EL BARRIO, EL FALLS – Happy Monday, everyone! We are still in that phase where the calendar may say spring but the weather still hasn’t committed. But the sport seasons have remained somewhat consistent. Baseball season has started, while the NHL & NBA are getting ready for playoffs. Being consistent, let’s now look at today’s topics: Dwayne Haskins, Manfred’s Headphones & NBA Playoffs Play-In
Dwayne Haskins
This is one of the saddest bits of news I have heard. It is lacking in detail and makes no sense. Let me back up and say Rest in Peace, Dwayne and prayers to his wife and his family. Haskins was a standout QB at Ohio State after red-shirting and then mopping up in his freshman year. He threw for a record 50 TDs his sophomore year and with his stock so high, he entered the draft. He was drafted in the first round by the Washington Football Team and did a lot of watching his rookie year. He didn’t start until week 12. He was the starter in year 2 and struggled with inconsistent play and questions about his work ethic. Washington was also a team in incredible turmoil and the worst place for a rookie quarterback with so much expectation. Haskins was released after photo came out with him wearing no mask during the height of #COVID. The Steelers picked him up last season and he was their number 3 QB. According to Pittsburgh, they still saw a lot of ability in Haskins and he just needed to be coached-up. He was in Florida doing some unofficial workouts with his teammates and apparently crossing an interstate in Florida, when he got hit by a dump truck and died immediately. I don’t get why he was out there. This not a normal occurrence. We’ll likely know soon enough… It’s a shame, to say the least. I thought he came out too soon and went to a bad team, often happens to young QBs and some cant overcome it while others struggle. Either way, I just was shocked. The Steelers and their structure would have been a good fit for him to get back on track. It is a very sad story and no matter what we find out, a young man has lost his life.
Manfred’s Headphones
After supporting the owners – as he is their lackey – Rob Manfred felt his relationship with the players needed repair. Ya think?! Wow! Deep thought there, Robbie boy! So, on Opening Day every player on the roster was gifted a set of Bose headphones, along with a Note of Appreciation for the situation and offering a chance to make a fresh start. I don’t think it will work, as this is all nonsense and a PR stunt. However, I don’t think the players got a raw deal, I just despise sports commissioners trying to pretend they care about the player’s feelings when we all know they don’t.
NBA Playoffs Play-In
It is time for that new flavor in sports, the NBA Play-In Game. When the season started nobody expected to see the Nets having to play in these games. But with injuries and a dumb anti-vaxer on the squad, they didn’t get into high gear until later in the season. The Nets will be joined by the Cleveland Cavs, the Charlotte Hornets and the Atlanta Hawks… In the West, to everyone’s surprise, the Lakers are not even in the Play-In Game and will be home. Heads will roll, most likely the head coach’s first. The other LA team, the Clippers, are in it with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the always-dangerous San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans.
Here’s the schedule:
(All times Eastern)
Tuesday, April 12
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7:00 p.m., TNT
LA Clippers vs. Minnesota, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, April 13
Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:00p.m., ESPN
San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 9:30 p.m. , ESPN
Friday, April 15
Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 1, TBD, ESPN
Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 2, TBD, TNT
Thanks for reading, feel free to comment below. Come back tomorrow for our Ben Whitney, who try to tell you that Yankees will win the rest of their games.
