To The Gridiron: Well, with Fall Sports and Football gearing up, lots of quarterback tidbits...To begin with, although my Prospects1500 Fantasy League FB teams is going to struggle, I can proudly say I chose a Reedley College Tiger Alum with my first pick! Yes indeed, I chose the marvel from Firbaugh, Ca. (population 8424 in the heart of Central California) Josh Allen. Is this the year the Bills make it over the hump (i.e. the Chiefs. I also drafted Fresno native Xavier Worthy!) and lift the cup? How about the Bengals and/or Ravens? Are the Eagles fit for another run at the Lombardi Trophy? Will the Rams, 49ers and Lions challenge in the NFC? Does that Michigan Man-Jim Harbaugh-working in San Diego, er I mean L.A, guide the Chargers back to the top of the pack? A plethora of storylines in the NFL that is for certain...Shadeur Sanders look solid in his NFL debut vs. the Panthers, as did the New York Giants' Jaxson Dart. Dart finished 12 for 19 with a TD and no picks vs. the Bills. With Dart on O, and edge rusher Abdul Carter on D, looks like Giants won the draft!? Add the Rio Linda (Sacramento "Suburb") Rocket to mix with Cam Skattebo. Skatt was a BIG reason why both Arizona State, and Sacramento State dramatically improved; will his presence have a similar result in NYC?! Of course I drafted CamSkat!...Raiders QB Cam Miller impressed in his first appearance. The former signal caller of the Thundering Herd North Dakota State, finished 6 for 7 with a TD strike. The most impressive play-converting a 4th down by using his wheels on a read option play. Miller might move up to the QB 2 location on the Raiders depth chart in the not-too-distant future. Former Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is fun to watch on the run-as advertised, the Dude can really scamper...I am not sure we can say the same thing when he is slinging the pigskin around?!? Locally here in CenCal, the Fresno State Bulldogs have named a QB, and the young man has a famous and familiar pedidgree...Kurt Warner's son EJ has earned the nod for the Red Wave. Fresno State opens the season in the land of "Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!" on Saturday, August 23. If you are in need of a good football movie, "American Underdog" is nails. A+ rating in my book. On Netflix...I keep one eye on the issues and court cases of the Pac 12 and the Mountain West...it sure looks like the courts will decide who gets what and how much!? Stay tuned...sure seems like two of the schools departing, Boise State and San Diego State, have made the MW and its members a good amount of cash in recent years!?! (If you would like to check up on all of the rookie quarterbacks from their first foray into the NFL-here is a recap and a fine read. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ranking-rookie-qb-performances-from-week-1-of-the-preseason-shedeur-sanders-makes-statement-jaxson-dart-wows/)
In Closing: Speaking of "Closers", the Padres went all in to acquire A's fireballer Mason Miller, surrendering the #3 rated MiLB Pipeline prospect shortstop Leo De Vries...with the Pads pushing all of their chips into the middle of the mound, I have to ask-is a Dodger-Padres match-up the best rivalry and/or can't-miss-drama in The Show right about now? A Dodgers-Astros World Series would bring a little spice as well...I was suprised to see the SF Giants deal closer Camilo Duval to the Yankees. The SF Giants, in the words of Barry Zito, are a"scuffling." Buster Posey might be finding the move upstairs into the front office is filled with wayyy more nuance then one might of have imagined...A starter who I believe would be lights out in the back of the pen: Colorado's Chase Dollander. The Rockies should bolster the back end of the pen, and bring on the bats, and return to wild 15-12 wins, just like in their glory days...I keep saying don't sleep on the Mariners, while Milwaukee keeps rolling along with the most wins in the Bigs. Looks like Boston will be in the postseason once again, and nothing quite zanier than postseason play on Jersey Street in Beantown.
*Prospect of the Week: Kyle Karros. The young Rockie has been super solid in his climb up the minor league ladder; currently he is doing his thang for the big club in Denver. In 21 AB's, the young Dude is carrying a .333 average, to go along with perhaps the more important .417 OBP. The Rox may have found their third sacker of the future!
*Game of the Week, Nastaglia Edition: The 49ers visit the Raiders in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 16...this takes me back to an era when these two frenemies met every year in the preseason. I fondly recall the uniquely odd setup when the Oakland (Alameda :)) Coliseum would be set up with the football field running from home plate to center field; typically the gridiron in the OAC would run from foul pole to foul pole so to speak for football...I admitted to my wonderful wife, taking in a Raiders-Niners preseason would be a ton of fun--you know without the angst and intenseness of a regular season game...oh to be a boy again (and yes, 300 Section of below!). Before the Raiders moved to L.A., I recall these events similar when the A's played the Giants. Simply a grand time, with the winner holding the cards to annoy the bejesus out of friends and frenemies!
*Play of the Week: Jacksonville place kicker Cam Little unloads on the 70-yard behemoth boot through the uprights! Has anyone ever play with the toy "Big Toe." I loved it. Need a movie with big blasts from kicker? Try "Gus." This old school movie featuring Don Knots, and Gus naturally, may just make you chuckle!
*Personal Update: After an audible, my play-by-play assignments have shifted a bit. I will now be on the mic for 7 CSU Bakersfield Women's Soccer Matches, a pair of Men's Soccer Matches, and for the home opening Volleyball Match vs. Santa Clara. I also have news: it looks like I will be joining the broadcast team of the CSU Monterey Bay! The tentative plan is to call Otters volleyball and a couple of men's basketball games. More details as they roll in. Then in the winter...its back over to College of the Sequoias (COS) for Men's and Women's hoop! I am thrilled and thankful to be on the Roadrunner, Otter and COS Giants teams! College Athletics ramps up this week!
*A Tip of the Cap: To both the Locked on A's Podcast and a Segment of "Mic 2 Mic" with Brian Snow of Snowman Multimedia. Always a joy taking shop with announcer brethren from near and far!
My updated CSU Bakersfield Roadrunner Schedule:
8/28: Women's Soccer, UOP @ CSU Bakersfield. (What a thrill to be calling a UOP match! UOP just a
short drive away from my hometown of Isleton, Ca!)
8/29: Men's Soccer, San Jose State @ CSU Bakersfield. (Lots of Blue and Gold in this tilt!)
9/4: Women's Soccer, Fresno State @ CSU Bakersfield. (Calling a Bulldog match, its a pretty big deal!)
9/9: Women's Volleyball, Santa Clara @ CSU Bakersfield. (I am giddy to be calling a Broncos game!)
9/28: Women's Soccer, UC Irvine @ CSU Bakersfield.
10/8: Men's Soccer, UC Irvine @ CSU Bakersfield. (A double-dip of Anteaters!)
10/9: Women's Soccer, Long Beach St. @ CSU Bakersfield. (The Beach comes to Bako!)
10/16: Women's Soccer, UC Davis @ CSU Bakersfield. (The ultimate Sac State Frenemy!)
10/26: Women's Soccer, Hawaii @ CSU Bakersfield. (Also a pleasure to cover the Rainbow Wahine!)
10/30: Women's Soccer, Fullerton @ CSU Bakersfield (Disneyland anyone!?!)
Finally, if you enjoy the chatter and banter, I would appreciate if you share with "your" friends and frenemies. Additionally, if you would like to support my ramblings with a cup of coffee, I would be
tickled. From designer to gas station coffee, it's the thought that counts. You may have noticed the "Donate" Button to use and peruse at your discretion.
Be Well--Good Day & Good Sport--See You on the Court and the Pitch!
I leave you with a couple of pictures from my first visit to SoFi Stadium in Los Angles, Ca.
Holy Toledo Batman! This doesn't look or feel like the Oakland Alameda County Colesum!?!