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)