as a man who valued dignity and honor, he will do it himself and step away.  But if he tries to stay, he is asking the people who work with him and the university he loves to debase themselves for his benefit.

“That’s not a choice they should be forced to make because he decided that it was a good day to go on a radio show and have a laugh at the expense of one of America’s most vulnerable groups.

“Huggins is a legend in college basketball and one of the great characters remaining in an industry that has become more buttoned-down and corporate. He can be funny and engaging while also being extremely tough.  Huggins isn’t for everyone, but his style has undeniably helped hundreds of players become the vest versions of themselves.

“That doesn’t give him a pass on this one.”

Huggins apologized later Monday.

“Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University,” Huggins’ statement read.

“During the conversation, I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for – and I won’t try to make one here.  I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University.  As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept [anything] coming my way.  I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt.  I must do better, and I will.”

Just 20 minutes later, WVU addressed the issue, saying in part, “West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language and takes such actions very seriously. The situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and its athletic department.”

As I go to post early Wednesday, Huggins is still an employee of the university.

--Hall of Fame men’s coach Denny Crum died at the age of 86.

Crum played college hoops under John Wooden at UCLA in the late 1950s, joined the Bruins program as an assistant, helping the program to three national titles during his time there, and then Crum was hired by Louisville as its coach in 1971.

Crum would lead the Cardinals to the Final Four six times and two national titles – 1980 and 1986.

NHL

--New Jersey is on the verge of elimination following Carolina’s 6-1 blitzkrieg last night in Newark. The Hurricanes scored five times in 12 minutes of the second period in taking a 3-1 series lead. 

Game 5, Thursday, in Raleigh.

--The Seattle-Dallas series is tied at 2-2 after the Stars’ 6-3 win over the Kraken.

Game 5, Thursday, in Dallas.

--The Panthers are looking to sweep the Maple Leafs in Florida tonight. 

--The Golden Knights are up 2-1 in their series with the Oilers, Game 4 tonight in Edmonton.  C’mon, Oilers!

MLB

--The Yankees have feasted on the A’s the last two nights at the Stadium, 7-2 and 10-5, with New York improving to 20-17. 

But Oakland is now 8-29, and it’s certainly not too early to think they are 1962 Mets bound, that club finishing 40-120.

--The big series in baseball the last two nights has been Tampa Bay-Baltimore at Camden Yards, the Rays winning Monday 3-0 behind Shane McClanahan (now 7-0, 1.76 ERA).  The Orioles rebounded last night, 4-2, as Tampa Bay has a 5.5 game lead over Baltimore.

Rays 29-8
Orioles 23-13

--The Mets are now eight games back of the Braves at 17-19, falling to the Reds in Cincinnati last night 7-6, as Max Scherzer, he of the $43.3 million per contract, was scratched due to neck spasms.

As Johnny Mac said, it is indeed getting late early.

--Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough is a lucky guy.  He was hit in the face by a line drive in Sunday’s game against the A’s, a 106-mph shot off the bat of Ryan Noda.  Yarbrough was able to walk off the field with the help of trainers and found to have sustained “multiple non-displaced fractures, and we do not believe he will need surgery,” the Royals announced on Twitter Monday.  Yarbrough was placed on the 15-day IL.

--In College Baseball, look who is No. 1 for the first time ever in the Baseball America poll (May 8).  Pretty cool.  But a long, long way to go.

1. Wake Forest
2. LSU…lost their first series of the year last weekend at Auburn
3. Vanderbilt
4. Arkansas
5. Stanford
6. South Carolina
7. Florida
8. Coastal Carolina
9. Duke
10. Miami

Wake’s three-game weekend series with Boston College set a school record, with 6,155 in attendance at our ballpark.  2,000+ at a college game is pretty strong, especially at a school our size.

Golf Balls

Eamon Lynch / Golfweek

“Since being accused of a ‘dick move’ by Phil Mickelson is comparable to having the Pope commend one’s catechism scholarship, Mike Whan ought to take the stigmatic legend’s intended insult as a compliment, and file it as yet more evidence of how Mickelson never emerges best in USGA contests.

“Mickelson attacked Whan in defense of Talor Gooch, who Mickelson felt was unfairly discriminated against by a change in exemption criteria that cost him an automatic spot in next month’s U.S. Open.  Having now taken a stand in support of someone treated shabbily by tournament regulations, it can only be a matter of time before Mickelson steps forward to shield those who might find themselves at the business end of his employer’s bonesaw.

“Gooch himself has a highly-developed sense of injustice, at least as it relates to Talor Gooch. Last week he bemoaned the Australian government deducting a hefty amount of tax from his $4 million winnings at the LIV Golf event in Adelaide, a predictable gripe from someone known to have a flexible interpretation of what he owes and to whom, and when such obligations ought to be settled.

“On his disappearing U.S. Open exemption, Gooch claimed the criterion change impacting him was ‘retroactive.’  The USGA publishes Open criteria annually, and with no specifications for 2023 having previously been announced, no change can be ‘retroactive,’ as any dictionary definition will indicate (it’s right there after ‘retribution,’ which is what Gooch imagines this to be).

“The tossing of toys from the LIV crib is an almost daily occurrence now as the reality of their circumstances sets in.

“Last week in Singapore, Bryson DeChambeau panned the world golf rankings as ‘obsolete,’ while simultaneously demanding LIV be included in said obsolete system.  LIV isn’t afforded ranking points because it is non-compliant in many areas, and has made clear it doesn’t intend to become compliant.  Nevertheless, DeChambeau (and Mickelson) insist the ranking is broken because it grants points to tours, not based on the past accomplishments of individuals now competing in a closed circuit where they’re contractually protected from the consequences of poor play.

“ ‘It’s not right, and I hope people can see through that,’ DeChambeau said.  (For late arrivals, he’s protesting the denial of ranking points, not of human rights in his benefactor’s kingdom)….

“Among some LIV players, the stench of desperation is rising as rapidly as Greg Norman’s hollow promises are falling apart.  Those who believed the flaxen-haired finger puppet have cash, sure, but no access to the PGA Tour, no right to cherry-pick from the DP World Tour, no ranking points, and no respect as game-growing visionaries.  Decisions by the British arbitration panel [Ed. on DP World Tour membership] and a federal court in Northern California have for now marooned LIV players on an island, a reality that must be apparent to even the most obtuse of their number (it may take a while longer with Pat Perez).

“This explains the rising pitch of whining about access, about ranking points, about all manner of supposed conspiracies against them. It’s the defining trait of LIV and its bottom-feeders: the legitimacy of any institution is entirely dependent on whether it favors them, be it rankings, regulations or elections.

‘The crybaby routine is destined to grow louder in hopes that some spineless industry executive will act as a pacifier and see to it that LIV demands are met. It could work. Golf’s upper echelon doesn’t lack men who would cheerfully peel off Saudi riyals for their beleaguered organizations under the guise of making peace among warring factions.  But for all the noise, the arguments mounted by LIV players are little more than whimpering by those who made a clear-eyed choice, the consequences of which they are increasingly unprepared to live with.”

--I’m not commenting on the Tiger Woods sexual harassment suit brought by Erica Herman.  No reason to.

Premier League

--Monday, we had the big games in the battle to avoid relegation, and both Nottingham Forest and Everton vaulted from below the relegation line to safety…at least for now.

Fulham beat Leicester City 5-3, but Everton blasted Brighton 5-1 on the road, and Forest defeated Southampton 4-3.

So the standings…Played (35 of 38) – Points

16. Nottingham…35 – 33
17. Everton…35 – 32
18. Leicester…35 – 30
19. Leeds…35 – 30
20. Southampton…35 – 24

--In Champions League play Tuesday, the semifinals, Real Madrid and Man City tied at 1-1 in the first leg, the second leg at City.

Kevin de Bruyne sent a screamer into the goal to tie it, and so next week, City just needs to win the second leg, which would send them into the CL final against AC Milan or Inter Milan, who square off in their first leg today, Wednesday.

Stuff

--Denny Hamlin outdueled Kyle Larson on a last-lap pass at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, ending a 33-race winless drought dating to last year’s Coca-Cola 600, Cup Series win No. 49 in Hamlin’s career.  It was also Joe Gibbs Racing’s 400th win overall in NASCAR’s top series.

Bubba Wallace was fourth.

Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson got into it after the race.  Gragson was sent for a spin after Chastain got into Gragson’s car, one of many instances where Chastain has drawn the ire of drivers this season with his aggressiveness on the track.

Gragson put his hands on Chastain who responded with a sweeping right hook that appeared to connect. Gragson tried to return the punch, but he was pulled away by security and NASCAR officials.

“I’m sick and tired of it,” Gragson said of Chastain’s driving style.  “The guy runs into everyone.  When you have guys like Chase Elliott and other guys telling you to beat his ass, everyone is just sick of him.”

--Will Kentucky Derby winner Mage run in the Preakness on May 20?

Groom Moises Morales said of the moments after the victory that “Minutes later, he was so relaxed.  He ate good.  He came out of it so easy.”

What did the champ eat Saturday night?  Carrots and peppermints.  [After I watched the race, your editor had chicken parm and Coors Light.]

Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said Mage has shown all the right signs and will run in the Preakness as long as everything continues to go well.

Forte galloped at Churchill Downs on Monday morning and trainer Todd Pletcher said, “He looked very good.”  The plan is to ride him Friday or Saturday, but Pletcher said the foot bruise was “completely subsided” and “we’re looking good to breeze for the Preakness.”

Pletcher, with two Derby wins and four in the Belmont Stakes, has never won in the Preakness.

Meanwhile, as you would expect, with the seven deaths at Churchill Downs, all manner of articles are again being written on the demise of the sport, just as we had two years ago when there were major issues at Santa Anita.  It’s imperative the Preakness and Belmont Stakes go off with zero problems.

And then late Tuesday, the New York Times’ Joe Drape had a story about Forte and a failed drug test back in September, long before the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November.  The failed test for a substance used to relieve pain and inflammation resulted from a race Forte won at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The case has yet to be adjudicated, but New York racing officials are scheduled to hear from Todd Pletcher today, Wednesday.  Oh brother.

--Iowa University announced Monday that 26 athletes across five sports (baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, wrestling) and one full-time employee of the athletic department are suspected of wagering on sports in violation of NCAA rules.

In addition, Iowa State acknowledged 15 of its athletes across three sports (football, wrestling and track and field) are also suspected of violating rules.

It was not known whether any of the athletes are suspected of making wagers on contests in which they participated.

Iowa said the university was notified May 2 of potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations.

The state Board of Regents said in a statement that the wagering was conducted online at Iowa and Iowa State.

The announcements came just days after Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohanon amid an investigation into suspicious betting activity on a game against LSU.

NCAA rules prohibit athletes, coaches and staff from betting on amateur, collegiate and professional sports in which the NCAA conducts a championship. For example, athletes can’t bet on NFL games even if state laws would legally allow them to do so if they weren’t competing under NCAA rules.

--We note the passing of former Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp, 85.  His family said his death was caused by complications of dementia.

Kapp had played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League before making it to the NFL in 1967 with Minnesota.  He took the Vikings to Super Bowl IV in January 1970, where the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Minnesota, 23-7.

“The Kansas City defense looked like a redwood forest,” he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune afterward.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

-----

[Posted Sunday p.m., prior to evening sports action.]

Add-on up top by noon, Wed.

Baseball Quiz: Vida Blue died the other day.  He won both the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season, 1971.  Name the other ten who did it in baseball history.  Answer below.

NBA

--The Knicks, after the long break between Game 2, last Tuesday, and Game 3, Saturday, in Miami, were absolutely brutal in falling to the Heat, 105-86, as Jimmy Butler scored 25 after sitting out Game 2 with his sprained ankle.

New York was 8 of 40 from 3 (20%), and 31-91 from the field overall (34%), with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle a combined 0 for 10 from beyond the arc.

Plus, the center duo of Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein, so effective in much of the playoffs, had a combined two points and eight rebounds.  The Knicks were beaten up inside.

And now key reserve Immanuel Quickley, who sprained his ankle late yesterday, may not be available for Game 4, Monday.

--Last Thursday, the Lakers were rolled by the Warriors in their Game 2 in San Francisco, 127-100, as Klay Thompson poured in 30 for Golden State, while for L.A., Anthony Davis, after all his spectacular play, was a no-show, 11 points.

But last night in Game 3 in Los Angeles, A.D. had 25 points and 13 rebounds, LeBron James had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, and D’Angelo Russell had 21 on 5 of 8 from 3, the Lakers 15 of 31 from downtown as a team, as L.A. rolled, 127-97, to take a 2-1 series lead, Game 4 back in Los Angeles, Monday.

--The Suns proved they aren’t dead, taking Game 3 in Phoenix on Friday night, 121-114, over the Nuggets, Denver’s lead cut to 2-1. 

Devin Booker had a game-high 47 points with 9 assists, Kevin Durant adding 39 (14-16 FTs), plus 9 rebounds and 8 assists.  The Suns played without Chris Paul.

Denver got 32 points from Jamal Murray, and 30 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists from Nikola Jokic…a stunning line.

Game 4 is tonight after I go to post.

--The Celtics regained control of their series with the Sixers, winning Game 3 in Philly Friday, 114-102, to up 2-1.  Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 50 points in a balanced attack.  But while Joel Embiid was solid for Philadelphia with 30 points and 13 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey and James Hardin combined for just 7 of 30 from the field, Hardin’s second straight poor game after going off for 45 in the opener.

So, Game 4 was this afternoon in Philly, and in an extraordinary finish in overtime, the Sixers evened it up at 2-2, 116-115.  Jayson Tatum had given Boston the lead on his only three of the game, 115-113, with 0:37 to play, but he had clearly committed an offensive foul, pushing off (not called), and then James Hardin (42 points, returning to Game 1 form) hit a three with about 20 seconds to play, the Celts came down the court, taking no timeout, and Marcus Smart’s three was good to win it, only it was clearly after the buzzer.

Game 5 back in Boston, Tuesday.

--Milwaukee fired coach Mike Budenholzer just over a week after their stunning first-round playoff loss to Miami spoiled a season in which they owned the NBA’s best record.

Budenholzer’s ouster comes just two years after he directed the Bucks to their first NBA title in half a century.  The move also comes three weeks after the NBA finalized Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s purchase of a 25% stake in the team.

Budenholzer’s tenure was a good one…five seasons, a 271-120 regular-season record and 39-26 playoff mark in Milwaukee.

--The NBA has been getting huge ratings for the playoffs, and it helps to have high-profile teams like the Warriors, Lakers, Knicks and Celtics still in it.

Lakers-Warriors Game 1 on Tuesday was the best first- or second-round game on cable (TNT) in 11 years.

Separately, I have to admit I didn’t appreciate Stephen A. Smith as much as I do now.  The guy is a total hoot.  No wonder he’s paid beaucoup bucks.  He deserves it.

--In College Basketball, the highest-profile transfer, former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson, is heading to Kansas, which is rather huge for Jayhawks fans.

LeBron James’ son, Bronny, announced he was committing to USC, over Oregon and Ohio State.

And Florida state sophomore forward Matthew Cleveland is transferring to Miami, Cleveland averaging 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.  I’m really surprised he’s staying in conference, kind of a [cue Jeff Spicoli] move.

NHL

--Carolina has whipped the Devils 5-1, 6-1, in their first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinals down in Raleigh.  New Jersey has been in this position before.  Will they respond?

Yup, freakin’ 8-4!!!  Game 4 Tuesday back in one of the great vacation spots in the USA, Newark.

--Thursday, the Florida Panthers took a 2-0 series lead over the Maple Leafs, winning the two in Toronto.

Game 3 is tonight.

--Saturday, the Oilers won Game 2 of their series vs. the Golden Knights in Las Vegas, 5-1, to even things up at 1-1.  Leon Draisaitl had another two goals and Connor McDavid had a spectacular short-handed goal to make it 3-0 and then a second goal on the power play.

But Draisaitl, the second-leading scorer in the regular-season to teammate McDavid, now has 13 goals and 4 assists in the first eight postseason games.  Draisaitl had four goals in Edmonton’s 6-4 loss in Game 1 to the Golden Knights.

The day before Draisaitl’s 4-goal game, Joe Pavelski had four for the Dallas Stars in their 5-4 loss to Seattle, which is rather remarkable.  Only three others in NHL history had ever scored four in a losing playoff effort prior to Draisaitl and Pavelski.

--Speaking of Dallas-Seattle, that series is tied 1-1, Game 3 late tonight in Seattle.

--In hardly a surprise, the Rangers and head coach Gerard Gallant mutually agreed to part ways on Saturday.  As I said before, Gallant is a good man who steered the Rangers to 110- and 107-point seasons, with a .662 point percentage, in his two years, but that Game 7 no-show vs. the Devils, and blowing the 2-0 series lead, was a killer.

Gallant treats his players as professionals and is not a rah-rah guy, and in the end, that hurt him.

No clue as to where the Rangers turn now.  According to the New York Post, Joel Quenneville, the three-time Cup-winning coach in Chicago who is under unofficial and open-ended suspension by the NHL for his failure to act responsibly in connection with a sexual assault issue in the organization, is not among the candidates.

Quenneville has been out of the league since he was permitted to resign as Florida coach in late October 2021.  Commissioner Gary Bettman is the sole arbiter in the matter.

MLB

--The incredible Rays took on the Yankees for the first time this season and won Game 1 down in St. Pete, 5-4, to stretch their lead over New York to 10 games…on May 5.  Good lord.

Alas, the Yanks did win Saturday, 3-2, thanks to a strong bullpen effort.

But the lead goes back to 10 over the Yanks, Sunday, the Rays winning 8-7 in 10.  Gerrit Cole had his first poor outing in a no-decision…5 innings, 5 earned, ERA up to 2.09.

Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon’s debut with the Yankees hit another roadblock, with the pitcher saying on Friday his back issue is “chronic,” and he will have a cortisone shot next week in hopes that it speeds up the recovery process.  Rodon said it was up to the medical folks to figure out when he might be returning.

Rodon went on the injured list because of a forearm injury suffered after just one start during spring training.

Yankees management is on pins and needles.  They signed him to a six-year, $162 million contract in December.  When you hear the word “chronic,” you can imagine their angst.

--The Mets entered play Sunday just 17-17, 3-10 since a 14-7 start, the offense with just four runs in their last four games, boring as hell to watch, as in I watched little of their 4:05 p.m. Saturday start, opting for golf and the Derby instead.

And I did more of the same today, turning the Mets off when they fell behind 7-4, following online after as they went on to lose 13-6 to Colorado.  Now 17-18, a total shitshow.  More in my Add-on.

--There were some major streaks heading into today.

The Cardinals are an astonishing 10-24, losers of eight straight, including Saturday’s 6-5 loss at home to Detroit (15-17).  It is St. Louis’ first 8-game losing streak in 16 years.

[Well, St. Louis snapped the streak this afternoon, 12-6.]

The Pirates’ losing streak hit six on Saturday, falling 8-2 to the Blue Jays, both teams 20-14.  So much for Pittsburgh’s gaudy 20-8 start to the season.

[And the losing streak is now seven…the Pirates 10-1 losers to Toronto today.]

The Red Sox won their eighth straight Saturday in Philadelphia, 7-4, to improve to 21-14.  If you blinked, you missed the resurgence. Rafael Devers, while hitting a pedestrian .255, has 34 RBIs to lead all of baseball through yesterday’s action.

The Phillies, on the other hand, have lost six straight to fall to 15-19, after they had recovered from a poor start.  At least Bryce Harper hit his first home run Saturday and is batting .375 since his return.

[Philadelphia won today, 6-1, respective streaks over.]

--Back to the Cardinals, they signed 3-time All-Star catcher Willson (sic) Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million deal in the offseason, and now they are moving him to DH and the outfield, which speaks volumes.  He’s been OK at the plate, but they signed him to be their catcher.

--Matt Harvey announced his retirement Friday.  In an Instagram post, Harvey discussed how he “pitched to win. To fire up my team and more importantly, to fire up the fans in a city that I’ve always loved.”

“With all the amazing memories came a lot of injuries and tough times,” Harvey wrote.  “The realization that those amazingly powerful moments that make me thrive as a pitcher and help my teammates and city win are no longer possible.

“Believe me I wish I could have done more and brought more of those amazing moments back to life. I have to say this is my time to say thank you, and goodbye.”

Harvey, 34, has not pitched in the major leagues since 2021 with the Orioles.  He served a 60-game suspension at the start of the 2022 for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse in violation of MLB’s drug program, then spent the season pitching at three levels of the Orioles’ minor league system.

Harvey became a free agent after the 2022 season but went unsigned.  He did make two starts for Italy during the World Baseball Classic this year, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

Matt Harvey was a phenom when the Mets brought him up in 2012 and made his only All-Star appearance and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award vote as a 24-year-old in 2013, when he received his “Dark Knight” nickname.  After Tommy John surgery, he helped pitch the Mets into the World Series in 2015. 

But it was that World Series, Game 5, that left an indelible mark on Mets’ fans memory banks, and Harvey’s legacy.  He pitched eight sterling scoreless innings against the Royals, Mets up 2-0 in the game, but he was gassed.  Harvey then convinced manager Terry Collins to let him go out for the ninth, K.C. tied it up and won in 12, taking the series 4-1.

Harvey ended up with a career record of 50-66, a 4.42 ERA and 867 strikeouts. But it was a tale of two careers.  From 2012-2015 (missing 2014 due to TJ), Harvey was 25-18 in 65 starts for the Mets with a sterling 2.53 ERA.  And then it was downhill.

But there are indeed some good memories.  Harvey closed his post:

“To the fans, most importantly the NY Mets fans: you made a dream come true for me.  A dream I never could have thought to be true.  Who would have thought a kid from Mystic, CT, would be able to play in the greatest city in the world, his hometown.  You are forever embedded in my heart.”

And so he goes…a shooting star that flamed out….

--We note the passing of former All-Star and 3X World Series champ, Vida Blue.  He was 73, the Oakland A’s saying in a statement: “There are few players with a more decorated career than Vida Blue.  Vida will always be a franchise legend and a friend.”

Blue came up at the age of 19 in 1969 and had cups of coffee in ’69 and 1970, though throwing two shutouts in ’70, one a no-hitter, and then he really burst on the scene in 1971, winning both the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards with the A’s, going 24-8, 1.82 ERA, 301 strikeouts and 24 complete games, eight of them shutouts.  He remains among just 11 pitchers to win both honors in the same year.

But following the season he clashed with A’s owner Charlie Finley over his salary, played sparingly in 1972 as Oakland won the first of three straight World Series titles, and then played an integral role in the 1973 and ’74 titles.

Finley and Blue, though, never hit it off, Finley tried to break up the core of the team instead of paying the stars in free agency, and then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn had to block Finley’s attempts to trade Blue, twice, under Kuhn’s authority to act in the “best interests of baseball.”

Blue eventually was traded to the Giants in 1978 and would finish his career 209-161 with a 3.27 ERA, 2,175 strikeouts and 37 shutouts.  He was a six-time All-Star and the first to start All-Star Games for each league.

Off the field, Blue was ordered in December 1983 to serve three months in federal prison and fined $5,000 for misdemeanor possession of a miniscule amount of cocaine, and later in his life he had other issues that aren’t important today.  We choose to remember a helluva pitcher.  Let me tell ya…as a kid in 1972, you hoped to get a Vida Blue in your pack of baseball cards so you could stare at the numbers from 1971.

--Alabama fired its head baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, on Thursday, days after unusual bets were detected on a game involving the team.

The university said Thursday that Bohannon had been fired for “among other things, violating the standards, duties and responsibilities expected of university employees.”  It did not provide specifics about those alleged violations.

Bohannon was in his sixth season at Alabama, and had one NCAA tournament appearance, in 2021. This season the team was 30-15 with a 9-12 record in the SEC going into Thursday night.

U.S. Integrity, a company that looks for unusual betting patterns, reported such activity on a game Friday night between Alabama and LSU.

Two large bets placed at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati were viewed as suspicious, NOLA.com and ESPN reported. The bets were on LSU to win the game.

LSU, the No. 1 team in the country, was a comfortable favorite in the contest and won, 8-6.  The scheduled Alabama starter, Luke Holman, was scratched shortly before the game with back tightness and replaced by Hagan Banks, who had not started since March 16.  Banks allowed four runs in his three innings.

Holman is the team’s ace: As of Thursday, he has a 5-2 record from nine starts and a 3.15 ERA.

In the sixth inning, with LSU ahead, 4-1, Alabama hit a batter with the bases loaded and walked the next two hitters to give LSU a 7-1 lead.  Alabama rallied for four runs in the ninth to narrow the final margin.

At least two states, Ohio and New Jersey, halted all wagering on Alabama baseball as a result of the report of unusual betting.

Greg Sankey, commissioner of the SEC, said Alabama had “taken swift action after baseball sports wagering activity was questioned by industry regulators,” adding the SEC has had a monitoring arrangement with U.S. Integrity since 2018.

--Meanwhile, No. 2 Wake Forest beat No. 25 Boston College (Baseball America) two out of three this weekend in Winston-Salem, winning another ACC series, and no doubt remaining No. 2 in the polls.

In the opener, Rhett Lowder threw another seven scoreless to improve to 10-0, 1.67 ERA, Wake winning 6-0.

The second game, Saturday, was nuts.  Wake trailed 2-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth, and the Deacs scored 5 runs.  But BC took a 6-5 lead, the Deacs then scored 4 in the bottom of the 8th, 9-6 Wake, BC tied it up with 3 in the 9th, and won it in the 12th, 11-9.

Which set up today’s critical rubber match, and the Deacs weathered a severe test from the Eagles in the top of the ninth to prevail 4-2; Wake now 39-7, 18-5 in the ACC.

It’s all about keeping a No. 1 seed for the upcoming regionals and super regionals. Wake is 26-2 at home.

Kentucky Derby

--After I posted my Add-on Wed. a.m., we learned of three more horses, aside from potential Derby entry Wild On Ice, that had died at Churchill Downs, casting an unwelcome shadow over the world’s most famous race.

Veteran horse trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was suspended indefinitely from Churchill Downs Thursday after two of his horses died within days of each other.

Joseph Jr., 36, is prohibited from entering his horses in races and applying for stall occupancy at all Churchill Downs Incorporated racetracks under the punishment, the company announced.

“Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

“The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility.”

Parents Pride, 4, and Chasing Arite, 5, collapsed and died on the track following their races at Churchill Downs last Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.  [Technically, Parents Pride was pulled up in the stretch.]

Owner Ken Ramsay described the two horses as “fit and healthy” and said officials “couldn’t find anything wrong” following an autopsy.

The fourth horse, Take Charge Briana, a 3-year-old filly trained by Wayne Lukas, broke down in the upper stretch during a turf race Tuesday and was euthanized.

Three horses were then scratched from the Derby for various reasons, including one of Saffie Joseph Jr.’s colts, due to his suspension.

And by the time we went to post, the Derby was further rattled with three more deaths, making that seven total at Churchill Downs, including two on Saturday in earlier races on the undercard.

And around noon, we had the shocking announcement that favorite Forte was scratched because of a bruised right heel, co-owner Mike Repole said, highly disappointed.

Repole said in interviews that the bruise began Wednesday.  Forte had won six of seven races and five in a row, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November and the Florida Derby last month.

But they ran the race, and 15-1 shot Mage, with only one career win, had a gutsy stretch run to win it, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano snapping a 0-for-15 skid to win his first Derby.

Two Phil’s and Angel of Empire were second and third. 

Mike Repole said he thought Forte would be just fine in another few days, and if trainer Todd Pletcher sees no issues, no reason why we wouldn’t see the horse in the Preakness, which would help the sport some, amidst this very dark period.

College Football

--Colorado has had 47 players enter the transfer portal since the spring transfer window opened on April 15 with new coach Deion Sanders in charge, looking to turnaround a program that went 1-11.  [Since last August, 71 Buffaloes were portal bound.]

Since December, Sanders has brought in more than 35 players to the roster, but Division I teams are allotted 85 total scholarships each year and it’s not clear how many more scholarships, including for returning players from the 2022 squad, are still available.

Golf Balls

--At the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., a designated event, Rory McIlroy made his return but wasn’t a factor.   Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler sat out their first designated event of the year (which is allowed).

And after three rounds, Wyndham Clark had the lead by two over Xander Schauffele, Clark seeking his first PGA Tour win, though he’s had a very solid season thus far with seven top 20s.

Clark -16
Schauffele -14
Adam Scott -11
Tyrrell Hatton -11

And Clark closed the deal, winning by four over Schauffele.  Good for him.

Not a lot of drama as I watched the final ten holes, but further proof Clark has game.  And kudos to Jim Nantz for doing his usual Hall of Fame job, quoting from Clark’s mother’s obituary, she dying ten years ago, on her expectations for her son.

Hatton and Harris English finished tied for third. [Hatton continues to play well at big events.]

For the record, Rory was T47…he’s a mess.

--Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Illinois, Arizona State, Texas Tech and Pepperdine earned top seeds in the NCAA men’s golf tournament that begins play at six regional sites May 15-17.  Wake Forest made the field.

Eighty-one schools and 45 individuals not part of those select teams will vie to be in the top five in their regional and the low individual not on those teams to advance to the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, May 26-31.

Texas, a No. 3 seed in its regional, is the defending champ.

The individual champion, determined after 72 holes of stroke play, earns exemptions into the U.S. Open this summer and next year’s Masters.  Stroke play whittles the field down to eight schools, who then compete in match-play.  I love this format.

--The women’s NCAA tournament regionals commence on Monday, with No. 1 Wake Forest heading up the Raleigh regional.  Like in the case of the men, the top five teams in each regional move on the NCAA Championship.

--We note the passing of 1967 PGA Championship winner Don January, who passed away this weekend at the age of 93.  January was one of the stars when I was first getting into golf, and the tall Texan had a highly successful career, winning ten times on the PGA Tour, and then 22 times on the Champions Tour.

Premier League

--I have to admit, I was a little surprised the Premier League played Saturday amidst the coronation, strictly because of the massive security operation required that then had to take away from some of the stadium security, but then what do I know.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane overtook Wayne Rooney to move into second on the PL’s all-time goal-scoring list following his goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday, which earned the Spurs a 1-0 victory over Palace.

Kane’s header took his tally to 209 in England’s top tier, with only Alan Shearer ahead of him at 260.

Meanwhile, Manchester City prevailed over Leeds 2-1 to solidify its hold atop the table, and Liverpool beat Brentford 1-0.

Sunday, Newcastle and Arsenal squared off, and The Gunners showed they are not giving up the title to City that easily, winning on the road, 2-0, City’s lead back to just one point, though City with a game in hand.

In today’s finale, Manchester United suffered a bad loss at West Ham, 1-0, giving Liverpool life in the battle for the fourth and final Champions League slot.

Monday, some huge contests in the Battle to Avoid Relegation….

Leicester City at Fulham, Everton at Brighton, and Southampton at Nottingham Forest.

Standings (34/35 of 38)…Played – Points

1. Man City…34 – 82
2. Arsenal…35 – 81
3. Newcastle…34 – 65
4. Man U…34 – 63
5. Liverpool…35 – 62
6. Tottenham…35 – 57
7. Brighton…32 – 55  

16. Leicester City…34 – 30 …ahead on goal differential
17. Leeds…35 – 30
18. Nottingham Forest…34 – 30
19. Everton…34 – 29
20. Southampton…34 – 24

Stuff

--In Formula 1, they had the Miami Grand Prix today and it was more of the same, for the fifth race of the season, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez trading places as to who finishes 1-2 for the dominant Red Bull team, Max on top today, his third win, Perez with the other two.

Fernando Alonso did get his fourth podium finish in five, which is impressive.

--A Manhattan jury found Ed Sheeran’s hit “Thinking Out Loud” did not infringe on the copyright of the classic Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On.”

The jury determined that Sheeran did not wrongfully copy compositional elements or melodies. The jury found that Sheeran independently created his song.

Sheeran later said he is “obviously very happy with the outcome of the case,” adding “it looks like I’m not having to retire from my day job after all.”

“But at the same time I’m unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this are allowed to go to court at all,” he said.  Sheeran said eight years were spent talking about two songs with “dramatically” different lyrics melodies “and four chords which are also different and used by songwriters everyday all over the world.”

A day after the judgment, Sheeran held an impromptu pop-up concert in New York, standing on top of a parked car, startling those who just happened to be in the area.  A pretty cool moment.  I’m glad he won. 

I love Marvin Gaye, but his family has previously sued other artists for copyright infringement – and prevailed. 

Top 3 songs for the week 5/9/70: #1 “American Woman” (The Guess Who) #2 “ABC” (The Jackson 5)  #3 “Let It Be” (The Beatles)…and…#4 “Vehicle” (The Ides of March)  #5 “Spirit In The Sky” (Norman Greenbaum)  #6 “Love Or Let Me Be Lonely” (The Friends of Distinction)  #7 “Everything Is Beautiful” (Ray Stevens)  #8 “Instant Karma” (John Ono Lennon)  #9 “Turn Back The Hands Of Time” (Tyrone Davis)  #10 “Reflections Of My Life” (The Marmalade…B+ week…)

Baseball Quiz Answer: Eleven to win both the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season.

Clayton Kershaw, 2014
Justin Verlander, 2011
Dennis Eckersley, 1992
Roger Clemens, 1986
Willie Hernandez, 1984
Rollie Fingers, 1981
Vida Blue, 1971
Denny McLain, 1968
Bob Gibson, 1968
Sandy Koufax, 1963
Don Newcombe, 1956

Add-on up top by noon, Wed.



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05/08/2023

The Playoffs

Add-on posted early Wed. a.m.

NBA

-Sunday night in Phoenix, after I posted, the Suns evened their series against the Nuggets at 2-2, with a 129-124 victory.  Devon Booker and Kevin Durant each had 36 for Phoenix, while Nikola Jokic had 53 points and 11 assists for Denver.

I watched about a half of this one and Booker was amazing, finishing 14 of 18 from the field, after he was 20 of 25 in the prior game where he went off for 47.  So 34 of 43 the last two games.

Both teams shot 56%+ from the field for the game.

But Tuesday, the Nuggets took a 3-2 lead with a 118-102 win in Denver, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant falling back to earth with a combined 54, while Jokic had another triple-double, 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists.

The big player for Denver was Bruce Brown, who had 25 off the bench.

Game 6 in Phoenix, Thursday.

--The Knicks looked largely dreadful again Monday night in Miami, the Heat winning 109-101 to take a 3-1 series lead.  Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has been totally outcoached by the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, who is without key cogs Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo.

Nonetheless, Spoelstra is now 11-3 in the playoffs against Thibodeau, who has a 30-40 overall mark in the postseason.

Once again Monday it was all about the Knicks getting beaten up inside and the awful play of the duo Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein in the post, who were held to a combined 8 points and 10 rebounds, after 2 and 8 between the two in Saturday’s 105-86 debacle.  For Miami, Bam Adebayo alone has gone 23-13 and 17-12 (pts., rebs.) the last two.

Jimmy Butler had 27 points and 10 assists.

The Knicks are toast, Game 5 Wednesday back at Madison Square Garden.  Maybe they win that one, but there is zero reason for optimism.

Actually, Miami is 14-0 all time when leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven series, while the Knicks are 0-14 all time when trailing 3-1 in such series.

--The Lakers beat the Warriors in L.A. Monday night, 104-101, increasing their series lead to 3-1, as reserve Lonnie Walker IV, who has been mostly out of coach Darvin Ham’s playoff rotation, turned in a playoff performance for the ages, scoring all 15 of his points in the fourth quarter, the first Laker with 15 points or more in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant did it 26 years ago.

Walker went 6-for-9 in the closing frame, including a pull-up jumper over Steph Curry with 1:53 remaining that put the Lakers up 100-99.

LeBron James had 27 points, while Anthony Davis chipped in with 23 and 15 rebounds.

Curry had a triple-double, 31 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists, but he missed two big shots down the stretch, and was only 3 of 14 from 3 for the game.

--The surprising Sixers are suddenly up 3-2 after defeating the Celtics Tuesday night in Boston, 115-103, Celtics fans raining boos down on their boys.  Joel Embiid had 33 points, and Tyrese Maxey 30 for Philly, while the Celts shot just 39.8% from the field.

Game 6, Thursday, in Philadelphia.

--In College Basketball, West Virginia coach and Hall of Famer Bob Huggins could be out of a job shortly.

Dan Wolken / USA TODAY

“There is nothing particularly complicated about what should happen to Bob Huggins.

“If his boss, West Virginia athletics director Wren Baker, went on a radio show and said the highly offensive, homophobic things Huggins said Monday, he would be fired before nightfall.

“If Baker’s boss, West Virginia president Gordon Gee, had said those things, his tenure would also be over in the blink of an eye.

“Heck, if a public-facing employee or executive of any American company said those things, we all know what would happen.

“Why would anyone hold a basketball coach to a different standard?

“This isn’t about wokeness or cancel culture. This wasn’t a slip of the tongue or an innocent mistake. This was a 69-year-old man going on a radio show in Cincinnati and gleefully using a term to describe gay people that was intended to denigrate fans of Xavier University, Huggins’ formal rival when he coached the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1989-2005.

“And he did it twice, without even a hint of hesitation or apology as it was happening.

“You may not like where the line has been drawn.  You may have grown up saying that word and don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.  Maybe you even use it now in private because you believe certain groups of people aren’t worthy of equality.

“But our society, which has come a long way in acceptance and celebration of the LGBTQ community but still has miles to go, has decided that slur is no longer acceptable.  And so when it is used so callously, so cavalierly and said with the seeming delight that Huggins employed in order to make two lame radio hosts laugh, there is nothing to be done other than the obvious.

“He must go, or West Virginia might as well rename itself University of Bob Huggins.  At some point, he may be worth forgiveness and grace on a human level. But as large of a figure as Huggins is, both literally and figuratively in the history of Mountaineer basketball, he cannot remain in his position as the most highly paid public employee of West Virginia’s flagship university.

“If Huggins wants to be remembered as a man who valued dignity and honor, he will do it himself and step away.  But if he tries to stay, he is asking the people who work with him and the university he loves to debase themselves for his benefit.

“That’s not a choice they should be forced to make because he decided that it was a good day to go on a radio show and have a laugh at the expense of one of America’s most vulnerable groups.

“Huggins is a legend in college basketball and one of the great characters remaining in an industry that has become more buttoned-down and corporate. He can be funny and engaging while also being extremely tough.  Huggins isn’t for everyone, but his style has undeniably helped hundreds of players become the vest versions of themselves.

“That doesn’t give him a pass on this one.”

Huggins apologized later Monday.

“Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University,” Huggins’ statement read.

“During the conversation, I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for – and I won’t try to make one here.  I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University.  As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept [anything] coming my way.  I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt.  I must do better, and I will.”

Just 20 minutes later, WVU addressed the issue, saying in part, “West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language and takes such actions very seriously. The situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and its athletic department.”

As I go to post early Wednesday, Huggins is still an employee of the university.

--Hall of Fame men’s coach Denny Crum died at the age of 86.

Crum played college hoops under John Wooden at UCLA in the late 1950s, joined the Bruins program as an assistant, helping the program to three national titles during his time there, and then Crum was hired by Louisville as its coach in 1971.

Crum would lead the Cardinals to the Final Four six times and two national titles – 1980 and 1986.

NHL

--New Jersey is on the verge of elimination following Carolina’s 6-1 blitzkrieg last night in Newark. The Hurricanes scored five times in 12 minutes of the second period in taking a 3-1 series lead. 

Game 5, Thursday, in Raleigh.

--The Seattle-Dallas series is tied at 2-2 after the Stars’ 6-3 win over the Kraken.

Game 5, Thursday, in Dallas.

--The Panthers are looking to sweep the Maple Leafs in Florida tonight. 

--The Golden Knights are up 2-1 in their series with the Oilers, Game 4 tonight in Edmonton.  C’mon, Oilers!

MLB

--The Yankees have feasted on the A’s the last two nights at the Stadium, 7-2 and 10-5, with New York improving to 20-17. 

But Oakland is now 8-29, and it’s certainly not too early to think they are 1962 Mets bound, that club finishing 40-120.

--The big series in baseball the last two nights has been Tampa Bay-Baltimore at Camden Yards, the Rays winning Monday 3-0 behind Shane McClanahan (now 7-0, 1.76 ERA).  The Orioles rebounded last night, 4-2, as Tampa Bay has a 5.5 game lead over Baltimore.

Rays 29-8
Orioles 23-13

--The Mets are now eight games back of the Braves at 17-19, falling to the Reds in Cincinnati last night 7-6, as Max Scherzer, he of the $43.3 million per contract, was scratched due to neck spasms.

As Johnny Mac said, it is indeed getting late early.

--Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough is a lucky guy.  He was hit in the face by a line drive in Sunday’s game against the A’s, a 106-mph shot off the bat of Ryan Noda.  Yarbrough was able to walk off the field with the help of trainers and found to have sustained “multiple non-displaced fractures, and we do not believe he will need surgery,” the Royals announced on Twitter Monday.  Yarbrough was placed on the 15-day IL.

--In College Baseball, look who is No. 1 for the first time ever in the Baseball America poll (May 8).  Pretty cool.  But a long, long way to go.

1. Wake Forest
2. LSU…lost their first series of the year last weekend at Auburn
3. Vanderbilt
4. Arkansas
5. Stanford
6. South Carolina
7. Florida
8. Coastal Carolina
9. Duke
10. Miami

Wake’s three-game weekend series with Boston College set a school record, with 6,155 in attendance at our ballpark.  2,000+ at a college game is pretty strong, especially at a school our size.

Golf Balls

Eamon Lynch / Golfweek

“Since being accused of a ‘dick move’ by Phil Mickelson is comparable to having the Pope commend one’s catechism scholarship, Mike Whan ought to take the stigmatic legend’s intended insult as a compliment, and file it as yet more evidence of how Mickelson never emerges best in USGA contests.

“Mickelson attacked Whan in defense of Talor Gooch, who Mickelson felt was unfairly discriminated against by a change in exemption criteria that cost him an automatic spot in next month’s U.S. Open.  Having now taken a stand in support of someone treated shabbily by tournament regulations, it can only be a matter of time before Mickelson steps forward to shield those who might find themselves at the business end of his employer’s bonesaw.

“Gooch himself has a highly-developed sense of injustice, at least as it relates to Talor Gooch. Last week he bemoaned the Australian government deducting a hefty amount of tax from his $4 million winnings at the LIV Golf event in Adelaide, a predictable gripe from someone known to have a flexible interpretation of what he owes and to whom, and when such obligations ought to be settled.

“On his disappearing U.S. Open exemption, Gooch claimed the criterion change impacting him was ‘retroactive.’  The USGA publishes Open criteria annually, and with no specifications for 2023 having previously been announced, no change can be ‘retroactive,’ as any dictionary definition will indicate (it’s right there after ‘retribution,’ which is what Gooch imagines this to be).

“The tossing of toys from the LIV crib is an almost daily occurrence now as the reality of their circumstances sets in.

“Last week in Singapore, Bryson DeChambeau panned the world golf rankings as ‘obsolete,’ while simultaneously demanding LIV be included in said obsolete system.  LIV isn’t afforded ranking points because it is non-compliant in many areas, and has made clear it doesn’t intend to become compliant.  Nevertheless, DeChambeau (and Mickelson) insist the ranking is broken because it grants points to tours, not based on the past accomplishments of individuals now competing in a closed circuit where they’re contractually protected from the consequences of poor play.

“ ‘It’s not right, and I hope people can see through that,’ DeChambeau said.  (For late arrivals, he’s protesting the denial of ranking points, not of human rights in his benefactor’s kingdom)….

“Among some LIV players, the stench of desperation is rising as rapidly as Greg Norman’s hollow promises are falling apart.  Those who believed the flaxen-haired finger puppet have cash, sure, but no access to the PGA Tour, no right to cherry-pick from the DP World Tour, no ranking points, and no respect as game-growing visionaries.  Decisions by the British arbitration panel [Ed. on DP World Tour membership] and a federal court in Northern California have for now marooned LIV players on an island, a reality that must be apparent to even the most obtuse of their number (it may take a while longer with Pat Perez).

“This explains the rising pitch of whining about access, about ranking points, about all manner of supposed conspiracies against them. It’s the defining trait of LIV and its bottom-feeders: the legitimacy of any institution is entirely dependent on whether it favors them, be it rankings, regulations or elections.

‘The crybaby routine is destined to grow louder in hopes that some spineless industry executive will act as a pacifier and see to it that LIV demands are met. It could work. Golf’s upper echelon doesn’t lack men who would cheerfully peel off Saudi riyals for their beleaguered organizations under the guise of making peace among warring factions.  But for all the noise, the arguments mounted by LIV players are little more than whimpering by those who made a clear-eyed choice, the consequences of which they are increasingly unprepared to live with.”

--I’m not commenting on the Tiger Woods sexual harassment suit brought by Erica Herman.  No reason to.

Premier League

--Monday, we had the big games in the battle to avoid relegation, and both Nottingham Forest and Everton vaulted from below the relegation line to safety…at least for now.

Fulham beat Leicester City 5-3, but Everton blasted Brighton 5-1 on the road, and Forest defeated Southampton 4-3.

So the standings…Played (35 of 38) – Points

16. Nottingham…35 – 33
17. Everton…35 – 32
18. Leicester…35 – 30
19. Leeds…35 – 30
20. Southampton…35 – 24

--In Champions League play Tuesday, the semifinals, Real Madrid and Man City tied at 1-1 in the first leg, the second leg at City.

Kevin de Bruyne sent a screamer into the goal to tie it, and so next week, City just needs to win the second leg, which would send them into the CL final against AC Milan or Inter Milan, who square off in their first leg today, Wednesday.

Stuff

--Denny Hamlin outdueled Kyle Larson on a last-lap pass at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, ending a 33-race winless drought dating to last year’s Coca-Cola 600, Cup Series win No. 49 in Hamlin’s career.  It was also Joe Gibbs Racing’s 400th win overall in NASCAR’s top series.

Bubba Wallace was fourth.

Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson got into it after the race.  Gragson was sent for a spin after Chastain got into Gragson’s car, one of many instances where Chastain has drawn the ire of drivers this season with his aggressiveness on the track.

Gragson put his hands on Chastain who responded with a sweeping right hook that appeared to connect. Gragson tried to return the punch, but he was pulled away by security and NASCAR officials.

“I’m sick and tired of it,” Gragson said of Chastain’s driving style.  “The guy runs into everyone.  When you have guys like Chase Elliott and other guys telling you to beat his ass, everyone is just sick of him.”

--Will Kentucky Derby winner Mage run in the Preakness on May 20?

Groom Moises Morales said of the moments after the victory that “Minutes later, he was so relaxed.  He ate good.  He came out of it so easy.”

What did the champ eat Saturday night?  Carrots and peppermints.  [After I watched the race, your editor had chicken parm and Coors Light.]

Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said Mage has shown all the right signs and will run in the Preakness as long as everything continues to go well.

Forte galloped at Churchill Downs on Monday morning and trainer Todd Pletcher said, “He looked very good.”  The plan is to ride him Friday or Saturday, but Pletcher said the foot bruise was “completely subsided” and “we’re looking good to breeze for the Preakness.”

Pletcher, with two Derby wins and four in the Belmont Stakes, has never won in the Preakness.

Meanwhile, as you would expect, with the seven deaths at Churchill Downs, all manner of articles are again being written on the demise of the sport, just as we had two years ago when there were major issues at Santa Anita.  It’s imperative the Preakness and Belmont Stakes go off with zero problems.

And then late Tuesday, the New York Times’ Joe Drape had a story about Forte and a failed drug test back in September, long before the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November.  The failed test for a substance used to relieve pain and inflammation resulted from a race Forte won at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The case has yet to be adjudicated, but New York racing officials are scheduled to hear from Todd Pletcher today, Wednesday.  Oh brother.

--Iowa University announced Monday that 26 athletes across five sports (baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, wrestling) and one full-time employee of the athletic department are suspected of wagering on sports in violation of NCAA rules.

In addition, Iowa State acknowledged 15 of its athletes across three sports (football, wrestling and track and field) are also suspected of violating rules.

It was not known whether any of the athletes are suspected of making wagers on contests in which they participated.

Iowa said the university was notified May 2 of potential criminal conduct related to sports wagering that also suggested possible NCAA violations.

The state Board of Regents said in a statement that the wagering was conducted online at Iowa and Iowa State.

The announcements came just days after Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohanon amid an investigation into suspicious betting activity on a game against LSU.

NCAA rules prohibit athletes, coaches and staff from betting on amateur, collegiate and professional sports in which the NCAA conducts a championship. For example, athletes can’t bet on NFL games even if state laws would legally allow them to do so if they weren’t competing under NCAA rules.

--We note the passing of former Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp, 85.  His family said his death was caused by complications of dementia.

Kapp had played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League before making it to the NFL in 1967 with Minnesota.  He took the Vikings to Super Bowl IV in January 1970, where the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Minnesota, 23-7.

“The Kansas City defense looked like a redwood forest,” he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune afterward.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

-----

[Posted Sunday p.m., prior to evening sports action.]

Add-on up top by noon, Wed.

Baseball Quiz: Vida Blue died the other day.  He won both the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season, 1971.  Name the other ten who did it in baseball history.  Answer below.

NBA

--The Knicks, after the long break between Game 2, last Tuesday, and Game 3, Saturday, in Miami, were absolutely brutal in falling to the Heat, 105-86, as Jimmy Butler scored 25 after sitting out Game 2 with his sprained ankle.

New York was 8 of 40 from 3 (20%), and 31-91 from the field overall (34%), with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle a combined 0 for 10 from beyond the arc.

Plus, the center duo of Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein, so effective in much of the playoffs, had a combined two points and eight rebounds.  The Knicks were beaten up inside.

And now key reserve Immanuel Quickley, who sprained his ankle late yesterday, may not be available for Game 4, Monday.

--Last Thursday, the Lakers were rolled by the Warriors in their Game 2 in San Francisco, 127-100, as Klay Thompson poured in 30 for Golden State, while for L.A., Anthony Davis, after all his spectacular play, was a no-show, 11 points.

But last night in Game 3 in Los Angeles, A.D. had 25 points and 13 rebounds, LeBron James had 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, and D’Angelo Russell had 21 on 5 of 8 from 3, the Lakers 15 of 31 from downtown as a team, as L.A. rolled, 127-97, to take a 2-1 series lead, Game 4 back in Los Angeles, Monday.

--The Suns proved they aren’t dead, taking Game 3 in Phoenix on Friday night, 121-114, over the Nuggets, Denver’s lead cut to 2-1. 

Devin Booker had a game-high 47 points with 9 assists, Kevin Durant adding 39 (14-16 FTs), plus 9 rebounds and 8 assists.  The Suns played without Chris Paul.

Denver got 32 points from Jamal Murray, and 30 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists from Nikola Jokic…a stunning line.

Game 4 is tonight after I go to post.

--The Celtics regained control of their series with the Sixers, winning Game 3 in Philly Friday, 114-102, to up 2-1.  Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 50 points in a balanced attack.  But while Joel Embiid was solid for Philadelphia with 30 points and 13 rebounds, Tyrese Maxey and James Hardin combined for just 7 of 30 from the field, Hardin’s second straight poor game after going off for 45 in the opener.

So, Game 4 was this afternoon in Philly, and in an extraordinary finish in overtime, the Sixers evened it up at 2-2, 116-115.  Jayson Tatum had given Boston the lead on his only three of the game, 115-113, with 0:37 to play, but he had clearly committed an offensive foul, pushing off (not called), and then James Hardin (42 points, returning to Game 1 form) hit a three with about 20 seconds to play, the Celts came down the court, taking no timeout, and Marcus Smart’s three was good to win it, only it was clearly after the buzzer.

Game 5 back in Boston, Tuesday.

--Milwaukee fired coach Mike Budenholzer just over a week after their stunning first-round playoff loss to Miami spoiled a season in which they owned the NBA’s best record.

Budenholzer’s ouster comes just two years after he directed the Bucks to their first NBA title in half a century.  The move also comes three weeks after the NBA finalized Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam’s purchase of a 25% stake in the team.

Budenholzer’s tenure was a good one…five seasons, a 271-120 regular-season record and 39-26 playoff mark in Milwaukee.

--The NBA has been getting huge ratings for the playoffs, and it helps to have high-profile teams like the Warriors, Lakers, Knicks and Celtics still in it.

Lakers-Warriors Game 1 on Tuesday was the best first- or second-round game on cable (TNT) in 11 years.

Separately, I have to admit I didn’t appreciate Stephen A. Smith as much as I do now.  The guy is a total hoot.  No wonder he’s paid beaucoup bucks.  He deserves it.

--In College Basketball, the highest-profile transfer, former Michigan center Hunter Dickinson, is heading to Kansas, which is rather huge for Jayhawks fans.

LeBron James’ son, Bronny, announced he was committing to USC, over Oregon and Ohio State.

And Florida state sophomore forward Matthew Cleveland is transferring to Miami, Cleveland averaging 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.  I’m really surprised he’s staying in conference, kind of a [cue Jeff Spicoli] move.

NHL

--Carolina has whipped the Devils 5-1, 6-1, in their first two games of their Eastern Conference semifinals down in Raleigh.  New Jersey has been in this position before.  Will they respond?

Yup, freakin’ 8-4!!!  Game 4 Tuesday back in one of the great vacation spots in the USA, Newark.

--Thursday, the Florida Panthers took a 2-0 series lead over the Maple Leafs, winning the two in Toronto.

Game 3 is tonight.

--Saturday, the Oilers won Game 2 of their series vs. the Golden Knights in Las Vegas, 5-1, to even things up at 1-1.  Leon Draisaitl had another two goals and Connor McDavid had a spectacular short-handed goal to make it 3-0 and then a second goal on the power play.

But Draisaitl, the second-leading scorer in the regular-season to teammate McDavid, now has 13 goals and 4 assists in the first eight postseason games.  Draisaitl had four goals in Edmonton’s 6-4 loss in Game 1 to the Golden Knights.

The day before Draisaitl’s 4-goal game, Joe Pavelski had four for the Dallas Stars in their 5-4 loss to Seattle, which is rather remarkable.  Only three others in NHL history had ever scored four in a losing playoff effort prior to Draisaitl and Pavelski.

--Speaking of Dallas-Seattle, that series is tied 1-1, Game 3 late tonight in Seattle.

--In hardly a surprise, the Rangers and head coach Gerard Gallant mutually agreed to part ways on Saturday.  As I said before, Gallant is a good man who steered the Rangers to 110- and 107-point seasons, with a .662 point percentage, in his two years, but that Game 7 no-show vs. the Devils, and blowing the 2-0 series lead, was a killer.

Gallant treats his players as professionals and is not a rah-rah guy, and in the end, that hurt him.

No clue as to where the Rangers turn now.  According to the New York Post, Joel Quenneville, the three-time Cup-winning coach in Chicago who is under unofficial and open-ended suspension by the NHL for his failure to act responsibly in connection with a sexual assault issue in the organization, is not among the candidates.

Quenneville has been out of the league since he was permitted to resign as Florida coach in late October 2021.  Commissioner Gary Bettman is the sole arbiter in the matter.

MLB

--The incredible Rays took on the Yankees for the first time this season and won Game 1 down in St. Pete, 5-4, to stretch their lead over New York to 10 games…on May 5.  Good lord.

Alas, the Yanks did win Saturday, 3-2, thanks to a strong bullpen effort.

But the lead goes back to 10 over the Yanks, Sunday, the Rays winning 8-7 in 10.  Gerrit Cole had his first poor outing in a no-decision…5 innings, 5 earned, ERA up to 2.09.

Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon’s debut with the Yankees hit another roadblock, with the pitcher saying on Friday his back issue is “chronic,” and he will have a cortisone shot next week in hopes that it speeds up the recovery process.  Rodon said it was up to the medical folks to figure out when he might be returning.

Rodon went on the injured list because of a forearm injury suffered after just one start during spring training.

Yankees management is on pins and needles.  They signed him to a six-year, $162 million contract in December.  When you hear the word “chronic,” you can imagine their angst.

--The Mets entered play Sunday just 17-17, 3-10 since a 14-7 start, the offense with just four runs in their last four games, boring as hell to watch, as in I watched little of their 4:05 p.m. Saturday start, opting for golf and the Derby instead.

And I did more of the same today, turning the Mets off when they fell behind 7-4, following online after as they went on to lose 13-6 to Colorado.  Now 17-18, a total shitshow.  More in my Add-on.

--There were some major streaks heading into today.

The Cardinals are an astonishing 10-24, losers of eight straight, including Saturday’s 6-5 loss at home to Detroit (15-17).  It is St. Louis’ first 8-game losing streak in 16 years.

[Well, St. Louis snapped the streak this afternoon, 12-6.]

The Pirates’ losing streak hit six on Saturday, falling 8-2 to the Blue Jays, both teams 20-14.  So much for Pittsburgh’s gaudy 20-8 start to the season.

[And the losing streak is now seven…the Pirates 10-1 losers to Toronto today.]

The Red Sox won their eighth straight Saturday in Philadelphia, 7-4, to improve to 21-14.  If you blinked, you missed the resurgence. Rafael Devers, while hitting a pedestrian .255, has 34 RBIs to lead all of baseball through yesterday’s action.

The Phillies, on the other hand, have lost six straight to fall to 15-19, after they had recovered from a poor start.  At least Bryce Harper hit his first home run Saturday and is batting .375 since his return.

[Philadelphia won today, 6-1, respective streaks over.]

--Back to the Cardinals, they signed 3-time All-Star catcher Willson (sic) Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million deal in the offseason, and now they are moving him to DH and the outfield, which speaks volumes.  He’s been OK at the plate, but they signed him to be their catcher.

--Matt Harvey announced his retirement Friday.  In an Instagram post, Harvey discussed how he “pitched to win. To fire up my team and more importantly, to fire up the fans in a city that I’ve always loved.”

“With all the amazing memories came a lot of injuries and tough times,” Harvey wrote.  “The realization that those amazingly powerful moments that make me thrive as a pitcher and help my teammates and city win are no longer possible.

“Believe me I wish I could have done more and brought more of those amazing moments back to life. I have to say this is my time to say thank you, and goodbye.”

Harvey, 34, has not pitched in the major leagues since 2021 with the Orioles.  He served a 60-game suspension at the start of the 2022 for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse in violation of MLB’s drug program, then spent the season pitching at three levels of the Orioles’ minor league system.

Harvey became a free agent after the 2022 season but went unsigned.  He did make two starts for Italy during the World Baseball Classic this year, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

Matt Harvey was a phenom when the Mets brought him up in 2012 and made his only All-Star appearance and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award vote as a 24-year-old in 2013, when he received his “Dark Knight” nickname.  After Tommy John surgery, he helped pitch the Mets into the World Series in 2015. 

But it was that World Series, Game 5, that left an indelible mark on Mets’ fans memory banks, and Harvey’s legacy.  He pitched eight sterling scoreless innings against the Royals, Mets up 2-0 in the game, but he was gassed.  Harvey then convinced manager Terry Collins to let him go out for the ninth, K.C. tied it up and won in 12, taking the series 4-1.

Harvey ended up with a career record of 50-66, a 4.42 ERA and 867 strikeouts. But it was a tale of two careers.  From 2012-2015 (missing 2014 due to TJ), Harvey was 25-18 in 65 starts for the Mets with a sterling 2.53 ERA.  And then it was downhill.

But there are indeed some good memories.  Harvey closed his post:

“To the fans, most importantly the NY Mets fans: you made a dream come true for me.  A dream I never could have thought to be true.  Who would have thought a kid from Mystic, CT, would be able to play in the greatest city in the world, his hometown.  You are forever embedded in my heart.”

And so he goes…a shooting star that flamed out….

--We note the passing of former All-Star and 3X World Series champ, Vida Blue.  He was 73, the Oakland A’s saying in a statement: “There are few players with a more decorated career than Vida Blue.  Vida will always be a franchise legend and a friend.”

Blue came up at the age of 19 in 1969 and had cups of coffee in ’69 and 1970, though throwing two shutouts in ’70, one a no-hitter, and then he really burst on the scene in 1971, winning both the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards with the A’s, going 24-8, 1.82 ERA, 301 strikeouts and 24 complete games, eight of them shutouts.  He remains among just 11 pitchers to win both honors in the same year.

But following the season he clashed with A’s owner Charlie Finley over his salary, played sparingly in 1972 as Oakland won the first of three straight World Series titles, and then played an integral role in the 1973 and ’74 titles.

Finley and Blue, though, never hit it off, Finley tried to break up the core of the team instead of paying the stars in free agency, and then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn had to block Finley’s attempts to trade Blue, twice, under Kuhn’s authority to act in the “best interests of baseball.”

Blue eventually was traded to the Giants in 1978 and would finish his career 209-161 with a 3.27 ERA, 2,175 strikeouts and 37 shutouts.  He was a six-time All-Star and the first to start All-Star Games for each league.

Off the field, Blue was ordered in December 1983 to serve three months in federal prison and fined $5,000 for misdemeanor possession of a miniscule amount of cocaine, and later in his life he had other issues that aren’t important today.  We choose to remember a helluva pitcher.  Let me tell ya…as a kid in 1972, you hoped to get a Vida Blue in your pack of baseball cards so you could stare at the numbers from 1971.

--Alabama fired its head baseball coach, Brad Bohannon, on Thursday, days after unusual bets were detected on a game involving the team.

The university said Thursday that Bohannon had been fired for “among other things, violating the standards, duties and responsibilities expected of university employees.”  It did not provide specifics about those alleged violations.

Bohannon was in his sixth season at Alabama, and had one NCAA tournament appearance, in 2021. This season the team was 30-15 with a 9-12 record in the SEC going into Thursday night.

U.S. Integrity, a company that looks for unusual betting patterns, reported such activity on a game Friday night between Alabama and LSU.

Two large bets placed at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati were viewed as suspicious, NOLA.com and ESPN reported. The bets were on LSU to win the game.

LSU, the No. 1 team in the country, was a comfortable favorite in the contest and won, 8-6.  The scheduled Alabama starter, Luke Holman, was scratched shortly before the game with back tightness and replaced by Hagan Banks, who had not started since March 16.  Banks allowed four runs in his three innings.

Holman is the team’s ace: As of Thursday, he has a 5-2 record from nine starts and a 3.15 ERA.

In the sixth inning, with LSU ahead, 4-1, Alabama hit a batter with the bases loaded and walked the next two hitters to give LSU a 7-1 lead.  Alabama rallied for four runs in the ninth to narrow the final margin.

At least two states, Ohio and New Jersey, halted all wagering on Alabama baseball as a result of the report of unusual betting.

Greg Sankey, commissioner of the SEC, said Alabama had “taken swift action after baseball sports wagering activity was questioned by industry regulators,” adding the SEC has had a monitoring arrangement with U.S. Integrity since 2018.

--Meanwhile, No. 2 Wake Forest beat No. 25 Boston College (Baseball America) two out of three this weekend in Winston-Salem, winning another ACC series, and no doubt remaining No. 2 in the polls.

In the opener, Rhett Lowder threw another seven scoreless to improve to 10-0, 1.67 ERA, Wake winning 6-0.

The second game, Saturday, was nuts.  Wake trailed 2-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth, and the Deacs scored 5 runs.  But BC took a 6-5 lead, the Deacs then scored 4 in the bottom of the 8th, 9-6 Wake, BC tied it up with 3 in the 9th, and won it in the 12th, 11-9.

Which set up today’s critical rubber match, and the Deacs weathered a severe test from the Eagles in the top of the ninth to prevail 4-2; Wake now 39-7, 18-5 in the ACC.

It’s all about keeping a No. 1 seed for the upcoming regionals and super regionals. Wake is 26-2 at home.

Kentucky Derby

--After I posted my Add-on Wed. a.m., we learned of three more horses, aside from potential Derby entry Wild On Ice, that had died at Churchill Downs, casting an unwelcome shadow over the world’s most famous race.

Veteran horse trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. was suspended indefinitely from Churchill Downs Thursday after two of his horses died within days of each other.

Joseph Jr., 36, is prohibited from entering his horses in races and applying for stall occupancy at all Churchill Downs Incorporated racetracks under the punishment, the company announced.

“Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we have reasonable concerns about the condition of his horses, and decided to suspend him indefinitely until details are analyzed and understood,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

“The safety of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest priority. We feel these measures are our duty and responsibility.”

Parents Pride, 4, and Chasing Arite, 5, collapsed and died on the track following their races at Churchill Downs last Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.  [Technically, Parents Pride was pulled up in the stretch.]

Owner Ken Ramsay described the two horses as “fit and healthy” and said officials “couldn’t find anything wrong” following an autopsy.

The fourth horse, Take Charge Briana, a 3-year-old filly trained by Wayne Lukas, broke down in the upper stretch during a turf race Tuesday and was euthanized.

Three horses were then scratched from the Derby for various reasons, including one of Saffie Joseph Jr.’s colts, due to his suspension.

And by the time we went to post, the Derby was further rattled with three more deaths, making that seven total at Churchill Downs, including two on Saturday in earlier races on the undercard.

And around noon, we had the shocking announcement that favorite Forte was scratched because of a bruised right heel, co-owner Mike Repole said, highly disappointed.

Repole said in interviews that the bruise began Wednesday.  Forte had won six of seven races and five in a row, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November and the Florida Derby last month.

But they ran the race, and 15-1 shot Mage, with only one career win, had a gutsy stretch run to win it, Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano snapping a 0-for-15 skid to win his first Derby.

Two Phil’s and Angel of Empire were second and third. 

Mike Repole said he thought Forte would be just fine in another few days, and if trainer Todd Pletcher sees no issues, no reason why we wouldn’t see the horse in the Preakness, which would help the sport some, amidst this very dark period.

College Football

--Colorado has had 47 players enter the transfer portal since the spring transfer window opened on April 15 with new coach Deion Sanders in charge, looking to turnaround a program that went 1-11.  [Since last August, 71 Buffaloes were portal bound.]

Since December, Sanders has brought in more than 35 players to the roster, but Division I teams are allotted 85 total scholarships each year and it’s not clear how many more scholarships, including for returning players from the 2022 squad, are still available.

Golf Balls

--At the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., a designated event, Rory McIlroy made his return but wasn’t a factor.   Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler sat out their first designated event of the year (which is allowed).

And after three rounds, Wyndham Clark had the lead by two over Xander Schauffele, Clark seeking his first PGA Tour win, though he’s had a very solid season thus far with seven top 20s.

Clark -16
Schauffele -14
Adam Scott -11
Tyrrell Hatton -11

And Clark closed the deal, winning by four over Schauffele.  Good for him.

Not a lot of drama as I watched the final ten holes, but further proof Clark has game.  And kudos to Jim Nantz for doing his usual Hall of Fame job, quoting from Clark’s mother’s obituary, she dying ten years ago, on her expectations for her son.

Hatton and Harris English finished tied for third. [Hatton continues to play well at big events.]

For the record, Rory was T47…he’s a mess.

--Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Illinois, Arizona State, Texas Tech and Pepperdine earned top seeds in the NCAA men’s golf tournament that begins play at six regional sites May 15-17.  Wake Forest made the field.

Eighty-one schools and 45 individuals not part of those select teams will vie to be in the top five in their regional and the low individual not on those teams to advance to the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, May 26-31.

Texas, a No. 3 seed in its regional, is the defending champ.

The individual champion, determined after 72 holes of stroke play, earns exemptions into the U.S. Open this summer and next year’s Masters.  Stroke play whittles the field down to eight schools, who then compete in match-play.  I love this format.

--The women’s NCAA tournament regionals commence on Monday, with No. 1 Wake Forest heading up the Raleigh regional.  Like in the case of the men, the top five teams in each regional move on the NCAA Championship.

--We note the passing of 1967 PGA Championship winner Don January, who passed away this weekend at the age of 93.  January was one of the stars when I was first getting into golf, and the tall Texan had a highly successful career, winning ten times on the PGA Tour, and then 22 times on the Champions Tour.

Premier League

--I have to admit, I was a little surprised the Premier League played Saturday amidst the coronation, strictly because of the massive security operation required that then had to take away from some of the stadium security, but then what do I know.

Tottenham’s Harry Kane overtook Wayne Rooney to move into second on the PL’s all-time goal-scoring list following his goal against Crystal Palace on Saturday, which earned the Spurs a 1-0 victory over Palace.

Kane’s header took his tally to 209 in England’s top tier, with only Alan Shearer ahead of him at 260.

Meanwhile, Manchester City prevailed over Leeds 2-1 to solidify its hold atop the table, and Liverpool beat Brentford 1-0.

Sunday, Newcastle and Arsenal squared off, and The Gunners showed they are not giving up the title to City that easily, winning on the road, 2-0, City’s lead back to just one point, though City with a game in hand.

In today’s finale, Manchester United suffered a bad loss at West Ham, 1-0, giving Liverpool life in the battle for the fourth and final Champions League slot.

Monday, some huge contests in the Battle to Avoid Relegation….

Leicester City at Fulham, Everton at Brighton, and Southampton at Nottingham Forest.

Standings (34/35 of 38)…Played – Points

1. Man City…34 – 82
2. Arsenal…35 – 81
3. Newcastle…34 – 65
4. Man U…34 – 63
5. Liverpool…35 – 62
6. Tottenham…35 – 57
7. Brighton…32 – 55  

16. Leicester City…34 – 30 …ahead on goal differential
17. Leeds…35 – 30
18. Nottingham Forest…34 – 30
19. Everton…34 – 29
20. Southampton…34 – 24

Stuff

--In Formula 1, they had the Miami Grand Prix today and it was more of the same, for the fifth race of the season, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez trading places as to who finishes 1-2 for the dominant Red Bull team, Max on top today, his third win, Perez with the other two.

Fernando Alonso did get his fourth podium finish in five, which is impressive.

--A Manhattan jury found Ed Sheeran’s hit “Thinking Out Loud” did not infringe on the copyright of the classic Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On.”

The jury determined that Sheeran did not wrongfully copy compositional elements or melodies. The jury found that Sheeran independently created his song.

Sheeran later said he is “obviously very happy with the outcome of the case,” adding “it looks like I’m not having to retire from my day job after all.”

“But at the same time I’m unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this are allowed to go to court at all,” he said.  Sheeran said eight years were spent talking about two songs with “dramatically” different lyrics melodies “and four chords which are also different and used by songwriters everyday all over the world.”

A day after the judgment, Sheeran held an impromptu pop-up concert in New York, standing on top of a parked car, startling those who just happened to be in the area.  A pretty cool moment.  I’m glad he won. 

I love Marvin Gaye, but his family has previously sued other artists for copyright infringement – and prevailed. 

Top 3 songs for the week 5/9/70: #1 “American Woman” (The Guess Who) #2 “ABC” (The Jackson 5)  #3 “Let It Be” (The Beatles)…and…#4 “Vehicle” (The Ides of March)  #5 “Spirit In The Sky” (Norman Greenbaum)  #6 “Love Or Let Me Be Lonely” (The Friends of Distinction)  #7 “Everything Is Beautiful” (Ray Stevens)  #8 “Instant Karma” (John Ono Lennon)  #9 “Turn Back The Hands Of Time” (Tyrone Davis)  #10 “Reflections Of My Life” (The Marmalade…B+ week…)

Baseball Quiz Answer: Eleven to win both the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season.

Clayton Kershaw, 2014
Justin Verlander, 2011
Dennis Eckersley, 1992
Roger Clemens, 1986
Willie Hernandez, 1984
Rollie Fingers, 1981
Vida Blue, 1971
Denny McLain, 1968
Bob Gibson, 1968
Sandy Koufax, 1963
Don Newcombe, 1956

Add-on up top by noon, Wed.