BIG WEEKEND FOR FOOTBALL AHEAD

There are just two days left of 2016 and this promises to be a great weekend for football. Whether you are a college or NFL fan this is the weekend you have been waiting for.

In college bowl season has already begun, but Saturday the college football playoff begins. Alabama will play Washington and Ohio State and Clemson battle for the right to the national championship game in Glendale Arizona. Both games should be competitive despite what the critics say about Washington.

In the other game Ohio State plays Clemson and that should be the game of the weekend in college football. Ohio State and Alabama will then play for the national championship of college football.

In the NFL it is week 17 and for some teams like the Dallas Cowboys nothing matters because they are already in the playoffs and clinched the overall number one seed. Teams such as the Cardinals are not going to make the playoffs so they are playing for pride Sunday.

But for a few other teams everything is on the line Sunday. The Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions battle to call themselves NFC North champions and earn a playoff berth. The Washington Redskins play the New York Giants, they win and they are in and the loser of Detroit Green Bay is out.

Both games should be good games New York doesn't really have much to play for, other than keeping their division rival out of the playoffs. It will be close but I see Washington pulling off narrow Victory and becoming the sixth seed in the NFC Playoff Picture.

And the other Marquee game in the NFL Detroit and Green Bay will be a battle to the end. This in my opinion will be the best NFL game of the weekend. Detroit has had a great season but I see it ending with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers remaining hot and going into the playoffs on a roll as NFC North champions.

Whether you decide to watch just college or just NFL or all of the games sit back and enjoy and have a Happy New Year

THE PLAYOFF PICTURE GETTIING CLEARER

We are in week 17 of the NFL. That means it's time to start talking playoffs. In the AFC the six teams are set. But in the NFC there are still two spots up for grabs.

The game that everybody will be talking about is the Detroit Lions against the Green Bay Packers. The winner is the NFC North champion and the loser possibly misses the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins control there own destiny.  A win against division rival New York Giant's and they are the sixth and final seed in the playoff bracket.

No matter who you root for this playoff season promises to be an exciting one.  Next week I will preview the playoffs but to give you a bit of a spoiler my Super Bowl champ pick will come out of the NFC!

MICHAEL FLOYD ARREST VIDEO RELEASED

Many of you already know Michael Floyd was arrested for DUI last week and cut by the Arizona Cardinals a few days later. I was going to leave this one alone and not write about it, then the video of his arrest was released.

Michael Bidwill told the media that they released Michael Floyd because of his unwillingness to show any remorse and the way he handled the arrest.

The video of the incident was released by Scottsdale Police last night and it backs up what Bidwill says. Floyd looked very drunk and his explanation was terrible, he had no excuse for as drunk as he was to be driving. He told police that he had one glass of wine started drinking at 7 and finished at 8 but it was 3 a.m. in the morning when he was pulled over and you can tell he hadn't stopped drinking.  He also had a blood alcohol level of .217.

Floyd is an adult and should be held accountable for his actions. I feel the Cardinals handled the situation well and I wish him the best but I'm glad that they cut him. It sets a precedent that the Cardinals are not willing to put up with this sort of off-the-field activity.

Floyd was signed by the New England Patriots. Cardinal fans are now upset because he was sent to a Super Bowl contender. But don't forget he has had a sub par season and I don't think he helps the Patriots very much.

TIDBIT TUESDAY 12/20

Today's Tidbit comes to us from the boxing world.  This past Saturday we saw 51 year Bernard Hopkins end is great career with a knock out loss to Joe Smith Jr.

But did you know that boxing has a rich history dating back to 688 B.C.?

That's right the sport has been around longer than all of us combined and judging by the scheduled fights for 2017 it's not going anywhere.

THE WEEKEND REPORT 12/19

This weekend was full of excitement in the sports world.  We start in the NFL.  The Arizona Cardinals continued there disappointing season with another loss. This time it was the New Orleans Saint's beating them 48-41 in a very exciting game. The Cardinals now are officially eliminated from the playoff picture.

In the NBA the Suns lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night 114-101.  The Suns continue to struggle this season with a 8-19 record.

The Arizona State men's basketball team was beaten by New Mexico State 81-70.  The Sun Devils are 6-5 and look to get back in to the win column when they face tenth ranked Creighton on December 20.

Not all the teams in Arizona were win less this weekend.  The Arizona Wildcats defeated the Aggies of Texas A&M on Saturday 67-63 to improve to 10-2 on the season.  They are currently ranked # 19 in the country.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ARIZONA CARDINALS?

If you ask who is the most disappointing team in the NFL thus far this season most of the answers you will get is the Arizona Cardinals.

At 5-7-1 the Cardinals have been eliminated from the playoffs.  That is very disappointing when they were picked to be one of the league's best this year,  many even had them penciled in as Super Bowl  participant.  They were in the NFC tittle game a year ago.  So why has this season been such a disappointment for the Arizona Cardinals?

This is a question that stirs up much debate but for me the answer is simple, Bruce Arians.

Ever since coming to Arizona he has been placed on a pedestal in Arizona sports and for most of his tenure rightfully so.  But to me this year he was on the "no biscuit" end of his popular phrase,  "no risk it, no biscuit".

Arians hasn't taken the risks he took last year and it shows with the teams record.

This will be called the most disappointing season ever for the Arizona Cardinals.  Fans will debate who to blame but at the end of the day the responsibility falls on head coach Bruce Arians.

CARDINALS ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS

The Arizona Cardinals lost to the Atlanta Falcons 38-19.  The loss drops the Cardinals record to 4-6-1 and eliminates them from the slim chance they had at the playoffs.

The Cardinals started the game doing something they have done all season, score a touchdown on their opening possession.  They were unable to keep up with the Falcons despite playing a good game.

This game went the same way the season has gone.  They were unable to live up to their expectations.  With 5 games left the Cardinals are now playing for pride.

ARIZONA WINS TERRITORIAL CUP

The day after Thanksgiving marks tradition for many Americans,  but it's not the Black Friday shopping that caught college football fans eyes. Friday marked the begin of rivalry week.

There are some big match ups with playoff implications today but perhaps the greatest rivalry and one of the oldest was played last night.

Arizona State took it's 5-7 record on the road to Tucson to face in state rival and lowly 2-9 Arizona.  Anyone who has ever been any part of this game before knows records don't mean anything to these two teams.

The two teams first started playing each other back in 1899 before Arizona was even a state. That's how it got it's name.  Arizona leads the series 49-40-1.

ASU came in to the game needing the win to become bowl eligible,  while the Wildcats knew their season was over after the game.

Arizona dominated the game winning 56-35 in a shootout.  The Wildcats ran all over the Sun Devils, literally, with a  players rushing for more than 100 yards.  The game ended disappointing seasons for both teams.

Last nights game was exciting and proved why it's the best rivalry in college football.

CARDINALS STILL HOPEFUL TO MAKE PLAYOFFS

It's easy to look at this season in the NFL and say the Arizona Cardinals have been one of the biggest disappointments of 2016.  One can even say that at 4-4-1 the Cardinals will be lucky to make the playoffs.  But how true is that statement?

The Cardinals are 2 games behind the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC West.  They are also in the hunt for a wild card berth.

The Cardinals have a chance to show the NFL how good they really are in the next three weeks.  They play the Vikings, Falcons and Redskins.  All winnable games against teams that they are competing against for a wild card spot.

If they can win those three games not only are they in the wild card race but they are also in the division race.  Don't forget they still have to play Seattle,  the team that they tied earlier this season.

So to all the naysayers don't count the Cardinals out just yet.

DODGERS ADVANCE TO NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed 5 games to defeat the Washington Nationals and advance to the National League Championship against the Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers advance with a 4-3 victory and they did it with the gutsy play of ace Clayton Kershaw.   Not only did he get over his playoff woes with the victory but he did it from the bullpen.

Kershaw entered the game in the 9th inning and recorded his first ever save to send the Nationals home.

Now the Dodgers will play the Chicago Cubs with a World Series berth on the line.  The series starts Saturday in Chicago

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: JAYDEN HALL

This week The High School Highlight stays in the West Valley.  Down the street from University of Phoenix Stadium is Copper Canyon High School. A fairly new high school is already rich with tradition and pride led by head coach Shawn Kemmer.

Kemmer has turned around a team from being win less a year ago to being 3-3 before tonight's game.  Kemmer had done it with hard work and determination from players like this weeks High School Highlight Jayden Hall.

Hall is a senior running back and safety who loves playing the game he has played his whole life.  He carries a 3.17 GPA in the classroom and has goals of playing in the NFL and having a family.

Hall has been on varsity for 4 years and plays a major role in the team turning around their season.  Hall loves running the football but knows his success is do to his teammates.  He says without them "I can't do what I do."

Hall also had some advice to future high school athletes.  He says that you will miss high school and fly's by so fast, so enjoy it while it lasts.

GUEST POST: THE LION STAR TALKS VIN SCULLY!

In case you missed it a legend called it a career this weekend.  To honor him here is a guest post from The Lion Star Blog.

I'm an Arizona Diamondbacks fan and have been ever since my hometown got the franchise. As a consequence, the Los Angeles Dodgers are major rivals and I have learned to have that special place in my heart for the Dodgers reserved only for other things I don't like, like molé, macaroni and cheese, people who take too long to get to the point, people who talk too much, people who talk during movies, and the Dallas Cowboys. Just kidding, I don't hate anything as much as I hate the Dallas Cowboys. But, my dad was a lifelong Dodger fan and up until the day we got a franchise, I used to bleed Dodger Blue. I grew up in a great time to be a Dodger fan with a lot of great players like Steve Sax, Mike Scioscia, Pedro Guerrero and of course #34, the one and only, Fernando Valenzuela. We had Fernando Mania like you couldn't believe. Every Chicano kid that ever picked up a bat or glove in the barrio wanted to be Fernando. My kid brother would mimic his delivery for hours, only to get yelled at by my dad for being a pitcher and taking his eye off the plate. Real Dodger fans get that. The truth is we were hand-fed baseball since we were old enough to walk and for that entire time, Vin Scully WAS baseball too me. Whether it was crackling through the AM station on the radio driving around town with my dad, or coming out of the boom-box while my dad was under a car fixing something on a Saturday morning, Vin Scully's voice was what painted the picture of the game for us.  You could almost hear the color of the grass or the grit of the infield dirt in his voice. Dad couldn't really afford to take us to Chavez Revine for a ball game and a Dodger Dog, but we listened religiously, whether we wanted to or not. That silky, gentlemanly voice of Vin Scully was like a throwback to the ol' timey announcers of baseball days long gone. Back to Dem Bums from Brooklyn. We didn't understand that then, but I understand and appreciate it now. For a kid growing up in my generation, the best memory I have of Vin Scully is when he was calling the first game of the 1988 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers. My father believed the most important Catholics on the planet were Pope John Paul II and Tommy Lasorda and certainly not in that order. Kirk Gibson was the soul of the Dodgers that year and hadn't been playing that game because he had to bum legs. And then 2 outs and the bottom of the 9th happened. The DH spot came up. Limping up the stairs with his bat in his hand was Kirk Gibson. "And look who's coming up!" Vin said. All of us boys and by dad, started cheering and making a raucous. The crowd at Dodger Stadium went crazy. And Vin did what any good broadcaster is supposed to do. He shut up and let the moment happen. Hearing the crowd lose it, only made us more anxious. "All year long they looked at him to light the fire and all year long he answered the demands until he was physically unable to start tonight with two bad legs." Vin had set up the at-bat. Did I mention Gibby was facing future Hall of Famer and one of the best closers of all time, Dennis Eckersley? Eck was working the outside of the plate, trying to prevent Gibson from having something he could pull. Gibson got behind 0-2 early and eventually battled back to a full count. "Gibson shaking his left leg, making it quiver like a horse trying to get rid of a troublesome fly" Vin explained about Gibson trying to get over a troublesome hamstring injury. Mike Davis had stolen second base during the at-bat and that meant the Dodgers didn't need a home run, they just needed a base hit to score Davis from second base. The tension was building to a crescendo. The payoff pitch was coming and Scully remarked, "Sax waiting on deck, but the game right now is at the plate." Eck started his wind-up and it was an outside pitch. Gibson was like a coiled snake unleashing, reached over the plate and made contact. The minute he started his swing, my dad went from sitting on the floor to jumping up and down. He'd seen enough baseball in his life to know even before Gibby made contact. CRACK! "High fly ball into right field...she is..GONE!" is how Scully called it. I have it memorized. I played it back in my head a million times. It was one of my most vivid memories of childhood. My dad was running around the living room exactly like Lasorda running out of the dugout. Gibson pumps his fist at waist level as he limped by second base. The crowd and the Abeytia boys all collectively lost their minds. And Vin Scully was masterful. Again, he didn't say a word after calling the home run. Gibson completely made his way around the bases and the team met him at the plate. Vin let you hear the crowd and just marinate in the moment. He didn't step on the moment by talking over the crowd. "In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened." Scully summed it up completely in one sentence. So perhaps its fitting that calling his last game for the Dodgers turned out to be another walk-off home run. This time for the Dodgers to clinch the NL West. Turns out that was the last year that the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series. Throughout all the years, like a loyal Dodger fan, Vin Scully was there, painting the picture with his voice. Could this be the year that Dem Bums recapture a World Series? Probably not. They don't have the bullpen and bats to go too deep into the playoffs. But maybe, just maybe, spurred on by the retirement of the guy that has been their voice for so many years, they can come down with a little Dodger Fever in the playoffs. And maybe Dem Bums can do what Vin said back in '88 - make the impossible happen. Since my Snakes are out, and my youngest daughter is a rabid Dodger fan herself - just this once, this Diamondback fan will say something he hasn't said since he was in high school... Go Dodgers. Farewell Vin Scully, thanks for the memories!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/N4nwMDZYXTI

A MUST WIN FOR THE ARIZONA CARDINALS

Today the Arizona Cardinals will travel to Northern California to face the San Francisco 49ers.  Both teams are 1-3 and with the high expectations placed on the Arizona Cardinals it is safe to say this is a must win game for them.

I know its only week 5 but a loss puts a huge dent on the Cardinals playoff hopes and here's why.

A loss puts them at 1-4 but more importantly it puts them 0-2 in a division and they still have to play Seattle twice.  They also have to Atlanta and Carolina and Minnesota.  Even if they split and go 3-3 that gives them 7 loses and they would still have other games that could be losses such 49ers, Rams and Redskins.

The way the NFC is playing this year the Cardinals may not get a Wild Card spot with just 9 wins.

So Cardinal fans get ready for a long season if the 49ers pull off the upset.

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: JOSIAH BAILEY

We are halfway through the High School football season and the great teams are starting to distance themselves from the good teams.  Kellis is one of those schools that is making a name for itself this season.

The Cougars are 5-1 and part of that is because or this weeks High School Highlight, Josiah Bailey.  Bailey is just a junior but has been on varsity for 3 years.  The receiver is a touchdown machine and is dangerous every time he touches the football.

Bailey has been playing football since third grade and hopes it helps him get a college education.  He plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice when he gets to college.  He plays football because he used to watch his brother play and was inspired by him.  Bailey has a 3.75 GPA and would love to play in the All America game.

Bailey is an inspiration on and off the field and says football "is a great life lesson teacher and is a gateway to a better life and education."

LA JOYA SPOILS HOME OPENER FOR ALHAMBRA

It was another great night for high school football in Phoenix.  Alhambra, coming off an impressive victory two weeks ago at Carl Hayden, played host to La Joya in their home opener.

La Joya scored on its first possession and never looked back.  They jumped out to a 21-0 and it looked like it was going to be a blowout.  Then with 3:00 minutes to go in the half Alhambra finally got on the board and cut the lead to 21-6.

After a La Joya fumble the Lions scored again and cut the lead to 21-14 after the 2 point conversion with just 51 seconds left.  But the first half scoring wasn't over. Both teams traded touchdowns and La Joya had a 28-22 half time lead.

La Joya came out in the second half and continued where they left and held the Lions scoreless in the second half and cruised to a 54-22 victory.

Alhambra looks to bounce back next week when they host the South Mountain Jaguars.  La Joya goes to Mountain Ridge and is looking for it's second straight victory.

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: ISREAL ARAIZA

                      Photo courtesy of Laura Bautista


This week The High School Highlight profile North's junior fullback/linebacker Isreal Araiza. He is in his first year of varsity football and is already making an impact for the Mustangs.

Araiza has been playing football since he was 6 years old and even played for Team USA's 15 and under team.  He is a warrior on the field and just as impressive in the classroom.

He has 3.4 GPA and plans to go to college to get into sports marketing and training.  He also inspires to play football in college.  At just a junior he has already visited a few college campus'.

Araiza has goals of helping North turn in to a football school.  He also wants to average 12 tackles a game, a goal that is very reachable for the young man.

He has always wanted to play football and tells a story being 4 years old at his sisters cheer practice and crying because he was too young to play.  His dad had coached him since he started playing so football is a lifestyle to him.

Araiza is a perfect example of a kid whose love for something has spilled over to other parts of life and has made him an impressive young man.

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: JORDEN BLAKE

This week's edition of The High School Highlight comes to us from St. Mary's High School, a school rich with history.

The tradition is so great that we profile out third Knight in the 3 years of this segment.  Jorden Blake is a senior Wide Reciever and Safety and has helped put St. Mary's back on the high school football map.  Blake is a fout year letterman and has started since his sophomore season.

Blake is a very intelligent young man who carries a 3.3 GPA and also plays basketball. Blake says his short term goal is "to finish out my high school career on a positive note.  St. Mary's has a long history of sports and academic excellence and I want to do my part to continue that legacy.  My plan is to excel in my academics and athletics to earn a scholarship to collage."

Just by the way Blake answered my questions I could tell he is a smart young man.  He says as a kid he always enjoyed watching football on TV but his mom wouldn't let him play.  Finally she let him play flag football.  The first time he touched the ball he scored and he has been hooked ever since.

Blake had an incredible answer when I asked him to tell me something about high school sports that people may not know.  He said that playing high school sports is a lot harder than it looks.  It takes hard work, time and commitment, but the reward os the relationships he has built with his teammates and the knowledge he has gained from his coaches.

"There is nothing like the joy of playing on Friday nights!"

ALHAMBRA DEFEATS CARL HAYDEN IN SEASON OPENER

The high school football season didn't start out the way Carl Hayden wanted it to when it hosted Alhambra on Friday night.

The team has worked hard all summer and is poised to show the rest of the state how much they have improved.  They fell short losing 33-7 to a tough Alhambra team.

There were some bright spots for the Falcons.  Despite giving up 33 points the defense held their own against a team that primarily runs and ball and wears down defenses.

Offensively the run game showed some life, especially on a long touchdown run early in the third quarter that gave the Falcons life.

But the night belonged to the Alhambra Lions.  They played a great game and stayed in control throughout the game.  This game was a battle of first year coaches and the Lions George Medrano came out on top.

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: FERNANDO MONROY

Guess what everybody?  The High school football season in finally upon us.  Tonight a handful of high schools start their season throughout the valley.  That also means it's time for The High School Highlight.

This season we start with a team that isn't know for football but under new coach Randy Gross there is a "new breed" roaming the halls of Carl Hayden High School.  A team that hasn't reach the post season since 1996 the Falcons look to change that this season. One of the young men that plans to make the change is senior lineman Fernando Monroy.

Monroy has been on varsity for 3 years and is very competitive on the field.  He says in order to excel in high school sports you must remain competitive and focused.  Monroy plays football becuse his older inspired him to play.  His brother is also an assistant coach on the team.

Monroy has plans for life after high school football.  He wants to go to college and start a family.

Monroy and the rest of his teammates have worked really hard off season to try and turn around a struggling program.  They had a successful summer with 7 on 7 and big man challenges.  They look to continue that success tonight when they host Alhambra is the season opener for both teams.

CARDINALS START CAMP WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS

The Arizona Cardinals had their first official practice of the 2016 football season yesterday. The practice was to exciting because there was no contact, but the crowd was as big as expected.

The expectations for the Cardinals this season are as high as they've ever been.  They have everybody back on offense and have added two key pieces in Robert Nkemdiche and Chandler Jones.  The team knows it's Super Bowl or Bust this season.

The pressure will be in the Cardinals and they know it.  They are one of the favorites to win the NFC and even the Super Bowl.

With Bruce Arians back as head coach you can expect that the Cardinals will be ready to meet those expectations. 

PATRICK PETERSON ALREADY THE TALK OF TRAINING CAMP

The camp started Thursday for the Arizona Cardinals with players reporting.  There has yet to be a single practice and yet the NFL world is already talking about Patrick Peterson.

The all pro cornerback made the biggest appearance at training camp when he showed up via helicopter.  Yes you read it right helicopter.

Many people are amused but it makes me wonder are the Cardinals a little to confident? They are a favorite to make it to the Super Bowl and rightfully so.

But should they be pulling stunts like this?  I know they are a great team but they are not a great franchise.  Win a Super Bowl and continue to compete then you can all come to camp in a helicopter.

CARL HAYDEN READY FOR CHALLENGES AHEAD

It's Carl Hayden's second day of official practice for 2016 high school football season.  As you walk up you can tell your not in Chandler, Mesa or Scottsdale, and not because of the surrounding neighborhood but because you don't see fancy equipment, college recruiters or even parents watching their son's practice.

What you do see is a group of young men working to be the best they can be.  First year coach Randy Gross knows it's difficult to win in the Phoenix Union High School district, but he knows it's possible.

As I watched the team run their offense I noticed how in tune the offense was.  That's impressive for any team in their second day of practice but even more so for the Carl Hayden Falcons.

The team won just 2 games last year and was blown out in just about every other game.  But something changed when Gross took over the program.  He brought with him a group of very talented coaches that work well together and are teaching the team how to do so as well.

Gross believes his team will do well this season. Despite losing it's top lineman for the season they have a very talented center in Fernando Monroy.  Coach Gross called him "a great high school center."

Gross also has a quarterback, senior Jeremy Matos, that he trusts to go along with three talented running backs, including one that played on the line last year. Gross says he slimmed down for wrestling and the coaching realized he was athletic enough to make the switch to the backfield.  Gross encourages his players to play multiple sports.

Carl Hayden may not have a winning season or even make the playoffs but they are off to a good start in turning around a program that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1996.

They proved how much they are improving this summer when they placed second in the Phoenix Union 7 on 7 Passing League Tournament and 2nd in the Big Man Challenge. This will be a breakout season for the Falcons.

DOCKETT RETIRES A CARDINAL

Former Arizona Cardinals defense tackle Darnell Dockett signed a one day contract with the team and retired the way he came in to the league, as an Arizona Cardinal.

Dockett played 10 seasons with the Cardinals and many fans are pleased with the move.  I have to question it.

Why was it so important to Dockett he retired a Cardinal?  Is it loyalty to the team? He signed with a division rival so I don't think that's the answer.  I remember the day he signed with the 49ers he went on a radio station that was not the Cardinals flagship and voiced his opinion of not being happy that they didn't make more of an effort to keep him.

So why did he do it?  I'll tell you why, to try and get in to the Cardinals Ring of Honor.  I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but don't scream loyalty when you have an anterior motive.

ST. MARY'S STARTING OVER AGAIN

Those of you that are familiar with Arizona high school football know of the St. Mary's Knights. They are not the power they once were but for a school as small as they are they are always on the radar.

St. Mary's is a school rich with tradition, from the game day mass to the gold pants during the playoffs. This season the Knights will start with a new tradition they want ended.  Starting the season with a new coach.

For the third straight season St. Mary's starts with a new coach.  But this season has a different feel to it.  They have a coach, Tommy Brittain, who is a proven winner.  They also have a strong core of seniors led by Jorden Blake, Abel Navarrette and Odua Isibor, who went to the state playoffs as sophomores and also know how to win.


The senior class is loaded with too much talent to mention.  The Knights will surprise this season simply for the fact that they are not a Chandler or Scottsdale school and will be over looked.  Add that to the talented team they have returning and they will be a sleeper team as a part of the new 4A conference.

KELLIS' HIDDEN GEM

Get ready folks it's almost football season.  The NFL starts training camp and that means high school football is soon to follow.

In the shadow of University of Phoenix Stadium lies a high school not known for football,  but that is soon to change.  Raymond S. Kellis is poised to put it's name on the high school football nap.  It will do so with soon to be super star Josiah Bailey.

Bailey is just a junior but put up some impressive numbers in his sophomore season. He is a slot reliever and defensive back that had quickly made a name for himself.  At just 5'10 he had 610 reliever yards and 725 rushing yards to go along with 17 touchdowns.

Bailey is also anticipating a huge year on the defensive side of the ball.  Last season he had 13 tackles and 1 interception. He also forced a fumble in just four games and was selected honorable mention on the all conference team. He was also selected first team return man and second team wide receiver.

Kellis went just 3-7 but the team believes in themselves and can feel a change in the air at Kellis High School.  Watch out for Bailey and Kellis to surprise a lot of people this season.

KD JOINS LEBRON?

NBA free agency started on Friday and we had some big changes like we always do.  None bigger than what happened earlier today when Kevin Durant decided to join the LeBron James crew.

Cleveland fans don't get to excited, he did not sign with the Cavs.  Instead he decided, like James did so many years ago, if you can't beat them join them.

Kevin Durant signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors that will pay him $54 million over 2 years.  He will now join Steph Curry and Clay Thompson to possible make a better Warrior team than this year's 73-9 team.

The signing may be great for Durant and of coarse Golden State fans but it sends a bad message to NBA fans across the world.  Players now of days would rather play on the same team as the guys they can't beat.  Like most fans I'd like to see players continue to improve themselves and try and beat them, not join them.

LEBRON,CLEVELAND DOMINATE GAME 6

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 115-101 in game 6 of the NBA Finals. The Cavs victory forces a deciding game 7 on Father's Day.

Although the score doesn't really show it, Cleveland dominated from the opening tip. They started fast, ending the first quarter with a 31-11 lead.  The game was dominated by LeBron James.  For the second straight game LeBron had 41 points.

The game got even more interesting with just over minutes to play Steph Curry fouled out and was not happy.  He charged at the ref and threw his mouth piece in the other direction, hitting a fan.  Curry was given a technical fouled and ejected from the game.  He left with 30 points.

This game had alot of numbers that you could say made  the difference.  In my opinion the biggest number was 1.  Not for the 1 game that will decide the tittle on Sunday, but for the 1 assist Steph Curry had.

IS GAME 3 A MUST WIN FOR THE CAVS?

Tomorrow night the 2016 NBA Finals moves to Cleveland as the Cavs host the Golden State Warriors in game 3.

In case you have been sleeping under a rock lately the Warriors lead the best of 7 series 2-0. They absolutely dominated game 2 and have many fans thinking repeat.  Which poses the question, is game 3 a must win for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The answer should come quick and it is yes!  It will be very difficult for LeBron James to lead his team back from a 3 game deficit.  The Cavs have heard all year long how much better the West is and now they are seeing it first hand.  The series most likely won't end in a sweep but it will end with the Warriors calling themselves defending champs.

KIMBO SLICE DIES AT JUST 42 YEARS OLD

MMA fighter Kevin Ferguson, better known as Kimbo Slice has died at a hospital in Florida.  The cause of death isn't clear but some reports are saying it was heart failure.

Kimbo Slice last fought in February.  He won the fight but later the victory was taken away because Kimbo tested positive for steroids.

Slice was a YouTube sensation who used his street fighting ability to become famous.  At just 42 years of age he was taken from us too soon and will be deeply missed.

"THE GREATEST" HAS PASSED AWAY

Tonight 74 year old and boxing icon Muhammad Ali passed away at an Arizona hospital from a respiratory infection.  Ali also spent the last 32 years of his life fighting Parkinson's disease.

Ali will be remembered for many such as his smack talk and his not joining the military.  Most importantly Muhammad Ali should be remember for his talent and his ability to fight in and out of the ring.

Ali's toughest fight in his life wasn't Joe Frazier or even George Foreman.  It was Parkinson's disease.  Ali put up a great fight but finally lost the battle tonight.

Muhammad Ali, we salute you!  You were a great boxer and an even better fighter.

WARRIORS REACH NBA FINALS AGAIN

For the second consecutive season the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will meet in the NBA Finals.

Golden State beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-88 in game seven of the Western Conference Finals. Golden State found themselves down 3-1 but we're able to remain calm and eliminate the Thunder.

Clay Thompson and Steph Curry kept the Warrior fans hopes alive with great 3 point shooting.

Now they face a very good Cleveland team led by LeBron James.  Things will be different than last season with Irving and Love being healthy this season.

This should be a good series and a fun one to watch.  I'm taking Golden State in 6.

CELEBRATING THE GRADUATE

The past few weeks have been focused on the graduate in our lives.  You have heard many stories of students overcoming the odds to earn a high school diploma.

Well I too have a story for you.  This story is about a young man that was always told he was too small to play football.  J.J. Lyons proved the naysayers wrong by starting on varsity all four years while in high school.

On May 18, 2016 he graduated from Copper Canyon High School and is now headed to Kansan to play at MidAmerica Nazarene.  I had the privilege to attend a dinner to celebrate his graduation.

The dinner was amazing.  The food was great and the family of J.J. Lyons was even better.  While my wife and I sat eating our dinner I realized something.  Lyons was where he today not just because of his out effort, but the effort of his parents, John and Malinda.

J.J. will be a success on and off the field and he is living proof that with family support and if you set your mind to it, it can be achieved.

OKC TAKES GAME 1 OF WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors 108-102 in game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.  The game was played in Oakland and many people expected a different outcome.

The Thunder were led by Russell Westbrook, who had 27 points and 12 assists.  OKC came out with the win despite shooting just 35% in the final quarter.

The big problem for Golden State was their shooting.  They are usually a throw any shot up and it goes in team, but this time that did not work for them.  Steph Curry,despite having 26 points shot just 9-22 from the field.

Golden State should be able to bounce back in game 2 so brace yourself for an incredible series ahead of us.

ARIZONA BOXER TO FIGHT FOR TITLE IN VEGAS

Phoenix fighter Joey "The Boxer" Ruelas will fight in Vegas this Saturday against John Vera Jr. for the vacant WBA-NBA USA Super Welter Weight Championship.  The fight is scheduled for Saturday night in Las Vegas.

This is a big opportunity for Ruelas to showcase his talent.  The fight will be televised by CBS Sports Network.

Ruelas is 10-1-1 and faces an undefeated opponent in Vera, 13-0.  This should be a great contest between two up and coming fighters.

Ruelas has proved he can fight through adversity, he has won his last two fights after suffering his only loss.  He is arguably Vera's toughest opponent to date.

I give the edge to Ruelas in this fight because of his mental toughness.  He will bring the title home to Arizona!

WHAT A DAY FOR BASEBALL

On a day where most Americans are mourning the loss of music icon Prince, Major League Baseball found a way to get in the spotlight.

ESPN analyst Curt Schilling was fired because of a meme and comments he made about transgenders using the men's restroom.  He was given a raw deal, but we'll talk about that later.

Then later in the day Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta threw this seasons first no-hitter.  He struck out six leading his team to 16-0 route of the Cincinnati Reds.

THE NFL CELEBRATES 420?

Today is April 20, better known as 420 day.  If you don't know what it refers to then good for you.  If you do know then you know how people celebrate it.

The NFL celebrates in a different way then most people.  Today is the first official day the NFL starts drug testing it's players.

If a player is not in the drug program, meaning they haven't test positive before, they only get tested once a year.

Some people don't like the NFL's drug policy and there are certainly holes in the system.  Hopefully the system in place will deter future athletes from using marijuana.

SUNS HIRE WATSON

The Phoenix Suns have taken the interim tag off of Coach Earl Watson.  On Tuesday, Watson was name the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Watson went 9-23 this season after the team fired Jeff Hornacek.  Watson seamed to connect with his players and they seem to like him.

Watson was also praised for the way he handled the Markieff Morris situation.  The media seems to be happy with the hire.  I am not.

The Phoenix Suns are way behind the other teams in the Western Conference. They need an established Coach that has proven he can turn around a franchise.

Watson has very little to work wit has.  Devin Booker is his best player, but is only a rookie so he is not established yet.  

I hope Earl Watson proves me wrong but I don't think he's a good enough coach to turn around a team like the Phoenix Suns.

KOBE'S LAST GAME

Tomorrow Kobe Bryant takes the floor for the last time as an NBA player.  The Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz at Staples Center.

Many NBA fans will bid farewell to a legend.
Kobe will leave a great legacy when he retires after tomorrow's game.

But will Kobe Bryant be missed by all?

The answer is no.  During his awesome career he made a lot of enemies.  Most ogles them came from just having great games against a certain player or team.

Suns fans especially have grown to hate Kobe Bryant, but the same reason. You hate him should be the same reason you respect him.

Kobe was great for the game.  He is a competitor and would always try and beat you.  Kobe by far isn't my favorite player but I respect his competitiveness.

FORMER SAINT WILL SMITH SHOT TO DEATH

Former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith has been shot to death.  The incident occurred earlier tonight.  Reports are still coming in so we are not clear on exactly what happened.

Smith was shot to death along with his wife, who appears to be alive.  Former teammate Pierre Thomas was reportedly with the couple when they were shot.

Police haven't released a motive but the incident occurred in New Orleans.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Smith family.

LA. TECH COACH RESIGNS AFTER AFFAIR WITH PLAYER

La.Tech Women's Basketball coach Tyler Summitt resigned due to an "inappropriate relationship " he had with one of his players.

Summitt, the son of legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, had an affair with one of his players that led to the woman getting pregnant.

Summitt,25, was 30-31 after two seasons with the team.  This whole situation makes me wonder if he even should have been a head coach at such a high level of competition.

His record was mediocre, he is young and he is the son of one of the greatest college coaches to ever coached the game.  Then you add the fact that he sleeps with his players.  Tyler Summitt had no business being a head coach in the first place.

CARDINALS PRESEASON SCHEDULE RELEASED

The preseason schedule for 2016-2017 was released earlier today for the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals will open the season at University of Phoenix Stadium when the host the Oakland Raiders.  The game will be held the week of August 11-15.

Week 2 of the preseason has the Cardinals going to San Diego to play the Chargers.  That game will be held the week of August 18-22.

Week 3 is the only game that is already scheduled.  The Cardinals will again be on the road, this time they travel to Houston to face the Texans.  That game is August 28 at 1:00 P.M. Arizona time on Fox.

The preseason will end back in Glendale when the Cardinals host the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Denver Broncos.  That game will be September 1 or 2.

TIME TO WORRY?

The Arizona Dbacks lost their first series of the season.  They lost 2 out of 3 games to the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field.  It's just 3 out of 182 games, but should the Dbacks started to worry?

They picked up two of the top pitchers in the game during the off season.  But Greinke and Miller looked terrible in their debuts.  You also have to factor in that the Dbacks are historically bad during the month of April.

Although they play in the toughest division in baseball the Dbacks will be okay.  After another week or so the team should be in sink and be able to establish themselves as playoff contenders.

GREINKE NOT IMPRESSIVE IN DBACKS DEBUT

The Arizona Dbacks open the 2016 baseball season by hosting the Colorado Rockies yesterday at Chase Field.  The scene was electric, the crowd was full of anticipation.

Larry Fitzgerald threw out the first pitch and then it was game on.  The Dbacks started their newly acquired ace, Zach Greinke.  But just 3 innings in some fans were wondering if that was a good idea.

Greinke gave up all of his 7 runs in the second and third inning.  He gave up 9 hits total in just 4 innings of action.  The Dbacks lost 10-5.

Greinke's bad start was shocking to most but the reality is it is just one game.  There were reports that he pitched with the flu, and that is certainly no excuse for his performance but Greinke is a true ace pitcher and will bounce back.  He will prove the naysayers wrong in his next start?

NOVA BEATS BUZZER TO WIN TITTLE

Villanova did the unthinkable tonight in college basketballs NCAA Championship Game.  They used a last second shot to beat the North Carolina Tar Heels to become the 2016 Champs.

Villanova led most of the way until North Carolina tied the game with 4 seconds to play.  Then a timeout was called to set up one final play.  Villanova unbounded the ball and found a wide open Kris Jenkins who nailed the three pointer as time ran out.

What a great way to cap off a great NCAA Tournament.   The buzzer beater was the first ever 3 point buzzer beater in NCAA Tournament history.

DID KJ DO IT?

Everybody remembers Phoenix Suns point guard Kevin Johnson.  He is one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise.  But did you know 20 years ago he was accused of sexual assault by a 16 year old girl?

The allegations surface again recently and Monday Johnson decided not to run for re-election for Mayor of Sacramento.

The allegations were investigated and files were not charged.  The thing that makes KJ look guilty is he paid $230,000 to the alleged victim as some sort of settlement.

KJ claims that the allegations are a lie and he maintains his innocence. The questions now is what do you think is the truth?

FORMER ASU COACH HIRED AT SANTA CLARA

Former Arizona State Men's Basketball coach Herb Sendek was hired today by Santa Clara.  He replaces Kerry Keating, who was fired after 9 years as the schools coach.

Santa Clara is a good spot for Sendek.  It's a great job yet the pressure to win is now where near what it was at ASU.  Sendek wasn't dominant at ASU but he won more than he lost and made it to 2 NCAA tournament appearances in 9 seasons.

The hire is also impressive because Sendek is the first ASU coach to get another head job after being fired since 1931.

WHY SEAN MILLER STAYS IN ARIZONA

Sean Miller's Arizona Wildcats basketball was ousted front the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament earlier this month.  So now Miller and company will go back to the drawing board.  They will do so in Tucson, not Pittsburgh, where he was rumored to be headed when their head coaching job became vacant.

Every year Miller is rumored to be leaving Arizona, but why?  Arizona is major powerhouse in college basketball.  They get top recruits every year and are always competing for a National Tittle.

Sean Miller will stay in Arizona because it's the best situation for him.  He will be a favorite to win the PAC 12 and in talks to get to his first Final Four with the school.  Miller has made Arizona a place that a young NBA bound player wants to come and play, even if it's just for one year.

WILDCATS SHOCKED IN FIRST ROUND

The Arizona Wildcats were certainly shocked earlier tonight when they were ousted from the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.   They lost to the Wichita St. Shockers.  The final score was 65-55.

Arizona had a lot of talent on its side but they never seemed to get rolling.  They trailed the entire game.  For most teams just making the tournament is good enough, but not for the Wildcats.

The season now becomes a failure.  Arizona had Final Four aspirations and they were dashed in one night.  Now it's back to the gym to try and come back twice as strong next season.

WHO WILL BE CINDERELLA?

The first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament begins Thursday. It's a college basketball fans favorite time of year. 16 games will be played Thursday and 16 more on Friday. It's the reason we call it March Madness.

68 teams from across the country compete to call themselves national champion.  Now the question is who will be Cinderella?  Who will go dancing with the glass slipped and make the biggest upset this year?

A lot of people are picking Wichita St.  But they play a very tough Arizona team that has the potential to make it to the Final Four.  I wouldn't pick them.

I would pick Hawaii or Yale.  But you can pick any team you want because there will be an upset or two in this year's tournament.  This should be another fun post season of college basketball.

CARDINALS TRADE FOR CHANDLER JONES

The Arizona Cardinals just got a lot better defensively, particularly the defense line.  Today they acquired Chandler Jones from the Patriots in exchange for Jonathan Cooper and a second round draft pick in this year's draft.

The trade was a good one for the Cardinals.  They got a standout defensive end for practically nothing.  Cooper never really established himself as a legitimate guard in the NFL.

The Cardinals will now focus on a quarterback or lineman in the draft.  They made a statement today in acquiring Jones.  That great defense just got even better.

DON'T WIN ANOTHER GAME PHOENIX SUNS

The Phoenix Suns are coming off of a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.  They are 18-49 with just 15 games remaining in the season.  So as the season comes to an end I have a message for the Phoenix Suns. Don't win another game!

The Suns have the 3rd worst record and are just four games ahead of the Lakers.  If they lose the rest of their games they have a better shot at the number 1 overall pick.

I know "tanking" isn't a popular idea and most fans are against it but let's face it the Suns have already tanked this season.  It has been one of the worst seasons in franchise history and getting a number 1 pick wouldn't Make the season better but it would be a nice compensation for the fans.

FILLING OUT YOUR BRACKET

It's Time March Madness is finally here! The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament starts this week and it should be a fun one.

Fans across the country are racing to fill out their brackets. The office pool will be the talk of the next few weeks.  What upset are you going to pick?  Here are some tips when filling out your bracket.

Most brackets go by a point system.  You get points each time you pick a correct winner. Each round gives more points.  The person with the most points wins the pool.

It's very rare that all four number ones make the Final Four.  So don't pick them all.  It's okay to pick the higher seed to win just be careful, when you lose a lot of games early you lessen your chances in the later rounds.

Upsets are a major part of March Madness but don't pick too many.  They happen but not as often as we think.

Lastly, pick your favorite team and stick with them.  Sit back put your feet up and enjoy the NCAA Tournament we call March Madness.

ARIZONA GOES DANCING AS A 6 SEED

The Arizona Wildcats found out their March Madness fate today.  They are the 6th seed in the South Region and will play the winner of one of the play in games Vanderbilt or Wichita St.

Arizona is a dangerous team that could go far in this tournament.  However, teams such as Miami(Fl.) and Villanova stand in their way.

College basketball is always fun in March and there is always a major upset.  Let's just hope the Wildcats are the team that doesn't get upset.

CARDINALS MISS BIG IN FREE AGENCY

The new year in the NFL has started and with that comes free agency.  There were some big moves but none came from the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals had there eyes on a few guys but weren't able to lure any of them to Arizona. Cardinals fans have to be frustrated with General Manager Steve Keim.

Keim has done a masterful job as the GM but this was his year to shine.  The team had plenty of money to spend and cap space but did nothing with it.

Now the focus shifts to the draft.  Hopefully they can do something big and help the team toward their goal of winning the Super Bowl.

WILDCATS LOSE THRILLER IN OVERTIME

The University of Arizona Wildcats lost tonight in the semifinals of the PAC 12 Tournament to Oregon.

The Wildcats didn't exit the tournament quietly. They lost in thriller 95-89 in overtime. But it was the end of regulation that will have everone talking tomorrow.

The Wildcats trailed by 4 and hit a 3 with less then a second remaining.  On the insuring inbound play  forward Mark Tollefsen stole the pass and was fouled with .04 of a second to play. He made 1 out of two free throws and sent the game into overtime.

The top seeded and regular season Champs proved to be too much for the Wildcats in the overtime.  Arizona will still make the NCAA Tournament next week.

Arizona played great in the second half and coach Sean Miller hopes his team can continue to play well.  When the Wildcats are at their best they can hang with any team in the country.

WILDCATS ADVANCE IN PAC12 TOURNAMENT

It was a tale of two halves for the Arizona Wildcats into their first game of the PAC12 Tournament.  They survived a scare from the Colorado Buffaloes but we're able to advance to the semifinals against top see Oregon.

The Wildcats defense look the best it has all season giving up just 20 first half points.  The second have was not the same story.  They allowed Colorado two score 58 points.  There balanced offense is what won them this game.

Senior Gabe York continues to impress and scored 15 points in 5-10 shooting.  Allonzo Trier led the Wildcats with 23 points.

Arizona now plays Oregon for the right to advance to Saturday's Conference Tittle game.

OSWEILER SIGNS WITH HOUSTON

One of the most sought after quarterbacks in free agency has found a home during the first day of the NFL's new season.  Brock Osweiler decided to sign with the Houston Texans instead of returning to the Super Champions Denver Broncos.

Osweiler signed a 4 year $72 million deal.  That's a lot of money for a guy that only played 7 games last year.  He is a goof QB but not great.  He was smart to take a payday when he had the chance.

Osweiler still has a lot to prove if he wants to be considered an NFL great.  Houston is a quarterback away from being a great team.  The question now is Brock Osweiler that quarterback?

We shall soon find out!

HOW GOOD IS ARIZONA BASKETBALL?

The Arizona Wildcats are always a force to be reckoned with when it comes to college basketball.  This year is no different.  The Wildcats finished the regular season at 24-7, but they are the fourth seed in this weeks PAC 12 Tournament.

The Wildcats have plenty of fire power to make a run at the PAC12 Tournament Tittle. If they can get hot they can beat any team in the country. Coach Sean Miller knows that and is counting on veteran leadership to help the team get to their first Final Four with him as head coach.

The Wildcats have reached the Elite Eight two years in a row and are looking to change that this year. Look for the Wildcats to make another deep run during March Madness. With the right bracket the Wildcats could even make it to the National Championship Game.

MANNING RETIRES

The Denver Broncos held a press conference yesterday so that quarterback Peyton Manning could announced his retirement. Manning played 18 seasons in the NFL, the last four with the Broncos. He is coming off a Super Bowl victory in February.

Manning will go down in history as one of the greatest QB's to ever play the game. He holds numerous passing records. He also brought a certain level of intelligence to the game that made him such a great quarterback.

Manning leaves the sport on top. Injuries slowed him down, but he was still able to finish the season as a champion. He can now write the rest of his story, whether it be as a coach, announcer or in somebody's front office. Manning left a legacy in Denver, Indianapolis and the rest of the NFL

Manning's retirement could leave the Broncos in a bad situation. They gave the franchise tag to Von Miller, which means Brock Osweiler is now a free agent. If the Broncos want to take another trip back to the Superbowl they must make signing Osweiler a priority in the off season.

BASKETBALL SEASON ENDING FOR SUN DEVILS

The Arizona State Men's basketball team ends it's regular season tomorrow when it hosts #25 ranked California.  The team is coming off a victory over Stanford and with a win against the Golden Bears guarantees itself a non losing season.

If you follow basketball in Arizona it sure feels like a losing season.  The Sun Devils haven't been very competitive under first year coach Bobby Hurley.  Hopefully the program is in the rise.

The poor season makes me wonder if they did the right thing in firing Herb Sendek after last season.  I know there is a rebuilding process with a new coach,  but Sendek couldn't have done any worse.  In my opinion Hurley only has  a year, maybe two to tun the basketball program around at Arizona State.

WHY DID THE REDSKINS DRAFT KIRK COUSINS?

It's almost time for free agency in the NFL.  Which means decision making time for a lot of teams. The Washington Redskins were one of those teams Tuesday when they used their franchise tag to keep quarterback Kirk Cousins around at least one more year.

The team will pay him a little more than $18 million next season.  This decision was also the final nail in the RGIII coffin.  The team will seek a trade just to get something for the former Rookie of the Year, but it won't be much.

The whole situations has me wondering, Cousins and RGIII turned pro the same year.  So why did the Washington Redskins draft Kirk Cousins?

They gave up so much to get RGIII but were they wondering if RGIII was the long term answer?  Why else would you draft another quarterback after you just put more value on the few picks you had left after the trade?

Drafting Cousins makes it look like even the Redskins second guessed themselves.  Now four years later they feel the made the right draft pick back in 2012.  But it's the second QB they took that has them feeling that way.

MAYWEATHER RETURNING TO RING?

Rumors are flying about the possibility of Floyd Mayweather stepping back into the ring two face Gennady Golovkin.

Mayweather retired last September after being Andre Berto. He finished his career at 49-0. He is considered one of the greatest pound for pound boxers ever.

Gennady Golovkin seems to be the fighter to replace Mayweather as the guy to beat. He is 34 - 0 with 31 knockouts. He has a knockout rate of 91%. But many people are questioning who he has fought.  He has an impressive record, but very little well known opponents.

The fight will never happen. In his prime Mayweather would never have taken a fight that there was a slim chance of him losing. Now that he's retired he definitely won't take the chance of losing his undefeated record.

I would love to see the fight and I would pick Mayweather in a decision, bu the this is a fight that unfortunately we will never see.

WHY NO TECH?

Last night Golden State's Steph Curry made the game winning shot to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.  And he made it look easy!  He hit a half court shot with .06 remaining to keep his team on path to win the most regular season games in NBA history.

Curry was excited, as he should be, he even danced into the ensuring timeout and high five teammates.  But why wasn't he he given a Technical foul?  Cam Newton would have gotten one.

Curry is the most popular player in the game today and for that he was given a pass.  For that I say say to the NBA and commissioner Sterling I say "Shame on you!"  Curry should have been given a tech and the outcome of the game may have changed.

I know I sound like a hater, but just think about it for a second and let me paint you a picture.

It's the last game of the season and the Warriors are one game away from breaking the wins in a season record.  It's a close game.  The other team they are playing hits a go ahead three pointer with less than a second to play.

The other team is obvious very happy and the shooter decides to "Dap" on the court.  Of course he gets a tech.  Curry makes the free throw and Golden State gets the ball back and instead of a three to send it to overtime they win the game!

WHY THE CARDINALS MUST RESIGN CHRIS JOHNSON

                   Photo courtesy of Fox Sports

Arizona Cardinals running Chris Johnson was on satellite radio yesterday and he expressed his interest in returning to the team.  Johnson season was ended early with an injury and with the production of rookie David Johnson many people feel the Cardinals don't need the crafty veteran.  Well they are wrong.

Bringing Johnson back would be a smart move by Arizona because he wants to be here.  He also won't cost very much.  He doesn't have to carry the work load because of the other Johnson.  Imagine that dual threat at running back for the Cardinals.  Johnson knows the playback and can help developed the younger running backs.

The 2015 season proved how important a good running game is to the Cardinals and Chris Johnson brings great skills to the table that can help the team win it's first ever Super Bowl.

IT'S BASEBALL TIME!

For those of you that don't know this is post number 300 for my blog. I thought it would only be fitting to talk baseball. Just like a 300 batting average. I to have reached a milestone, but I wont stop there.

February means spring training time here in Arizona. Games starts in a few days and the fans will be out rooting for their team.

The buzz around Dbacks camp is that they now have the pitching fire power to make a run at the world series. The Dbacks Fan Fest was held this weekend and the attendance showed that the fans feel the same way.

An estimated 30,000 people showed up to the free event.

The Fan Fest was a success. fan got to meet players and coaches and had many interactive games to try. there was a live broadcast from the local radio station 98.7 AZ sports.

The Fan Fest was a perfect way to start the 2016 major league baseball season. The fans here in Arizona are ready for a fun baseball season.

MORRIS SENT PACKING

The Phoenix Suns have traded Markieff Morris!  Yes, I'll say it again.  The Phoenix Suns have traded Markieff Morris.  We are finally rid of the cancer called Markieff Morris.

Morris was sent to the Washington Wizards for Kris Humphries, DeJuan Blair and a conditional first round pick.  Yes we got all of that for Morris, I'm just as shocked as anyone. 

The move was a great move for the Suns.  When they take the floor tomorrow to start the second half of the season they can start new.  The rest of the season may not produce many wins but we don't have to worry about what Markieff Morris is going to do next.  The team can now focus on rebuilding and not second guessing themselves.

To the Washington Wizards I say thank You!  Too Markieff Morris I say grow up.  It's time to mature a little and focus on you and not what you feel people did wrong to you.

DON'T BE SURPRISED!

Tomorrow is the NBA's trade deadline.  Teams have until 1:00 P.M. Arizona time to make deals t make their team stronger or save money for free agency.  Here in Phoenix the expectation is that disgruntled Markieff Morris will be sent packing.  Well don't be surprised if that doesn't happen.

The Suns have all the reasons in the world to trade Morris.  But we are forgetting one thing,  he is very god and nobody wants him!  Yes he needs to be gone ASAP but we as fans have to be prepared to get nothing in return for him.  The Suns front office knows that and may just hang on to him hoping his stock rises between now and the end of the season.

I have said all along that I felt they weren't going to trade him.  They had a chance when they traded his brother, Marcus and no deal.  They had all summer when he did nothing but talk bad about the organization and no deal.  They fired Jeff Hornacek and no deal.

All of these signs point to one conclusion.  Markieff Morris will be in a Suns uniform the next time the team takes the court and Friday!

PEYTON MANNING: TO BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE

By now everyone has hold the newest allegations against Peyton Manning.  He was accused of sexual harassment when he was a sophomore at the University of Tennessee.  The worse part, if the story is true, is the cover up that occurred after.

Peyton Manning is known as a nice polite and funny person.  He is thought to be of good character.  But I ask you this.  Do you you believe the stories?  And if so how does that affect your view of him?

Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.  You can't take that away from him.  But what would his reputation be if those allegations were released some 20 years ago?  Would Manning even have made it to the NFL?

It seems strange to me that all these stories are coming out now that he is at the end  of his career.  It makes me think people waited for the end of his career to say something.  But why?  Could it be because they felt like now they would be believed?  Now you get to decide weather or not to believe Peyton Manning. 

BILLS RUNNING BACK IN HOT WATER AFTER FIGHT AT NIGHT CLUB

It seems that every year during Super Bowl week somebody gets themselves into a lot of trouble.  This year was no different.  Instead of the trouble happening in San Francisco where the Super Bowl was played it happened in Philadelphia, with someone that wasn't even in the game.  It was Buffalo Bill's running back LeSean McCoy who found himself in deep trouble.

Over the weekend McCoy and a few of his friends were at a Philadelphia night club when they made a decision that make affect the rest of their lives.  For what ever reason they thought it was a good idea to take a bottle of champagne from the group of guys next to them.  They figured they could do what ever they want since they were all athlete's.

What they didn't know was the group was full of off duty police officers.  A fight then ensued and McCoy and his friends ended up beating the offers so bad that hey needed medical attention.  The incident was caught on several cell phone videos.

McCoy will now likely be arrested for aggravated assault.  Not only is there a chance that McCoy could go to prison there is also a chance that he will never play anther snap in the NFL.

Another life lost due to a bad decision!  The NFL needs to come down hard on McCoy, not just so he will learn a lesson, but so that young players will also learn to stay out of trouble.  

SARVER DO THE RIGHT THING

The Phoenix suns are statistically the 3rd worst team in the NBA. they are only better than the Lakers and the 76er's, who have beaten them twice.


They have become the laughing stock of the NBA. It's not because of their record. It's not because of their current nine game losing streak. It's not even because they fired a new game, soon to be great coach and replaced him with a guy with very little experience.

The suns are the laughing stock of NBA because of the way they have handled Markieff Morris. Morris has dine everything imaginable to show that he doesn't want to be in Phoenix.

Morris has damaged  a trade, publicly bashed the organization and threw a towel at former coach Jeff Hornacek and that's not all ! Last night during the suns loss to the Golden State Warriors, Morris shoved teammate Archie Goodwin during the first quarter.

All this drama doesn't even include his pending aggravated assault case. where he and twin brother Marcus and two other men beat up another man. Through all of these issues Markieff Morris is still a member of the Phoenix Suns. Owner Robert Sarver has done a terrible job handling this situation.

The Suns have been looking to trade Morris all season. For whatever reason he is still on the team. The fact that Hornacek was fired and Morris has not been traded tells me that they are not planning to trade him if this happens this is a big mistake for Robert Sarver.

Suns fans are already upset because Morris hasn't been traded. Morris has been allowed to disrespect the organization with little to no conscience.

This is not how you run a team. The suns will never win until players are held accountable for their actions, Sarver needs to support his coach. He should have done this by trading Morris before the season even started. 

BRONCOS WIN SUPER BOWL 50

The Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 at Levi Stadium to become Super Bowl 50 Champs.  The 50th edition of the big game wasn't as exciting as most had hoped, but it possible did provide a story book ending to a fabulous career. 

The game was dominated by the defenses, particularly the Denver defense ends.  Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware had their way with the Panther's offensive line.  Von Miller was the games MVP and he most certainly deserved it.  He finished the game with 6 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

The major story of the night was Peyton Manning.  Was this his last game in the NFL?  He didn't have a great performance tonight but he did what he needed to help his team win the game.  He finished with 141 yards off of 13-23 passes.

If this was Manning's last game he went out the way every player in the NFL wants to.  A winner.  Manning will be in the Hall Of Fame one day and will be considered one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

 

SUPER BOWL 50 PREDICTION

Super Bowl 50 is finally here!  The Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers face off for the right to call themselves the best of the 2015-2016 season.  The game is always big and this years version shouldn't be any different.

There are plenty of story lines for the big game.  Will this be Peyton Manning's last game?  Are the Carolina Panthers as good as they seem to be?  Can the Denver defense contain the high powered offense of the Panthers?  Will Cam Newton and his dap be the highlight of the Super Bowl?  These are just some of the stories to watch for when the two teams take the field in San Francisco.

Now on to the game. The key to victory for both teams is the quarterback.  Peyton Manning Vs. Cam Newton is truly going to determine the outcome.  The QB with the best game will be Super Bowl champs.

I think the Broncos will come out on top.  It will be a tough battle but I feel Peyton Manning will go out on top 29-27.    

CHARLES BARKLEY RIPS SUNS!

TNT analyst and former Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley publicly ripped the Phoenix Suns last night during his show Inside The NBA.  He bashed every part of the Suns organization down to the concession stand.

Barkley, like most fans, is upset with the direction the team is headed.  They fired coach Jeff Hornacek o Sunday and promoted Earl Watson,  a guy with no head coaching experience, to head coach.  The situation sounds familiar because the same thing happened when Alvin Gentry was fired a few years ago and replaced by Lindsey Hunter.

Barkley had every right to tear in to the Suns.  What I don't agree with is how scripted it looked on TV.  His co-hosts seemed to be setting up his every punchline.  I also don't like how Barkley rips his former team every chance he gets. 

Sir Charles this city was great to you and helped you become what you are today.  Yes you did compliment the fans, but us die hard fans couldn't stomach you laying into everyday people like us just trying to make a living selling hotdogs.  I'm sure you never even ate at the concession stand all those years you played here.

So open your eyes and view your former employer for what is is,  a struggling franchise that will turn things around as soon as Robert Sarver let's a basketball mind take control or sells the team. 

THE TOP 15 0F 2015: #1 DEFLATE GATE

We have all heard the controversy of Deflate Gate and most of us are tired of hearing about it. But by far it is the top sports story of 2015.

The New England Patriots were caught using under inflated footballs in the AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts. The funny part is that it didn't affect the outcome of the game.  But cheating is cheating.

What made this such a big story is how the NFL handled it. Roger Goodell, the Commissioner of football, and the NFL spent a lot of money on an investigation that when all was said and done offered very little repercussion to the Patriots for their actions.

The Patriots were basically slapped on the wrist for allowing this to happen. In the public eye they were guilty and there was plenty of evidence to prove that. But the NFL only suspended quarterback Tom Brady for four games. The suspension was eventually taken away and Brady was allowed to play the entire season.

Deflate Gate was a huge scandal that rocked the NFL and the Patriots organization. The Patriots were able to rebound from the incident and had a successful season, falling just short of Super Bowl 50.

THE TOP 15 OF 2015: #2 STEPH CURRY

The top sports story not involving football definitely has to be Steph Curry. The Golden State guard truly made his mark on the NBA in 2015.

Curry is the son of a former NBA player. He was always a popular player but he became even more popular when his Warrior team defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers to capture the 2015 NBA title.

The Warriors took that great team from the 2014 - 2015 season and made it even better. They started the 2015 - 2016 season 24-1 and didn't lose a game until December 12th.

With his talent and shooting ability Steph Curry has quickly become a fan favorite.  Many fans feel he is the best player in the NBA today.

Now, for those same people to say Steph Curry is the best, is such a compliment. If he continues his great play it's only a matter of time before Curry starts being compared to the great Michael Jordan.

SUNS FIRE HORNACEK

The Phoenix Suns have fired Coach Jeff Hornacek.  The team has won only 2 of its last 21 games and has become unbearable to watch.

Hornacek was in his third season as coach and after two decent seasons Suns fans had playoff hope for this team.

Hornacek looked like he couldn't handle his players and a lot that has to do which Markief Morris.

Morris was allowed to stay in a Suns uniform longer than he should have and it cost Hornacek his job.

THE TOP 15 OF 2015 #3: BRADY'S SUSPENSION UPHELD

Tom Brady won the super bowl in February, but it's what he did in late January that has him #3 on the list.  In the AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts he was involved in what now is infamously called, "Deflate Gate."   Apparently Brady and company were using under inflated footballs. They had ball boys in on it as well.  They were caught when a Colt defender caught an interception just before half and questioned the weight of the football.  Ironically when the issue was fixed in the second half New England ended up blowing out the Colts.

Brady was initially suspended for four games. Brady refused to cooperate with investigators and even refused to turn over his cell phone.  Brady maintained his innocence and appealed the suspension. The suspension was upheld and Brady did not miss a game.

THE TOP 15 OF 2015: #4 AARON HERNANDEZ CONVICTED

We all remember Aaron Hernandez from last years list. He isn't on this list because of his talents on the field. Instead he is on this list for the wrong reason, murder.

On April 15, 2015 when most people were worrying about taxes, Hernandez was worried about spending the rest of his life behind bars. He was found guilty of the murder of Odin Lloyd, his sisters boyfriend.

This is a big story because Hernandez was an extremely talented young man who let his temper get the best of him. he was a young man. that could not look past the hood. He is true evidence of the old saying, you can take the "home boy" out of the hood but you cant take the hood out of the "home boy."

THE TOP 15 OF 2015 #5 PATRIOTS WIN SUPER BOWL XLIX

The New England Patriots are always in the super bowl talks. so when they won the AFC and advanced to super bowl XL IX there was little surprise.

Coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady have been dominant for 14 years. They went into the game and controversy, but as usual they came out victorious. It was a great defensive play by corner back Malcom Butler that helped bring the Lombardi trophy back to New England. The play came on a questionable play call by Seattle that may go down as one of the worst play calls in Super bowl history.    

THE TOP 15 OF 2015: #6 OHIO ST. WINS FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

College football fans have come accustomed to watching bowl games during the holiday season. you cant have new years without college football.


In 2015 college football put together a committee to rank the teams each week. When the season needed the top 4 teams would advance to the playoffs.


The first edition was a great one. In the first round Oregon beat Florida St. and Ohio St. beat Alabama. This set up was the first ever college football playoff championship. The game was dominated by Ohio St. they won 42-20, becoming national champs.  

CARDINALS SEASON ENDS IN CAROLINA

The Arizona Cardinals season came to a screeching halt Sunday when they were beaten by the Carolina Panthers 49 - 15.

When you asked the average fan what went wrong they will say Carson Palmer. But the problem was deeper than just Palmer. Yes he was a major factor in the loss, throwing four interceptions and losing two fumbles.

Palmer wasn't the only problem Sunday. The defensive line did not put any pressure on quarterback Cam Newton. This needed to happen if the Cardinals wanted to come out victorious. Also All Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson made a crucial mistake when he decided to field a punt after running up on it. He then fumbled the punt at a time when it seems like the Arizona Cardinals we're starting to come alive.  The turnover gave the momentum back to the Panthers.

Despite a bad performance and ultimately a season ending loss the Cardinals had a wonderful season.  The franchise has turned the corner from pretender to contender.  They are no longer a team to be taken lightly.  They will be in the playoffs next season and competing for a Super Bowl Trophy.

PREVIEWING THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Today the Arizona Cardinals will be in North Carolina to take on the Carlina Panthers.  The winner will be crowned NFC Champion and will travel to Santa Clara to play in Super Bowl 50.

The Panther's have only lost once this season and are riding high after they beat the Seattle Seahawks last week.  The game was a great representation of what the Panthers are this season.  They start fast and then hang on for the victory.  The question is can they afford to do that against the powerful Arizona Cardinals?

The Cardinals also had a great win last week against the Packer's.  They needed overtime and Larry Fitzgerald to advance to the Conference Finals.  The Cardinals, particularly Carson Palmer, had a bad game last week and will not advance if that carries over to this week.

The Panthers come out on top if two things happen.  Number one is Cam Newton.  They need to ride the arm and legs of their young super star quarterback. Let Newton control the game and it should be a good afternoon for the Panthers.  Number 2 the Carolina secondary.  They need to take away the deep ball for the Cardinals and they will be NFC Champs.

The keys to victory for the Cardinals are Palmer, the run game and the defense line.  Palmer played like a guy that had never won a playoff game before.  That problem should fix itself this week.  Also the Cardinals need to establish a run game and stick to it.  The last key is probably the most important.  The defensive line needs to control the line of scrimmage and keep Newton in between the tackles.  If these three things happen the Arizona Cardinals win continue their season in the Super Bowl.

I see this game as a battle and going down to the final minute.  This will be a game to remember when all is said and done.  I see the Arizona Cardinals going to Carolina and coming home NFC Champs.

Final Score:  Arizona 34, Carlina 31.

PREVIEWING THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

The New England Patriots travel to Denver to face the Broncos with a trip to Super Bowl 50 on the line.  It's being called many things such as Brady vs. Manning 17.  But one thing it's not being called is the best game of the weekend.

Many people see this game as a blowout.   They feel Brady and Belichick are to much of a power for the Broncos to overcome.  They might be right, but what you have to remember is the Broncos have one of the best quarterbacks of all time and this season's best defense.

This will be a close with Manning being the key.  Everyone knows he his on his last leg and this may be his last game.  We also know he struggles during the playoffs even when he is 100 %.  But Manning is also capable of putting a team on his back and carrying them to a Super Bowl.

On the other side, New England has put together another fabulous season.  Tom Brady has played with a chip on his shoulder ever since last year's AFC title game, the infamous "Deflate Gate" incident.  Brady has put all that behind him and has something to prove by reaching another Super Bowl.

As I have already said this will be a close game.  The  Patriot's will pull away midway through the third quarter and will represent the AFC in Super Bowl 50.

Final score:  New England 30, Denver 14,

OUT WITH THE OLD IN WITH THE LUE

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 30-11 and own the best record in the NBA's Eastern Conference.  Despite the great start many people consider them the third best team in the NBA behind Golden State and San Antonio.  They made a move earlier today that makes me think they to feel that they are second fiddle to the Western Conferences top two teams. 

The Cavs fired head coach David Blatt and replaced him with assistant Tyrone Lue, yes the guy Allen Iverson stepped over in the 2001 NBA Finals after he crossed him over and made a three point basket.  Lue was not give the interim tittle like most coaches that are brought in during a mid season firing.  Instead Lue was given the head job and a contract extension.  He will be paid #9.5 million over the next 3 years.

In case you're wondering why the Cavs made a coaching change mid season while they were in first place, the answer is one worded.  Lebron!  Plain in simple this move was made because Lebron was embarrassed for days ago by Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.  Lebron probably went to management and said "we gotta do something to keep pace with the west."  Lebron is pretty much the coach anyway, so what better way to shake things up than not really shaking things up.

Blatt was not the problem with the Cavs.  The problem was, there was no problem!  You are a first place team  that hasn't came together the way most think you can.  The reality is yes you may be third best, but the other two have to beat each other up just to get to you.  Play the season out, let them have the regular season glory and get ready for a battle in the NBA Finals. 

THE TOP 15 OF 2015 #7 MAYWEATHER RETIRES

      Floyd Mayweather is arguably the best pound for pound boxer in the world. He took an undefeated 47-0 record into 2015. After 2 wins he decided to call it quits and hung up his boxing gloves.
      Say what you want about Mayweather and his boxing style but the fact of the matter is that Floyd Mayweather beat every fighter he faced, including some of the greatest names in boxing. He finished his career unbeaten, which is nearly impossible in any sport. 
Mayweather retiring is a big story because of the impact he had on boxing.  The sport was dead in many people's eye, especially with the emergence of the UFC.  But Mayweather never quit on the sport and single handily brought the sport back to life.  He now leaves the sport in great shape with super stars such as Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder, and Triple G, Gennady Golovkin. 

THE TOP 15 OF 2015: #8 KENTUCKY BASKETBALL

The University of Kentucky men's basketball team was loaded with NBA talent in 2015.  They were dominant and ran through the competition, going undefeated throughout the regular season. When it was time for the NCAA Tournament there was little doubt that they were the overall number 1 seed.  In fact most people were sure they would run the table and finish as  undefeated national champs.


They were trying to make history and complete a perfect season. But all that ended when they were beaten by Wisconsin in the national semifinal.  They had reached the Final Four but the dream season quickly became a nightmare when they were beaten.