TIDBIT TUESDAY

If you know anything about hockey you know the name Wayne Gretzky.

Gretzky played 21 season in the NHL with 4 different teams, most notably the Los Angeles Kings.  Gretzky holds numerous records and is considered by many as greatest player on ice.

Did you know on this day in 1981 the great Wayne Gretzky made history.  He be came the quickest player to reach 50 goals.  He did it in just 39 games.  He was just the third player to do so.  He also accomplished the goal 11 games sooner than his counterparts.

ASU BEATS #2 KANSAS

When the ASU men's basketball team took the court today in Kansas many people thought they have already overachieved.  Some even thought they were overrated.

The Sun Devils opened many eyes in college basketball with a stunning upset of #2 ranked Kansas on their home court.

ASU won 95-85 behind Tra Holder's 29 points.  The Sun Devils are ranked 16 in the nation and the win improves their record to 9-0 on the season.  The most impressive part is putting 95 points up against a national powerhouse like Kansas in their own backyard.

Coach Bobby Hurley has his team believing and now so should the rest of college basketball.

SUNS LOSE 1ST GAME WITHOUT BOOKER

The Phoenix Suns played their 1st game without star guard Devin Booker yesterday.  It was a 109-99 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Despite being competitive through 3 quarters it was evident they need Booker back on the court soon.  Booker is out with a thigh injury and could miss as many as 10 games.

The Suns are in need of another scorer besides Booker and with him out it shows how valuable to the team he is.

The Suns are likely not a playoff team, but if he misses more than 15 games they definitely won't make the playoffs.

ASU HIRES HERM EDWARDS....BUT WHY?

Earlier this week Arizona State filled their coaching vacancy with a questionable hire.  They hired ESPN analyst and former Chiefs and Jets head coach Herm Edwards.  Edwards also has coaching experience at the college level.  The problem is he has coached in college since 1989.

Many people are questioning the hire for that reason.  Others point to his record as a head coach, 56-78, including 2-14 in his last coaching stint with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The big question is why was Herm Edwards hired as ASU's next football coach.  If we have the true answer to that question maybe we can be more at ease with the hire.

Most will tell you he was hired because he is Athletic Director Ray Anderson's friend.  Some will say it's because he is a good motivator and thus he will be a good recruiter.

In my opinion he was hired because he is the right man for the job.

At first I thought the hire was a bad move.  Bring a mediocre at best NFL coach that hasn't coached in nearly 10 years to a college program that has consistently underachieved?  It can't be successful  or can it?

ASU came in to this season knowing it could be coach Todd Graham's last if they did not improve.  ASU was 5-7 a year ago and ended the season with an embarrassing loss to in state rival Arizona.  This year they finished 7-5 and not only did they avenge the loss to Arizona but they also qualified for a bowl game.

The Sun Devils do not to change much to compete in the PAC 12 next season.  They need help with recruiting and I think that's where Herm Edwards will excel.  He has coached in several high school all star games over the past few years and while it isn't much it's enough to give him the edge he needs.

Edwards will also keep the previous offensive and defensive coordinators.  This is a big advantage for Edwards because based on what Ray Anderson and Edwards said at the introduction press conference they will model the team after an NFL franchise.  The assistant's will coach the team and Edwards will serve as the face of the program.

One thing is for sure the hiring of Coach Edwards has made ASU the talk of college football.  He will coach for 3 years at most keeping them as average as they have been and then the program will be handed over to Offensive coordinator Billy Napier.

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEPTEMBER 15 RESULTS

The scores are in.  South lost their first game of the season and Brophy lost number 5 on the season.  Here's the rest of the scores.

North 35, Carl Hayden 6
Central 33, South 19
Desert Vista 17, Brophy 14
Fairfax 41, Maryvale 0
Hamilton 59, Chavez 12
Camelback 33, Alhambra 27

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: September15

It was a tough week for me last week.  I went 1-6 with my picks.  Here is this weeks schedule.  My picks in caps.

DESERT VISTA @ Brophy (at Phoenix College)
Cesar Chavez @ HAMILTON
ALHAMBRA @ Camelback
SOUTH @ Central
BETTY FAIRFAX @ Maryvale
NORTH @ Carl Hayden

PREVIEWING THE 2017 CARDINALS SEASON

Football is finally here in the NFL.  Every team has high expectation for this season.  The Arizona Cardinals are one of those teams.

The Cardinals have lowered their expectations due to last seasons disappointment.  The team is loaded with experience and plans to make a playoff run but how realistic is that goal?

The Cardinals key to a playoff season is simple. The offensive line must protect Carson Palmer.  They have a lot of players that you can say needs to have a good season buy bottom line is the Cardinals go the way Palmer plays.

If the Cardinals stay healthy I can see them winning 10 games.  I can also see them only winning 7 or 8 games if they don't get off to a good start early in the season.

To me the key is week 1 in Detroit.  On paper a winnable game but you are playing the highest paid QB in the league who has something to prove.  The defense looks lost at times especially without Carlos Dansby on the field.

I think the Cardinals will contend for the playoffs but they are nowhere near the 13 win team from a few years ago.

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEPTEMBER 8 RESULTS

It was another exciting night for high school football in the Phoenix area.  Here are the results.

North 27, Betty Fairfax 26
Cesar Chavez 34, Corona Del Sol 21
Westwood 35, Maryvale 0
Highland 14, Brophy 6
South Mountain 41, Alhambra12
Trevor Browne 29, Camelback 27
Central 40, Carl Hayden 21

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: JACORI MURPHY

This week's edition of The High School Highlight takes us to The Mountain, South Mountain.

The Jaguars are having their best start to a season since the 90's.  They are 3-0 going in to tonight's game against the Alhambra Lions.

South has always relied on speed. This year is no different with senior wide receiver Jacori Murphy, who runs a 4.6 40 yard dash.  He has used that speed to help him catch 14 passes for 177 yards through 3 games thus far.

Murphy does more then just lead the team in receiving.  He also plays basketball and runs track. But what is most impressive is his 3.04 GPA.

Murphy says he is motivated and focused on the field and that has been the reason for the fast turnaround at South Mountain.

Murphy wants to be a professional athlete.  He also wants to get a scholarship and go to college.

One thing people don't know about Murphy is that he lost his father and godfather and dedicates every TD and long jump in track to their memory.

THIS WEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL September 8

Introducing a new segment I call This Week In High School Football.  The segment will run every Thursday and it previews some of Friday's games and gives my predictions.

In case you didn't know I played high school football at Carl Hayden.  I also coached at Cesar Chavez.  So it shouldn't be a surprise that I have a soft spot for the Phoenix Union High School District.

Each week I will tell you who each team is playing and who I think will win in the Phoenix Union.  I will also include a team that I have featured in The High School Highlight.

Here is this weeks schedule.  My predictions are in caps.  Enjoy.

CARL HAYDEN (0-2) at Central (0-3)
Cesar Chavez (0-2) at CORONA DEL SOL (1-2)
WESTWOOD (1-2) at Maryvale (0-2)
BETTY FAIRFAX (2-1) at North (1-1)
ALHAMBRA (1-1) at South Mountain (3-0)
Camelback (1-2) at TREVOR BROWNE (1-2)
BROPHY (1-2) at Highland (3-0)

THE WEEKEND REPORT: September 4

The weekend report is back.  Each week I will recap the weekend in Arizona sports.  I will also recap any major games including any upsets.

The weekend started early for ASU football as they hosted the New Mexico State Aggies.  The Aggies kept it close for a half, but ASU was too much.  The final score was 37-31 and it showed how likely the Sun Devils will struggle this year.

The Arizona Wildcats also opened their season at home this weekend.  The hosted in state foe Northern Arizona and had a much easier time.  They won impressively 62-24.

The Arizona Cardinals also played on Thursday in Denver, their last preseason game.  They lost 30-2 but not a big deal seeing as how most who played won't play much during the regular season,  if they are even on an NFL roster.

Now lets switch gears to baseball!

The last team to talk about is the Arizona Diamondbacks.  It's now September and the Diamondbacks find themselves in the middle of a wild card fight.  A fight they are winning.  They swept the Colorado Rockies this weekend.  Even more impressive, that comes after handing the Los Angeles Dodgers their first series sweep of the season.

THE HIGHSCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: ROSS REITER

High school football is back in the Valley of the Sun and so is The High School Highlight.  We start this season at Brophy Prep with long snapper and defensive lineman Ross Reiter.

Reiter is a 17 year old senior with a 3.43 GPA. He also runs track and is a member of the National Honors Society. He has been on the varsity team for 3 years.

Reiter will play football at Colorado State University next season. His goal is to graduate college and then play in the NFL. He also has goals for this season which include a state championship and ending his high school career with a 3.5 GPA.

Reiter says " I have had a love for the game as long as I can remember."

His love for the game shows on the field. He is a five-star recruit and is ranked second in the nation among the long snappers.

He does not take all the credit for his accomplishments. He says the scout team are the real MVPs.

He is excellent athlete with a bright future ahead of him.

Ross Reiter's highlights

COPPER CANYON IMPRESSIVE IN SCRIMAGE

The Copper Canyon Aztec football team took a ride to the heart of Glendale to scrimmage the Glendale Cardinals.

This was the first time both teams got to line up against another team.  Both teams are coming of seasons of improvement from the year before.  Both teams are also hopeful they will continue to improve this season.

When the game started the Cardinals had a few big gains on offense but the game was dominated by the Aztecs.

Glendale is a team to watch this year but if tonight was any preview of the coming season Copper Canyon will surprise people this year.

Copper Canyon is led by coach Shawn Kemmer, an army vet who has turned around a struggling program in just a few years with the program.  He finds a way to get the best out of his players.

TRAGEDY FOR FORMER HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT

Todd Heap was one the greatest football and basketball players to come out of Mesa's Mountain View High School.  He went on to be a star tight end for the Arizona State Football team and spent 12 years in the NFL before retiring due to injury.

Friday afternoon Heap's life changed forever.  According to reports he was moving his truck when he accidentally hit and killed his 3 year old daughter.  Not much more is known yet at this point.

My heart truly goes out to Todd and his family.  I played high school when he did and followed hos career all the way to retirement.  Although I didn't know him personally, through mutual friends I know he is a great guy and I know he can get through this.

AARON HERNANDEZ FOUND NOT GUILTY

A short time ago Aaron Hernandez was found not guilty of 2 counts of murder.  You may remember Hernandez from his days as a tight end for the New England Patriots. 

The charges stem from an alleged drive-by shooting that left two people dead back in 2012.  The murders occurred in Boston.  A jury of his peers found him not guilty of the murders, but Hernandez will remain in prison.

Hernandez was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole for another murder, this one in 2013.  Hernandez is just 27 years old and has a very ling road ahead of him, but he does have the support of his fiance, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, who was in the court room when the verdict came down.

REMEMBERING A TRAGEDY

21 years ago today the South Mountain Community College baseball team was riding high.  They were in first place in their conference as they prepared to travel south to play Cochise College.  The team loaded up in 3 vans and headed out.  At 4:00P.M. when they were just outside of Casa Grande, tragedy struck.

The right rear passenger tire blew in one of the vans being driven by one of the players, 19 year old Thomas Eaton.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  19 year old valley native Alfred Stell Jr. Was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.

The accident hit home for many people in west Phoenix.  Stell was a graduate of Carl Hayden High School and loved by many.  He was a "gentle giant".  Always polite, respectful and loved life.

Several other players were taken to local hospitals with various injuries and were released.  The team decided to continue it's season in honor of both Stell and Eaton.

The tragedy of losing these 2 young athlete's, reminds us to live life to the fullest and not to take what we have for granted.

SHAZAM! RING OF HONOR HERE HE COMES

The Phoenix Suns legendary play-by-play announcer Al McCoy will be inducted into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor tonight. This is an amazing feat comma and not just because there are only 14 other members of the Ring of Honor. But because McCoy is a broadcaster, and they are rarely recognized.

A legend like McCoy is hard to not notice.  He has been doing play by play for the Suns 45 seasons.  He has literally spent a lifetime calling games and has many catch phrases to prove it.

Shazam, shwish-a-roo for two, wham bam slam and heartbreak hotel are just a few phrases made famous my McCoy.  He is also the longest tenured announcer in the NBA.

SUNS TANKING BUT WHY

The NBA season is nearing its end and here in Phoenix all we have to look forward to is the draft.  The Suns are doing there best to tank the rest of the season to ensure themselves a top draft pick.  Some people like the idea, but me,  i hate it!

Why would you throw your season away like that!

The Suns aren't a very good team to begin with so losing games isn't hard for them.  The thought of professionals purposely losing games just to have a very slight edge in the draft is ridiculous.  That is not how to properly rebuild your struggling team.

The Suns did absolutely nothing at the trade deadline except send the core of the team away in exchange for.....absolutely nothing.

The problem isn't the players or coaches.   Its management and starts with the owner.  Something needs to be done in the front office to show loyal Suns fans that they want to build a winner in Phoenix again.

PATS, BRADY WIN EXCITING SUPERBOWL

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots made history last night by overcoming a 25 point deficit in Superbowl LI.  The Falcons had the Patriots on the ropes but could not hang on.  This also marked the first ever Superbowl to go in to overtime.   The final score was New England winning 34-28.

The game was a tale of two halves. The Atlanta Falcons controlled the first half. Their defense dominated in the second quarter and they LED 21-3 at halftime. In the second half they could not continue their great play, scoring just seven points the rest of the game.

The Patriots scored 19 fourth-quarter points to force overtime. That's when Tom Brady took over and led his team to Victory. Brady was named the game's MVP. Brady is now the winningest player in NFL history when it comes to Super Bowl victories. He may have also sealed his legacy as the best quarterback to ever play the game.

SUPERBOWL LI

Today is Superbowl LI in Houston between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. Both teams have had great seasons and have definitely earned the right to be in the big game.

The Falcons have never won a Superbowl. They are led by a high-powered offense. Their defense isn't too bad either. Many people would like to see them win the Super Bowl, but is it because they are fans of the Falcons, or is it because they don't want to see the Patriots win?

This game has a lot of meaning for the Patriots as well. If they win it will be Tom Brady's 5th Super Bowl, making him the winningest player in Super Bowl history. But if they lose they are just four and three and Superbowl appearances. That makes them just above average.

Now on to the game, who will win you ask? I wish the answer was simple but it's not. This is an evenly-matched game and I could see either team coming out on top. I will give the slight Edge to the Patriots. Brady has proved time and again that there isn't a secondary that can handle him.

The prediction: New England 38, Atlanta  36

TIDBIT TUESDAY: 1/31/2017

We are now in Super Bowl week! Superbowl LI will be played Sunday in Houston. The AFC Champion New England Patriots will play the NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons.

The Superbowl is one of the most watched programs on TV every year.  But here is a tidbit that I bet you didn't know.

Did you know the most watched Superbowl ever was Superbowl XLIX?  What is cool about that is the game was played here in Glendale Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium,  home of the Arizona Cardinals.

The New England Patriots won in dramatic fashion when Malcom Butler intercepted a pass in the end zone when Seattle decided to throw from the one yard line.

WHY NOBODY WATCHES THE PROBOWL

Today is Sunday January 29th 2017 one week before Super Bowl LI. Many people will say there is just one game left in the football season. There is actually two games. But nobody talks or even watches the second game, the Pro Bowl, which happens today in Florida.

The Pro Bowl is the All-Star Game of the NFL yet it is not as popular as the regular season. The NBA and Major League Baseball make big events out of their All-Star games. Even the NHL makes a big deal about there's and those three leagues are having success doing it.

But the NFL's is rarely watched.  The big question is why?  Football is the most popular sport yet it's all star game is the least popular.  This doesn't make any sense.

When you ask why doesn't anyone watch the Probowl, the answer is simple.  It's boring.  Why is it boring?  Here are three reasons why.

The top reason is the players.  The game is played the week before the Superbowl so you have some players that can't play.  Then you get players that just don't want to play.  To make it worse the players that do play don't put the effort tbey did to make the team.

Reason number 2 is the NFL.  Plain and simple the game is not advertised enough to generate any interest.  If the front office put in as much effort in showcasing the Probowl as they do the NFL Draft more people would watch.

The last reason the Probowl is watched is the timing.  The game is played the week before the Superbowl to try get more viewers.  Years ago it was the week after the Superbowl, but the change didn't help.  There have been several idea's as to when to play the game, but none have ever made sense.

Maybe an All-Star game doesn't belong in football.  Maybe the correct answer is to just take the game out all together.

PREVIEWING THE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

The New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers in today's AFC Championship game. These two teams are always in the hunt for a another Superbowl. They are both playing great football, but the problem, only one of them can emerge as AFC champion.

Pittsburgh seems to have all the pieces and has been playing great football as of late. New England has dominated all season and looks to continue to do so today. When the two teams play it is always a great match up. Today should be no different.

After his four game suspension, Tom Brady seems to be on a mission to prove he is best QB to play the game.  The Steelers don't have enough power to compete with the Patriots.

THE PREDICTION: New England 27, Pittsburgh 19.

PREVIEWING THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Today is the NFC Championship Game. The Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers in what promises to be a fun and exciting game. Both teams have quarterbacks that have been on fire as of late.

The Green Bay Packers are led by Aaron Rodgers. Rogers has a history of making great throws at the right time and he made another one last Sunday that put the Packers into the NFC championship. The Packers feel confident they can win any game when Rogers as their quarterback.

Atlanta Falcons are quarterbacked by Matt Ryan who in his own right as a candidate for MVP.  The Falcons have written under the radar for most of the season, but there's no doubt they are a Super Bowl contender.

This game will be a shootout and I think someone needs to score more than 30 points if they're going to be victorious. The two quarterbacks are the focal point of the game but it will be decided by the defense. Whichever defense makes a big play late expected that team to be victorious and headed to the Super bowl next week.

Everything on paper says the Packers will win.  But don't count out the Falcons.

THE PREDICTION:  Atlanta 35, Green Bay 29

TIDBIT TUESDAY 1/17/2017

Welcome to another edition of Tidbit Tuesday.  This week we visit the Atlanta Falcons.  This weekend they host the NFC Tittle game against the Green Bay Packers.

Did you know the Falcons franchise is 51 years old?  They have been to the playoffs 13 times and the Super Bowl once.  Their only appearance was a loss to the Denver Broncos in 1998.  Another little known fact about the Falcons is their mascot is Freddy the Falcon.

The Falcons are hoping to make Superbowl LI their first ever championship!  They have to beat two of the leagues best teams if they want to achieve that goal.

THE WEEKEND REPORT 1/17/2017

It was a long weekend in sports due to Martin Luther King Jr Holiday.  We are now down to four teams in the NFL, unfortunately one of them isn't the Cardinals.

That's okay though because the Phoenix Suns are doing there best to make themselves the talk of Arizona sports.  They did so with a memorable victory of the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in Mexico.  Yes you read that right the Suns played two games in Mexico.  Even though they only won one it was a coming out party Devin Booker.  The Suns finished the weekend witj a loss to the Utah Jazz yesterday.  The Suns are now 13-28 on the season.

In the NHL the Coyotes were outscored 6-1 this weekend, losing two and dropping their season record to 13-24-6.  But the big news came down Sunday when it was reported that Shane Doan would be willing to wave his no trade clause to go to a contender and compete for a Stanley Cup.

In college basketball the Arizona Wildcats hosted in state rival Arizona State on Thursday.  There was much talk over this game with ASU coach Bobby Hurley trying to add fuel to an already intense rivalry.  There was even more action during the pre-game when an ASU player flipped off the crowd.  With all this anticipation and activity one would have thought the game would have been close, but it wasn't.   Arizona dominated the entire night and came away with a 91-75 victory and improving to 16-2 on the year.  ASU is now 9-9.

NFL PLAYOFFS: ROUND 2 PREVIEW

The NFL playoffs resume today and tomorrow. This weekend's match ups promise to be good games. The winners this weekend will advance do the NFC and AFC Title Games. Let's take a look and make some predictions.

The first game is Saturday between the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons. The game will be played in Seattle but I think their luck has ran out. Matt Ryan and the high-powered offense is going to be too much for the Seattle defense.

The prediction: Atlanta 25, Seattle 21.

The night game on Saturday is the New England Patriots hosting the Houston Texans. The last time these two teams met New England had a third-string quarterback and still won 27-0. I won't spend much time talking about this game because it won't take much time for New England to dispose of the Texans. The bright side for Houston is this one will not be shut out.

The prediction: New England 34, Houston 10.

Sunday Green Bay travels to Dallas to take on the Cowboys. This will be the most competitive game of the weekend. It will also be a shootout. Dallas is led by two rookies who have never tasted NFL playoff action before.  The way they handle this change will directly affect the outcome of the game. On the other side Aaron Rodgers is on fire. He has the rest of the Packers believing this is their year. And if they can get past the Cowboys it may just be true.

The prediction: Green Bay 14, Dallas 13.

The final game of this weekend's playoffs was moved to Sunday night due to weather. The Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs. This will be another excellent game that will be decided in the final minutes. I was wrong last week going against Pittsburgh, so that won't happen this week.

The Prediction: Pittsburgh 17, Kansas City 16.

THE WEEKEND REPORT 1/9/2017

This past weekend felt a little weird here in Arizona because the was no football. There was however plenty of other sports action around the state.

Let's start with the Arizona Coyotes. Saturday they beat the New York Islanders 2-1. Despite the victory they are still struggling.   They are 12-22-6.

The Phoenix Suns played host to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.  They showed some fight taking the defending NBA Champs to the limit.  But in the end it wasn't enough as they ended up losing 110-106.   The Suns are now 12-26 but seem to getting better by the game.

ASU split this past weekend beating Colorado by 1 point 78-77 on Thursday.   On Saturday they were looking for there second straight win but were denied by the Utes of Utah 88-82.  They are now 9-8 on the season and face in state rival Arizona on Thursday.

17th ranked Arizona continued there winning ways beating Utah and Colorado to improve to 15-2.  They beat Utah 66-56 and Colorado 82-73.

PREVIEWING WILDCARD WEEKEND

The NFl playoffs begin this weekend.  It is unlikely that the next Super Bowl champ will be playing this weekend, but there are a lot of good matchups this weekend.   Lets take a look.

The first game is the Houston Texans hosting the Oakland Raiders. This game has lost its luster since Oakland quarterback Derek Carr went down for the season.  The Texans are favored to win the game but don't count out the Raiders.  They are down to a rookie quarterback that has never played a snap in the NFL comma but they have a great defense that will help take the pressure off of him.

THE PREDICTION:  OAKLAND 13, HOUSTON6

In the night game on Saturday the Seattle Seahawks host the Detroit Lions. Detroit has had a disappointing end to a very good season that I feel will continue with a lost today. Seattle is playing very good and I see them running away with the victory.

THE PREDICTION: SEATTLE 35, DETROIT 14

The playoffs continue Sunday when the Miami Dolphins travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers. Pittsburgh has had a very good year but I feel they have underachieved. The Dolphins will be playing with a backup quarterback, but that shouldn't slow them down. This will be a close game but I see the Dolphins pulling off the victory.

THE PREDICTION: MIAMI 24, PITTSBURGH 16

The final game of Wild Card Weekend may prove to be the best yet.  The Green Bay Packers host the New York Giants. Both teams are on fire right now and have played excellent throughout the last few weeks of the regular season. The Giants have put the rest of the NFL on notice beating Dallas 2 times during the regular season. But the question is will that be enough against Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packers. I don't think it will be. Rodgers is on a mission to win a Superbowl and his excellent play has backed that up. The Packers will come out Victorious.

THE PREDICTION: GREEK BAY 38, NEW YORK 31

TIDBIT TUESDAY 1/3/2017

Today's Tidbit Tuesday comes to us from the Arizona Cardinals. As you all know they finish their season yesterday with a blowout victory over the Los Angeles Rams 44-6. It was a disappointing season for the Cardinals finishing 7-8-1.

Despite the disappointment there were some bright spots for the Cardinals yesterday. One of those bright spots was wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Larry Fitzgerald late touchdown catch gave him the league lead in receptions for this season. But did you know he set another record also?

Fitzgerald became the first receiver in league history 2 leader in receptions 11 years apart. Fitzgerald was in just his second year with the Cardinals when he left the league the first time. Now the major question is was that touchdown catch Fitzgerald's last as a Cardinal?  Only time will tell.

THE WEEKEND REPORT 1/2/2017

This weekend we rung in the new year with friends, family and sports.  Here in Arizona we had an action packed weekend of sports to entertain us.

The Phoenix Suns finished 2016 with a loss to the Utah Jazz. The score was 91-86 and it capped a disappointing start to the basketball season. The Suns are now 10-24.

The Coyotes were also in action on New Year's Eve. They too ended the year with a loss to the Flames 4-2.  They are now 11-21-5.

The Arizona State Sun Devils got a big win in basketball on Friday. They beat Stanford 98 - 93. Then on New Year's Day they lost to Cal 81-65.  There record is now 8-7.

The 18th ranked Wildcats of Arizona defeated Cal 67-62 on Friday night.  When they took the floor on New Year's Day they dominated the Stanford Cardinal.  They win 81-52 bringing there season record to 13-2.

It wasn't the best weekend in Arizona sports but the Cardinals made it one to remember.  They played there final game of the season in Los Angeles against the Rams.  They finally put together a complete game and ran away with the easy victory 44-6.  The Cardinals season is now over and they finished the season 7-8-1.