By Michael Elliott
One-Liner Diner- Welcome everyone to this culinary edition of Sports Shorts. With the gobbling of the gobbler just days away thought it fitting to step inside our sports diner and munch on a few appetizers to ready you up for Thanksgiving. I’m told there may be a couple of “Daily Specials” on the menu as well. Keep in mind that variety is the spice of life. Let’s do this.
Gearheads, brace yourselves for the ultimate “Chase” chase as Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch battle it out on the left-turn-only track in Miami to see who gets crowned Sprint Cup champion. American soccer fans can only hope that last week’s international 2-1 loss to Mexico on home soil is not a precursor to future matches as the United States tries to round out a pitch-perfect team to compete with the world’s best.
“The Mouth That Roared” is back in the headlines once again as Ireland’s bombastic Conor McGregor pulverized Eddie Alvarez on the Ultimate Fighting Championship 205 card held in venerable Madison Square Garden and became the first two-class champ in UFC history. Led Zeppelin’s first album was there best. How ‘bout them Cowboys padnah, riding high atop the NFL with an 8-1 record behind two phenomenal rookies in QB Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
“Ding-ding-ding: Daily Special!” My oh my, what a wacky weekend we just witnessed in college football. Three of the top four teams vying for the year-end playoffs got whacked as #2 Clemson, #3 Michigan and #4 Washington now all sport unenviable blemishes on their records. It is too early to tell just what ramifications will come with these losses as #1 Alabama is the only top twenty team left undefeated. Ohio State and Louisville have now moved into the #2 and #3 slots, respectively. The next couple of weeks will be crucial for all of these teams as each has upcoming games, which carry lots of weight. It shall be interesting to see how it all shakes out. Stay tuned.
Just sayin’, but Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon nearly over-managed the Cubbies to a World Series defeat! La La Land is getting some positive run as USC football and the Los Angeles Lakers are both on the rise. What in the world ever happened to country singer Gretchen Wilson? Fresno State made a very positive move by hiring former Cal head coach Jeff Tedford as its new head honcho.
Did you know that the PGA 2017 golf season is underway? Dallas backup quarterback Tony Romo now has plenty of time to practice that faux smile in the mirror that he projects every time starting quarterback Dak Prescott throws a touchdown pass. Back in the day, as much as they fought, I’d have taken Glenn Frey over Don Henley. The NBA’s L.A. Clippers are playing with a chip on their collective shoulders and have quietly ran out to an NBA-leading 9-1 record.
“Ding-ding-ding: Daily Special!” There was a Ronda Rousey sighting in New York at UFC 205 as her and champ Amanda Nunes held clenched fists at each other’s faces to promote their upcoming bout. Rousey hasn’t been seen or heard from since Holly Holm clocked her for the title months ago. Tell ya, I’d rather see (help me) Ronda in a rematch with Holm, and make her earn a title shot, prior to this title bout with Nunes. After the Holm debacle the chink in Rousey’s armor was evident. Her plethora of endorsements and Hollywood scripts may have softened her up even more. Best be ready Ronda as Amanda Nunes is a bad mother, and she doesn’t even have kids!
Thankful- I’d like to thank those of you who read this column for spending a little time with me every two weeks or so. It is certainly my honor to be able to put my thoughts in print and I am ever so thankful to the wonderful people at Tolosa Press for giving me this opportunity to do so, especially T and Bret.
I hope you all relish time spent with loved ones and friends at this time of year and if the opportunity affords itself please take a moment to thank a veteran and to help those less fortunate. Simply, thanks.
If so inclined, share your blessings with Michael at [email protected]
