NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Happy President’s Day [Monday]! It is weird because my kids deal with two different school districts. One has the week off and the other has the day off. Today, they are both home – so that’s that. Anyway, here’s the topics for today: NBA All-Star Game, Caitlan Clarke, Jaromir Jagr.
NBA All-Star Game
This game was never one for big defense but at least in the past… they tried. The East scored over 200 points. What the hell is that?! As the players have become more expensive, they just show up and go through the motions. I have seen people compete harder in street-ball games. The skills competition is kind of whatever. The 3-point shooting contest remains something a few of the big names still do. The dunk contest seems to be only for back-ups and G-league guys now. As for the game itself, it was just like a scrimmage. The old ones there seemed to be guys intent on not getting beat and playing defense but this time it was all like, “let me shoot and let me get this dunk.” I may be getting old and will likely be yelling at the kids to get off my lawn, but the old school ASG were more competitive.
Caitlan Caitlin Clark
Caitlin is now the leading scorer in NCAA basketball history. This record encompasses both the men’s and the women’s division. Clark is an insane shooter, like Dame Lillard insane. You would think that means her Iowa team is one of the best in Women’s College Basketball (and spell her name correctly). And they are… and they ain’t. The team this year isn’t as good as last year, which leaves Clark to take more shots which she makes. She has to carry the team and although they are considered a Top 8 team right now, I just don’t see them getting past the quarter finals because they are so dependent on Clark. I will say Clark makes me so happy that there is a WNBA, because it would be just a shame for her to end up in Europe and us not see her be as awesome anymore. She will go to the WNBA and light it up there too.
Jaromir Jagr
A long time ago the Pittsburgh Penguins retired Mario Lemeaux’s #66. There has been some delay, however, in retiring the #68 of his long-time partner-in-crime, Jaromir Jagr. Jagr left Pittsburgh went to the Rangers then to Europe including Russia, which may have contributed to him falling out of favor with the league. Either way, a big wrong was righted when his number retired over the weekend. Jagr was a happy and tearful man, because no matter where else he played, his home was really Pittsburgh. That is where he became a household name and a Hall of Fame player. It may have taken longer than it should have, but I guess late is better than never.
Thanks for reading and come tomorrow to hear from Ben Whitney, who will likely talk about me not talking about the greatest outdoor NHL game ever.
