Kavorka!
By Joe Torosian
“I love inside jokes. I hope to be a part of one someday..”—Michael Scott
Kick it!
Real Fast: Could you imagine being one of those teams that thought about trading four number ones, or three number ones and a starter, to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson right now?
Whew!
I didn’t watch college basketball this year, so I had Riley Saxon do it for me. (He of “College Hoops Breakdown”)
My big question is, what was the problem with USC, UCLA, and the PAC 12 this season? I don’t say this lightly, but this has been fun basketball to watch.
As a lifelong USC basketball fan, it’s hard for me to believe what I’m seeing. The Trojans are taking the floor in this tourney with a talent advantage and a length advantage…That just doesn’t happen at SC.
A gift from a friend….
(However, it is a shame Evan Mobley will likely go down a level next year when he plays in the NBA.)
I remember the Stan Morrison days when he was trying to sell us 6’5” James McDonald as a starting center.
My USC in basketball PTSD is real. Because after moments of incredible elation, there’s always a crash and burn and a vast wasteland that takes years to journey back from.
(Thank you, George Raveling, for setting back the program for half-decade with your arrival.)
UCLA has been a flat-out pleasure to watch this last week. The ball movement, the overall play—how on earth were they a First Four team?
I’d like to know what the problem’s been this year? I’m open to input.
My first thought watching the NCAA Tournament was I didn’t know traveling was still a violation in basketball. After all these NBA games, I thought players had been granted a 3.5 step maximum.
I say this every year—but get rid of the foul-out rule in college basketball. You only get four before disqualification on the fifth. So a couple of quick, ticky-tack fouls in the first half benches a great player…A great player, likely to be a one and done.
That’s bad for business.
It’s an easy fix. Insert a new consequence beyond disqualification. Make every foul committed by the player after the fifth a three-shot foul. If they ramp it up to ten, make it three-shots and the ball out of bounds.
Work this out and keep the talent on the floor.
And you can leave professional basketball alone. Nobody plays defense in the NBA, so the premise is a non-starter.
After watching the start of Kansas-USC clankfest, I thought I heard long-time Los Angeles Kings announcer Bob Miller call, “Saved by Vachon!”
It was brutal. The play-by-play guy called the start of the contest a “rock fight.”
Then this idea came to me. If a team shoots less than 25% from beyond the arc in the first half, they shouldn’t be allowed to shoot a three in the second half.
For those asking—which is none of you—I haven’t updated “NBA Round Up” because I’m taking my all-star break by watching the tourney…Or I’m just going Kyrie Irving for a few days (and disappear) because I feel like it.
Whether we feel like it or not, football goes on…Praise be!
I’m okay with the Rams signing DeSean Jackson as long as it’s for the bare minimum. But I’m against any dependence on Jackson because I don’t trust Cooper Kupp’s knee. I still expect the team to go after a burner in the draft.
If anyone cares about the Los Angeles Chargers, I’m going to encourage you and say: Center Corey Linsley was a great signing. And do not fret about losing tight end, Hunter Henry. Good player, consistently banged up, that New England paid way too much for. Vaya con Dios.
On the other hand, run for your lives at the sight of Jared Cook. My adage for the last six years has been (as certain as death, taxes, & NBA boredom), “Jared Cook giveth, and Jared Cook taketh away.”
Meaning: Jared Cook will do something special…and then at a critical moment do something so brutal it will cost you a game or a spot in the playoffs. The Chargers gave Cook $6-million. They should have given that same $6-million to Gerald Everett–who still has the potential not to be Jared Cook.
Last Add NFL: The Dallas Cowboys.
They haven’t done anything in free agency for their defense beyond re-signing cornerback Jourdan Lewis (3-years/$16.5-million, $5.5 guaranteed), the 107th PFF graded NFL corner.
The mock drafts show the Cowboys drafting defense (CB, DT, S) in the first three rounds. Now think how much they are paying Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott? …That might be the worst thing I’ve ever heard. How marvelous!
The Cowboys are about to suck another year of joy out of their fans…I wonder how that makes them feel.
The Dude abides…
1,181
1 John 3:5
Joe T. is the author of “Tangent Dreams: A High School Football Novel” … “Temple City & The Company of The Ages” … “The Dead Bug Tales” … “The Dark Norm” & “FaithViews for Storm Riders”…all five available through Amazon.com.
www.JoeTorosian.com
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
Follow Joe on Twitter @joet13b
Instagram: @joet13b
Parler: @Jtbank1964
MeWe: Joe Torosian
Be sure to read:
College Hoops Breakdown—Every Monday by Riley Saxon
The Urena Express—Every Wednesday by Steven Urena
