The TEN: 1/5/2018

(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”)

1. Pasadena lost to Crescenta Valley 65-60 Wednesday night in the Pacific League opener.

2. Former Bassett/Citrus Valley HC Pete Smolin has been hired as the running backs coach at the University of Redlands.

3. Quarterbacks Josh Rosen of UCLA and Sam Darnold of USC both declared for the NFL draft Wednesday.

4. TE/DE Carlos Duran and WR Brandon Quintana of Workman both picked up scholarship offers from NAIA Waldorf University Thursday.

5. Former MLB infielder Rob Picciolo who played for the Oakland A’s, Milwaukee Brewers and the Angels, passed away at the age of 64 Wednesday.

6. The Dodgers hired former All-Star pitcher Mark Prior as their bullpen coach.

7. The Lakers are last in the Western Conference at 11-26 and have lost eight straight games.

8. The University of Central Florida declares itself the 2017 National Champions after completing a perfect 13-0 season with a win over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. UCF is raising a banner, holding a parade and paying out bonuses to the coaching staff for winning the “championship”.

9. On this day in 1920 the New York Yankees purchased Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000.

10. Also on this day in 1957 the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson announced his retirement rather than be traded to the New York Giants.

USC QB Sam Darnold declares for the NFL Draft. (Photo by Duane Barker)

6 Comments to "The TEN: 1/5/2018"

  1. Gordon Gekko's Gravatar Gordon Gekko
    January 7, 2018 - 4:27 pm | Permalink

    Today, I shall only make a few remarks.

    Basketball is dying. The NBA has been a product in decay for years. The Godfather, former NBA Commish, David Stern saw the signs a least a decade ago. He practically begged the NBA’s last true star MJ23 to come out of retirement. The quality of the game is bad and the rule changes have diluted the quality of play. The “one and done” rule has polluted and tainted the player skill development of at least 2 generations of NBA players.

    Yeah, yeah, yeah people will mention LeBron. He’s good but the league is much weaker than it has ever been. He could have competed and done well during the NBA glory years of the ’80-early ’90s but, his level of success would be dramatically altered. Tim Duncan was the real deal though. Heck, everyone’s beloved GS Warriors would be equivalent to the Sea Supersonics of the ’80s. The Showtime Lakers, Big 3 Celtic teams, The Bad Boy Det. Pistons and the early ’90s Houston Rockets would dominate this eras Warrior teams, sorry. There’s just no physical play, mid range jumper and not as many skilled big men in at the center position. Pro Basketball went “soft” years ago. It all started with the NBA expanding with 4 new teams. The only team that benefited were MJ’s Bulls. The NBA has been watered down since. There’s no more player development because it’s nearly non existent at the prep and college level – blame the “one and done” rule and the club basketball industry which is totally funded by the major shoe companies. Thank about that for a second.

    The NBA is on it’s way to cardiac arrest. Football appears to be following the same genius business model. They both should be kissing their lucky stars that TV revenue is able to pay the bills because not all teams can charge a premium for tickets. It’s a fact ticket sales are way down. Owners in both leagues are nervous.

    As for Ervin “Magic” Johnson, who is probably the best player ever but he’s too modest and never draws attention to his unmatched ability. This generation needs to watch what this man did in the court, the OG Mr. Triple Double. People need to take peek at Youtube or view on ESPN Classic. But, it looks like similar to many great athletes Magic is missing the mark in evaluating talent and creating a team. The last great player to this with success was probably Larry Bird with the Pacers. His Pacers almost took down MJ23 with far less talent. Watch the games. Larry was a legit coach, knew every situation and was always in control, ice. Magic, I don’t think today’s player can relate with you, man. They’re not tough and most shouldn’t even be in the league. Rooting for you 32.

    Nice to see a few local kids get a chance to continue to play football in college. Good job Workman.

    The Dodgers are done. It’ll be very difficult to repeat last season’s success and recover from a devastating Game 7 loss. Some would argue it was a choke. True, the nucleus is there but it’s very hard to win and get back to the MLB WS. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t make the playoffs next year.

    As for Jackie Robinson not wanting to play for the Giants and choosing to retire. It’s possible he did not want to be in the shadow of one the greatest 5 tool baseball players ever, Willie Mays. But, I guess it would be a sight 24 & 42 on the same team.

    Josh Rorsen or Sam Darnold. Sam is going to be the first qb taken. Josh, he’s game can be evaluated by watching the Corona Centennial against SJB Game from a few years ago. That should give scouts the answers they’re looking for. Not much has changed in his game.

    “The mother of all evil is speculation.”

  2. Big Baller Summer's Gravatar Big Baller Summer
    January 6, 2018 - 9:38 am | Permalink

    But the SUMMER LEAGUE!!! Lonzo dominated the summer league! That counts, right?

  3. KB's Gravatar KB
    January 6, 2018 - 12:11 am | Permalink

    UCF Schedule – FIU, Maryland, Memphis, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Navy, Austin Peay, SMU, UConn, Temple, USF, Memphis, Auburn. Yea their the National Champs.

  4. Showtime's Gravatar Showtime
    January 6, 2018 - 12:04 am | Permalink

    I would not have drafted Lonzo, and I don’t believe Jerry West or Mitch Kupchak would have either. The kid isn’t tough enough even to stand-up to daddy Lavar, so how is he supposed to become the kind of team leader Magic was? West or Kupchak would have seen this and passed on the kid, but Magic was blinded by the thought of re-creating showtime, with Lonzo filling his former shoes. Ain’t gonna happen. Rant on about giving the current management time, but it’s the equivalent of the old Soviet 5-year plans.

  5. My Two Cents's Gravatar My Two Cents
    January 5, 2018 - 5:16 pm | Permalink

    @Showtime, slow down there. What move has Magic and Pelinka made that has been so horrible? Drafting Lonzo? Drafting Kuzma? Drafting Hart? I would say two of the three has outplayed their draft position so far, wouldn’t you? Lonzo would be meeting expectation (except his shooting) if the expectation his daddy placed on him wasn’t so high. Trading DeAngelo? The trade got us Brook Lopez and Kuzma. I am disappointed in Lopez, he doesn’t even look like half the player he was with the Nets, but I am more disappointed with the player himself than the team who brought him in. Trading Mozgov? The trade is one of the big reason the team is in a position to sign two max contracts this Summer. Signing KCP? He is where I though he would be with a little bit more offensive game than I thought he has. Randle, Nance, Clarkson, Zubac (whom the Lakers should play more), were all held over from the last regime. The team is heading in the right direction, just give it another couple of years.

  6. Showtime's Gravatar Showtime
    January 5, 2018 - 9:56 am | Permalink

    May the Lakers rest in peace. Magic Johnson is no Jerry West when it comes to evaluating talent, and that hard cap is real. If we want to re-live the excitement of the glory days, we have our old VHS tapes.

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