First off, SU is very excited about another major championship for Novak Djokovic – his 9th in Australia. He has made it to the finals there 9 times and won every time. He is now 18 for 27 in Major Tennis Tournament finals. Such an impressive career. He took a lot of heat trying to stick up for the other players who were quarantining for 14 days in their hotel rooms – somehow his PR skills are lacking but SU says he had the right intent. At 33, he is still in his prime. SU says it’s not worth the time to argue who is the GOAT. It’s probably Roger Federer but to me, Nadal and Djokovic are in the same class and we will never see a generation of champions like this ever again. Give the man his due.

Pitchers and catchers have reported! Did you see that Zach Britten already blasted teammate Domingo German who is coming back from his 6-month suspension for domestic abuse? He said that you don’t get to choose your teammates. In the antiseptic world of Yankee speak, that is as big a broadside as you will ever hear. It’s clear German needs to address his teammates as well as the media. We don’t know the full details of what he did but no doubt it was ugly and serious. However, fans are forgiving and he won 18 games a couple of years ago for the Yankees. Time will tell if the Yankees hold onto him.

Brett Gardner is back because of course he is. But SU says you give the left field starting spot to Clint Frazier and ride him. He has paid his dues. Gardner should be the 4th outfielder and he will play plenty because Hicks and Judge are always injured. No doubt Giancarlo Stanton will report in better shape but let’s see if he can make it through the spring in one piece.

Good news on the vaccine front from Israel with the Pfizer vaccine. You have to figure that fans will be back in Yankee Stadium and Citifield in short order. SU would be fine at 50% capacity and you know what? Not having to wait on line for food or be crowded into the men’s room with the drunken fans is a plus for coming back out to the games. SU will be there once I am vaccinated, and why not restrict access to the games to people who are vaccinated? SU is optimistic. Not sure we will see those crowds for NBA games – they are starting off slowly – but by summer, we should be in better shape.

The NCAA is allowing fans for the tournament – I believe 30% capacity. Again, I say get rid of the conference tournaments this year. Why risk your top teams having a COVID outbreak and then miss the tournament completely? It makes no sense to me. Go all in on March Madness and if you need to, add another round or a bunch of play-in games for the teams that are on the bubble.

Btw, the Big Ten is such a good conference this year. Michigan, Ohio State, and Illinois are in the top 5, and Iowa and Wisconsin are right up there as well. I almost exclusively just watch Big Ten games – along with the UConn women’s team of course.

Jeremy LIn is having a strong outing in the G-League. Surely some NBA team should take a chance on him.

SU is watching the series Yellowstone on the Paramount Network. Actually entertaining. Similar to the series Dallas but takes place in Montana. I finished Your Honor on Showtime. Would not recommend.

Ready for some warmer weather and baseball exhibition games. Signs of spring are coming.

Well, the game was entertaining for a half but Tampa Bay was just too good. SU congratulates long-time subscribers Mark L. (Bucs 34-24 and Jeff – Bucs 28-17) for being closest on the predicted scores for the game. So, what happened out there?

1. Todd Bowles’ defensive strategy was pretty much perfect. The Bucs pressured Mahomes on almost every pass play and he was running for his life – especially as the game wore on. You could also see that his turf toe was hampering some of his movement although he got off some passes that no other NFL QB ever does.
2. Brady was efficient and took what the defense gave him. The only mistake was not trying the QB sneak on 3rd or 4th down in the 2nd quarter but Tampa Bay ended up scoring on the next possession so no harm done. He was basically untouched in the pocket. I can’t even recall him scrambling on any pass play. Credit to his offensive line which also opened up holes for the running backs.
3. A lot of outrage on Twitter and by the half-time crew about the pass interference calls in the 2nd quarter against KC but holding and grabbing are holding and grabbing. I must say the one in the end zone in the last few seconds of the first half was likely an uncatchable pass but it did not change the outcome of the game. The call on the long pass to Evans was legit and he could have caught that one. Tony Romo suggested perhaps it might not have been catchable. Btw, he had a pretty mediocre night.
4. You can see why it’s so hard to repeat in the NFL vs. other sports. So much comes down to player health. The Chiefs’ offensive line was down 2 players and it showed big time. Tampa Bay played all of its playoff games on the road and if there are fans in the stands, you wonder if that’s even possible in most seasons.
5. SU liked some of the stats that Romo was throwing out there about the probability of scoring a touchdown on a drive based on the number of penalties on the defense. Some type of table would have been interesting to see as I had never heard of that before. Missed opportunity.
6. I must say that luxury suite where the Brady clan was watching the game was quite crowded at the end of the game. I believe both of his parents already had COVID but SU did not see a lot of masks in there and certainly no social distancing.

Bottom line: the game did not live up to the hype but Tom Brady solidified his hold on the GOAT. At 43, it’s just not that easy. SU is glad the NFL made it through the season and the quality of play was equal to any other season.

Any surprises for you?

We have made it to the big game. Pretty amazing all things considered. SU was happy to see Tampa Bay make it to the Super Bowl and they will have some degree of home field advantage in a partially filled stadium. But let’s be real – not a big factor and Kansas City has no problem playing on the “road.”

As in the past, SU invites everyone to weigh in with their prediction for the outcome of the game. There is your chance for fame and glory, and of course, a chance to win the SU logoed sport bag. I will get things started. History says it’s just hard to win back-to-back Super Bowls. The Chiefs had to come from behind late last year to win. They are the favorites here and deservedly so. A very likable team and fun to watch. SU says that their running game is a bit lacking this year and that may be a factor. It all comes down to whether the Bucs can keep Mahomes in the pocket and not allow him to scamper for first downs on 3rd down and long. SU likes Brady playing in the warm weather and their offense is legit. Whether Antonio Brown plays is unimportant – he is a luxury – and they have plenty of weapons. SU will go with Tampa Bay 30 – 27 as they win late. The floor is open for you to make your game calls and SU will acknowledge the winner on Monday.

Did you see the Trevor Bauer free agent contract with the Dodgers? Whoa. $40 million in 2021 and then $45 million in 2022. The third year is $17 million but he has an opt out after year #2 so it’s really a 2-year, $85 million contract. The Dodgers are the new Yankees – no limit to the budget. SU says he is a bit of a head case – you have to wonder how this one will play out.

Tanaka returning to Japan. The Yankees got the maximum they could have hoped out of his 7-year deal with them and SU understands why they let him go. He still has that torn tendon in his pitching arm and you don’t know when that will go. Great guy in the clubhouse – he will be missed there and he was excellent in the post-season.

The Athletic had an article this week about the Yankees’ all right-handed line-up this week. Right now, it’s just Aaron Hicks and we know he is injured for half the season every year. Didi Gregorius is returning to the Phillies for 2-years at $14 million per season. Yankees are all in on Gleyber Torres at shortstop. Not loving that.

SU is struggling with the NBA – I just can’t seem to get into this season after really enjoying the bubble in 2020. Too many games canceled, too many players out for COVID related reasons. And I watch anything. The players seem tired after a shortened off-season. And enough of Kyrie Irving. He needs to boycott the media – no one needs to hear what he has to say.

The NCAAs need to be played in a bubble. SU says you don’t need the conference tournaments which only increase the risk of top teams having COVID cases. Finish the regular season and go right to March Madness. They want to expand the field – fine – knock yourself out.

I think I need baseball to start on time. Or an early spring. Where is that ground hog?

Make your Super Bowl picks. Fame and fortune await.