EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – Happy 1st Monday in October! Yay. Okay, enough with the fanfare, let’s talk sports. It’s been a busy week in the NFL but since I am a NY Jets fan, I can’t talk football. Actually, the team I support is so bad it almost prohibits me from talking sports at all, but I will take a stab at it. With that, here is what is on tap for today: College Football, Ranger Dynasty Ahead, RIP Bob Gibson.
College Football
My son’s birthday was the other day, so we were celebrating it on Saturday. I went to the local supermarket to get some pizza, wings and subs for the immediate family and in-laws. They had Texas vs TCU on the TV. I felt so disgusted even watching. A pox on the NCAA and these colleges. I was just watching a documentary on how the NCAA is making so much money of these college kids. Now you have a once-in-century pandemic and yet they find an excuse to make these slaves go to work. The pros are properly compensated – what about these kids? When will it be enough? The schools need that sweet broadcast money, so whether the kids die or not is irrelevant. I mean once you accept these people have no bottom, it is easier to grasp their depravity.
Ranger Dynasty Ahead
Big Ben Whitney hit the nail on the head when had the Rangers listed as his number one NY team. They got rid of dead weight like Ken Shatterkirk Kevin Shattenkirk (who then won the Cup) and finally got a divorce from the legendary-but-surplus-in-terms-of-need, King Henrik Lundqvist. What really excites me is the young attack, because the now have Filip “Lil’ Flip” Chytil, “Special K” Kappo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière, the #1 pick, is on his way. Further, they still have Artemis Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, who are veteran studs. The big question will be on defense and if the young goaltenders can take the next step forward. However, make no mistake – this Rangers team is playoff-ready and should be able to make deep runs for the next 5 years with a legit chance to win two or three.
RIP Bob Gibson
This is about bidding farewell to this legend. Gibson re-defined what it meant to have pitcher that keeps you in the game… give you a chance. His career stats are insane. He pitched full games during the 4-man rotation era. He struck out 17 in a World Series game. He even has some saves. The guy also hit 5 home runs in multiple seasons, which was unheard of for a pitcher. There are not enough superlatives to describe him. I will use a modern day term: Bob Gibson was “The Truth.” He was a generational talent for the game of baseball. One thing about Gibson’s passing and his teammate, Lou Brock, a few weeks back: it does highlight how baseball has fallen away as a sport of interest for Black Americans. Thankfully, Short Matt is doing what he can with Harlem RBI (now DREAM) and the Harlem Shaskys.
Anyway, Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow for frisky Ben Whit
