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.