KYLER MURRAY: PRO BOWL QB?

The rosters for this seasons Pro bowl were announced last week.  Two Arizona Cardinals were voted starters on this year's team, Budda Baker and Chandler Jones.

In a somewhat surprise rookie quarterback Kyler Murray was named an alternate.  Which means if a QB drops out Murray will play in the Pro bowl in his first season in the NFL.  But is Murray worthy of being in the Pro Bowl?

My answer is no.  Murray has had a good rookie season, but in my opinion not good enough to be in the Pro Bowl.  Murray is not a top tier QB yet.  He may become one later on in his career but as for this season he has not earned Pro Bowl honors.

Murray has been sacked 47 times this season and more than half of those sacks were his fault.  He has a QB rating of 87.9, which is good, but not Pro Bowl good.  when Murray was drafted we all expected to see this "Air Raid" attack, but it has been the ground game that has kept the offense fun to watch.  A big reason for the ground game is Kenyon Drake, not Murray.

Russell Wilson, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are the QB's that were selected to this year's Pro Bowl.  All three will be in the playoffs and at least one will skip the Pro Bowl because they have been there before or one may be playing in the Super Bowl.

Kyler Murray will most likely end up playing in the Pro bowl and that is a good thing for him and the Cardinals future.  I think the honor could have gone to someone more deserving.  What do you think?

DEANDRE'S RETURN

                      Photo from Suns.com

The Phoenix Suns have been struggling as of late, losing 3 games in a row and 4 of their last 5.  They are coming off a one point loss to the Portland Trailblazers and now play the Los Angeles Clippers in the second night of back to back games.

The Suns welcomed back starting center Deandre Ayton, who had been suspended 25 games for testing positive for a banned diuretic and violating league policy.  Ayton played in just 1 game, a 29 point win against the Sacramento Kings, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

The Suns have struggled as of late but have done better this season than expected.  They were 11-15 going into tonight's game.  The Suns are just half a game behind the Kings for the eight and final playoff spot.  There is still a lot of basketball to play, but for a team like the Suns it's been a long time since they were able to "playoff watch" at any point in the regular season.

The Sun's lost to the Clippers 120-99.  Ayton picked up where he left off and didn't show any rust from missing 25 games.  He started the game and played 24 minutes.  He scored 18 points and had 12 rebounds.  The Suns did not come away with the win but Ayton's performance gives hope to an already underrated team.

TIDBIT TUESDAY: DECEMBER 17, 2019

This weeks Tidbit Tuesday comes to us from the baseball world.  Did you know that if you were to steal 50 bases a season for 28 years you would still not break the career  stolen base record?

Rickey Henderson played for 9 teams over 24 seasons and stole 1,406 bases.  The next closet player is 468 stolen bases behind him.  Henderson is mostly known for his time with the Oakland A's.  He played for the team four different times.

Henderson also holds the single season record for stolen bases with 130 in 1982.  He is nick named "The man of steal".   He won two World Series and was a 10 time All-Star.

SUNS LOSE TO GRIZZLIES

The Phoenix Suns hosted the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at Talking Stick Resort Arena and lost 115-108.  The Suns were led in scoring by Frank Kaminsky's 24 points.  Guard Ricky Rubio had 22 points and Devin Booker added 15 points and 10 assists, but it was not enough to pull out a victory.

Dillon Brooks led all scores with 27 points for the Grizzlies.  The score was tied at 51 at the break but the Grizzlies outscored the Suns 64-57 in the second half to pull away with the victory.  The Suns record is now 11-13.  They next play host to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

TIDBIT TUESDAY: DECEMBER 10,2019

This weeks edition of  Tidbit Tuesday takes us to the world of the NBA and the Phoenix Suns.  Did you know the Phoenix Suns are just 8 games shy of tying their win mark from last season?

The Suns, led by first year head coach Monty Williams, are also 7 games better than they were at this point last year.  Last season through 23 games the Suns were 4-19.  This season they are 11-12 through 23 games.  If the playoffs were to start today they would be the number 7 seed.

The Suns have a lot of basketball ahead of them and may not end up making the playoffs but the improvement they have shown this early in the season has fans starting to believe they can turn the franchise around very soon.

THE WEEKEND REPORT SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

This week we will jump right in and start with baseball.  The season came to end this weekend with the Arizona Diamondbacks sweeping the San Diego Padres.  The Dbacks will miss the playoffs again but overachieved this season and are certain to make a playoff run next season.  The Dbacks finish their season with a winning record at 85-77.

In the NFL the Cardinals played host to division rival Seattle Seahawks.  Just as expected this was not much of a game.  Final score Seattle 27, Arizona 10.  The lone bright spot was WR Larry Fitzgerald, he surpassed Tony Gonzalez and is now number 2 on the all time reception list.  He only trails Jerry Rice.  The Cardinals play Cincinnati next, another winless team that is coming off of a bye.

In College Football the Arizona Wildcats beat the UCLA Bruins 20-17.  The Wildcats were without starting QB Khilil Tate and staring RB J.J. Taylor.  After a slow start the Wildcats were able to win their PAC 12 opener at home.  The Wildcats play Colorado on 10/5/2019.

ASU beat previously unbeaten Cal 24-7.  The Sun Devils are now 4-1 and ranked #20.  RB Eno Benjamin carried the load rushing for 100 yards on 29 carries.  ASU has a bye this week and will play Washington State next on October 12, 2019.

THE SUNDAY SURPRISE

The Az Sports Guru introduces a new segment that will appear every Sunday Night.  The segment is called The Sunday Surprise and it features the Surprise score from that week in the NFL.  So here is the first edition of The Sunday Surprise.

This weeks The Sunday Surprise goes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  They played the Los Angeles Rams today and shocked the NFL.  It was not a shock to see the Rams put up 40 points.  The shock was that Tampa Bay scored 55!

Tampa Bay is now a surprising 2-2 on the season.  To the average fan this win a surprise but to us folks here in Arizona we are not surprised.  We are not surprised because of Tampa Bay first year head coach Bruce Arians.  Arians, the head coach in Arizona two years ago always had his teams ready to compete.  His laid back demeanor has not changed that and now Tampa Bay is relevant again.

The main benefactor from Arians is QB Jameis Winston.  Winston is having a good season and it continued today when he threw for 385 yards and 4 TD's.  He also threw 1 interception.  With the win Tampa Bay just put the rest of the NFL on notice that they are a playoff caliber team.

The Rams are now 3-1 and are currently second place in the NFC West behind the 49ers.  The Rams are still a very scary team and also are looking to make a run at another Super Bowl appearance.  QB Jared Goff threw for 517 yards and 2 TD's, but it was the 3 interceptions that were costly.  Goff had 68 pass attempts, the third most in NFL history in a game.

GUEST POST: PREMATURE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS AFC

Here is part 2 of our special guest post by Pablo Abeytia Jr. and Justin LaFoley.  This time they take a look at he AFC playoffs.

AFC Playoff Picture -

While being notorious for being the easier of the two conferences, the AFC playoff picture might actually be changing this season, with usual playoff contenders, the Pittsburgh Steelers, looking terrible in the early weeks. That being said, there are still the usual favorites of Patriots and Chiefs that will want to make sure to keep their dominant streak alive. We have gone through all 16 teams in the AFC and came up with the most-likely playoff candidates. Below, you can see the reasoning why.

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens

I see the Ravens running away with the division title and some for three simple reasons:

1. The Steelers and Bengals are free wins this season.
2. Lamar Jackson is more than a RB.
3. John Harbaugh is in his 12th year coaching (oh… and he already has a Super Bowl ring)

AFC East: New England Patriots

C’mon guys… it’s the AFC East. The New England Patriots have shown what it means to dominate a division, but this year is especially unfair. The Dolphins have already allowed 133 points in just 3 game - 39 more than any other team in the league! While it will be extremely difficult, the Bills could keep their impressive run going and perhaps pick up a surprise wild card place. All-in-all, the Patriots show no signs of letting go of their 1st place standing.

AFC South: Houston Texans

I have decided that this is the hardest division in the AFC this year. When it comes to teams who will put their bodies on the line for division rivalry games, the AFC South is no exception. The Colts with Brissett look exciting and the Jaguars are revamped with Gardner Minshew II (Mississippi Mustache). That being said, looking at all around talent, the Texans clearly have some extra power on their sides. With the likes of Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt, and Hopkins, the Texans should beat out the division on both offense and defense, hopefully with not too many casualties.

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs

Andy Ried and Patrick Mahomes at Kansas City have shown us a new kind of football that can be played… and I don’t think they plan on stopping anytime soon. The Chiefs may be without some of their serious star power in WR Tyreek Hill and losing RB Kareem Hunt in the offseason, however this team has already shown that they are able to adapt quickly and efficiently. The Chargers look to be a secure wild card pick as well, but I do not see the Chiefs giving up the first round bye opportunity.

AFC Wild Card #1: San Diego Chargers

Continuing with the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers are strong favorites for the Wild Card race. As we have seen last year, Phillip Rivers and company are very capable of playing in high stakes games and, more importantly, keep the game competitive. I see the Chargers mimicking their previous season again and keep a low profile by breezing into the top Wild Card spot. I still think that Mahomes and the Chiefs are too much for the Chargers to handle, but it will definitely be a great game to watch.

AFC Wild Card #2: Indianapolis Colts

With Andrew Luck announcing retirement just days before NFL Kickoff, no one would’ve guessed that the Colts would be in the position they are in now. Their defense is still producing huge plays in crucial moments for them.  As well, Jacoby Brissett has shown to be quite capable of leading his team to victory, with back-to-back wins after the week 1 loss. This team definitely has the ability to make it to the playoffs, but it will be interesting to see how fatigue and injury affects this Indianapolis side.

GUEST POST: PREMATURE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS NFC

The Az Sports Guru brings you a guest post from Pablo Abeytia Jr. and Justin LaFoley.  As we approach the end of the first quarter of the NFL season they tackle the tough task of predicting this seasons play off teams.

… How Embarrassing! (Premature Playoff Projections)

The NFL is now 4 weeks in with still seven franchises yet to lose. With the first quarter of the season almost complete, we can begin to prophesize which teams have what it takes to win the Lombardi Trophy. We will be going over our play-off predictions and giving you key insights to watch out for as you watch the 2019 season come to an end.

NFC Playoff Picture-

With week 4 approaching, we are starting to see both the AFC and NFC divisions start settling down and begin taking shape… or at least attempting to. The NFC, so far this year, is already looking like it will be a tough division to conquer; with divisions like the NFC South and North with multiple tied records, NFC East with a single dominating force, and the Wild Wild NFC West where anything goes and anything can happen.

NFC East: Cowboys

Now, I am most definitely the furthest thing from a Cowboys fan but there is no denying the powerhouse of a team that Jerry Jones and Co. were able to pump out this season. I know, I know, they have come across some pretty “easy” rivals thus far but this has to be the hardest I have seen The Cowboys play in the last decade.

NFC West: Rams

This division is always fun to try and call because of just how unpredictable and how much potential to be TERRIBLE the entire cast has. It is always the hardest NFC division to predict. With that being said, they also happen to produce some fantastic playoff teams in what seems to be very random off years. I see Rams remaining the most consistent in this division; they have 3 wins under their belt, they mostly ALWAYS pop off in divisional games, and (to many) have the most talent-filled team in the division at the moment.

NFC North: Packers

            The North looks to have a lot of potential most seasons but tends to peter out a good way through the season. Therefore, creating a decently clear playoff picture most seasons. I think the Packers are off to a good start and will give Aaron Rodgers some time to come to his senses and start playing hard. The Packers defense is also looking pretty good and this could be key in keeping them in the #1 spot in the North.

NFC South: Saints

            This division has a lot of surprise competitors within itself. Though this season, I can see Saints being a dominating force even with Brees out. In this division, the Saint’s biggest worry will probably end up being the Falcons. Even then, I think the Saint’s will have no problem trailing away to the playoffs.

Wild Card: Seahawks

            Russell Wilson has been playing with a lot of fire this season! When Russell Wilson wants to win he finds a way to make it happen. If you could be a one man band in the NFL, it would be him. The team seems to be working really well together and making plays when it matters. Wilson also plays the hardest of any QB come like week 10 of the season and makes a terrific effort to clutch that Wild Card spot.

Wild Card: Eagles

            The Eagles have been off to a pretty rough start already. With most of their offense injured they have started off (1-2). Once the offense starts trickling back in, I think the Eagles will have just enough to finish off strong for a playoff run. It is no doubt the Eagles have the talent on their roster and since these injuries were so early on there is a good chance key players will be back just in time for the end of the season grind to get a Wild Card spot.

THE WEEKEND REPORT: SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

This past weekend was not a very good one for the Arizona teams.  In football both teams in action lost.  Baseball had success but as the season nears the end so do the chances of post season play.  Here's a look at what happened.

Let's start on the diamond.  The Dbacks hosted the San Diego Padres and got out to a great start.  They outscored the Padres 13-2 to take the first 2 games of the series.  They came up short on the sweep losing yesterday 6-4.  The Dbacks are now one loss away from being eliminated from the playoffs.  6 games remain on the schedule as they start a 3 game series with St. Louis and then end the season with the Padres again.

In college football the Arizona Wildcats had a bye and play UCLA next.  The Sun Devil's played Colorado in what many people were calling a trap game.  The undefeated ASU Sun Devil's were coming off a huge win and ranked 25 in the country.  When Al was said and done the game indeed was a trap game and ASU fell 34-31.  ASU plays Cal next.

In the NFL the Cardinals played host to the Carolina Panthers in what many thought would be the Cardinals first win of the season.  QB Can Newton was out with a foot injury but second year, Scottsdale native filled in just nicely.  Carolina added a hefty doe of Christian McCaffrey and came away with 38-20 victory.  The Cardinals host division rival Seattle next Sunday.

SHOULD REDSKINS TURN TO HASKINS?

The Washington Redskins have started this season 0-2.  What’s worse is they have also started 0-2 in the NFC East.  With loses to Philadelphia and Dallas they will now spend the season playing catch up.

So what can the Redskins do to turn their season around?  Should they fired Coach Jay Gruden?  Should they trade disgruntled left tackle Trent Williams?  Or should they turn to rookie QB Dwayne Haskins?

Haskins was drafted #15 overall in this year’s draft.  Haskins went to Ohio St. and is the future of the Redskins.  The question is when is the future?  The Redskins traded for Case Keenum in March and he was named the started while Haskins sits and learns.

Some Redskins fans are calling for the rookie Haskins after the slow start, but at the end of the season we could be saying that the Redskins lost their first two games to playoff teams.  The Redskins need to stick to their plan and keep Haskins on the bench as long as possible to help develop him.

Despite the record, Keenum has started the season on fire.  He has completed 69% of his passes, 56-81 for 601 yards and 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.  He has a QB rating of 111.2.  Keenum was brought to Washington because he can win games in spurts and keep his teams competitive.  That is his main job as a Redskin.  If he can keep the Redskins around .500 through week 10 then the team can turn to Haskins and contend for a playoff spot. 

NEWTON INJURED COULD MISS CARDINAL GAME

The Carolina Panthers have started the season 0-2, with losses to the Rams and the Bucs.  The Panthers have been competitive in both games and look to get their first win this Sunday when they travel to Arizona to face a winless Cardinals team at 0-1-1.

The match up is intriguing as it is a battle of two talented QB’s that can also run the ball, Cam newton vs. Kyler Murray.  Murray, of the Cardinals, has thrown for 300 plus yards in each of his first two games in the NFL.  The only other guy to do so, Cam Newton.  Newton threw for 400 plus yards in his first two games and one was against the cardinals.

This match up that everyone wants to see may not even happen.  Newton sprained his left foot in week three of the preseason and reportedly has reaggravated the injury.  Newton did not practice yesterday and his status for Sunday is up in the air.

If newton does not play that means backup Kyle Allen will get the start.  This match up will also be interesting because Allen is from Arizona and has direct ties to Kyler Murray.  In 2015 they both played at Texas A&M where Allen was the starter but eventually replaced by Murray.  The irony of the situation is that they both ended up transferring to different schools.  Murray went on to win the Heisman and be the number one overall pick in the draft.  Allen went undrafted last season but did find his way onto an NFL roster last season with the Panthers.

TIDBIT TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

Tidbit Tuesday is back!  Here you will learn stats and stories that you may otherwise never hear about sports.  This segment also appears on my Face Book page, The Az Sports Guru.  So please like ,share and rad it there as well.  Enjoy!

Did you know Cardinal's rookie quarterback Kyler Murray is just the second player in history to throw for 300 plus yards in his first two starts?

Murray opened the season up by throwing for 308 yards and 2 TD's while rally the team to tie against the Detroit Lions.  In week 2 he threw for 349 yards but did not have a touchdown and the team lost 23-17.  Murray is 54-94 for 657 yards, 2 TD's and 1 INT.

Murray joins Carolina QB Cam Newton as the only 2 players to throw for 300 plus yards in there first two games.  Newton had 422 yards in his rookie debut against, ironically, the Cardinals and then lit up Green Bay the following week with 432 yards in the air.

The Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks next and it will be a very tough task for Murray to make it three in a row.  If Murray can throw for 200 yards he will be the first rookie to do so in his first three starts.  But I think Murray would rather have the win.

THE WEEKEND REPORT SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

It was an exciting weekend for Arizona sports.  With football season in full swing and baseball season nearing its end there was plenty to watch in Arizona.  Here's the weekend recap.

We'll start in the college ranks.  The Arizona Wildcats host Texas A&M in a non conference game.  QB Khalil Tate lead the Wildcats to a 28-14 victory.  He threw for 185 yards and 1 TD, ran for 129 yards and another score.  The Wildcats are now 2-1 and next play UCLA.

ASU went in to East Lancing Michigan to face #18 Michigan State.  They only scored 10 points, which was not surprising.  The surprise was the Spartan's on scored 7 and the Sun Devils came away with a big upset.  Michigan State tied the score with a field goal, but after further review they had 12 players on the field and were forced to retry the kick.  The kicked was no good and ASU was victorious.  ASU is 3-0 and plays Colorado next.

In baseball the Arizona Diamondbacks played host to the Cincinnati Reds this weekend.  The Dbacks are trying to claim a wild card spot in the National League but lost 2 of 3 to the Reds.  They have lost 7 of 10 games and at 76-74 have a very slim chance to make the playoffs.  They start a 3 game series with the Miami Marlins tonight.

In the NFL the Cardinals traveled to Baltimore to face the Ravens.  The Ravens were coming off of a blowout win against the Dolphins last week and many though we would have a repeat this week.  That was not the case as the defense proved to be the strength of this young Cardinals team.  The Ravens jumped out to a 17-6 halftime lead and the Cardinals could not get their offense going.  They showed some signs of life in the fourth quarter but fell short 23-17.  QB Kyler Murray was 25-40 for 349 yards but did not throw a TD.

COWBOYS BEAT REDSKINS

In a week 2 division rivalry game the Dallas Cowboys went to the nation’s capital and came away with a 31-21 victory.  The Cowboys beat the Redskins and improved to 2-0.  The Redskins are now 0-2.

The Redskins got on the board first when Adrian Peterson scored from one yard out.  The Cowboys then answered with three straight touchdowns to take a 21-7 lead and not look back.  The Redskins looked good for about a quarter and half but never seemed to get into rhythm after that.

Cowboy’s running back Ezekiel Elliot quietly had 111 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown.  The star of the game was Dallas QB Dak Prescott, who was 26-30 for 269 yards.  He also has 3 TD’s and 1 interception.  Prescott was also big on the ground.  He carried the ball 5 times for 69 yards.

Redskins QB Case Keenum had a decent game.  He was 26-37 for 221 yards and 2 TD’s.  Keenum now has 5 touchdowns on the season to go along with no interceptions.  Rookie receiver Terry McLaurin had 5 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.

The Redskins next will host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football next week.  The Cowboys will host the winless Miami Dolphins next Sunday.  

MURRY,KINGSBURY, CARDINALS START SEASON WITH A TIE

Both Kyler Murry and Kliff Kingsbury made their NFL debuts yesterday when the Arizona Cardinals hosted the Detroit Lions in the season opener at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.  The game ended with a 27-27 tie after one overtime period.

The outcome may sound disappointing to most, but after watching the first 3 quarters of the game a tie feels pretty good if you are a Cardinals fan.  Murray and the offense looked horrible through 3 quarters.  They woke up in the fourth quarter and came from 18 points behind to actually take the lead in overtime.  The Lions then answered with a field goal of their own and that how the game ended.

Murray looked nervous and like he was unsure of what he was doing.  Then he started to use his legs a little more and seemed to grow more confident as the game went on.  He made some common mistakes but don’t forget he was not the only one performing in his first NFL game.

Rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who also calls the plays, was doing it for the first time at the NFL level.  For the first three quarters it showed.  He even took responsibility during the post game conference. 

Murray ended the game going 29-54 for 308 yards, 2 TD’s and 1 INT.  Very impressive numbers and he is the first rookie to throw for 300 plus yards in his debut.  Murray was not the only Cardinal that put up good numbers.  The legend Larry Fitzgerald showed why he is still a threat anytime he is in the game.  He had 8 catches for 113 yards and a score.

Running back David Johnson had 18 carries for 82 yards, which doesn’t seem like much, but it’s 4.5 yards a carry.  Johnson also caught 6 passes for 55 yards and a score.

Although the Cardinals did not win there is plenty to build from.  The defense was outstanding, particularly the cornerbacks, who will have there hands full next week.  The Cardinals travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.

WHY I LOVE FOOTBALL

The NFL season starts today. That’s right folks football has finally returned. Time to root your team on and hope they can win the Super Bowl.

Football is the most popular sport and many people will be watching there team today.  But why does American go so crazy?  There are many reasons why people love football. Here is why I live football

This morning I was in my way to work. Because it’s game day I put on my Redskins jersey on and headed to work. I stopped to get a soda. While I was in the Circle K. There was an older man, maybe in his 70’s.  He saw my jersey and asked if I was going to the game. I told him no and had a brief conversation with him and he walked away. When I went to pay he was at the register paying for his coffee and Sunday paper. We started talking again and I realized he thought I was wearing a Cardinals jersey.   I told him that my jersey is not the Cardinals. I told him it’s the Redskins. He then turns to me and says “they still have a team?”  We both had a laugh and parted ways.

That small interaction is why I love football. I would probably never have spoken to that man but we both shared a bond of football that brought us together. There are many more stories just like this. Football brings together the most uncommon people. I love talking football and because of this I meet people that I normally would not ever speak to.

REDSKINS NAME STARTER

The Washington Redskins have named Case Keenum their starting QB for the 2019 regular season.  Keenum will get the start when the Redskins open the season in Philadelphia against the Eagles.  Keenum beat out Colt McCoy and the team’s rookie first round draft pick Dwayne Haskins.

Keenum was brought over from Denver in a trade during the off season because last year’s starter Alex Smith broke his leg mid season and will likely miss this season as well, if he even returns.  The Redskins then were able to draft Haskins with the 15^th overall pick.  McCoy was the backup last season and also got hurt.

Haskins is listed as the second string QB.  At some point this season he will get his chance to show the league what he can do.  So did Washington make the right decision?  They most certainly did.

Making Keenum the starter is the smart move.  Haskins looked decent during preseason and could definitely benefit from sitting and learning from Keenum and Smith.  The Redskins open the season with two divisional games against the Eagles and the Cowboys.  Both games will be tough regardless of who the QB is.

If Keenum can keep the starting job through week 8 with a 5-5 or 4-6 record that puts the Redskins in a good position.  At that point Smith could possibly be back.  If not week 10 is their bye week.  A perfect time to start the rookie Haskins.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN LOSES HOME OPENER

On Friday night the South Mountain Jaguars opened their 2019 High School Football season by hosting the Verado Vipers.  South has received a lot of preseason attention thanks to the job that twin co-head coaches Mark and Marcus Cater have done in their four years at the school.  They truly are changing the culture in South Phoenix.  This was evident when you looked in the stands, they were jammed packed.  According to Coach Mark Carter they had to stop letting people in.

The game started with the Jaguars on defense.  They forced a three and out on Verado's first drive but a roughing the kicker call on the punt gave the Vipers the ball back.  A few plays later they scored on a 35 yard TD pass.  The two conversion was successful and South trailed 8-0.  Late in the quarter Verado was driving a again but Jeremiah Price put an end to the drive when he rocked the QB on third down, forcing a punt.  Verado did score one more time before the quarter ended and took a 15-0 lead in to the second quarter.

South got their first points of the season when QB Amier Boyd Msthews found Travis Gammage for a 21 yard score.  Verado scored again making the score 21-8.  On the ensuing kickoff Devonte Ingram showed why he is called 'Money", he took the kickoff 98 yards for the score.  South trailed cut the lead to 21-16 but never got closer as the Vipers then began to take over.  Verado lead 35-16 at halftime and cruised to a 52-28 victory.

Despite the loss there was plenty to be proud of for the Jaguars.  They started 6 sophomares and a freshman.  Boyd has great footwork and an even better arm, he is also just a sophomore, along with with WR Brian Fair Jr. they have the future looking bright for the Jags.  There is plenty of more talent on both sides of the ball.  Ingram, Gammage, Palmer and Xavier Price all had good games for South.

ANDREW LUCK UNEXPECTEDLY RETIRES FROM COLTS

Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck has decided to retire just two weeks before the season was set to start.

Luck, who was to start his 7th NFL season on the sideline due to injury, had suffered from many injuries during his time in Indianapolis.  Luck is  about to turn 30 next month and no one saw this coming.


News of Luck's retirement leaked during the Colts preseason game last night. The Colts lost the game to the Chicago Bears 27-17 but that was not important once news of the retirement hit social media.


Luck was booed as he left the field. Fans were understandably upset but Luck did not deserved to be treated the way he was.

Luck was drafted in 2012 to take over for the great Peyton Manning. Luck did so. And he was excellent at it.  Despite never winning a Super Bowl or an MVP trophy he was beloved by the fans and helped them forget about Manning.

Luck was a 4-time Pro Bowler and the 2018 Comeback Player of the year. Luck suffered several injuries during his short NFL career. One has to wonder what would have been if Andrew Luck was able to stay healthy.

NFC WEST BOLD PREDICTIONS

The NFC West is home to last season’s NFC Champion, The St. Louis Rams.  It is also home to last season’s worst team, the Arizona Cardinals.   With the draft of Kyler Murray by the Cardinals the division is now loaded at quarterback.  We all know to have a successful team you must have an above average play caller.  You can make the argument that each team in the division has that QB on their roster.

So what’s in store for the NFC West this year?  Is it another Super Bowl appearance or another number one pick in next year’s draft?  Let’s make some bold predictions as to what the NF: will see out of the NFC West this season.  Here are my top 5 predictions, not in any particular order.

1.       The Arizona Cardinals will finish first and second in the division.

This may seem far fetched with the other two teams in the division being the Rams and Seahawks, but let take a look at it.  It’s not uncommon for a team to Make the Super Bowl one season and miss the playoffs the next season.  Also Russell Wilson does not dominate games like he used to.  The Cardinals and the Rams always play tough against them.  Add this with the potential of Kyler Murray and Jimmy Garoppolo and you could see a different NFC West Champ at seasons end.

2.        Jared Goff throws 15 or more interceptions.

This will be an important year for St. Louis QB Jared Goff.  He is entering his fourth season and his stats have risen every year.  Last year he threw the most TD’s of his career, but also threw his most INT’s of his career at 12.  Goff had more control of his decisions last season and I think he has a lackluster year.

3.       Russell Wilson is an MVP Candidate.

Seattle QB Russell Wilson is coming off of his most efficient season.  Wilson is a tough, fast and consistent QB.  He is able to make plays happen when you think he is going to be sacked.  Wilson is arguably the division’s best player and if Seattle wants to make another run at a Super Bowl Wilson will need an MVP season.

4.       The Super Bowl Champ will come from the NFC West.

The NFC West is going to be one of the best divisions in football.  When the teams play each other it is always a tough game, regardless of the records.  The tough completion will prepare the NFC West Champ for the playoffs and ultimately help that team win the Super Bowl.

5.        Kyler Murray will win NFL Rookie of the Year.

Kyler Murray was the first overall draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals.  The team was so bad last season and is poised to make an improvement.  The Cardinals also have a new head coach, rookie Kliff Kingsbury.  Kingsbury brings his air raid offense which will help Murray show off his talents.  Even if the Cardinals only win 6 games Murray will win Rookie of the Year honors.

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: THROWBACK STYLE

Today is the start of the football season for a lot of High School football team in Arizona.  As always The Az Sports Guru will profile a different player athlete each week.  There is no criteria to be profiled, other than playing high school football.  This segment was created 5 years ago in hopes of showing people the different kind of athletes that play football and how it brings them together.  In honor of another year here is the first ever edition of "The High School Highlight", called 'The Friday Highlight" back then.  Enjoy!

Our First edition of The Friday Highlight takes us to the San Tan Valley.  There you will find a school called Combs High school.  The Comb’s Coyotes traveled to Globe last week and won 17 – 0.  The thing that impressed me the most wasn’t the score.  It was 15 year old Skylar Johnson reaching out to me and letting me know that his team had won their season opener.  He didn’t mention that it was his first varsity football game.  He didn’t even mention his stats.  I was overly impressed so much that I decided to look a little closer at the quarterback from Combs High School.  I was even more impressed to find out that he is an active member of the LDS Church and holds a 2.8 GPA.     When asked about his long term goals Johnson said he will improve his GPA and attend college where he hopes to be able to continue his athletic career.  Johnson also has a short term goal.  It’s to become the starting quarterback for the varsity team.  Johnson split reps last week at QB and had a solid outing.  With his families support Johnson keeps working harder and harder each day to be the best QB he can be for his team.   Johnson has played Pop Warner and was on both the freshman and JV teams last year.  Johnson is a prime example of a student athlete.  He gives a 100% on and off the field.  “The brotherhood of a football team is almost as import than the sport itself” said Johnson.  Johnson is an impressive young man who you will hear good things about in the future.  He seems to be a very humble athlete who is waiting to hear the public address announcer at Combs High say “And now the starting quarterback for your Combs Coyotes #5 Skylar Johnson”.  

MEET BOURGADE CATHOLIC FOOTBALL COACH MARCEL LOPEZ

The year was 2008 and NFL YET had just won it's first CAA Football Championship.  The school won the tittle again in 2012.  Marcel Lopez was the head football coach for both teams and was also the coach of the year both seasons.  That was Lopez most memorable coaching moment.

It's 9 years later and 39 year old Marcel Lopez is the head football coach at Bourgade Catholic High School in Phoenix, Arizona.  Lopez hopes to bring the success he had at NFL YET to Bourgade Catholic.  Lopez is entering his third season as coach of the Screaming Eagles.

Lopez also coach at St, Mary's High School for tow seasons, where he played in high school and helped the team win the 1995 5A State Championship.  Lopez has been coaching for 15 years and continues to grow as a coach and wants to work on a college sideline one day. 

"I want to build a respectable program at Bourgade Catholic that contends for region and state championships every year."  Lopez said in an electronic interview.  Lopez went on to say that his main goal is to build up young men that will go on to be outstanding men, husbands and fathers.  Lopez believes his role as a coach is to help young men achieve their goals both athletically and academically.

Lopez works hard on the football field but does not let it get in the way of his family.  He has been married to September Lopez for 10 years.  They have 3 sons, Marcel Jr. age 6, Benjamin age 4 and Mateo age 3.

Coach Lopez has dedicated a lot of time to turning around the program.  This will be a great year for Lopez and his Golden Eagles.

HEY ANTONIO, CHILL OUT!

The major talk of preseason football has not been the breakout rookie or the unknown player from out of nowhere.  Yes those are story lines, but they are not "The Storyline."

The major storyline is Raiders Wide Receiver Antonio Brown.  But it's not what it should be about, his performance on the field.  It's about his stubbornness and need to be the center of attention.

He is making a big deal over a 10 year old helmet that isn't safe for him to use anymore.  The worst part is he hasn't even played for the Raiders yet.  He continues to be vocal off the field but not on it.

Brown is a stud when it comes to talent.  He may be the best wideout in the game. He needs to stop his temp tantrums and step on the field and show the rest of the NFL what he is capable of.

So in case you are reading this Antonio Brown, I have a message for you.  Chill out, pick a  helmet and catch some passes!  Raider Nation is counting on you to make them contenders in the AFC West.

CARL HAYDEN IMPRESSIVE IN SCRIMMAGE

The Steven Arenas era at Carl Hayden High School officially began Thursday when the Falcons hosted Copper Canyon for a scrimmage game. The Falcons came out looking fresh in blue jerseys and gold pants. The Aztecs of Copper Canyon came out in their practice black jerseys and white pants. 

Scrimmage games are very important in High School football. They are structured different then a regular season game. There usually is not any special teams. Each team gets the ball for ten plays and keeps it even if there is a turnover. The teams rotate several times. There are also refs to call penalties. This gives coaches a good idea of what they have and what they need to work on. 

Carl Hayden didn’t look like a team with a first year coach. They looked organized and in sync with one another. The offensive line was great allowing the quarterbacks plenty of time to throw the ball. In fact the Falcons threw the ball more that I expected. Last year they were a very run heavy team and coach Arenas told me they would not change much formation wise but would be throwing more. 

Scores aren’t kept during scrimmages but the Falcons did get in the end zone a few times. Carl Hayden played two QB’s and they both looked sharp. Both were able to control the offense and seemed to understand what was going on around them. The Falcons are in good hands at quarterback. 

Arenas looks like a natural leader. His coaching staff and players are buying in to what he plans to accomplish as head coach of the Carl Hayden Falcons. The team opens up regular season play this Friday when they host Cactus Shadows in a battle of the Falcons. 

RANKING THE NFC WEST BY QB

Football season is right around the corner.  Hopes are high for every team and its fan base.  Will this year be your team’s year?  Only time will tell.  Let's take a look at the NFC West and rank the teams based on the quarterback.

The NFC West is an interesting division in 2019 because you can make a case for all four teams either winning the division or making the playoffs.  The quarterback is a big reason why.  Each starting QB has the potential to be a top 5 QB in the NFL.  So let’s rank the teams.

4. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

The Niners starting QB is Jimmy Garopolo.  He showed how much better he makes the 49ers when he was first traded from the Patriot's.  The reason Jimmy G, as he is lovingly called in San Francisco, is ranked last on the list is because after he came to SF and started 5-0 then tore his ACL and has not looked the same.  He has great potential that has yet to be reached.

3. ARIZONA CARDINALS

The Cardinals used the number one pick on QB Kyler Murray.  The second time his named was called in the first round of a draft, the first being baseball when he was drafted by the A's.  The Cardinals also have a rookie coach in Kliff Kingsbury, whose "Air Raid" offense has already taken the NFL by storm, even before Kingsbury called a play in last week’s opener against the Chargers.  When I was prepping this article I toyed with ranking Murray last because he had yet to take a snap in the NFL.  Then he made his debut.  His composure and his stats were impressive but what impressed me most was the way Murray was handled.  The plays were called perfect for him and if Kingsbury can do the same during the season the Cardinals will surprise the NFC West and the NFL.

2. LOS ANGELES RAMS

Rams QB Jerad Goff took his team to the Super Bowl season and had a memorable season.  So why is his team not ranked 1 in this division?  Goff and the Rams were embarrassed in the Super Bowl and maybe didn't even belong (ask a Saints fan).  Don't get me wrong Goff is a very good QB and has the potential to be legendary.  But is he really good under pressure?  Remember two seasons ago he was getting his team to the line quick so his coach can tell him what play to call.

1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The NFC West has been through a lot of changes and has seen some good teams in the past 10 years.  For the past 7 seasons the one constant in the division is Seahawks QB Russell Wilson.  He has been to the Super Bowl twice and won one.  He has battled through injury and when you are about to count him out he does something that makes you wish he was yours teams QB.  Seattle will always be division contender as long as Wilson is taking snaps for them.

ARREOLA’S FINAL FIGHT?

Heavyweight boxer Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola debuted in the ring on September 5, 2003.  The result was a second round knockout of Roosevelt Parker.

Arreola would start his career 27-0 before a he was stopped in the 10th round by Vitali Klitschko.  The fight was for a heavyweight title.

Arreola fought unbeaten Adam Kownacki last night at Barclays Center.  The fight turned out to be a heavy hitting action packed fight.  Both fighters came to brawl.  In the end the decision was given to Kownacki.  Kownacki is now 20-0.

Before the fight Arreola had vowed that if he lost he would retire.  In the post fight interview he pretty much said the same thing.  He said he would have to speak to his family, but he sounded like he didn't want to fight anymore.

If that was the last we have seen of Arreola he ends his brilliant career at 38-6-1.  His fans would love to see him keep fighting, but once a fighter has lost the passion he should step away from the sport.

THE KEY TO KYLER MURRAY’S SUCCESS: VANCE JOSEPH

As the days go on in training camp the expectations rise for Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback Kyler Murray.  His grasp of Coach Kliff Kingsbury’s new offense and his ability to already show leadership has the coaches, teammates and fans expecting him to turn around a team that went 3-13 last season to a playoff contender. 

The expectations don’t seem legitimate to most, especially the USA today who predicts to Cardinals to go 3-13 again this season.  If you really put some though into it it’s not all that impossible for the Cardinals to make the playoffs.

But how do they do it?  The short answer is Kyler Murray.  Murray understands the offense and is as good in the pocket as he is out of the pocket.  We will soon see if his college success will roll over to the NFL.

Murray is capable of being a star QB.  He confidence and humbleness combined show he is ready to take his team to the promise land of NFL greatness. 

What is going to be the key piece that helps Murray lift the Cardinals to playoff contention?  Vance Joseph.

Yes you read it write, it says Vance Joseph, the Cardinals Defensive Coordinator!

Kyler Murray is smart, quick and understands what it will take for him to be successful in this league.  The Cardinals are going to throw the ball a lot, running back David Johnson will help keep defenses honest when it comes to the run game which will allow Murray to get his stats, both in the air and on the ground.

The secret to Murray being successful will be Joseph’s defense.  If he is able to force opponents to go 3 and out Murray and the high powered offense will put points on the board.  The Cardinals will be more successful if they are beating opponents by at least 2 scores rather than the game coming down to one possession.

Joseph is a defensive mastermind and already had key pieces in place when he was hired.  He has a secondary that can be one of the best in the league.  If his defense is successful we will see it with the success of Kyler Murray.

ARIZONA CARDINALS REPORT TO TRAINING CAMP

The day has finally arrived, The Arizona Cardinals have reported Training Camp.  The team begins practice tomorrow in preparation for their first preseason game August 8 against The San Diego Chargers.  The Cardinals will also play The Raiders, Vikings and Broncos during preseason.  The team will have 14 open practices that fans will be able to watch.

All eyes will be on 2 rookies.  Rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury and Rookie QB Kyler Murray.  The Double K connection will be interesting to watch.  Fans will have to wait for the regular season to see what this new offense is going to look like.  Kingsbury and second year wide receiver Christian Kirk said today the offense is going to be fast, but during the preseason they won’t show to much of what the want to do during the regular season.   

The team has plenty more questions than what the offense is going to look like.  The defense may prove to be the biggest question of all, particularly the secondary.  The team drafted former Saguaro High School standout and Washington corner Byron Murphy to compete for the starting job opposite all pro Patrick Peterson.  We will not see the duo until late October when Peterson gets back from a 6 game suspension.

The Cardinals have high hopes for this season and look to improve from a 3-13 season.  Kingsbury and his staff will have their hands full.  The first two weeks of training camp are very important for the coaching staff.  It they can get the players on board with what they want to accomplish this year then there is no reason that Cardinals should not lose as many or more games than last year. 

PACQUIAO BEATS THURMAN

Last night in Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao  proved to the world that he is still a forced to be reckoned with in boxing's welterweight division.  Pacquiao defeated previously unbeaten Keith "One Time" Thurman in a split decision.  Pacquiao is now the new WBA Super World Welterweight Champ.

Pacquiao came out with an aggressive game plan that was evident when he stunned Thurman with a right hook that sent him to the canvas.  At that point it was Pacquiao's fight to lose.

Thurman showed poise and battled back to make the fight look closer than it really was.  He underestimated Pacquiao and wasn't ready for the explosiveness that Pacquiao brought.

Thurman was humbled last night and it showed in his post fight interview.  Thurman mentioned a rematch but that does not benefit Pacquiao so there probably won't be one.

PREVIEWING PACQUIAO VS. THURMAN

Tonight is arguably the boxing match of the decade when Manny Pacquiao gets in the ring with Kieth Thurman in a 147 pound tittle match up.  The fight is heavily anticipated and will be in Las Vegas, the boxing capital of the world.

Thurman is undefeated  at 29-0 with 22 knockouts.  He has an impressive resume that includes, Josesito Lopez, Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter.  And those were just his last three fights.  Thurman weighed in at 146.5 pounds and says "it's my time."

Thurman faces one of the sports greatest boxers in Manny Pacquiao.  Pacquiao is 61-7-2 in his storied career.  He is the only fighter to win a title in 8 different weight classes.  He is coming off a victory in January against Adrien Broner.  That matched proved no problem for Pacquiao who was declared the winner by unanimous decision and won the WBA Welterweight Tittle.

So who will win this fight between two of boxing's greats?

This fight will go the distance and will be very close in score.  The key, in my opinion is the first 3 rounds and the last 2 rounds.  Whoever can win the first three rounds can dictate the pace of the fight.  whichever fighter is able to stick to their game plan the longest is the one who come out victorious.

So who will that be you ask?

It's a very tough call to make and while I am rooting for Pacquiao my gut tells me Thurman will pull out the victory.

BOXING LEGEND PERNELL WHITAKER DIES AFTER BEING HIT BY CAR

Boxing great Pernell Whitaker was killed Saturday night when he was involved in a car crash in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Va. Whitaker was 55.  The early reports are that Whitaker was crossing the street and was hit by a vehicle.  It is unclear if any charges have been or will be filed.


Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker had a brilliant career that lasted 17 years.  He debuted in November of 1984 and finished his career 40-4 with 1 draw.  His only draw was to Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993.  Chavez was undefeated at the time.  Whitaker was a four weight World Champion and will be deeply missed by his family and the boxing world.


Sweet Pea had 17 knockouts in his career and won a Gold Medal in the 1984 Olympics.  After retiring from boxing Whitaker became a trainer.  His most famous fighter was Zab Judah.

SUNS SIGN OUBRE

The Phoenix Suns have signed free agent Kelly Oubre Jr, to a two year deal.  The deal is worth $30 million.  The small forward came to Phoenix midway through the season in a trade and expressed interest in staying with the Suns.

Oubre was one of few bright spots for the Suns when he joined the team.  The talent and energy he brings to the court will help the new Suns as they look to improve from a 19 win season this past year.  Oubre is also a fan favorite who looks to help "The Valley Boys" become a fun team to watch.

This was a good signing for the Suns.  The moves they made in the draft and free agency thus far don't make a lot of sense to the average fan.  According to General Manager James Jones it is all a part of their plan.  Bring Oubre back is something that makes sense and the fans wanted.  If Rubio produces like he has in the past and Ayton and Booker continue to improve as stars we may look back in a year and say this was a pretty good off season. 

KAWHI CHOOSES CLIPPERS OVER LAKERS

In case you didn’t hear there was an earthquake in  Los Angeles last night.  But the NBA was was shaken even harder last night by Kawhi Leonard. The superstar finally made his choice.   Just like many predicted he chose Los Angeles.

Why wouldn’t he, after all he is from the area. The surprising mews was that he decided to play for the Clippers and not the Lakers!  Many people expected him to Join Anthony Davis, who came over in a trade when free agency started, and LeBron James.

Instead Kawhi will team up with Paul George who was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday after Leonard agreed to sign.   The duo now makes the Clippers an  immediate contender.

Kawhi showed how good he really is in bring a Championship to Toronto this past season now with Paul George by his side the sky is the limit.

FORMER DBACK PITCHER TYLER SKAGGS DEAD AT 27

The Los Angeles Angels announced yesterday that staring pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found dead in his hotel room Monday.  He found by police and pronounced dead on the scene.  The Angels were in Texas for a series with the Rangers.  Skaggs, 27 had just started on Saturday and was scheduled to start again on Thursday.

Skaggs spent two seasons with the Diamondbacks and will be missed by both organizations and fans.  Skaggs leaves behind a wife of just 7 months and would have been 28 on July 13.  He was a started since returning from Tommy Johns Surgery in 2016 and will be missed by Major League Baseball.

There were no signs of foul play at the scene of Skaggs death.  An autopsy will be done today to find the cause of death.

FRIDAY NIGHT BOXING PROVES TO BE ENTERTAINING

Last night ESPN aired it's Top Rank boxing, which they have been for some time now.  The event was held in Temecula California.

The main event was for the IBF lightweight tittle between Champion Richard Commey and Ray Beltran.  A fight that promised to be action packed did not disappoint.

Before the fight even began we had plenty to talk about.  20 year veteran Ray Beltran, who makes his home in Avondale Arizona, came in nearly 2 pounds overweight.

On Thursday Beltran weighed in at 136.8 pounds.  By rule he was given an hour to cut weight.  He did not return to the scale.  In an interview with ESPN before the fight he said he just could not make it and he will fight at 140 from here on out.

Beltran was weighed again the morning of the fight and by rule had to be less then 145 pounds or the fight would be canceled.  He made the weight and the fight went on.

Because Beltran did not make weight two things happened, even though the fight would still go as scheduled.

Beltran would not be able to take Commey's tittle, even if he won.  Also Beltran would have to pay 10% of his purse to the IBF and another 10% to Commey.  His 1.8 pounds over weight ended up costing him $40,000.

Beltran had a huge battle just to get in the ring, once he got in the ring he showed how tough he really is.

Beltran was knocked down twice in the first round.  That did not phase him because he got up both times and put up a good fight.  The fight was entertaining and both fighters were throwing plenty of power punches.  Beltran had a cut over his left eye, the 15th of his career, and Commey's eye was swollen and nearly shut going in to the eight round.

Commey hit Beltran with a left that sent Beltran to the canvas.  Beltran got up after the fourth time being knocked down.  that wasn't enough, the ref looked in to his eyes and stopped the fight.

Commey improves to 29-2 and now has 26 knockouts and now may face off against Teofimo Lopez, if he wins his fight scheduled for July 19.

As for Beltran he did not say what was next for him in the post fight interview.  Hopefully he continues to fight and entertain his fans like he has since 1999.

THE CURSE OF ARIZONA SPORTS

The NBA season just ended and football doesn't start for a couple more months.  Baseball isn't exciting until after the All-Star break and the NHL just completed it's draft for next season.

So that means there isn't much to watch in the sports world right now.  But here in Arizona maybe that's a good thing.

The major sports teams here in Arizona are the Cardinals, Dbacks, Sun's and Coyotes.  Including our 3 major colleges, Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona, Arizona is in a major drought when it comes to winning titles.


If you really think about it the state of Arizona has not won very much in the last 20 years!

The Arizona Cardinals have never won a Superbowl.  They have been a apart of the NFL since the merger with the AFL and have only been to the playoffs ten times.  Although the team was competitive from 2009-2015, they have been historically bad.  The Cardinals are coming off a very forgettable 3-13 season.

In the NBA Arizona is represented by the Phoenix Suns.  The Suns, at one point, was a team every fan respected and feared.  Players wanted to come here to play.  That all ended when the team was purchased by Robert Sarver.  Sarver has not allowed the coaches and front office to handle the basketball side of things.  This has caused the team to become one of the worst franchises in the NBA.  The Suns have not been in the playoffs since the 2009-2010 season.  The franchise has never won an NBA title, in fact, they only made it to the Finals twice and have been in the league since 1968.

The Arizona Diamondbacks has the states only title.  They won the World Series in 2001, their third year as a franchise.  Fans like to think the team is good but in reality they are mediocre at best.  The team usually starts the season off good but does not do enough to make the playoffs.  They have had successful seasons but don't seem to be nowhere near contending for a World Series.

The last Arizona team is the Arizona Coyotes.  I do not know a lot about hockey, and I won't pretend to.  But as a sports fan from Arizona I know the team has been near the bottom every year since they came to Arizona.  They have had a few good seasons but nothing established or for fans to get excited about.

So what is the problem in Arizona?  Is it our owners?  Coaches?  Fans?

What ever the problem is the Arizona teams better figure it out fast.  Arizona is a Sports state and deserves a winning team.

DID KAWHI LEONARD JUST CHANGE THE NBA?

On Thursday the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 to win their first ever NBA Tittle.  They won the series 4-2.

Toronto was led by Kawhi Leonard, who is in his first season with the Raptors.  Leonard came over from the San Antonio Spurs after he refused to play for them last year, saying he was ready to return after an injury.

Toronto took a huge chance on Leonard not k owing if they would have him after this season.  The chance paid off when Leonard and the rest of the Raptors took down a dynasty to win the NBA Tittle.

The question now is what will happen with Leonard?  Will he stay in Toronto? And did he just change the NBA as we know it?

If Leonard does decide to stay in Toronto he has a chance to start his own dynasty in Canada.  Leonard also has a chance to change the NBA.

If Leonard stays with Toronto he may start a trend of NBA players wanting to stay where they are at and win a championship.  The era of the "super team" may be over.

Leonard went to a team that had one all -star, and where he was the only superstar.  He carried his team to an NBA Tittle without another superstar and only having role players.

Leonard could change the NBA, unless he decides to jump ship.

ANDY RUIZ JR. BECOMES FIRST MEXICAN-AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP

Three knockdowns in the third round and two more in the seventh round highlighted an action packed heavyweight bout between the Champion Anthony Joshua and the challenger Andy Ruiz Jr., a replacement fighter just added because Jarrell Miller tested positive on 3 different drug tests.

Joshua was making his debut in the United States and what he heard from the ringside announcer after the fight was not what or anyone from his camp expected.

"And New" heavyweight champ!  That's right not only was Joshua beaten but he was totally dominated and the referee eventually had to stop the fight in round 7.  Joshua was dazed and confused and unable to respond to the referee asking if he wanted to continue.

Andy Ruiz Jr. and his camp were not surprised.  He didn't have much time to train but it was enough. He boxed a smart fight and stayed to his game plan.

Ruiz is now 33-1 and is the first ever Mexican-American heavyweight champ.  You can also argue that he pulled off the biggest upset in boxing history.

But as the announcer said he is "one bad vato loco."

ARCADIA FIRES COACH AFTER SUCCESSFUL FIRST SEASON

The Arcadia Titans football team was getting ready to start practice yesterday at 3:30 p.m.  Then at 3:00 p.m. they received an email saying practice was cancelled.  The team was confused and some had already showed up for practice.

The team would later find out why practice was cancelled.  Their second year head coach Kerry Taylor had been fired.

Taylor was told by administration that he was not "a good fit" at Arcadia.  The team was shocked.

The Taylor led Titans went 6-4 in Kerry Taylor's only season as head football coach.  This is a six win improvement from 2017 when the team went 0-10. The team was definitely on the rise.

Earlier in the week the Arcadia football program was given a warning for recruiting and making practices mandatory.  Kerry denied the allegations.

The school conducted it's own investigation and although it's unclear what they found, they decided to part ways with Taylor.

THE PHOENIX SUNS: HAVE THEY TURNED THE CORNER?

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and as we near closer to the NBA Finals, fans in Phoenix are just watching in hopes that one day soon their Phoenix Suns will be back in the playoffs.  The Phoenix Suns have not seen a playoff game since 2010.

The Suns hold the second longest streak in the NBS for seasons without a playoff appearance at 9.  They trail only the Sacramento Kings, who have 13 seasons since they last went to the playoffs.

The Suns have already made some off season moves such as firing their head coach and hiring Philadelphia assistance Monty Williams, that have the Phoenix fans asking, has the franchise finally turned the corner?

The proof may not come as fast as fans want it to, but yes,  the Phoenix Suns have turned the corner.  They have finally hired a coach with proven experience,  they have star power currently on the roster, and owner Robert Sarver seems to be sticking more to his role as an owner and less of a General Manager/Coach.

The Suns have the sixth pick in this years draft and are a point guard away from being a contender for a playoff berth.  Only time will tell if the Phoenix have truly turned the corner to the successful franchise they once were.