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Bar Chat

03/31/2025

March Madness, Mikaela Shiffrin, Alysia Liu and Ilia Malinin...

Add-on posted early Tuesday.

March Madness

Should be a fun night in San Antonio next Saturday.

1 Florida vs. 1 Auburn...6:09 ET
1 Houston vs. 1 Duke...8:49 ET

All four No. 1 seeds advance for the first time since 2008.

Auburn star Johni Broome injured his right elbow and left leg, but X-rays were negative on the elbow.  When he returned he was seen favoring his ‘left’ arm late in the game and not using his right to get rebounds.  I’m sure he’ll be fine by Saturday.

Both games on paper could be epic.

--This is kind of funny...the AP Preseason Top 25 had, as you all know, Kansas at No. 1.

But Houston was preseason No. 4, Duke 7, Auburn 11, and Florida 21.

With all the roster changes in the offseason, it’s virtually impossible to get it right these days early on.

--St. John’s picked up a big one in the portal, Bryce Hopkins, who has played four years at Providence and will be a grad transfer.  Hopkins is a highly talented forward, but he’s been injury-riddled the last two seasons.

The women have their Final Four in Tampa, Fla., Friday.

1 UCLA vs. 2 UConn
1 South Carolina vs. 1 Texas

UConn’s Paige Bueckers had 31 points in the Lady Huskies’ 78-64 win over USC last night.

NBA

--Sunday night, the Knicks (47-27) beat the Trail Blazers (32-43) at MSG, 110-93, as once again Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby carried the offense, 28 points each, in the absence of Jalen Brunson.  New York is now 7-5 without their star point guard.

Brunson vows he’ll be back before the end of the season to get some reps prior to the playoffs.

--The Timberwolves (43-32) beat the Pistons (42-33) in Minneapolis, 123-104, Sunday night, Julius Randle with 26 points and eight rebounds, in a contest interrupted by a big fight, that saw five players and two coaches ejected.

Rudy Gobert had 19 points and 25 rebounds for Minnesota, the T’Wolves with a solid stretch, 11 of 14.

MLB

--Going back to Sunday, after I posted, the Padres completed a 4-game sweep of the Braves in San Diego...not a bad way to start the season.

--In the offseason, Toronto signed Max Scherzer to a one-year, $15.5 million contract knowing that he had a thumb issue, and in his first start Saturday, Scherzer was limited to three innings, 2 earned, as the thumb injury ‘blew up fast,’ to paraphrase Mad Max, and “lead to a lot of other things,” the 40-year-old placed on the 15-day IL on Sunday with right thumb inflammation after he left his debut start with right lat soreness.

--Atlanta’s Jurickson Profar, signed to a 3-year, $42 million free agent deal after a terrific 2024 with San Diego, tested positive for PEDs and was suspended 80 games by MLB.

--In Monday night action, the Mets got it going in Miami, 10-4, Pete Alonso with a grand slam.  Encouraging.

The Padres are 5-0, 7-2 over the Guardians, as former Demon Deacon Gavin Sheets went 3-for-3, 4 RBIs!

And the Dodgers are 6-0, defeating the winless Braves (0-5) 6-1.

In Boston’s 8-5 loss to Baltimore, Rafael Devers extended his historically awful opening, 3 more strikeouts, giving him a record 15 in the first five games.  As was pointed out, in 1995, Tony Gwynn had 15 strikeouts all season in 535 at-bats.

--In College Baseball...latest Baseball America Top Ten....

1. Tennessee
2. Arkansas
3. Texas
4. Georgia
5. LSU
6. Florida State
7. Clemson
8. Alabama
9. Oklahoma
10. Ole Miss

18. Wake Forest...after being swept at home by Virginia Tech, now No. 25

NFL

--The Jets announced they are riding with Justin Fields as the starting quarterback right from the start, with Tyrod Taylor backing him up.

New GM Darren Mougey admitted the Jets won’t be having a summer competition for the job, as both Mougey and new coach Aaron Glenn are moving forward with Fields.

“He is the starter,” Mougey said of Fields, “but Tyrod’s going to be right on his heels, and Tyrod’s a pro’s pro.  So really [he] is going to be a great asset for Justin in the quarterback room.  Tyrod’s been around the league for a long time. He knows what it takes to prepare and prep for the league and be ready to play and I think he’s going to be a great asset for us.”

I’m pumped...I think Fields will realize his true potential.

--The Steelers signed Mason Rudolph to a two-year deal and seem prepared to go with him if they can’t reach an agreement with Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers met for six hours with the team March 21 and over the weekend, coach Mike Tomlin said it went well, but that there is no timetable in terms of Rodgers making a decision.

Rudolph, who was with Tennessee last season, is 8-4-1 as a starter in his first run with Pittsburgh, 2019-21, 2023...19 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions.  He’s a more than competent alternative, but the Steelers could easily draft a QB as well.

Frozen Four

College Hockey’s Big Event is now set for April 10-12.

Western Michigan vs. Denver
Boston University vs. Penn State

NASCAR

Denny Hamlin won Sunday’s race at Martinsville, Va., career win No. 55 for the 44-year-old, his first since last April at Dover.  Hamlin is now tied with Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time win list.

Next Bar Chat Sunday p.m.

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[Posted after NCAA Elite Eight action]

Brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.

Baseball Quiz: Borrowing from George Will and his annual baseball quiz, two Hall of Famers since World War II had 600 doubles, 100 triples, 100 homers and 100 stolen bases.  Name them.  [Hint: Both played some in the 1970s.]  Answer below.

March Madness

--Going back to Thursday, Duke outlasted 4 Arizona 100-93, Cooper Flagg magnificent, 30 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.

Caleb Love, the former Tar Heel, with a terrific performance of his own, 35 points for the Wildcats.

Duke would then face 2 Alabama, which had an NCAA Tournament record 25 3-pointers, Mark Sears with 10 of them, 34 points in all, in cruising past 6 BYU, 113-88.  Bama’s 93 points from either 3 or the free throw line tied for the most ever in an NCAA Tournament game.

The game of the night, Thursday, however, was 3 Texas Tech battling back from a 16-point deficit to beat 10 Arkansas, 85-83, in overtime, the second-largest comeback in Sweet 16 history.

The Red Raiders’ Darrion Williams was only 8 of 26 from the field, but made the big 3-pointer to force overtime and then the game-wining layup in the extra session.

Texas Tech would then face 1 Florida in the Elite Eight, the Gators 97-71 winners over 4 Maryland.

After the Terps loss, Coach Kevin Willard was noncommittal about coming back.  Willard has criticized the administration for not committing to the hoops program, even though its basketball, not football, that has given the school its most glorious moments.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Willard said after.  “I haven’t talked to my agent. I haven’t talked to my wife. I made a promise to this team that I was gonna just focus on this team, and that’s all I’ve done.  So, I haven’t talked to anybody.”

But there are persistent rumors Willard is taking the Villanova job, which is kind of astounding seeing as that hardly seems like a step up.  Yet the Nova program and commitment from the school is unique.  And the Maryland athletic director who offered Willard a term sheet for a contract extension – which he hasn’t signed – bolted for SMU.

Well, I wrote the above Saturday morning.  It does appear that Willard is headed to Villanova.

The guy is an OK coach, nothing more.  One Sweet Sixteen performance in his career, and it was this season.  He’s 335-249 overall, including stints at Iona and Seton Hall.

Maryland students/fans were miffed at Willard’s behavior the last few weeks.  He was hardly a class act.

--Friday night...1 Auburn beat 5 Michigan, 78-65, Johni Broome with 22 points, 16 rebounds.

Auburn taking on 2 Michigan State in the Elite Eight.  Tom Izzo’s Spartans were down 48-39 with 12:15 to play against 6 Ole Miss, but MSU battled back, taking the game 73-70.

2 Tennessee easily handled 3 Kentucky 78-65.

And the Vols are matching up against 1 Houston, the Cougars edging 4 Purdue, 62-60, on a brilliantly drawn up play by Houston coach Kelvin Sampson.

With 2.8 seconds remaining and the score tied at 60-60, Sampson called a baseline inbounds play that will long be remembered by Houston fans (and probably be shown endlessly in coaching clinics).

Cougars wing Milos Uzan inbounded the ball to forward Joseph Tugler about eight feet from the basket.  Tugler, immediately realizing that Purdue guard Braden Smith fled his spot guarding the inbounder, dropped a quick pass back to the unguarded Uzan, who leaped unimpeded to the basket and laid the ball in.

On to Saturday’s Elite Eight action....

And in the first game, 3 Texas Tech was ahead of 1 Florida 75-66 after a JT Toppin layup, and then the Gators went on a stunning 18-4 run to win it 84-79.

Thomas Haugh started it off with two 3s, All-American Walter Clayton Jr., with 30 points in all, hit two 3-pointers and a couple foul shots, the Gators hit all six free throws in the final minute (25 of 27 for the game, while Texas Tech was just 7 of 13), and there you have it.

Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland said after, “I could have done a better job coaching down the stretch to put us in better positions.”  Specifically, he said: “I didn’t do a good enough job of keeping the ball out of Clayton’s hands.”

Florida advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2014.

In the second game in Newark, N.J., 1 Duke built a 46-37 lead at the half and was never really threatened, cruising in the final minutes, 85-65 over 2 Alabama.

The Blue Devils had a balanced attack, led by Kon Knueppel, 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and all 7 of 7 from the foul line.  It is a huge asset to have a 91% free throw shooter that is going to get the ball a lot in crunch time, a la Knueppel.  [Duke 19 of 22 for the game from the line.]

And Jon Scheyer’s team didn’t need any heroics from Cooper Flagg to advance to the Final Four.

Bama, after the tournament-record 25 3-pointers, was held to just 8 of 32 from beyond the arc by the Duke ‘D’.  Mark Sears, after his 34-point effort against BYU, scoring just six points Saturday.

On to Sunday, to fill out the Final Four....

And in the first game, 2 Tennessee vs. 1 Houston, the Vols absolutely sucked throughout, falling 69-50, hitting 1 of 15 from 3 in the first half, trailing 34-15 at the intermission.

The game, however, was 53-42 with 5:00 to play when Tennessee missed a layup that may have provided some momentum, the Cougars then coming down the court for back-to-back 3s, 59-42, game over.

Houston is freaking good and now plays Duke in a titanic Final Four matchup.

And 1 Auburn will play Florida, 70-64 over 2 Tennessee, Broome 25 and 14.

Four No. 1 seeds...pretty freakin’ awesome.

--St. John’s received some good news.  Forward Zuby Ejiofor, the second-leading scorer and the only player who showed up in their second-round loss to Arkansas, 75-66, is coming back for his final season, thanks to obviously receiving the right NIL package, and that’s OK.  He plays all out every game.

Ejiofor, who could have tested the NBA Draft waters, posted on X he’s “not ready to leave St. John’s and Coach P.  We’ve got Unfinished Business.”

But then the Johnnies got the bad news...RJ Luis Jr., the Big East Player of the Year who then laid an egg of epic proportions in the awful loss to Arkansas, shooting 3 of 17 from the field, opted to hit the transfer portal (and test the NBA waters).  He now becomes a true enemy of St. John’s fans, should he stay in the college game.  At least I would treat him that way. We’ll see where he ends up.

St. John’s did pick up a talented guard from Arizona State, Joson (sic) Sanon.

--Rick Pitino’s son, Richard, is joining the Big East next season.  Richard is set to become the next head coach at Xavier, after guiding New Mexico to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.  Sean Miller had left Xavier to take the Texas job, after the Longhorns fired Rodney Terry.

Richard Pitino went 88-49 in his four seasons in New Mexico, including a victory over Marquette in the opening round of this year’s Tournament.

Xavier had defeated Texas in the First Four, spelling Terry’s demise (though he was doomed anyway).

--Former Iowa coach Fran McCaffrey is returning to his alma mater, Penn (after transferring from Wake Forest), in an attempt to bring that school back to its past Ivy League glory (the now long ago Fran Dunphy era).  I like this move.

--St. Francis University (Pennsylvania) announced it will be moving its athletic programs to Division III, a week after suffering a last-second loss in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.

This sucks, but the university’s board of trustees realized the Catholic private school couldn’t make do in today’s altered landscape of college sports and travel demands posed by its membership in the Northeast Conference.

The Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, the board’s chairman, said in a statement: “The governance associated with intercollegiate athletics has always been complicated, and is only growing in complexity based on realities like the transfer portal, pay-for-play, and other shifts that move athletics away from love of the game.”

Division III programs are barred from offering athletic scholarships, although many athletes receive academic grants or need-based assistance.

This month, St. Francis won the NEC’s men’s basketball tournament for the first time since 1991.

On the Women’s side....

So remember when I wondered why the women’s brackets were labeled in a funky way? I have to admit, I didn’t focus on how the Women’s Tournament folks chose to play their regionals at just two sites, rather than the four both the men and women used forever...the men sticking with four sites.

Which meant that all the teams played their games in either Spokane, WA, or Birmingham, AL.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey joined UConn’s Geno Auriemma in voicing her displeasure over the super regional format.

No. 3 seed LSU traveled over 2,000 miles away from Baton Rouge, La., for its Sweet 16 matchup against No. 2 seed NC State in Spokane.

As Mulkey said, why do this?  “This game has gotten better.  And, man, if you still had four regionals, can you imagine the attendance? I know our fan base. They can’t afford to come to Spokane.  But they could if it was a little bit closer.”

I’ve been to Spokane.  It ain’t easy getting there.  [I had to fly there to see a University of Idaho football game years ago.]

The NCAA dropped from hosting games at four locations to two regional sites for the women’s tournament in 2023 and is continuing with the format through 2028.  For example, in 2028, the two sites are Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon.  That’s nuts!

On the court, in Sweet Sixteen action Friday, Mulkey’s LSU defeated 2 NC State 80-73, while 2 Duke beat 3 North Carolina 47-38.

Saturday, 2 UConn whipped 3 Oklahoma 82-59, as Paige Bueckers had 40 for the Huskies, hitting 6 of 8 from 3.  Wow.

Credit goes to USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who made it clear Friday that she did not think the play that resulted in JuJu Watkins’ season-ending ACL tear was dirty.  Indeed it wasn’t.

But Gottlieb also condemned the online bullying against Mississippi State player Chandler Prater, who was guarding Watkins when she was injured in the first quarter of the Trojans’ second-round win Monday.

As Watkins sprinted down the floor, Prater came to guard her and the two made contact as Watckins started to drive toward the basket. Watkins’ right knee buckled and she crumbled to the court.

Prater became the subject of hateful comments online, because, our society sucks.

And the Lady Trojans overcame the loss of Watkins to defeat 5 Kansas State, 67-61, yesterday.

Which set up Elite Eight action today....

2 Duke fell to defending champion 1 South Carolina 54-50, and having caught the last few minutes of this one, it was simply awful hoops.  But good for the Lady Gamecocks. 

LSU then lost to 1 UCLA, 72-65.

Tomorrow, Monday, 2 TCU faces 1 Texas, and 2 UConn goes up against 1 USC.

--The Men’s NIT semifinals are being held Tuesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (a great venue for this tournament).

North Texas (27-8) vs. UC Irvine (31-6); Chattanooga (27-9) vs. Loyola Chicago (25-11).

All mid-majors, rather refreshing; the ACC flaming out of this one as well. [Geogia Tech, Stanford and SMU.]

NBA

--The Knicks lost backup point guard Cam Payne to a sprained ankle in their 126-113 loss to the Clippers Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.  Which meant that a team already without star Jalen Brunson (ankle) and the No. 2 point guard, Miles McBride (groin), had to play Friday at Milwaukee without their top three points guards on the depth chart.

Enter former Buck Delon Wright, picked up just the other week, and he helped lead New York to an important 116-107 win over the Damian Lillard-less Bucks (40-33), the Knicks (46-27) receiving 31 points from OG Anunoby and 26 from Mikal Bridges.

Lillard could miss the rest of the season, having been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot) in his right calf, the Bucks announced Tuesday.

Lillard is “on blood-thinning medication, which has stabilized the DVT,” the Bucks said.

Yes, the timing couldn’t be worse for the playoff bound Bucks.

Back to the Knicks, last Tuesday, in a 128-113 win over the Mavericks at MSG, Josh Hart had his ninth triple-double of the season, 16-12-11, surpassing Walt “Clyde” Frazier for most in a single season in franchise history.

But Karl Anthony-Towns also had a triple-double in the contest, 26-12-11, and thus Hart and Towns became the first Knicks teammates to ever have triple-doubles in the same game.  Kind of cool.

Speaking of “Clyde,” Frazier turned 80 years old on Saturday and he’s still a terrific broadcaster with the Knicks, especially when teaming with the great Mike Breen.  It’s why I watch virtually every Knicks game over the course of the season, Clyde admittedly cutting down a bit on the travel schedule.

So tonight, Sunday, the Knicks are celebrating his career, and life, as they take on the Trail Blazers at MSG.

--Friday, Detroit (42-32), without star Cade Cunningham, defeated Cleveland (59-15) 133-122.

--The Grizzlies shocked the NBA by firing head coach Taylor Jenkins with just nine games to go in the season.  Memphis was a solid 44-29, fifth in the Western Conference, though they were 8-12 in their last twenty games.

The story is Jenkins did not get along with management, at all.

Memphis then lost its first game under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo Saturday to the Lakers (45-29), 134-127.

--Washington is vying for Cooper Flagg and on Thursday, the Wizards fell to 16-57 in the ugliest loss in franchise history, 162-109 against Indiana (43-30).  The Pacers shot 64.1 percent from the field and were 27 for 47 (57.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

--Dallas (36-38) is hanging in there for the No. 10 slot in the Western Conference Play-In picture, beating Orlando (35-39) Friday night on the road, 120-101. Anthony Davis is back and while he was ineffective Friday, he’s showing his teammates something after his latest injury.  He easily could have sat out the rest of the season.

Make that 37-38 for the Mavs, following a 120-119 road win over the Bulls last night.

MLB

--The Baseball World will be focused on a handful of stories this season, starting with the dominance of the Dodgers, how Juan Soto does with the Mets, how the Yankees respond to Soto’s absence, Paul Skenes and a few others.  At least that’s what I’ll focus on.  [Psst, Bobby C. out in San Diego...I’ll be looking at the Padres’ box scores to see how former Wake Forest player Gavin Sheets does for you guys.  I loved the pickup.]

--For the Mets, Opening Day was a bit of a bummer, falling 3-1 to the Astros in Houston as Soto failed to come through in the clutch, top of the ninth, Mets trailing by two, two runners on, two outs, and Soto struck out on a nasty slider from Josh Hader.

But he homered in Game No. 2, Friday night, New York prevailing 3-1, the bullpen with four hitless innings to wrap it up.

Alas, Saturday, the Mets were held to just one hit, a Soto double, and were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, blowing a nice effort by starter Griffin Canning and the pen (again), falling 2-1. Spencer Arrighetti threw six innings of one-run ball for Houston.

The Mets have 12 hits in their first three games, the trio of Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos, that surrounds Soto in the lineup, a combined 2-for-31.

--The Yankees won their opener, Thursday, 4-2 over the Brewers at the Little Bandbox that Ruth Didn’t Build, New York with two routine fly ball outs that barely cleared the right field fence for homers, one by Yankees catcher Austin Wells, the new leadoff batter (against righties), who became the first catcher ever to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day.  He’s also the first catcher in Yankees franchise history to hit leadoff.

And then Saturday, after an off day, the Yankees exploded in historic proportions.

Understand there was zero on television early Saturday afternoon in these parts except the Yankees, so I flipped it on and watched Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge start the bottom of the first in back-to-back-to-back fashion, three home runs, with Austin Wells adding one later in the inning, all off former Yankee Nestor Cortes, and New York would go on to hit a franchise-record nine home runs in all in blasting the Brewers 20-9.  [I listened to the rest of the game on the radio while doing errands.]

[The MLB record is 10 HR in a game, accomplished by Toronto in 1987.]

Aaron Judge had three home runs and just missed a chance for a fourth (a double off the wall), 8 RBIs, a career high for him, and Anthony Volpe hit two homers.

[In all fairness, most of the nine home runs were real shots, unlike Thursday.  It was 81 degrees, wind blowing out, and the ball was flying.]

Max Fried, the $218 million signee for the Yanks in the offseason, was not good, despite all the riches he was handed, 4 2/3, 6 runs (but only 2 earned), 94 pitches, and he couldn’t get the win.

But a lot of attention was focused on Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (who also homered) because of their new bats, that put more weight into the label so that the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball.

It’s legal.  This was all from the Yankees’ analytics department and approved by MLB.  Players have been experimenting with different bats since the McKinley administration.

Today, the Yanks completed the sweep, 12-3, Judge home run No. 4, two more RBIs to bring him to 11, Jazz Chisholm with two more home runs.

Judge is on track for 216 home runs, 594 RBIs.

Now that is not exactly realistic, but Bar Chat Analytics pegs Judge at 112-394 for the season.

I just have to add that like Max Fried, the highly unlikable Marcus Stroman couldn’t get the win for the Yanks, despite a big lead, going 4 2/3. 

--The Dodgers are already 5-0 following Friday night’s 8-5 win over Detroit in ten innings, Mookie Betts with two home runs, four RBIs;  Yoshinobu Yamamoto with 10 strikeouts in five innings of 2-run ball...and Saturday’s 7-3 win over the Tigers (0-3), despite Roki Sasaki’s poor effort, 1 2/3, 2 runs, 4 walks.  He should be in the minors, even if just for three or four starts.

Betts has obviously recovered from the food poisoning bout that kept him out of the lineup in Japan, though he sat out Saturday.

--Boston is 1-3 after its series at Texas (3-1), as Rafael Devers struck out a record 12 times in the first four, struggling to adjust to the full-time DH role.  He will not strike out 486 times this season, but Bar Chat Analytics puts him at a depressing 294.

--Thursday, the formal Opening Day, after the Dodgers and Cubs had played two in Tokyo, Tyler O’Neill (Baltimore) homered for the sixth straight year on Opening Day, while Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper hit his sixth career Opening Day home run.

The Orioles hit a franchise record six home runs (for Opening Day) in their 12-2 win over the Blue Jays; Adley Rutschman and Cedric Mullins both homering twice.

--The White Sox, according to the preseason sportsbooks, had an over/under of just 53.5, the lowest season win total set by sportsbooks in over 35 seasons, according to ESPN Research.  But what do you expect after an historically awful 41-121 season.

In contrast, the Dodgers were at 103.5 as a win total.  We can now project, L.A. will go 144-18.

--According to Forbes’ latest survey of franchise valuations in baseball, the Yankees top the list at $8.2 billion, followed by the Dodgers ($6.8bn), Boston ($4.8bn), the Cubs ($4.6bn) and Giants ($4bn.

I was a little surprised the Mets were sixth at $3.2 billion (though they have nowhere near the revenue the Yankees have), followed by the Phillies ($3.1bn) and Braves ($3bn).

The Marlins are last at $1.05bn.

--The Paul Skenes Topps MLB Debut Patch card that sold for $1.11 million was picked up by Dick’s Sporting Goods, which announced plans to display the card in one of its stores near its western Pennsylvania headquarters.

It makes total sense.  Yes, $1.11 million is a lot of money for a card, but the marketing campaign is attracting national attention, and a reason to enter a brick and mortar store in the year 2025, ergo, it’s a bargain.

--Speaking of the Pirates, Jared Diamond had an extensive story in the weekend Wall Street Journal on “Baseball’s Wealth Gap,” which is stretching the sport to its breaking point.

Unlike America’s other professional leagues, with no salary cap, it’s the split between the haves and have-nots.

The Dodgers, buoyed at “an unrivaled local television deal,” will outlay nearly a half-billion dollars on player salaries and luxury tax penalties this year, a record amount, while Uncle Stevie (Steve Cohen) of the Mets is second at around $400 million.

The other side of the tracks has the Marlins with a payroll of just $70 million, while the Rays, White Sox and Athletics all come under $90 million.

As Mr. Diamond puts it: “Can a sport thrive when one team spends 600% more to build its roster than another?”

But it’s a system that the MLB Players Association defends ferociously.  The NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary caps, but the ballplayers are so opposed to the concept of a pay ceiling that the last time owners seriously attempted to introduce a cap in 1994, the World Series was canceled because they all went on strike.

The union’s position is that a cap would suppress player compensation, and it would.  But management seems hell bent on trying again to negotiate a cap when the current labor deal expires after the 2026 campaign.  A prolonged work stoppage seems inevitable.

Having said that, the 2003 labor deal formalized the luxury tax and a framework for revenue sharing, and that worked to subsidize less wealthy clubs, but the last five years, the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees have spent more on free agents than the teams that ranked ninth through 30th combined.

Diamond notes: “Since MLB expanded to 30 franchises in 1998, teams ranked in the top five in payroll have averaged 89 wins a season. The next five teams averaged about 86 victories, with that figure plummeting to just 74 for those in the bottom five.”

Though in terms of parity, sixteen different organizations have won the World Series since 1998, the most of any major American sport.  There hasn’t been a repeat champion in baseball since the Yankees claimed three straight from 1998 to 2000.

So you can’t spend your way to a title, but you can spend your way into contention.  The Yankees haven’t had a losing season since 1992, and the Dodgers have won their division title in 11 of the last 12 seasons.

--Costa Rican authorities said it could take up to three months to determine what killed the 14-year-old son of former Yankee Brett Gardner – because a surge in murders in the Central American nation has overwhelmed coroners.

The Judicial Investigations Police in Costa Rica said results of toxicology, histology and neuropathology tests for Miller Gardner will be delayed “due to the high demand for autopsies being performed in the country due to the increase in homicides.”

Costa Rica’s homicide rate hit an all-time high of 17.3 per 100,000 people in 2023, raising fears in the popular tourist destination. [The U.S. homicide rate is around 6 per 100,000, Canada’s 2 per 100,000.]

The U.S. State Department in December put out a travel alert.

“Exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime,” the alert said.  “Violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide, and sexual assaults, also affects tourists.”

The Gardners were staying at the exclusive Arena Del mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort at Manuel Antonio National Park. 

But in Miller’s case, while initially folks pointed to food poisoning, the resort gave him and family members (who also fell ill) medication for the illness...and we’ll leave it at that.

NFL

--The Giants, after signing Jameis Winston, 31, to a two-year contract, went out and inked a deal with Russell Wilson, one-year, $10.5 million guaranteed (up to $21 million with incentives).

Wilson is 36, and there are many Giants fans thinking ‘WTF?’.  But we’ll see what they do in the upcoming Draft, New York with the No. 3 pick.  Everyone knows they have to draft a quarterback of the future at some point.

But with Wilson in the fold for 2025, it doesn’t seem like the Giants will take Shedeur Sanders at No. 3 if he fell to them.  [Jaxson Dart is the name rising up draft boards these days, but not at 3.]

--As for Aaron Rodgers, who the heck knows what he, and/or the Steelers, will do.  But it’s time to act.

NHL

--Alex Ovechkin notched career goal No. 889 on Tuesday, but was held scoreless Thursday.

The Capitals have ten games left in the season and Sunday afternoon took on the Sabres in D.C.

And Ovechkin got No. 890 in a 6-4 loss.

Nine games...five to go.  This is rather intense.

--Pittsburgh’s future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby scored a goal Thursday in Buffalo that clinched a point-per-game season for the 20th time in his 20-year career.

This breaks a tie with Wayne Gretzky, giving Crosby the record for most consecutive point-per-game seasons in NHL history.

Through Friday, Crosby was at 1676 points (618 goals, 1058 assists), ninth all time, Mario Lemieux 8th at 1723.

--My Rangers’ season is falling apart...hope fading to make the playoffs.

New York was in Anaheim Friday night and had a 4-2 lead against the Ducks, but lost it 5-4 in OT.

Saturday they were in San Jose to face the lowly Sharks and New York did win it, 6-1, and lo and behold, these are the standing for the final wild card slot.

8. Rangers...74 played – 77 points
Canadiens...72 – 75*
Blue Jackets...72 – 75
Islanders...72 – 74
Red Wings...73 – 74

The games played situation not in the Rangers’ favor, but no one below them is playing well.

Literally, all five teams listed are all below .500 their last ten games!  [If you forgot, it’s an 82-game schedule.]

*Montreal won this afternoon, a great 4-2 road win over the Panthers. Now tied with the Rangers, a game in hand...and 4-3-3 last ten.

Golf Balls

--We had the Texas Children’s Houston Open this week and after three rounds....

Min Woo Lee -17
Alejandro Tosti -13
Ryan Fox -12
Ryan Gerard -12
Scottie Scheffler -12

Min Woo, 27, is a popular Aussie looking for his first PGA Tour win, having won four times overseas.

And he had a 3-shot lead over Gary Woodland and Scheffler as he went to the par-5 16th, and Min Woo put it in the water!

Scheffler has an eagle attempt on 16, ahead of Min Woo, who bogeys it.

Scheffler birdies it...-19.

Woodland, in his best performance since brain surgery two years ago, finishes -19.  Huge performance. A 62 final round!

Min Woo Lee -20...thru 17
Scheffler -19...17
Woodland -19...F

Scheffler short with approach on par-4 18th.  And pars it.

Min Woo needs par on 18 to win it and he hits his drive way left!  Second, a little off the green.  Needs two for the win...takes out the putter.  And a spectacular putt...a foot away...he wins it!!!

Another ending that’s good for the game!

And very positive vibes for Scheffler and Woodland heading to Augusta.

--Legendary short-game coach Dave Pelz died the other day at the age of 85.  Pelz, a former research scientist at NASA, was best known for his innovations in the short game and putting.  He tested and created different techniques, training aids and tools that revolutionized how golfers play the game.

Among Pelz’ clients were Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed.  Mickelson offered a brief statement on learning of his coach’s death.

“I have so many things to say about this incredible man. I owe so much of my success to the many things he taught me, and he lives on as I share those same insights to numerous other golfers.”

Premier League

--No action this weekend, but instead we had the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and four PL squads advanced into the semis...Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Stuff

--At the FIS Alpine World Cup Season Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, I caught Mikaela Shiffrin’s second run in the slalom, Saturday, Shiffrin wrapping up career win No. 101.  What a way to finish a super, albeit injury-interrupted campaign.

It was great Americans got to see her win on home soil, the opportunities to do so few and far between.  It was also great seeing all the little girls and boys cheer her on.  Kind of touching, actually.  The world sucks...so little rays of sunshine are cherished.  Go Mikaela!

Marco Odermatt of Switzerland won the men’s overall World Cup title, his fourth straight, putting him on a short list of Greatest Ever in his sport.  His win total is up to 45 and he’s just 27.  He’s the king of the Giant Slalom.

Federica Brignone of Italy, 34, won her second overall women’s title for the season, Brignone up to 37 wins lifetime, she being a master of the GS and super-G.

--I caught the women’s world figure skating championship Friday night in Boston, and American Alysia Liu sure carved out a story.

Three years after retiring following the 2022 Beijing Olympics at the age of 16, and one year after unretiring, there she was...world champion, besting three-time defending champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan and Japan’s Mone Chiba.  Americans Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Liu’s long program was terrific. But at first when the music to it started out, I thought ‘Oh no...not ‘MacArthur’s Park,’ the Richard Harris version!’  Alas, it was Donna Summer’s and I slept soundly after.

--Saturday night, American Ilia Malinin dominated with six quadruple jumps as he handily defended his world title, just the sixth American man to win consecutive world figure skating championships, joining a who’s who of the sport’s biggest names – Nathan Chen, Brian Boitano and Dick Button among them.

On to the Milan-Cortina Olympics next winter for Malinin and Liu.

--We note the passing of the great actor Richard Chamberlain, 90.

Chamberlain became an instant favorite with teenage girls as the compassionate physician on the TV series “Dr. Kildare,” which aired from 1961 to 1966.  He was so popular that Photoplay magazine named him most popular male star for three years in a row, from 1963-65, when fan magazines were huge.

Chamberlain then became known as “king of the TV miniseries” in 1978 when he landed the starring role in “Centennial,” an epic production 24 hours long based on James Michener’s sprawling novel. He followed that in 1980 with “Shogun,” another costly, epic miniseries based on James Clavell’s period piece about an American visitor to Japan.

But his greatest miniseries success came in 1983 with “The Thorn Birds,” based on Colleen McCullough’s best-seller.  The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers.

Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds,” as well as for “Dr. Kildare” years earlier.

But it wasn’t until 2003 that Chamberlain, in his autobiography, “Shattered Love,” admitted what Hollywood long knew...he was gay.  He spoke of how he escorted some of the world’s most beautiful women to premieres because Hollywood demanded it, and when asked why he never married, he would tell everyone, “I’m too busy.” 

RIP.

Top 3 songs for the week 3/31/79: #1 “Tragedy” (Bee Gees)  #2 “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor)  #3 “What A Fool Believes” (The Doobie Brothers)...and...#4 “Heaven Knows” (Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams...not an awful tune for a Disco song...I mean like if someone said, “you have to listen to this Disco tune or you die,” you’d probably sign up for it, given the alternative...)  #5 “Shake Your Groove Thing” (Peaches & Herb)  #6 “Sultans Of Swing” (Dire Straits...couldn’t stand this one...)  #7 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (Rod Stewart...his worst...)  #8 “Knock On Wood” (Amii Stewart)  #9 “What You Won’t Do For Love” (Bobby Caldwell...tries to keep the week from being a ‘D-, along with #3...but doubtful...)  #10 “Don’t Cry Out Loud” (Melissa Manchester...and it’s official, boys and girls...the week gets a D-....)

Baseball Quiz Answer: Only two Hall of Famers since World War II with 600 doubles, 100 triples, 100 homers and 100 stolen bases....

Paul Molitor (1978-98)...605 2B, 114 3B, 234 HR, 504 SB
George Brett (1973-93)...665, 137, 317, 201

Brief Add-on up top by noon Tuesday.

 

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