Sports this 'n' that

The rumors were swirling that the Alliance of American Football was already having money problems prior to last week's games. Then, Ron Dundon, owner of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, stepped in as the new chairman of the board of directors and invested $250 million into the nascent league.

If the fears of money problems sound familiar with short-season football leagues, well, it's happened before. It was money, among other things, or lack thereof, that sank the World Football League after just two seasons back in the 70's. Despite the TV deal with CBS & NFL Network, among their media partners, the league's structure should've been stronger before play began on February 9. Stay tuned.
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The new owners of the San Diego Padres should've been reading from the book of George Santayana.

How else to explain falling for Scott "20 Mule Team" Boras' con game, and shelling out $300 million over 10 years to infielder Manny Machado, who stays in southern California after making the last out for the Dodgers in the World Series? Boras, more often than not, will find a patsy or two, and this time, he had a few extra reasons to fleece the Padres.

I'm not sure if he still represents Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, but Boras had to be butt-hurt when Murray decided to enter the NFL draft after all, and decided not to report to Oakland's training camp in Arizona. To be sure, Boras will find another gullible owner to overpay for Bryce Harper, who's still on the market.

If I'm an owner, I'm taking into account Harper's propensity for temper tantrums on the field, usually on strikeouts. For all of that talent, he still acts like an immature child when a call goes against him. Yes, baseball is an emotional game, but come on. After all this time, you'd figure Harper would know how the strike zone changes from one game to the next, depending on the plate umpire, and the general inability of the boys in blue to have a consistent zone.
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The WWE has begun announcing the Hall of Fame Class of 2019, and it's already a feel-good moment for a lot of fans.

Paul "Triple H" Levesque, on-screen Chief Operating Officer, announced Monday that D-Generation X, the group he co-founded with Shawn Michaels, will be going into the Hall. That makes Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) a 2-time Hall of Famer, as he re-enters with Levesque, Billy Gunn (Kip Sopp), Road Dogg Jesse James (Brian James), X-Pac (Sean Waltman), and the late Chyna (Joanie Laurer).

Triple H will likely end up a 2-time Hall of Famer himself one day, but including his ex with the group had to be the right move, given Laurer's body of work with and without DX while with WWF/E (1997-2001). The late Rick Rude, already in as a posthumous entry, and a member of DX for about 15 minutes in 1997-8, will not be enshrined a second time.

More inductions will be announced between now and next month.