Monday, October 12, 2020

Sports this 'n' that

 The Dallas Cowboys may have 1st place in the NFC Least, but at the cost of star QB Dak Prescott.

Prescott suffered a dislocated ankle in the Cowboys' 37-34 win over the Giants Sunday, as Andy Dalton, who came over from Cincinnati in the off-season, rescued Dallas, which is now 2-3 on the season. How long Prescott will be out hasn't been determined, but the probability is that he'll go on 6-week injured reserve to allow time for the ankle to heal. Dalton is a proven, capable starter, and this could be the spark the 'Boys need.

Update, 11:50 am (ET): Prescott has had surgery to repair the ankle, and is out for the rest of the season, as his recovery time is expected to be in the range of 4-6 months.

As for the Giants, well, at least they played their hearts out, unlike the Jests, who spoiled Joe Flacco's 1st start by turning in another snoozer in a loss to Arizona. There are online commentators calling for Adam "Hard" Gase to be the next coach to be fired. If that happens, he would be the 3rd in 2 weeks, after Atlanta sacked Dan Quinn following Sunday's loss to Carolina, leaving the Falcons also at 0-5. 

If I'm Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer, I'd start hearing footsteps. Yep, the Vikings are also 0-5 after losing to Seattle.
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Regardless of where they've played, the rivalry between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders is one of the oldest in the AFC, starting in the old AFL in 1960.

To that end, the oddsmakers may have proven their stupidity again, leading to yesterday's game, installing the Raiders as a near-two-touchdown underdog against the Super Bowl champs. Vegas ended up winning the game, 40-24, tightening the AFC West race.
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If there's any solace for the Chiefs, they now have more than a week before they play Buffalo, as that week 6 game, originally set for Thursday, has been moved to next Monday due to coronavirus concerns. The Bills play Tennessee---we think----tomorrow.
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We would be remiss if we didn't address another sports legend's passing.


We touched on the fact that Yankee Hall of Famer Whitey Ford had passed away following the Bombers' game 4 win Thursday, only to be eliminated from the playoffs the next night vs. Tampa Bay. Ford, 93, nicknamed "The Chairman of The Board", not so much because of his dominance on the mound, but rather, because the Yankees' detractors in the 50's & 60's likened rooting for the team to rooting for General Motors, for example, played his entire career in New York. As noted on Saturday, the Yankees hastily stitched Ford's #16 on the sleeves of their uniforms prior to Friday's game, but those heavy hearts couldn't jump start their leaden bats.
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I found it amusing that Alabama coach/AFLAC agent Nick Saban questioned whether or not Mississippi might've been stealing signals during Saturday's game, won by the Crimson Tide. New Ole Miss coach "Primrose" Lane Kiffin denied the charges, saying it was next to impossible. The Rebels have been a tough out for Alabama in recent times, but the pinball-style scoring looked more like it belonged in a Big 12 game.
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While Allstate Insurance has retired Mayhem (Dean Winters)--we think--Dr. Pepper is into season 3 of its Fansville series, starring ex-Oklahoma and Seattle Seahawks star Brian Bosworth as the county sheriff of an unnamed state. We think Dr. Pepper would be wise to offer the series on DVD as an incentive to sell more soda. Just sayin'.
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So the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th NBA title Sunday, dispatching Miami in 6 games. It will be fun to see Screamin' A. Cosell (Stephen A. Smith) whine his way through today's episode of First Take. Until Screamin' A. decides to swap his microphone for a coach's job, he's got nothing to say. Just sayin'.
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Update, 11:51 am (ET): Another baseball Hall of Famer has passed away.

Joe Morgan, the stalwart 2nd baseman who was a vital part of Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" in the 70's after coming over from Houston, and moved on to a broadcasting career after his playing days ended, has passed at 77 from nerve issues. Morgan played in four World Series in the 70's with Cincinnati (1970, '72, '75, '76). After retiring, Morgan swapped his glove for a microphone, and called both MLB and College World Series games for three networks (CBS, ABC, ESPN) before retiring from broadcasting in 2010. He then moved into a new field, starting an auto dealership in 2012.


Rest in peace, Joe.

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