After all of the upsets in the early rounds of the Tournament and the run by St. Peter’s, we are left with the usual blue blood teams in the Final Four. Now, true, North Carolina had a down year and was a lower seed but the others all fall in the #1 or #2 category. The last several games were all blowouts but we have had our share of entertainment. It looks like the St. Peter’s coach will be the new coach at Seton Hall for a lot more money and it’s his alma mater. Cannot blame him for that.

Interesting comment from Reggie Miller yesterday (remind me why he does any of these games??) about how great the college transfer portal was. Now, SU does agree that the students deserve a bit more flexibility to transfer the same way their coaches can but there was a player on Miami yesterday who had played at 5 different schools. The last time I checked the goal of college was to get an education. I am sure these guys are not transferring because one school has a better Political Science Department. SU is all for improving your chances for a pro career in the NBA but the reality is that 95% won’t ever get there. It seems very disruptive to me but I suppose it allows schools to quickly improve their rosters for a season.

Greg Bird lives. Apparently, after a “strong spring” (2 words not normally associated with Greg Bird), he is one of the few left-handed bats on Toronto and will be a DH / 1st base option for the Blue Jays. Still only 29 years old. SU will be rooting for him. Toronto is the popular pre-season pick to win it all this year.

The Yankees and Aaron Judge are close to a long-term deal. Surely, getting vaccinated NOW will be a requirement, right? There are 9 games in Toronto that he won’t be able to play in as things stand now. You want your $250 million? Get the shots. SU read that the Red Sox made Story get vaccinated before signing his $140 million deal.

SU rarely, rarely puts out a trivia question as I do not trust everyone to not google the answer (I mean no one would do that right?). But long-time subscriber M. Levine offers up this question: “Who is the only Kansas Men’s basketball coach to have a losing record in the school’s history?” Provide your response in the comments section first and have the enduring admiration of thousands around the world.

The AL East is a really good division aside from the Orioles.

Did you know that the Pittsburgh Pirates’ payroll of something like $35 million is lower than Max Scherzer’s salary in 2022 which is in the ballpark of $44 million? SU thought that was interesting – and not a good look for baseball.

To be clear, not talking here about trying to get Aaron Judge vaccinated. It is time for SU to unveil its 2022 March Madness predictions. Full disclosure: SU is not good at this. I know – hard to believe. And it’s not because I don’t watch a lot of college basketball – I do – and especially the Big Ten games. Here are some things to think about as you finalize your brackets:

1. The Big Ten – while having a lot of teams in the tournament – is mediocre this year. They beat up on each other for the past 3 months but the difference across the top 9 teams is not that great. I do not see any of them emerging as an Elite 8 or Final 4 team. Sweet 16 at best for any of them.
2. Duke is getting a lot of love from the sports betters. Coach K’s final year and all that. SU does not see it. But they will win the games that they are supposed to win before falling to Gonzaga in the Regional finals.
3. Watch out for St. Mary’s. They beat Gonzaga this year and they are good. The game with UCLA will be very interesting in the round of 32, and SU sees St. Mary’s coming out on top and actually making it to the Regional Finals.
4. Kentucky is stacked. They could definitely win it all this year and SU has them in the Final Four.
5. SU’s true dark horse team this year is Providence. I think they are going to make it to the Final Four. Look, you have to pick some upsets and why not the Friars this year? The Midwest region is where you will see the most upsets with Auburn and Kansas losing early. Bill Self is not a good in-game coach at Kansas, and they have to win games by 10 or more to neutralize his decision-making. Great recruiter but not at his best during the games.
6. Many feel that it’s Gonzaga’s year as they return some seasoned players who almost won it all last year. They are certainly good and talented but SU sees Kentucky as a tad better in the Final 4 semis.

So, my Final Four is Kentucky, Gonzaga, Providence and Arizona. And then Arizona over Kentucky for the championship. Arizona plays at such a fast pace and has freakishly athletic players. SU saw them early in the year in Las Vegas as they pummeled Michigan and they just won the Pac-12 and the Pac-12 tournament. Peaking at the right time.

So, there you have it. Feel free to post your predictions and be recognized and admired if you win, and forgotten about if you are wrong. It’s your chance for fame and fortune (well, at least fame).

SU says enough is enough. Novak Djokovic is bad enough but now apparently there are some Yankee players who are unvaccinated and will not be allowed to play any home games in New York or road games in Canada. Do the math: that means 90 games off the calendar (81 home games plus 9 vs. Toronto plus not sure if there is a Subway Series this year which would mean even more) if circumstances do not change.

And now apparently we know that Aaron Judge is one of those players. SU says we will quickly find out how committed Judge is to his unvaccinated stance. Now, if Joey Gallo is unvaccinated, well, that’s OK.

But seriously: take one for the team. Actually, take one plus a booster for the team. No doubt we will learn who else is on the list. Not a good look.

Yankee fans say good bye to the Gary Sanchez Era. It started off great and has been in a steady decline for several years. A great hitter who showed power to all fields and then, for whatever reason and despite you have to assume prodding from coaches and his managers, he became a pull-only hitter. The result was a declining batting average, poorer stats and a tendency to not run hard to first base. Combined with many trips to the backstop to retrieve passed balls, well, it was time to move on. SU wishes him well in Minnesota where he will no doubt rejuvenate his career – at least offensively. SU is sure that his ranking among catchers for the past several years was actually high but he was so frustrating to watch. Best of luck.

Bringing in Josh Donaldson is curious to SU. He is everything the Yankees do not need: right-handed; aging; high strikeouts; high swing and miss; and plays about half a season at this point in his career due to injury. Plus he hates Gerrit Cole and the feeling is apparently mutual. OK, the last point can be overcome – it always is. SU surmises that the Twins insisted that the Yankees take Donaldson in order to acquire the shortstop who, full disclosure, I never heard of: Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Rest assured I will mis-spell his name weekly. But he, apparently, is a gold glove caliber infielder at shortstop and third base, and he will be the stopgap until the Yankees’ top prospect at shortstop is ready in a couple of years. Gio Urshela was a nice story but he has a ceiling and he hit that and is now past his peak (so they say). They also acquired a rookie catcher, also excellent defensively, who will platoon with Higashioka. That’s fine – you get better defensively.

SU has never liked Donaldson – swing and miss with a home run here and there. Donaldson will be the right-handed version of Joey Gallo – no doubt Boone will bat them back-to-back to ensure at least 4 innings a game have no chance for scoring. But you figure he will be injured at least half the season and it’s not my money. Rumor has it that the Yankees are the leaders in the trade market for Olsen on the A’s to play first base or they will re-sign Rizzo to play first. Luke Voit’s days have to be numbered. They would like to be in the market for Freddy Freeman but that seems unlikely. Btw, the trade with Oakland could actually be a blockbuster featuring other younger pieces and what would no doubt include Gleyber Torres going from the Yankees to the A’s along with other top prospects. Rizzo seems like the cheaper – and safer – move.

Keep an eye on Cashman. If he says the Yankees are done now, there will definitely be another move coming.

March Madness is starting this week and SU will be announcing its Final Four shortly. But sneak preview: Arizona will win it all. That team is freakishly athletic.

Naomi Osaka had another meltdown in Indian Wells over the weekend. Apparently, there was one fan heckling her and she could not cope with it. She is a great talent and fun to watch but she’s not in a good place right now emotionally and really needs an extended break to clear her head and decide what she wants. In sports, you are paid a lot of money to perform – it’s an entertainment business. The fans are fanatics, and they pay a lot of money to watch. Some are more passionate than others. Some are drunker than others. When Giancarlo Stanton strikes out at Yankee Stadium, he hears it from the crowd walking back to the dugout. When Djokovic plays Federer at Wimbledon, he hears it. You can fight it and find a way or you can let it get to you. SU sympathizes with Osaka but she is not experiencing anything worse than what these top athletes endure in tennis and other sports. She will have to decide what she wants and find her way. The world is not getting any kinder and gentler – that is for sure. You can see her walking away.

Thank goodness. Cooler heads have prevailed and we will have a baseball season. And some changes on tap: no more ghost runners on 2nd base for extra innings; no more 7-inning doubleheaders (I believe); no more National League DH (for me, about time but I know some purists on this distribution will disagree); pitch clock; and I am sure a few more changes I can’t recall. Looks like the shift will be a 2023 issue. SU is torn on that one. On the one hand, I hate watching hitters mindlessly hitting into the shift but on the other hand, just go the opposite way.

SU will ensure some extra cushion is in place on my Relax the Back chair for the 3.5 hour games and balls put in play every 4 minutes. But I want the option to watch.

Long-time subscriber, T. Potter, reports that Greg Bird has signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. SU will be watching to see if he goes 2 for 29 in spring training to ensure he starts the season in the minors. An injury waiting to happen but apparently he hit 25+ home runs last season in Colorado in the minors. But still an SU fave and we have to be supportive.

Hopefully, Brian Cashman has been keeping a list of things to do in the next 2 weeks. One of them should be “get some left-handed hitters” and “call every team about Joey Gallo.” It’s never too early to start hating on Gallo. SU would be in favor of a major overhaul and becoming more athletic. It’s time. Watch to see if Gleyber Torres comes in over-muscled – not good, and if LeMahieu can rebound after his sports hernia surgery. SU says he does have a solid year and will look a lot quicker.

The Mets need to be very careful with deGrom and Scherzer coming out of a shortened spring. Every team needs to be careful. SU says right now, the Mets are the more interesting team in New York.

Michigan choked away a 17-point lead with 10 minutes left vs. Indiana yesterday. I think Juwan Howard is a great recruiter and an excellent motivator but not a good in-game coach. Strange substitution patterns yesterday. They are a true bubble team. SU sees them in a play-in game for the NCAAs and they deserve that.

Watch out for the UConn women. They are finally healthy and will be a real threat to win it all.

Djokovic out of Indian Wells and Miami, and now has to hope that COVID does not creep up to play the French and Wimbledon. I have rooted for him since 2010 but he is going to fall on the sword to not get vaccinated. The sponsors will walk away very soon followed by the fans. He can do infomercials once he retires. Just a strange conclusion to a great career. He will regret doing this once he turns 37 and is too old to win at the highest level anymore, but decides to make a comeback. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Finally, I must say that watching the final rounds of the PGA TOUR events on a late Sunday afternoon on a high definition TV is good viewing. Definitely growing on me.

Full disclosure: SU is not focused on sports these days. The situation in Ukraine is all-consuming and upsetting, and SU is all in with those brave people. And we give thanks for sound leadership in our country especially when you consider the alternative that could have been…

But I know: #sticktosports. And we will do that. What is MLB doing in these negotiations with the players? They just announced that Opening Day will be canceled, and who knows where things go from here? It seems like they are reasonably close on a number of issues (starting salary at $675k or $725k? SU has run the numbers several times and $700k may just work as a nice compromise) but we know from experience that the 2 sides may also dig in for a prolonged waiting period. Baseball cannot afford a shortened season – especially once the NCAAs wrap up in early April. That has to be their launch time. SU needs to be able to kick back for 3 and a half hours every night to watch a ball put in play every 4 minutes. And bring on those strikeouts please.

In addition to needing a full spring training, the teams need time to make trades and sign free agents. There will be a lot of player movement once they settle, and you want the pitchers to be in shape and not rushing. There are a ton of free agents who need to find a home. Once again the fans are being taken for granted.

What’s up with Derek Jeter? Surprising announcement that he is out at the Marlins. SU read a rumor that the TV booth may beckon. I never felt he was very forthcoming as a player. Hard to picture Jeter as speaking forthrightly as a color analyst. But if they paired him with A-Rod, well I would watch that.

Is Paul O’Neill deserving of having his Yankee number retired? Feels like a borderline call and maybe the team was looking for another sellout date on the calendar in August. Tino Martinez will not be far behind I predict.

March Madness is right around the corner and that is a quality 4-week sprint. Wide, wide open this year. Keep an eye on Arizona.