Brad Pye’s National Sports Beat 10/20-10/26/2016

Would you have believed at least four black QBs would be serious Super Bowl contenders in 2017? Don’t forget the Buffalo Bills’ Tyrod Taylor as a challenger for a starting Super Bowl spot!

The Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw and closer Kenley Jansen, the duo collected the final six outs in the eighth and ninth innings to tie the series at 1-1. In the final series game vs. Dusty Baker’s Nationals, Kershaw and Jansen did virtually the same thing. Kershaw pitched scoreless ball for the first seven innings. Jansen did the same for the eighth and ninth innings. Now if these two can duplicate this kind of play the Dodgers will collect their first World Series championship since 1988.

L.A. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said going into the fifth game of the playoffs declared: “If anyone gives up on this team, they haven’t seen us play a whole lot this year.”

Colin Kaepernick made his first start for the San Francisco 49ers in nearly a year as the Buffalo Bills prevailed 45-16. Kaepernick hit on 13 of 29 for 187-yards, including a 53-yard TD..

Words from a column in SI about Dallas Cowboys rookie QB Dak Prescott: “Why Dak Prescott plays like he has been here before..” More from SI on QB Prescott: “five weeks in the life of quarterback DAK PRESCOTT suggest he’s the most prepared rookie passer in the NFL and a perfect fit for a franchise hoping to make a transition. The Cowboys thought he’d be ready this fast. There are worst problems to have than that. After knocking off the Green Bay Packers 30-16, Prescott and the Cowboys are riding along with a 5-1 report card. Not bad for what may soon become the greatest NFL rookie in history.

Adoree’ Jackson, USC’s all around star received “Shouts” from Hall of Famers Charles Woodson and Deion Sanders for his key defense the last two weeks.

Coaches from all over the country are recruiting in the Southland. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and USC’s Clay Helton were checking out Hawkins High’s Jalen Hall, Brandon Sanchez and Marvin Boyd and Dorsey High’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Elijah Boykns et al over the weekend.

Will the Dallas Cowboys’ and the North Carolina Panthers’ next Super Bowl QBs of color be Dak Prescott and Cam Newton? The Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the Tampa Bay Bucs’ Jameis Winston could break up this little duo.

Cam Newton had nothing to say in a 90-second post game comment after the New Orleans Saints beat the 1-5 Panthers, 41-38.

Did you know the key to an NBA star’s explosiveness? “Inner peace, and the nerves help you jump the highest.” according to the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon.

Now hear this! The New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr.’s second half receiving during their game against the Baltimore Ravens was a NFL record and he added a pair of receiving yards and a pair of TDs of 66 and 75-yards.

The Lakers and Clippers may have to vie for headlines with UCLA freshman sensation Lonzo Ball from unbeaten Chino Hills High. Lonzo has a couple of basketball playing brothers at Chino Hills High, who are scheduled to enroll at Westwood too.

The world lost Fred Slaughter, a good educated man, lawyer, business man, talent agent, former UCLA basketball star, husband, father and grandfather on Oct. 6. He was 74. Slaughter starred on Coach John Wooden’s first Bruin NCAA team along with Walt Hazzard, Gail Goodrich, Jack Hirsch, Keith Erickson et al. That isn’t all! Slaughter also served as dean of administration and student affairs at UCLA’s school of law. His law clients included his ex-UCLA teammate Jamal Wilkes and such NBA Hall of Famers as Clyde Drexler and Dennis Johnson. Slaughter is survived by his wife Kay, a son Fred Jr., a daughter Hilary and three grandchildren.

The L.A. Dodgers are playing for the right to return to the World Series for the right to make it back to the Fall Classic, as Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda calls it, for the first time since 1988. That’s a long, long time ago. Check This! It has been 28-years since the Dodgers last won the National League pennant! Yes, correct! Cub fans have waited 71-years. One team is four wins from a return to the World Series.. And the beat continues! The winner of the NL Championships will meet the AL victors in the World Series in the first game on Nov. ???

New England Patroits QB Tom Brady didn’t win any Hillary Clinton fans when he declined to say if he was endorsing Donald Trump for president at a press conference or not on Oct. 12. To each his own!

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