Author: Dave Ettinger

Dave is a Trending News Sports Writer for Athlon Sports, covering breaking and trending news across major sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, college football and basketball. With over 10 years of experience in sports media, Dave’s versatility extends to television, radio, and journalism. In addition to his role at Athlon Sports, Dave works in TV Production at ESPN, where he manages the production, editing, and processing of shows and events that re-air across ESPN's network of channels. Prior to joining ESPN, Dave served as an Executive Producer at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, further solidifying his expertise in sports media. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Communications from SUNY College at Old Westbury, bringing both his education and extensive industry experience to his roles across various platforms.

Canelo vs. Golovkin (“We Got Ourselves A Bilingual Bloodfest”)

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

Canelo-Alvarez-v-Gennady-Golovkin-801329

A boxing match can unify the world. That isn’t hyperbole. I truly believe (potentially) 36 minutes of battle, across the vast, 256 square feet of real estate inside the ropes, can unite people all over the world. Sports, tend to, and can hold a common ground for people of different race, culture, religion, and gender. Saturday night’s boxing match is a prime example of an opportunity for the farthest corners of the world to intersect.

When else can you find a man of Russian and Korean parents, raised in Kazakhstan, engage in competition with a man from Mexico, on Mexican Independence Day, in the United States?? The answer would be, um, never.

On Saturday, September 16th, Gennady Golovkin will square off with Canelo Alvarez in the middleweight division (160 pounds). Golovkin will put all 4 of his title belts on the line:

  • WBO (World Boxing Association)
  • WBC (World Boxing Council)
  • IBF  (International Boxing Federation)
  • IBO (International Boxing Organization)

The fight will take place at T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas, and will be available on Pay-Per-View. Before we get to the main course, let’s taste test the appetizers. Here are the 3 undercards prior to the Main Event:

  • Ryan Martin (19-0, 11 KOs) vs. Francisco Rojo (20-2, 13 KOs) – Lightweight, 10-Round Match
  • Diego De La Hoya (19-0, nine KOs) vs. Randy Caballero (24-0, 14 KOs) – Super-Bantamweight, 10-Round Match
  • Joseph Diaz Jr. (24-0, 13 KOs) vs. Jorge Lara (29-0-2, 21 KOs) – Featherweight, 12-Round Match

*There is at least 1 Mexican boxer in each match. I can only assume this is intentional due to it being Mexican Independence Day. The 2nd match consists of Golden Boy Promoter and famed boxer, Oscar De La Hoya’s cousin.

Now that we got the salad and crab cakes out of the way, bring on the sirloin steak.

Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin, the champion, aka “GGG”, is 37-0, with 33 wins coming by way of knockout. He is 36 years old and stands at 5’10”. He is a hard hitting, orthodox (right-handed) fighter, who has never been knocked out. Hell, he’s never been knocked down. He brings tremendous power to the ring in the highest profile fight of his career.

Santos Saul Alvarez Barragan, the challenger, formally known as Canelo Alvarez, is 49-1-1, with 34 wins coming by way of knockout. He is 27 years old and stands at 5’9″. He is also a hard-hitting, orthodox (right-handed) fighter. Canelo has never been knocked out, as his only loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., by Majority Decision in 2013. While Canelo is technically the challenger, he is the bigger draw in this bout.

Dessert time!!

With the state of boxing in steady decline, in terms of popularity (not $$), I am genuinely excited for this fight. This championship bout brings 2 intense, tough, hard-hitting fighters together. Expect fireworks, early and often. They are similar in fighting style, and although Canelo has the slight age in the defense department, don’t expect any running and hiding. Both fighters are going to plant themselves in front of each other and exchange blows for (hopefully) 36 minutes.

This is going to be fantastic!!

While both fighters carry legitimate knockout power, both fighters have outstanding chins. Golvkin does hold an advantage in power, while Canelo has advantages in speed and endurance. Golovkin may be vulnerable if he looks for an early knockout. That could be Golovkin’s game plan, since he’s only gone the 12-round distance once in his career.

The ultimate question is, will Canelo’s unique combination of youth AND experience be enough to take down the older, undefeated Golovkin??

Prediction:

Canelo wins a Split Decision.

A Split Decision means the fight can go either way. No, I’m not hedging my bet, I just know how closely contested this fight is going to be. Sit back, or sit on the edge of your seat, and enjoy!!

 

Who do you think will win?? And how?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

 

 

I Don’t Always Sit Through Rain Delays, But When I Do, I Want Them To Be Longer Than The Game

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

lightning

The West coast is silly. Their games and events start at 10:15 P.M., and they don’t end until 1:30 or 2:00 A.M. It is not possible for us normal folk to watch more than 3 innings, or the 1st quarter, or the 1st period of these games. And then, there are the West coast games that are still happening, from the night before (!), when I get to work.

Who Doesn’t Enjoy A Little Lightning Delay??

The San Francisco Giants (the 2nd worst team in baseball), played host to the Los Angeles Dodgers (the best team in baseball), on Monday night. Thanks to a 3 hour and 34 minute rain-delay, Monday night turned into Tuesday morning. The game was originally delayed 42-minutes prior to first-pitch. But then, thanks to the infinite wisdom of the decision makers in San Francisco last night, the game was delayed again, after just 1 batter!! After Curtis Granderson struck out to lead off the game, the heavens opened up again, this time handing us a 2 hour and 52 minute rain and lightning delay.

The total rain delay was longer than the actual game.

When they finally played baseball, the Dodgers proceeded to lose their 11th consecutive game (8-6). The game ended at 5:10 in the morning!! Despite this horrid stretch, they’re still 40 games over .500, and hold the best record in MLB. Anybody else dislike roller coasters??

We’re Going Streaking!!

On the other hand, not all streaks are made the same. The Cleveland Indians are in the midst of a winning streak for the ages. With their 11-0 win over the Detroit Tigers Monday night, the Indians have won 19 consecutive games. They now stand 2 wins shy of tying the MLB record for most consecutive wins. This record belongs to the 1935 Chicago Cubs (they finished with a record of 100-54). The Indians should moonwalk their way to a share of the record with 2 more games against the hapless Detroit Tigers. If the Indians were to break the record, it would take place Thursday night, as they host the Kansas City Royals. I never thought I’d say this, but I’ll be watching. Who knew the Cleveland Indians were Must-Watch-TV?!

Tampa Bay Hosts New York….In New York????

Due to the effects of Hurricane Irma, the Tampa Rays are not able to host the New York Yankees this week. Instead, MLB decided to shift the Rays/Yankees series to a “neutral” site. Anyone care to venture a guess as to where they moved this series??

“Anyone?? Anyone?? Bueller??”

The answer is Citi Field. Yes, as in where the Mets play, in Queens. Listen, I’m a Yankees’ fan, so I’m not flipping park benches over this, but how is this fair to the Tampa Bay Rays?? I fully understand the situation due to the impact of Hurricane Irma, but MLB couldn’t find a stadium outside of the New York area for this series?? I find that hard to believe.

To accommodate fans, ticket prices for this series will be capped at $25, and only the lower deck will be open. Monday was the 1st of the 3-game series, as 15,327 fans promptly booed the “home” Rays. The Yankees went on to win 5-1, and have now won 3 games in a row. Game 2 will be played tonight @ 7:10 P.M., as Blake Snell will take on Sonny Gray.

Hopefully the Yankees can capitalize on these completely logical, rational, reasonable, fair circumstances.

 

What were you watching on Monday?? Baseball?? More Football?? Let me know in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

Get Used To Me Couch, The NFL Is Back!!!!

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

jets stink

That was fun!! We should do that every week. What do you say, we get together next Sunday, around 1 o’ clock?? Yeah, you can come over, and we’ll watch football for 11 straight hours while we eat guacamole and drink beer. It’ll be great!!

After being forced to wait 7 months for football, the NFL finally returned, and it did not disappoint. My team, however, is another story:

New York Jets

1 down, 15 to go. As a lifelong Jets’ fan, this is going to be the weirdest season I’ve ever experienced. Today, I am glad they lost. Their performance was encouraging. It showed me they are capable of losing to anyone. Although their defense is decent, they will be on the field too often to impact the game positively. They lost 21-12 to the 1st place Buffalo Bills (man that sounds weird).

New York Giants

Few teams looked worse than the Jets yesterday. The Giants were one of them. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys 19-3. 3. 3 points.

“7. 7 miles per hour. And usually when I pull someone over they pull over to the side of the road!”

Last time I checked it’s hard to win a football game when you only score 3 points. Did I mention the Giants only scored 3 points?? People can talk about Odell Beckham Jr. not playing all they want, but it all boils down to the Giants’ offensive line. They can’t protect Eli Manning. They can’t provide running lanes for their running backs. I’m surprised they don’t get penalized more often. Last night, they made the Cowboys defense look like the ‘Steel Curtain’.

The Giants have the worst offensive line in the NFL. 

Stinky QB Play

Two quarterbacks were pulled from their respective games yesterday, Tom Savage and Scott Tolzien. I’m not sure who was worse….

Scott Tolzien: 9/18 for 128 yards, 2 INT’s, and 1 fumble

or

Tom Savage: 7/13 for 62 yards and 2 lost fumbles

Tolzien was pulled from the game for newly acquired Jacoby Brissett. Brissett has only been on the Indianapolis Colts for 8 days, so he will be given a longer leash than Tolzien. It’s safe to say the Colts can’t wait for Andrew Luck to return to the field. For my eyeballs’ sake, I can’t either.

Despite having the emotional Houston crowd behind him, Savage was only able to muster 62 yards passing against a mediocre Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Oh, and the Jaguars had 10 sacks. Savage was replaced with rookie Deshaun Watson. Watson looked good, scoring a touchdown on his opening drive, but it was too little, way too late. The damage had been done. Hopefully, the Texans are smart enough to start Watson next week.

Too Smart For Their Own Good

The Philadelphia Eagles looked good yesterday. Carson Wentz looked good yesterday. And most would say head coach, Doug Pederson, looked good yesterday. The Eagles beat the Washington Redskins 30-17. Pederson’s mathematical blunder went unnoticed because they were winning, but bonehead decisions like these will cost you games in the future. The Eagles returned a Kirk Cousins’ fumble for a touchdown, going up 28-17 with 1:29 left in the 4th quarter. Pederson and the Eagles proceeded to go for a 2-point conversion.

I’ll give you a second to let that sink in….

Now, if you know anything about football, or numbers, you’d know going for 2-points in this situation is the wrong decision. There is no difference in being up 12 (kicking the extra point) versus being up 13 (going for 2). The only risk is not converting the 2-point conversion, only being up 11, and allowing the Redskins to climb back into the game. If you didn’t notice this mistake, don’t feel bad. The professional commentators announcing the game didn’t notice either.

 

There are still 2 Monday Night Football games left to close out Week 1. The New Orleans Saints will visit the Minnesota Vikings @ 7:10 P.M. EST, and the Los Angeles Charges will visit the Denver Broncos @ 10:20 P.M. EST. Both games can be seen on ESPN. I will be sound asleep before the 2nd game starts.

 

What was your biggest take away from the 1st Sunday of the NFL season?? Tell me all about it in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

 

So Much For 16-0 Huh????

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 6 Comments

brady

Hey Tom, let me see your mad face….

 

I LOVE IT!!!!

Everyone in the world makes assumptions. Football fans assume the New England Patriots will win every game. It’s true. Everyday for the past 3 months, I’ve had to listen to “experts” tell me the Patriots could go 16-0 this season. How’s that workin’ out for ya?!?! 

Listen, the Patriots are a great franchise. They will be fine. They’ll still win the 12 games I predicted they’d win. Remember my AFC East Predictions?? But I must enjoy this moment. If you are like me, and fell asleep on the couch at halftime, you missed a thrilling game. Luckily, I DVR everything, so I was able to re-watch the Patriots “collapse”.

The Patriots gave up 21 points in the 4th quarter and lost 42-27.

Let’s start with some insane Patriots’ statistics to put this once-in-a-lifetime happening in perspective:

  • 42 points are the most a Bill Belichick coached Patriots’ team has ever given up — ever
  • Alex Smith became only the 2nd quarterback to post 350+ yards and 0 interceptions against the Patriots under Belichick (the other is Drew Brees)
  • The Patriots had won 9 consecutive home-openers
  • The Patriots gave up a record-setting 246 scrimmage yards to Chiefs’ running back, Kareem Hunt (a rookie record)
  • The Patriots had won 87 consecutive home games when leading at halftime

Yeah, love ’em or hate ’em, the Patriots are really really really good. That’s what makes the Kansas City Chiefs’ performance so impressive. Alex Smith did his best Aaron Rodgers impersonation (368 yards, 4 TD’s, and 0 INT’s). The aforementioned Kareem Hunt put on a show. After losing a fumble in his 1st NFL carry (he didn’t lose 1 in 4 years of college), Hunt was on a mission. He finished with 148 rushing yards and 1 TD and 5 catches for 98 yards and 2 TD’s. And we can’t forget the defense. The Chiefs’ defense held Tom Brady to 16 for 36 passing (44.4 completion %), just 267 yards, and NO TD’s. OH, and they sacked him 3 times.

Despite everyone thinking Bill Belichick is impervious to criticism, allow me to blame him for something. Woah, woah, easy now Dave. When the Patriots were up 7-0, and the Chiefs turned the ball over, Belichick decided to go for it on 4th and 1 on the Chiefs’ 10-yard line. THIS IS WRONG!! I don’t care who you are, or what you’re trying to do. In the 1st quarter, you continue to put points on the board. If Belichick chose to go up 10-0, rather than turn the ball over and downs (and gift-wrap some confidence for the Chiefs), this game may have ended differently.

Allow me to rewind to the Pre-Game:

After the Patriots put on an absolutely nauseating pre-game ceremony, the game looked like it could get out of hand in a hurry. Speaking of that ceremony, I’m wondering how many people actually threw up before they were able to change the channel….

You’re the Patriots. You win Super Bowls every other year. This isn’t new. So did you really need to have Mark Wahlberg drive half of the country to suicidal thoughts?? Did you really need to wheel your 5 Super Bowl Trophies onto the field?? “Hey everybody, come see how good I look!!” Did you really need to post the time and score of last year’s Super Bowl (ATL 28, NE 3 with 2:12 left in the 3rd quarter), just prior to your epic comeback, on every scoreboard in the stadium?? “Yes Frank, we know you had a good time. I think the whole town knows you had a good time.”

Now, as much as I’m reveling in this Patriots loss, I’ve been a Jets/NFL fan long enough to know what’s about to happen. Just like the time the Patriots lost 41-14 to the Chiefs (Week 4 of 2014), and everyone and their mother pronounced that the beginning of the end for Brady and the Patriots, something happened. And that something was the Patriots rattling off 7 straight wins, en route to a Super Bowl Championship.

Expect something eerily similar.

Man do I feel bad for Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints….

 

Did you enjoy this Patriots’ loss as much as I did?? What do you think their record will be for the season now?? Admit you were wrong, and then post your new prediction in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

 

Hey..Psstt..I’ve Got A Great Business Idea For You….

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

craig-cartin

You are a bad guy!! No no, I’m not talking to you (the reader), I’m talking to Craig Carton. This, allegedly, is a really bad human being. Be careful everyone, I’m being very judgmental today.

Craig Carton

What a bleeping scumbag!! This guy was arrested by the FBI in a $5.6 million scam. Carton was duping investors in order to cover his gambling debts. Debts that had reportedly reached millions of dollars. Carton is ‘in the hole’ with 2 casinos as well as an unidentified individual. How the hell do you fall so far into debt?!?! Carton, along with Michael Wright, are formally being charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. The maximum sentence is 45 years in prison. Have a nice time buddy!!

Here’s the deal: Carton set-up a fake, ticket-selling business. He lied and forged documents to dupe people into investing into his “business”. He forged signatures, posing as the concert vendors for stars like Adele, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry. His Ponzi-Scheme reached unbelievable heights, as billionaires Michael Dell and Paul Tudor Jones are on the Carton’s victims list. Carton was arrested early Wednesday morning at his Manhattan home. The real sad part in all of this, he has 4 children.

Roger Federer

On the lighter side of things, oh well, maybe not that much lighter. Roger Federer lost in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Wednesday night. As a big Federer fan, this disappoints me. I was looking forward to another edition of Federer vs. Nadal. Thanks a lot Juan Martin Del Potro!! You don’t have to believe me, but as much as I like Federer, I predicted this. Del Potro has simply been playing too well. Federer’s 41 unforced errors and 5 double faults probably had something to do with it as well. Now, Nadal’s path to a 3rd U.S. Open title (I predicted that as well) is as clear as it gets.

We have an All-American semifinal on the Women’s side:

Venus Williams vs. Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys vs. CoCo Vandeweghe (All are in action tonight)

Let’s Go Venus!!

NFL Kick-Off

And last, but certainly not least, the NFL. The 2017 season finally kicks-off tonight. The defending champion, New England Patriots play host to the Kansas City Chiefs. You can catch the action on NBC @ 8:30 P.M. EST (which really means 8:50 pm). I’m on my way couch!!

In New York news, the Jets will travel to Buffalo to get the ball rollin’ on their 0-16 campaign. And the Giants will take their talents to Dallas to battle the Cowboys (with Ezekiel Elliot) on Sunday night.

Due to Hurricane Irma, Week 1’s match-up between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been postponed to Week 11 (both teams original Bye Weeks).

Stay Safe Everyone!!

 

What have you been watching in the world of sports this week?? Are you as excited as I am for the NFL Season?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

Cheaters Never Prosper….

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

the-red-sox-used-an-apple-watch-to-steal-signs-from-the-yankees_1

You are a cheater!! I hope I didn’t send half of my audience running to a mirror in tears. No, I’m referring to the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox, wanting to be like big brother (New England Patriots), were caught stealing signs from the dugout. Reportedly, they used electronic communication from the dugout to steal opponents’ signs and relay them to players (Apple Watch style). This claim was brought to light when, who else but the New York Yankees, filed a formal complaint against their arch rival on July 18th. Major League Baseball’s investigation is under way and should be concluded before the end of the regular season.

Rob Manfred, MLB’s commissioner, summed it up in a way only MLB could. He said, “We actually do not have a rule against sign-stealing. It has been a part of the game for a very, very long time. To the extent that there was a violation of the rule here, it was a violation by one team that involved the use of electronic equipment. It’s the electronic equipment that creates the violation.”

So in layman’s terms, we’re okay with the cheating, we’re just not okay with how you cheated. SAY WHAT?!?! That’s like saying, I don’t mind that you robbed my store, I just wish you would have left the gun at home. If you had done it with a knife, I would have been a lot happier.

Am I missing something here????    

While this nonsense was being reported, we had actual baseball games going on. The Yankees were looking to cut into the Red Sox’ 2.5 game lead in the AL East. Up until about 10:00 P.M. EST, a 1.5 game lead with 24 to play seemed like a certainty. And then Robert Osuna happened. And then — Dellin Betances happened.

The Boston Red Sox played host to the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday night. After 7 scoreless innings thrown by Marco Estrada, the Blue Jays’ bullpen carried a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the 9th inning. Blue Jays’ closer, Robert Osuna, came in to shut the door on the game. Not so much. Instead, he got the ball rolling on a devastating, 19 inning loss for the Blue Jays. Because nothing says blown save like a walk, a double, and 2 ground outs that both score runs. Yankees fans everywhere give you the finger….

From 1 blown save to the next. After Osuna coughed up the lead in Boston, Dellin Betances thought it would be a good idea to give up a walk-off home run to Manny Machado (his 2nd of the game). If you haven’t seen the meatball served up by Betances, click here. There are hanging curveballs, and then there’s that.

And today, the Yankees wake up 3.5 games back in the AL East with 0 games left against the Red Sox. Nice scheduling MLB!! The scary part is they are only 3 games ahead of the Twins in the AL Wild Card. In fact, the Angels, Twins, Royals, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers, and Rays are all within 5.5 games of the Yankees. Yikes!!

Who said baseball was boring??

How do you feel about the Red Sox stealing signs?? Are they cheaters?? What should their punishment be?? Tell me in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

Back To School Special

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

nfl

“Back to school, back to school, to prove to my dad I’m not a fool.”

Yes ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again. Time to get the kids on the bus, and send them off to school. Let’s just hope your child isn’t going back to kindergarten at the age of 35 (haha).

Labor Day Weekend is an exciting time. It marks the opening of the College Football season. Baseball is in the home stretch. The U.S. Open is approaching the semifinals. And last but certainly not least, the NFL is just days away….

College Football

What an exciting week of college football!! Although there were many games worth staying up until midnight for, 2 stood out:

Texas A&M vs. UCLA

All you need to know is Josh Rosen and the UCLA Bruins overcame the largest deficit in college football since 2006. 34 POINTS!! A 48-yard field goal put the Aggies up 34 with 4:08 left in the 3rd quarter. Those would be the Aggies’ last points. It was ALL UCLA from then on. 5 touchdowns later, UCLA walked away with a 45-44 victory. Insane!!

Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech

Labor Day brought us a thriller!! A double-overtime thriller!! Sometimes that QB moniker is just for show, as TaQuon Marshall is technically Georgia Tech’s quarterback. His stat-line would beg to differ:

44 carries for 249 yards and 5 touchdowns and 5/9 passing for 120 yards.

WOW!! Despite Marshall’s incredible performance (in his 1st game ever), Georgia Tech fell to 25 ranked Tennessee 42-41.

U.S. Open

For those who haven’t noticed, tennis’ final Grand Slam is well under way. And no, you don’t need to adjust your eyeballs. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Venus Williams are all in the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Hey guys, psst, where can I get some of that fountain of youth stuff?? Venus will take on 13th ranked Petra Kvitova tonight @ 7:00 P.M. EST. Federer lands a tough draw as he’ll take on Juan Martin Del Potro. And Nadal will play Andrey Rublev. In a highly anticipated match-up, Federer and Nadal would play each other in the semifinals. Multiple fingers are crossed….

Baseball

There’s impressive, and then there’s what the Arizona Diamondbacks did on Monday. Both of these feats were accomplished against the all-mighty Los Angeles Dodgers (keep that in mind). Robbie Ray, Diamondbacks pitcher, was perfect through 5 innings. His first blemish, a leadoff single by Logan Forsythe in the 6th inning. Ray would go 7 and 2/3 innings giving up just 3 hits and striking out 14. And to think Ray wasn’t the best player on his own team on Monday….

That distinction belongs to J.D. Martinez. Martinez hit 4 HOME RUNS in this game!! He became just the 18th player to go yard 4 times in 1 game.

NFL

I like to save the best for last. The 2017 NFL season kicks-off in 2 days!! I’m so excited I think I just, uh yeah, I just wet myself. Game 1 of the NFL season is the Kansas City Chiefs @ the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. You can watch Tom Brady and the Patriots handle their business on NBC @ 8:30 P.M. EST. There’s no pre-game speech necessary for the NFL. It speaks for itself. Don’t forget to set your Fantasy lineups….

 

What were you watching this past weekend?? Don’t be afraid to tell me all about it in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

 

 

NFC West Preview

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

nfc-west

Annnnddddd last, but quite possibly least, the NFC West. Last season, this was the weakest division in the NFL, with only 1 team above .500. I don’t envision that changing — the weaker the quarterbacks, the weaker the division….

Last Season’s Standings:

Seattle Seahawks: 10-5-1

Arizona Cardinals: 7-8-1

Los Angeles Rams: 4-12

San Francisco 49ers: 2-14

From worst-to-first we go….

San Francisico 49ers

You may want to buckle your seatbelts, because this ride is going to get bumpy. The 49ers will battle the New York Jets for the worst offense the NFL has ever seen. They will also battle the Jets for the worst record in the NFL. Despite John Lynch’s successful 1st offseason as 49ers’ General Manager, this team is going to be BADDDDD!! They did draft good, young talent, so NFL fans can enjoy watching their improvement, but until they find a quarterback, expect the 49ers to draft in the top-5 every year.

Key Additions: Pierre Garcon, Elvis Dumervil, Malcolm Smith

Key Losses: Antoine Bethea, Glenn Dorsey, Torrey Smith

Los Angeles Rams

They can move across the country. They can change their name. Hell, they can even change their hair color and get a tattoo. Nothing will keep them from stinkin’ up the joint. The Los Angeles Rams (I’m still getting used to that) would have a solid defense IF Aaron Donald would show up. But Dave, he’s just one guy. I’m aware. But that ONE GUY happens to be the best defensive player in the NFL. Their offensive line is key. They must give Jared Goff time to find his new wide receivers, Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. And they must provide running lanes for the super-talented Todd Gurley. Until those things happen, the Rams offense will stall, like a beat-up, old car.

Key Additions: Robert Woods, Andre Whitworth, Sammy Watkins (Trade) 

Key Losses: Kenny Britt, Greg Robinson, T.J. Mcdonald 

Arizona Cardinals

Everyone on the Arizona Cardinals is another year older. Profound right?? Cardinals quarterback, Carson Palmer, is 109. Seriously though, he’ll be 38 years old before season’s end. Larry Fitzgerald (34) is no Spring chicken either. This team will rely heavily on star running-back David Johnson. They will also hope and pray Johnson can repeat his performance from last season, 2,118 total yards and 20 total touchdowns. I’m sure there will be similar hoping and praying going on with the #1 overall pick in Fantasy Football drafts.

Key Additions: Jarvis Jones, Karlos Dansby, Antoine Bethea

Key Losses: D.J Swearinger, Calais Campbell, Jaron Brown

Seattle Seahawks

Who knew the New York Jets would play a role in someone winning football games?? Not me. Friday afternoon, the Jets parted ways with Sheldon Richardson, trading him to the Seattle Seahawks. Despite being a malcontent, Richardson is a special talent. He’ll help strengthen an already stellar defensive line. The only question is, how bad is this offensive line?? NFL experts project this offensive line to be one of the worst in the league. If Russell Wilson is afforded any time to throw, or room to run, this division will be a walk in the park.

Key Additions: Eddie Lacy, Luke Joeckel, Sheldon Richardson (Trade)

Key Losses: John Jenkins, Jermaine Kearse, Steven Hauschka

This Season’s Predictions:

Seattle Seahawks: 11-5

Arizona Cardinals: 7-9

Los Angeles Rams: 5-11

San Francisco 49ers: 3-13

 

As a whole, the NFC West stinks.

The Seahawks will win this division by default.

“That’s all I have to say about that.”

 

Who will win the NFC West?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

I Don’t Do Deadlines

~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers

Deadline – the latest time or date by which something should be completed.

Can someone please pass this definition along to Major League Baseball?? While it is exciting to see trades happen on August 31st, it is confusing. Remember seeing Trade Deadline specials on ESPN and other programs on July 31st?? Yeah, me too. So, why are trades still happening a month later??

MLB has 2 different trade deadlines. Until July 31st at 4 P.M. EST, any player can be traded at any time. After this deadline, if a player is to be traded, they must ‘clear waivers’. This means, the given player must be offered to every team in reverse order. If any team decides to claim the player, they must take on the player’s current contract. Before the ‘claiming’ team officially acquires the player, the original team has the right to revoke the waiver, and retain the rights to that player (this is often the case). Once a player clears this waiver process, they can be traded to any team. August 31st is the ACTUAL TRADE DEADLINE, sort of. Players can still be traded, but any newly acquired player would not be eligible for the postseason.

Now that we got that out of the way, jeez, we can discuss the trades that happened on August 31st (yesterday):

  • Justin Verlander (SP) was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Houston Astros
  • Justin Upton (LF) was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Angels
  • Brandon Phillips (2B) was traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Los Angeles Angels

 

And one player, Cameron Maybin, was actually claimed on waivers (which is rare). Maybin was on the Angels, but will now add depth to the Astros’ outfield. The Astros will pay the $1.5 million Maybin is owed for the rest of the season.

Justin Verlander

Verlander, 34, is still one of the better pitchers in MLB. After a slow start to the season, Verlander has returned to form since the All-Star Break. Over his last 6 starts he is 4-1 with a 2.36 e.r.a. With Lance McCullers Jr. still on the DL, and the Astros struggling, adding Verlander could be just what the Dr. ordered.

Verlander was acquired for 3 prospects.

Justin Upton

Also departing the Tigers, Upton will bring a solid, veteran bat to a struggling Angels lineup.

Upton’s season so far: .279, 28 home runs, 94 r.b.i.’s. Decceenntt.

Angels’ left-fielders so far: .244 with 7 home runs. Yikes.

Upton was acquired for a pitching-prospect and a player to be named later.

Brandon Phillips

The Angels didn’t stop there. After acquiring Upton, they gave the Atlanta Braves a call. And just 1-hour prior to the deadline, the Angels acquired Brandon Phillips.

Phillips’ season so far: .291, 11 homes runs, and 52 r.b.i.’s. Not bad for a 36-year old. 

Angels’ second-baseman so far: .196….need I say more??

Phillips was acquired for Tony Sanchez (Triple-A catcher).

 

All of these trades are bad for the Yankees. So I don’t like them. The Yankees won the 1st of a 4-game series last night against the Boston Red Sox. 1 down and 3 to go. Let’s Go Yankees!!

Who did the best at THIS trade deadline?? Post your reaction in the comment section below.

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!

 

 

NFC South Preview

~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

nfc south

Is it possible for every team in 1 division to be .500 or better?? If it’s going to happen in 2017, it’s going to happen in the NFC South. This division will feature 4 very good football teams competing for playoff spots in the NFC…..

Last Season’s Standings:

Atlanta Falcons: 11-5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 9-7

New Orleans Saints: 7-9

Carolina Panthers: 6-10

From worst-to-first we go….

New Orleans Saints

Notoriously good on offense. Notoriously bad on defense. That’s been the headline in New Orleans for the past few years. Expect more of the same. Only this year, Drew Brees has his work cut out for him. Brees is a future hall of famer, so he’ll steer the ship in the right direction, but it’s not easy when your #1 receiver is Michael Thomas. No offense to Thomas, after a phenomenal rookie season, but he’s not a #1 receiver — yet. For all you fantasy lovers, anticipate an Adrian Peterson resurrection. This, of course, depends on Mark Ingram’s carries, but those have declined steadily every year Ingram has been in the league.

Key Additions: Adrian Peterson, Ted Ginn, Larry Warford

Key Losses: Brandin Cooks, Tim Lelito, Roman Harper

Carolina Panthers

I foresee the Carolina Panthers bouncing back in a big way. Last season, Cam Newton was coming off an injury. He, along with the Panthers defense, got off to a slow start. Expect Newton to return to MVP form and drive his team to success. Their defense is still very solid, led by Luke Kuechly at the middle linebacker position. The Panthers should compete for an NFC Wild Card spot this season. The addition of Matt Kalil will be important. Kalil will help protect Newton’s blind side, keeping Newton from ending up on his back every 5 seconds.

Key Additions: Matt Kalil, Captain Munnerlyn, Mike Adams

Key Losses: Michael Oher, Ted Ginn, Mike Tolbert

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you haven’t watched Jameis Winston play, you’re missing out. He is as talented a player as you’ll find in this league. The question is, can he take another step forward this season. His improvements from his rookie to sophomore campaign were noticeable, and the addition of DeSean Jackson won’t hurt. Their defense is solid. And while I don’t love their running attack, Winston’s arm is such a threat, he opens up running lanes for Jacquizz Rodgers and Doug Martin. Don’t be surprised when the Buccaneers challenge the Falcons for the NFC South Division Title.

Key Additions: J.J, Wilcox, Desean Jackson, Nick Folk 

Key Losses: Vincent Jackson, Alterraun Verner, Daryl Smith

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons had a magical 2016 season. Even though they blew the biggest lead in Super Bowl history, they greatly exceeded expectations. This year, they will do the opposite. Everyone expects them to waltz through this division, like a stroll through Central Park. While I think they’re a good team, slight regression is on the horizon. Matt Ryan has finally received the credit he’s been due for the better part of a decade, and Devonta Freeman is shaping into a top-5 running back in the league. Their defense, however, will let them down. Don’t believe me?? You’ll see the light soon, don’t worry. I still have them winning the NFC South by virtue of a tiebreak over the Buccaneers.

Key Additions: Dontari Poe, Hugh Thornton, Jack Crawford 

Key Losses: Dwight Freeney, Sean Weatherspoon, Jacob Tamme

 

This Season’s Predictions:

Atlanta Falcons: 10-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6

Carolina Panthers: 8-8

New Orleans Saints: 6-10

 

This is going to be a really solid division.

They have 4 great quarterbacks in a league that is run by quarterbacks.

Who do you think will win the NFC South?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

 

You can now find me on the Radio too. Download the TuneIn Radio App and search OWWR. I’ll be on live every Wednesday from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M EST. I also broadcast every show on Facebook Live via my DaveTalksSports.com Facebook Page.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel called DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! Now go tell all your friends!!