Okay, Mariners. Say bye to your 14-game winning streak. The Astros put a stop to that Friday night in Houston, 5-2. The ‘Stros are 3-0 following the All-Star break.
What’s more notable? Somebody hitting an inside-the-park grand slam or a team scoring 28 runs? Yep, the Jays apparently threw four TD passes in a 28-5 rout of the Saux in Baahstan, including that salami by Raimel Tapia. Every Jays starter had at least two hits.
Is Sydney McLaughlin the world’s greatest athlete? She would have a case, don’t you think? She’s now set the world record in the women’s 400m hurdles four times in the last 13 months, most recently Friday at the world championships in Eugene. McLaughlin clocked 50.68, shaving a ridiculous 0.73 seconds off her previous mark.
Maybe the very best thing the Tennessee Vols have going for them is that Jeremy Pruiitt is no longer their head football coach. They whacked him in January of 2021 for a lengthy list of what now turns out to be 18 NCAA violations involving $60,000 in illegal benefits. Pruitt had a $12.6 million buyout in his contract, but the university fired him for cause and says it has no plans to pay him.
Vince McMahon retiring as chairman of the WWE? Hmm. Impacts my life not at all.
I’m flatly not a fan of Kyler Murray, either as a teammate or a quarterback. The Cardinals just bought $230 million worth of trouble.
But I am a fan of Derek Carr. He was a mensch last season in dealing with all of the Raiders’ off-field crises. That’s a leader.
‘Bout time to get this Deshaun Watson thing decided, in my view. With his season cloaked in uncertainty, he showed up at the Browns’ training camp Friday along with the team’s other quarterbacks. I think it will be a travesty if he gets less than a full year’s suspension. Keep that wing warm, Jacoby Brissett.
The whole NFL “alt helmet” thing? Meh. But that white bonnet the Bengals are going to break out at least once this season is sweet. I’m way less enthusiastic about the white headgear the Cowboys are going to wear against the Giants on Thanksgiving.
I was very saddened to learn of the passing of former Chiefs’ OLB Jim Lynch, who died Thursday of undisclosed causes at the age of 76. Lynch was a stud on those great Chiefs teams in the late 60s and early 70s, including the Super Bowl IV champions. When I think about classic NFL 4-3 linebacking corps, I rank K.C.’s trio of Lynch, Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier behind only the Steelers’ trifecta of Lambert, Russell and Ham. Yeah, and Jordan, Howley and Edwards weren’t too shabby, either.
