MidValleySports.Com

 

By Joe Torosian

“Oh, but love grows
Where my Juan Soto goes
And nobody knows like me.”
                                             —Mets Fans

Kick it!

Oh, I’ve always been a Podziemski fan!

(Hold on, I’ve got to shoot a three.)

Each team has age, but the Lakers looked much older than Golden State last night.

For the record, I’ve never been anti-LeBron as a player… I’ve only been anti-LeBron as the GOAT. He’s not even close to the GOAT, but in this era of basketball, he has been the best.

That said, the way he went down in the first quarter against the Warriors made me think the Lakers had reacquired Anthony Davis.

(Wait, I’ve got an open three.)

NCAA Tournament Notes: Real fast…

The tournament has been okay but not great. 

The ATT commercial with the Villanova players has been the thing for me.

Note to the Networks, SEC, and Big Ten: You guys call the shots, so get rid of the foul-out rule in college basketball.

On Saturday a trip and a bad call could saddle Cooper Flagg with two personals five minutes into the first half. Why are we still messing around with this?

The best players are only around for a season, so why let a quick whistle or two put a star on the bench? There are plenty of ways to punish a player who commits more than five fouls. One would be to add more free throws. 

It’s not rocket science, but five personals in the age of the one-and-done is as archaic as the term “student-athlete.”

Last Note to the NCAA, SEC, and Big Ten: Require the networks to broadcast player introductions. Again, players come and go and transfer so quick…give the fans a chance to identify with these players.

(Open three…stroke!)

These days, fans are better connected with the dudes balling at the park than the players vying for a national championship.

***
Cooper Kupp’s departure has caused Rams fans to go full Quarterflash. They’ve hardened their hearts and swallowed their tears.

On our RamView podcast Wednesday, we asked our audience what they would be willing to pay Rams running back Kyren Williams in an extension. 

The consensus was that if Williams wanted more than 13 rocks per year, they should let him walk or trade him.

I thought it was cold, callous, and incredibly healthy.

(Heat check…Boom!)

***
Did anyone watch Villanova-USC?

***
Are any Dodgers fans concerned or worried that the start of the 2025 season has been a little too storybook? Do you have any fears it may all come crashing down?

Not that I, as a Mets fan, would want to see that…Much…

(Pull up on the break…swish!)

***
The only thing missing from the Minnesota Twins uniforms on Thursday was Hosken Powell.

***
Last Add Rams: On this date in 2020, former Rams kicker Tom Dempsey died at 73. He is best remembered for his record-breaking 63-yard field goal in 1970 that helped the New Orleans Saints beat the Detroit Lions.

On April 22, 1975, the Rams sent a fourth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Dempsey. He played two seasons with the Rams, with mixed results.

(One more three…Yes!)

But that fourth-round pick the Rams gave up for him was traded by the Eagles to the Green Bay Packers. 

The Packers then traded that same fourth-round pick to the Houston Oilers in April 1976, along with John Hadl, Ken Ellis, and a third-rounder (who turned into fullback Tim Wilson), for quarterback Lynn Dickey.

The Oilers took a wide receiver with that fourth-round pick (#117 overall), but he flamed out in camp, and they waived him before eventually trading him to Seattle for an eighth-round pick.

The receiver?

Hall of Famer, Steve Largent.

(I’ve got the moves, Chief! Hit me!)

The Dude abides…

1,232
2 Corinthians 1:9
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
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YouTube: “RamView” (MWF)