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The Cast
Date: 20 July 2022
FILLERBUSTER’S ELEVEN
- EVERGREEN 1: The British Open
- I will make it short. Rory didn’t really lose this one. Cameron stormed back and stole it. Typically, Rory’s score would have held up.
- It didn’t matter whether Tiger was under or over par. Once we knew he wouldn’t make the weekend (pretty immediately), the walk at 18 on Friday became magical already. By the way, Tiger intimated he might not play St. Andrews again (in the rotation YEARS from now), not the British Open. He isn’t done, folks.
- On the first two days of the tournament, it is so fun watching the weather change between the morning and afternoon guys and see who survives to the weekend, where everyone within range WILL have the same weather.
- I had Cameron Smith and Rory both to win $1500, so the last couple holes were a very nice feeling aside from that sudden eagle put by Young. I knew I was pretty much home the last 9 holes.
- Cameron Smith had the putter (his strength) going days 1,2, and 4. Had he resembled himself at all on day 3, this thing would have been a runaway.
- Augusta is beautiful and my favorite place, but links golf is under a different umbrella and holds its own brilliance, beauty, and strategy.
- I really expected Xander to possibly rise up and continue his hot play in 2022 in a Major. But, THAT is why winning a Major is MUCH different than winning a PGA weekly event.
- I think the LIV rumors with Smith started before he even was handed the jug.
- NFL:
- The Zach Wilson mother’s friend story was probably the biggest thing on Twitter I have seen in a while in the sports world that the major websites didn’t want to pick up…at all. Don’t know about it? You can Google and your phone will get plenty back. But, it boils down to an ex-girlfriend of the NFL QB saying Zach and her broke up because he was hooking up with his mother’s best friend. I believe she called it Homie Hopping.
- I think the Heinz Field ketchup bottles coming down would have been much easier to take had Acrisure at least offered up THEIR plan for the scoreboard.
- Le’Veon Bell will stay focused on boxing, and did offer a little of sadness about the year he left the Steelers. I don’t care. Let’s suit up AB and have them both beat the hell out of each other.
- I don’t care about the San Francisco 49ers, but I will be watching them from afar. It is so interesting that they still have on the books their very expensive backup pretty boy QB who got them to the Conference Championship Game just last year.
- So, basically all of the mattress money from Watson’s deal is gone after these massage settlements.
- Richie Incognito retired. I admit to forgetting if he was retired or active presently. We won’t miss him, although some QB’s not wanting to get hit might.
- Charles Johnson died. He was an only adequate addition to the Steelers squad for many years, but was part of the lifeblood of that organization for the years he was with them.
- COLLEGE FOOTBALL:
- The #62 recruit for 2023 picked Bama. The QB might have been on the fence, but probably heard how much Bryce Young is making this year (a mil).
- NIL is out of control sort of already, but will continue to get more out of control. I like kids getting more than nothing, and this is an easier solution than a salary, but with no regulations, the loopholes will come fast and furiously.
- Tradition in college football is really cool, and I prefer it. But, when it comes down to it, the job of each conference boss is to make the conference and each school as financially sound and visible as possible. It is a business. USC and UCLA will always be Pac-12 schools to me, and Texas and OU will always be Big-12 to me also, but if the objective is money and not geographical worries or traditions, then these are smart moves.
- Vandy coach declares his Commodores will be the best in country very soon. I love hearing new coaches proclaim new changes in school paradigm. Easier said than done? Absolutely, but you have to love the fire and goals.
- Ainias Smith, a WR from A&M (and captain) was busted for drugs and a DWI, night before media day. Him and Miles Bridges (more on him in a second) should teach a class on bad timing.
- COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
- UNC and MSU will play the first game since 2012 on an aircraft carrier. That is a tradition I am SOOOO glad they are bringing back.
- NBA:
- I am as tired as you are about the Kevin Durant item, so we won’t even get into it. But, I think he stays with the Nets without Kyrie when the smoke clears.
- Kyrie can’t even make a Drew League appearance…where he would have played WITH LeBron, the one person that is interested in playing with him still. He probably was staring at a globe dribbling a basketball between his legs but utterly confused.
- It has been surreal to watch the Jazz dismantle the pretty decent team they built. Kind of like the poor man’s version of the Florida Marlins…both times.
- The Celtics picking up Brogdon and Gallinari are two really smart moves. Those two guys will be backups, but have starter pedigree.
- Ja Morant says he would have “cooked” MJ if they played against each other. Not sure of the context, the jargon, or extent fully of the term “cooked,” but it wouldn’t have been done to MJ. Can we just pretend NBA basketball is a geometry proof? The GIVEN is that MJ was the best. Now, you can go ahead and prove that vertical angles are equal.
- The play-in tourney is here to stay. It was a pandemic creation, but I don’t hate it. I did, but I came around.
- Maybe it was to be a better broadcaster, maybe it was a dream, and maybe it was just respect for the game. Whatever the reason Richard Jefferson decided to go to referee school and do a Summer League game, it was the right one. Awesome story. I like that guy more now.
- An early injury to a recent draftee is EJ Liddell. It is very obvious that he will have to be one of those more rare players to overcome his inadequate height at the wrong position problem, and it is a shame he starts out behind now.
- It was smart what the Suns did, but I am not sure I agree with the long road around. They basically made the market tell them what to pay DeAndre Ayton. It doesn’t exactly scream value in his ears, but it got the job done and kept the core intact.
- I love how the Nuggets already locked up KCP for two years. I think he will fit in very well to that starting five.
- The market is nuts in the NBA and just gets more nuts. Kenrich Williams just got 4/27 for stats that are not much. Keldon Johnson is making $20 million per year and has done nothing really also. Damian Lillard got extended for two years at $120 million. I think Timothy Mozgov is still making sick money and not even sure if he is active these days.
- I truly can’t believe that James Harden is taking the high road with his salary…and working out. Not sure what the heck is going on.
- And sure enough, there it dropped on Wednesday night. He accepted a team-friendly $65 million for two years. What a guy. Go giving.
- Miles bridges was arrested for domestic violence. He initially was busted the night before free agency opened, and we all figured that handcuffs would hinder him signing his life’s dream contract. Bad timing, bro, and horrible deed.
- NHL:
- The Avs have signed almost everyone, and have promoted Joe Sakic to President from General Manager. He should get whatever promotion is available. He wins one more and him and John Elway will have to arm wrestle for King of Denver Sports.
- Duncan Keith retired after 17 seasons. Three titles, and HIS legend will live for many, many years.
- Malkin signed back with the Pens for 4/24 mil. Might as well let the remaining legends on that team try and ride into the sunset, I say.
- Darcy Kuemper signed with the Capitals. They hope he either gets better or that THEIR offense can win a title despite subpar goalie play. Think about it. MOST of the time, the hot goalie in the playoffs wins the Cup. In the Avs case, we didn’t even know who would START each game on their magical and almost flawless run to the Stanley Cup.
- MLB:
- The I Stand Up For part of the All-Star Game was pretty amazing.
- The fact that we had two players under the age of 23 in the finals of the Home Run Derby was pretty great for the game.
- What started out as Dominicans crowding the plate after the HRD appearance of Albert became EVERYONE crowding the plate. Very cool.
- The Mariners are the hottest team in baseball, and Julio Rodriguez got the floor for the Home Run Derby. Nice exposure for kid and team.
- Meanwhile, Juan Soto WON the HRD and his team didn’t even fly him to Los Angeles. He took a commercial flight.
- (Not as bad as the cheap A’s whose player had to get a ride from the Astros)
- You can find lots of holes in each theory of firing Girardi from the Phillies and Montoyo from the Blue Jays. But, both teams have gotten hot, and both teams did it in the middle of a season that could be saved. Both teams have talent ON the present roster to make a run, and doing it before the trade deadline gives both even more options.
- The AL winning 9 straight-like meaningless All-Star Games is like standing next to a roulette table when 9 reds have rolled and you are thinking you should pull a Wesley Snipes (bet on black).
- MISCELLANEOUS:
- Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer playing tennis Slams is like watching Bird, Magic, and Jordan. You kind of knew DURING their time that one of them would be the best of all time, and they all aged, but they just kept winning.
- Matthew Berry is leaving ESPN after 15 years. What, oh what, will fantasy football players listen to before upkeep of their roster. Lost souls…
- Tony Romo won another celebrity tourney, making him easily the best retired subpar QB to become an analyst and golfer. Short list.
- Wayne Rooney will manage DC United, blessing the lowly United States with a skipper who actually knows what he is doing.
- The DOJ will investigate the PGA-LIV situation, looking for foul play. I get that. Just like conference realignments not being against any rules, capitalism dictates that the PGA is a business and LIV is just an up and coming business. Do I still hate the defectors? Sure. But, if you don’t care about your long-standing legend with the PGA and Majors, and just want money, more power to you. They are competing businesses and I think any ban on either league goes away.
- I WILL say that I will miss David Feherty announcing the PGA. There are enough guys with accents to hold me over, but pretty big loss.
- The truck who hit the bus of the New Mexico golf team and killed everyone was NOT driven, after DNA testing, by his 13-year old son that he tried to blame it on. It was driven by Dad. Wow. What a world we live in.
- I am sure Sports Illustrated is posting some really great stuff, but until they go back to being a website and stop asking me to pay to play, I dislike them.
- I recorded the ESPY’s, as wife and I decided to clean some of our house, so nothing to mention on this yet. And, by the time I write my next blog, it will be outdated. Hope Steph was funny.
- Zlatan just signed another contract with Milan. That dude might play soccer longer than Frank Gore played football or Robert Parrish played basketball.
- I haven’t caught any of The Captain yet. I also still haven’t watched Man in the Arena. Too many good shows out there for me to recap on a sports legend’s life as of yet.
- Chicago will host a NASCAR race. If they turn right, I may in fact tune in if I have absolutely nothing going on in my life and don’t feel like doing yardwork.
- Tyson Fury has challenged Anthony Joshua to a completely free fight with no pay. I will believe that when I see it…which I will if it is free.
- THIS AND THAT:
- Reading Next Door headlines is a hobby of mine. The things they post are absolutely ridiculous. Some of them, I want to say “just use the internet.” Some of them, I want to say “Facebook is for this.” Some of them, I just want to say “go to your job and don’t get fired then.”
- During Amazon Prime Days, my wife tries to think of things to buy. During Amazon Prime Days, I try to NOT think of anything to buy.
- I liked the Shark Week commercials doing that “shots, shots, shots” rap with “sharks, sharks, sharks…”
- I get the feeling that I should watch The Bear, being an ex-bartender.
- Still not done Ozark even though it is good. Every time we go to watch it, there has elapsed enough time that we forgot what happened in the last episode we watched months ago. Just not really binge watchers anymore.
- We are active on Stranger Things though. About 5 episodes into last season. Very, very solid. Just not solid enough for me to blow an entire night on.
- Northman is like Gladiator, but very trippy. I recommend eating some mushrooms you find growing in the forest and THEN watch it. Movie is freaking TRIPPY and still has that same sort of plot. Dude sees someone die. Dude fights his way up through the ranks. Blah, blah, blah… I won’t ruin the final scene.
- We had a conversation about actors who never could escape their role from a big show or movie. I think Harrison Ford won for those escaping, and Jason Alexander won for not escaping on the show front.
- Find the stream when Billy Strings played a set with String Cheese Incident at Red Rocks. You will like your experience watching the Billy Strings Incident.
- I was informed that the original Boston album is an upside down spaceship. Never saw that before.
- If you can find it, watch the SNL skit from about 6 years ago where he portrays a white woman for a day. You will never see brunch the same way again with your female friends. Gretchens…
- It is really hot…like everywhere. This global warming thing might hit OUR generation, folks.
- THE FILLERBUSTER
- I don’t feel like telling everyone what I have been doing tonight. I just wanted to make it the Fillerbuster 11. And I write loads of local reviews. Just read them on Google.
- TWEET OF THE WEEK
Katy Winge on Twitter: ““Whatever Jokić wants I’ll do” https://t.co/lOJnrppxm4” / Twitter
Pardon My Take on Twitter: “Wild. https://t.co/tk0eZYCoSh” / Twitter
The theme? An oldie from my early blog days. When no theme yelled at me, I just posted a picture of the helicopter (and favorite show as an 8 year old) that would still kick ass today. Airwolf. I call it my default theme. Bet you were confused though while reading this.
That’s it for today. Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed. Remember two things. First, feed yourself, feed your family, but always, always remember to…feed the wolf. Second, if you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker. Will I blog again? That is a CLOWN question, bro. As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.