Storming the court not worth injury risk
One way to stop entitled college kids from court-storming is to surround the floor with wire mesh, the way it was done 100 years ago, more to keep players out of the stands than anything else. It’s where the now-antiquated term “cagers” comes from. Of course, I’m being facetious.
But equally ridiculous are the voices in media and elsewhere celebrating court-storming as a worthwhile student rite and a public relations win for schools. The enablers should be ready to own this in the event of a catastrophic injury.
Moving on: Old Dominion’s men’s basketball team has lost too many games over the past five years, but judging from the attendance at Chartway Arena, many of the staunchest fans haven’t abandoned the program. I’m guessing that this, in part, is because of Jeff Jones’ temperament and dogged professionalism. May his successor pick up that mantle while giving the diehards a brighter bottom line.
Tidal conditions: If Jackson Holliday is in Norfolk for his Sept. 6 bobblehead night, it’s likely something didn’t go as planned.
Hearsay: Eric Bieniemy, who just took the offensive coordinator’s job at UCLA after leaving the Commanders, says he wasn’t fired by Washington. “I actually just chose not to stay,” he said. To-may-to, to-mah-to.
Pardon this take: Why has FedEx removed its name from the Commanders’ stadium? Because the team failed to deliver. It’s the least original line we can all share.
Reality check: If Bears quarterback Justin Fields were half as good as he’s made to look on the highlights ESPN runs while debating his future, Chicago wouldn’t be ready to trade him.
Standing pat: The NFL Competition Committee is not ready to ban the tush push, made popular — or infamous — by the Eagles. Funny, though, how the Brotherly Shove faded from conversation last season as the Eagles withered.
Stat stuff: Over a recent threegame span, Denver Nuggets bellwether Nikola Jokic averaged 27.2 points, 16.7 rebounds and 15 assists. Who else does that? Nobody.
Still a force: Before his performance is swallowed up by another news cycle, note that LeBron James outscored the Clippers 19-16 in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s comefrom-behind Lakers victory. Not bad for 39, or any age, but old hat for James, who over his career has outscored opponents in a quarter 16 times — most of any player.
G-O-O-O-A-L: Lionel Messi performed another Messianic feat the other night with a lastgasp score to give Inter Miami a 1-1 draw with the L.A. Galaxy. Amazing. I mean, who even knew the Major League Soccer season was underway?
Ring a bell? If name recognition in North Carolina means anything, Charlotte FC of MLS has hired the right guy to run its team — former British coach Dean Smith.
Money for nothing: The arrogance of NFL owners is on display again, this time with the Carolina Panthers’ David Tepper raising ticket prices after his team’s 2-15 season. But he’ll get what he wants — all the owners do. Don’t waste sympathy on paying customers who cave to the new prices.
Sarcasm ahead: Virtually every TV highlight from baseball’s spring training is a long ball, as if that’s all the game is about. That would be like daily NBA highlights of nothing but dunks and 3-pointers. Uh, never mind.
Basic math: Football can be a simple numbers game. National champion Michigan had 18 players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, the most ever for a school. It all adds up.