Bears Football
If you haven't been watching the US Open Tennis Championships at Flushing Meadows this year, may I strongly suggest you tune into one of the semis and/or finals this weekend because you'll be amazed at the atmosphere, skill and action as it is simply tremendous.
Without wanting to start a war on equality and sexism, the women's play on the hard court has been very good but the men's action has been absolutely superlative. The mental and physical strain that these athletes must go through in a match that often takes 3-4 hours in sweltering New York heat plus stifling high humidity has to tax your body to the limit. Mind you, the $3 million payout to the winner is a pretty nice "carrot" to pursue, worthy of your blood, sweat and tears.
Without a doubt the biggest upset in the last major of the year, so far, has to be when an Aussie, unranked John Millman, defeated the second ranked, 20-time major winner and automatic HOF member Roger Federer. The journeyman from Down Under had never beaten a top ten ATP player in a major and is now living his dream.
Blue Jays
The Josh Donaldson era is over in Toronto as the three time all star and the 2015 AL MVP has been dealt to the Cleveland Indians for, of all things, future considerations. As crazy as that seems, that's about all the Jays could realistically receive in return for the often-injured 3B who has only played in 37 games this season. Recuperating from two calf injuries and a bad "wing", the Jays knew that he wasn't in their immediate or long range plans as he continues to struggle to get back on the diamond, so they unloaded him before they had to offer him an $18 million qualifying offer before the MLB (playoff eligible) deadline. The front office is taking some "heat" for this controversial move but only time will tell if it was worth it.
PGA
If you haven't heard of Bryson DeChambeau, you soon will. The young PGA pro is the hottest duffer on tour right now, winning back to back tournaments and claiming the number one seed as the FedEx Cup continues towards East Lake, where someone will claim the $10 million first place prize.
NFL
The 2018 NFL season has begun and the biggest news has to be that some defensive star players are finally starting to receive the kind of money usually reserved for the star QBs of the league. For example, LA Rams DT Aaron Donald just signed a six year, $135 million contract for chasing the pigskin around the gridiron, mauling or decapitating whomever may be in possession of it. Stay tuned, more $$ to come.
Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers QB that started the whole "kneeling during the playing of the national anthem" (Black Lives Matter) but hasn't been signed by any team in two years, has won the right to take his case of collusion to court.
Shocked NFL owners are not amused and are shaking in their "booties" at the thought of not only looking bad (discrimination-wise) but also having to fork out millions in compensation. Mind you, when your league takes in over $9 billion a year, are you that worried over a little chump change? Can you say "settlement"?
Also, after two years in dormancy, Kaepernick is now the face of Nike's latest ad campaign, one that reads "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything". How apropos is that! Some patriotic football fans (those who follow the Pinocchio President like lemmings), are protesting by burning their Nike apparel.
CFL
The Blue Bombers (5-6) will try and get back on the winning track when they host the Green Machine (6-4) from Saskatchewan after the Roughies came from behind to win the Labour Day Classic in Regina. The Blue and Gold hope to reverse that outcome at the annual Banjo Bowl this Saturday afternoon.
Until next time....
