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Bar Chat

09/23/2024

All about Shohei

Add-on posted early Tuesday a.m.

MLB

--Sunday night, the Mets had a stirring 2-1 win over the Phillies and Zack Wheeler at a packed Citi Field, a sixth-inning Brandon Nimmo home run standing up, as the Mets’ bullpen threw five scoreless, Edwin Diaz with a six-out save for just the second time in his career (after a 4-out save the day before).

From 24-35 to 87-69.  Quite a season, including for first-year manager Carlos Mendoza.

But despite the stirring campaign thus far, Sunday, the final regular season home game, was the second straight sellout, but just the fifth on the season, and for 78 dates, the Mets drew 2,329,299, down from 2,573,555 last year when the team was a desultory 75-87.  Owner Steve Cohen can’t be happy with this aspect.

The Mets start a ginormous three-game series with the Braves in Atlanta tonight, Tuesday, and this first one is critical, because weather could be a big factor Wednesday and Thursday. [Think looming tropical storm/hurricane Helene.]

--The Yankees, in sweeping the A’s 7-4 on Sunday after I posted, went up six games in the AL East on Baltimore, Aaron Judge hitting No. 55.

--Also Sunday, Shohei Ohtani went 4-for-5, a home run (No. 53) and two stolen bases (Nos. 54 and 55) in a 6-5 L.A. win over the Rockies.

But Yoshinobu Yamamoto was ineffective, 3 innings, 4 earned, and heading into the playoffs, the Dodgers’ rotation is an absolute mess.

--The White Sox lost No. 120 (36-120), 4-2 at San Diego.  Weeks ago I gave up the ship...I accepted that Chicago would pass the beloved 1962 Mets, 40-120.  Life goes on.  But there is nothing ‘beloved’ about the ChiSox and their losing.

--Only four games in baseball Monday night, and two of consequence.

Seattle at Houston; San Francisco at Arizona.

AL Wild Card standings after Monday’s play....

Baltimore 86-70...+4
Kansas City 82-74...--
Detroit 82-74...--
Minnesota 81-75...1
Seattle 81-76...1.5

NL Wild Card standings....

San Diego 90-66...+3
Mets 87-69...+0.5
Arizona 87-70...--
Atlanta 85-71...1.5

Seattle beat the Astros 6-1 last night, while the Diamondbacks fell to the Giants, 6-3.

Philadelphia clinched its first division title since 2011, Aaron Nola leading the Phillies to a 6-2 win over the Cubs, as they get to celebrate at home.

--The Reds fired manager David Bell Sunday night, Cincy with a 76-81 record entering the final week of the season, Bell in his sixth season, 409-456 overall, getting the Reds into the Covid-year playoffs in 2020, after which he received his first of two contract extensions with the Reds in 2021.

In 2022, the Reds lost 100 games, went through a rebuild and were in the race last season until the final weekend. Bell then received another extension, but the momentum didn’t carry through into 2024.

NFL

--Monday night, Buffalo moved to 3-0, romping over winless Jacksonville (0-3), 47-10, as Josh Allen was superb, 23/30, 263, 4-0, 142.1, while rushing for 44 more.  Damar Hamlin also grabbed his first NFL interception, and fittingly, on “Monday Night Football,” as he’s come full circle from that scary moment on MNF in January 2023.

And Bears fans today are wondering why they didn’t take Jayden Daniels instead of Caleb Williams, as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Daniels, was almost perfect for the Commanders (2-1) in a 38-33 upset of the Bengals (a shocking 0-3).

Daniels was 21/23, 254, 2-0, 141.7, plus 39 yards and a touchdown on the ground.  His completion percentage (91.3) set a new rookie record in a game where the player attempted at least 20 passes.

--Pretty amazing the Steelers are 3-0, but in beating the Chargers Sunday, everyone is wondering why Justin Herbert, who hadn’t practiced all week with an ankle injury, was allowed to play Sunday, whereupon he reinjured his ankle and no telling how long he’ll be out now.  Not a good moment for Jim Harbaugh.

--Watching the dysfunctional Cowboys, I couldn’t help but think, ‘When is Jerry Jones going to understand he can’t run the whole show...that the team needs a real GM?’

He gave Dak Prescott a record contract, and he’s just not worthy of same; and while Cee Dee Lamb is an outstanding receiver, his behavior Sunday was atrocious and if I was a teammate, I’d be furious.  He has a costly turnover, a critical false start penalty and then the rest of the contest acted like an imp, bitching on the sidelines.

And was it me, or at least over the TV it sounded like there were a ton of Ravens fans in the crowd, and this isn’t a fan base known for traveling well.

Anyway, Ravens fans feel much today after their 0-2 start...all is well.  Lamar (12/15, 182, 1-0, 139.4...and 14-87-1 on the ground) is still all-world), and the addition of Derrick Henry was huge, Henry clearly healthy, rumbling for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

--Panthers fans got to see what a real quarterback can do, as “Good Andy,” Andy Dalton, showed up Sunday, Carolina with a solid 36-22 win in Las Vegas, Dalton 26/37, 319, 3-0, 123.6.  Good for them.

--Sunday night, the Chiefs beat the Falcons in Atlanta, 22-17, in yet another unimpressive outing for Patrick Mahomes, 26/39, 217, 2-1, 87.2.  Yes, K.C. is 3-0, but they’ve been far from dominating, though their defense came up big in the fourth quarter, multiple times, and they got a break when a pass interference call wasn’t called on tight end Kyle Pitts in the end zone.

--The NFL penalized Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James, suspending him for one game without pay for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, the NFL announced Monday.

Sunday, in the Chargers’ loss to the Steelers, James lowered his head and made what the NFL deemed as ‘forcible contact’ to Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth.  James was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play.

The three-time Pro Bowler was called for multiple unnecessary roughness penalties last season.

College Football

--The season heats up next Saturday with 2 Georgia at 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 7:30 ABC.  All about Jalen Milroe and whether the Georgia defense can contain him.

19 Illinois at 9 Penn State is a big one as well.

--Utah State is joining the Pac-12, leaving the Mountain West, giving the Pac-12 seven schools, one shy of the NCAA requirement for a major conference, joining Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State (along with holdovers Oregon State and Washington State).

UNLV is now reconsidering whether it should be the eighth school, which would leave the Mountain West with six schools for the 2026 football season.  Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State and Wyoming remain with the MWC.  So they would need to get two football-playing schools by 2028 to abide by the rules.

Just pathetic.

Stuff

--Just to review Rory McIlroy’s season of near misses after losing in a playoff to Billy Horschel Sunday at the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth.

BMW PGA...T2 (shared with the third playoff participant, Thirston Lawrence)
Irish Open...2
Scottish Open...T4
U.S. Open...2
Valero Texas Open...3
Zurich team championship...1st with Shane Lowry
Wells Fargo...1st
Canadian Open...T4
Hero Dubai Challenge...1st

So it was far from a disaster...it’s just his runner-up finishes were in high-profile events.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

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[Posted Sunday p.m., prior to late NFL and MLB games.]

Brief Add-on up top, by noon Tuesday.

NFL Quiz: The NFL and AFL merged, effective with the 1970 season.  For the four years prior, 1966-69, who led their respective leagues in rushing.  Hint: Three of them led twice each.  The other two are hard.  Answer below.

MLB

--It’s been all about one player, one of the two or three best in baseball history at this point, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers.

Thursday was truly historic.  In a 20-4 win over the Marlins in Miami, Ohtani, who just 27 days ago reached the 40/40 club, went 6-for-6, four runs scored, two steals, two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs, reaching 51/51, baseball’s first 50/50 man.

He was MLB’s first player with three home runs and two stolen bases in a single game.

Most RBIs by a Dodgers player in a game since RBIs became official in 1920, and the most by a player out of the leadoff spot since 1920.

He was the second player since at least 1901 with six hits in a game, including five for extra bases.

The 51 home runs were the most in a single season in Dodgers history (Shawn Green with 49).

And he clinched his first playoff berth after 866 games, the most on any current rosters without a playoff appearance.

For L.A., they clinched their 12th straight postseason appearance.

The next 24 hours everyone was weighing in, whether Thursday was the greatest baseball game of all time.  Given everything at play, it has to be.  [The aforementioned Shawn Green went 6-for-6, four home runs, 7 RBIs, five extra base hits, but it was an early season game and while Green holds the record for 19 total bases in a game, the stolen bases are a key element in the story, and he had none that day.]

Jerry Brewer / Washington Post

“In his first season playing under the largest contract in team sports history, Ohtani managed to boost his value. That was supposed to be impossible, even for a man of his diverse talents, because elbow surgery left him unable to pitch. When the Dodgers committed $700 million for 10 years for Ohtani, they did so expecting a limited first impression.  But Ohtani doesn’t do limited.

“He was supposed to be a normal star in 2024, just an elite slugger, a streamlined designated hitter instead of two all-stars in one body. Instead, he stretched his versatility.

“Ohtani hadn’t swiped more than 26 bases in any of his first six seasons.  He has 51 now, and there’s still a week left.  In June, Mookie Betts broke his right hand, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to move Ohtani from second to leadoff in the batting order. The new role enabled Ohtani to explore the speed dimension of his game like never before. Three quarters of his stolen bases have come when he bats first.  For the season, Ohtani has more homers and a higher on-base-plus-slugging percentage as a leadoff hitter....

“For years, we considered Ohtani a modern-day Babe Ruth.  Now he’s functioning more like a 6-foot-4, 210-pound Rickey Henderson.  He can’t pitch, so he sharpened another tool.  It’s stunning to realize that he turned his side gig into an opportunity to make history....

“We’re used to the greatest athletes adding exclamation points to their brilliance. On the night LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record, he sauntered into the arena wearing a sleek all-black suit, and even though he needed 36 points to make history, you knew his pursuit wouldn’t last another game.  Alex Ovechkin keeps making history in style.  On the brink of 3,000 hits, Derek Jeter went 5 for 5 and launched a homer to clinch immortality.”

Meanwhile, the fan that caught the 50th home run baseball, which clinched the 50/50 club, took it home rather than negotiate a trade.

Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run ball sold for $1.5 million at auction in 2022.  Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball sold for $3 million.  More recently, Albert Pujols’ 700th home run ball sold for $360,000. 

Ohtani’s ball isn’t something you hand over for a signed bat and a selfie.  As one scribe put it (and I apologize I forgot his name), “Teams gouge fans with ticket prices. This is a rare opportunity to return the favor.”

Friday, Ohtani did it again, 3-for-4, home run No. 52, stolen base No. 52, the 14th time he has homered and stolen a base in the same game, bettering Rickey Henderson’s season mark of 13 games in 1986 with the Yankees, L.A. winning the game 6-4 over the Rockies.

He had stolen base No. 53 in a 6-3 loss to the Rockies Saturday.

--The Mets entered play Saturday with a two-game lead over Atlanta for the final card spot, a game behind Arizona for the second slot.

New York had won 16 of 20 behind sterling starting pitching, including a 10-6 win* over the Phillies on Thursday, the start of a 4-game series with first-place Philadelphia.

*The first time the Mets had scored 10 or more runs in three straight games in franchise history.

But they fell apart Friday night, losing 12-2, the Phillies clinching a postseason berth for the third straight season.  Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBI. At least the Braves lost to the Marlins in Miami, 4-3.

In 2022, the Phillies reached the World Series, losing in six games to the Astros, and last season, they fell in Game 7 of the NLCS to the Diamondbacks, dropping both Games 6 and 7 at Citizens Bank Park.

The Mets badly needed to win these last two at home before heading on the road for three in Atlanta and three in Milwaukee to wrap up the regular season, the Brewers having already clinched the division, so perhaps resting some of their starters.

And Saturday, they came through, 6-3, Sean Manaea with his eighth straight start of 6 2/3 or more, now 12-5, 3.29.  The Mets are 16-3 in his last 19 starts.  Francisco Alvarez continued his power surge, going yard, along with phenom Luisangel Acuna, his third homer since his call-up ten days ago in place of the injured Francisco Lindor, who the Mets hope to get back in time for the Braves series, starting Tuesday.

New York is in the ESPN Sunday night game against the Phils.

Atlanta beat the Marlins 6-2, yesterday, to stay two back of the Metsies for the final wild card position.

--The Yankees entered play on Saturday with a comfortable 4-game lead over the struggling Orioles, New York battling with Cleveland for the best record in the A.L. and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

And it’s now five, after a 10-0 shutout of the A’s, Carlos Rodon with six scoreless, now 16-9, 3.98, and Aaron Judge with home run No. 54. 

The Orioles lost to the Tigers 6-4 in 10 innings, Detroit continuing to surge toward a wild card slot.

--Wake Forest’s Rhett Lowder is 2-2, 1.40, with five shutout innings Saturday, the Reds over the Pirates 7-1.  Cincy’s Elly De La Cruz became the youngest player in MLB history to hit 25 home runs and steal 60 bases in a season.

Also, Saturday, De La Cruz became the third player in major league history with 35 doubles, 25 homers and 60 stolen bases in a season, joining Atlanta Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2023 and Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan in 1973, according to ESPN Research.

Sunday, Lowder’s CWS mound opponent, Paul Skenes, threw five shutout innings, 9 strikeouts, no walks, as Pittsburgh beat the Reds 2-0, Skenes 11-3, 1.99.

--The White Sox lost to the Padres in San Diego Saturday, 6-2, to go to 36-119.

--The Washington Nationals shipped All-Star shortstop C.J. Abrams to the minors for the final week of the season after Abrams reportedly spent the entire night at a casino near Chicago and left just hours before the Nats faced the Cubs in a 1 p.m. game Friday.  He went 0-for-3 while striking out and walking during the game.

--So, the wild card standings, through Saturday’s play....

AL WC

Baltimore 86-69...+4.5
Kansas City 82-73...+0.5
Minnesota 81-73...--
Detroit 81-74...0.5
Seattle 80-75...1.5

NL WC

San Diego 89-66...+3
Arizona 87-68...+1
Mets 86-69...--
Atlanta 84-71...2

*San Diego is only 3 behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

But as I go to post, the Braves beat the Marlins 5-4, so the Mets’ lead has been to 1 ½ for the last wild card spot.

And Detroit is in the third AL WC slot, having beaten the Orioles, 4-3, while Minnesota lost the first of two in Boston, 8-1, Tristan Casas with three homers, 7 RBIs for the Red Sox.

--Mike Trout expressed a willingness to move off center field and instead play an outfield corner spot or DH in an effort to stay healthy.

Games played by Trout the last four seasons....

2021: 36
2022: 119
2023: 82
2024: 29

College Football

Comments written prior to release of the new AP poll Sunday afternoon....

2 Georgia, 4 Alabama and 9 Oregon were idle.

In games of significance in the top 25 Saturday....

No. 1 Texas (4-0) easily handled UL Monroe, who features quarterback “General Booty,” a rather colorful name.  The Longhorns started Arch Manning for the injured Quinn Ewers and Arch was only so-so, 15/29, 258, 2-2.

3 Ohio State (3-0) whipped Marshall (1-2) 49-14, though the Buckeyes were tested early.

5 Ole Miss (4-0) beat Georgia Southern (2-2) 52-13, Jaxson Dart with 4 touchdown passes, Tre Harris with a monster game, 11 receptions, 225 yards and two TDs.

6 Tennessee (4-0) passed a major test, 25-15 on the road at 15 Oklahoma (3-1), the Sooners with just 226 yards of offense.

7 Missouri (4-0) needed two overtimes to defeat Vanderbilt (2-2), 30-27.  The Tigers should drop a rank.

And 8 Mami (4-0) should move up one after a 50-15 win at South Florida (2-2), as Heisman candidate Cam Ward was 24/34, 404, 3-1.

10 Penn State (3-0) shutout the world’s worst team, Kent State (0-4) 56-0, with a program record 718 yards of offense to a putrid 67 for the Golden Flashes, who lost two quarterbacks in the first half.  And the Nittany Lions beat the spread, 49 points.

11 USC (2-1) had a bad loss at 18 Michigan (3-1) 27-24, as the Wolverines’ Kalel Mullins rumbled for 152 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns, while Trojan QB Miller Moss threw a pick-six.

12 Utah (4-0) had a big win at 14 Oklahoma State (3-1) 22-19.

BYU (4-0) had a huge victory at home against 13 Kansas State (3-1), 38-9, and the Cougars should be ranked.

16 LSU (3-1) beat UCLA (1-2) 34-17 in Baton Rouge.

17 Notre Dame (3-1) had a workmanlike 28-3 over Miami (OH), as quarterback Riley Leonard had 143 yards on the ground with two touchdowns.  That’s his game.

19 Louisville (3-0) beat Georgia Tech (3-2) 31-19.

21 Clemson (2-1) has its offense running on all cylinders these days, 59-35 over NC State (2-2), but the Tigers were up 45-7 at the half and 59-14 after three.

23 Northern Illinois (2-1) will be out of the top 25 after a loss to Buffalo (3-1), 23-20 in overtime.

Friday night, 22 Nebraska (3-1) had a tough loss at home against 24 Illinois (4-0), 31-24 in overtime.  The Cornhuskers, who are much improved, nonetheless have 25 straight losses to top 25 opponents since 2016.

And....

James Madison (3-0) humiliated North Carolina (3-1) in Chapel Hill, 70-50, as QB Alonza Barnett III had five touchdowns passing and two on the ground.  Carolina had five turnovers and a blocked punt for a TD.

Then again, the Dukes were 11-2 last season.  They have very quickly built a program.

Rutgers is 3-0 after a nice 26-23 win at Virginia Tech (2-2).

Virginia is 3-1 with a 43-24 win at Coastal Carolina (3-1), the Cavaliers able to hit the clubs in Myrtle Beach after.  Guys, remember to tip the barmaids...they work hard too!

Boston College is 3-1 with a terrific win over Michigan State (3-1), 23-19, the Spartans committing four turnovers.

Coach Prime is 3-1 as Colorado defeated Baylor (2-2) 38-31 in OT.  Travis Hunter had seven receptions for 130 yards, and three tackles, including a forced fumble, the two-way player headed towards NFL riches.

But the Buffaloes were trailing 31-24 with one play left in regulation, when Shedeur Sanders rolled to his left and heaved a 43-yard pass into the diving arms of wide receiver LaJohntay Wester to force overtime.

And the Pitt Panthers are 4-0 behind freshman redshirt QB Eli Holstein, who had three touchdowns passing and two rushing in a 73-17 win over Youngstown State (1-3).

Army and Navy are both 3-0.  Navy beat Memphis, 56-44, the Tigers supposed to be a Group of Five playoff favorite, while Army beat Rice 37-14.

Lastly, Wake Forest, thankfully, was off this weekend.  I’m hoping coach Dave Clawson and our athletic director spent the week in the box, getting their minds right after embarrassing the university in pulling out of our commitment for a return game against Ole Miss in Oxford next year that also cost us a cool $1 million.

--Wisconsin lost quarterback Tyler Van Dyke for the season with a knee injury last weekend, Van Dyke sustaining an ACL tear in his right knee during the Badgers’ loss to Alabama.  They were idle this week.

--And now the new AP Poll!

1. Texas 4-0 (44)
2. Georgia 3-0 (13)
3. Ohio State 3-0 (5)
4. Alabama 3-0
5. Tennessee 4-0
6. Ole Miss 4-0
7. Miami (FL) 4-0
8. Oregon 3-0
9. Penn State 3-0
10. Utah 4-0
11. Missouri 4-0...down 4
12. Michigan 3-1
13. USC 2-1
14. LSU 3-1
15. Louisville 3-0...up 4
16. Notre Dame 3-1
17. Clemson 2-1...up 4
18. Iowa State 3-0
19. Illinois 4-0...up 5
20. Oklahoma State 3-1...down 6
21. Oklahoma 3-1...down 6
22. BYU 4-0
23. Kansas State 3-1...down 10
24. Texas A&M 3-1
25. Boise State 2-1

Indiana is No. 27 if you carry out the votes.

Georgia at Alabama next week!

NFL

--Going back to Thursday night, us Jets fans were thrilled with what they saw from Aaron Rodgers and Co., a 24-3 win over the hated Patriots, Rodgers a cool 27/35, 281, 2-0, 118.9, while the running back tandem of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen had a combined 151 yards running and receiving, a good formula for success.

--Today, the Giants (1-2) won their first, 21-15, holding off the Browns (1-2), Cleveland with some key late drops on passes from Deshaun Watson, while New York, after a strong first half, eked it out.  Malik Nabers had eight receptions, 78 yards, and two touchdowns for the Giants.

--The Eagles are 2-1, Saquon Barkley with a 65-yard touchdown run, 17-147-2 overall, and Philadelphia defeated New Orleans (2-1) in the Big Easy, 15-12.

--Sam Darnold threw four touchdown passes for Minnesota (3-0), as the Vikes defeated the Texans (2-1) 34-7.  Aaron Jones contributed 102 on the ground.

--My man, Bo Nix, got his first NFL win for the Broncos (1-2), 26-7 over the Bucs (2-1), Nix a solid 25/36, 216, 0-0, with 47 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

--The Colts beat the Bears 21-16, both teams 1-2, Caleb Williams with three turnovers for Chicago, as his rough start continues in the NFL.

--The Steelers are 3-0, 20-10 winners over the Chargers (2-1).  Justin Herbert, a few days ago, wasn’t expected to start for Los Angeles, he did, but then he aggravated his ankle injury.

--Green Bay (2-1) beat the hapless Titans (0-3), 30-14, Malik Willis, in place of the injured Jordan Love, with his second win, 73 yards rushing including a score.

--Former star running back Mercury Morris died.  He was 77.  Morris was a running back and kick returner on the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated Super Bowl team in 1972, and he helped the team repeat in 1973.

Over eight years, the first seven with the Dolphins, Mercury, one of the more exciting players of his era, rushed 804 times for 4,133 yards, a sterling 5.1 average, and he returned three kickoffs for touchdowns.  In the playoffs he averaged 4.6 per carry.

Morris, along with Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick, comprised what was known as the “perfect backfield.”  Csonka bulled his way forward, Kiick was the versatile back, terrific catching it out of the backfield, and Morris was the speed element.

NBA

--76ers star Joel Embiid reached agreement with the team on a three-year, $193 million extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season.

This should put to rest any whispers Embiid wants out of Philadelphia.

The 30-year-old had two years and $110 million left on his contract and a player option for the 2026-27 season.

Philadelphia signed Paul George in the offseason to team with Embiid and rising point guard Tyrese Maxey as the Sixers look to contend in the Eastern Conference.

--Adrian Wojnarowski shocked the league.  ESPN’s lead NBA insider announced Wednesday on X he’s retiring from the outlet and news media to become the general manager of the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball program, this being his alma mater.

He’s walking away from $millions a year.

“I grew up the son of a factory worker two miles from ESPN’s campus and only ever dreamed of making a living as a sportswriter,” Woj wrote on X.  “Thirty-seven years ago, the Hartford Courant gave me my first byline and I never stopped chasing the thrill of it all.

“This craft transformed my life, but I’ve decided to retire from ESPN and the news industry. I understand the commitment required in my role and it’s an investment that I’m no longer driven to make. Time isn’t in endless supply and I want to spend mine in ways that are more personally meaningful.”

Wojnarowski was tethered to his phone 24/7/365, the best in his business, and that takes a toll.

Having attended a game at St. Bonaventure about two years ago (boy, that school is in the boonies, a long, long trip from here), I totally get it.  It’s a cool school, and being an alumnus, the students, players and coaches will love having him around.  His focus will include Name Image and Likeness (NIL) duties, recruiting and supporting head coach Mark Schmidt.

Jerry Brewer / Washington Post

“It wasn’t his intention, but Wojnarowski helped stir interest during the most lucrative period in NBA history.  As player mobility and franchise impatience skyrocketed, he blanketed coverage of the game beyond the game, and sometimes the transactions were more gripping to follow than the basketball.  He entertained with news, not shtick or loud hot takes.  During his ESPN segments, he transmitted all the details like a classic reporter, with facts above presentation. Even as his annual salary reportedly ballooned to more than $7 million, his glasses and suits remained understated.

“In a decaying American journalism industry, we don’t take fond farewells for granted anymore.  It was moving to see the attention and warm response for Wojnarowski, a kind but fiercely competitive colleague....

‘The NBA celebrated Woj with a statement that concluded with a lovingly cheesy sentence: ‘Sources close to the situation say that his future is bright.’”

Premier League

--Saturday, Chelsea beat West Ham on the road 3-0, Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 3-0, Tottenham had a 3-1 victory over Brentford, and Manchester United and Crystal Palace played to a 0-0 draw.

--Sunday, we had a biggie...Manchester City hosting Arsenal, and it was a thriller, 2-2.  Erling Haaland scored just nine minutes into the action, but Arsenal answered with two before the half.

The Gunners, though, also got a red card and played the entire second half 10 against 11 yet survived until eight minutes into extra time when John Stones scored to tie it at 2-2, and that’s where it ended at Etihad Stadium.  Valiant effort for Arsenal, just a little short of perfection.

But City’s star midfielder Rodri said earlier in the week that top soccer players are close to going on strike because of the number of games they are having to play, and I totally side with the guy.

The Premier League season is 38 games, starting in August and going into May.  Europe’s other elite leagues have similar schedules.  The PL plays through the holidays (the other leagues work in a break).  There is hardly an offseason, especially if you make a big run in the Champions or Europa Leagues.

And that’s the issue...all these extra games added to the calendar in competitions like the Champions League, which started Tuesday.  [I’m not following it until they get to the final next spring...my team isn’t involved, couldn’t care less.]

Rodri was asked Tuesday if players might start refusing to play because of the calendar.

“I think we are close to that,” he said in a news conference.  “It’s easy to understand.  You ask any player, he will say the same – it’s not the opinion of (just) Rodri or whoever. I think it’s a general opinion of the players.

“If it keeps this way, it will be a moment when we have no other option, I really think.  It’s something that worries us because we are the guys who suffer.”

Rodri suffered a knee injury today against Arsenal.

Stuff

--In Golf you have the four majors, then The Players, and if there was a sixth biggie, it would be the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship, held at Wentworth, England, and we had an exciting playoff between Billy Horschel and Rory McIlroy today, that I watched on Golf Channel.  [Thirston Lawrence was a third participant, but he then doubled the first playoff hole.]

On the second hole, both Horschel and McIlroy were on the green in two on the par-5 18th, and Horschel sunk his eagle putt for the win, Rory first two-putting for birdie.

I love how Horschel fully embraces playing the DP World Tour and this was his third win on it, and the biggest.

But yet another disappointment for Rory, the two good friends, Horschel expressing after how part of him was deeply disappointed because he knows how much Rory means for the game.

--Kyle Larson led a stunning 462 of the 500 laps Saturday night to win the NASCAR Cup Series’ race in Bristol, Tenn.  It was the final of the three Round of 16 races for the playoffs, and Ty Gibbs, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski and Harrison Burton were eliminated.

Larson picked up his fifth win of the year, 28 for his career, beating Chase Elliott by 7 seconds in what was the most dominating showing in a points race this season. 

My friend Matt S. always goes to this race, and he said Dale Earnhardt Jr. was out at 1:30 in the morning, Friday, signing autographs, Matt getting his selfie.

--They held the all-British heavyweight title fight Saturday night at Wembley Stadium before 96,000 fans, and Daniel Dubois destroyed Anthony Joshua, knocking him out in the fifth round.

Dubois gained the IBF belt after it was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk and Tyson Fury are fighting Dec. 21 in a rematch for the WBA, WBC and WBO belts, so Dubois should be in line to fight that winner.

--A 60-year-old woman was burned by scalding water while walking off-trail in a thermal area of Yellowstone National Park, the National Park Service said.

As reported by the Washington Post’s Victoria Bisset:

“The woman, from Windsor, N.H., was walking with her husband and her leashed dog near the Mallard Lake Trailhead at Old Faithful on Monday afternoon, when she broke through a thin crust over the scalding water, NPS said in a statement.  Yellowstone sits above a giant, active volcano, and rain seeping underground is heated, rising to the surface as hot springs, geysers and other geothermal features.”

The woman suffered second- and third-degree burns to her lower leg and was taken by helicopter to an Idaho hospital for treatment.  Her husband and dog were uninjured.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, hot springs are responsible for more deaths and injuries than wildlife in the park.  Two years ago, “a foot was found” in a hot spring in the south of the park, later identified as a 70-year-old man from Los Angeles.

As in it’s a pretty simple message. Stay on the marked trails and boardwalks!

--I know you’ve seen it, but I had to get down for the archives the story of zoogoers in China becoming outraged after discovering that the so-called “pandas” they were cooing over were just painted dogs.

The duped visitors claimed they only realized the scam at the Shanwei Zoo when one of the apparent pandas started panting and barking, according to local media.

In a video, one poorly painted pooch can be seen strolling along – with a long, curly tail.

The zoo initially tried to wash its hands of the sham by bizarrely claiming the animals were a breed of “panda dogs.”

It later came clean, and admitted it had just dyed two chow chows – a breed popular in northern China.

--We note the passing of Kathryn Crosby, actress and Bing Crosby’s second, and final, wife. She was 90.

After Bing died suddenly while golfing with friends in Spain in 1977, Kathryn became the guardian of her husband’s legacy, despite some salacious, largely untrue, books that blistered Bing, though he wasn’t without fault.

--The New York Post had a story on Mariah Carey and her extravagant lifestyle, such as $100,000 a month on exotic flowers, and $45,000 spa treatments for her dogs.

Her Christmas tour starts Nov. 6 in California and wraps up in Brooklyn on Dec. 17.  After, she then kicks off a Las Vegas residency in January, with tickets, get this, going for up to $2,700 a pop!

But she’s had some tough personal struggles recently.  She lost her mother and estranged sister on the same day last month.

“My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother,” Carey shared on Aug. 27.  “Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.”  [I didn’t see what happened to the sister.]

Top 3 songs for the week 9/25/76:  #1 “Play That Funky Music” (Wild Cherry)  #2 “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” (England Dan & John Ford Coley)  #3 “A Fifth Of Beethoven” (Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band...absolutely hideous...)...and...#4 “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty” (KC & The Sunshine Band)  #5 “Lowdown” (Box Scaggs...from awesome album, ‘Silk Degrees’...)  #6 “Devil Woman” (Cliff Richard)  #7 Summer” (War...great tune...)  #8 “If You Leave Me Now” (Chicago) #9 “Disco Duck (Part 1)” (Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots...moronic...)  #10 “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” (Lou Rawls...love how he came up with this monster hit...Nos. #3 and #9, however, drag this week down to a C-...)

NFL Quiz Answer: AFL/NFL rushing leaders, 1966-69....

1966

AFL – Jim Nance, BOS, 1458 yards
NFL – Gale Sayers, CHI, 1231

1967

AFL – Jim Nance, BOS, 1216
NFL – Leroy Kelly, CLE, 1205

1968

AFL – Paul Robinson, CIN, 1023
NFL – Leroy Kelly, CLE, 1239

1969

AFL – Dicke Post, SDG, 873
NFL – Gale Sayers, CHI, 1032

If you got Dickie Post, you’re good...very good....

Bazooka Joe says: “Leroy played his college ball at Morgan State!”

Brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.

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