Setting time to target. Two minutes, 15 seconds.

It has been a minute to say the least.  I have to get SOMETHING out, so this will be the old school bullet point style. Short for today, and I have real-time 30 minutes to write and release.  I will do a focus article next time.  My lucky number is 11, so that will be my limit.

1. Yes, I was right about the Nuggets.  They took advantage of the things we talked about, and Jokic continued to be a machine.  Gordon had his games, Braun had his coming out party, Jamal was Bubble Jamal, and MPJ showed effort in the little things even if he didn’t light it up from deep in the playoffs.  But, that is old news.  The NEW news is that they are one of the few teams who win AND are set up for the future.  They are young, the stars are locked up, and the only real loss was Bruce Brown (sorry, Jeff).  They have players like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson who will just get better and more experienced, the stars will be stars, and what can go wrong with THREE ex-UVA players on the training camp roster?  Their draft picks were solid but not spectacular, but so was the Jokic 2^nd round pick years ago.  AND, they made themselves a destination for future free agents.  EVERYONE wants to play with Jokic now after actually watching him play important games when they weren’t believing the stat lines.  Final thought.  Calling my shot.  Ex-Wahoo Jay Huff is Jokic’s backup next year.  Wahoowa.
2. The transfer portal is almost as out of control as NIL.  I believe athletes should be paid, but they didn’t examine all scenarios (caps, school recruiting, etc.) when allowing it.  And the transfer portal is crazy.  I literally had to spend 30 minutes yesterday introducing myself to all of the new UVA men’s hoops roster.  Everyone left a program that consistently wins and either wins a title or loses in the first round but at least makes the tourney.  Anyway, I foresee future regulations on both coming soon.
3. I am not a big Aaron Rodgers fan, but respect his talent and what he has done.  I even support his dark room and psychedelic drug adventures.  So, when he went to the Jets, I rolled my eyes.  That being said, along with his attention to Zach Wilson and willingness to lead and say all of the right things, I WILL be watching the Jets whether a fan or not.  We put the crazy weird guy in the Big Apple, and he is handling it well thus far.  Very impressed so far.  Of course, if you know East Coast fans, it is all good until that first interception.
4. Just saying.  If you aren’t watching Ted Lasso, I truly believe there is something wrong with you.  Like deeply wrong.  For the people who are above watching TV and do other things, you have my free pass, but the rest of you people better get on this train before it ends.  I won’t make you watch Cobra Kai, but you should be doing that also.  Different type of quality.  Also, I officially put Top Gun: Maverick into the highest level of sequels.  Below Godfather, but hanging out with Aliens, Indian Jones, Terminator, The Dark Knight, Equalizer, Empire Strikes Back, etc. I admit that I have compared the 2:15 scene to the feeling I got when Rocky cut Drago in Rocky IV…or when Danielson busted out The Crane on Johnny. That is the best feeling a movie can give you.
5. Now that the NBA playoffs are done, my answer is still MJ.  It will always be MJ as GOAT, but just saying that LeBron getting to conference finals and losing adds to my case.
6. One other note on Denver sports.  There might be two parades within a week of each other next year.  I highly doubt the Avs will suffer the same fate as this year, and the Nuggets have targets on their chest.  What a time for Denver sports…except the Rockies of course (the obvious absence of a team is noted below).
7. Calling my shot (and I am not even a Broncos fan).  The Broncos and the Steelers will both make big pushes next year, be in the playoffs, and be in the mix for the AFC Championship.  Both have high level defenses, and both have QB’s about to make a jump.  Kenny will make his FIRST jump, and Russell will get BACK to being Russell under Payton.  The pulse of this city is happiness about Payton and nervousness whether Wilson is over the hill.  I think he makes it back to his old self.
8. Older news, but it makes me absolutely SICK.  The fact that Mike Budenholzer got fired a couple years after a title is disgusting.  His best player was hurt for most of the series, and to put that exit on him is ridiculous.  That is all.
9. This conference realignment in college sports is absurd.  I can’t keep track.  Is UVA still in the ACC?  I know the impending doom is the finality of two ultra-conferences, and I know it is all about money, but it is ripping the rivalries and fans’ hearts out of the mix.  Sad.
10. What Lionel Messi is doing is insane.  He is making MLS soccer look like clowns, and showing what good really is.  Sure, we are making strides in this country with the sport, and hosting it in the next World Cup will be a great showcase for our young talent.  In the meantime, Messi might take the worst team to a title, and ask out of his contract because of the Boredom Clause.
11. Finally, I read an article about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and it moved me.  Not sure how I would act when I was that rich, but I hope I would do things like this.  Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson buys house for UFC fighter – ESPN

11a) The over/under on the CSU Rams win total this season in football is .5.  You can literally saddle up, and if they win ANY game, you win. 

Title of blog is quote from Top Gun: Maverick.

I promise to say hello much sooner for my next blog.  As one shepherd said to the other, let’s get the flock out of here…31 minutes total in writing and posting. Boom goes the dynamite.