All five of the first team members on the All-USA High School Boys team are members of color. They are R.J. Barrett (Montverde (Fla) Academy), Cam Reddish (Westown School Westchester, Pa.), Tre Jones, (Apple Valley High, Minn) Veron Carey of (University School, Davie Fla.) He is the son of Miami Dolphins lineman who was an All-USA Miami Northwestern all USA defensive player. He led University to a 32-2 record and a 5-state title. Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day High School (S.C.) led team his to 3-straight titles and averaged 36.4 points, 11.4 rebounds 3.5 assists and 1.4 million followers on Instagram. Not too tacky! Kevin Boyle, Montverde Academy School. All USA-High School Boys Basketball Team Coach of the Year. And the beat continues!
On his way to the majors is Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. the son of the former L.A. Angels star of the same name. The 18-year old Guerrero is expected to match or surpass his famous father’s play.
The youngster batted .316/.409/ .480/in 71 games. He batted .333 at Toronto’s “High A” Dunedin in Florida. He completed the season with more walks than strikeout at both stops.
Just call Charisma Osborne (center), the best all-around female high school basketball player in the State of California. That’s what she Osborne says: “We just wanted to show who No. 1 in California was.” Osborne led Windward to the State Division I championship. This year she led the Wildcats to the triple title—section, regional and State championship in the top division.
It was a long time coming, but a bronze statue was placed in front of Staples Center in honor of Elgin Baylor. The Lakers’ first Superstar. Baylor and Jerry West put the Lakers on the NBA map. But in my book, Jerry West came a few steps behind Baylor. And the beat continues!
Michigan’s freshman Jaren Jackson is headed to the NBA draft. Jackson was named Big 10 Player of the Year and freshman of the Year. Jackson joins Ohio State star Greg Oden as the only players in conference history to pull off the feat.
The Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant picks the Houston Rockets’ James Harden over LeBron James for MVP honors. Durant says: “I mean (LeBron) is definitely playing great ball, I just think that James has had a way better year.” Durant has 26.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.9 blocks during his own MVP-caliber year. “But I feel good about where we are. I feel good we had to go through some stuff, to figure some stuff out.” And the beat continues!
The L.A. Angels don’t like to see the Cleveland Indians no matter where they play. Reason: The Angels lost to Cleveland for the 12th straight time. The Indians slapped the Angels, 6-0 on April 2. After winning the U.S Open, she had to take some time off to recuperate and had to miss the Miami Open.
Punter Marquette King has been cut loose by the Oakland Raiders and he has found a home with John Elway’s Denver Broncos. New Raiders Coach Jon Gruden and King didn’t meet eye to eye. So, Gruden sent King packing. King reportedly signed a seven-year contract with Denver.
Michael Jordan has turned over his Charlotte Hornets to ex-Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Can Kupchak work miracles in Charlotte? The 63-year Kupchak has been part of 10 NBA Championship teams.
It looks as though L.A. Angels’ Shohel Ohtani is going to live up to his billing as the next Babe Ruth. Ohtani smacked his third homerun in his third game in a 13-9 win over the Cleveland Indians. The L.A. Angels’ Shohel Ohtani keeps on rolling as he posted a seven-hit jewel in picking up his third victory on the season Sunday. Ohtani struck out the side in the first and again in the sixth. His speed was kissing on 99 mph.
Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond. L.A. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is providing a $10-million dollar place for kids to play. Who will match Clippers owner Steve Balmer’s donation for a place for kids…. Mayor Garcetti and Jim Butts and all the other people of South L.A. to play and enjoy?
Tiger Woods has 14 Grand Slams and he still wants to match Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 Grand Slams or surpass it. For the record, the 42-year-old Tiger Woods has won the Masters in the following years: 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005. Tigers’ PGA Tour earnings: $111,182,697. The Masters got underway on April 6 in Augusta. Ga. and Tiger Woods took the tee as the favorite to win the tournament. Going into the Masters over the weekend, Tiger Woods hadn’t won a major tournament in 10 years. At 42 Tiger would be fourth oldest-oldest Masters to win. Tiger Woods didn’t win the Masters Classic but he wasn’t a complete failure. Tiger had rounds of 73-73-72-69. He will keep trying to reap his peak years again. He may not reach these goals in this life time again! More on Tiger Woods! He shot his first at the Masters under par at Augusta since 2015, a three under par 69, which included an Eagle at the par five 15th. Tiger finished with 16 shots behind the winner Patrick Reed. Tiger didn’t come close to winning. And the beat continues!
The Dallas Cowboys missed the Playoffs two of the last three years. They can’t have another losing season like the past two. QB Dak Prescott will really be on the spot. And the beat continues!
USA TODAY Sports declared this week: “Everyone loves LeBron. To be known as someone like him is a blessing, it’s humbling.”
Is Manager Dave Roberts counting on reliefer Kenley Jansen? You bet he is! Are they still chewing tobacco in MLB? I don’t think so! But they show work that gum over time. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts works his gum overtime. And the beat continues!
McCutchen is being billed as an all-time San Francisco Giants great. Reason: He is being called an all-time great. Andrew McCutchen filed off six fly balls before swatting off a three-run walk-off homer to put the Oakland A’s in the win column Sunday vs. the L.A. Angels in the Bay Area’s 7-3 win. The Dodgers clipped the San Francisco Giants, 2-1 in their last meeting.
RG-3 will back up Joe Flacco. RG-3’s mobility has been the key to his play.
Leaner Matt Kemp is back home at Dodger Stadium.
Check This! Louisville’s Heisman’s winner may be more electric than Michael Vick! You could tell this duo (No. 1 and No. 2; Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson). Jackson will take the field as their new wide receiver. Cooks is only 24 and he is 5-10 and 189 pounds. Cooks is a three time 1,000 yards receiver. Cooks had a couple of QBs throwing the ball to him in Tom Brady and Drew Brees. And Cooks will be joining a group of talented receivers in Roberts Woods, Cooper Krupp, Josh Reynolds, Tavon Austin and Mike Thomas.
Reliever Kenley Jansen may be back in the groove again after bad start. Clayton Kershaw had high praise for Jansen as he won a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in 10-innings. And the beat continues!
Another great one passed away the other day. His name was James McArthur McAlister. He and his Blair High star Kermit, were dubbed by this reporter as the “Blair High Pair.” McAlister and Johnson were all-All-Americans at UCLA. McAlister long jumped 27-feet and ½ inches as a Bruin freshman, which stood as the world record at the time. McAlister was 66. By the way, McAlister son, Chris McAlister was an All-American at the University of Arizona and an all-pro with the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. Memorial services will be held for McAlister at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena. A viewing will proceed the services at 9 a.m.
Patrick Reed won his green Masters Classic jacket and $6-million of those pretty little green ones.
