The Sports Insanity Network

Nobody is perfect. Lets try again

By Mark Halpern

So, my last week’s John Deere event picks went nowhere near what I had predicted. The play from the two youngsters was good. Smalley and Gannon did well but not well enough. I still see bright futures from them, but TPC Deere Run is a course I said in my recent post can eat anyone up. For the first time in as many events, I have seen more withdrawals than any other match in recent months.Now the Open Championship being held at Royal St. George on Thursday will be a great match. John Rahm is the early favorite to win this week.

He has had an up and down season, and his putting has been well off, missing several birdie opportunities, which any golfer will tell you makes you want to throw your putter as far as you can. Rahm has a lot to prove here, and I see him victorious but not without fierce competition. Jordan Spieth, another excellent golfer, has done well in playing non-American golf courses and has not won this one. He has said, “It’s one course he wants to add to the trophy list.” He has been a top golfer for years and has won many big tournaments, and I see him contending in this one.

Rory McIlroy, another name who has won his fair share of tournaments, is in this field. When you look at his recent last few months, you might ask yourself why to mention him. He is arguably one of the best Open Tournament golfers of the last 5-10 years. He is deadly from any course with his long drives and his accurate short game anything is possible when he is on. I see him making a run but will finish in the back end of the top 10.Honorable mentions go out to Bryson Dechambeau, Justin Thomas, Brooks Kopeka, and Dustin Johnson, who all put on a fantastic show. All are excellent golfers, and all have shot to make the cut and make the top 20.
However, there is a name that I have heard about on ESPN. After doing some research, Garrick Higgo is a real underdog, and I have liked what I’ve seen. Unlike my picks Smalley and Logan as underdogs last week, this kid has the potential to qualify and make the cut, even with the caliber of players he is going up against.

The field is filled with stars that I have and have not mentioned, but this kid is special. I look for him to make the cut and turn some heads. If his play is like the last few outing over the last few weeks, this will indicate how he plays. You never know the way that little ball will bounce, and that is how the old man sees it.

Lightning Strikes Twice

By Mike Rifkin

On Wednesday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning successfully defended their Stanley Cup Championship defeating the Montreal Canadiens in 5 games. The Lightning is the first team since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016, and 17 win back-to-back cups. Here are my top 5 reasons why the Lightning have gone back to back

1. Andrei Vasilevskiy: He is the best goalie globally, and this playoff run cemented that fact. Vasilevskiy went 16-7 with a 1.90 Goals Against Average, a .937 save percentage, and five shutouts that were good enough for him to rightfully be named Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. 4 of these five shutouts came in clinching scenarios for the Lightning. If they had a defensive breakdown, the Big Cat was there to save the day.

2. Jon Cooper: I don’t feel Cooper gets enough credit for his job in Tampa. He gets the Steve Kerr treatment in the NBA. He has changed the way this team plays, they used to be all about offense and try to beat you 6-5, and they can still do that, but they can also win 1-0 like they did to win the Cup. If The Lightning were a song, they would be Anyway You Want It by Journey because they play fast, physical, and intelligent hockey. Jon Cooper also utilized the last change at home very well by getting the Brayden Point line away from Phillip Danault’s line. Cooper in before their first Cup brought in Pat Maroon, who had just won a Cup with the Blues, he had coached Maroon in the NAHL, and the two won a championship together; Maroon was a big part of the Lightning’s success, as was my following reason.

3. The 3rd Line: The Lightning has a ton of stars Brayden Point, Vasilevskiy, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, etc… Their job is to shut down opposing teams’ top lines, and they do that and then some. His third line puts Yanni Gourde centering Blake Coleman, and Barclay Goodrow might have been the most impactful line. They play hard and chip in offensively in the playoffs. Gourde and Coleman combined for nine goals and 18 points and played in all 23 games; Goodrow played in 18 games chipped in 2 goals and 6 points. Goodrow and Coleman teamed up for what I thought was the backbreaking goal of the entire series in game 2, when they forced a turnover in the neutral zone, went in on a two on one and scored with two-tenths of a second remaining in the second period in a game Montreal was thoroughly outplaying Tampa.

4. Special Teams: If a team wants to go on a deep playoff run, they need good special teams, and Tampa is the same way these playoffs their power play was at 32.4 percent. Yes, with the star power they have, the power play should be good, but their execution is what makes it truly special. The penalty kill was also extraordinary; finishing the playoffs at 84.1%, they blocked a ton of shots, and if they got through, Vasilevskiy was there to save the day.

5. Management: Whether it was Steve Yzerman who put most of this group together or Julien BriseBois who has put on the finishing touches, the Lightning has done a terrific job of drafting and developing players. They also don’t get too fancy with trades. Last year, it was Coleman and Goodrow; this year, David Savard had the primary assist on the winning goal in game five and was a big boost on an already excellent defense core. They know who to target, and they fit how the team plays.

The best thing to happen to this team occurred in 2019 when the Lightning tied for most wins and was swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Some people will complain about the team being over the cap for the playoffs after Kucherov was out all season after a hip surgery. The problem you have shouldn’t be with Tampa; it should be with the league. Either way, the Lightning have won back-to-back Cups, but now changes will be made as the Seattle Kraken are set to debut, and Tampa has to get under the salary cap until June. They will be back-to-back champs because Lightning struck twice.

The Return of America’s Team

By Mark Halpern

So football is right around the corner, and I am beyond excited to see my Dallas Cowboys open the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 9th, 2021. I have been a Cowboys fan since 1982 when my brother bought me my first Jersey of Danny White. In the 80’s we saw the Catch by Dwight Clarke spoil on the best seasons, and then my boys took a horrible tumble until 1989 when they drafted Troy Aikman #1 in the draft. He is my favorite Cowboy of all time, and I even named my son after him. In the 90’s we saw the Cowboys win 3 Super Bowls and make the playoffs five times.

Like any Cowboy fan, we always say they will make the playoffs every year and go far. I have not been this excited about a season in such a long time. Dak Prescott is 100% healthy and is way ahead of schedule from his massive injury to his ankle last year. Ezekiel Elliot has transformed himself from the overweight running back he was last year, and his calf injury is completely healed. He looks like the beast he was when drafted. The Wide receiver core of Cooper, Gallup, and Lamb is the best wide receiver core in football. The tight ends of Schultz and Jarwin are good, but nothing like Jason Whitten was. The most significant improvement is that the offensive line is 100% intact with no injuries. The Cowboy’s success in the ’90s was due to that formidable offensive line, and this year’s line looks equal to them. They should open the floodgates for Elliot and Pollard to run the ball, and if you try to play one on one our receivers will burn you.

Now the game is not all offensive. If you put 42 points on the board and the other team burns through your defense and scores 45, you still lose. The Cowboys went and got Dan Quinn from Atlanta to restructure the defense. The Cowboy’s weakness has been the defensive line except for Demarcus Lawrence. Now they have two good edge rushes, Lawrence and Gregory, they went and got Brent Urban from the Bears, and they Have Gallimore, who, yes, is still young but will work with this scheme. The linebacking crew of Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander-Esch, and either Parsons or Cox will be the fastest youngest group in the NFL. The secondary is where the cowboys have had some trouble. Jordan Lewis and Trevon Diggs will be on the corners, and Reggie Robinson and Donvan Wilson will be manning the safeties.

It is hard to compare one Cowboys Team to another but, this squad reminds me of what the 92-93 Cowboys looked like, and their return to greatness is imminent. Can I guarantee anything? No, because anyone will tell you in football, any team can beat any given team on any given Sunday. My first prediction is that they blow out the Buccaneers 38-21 and go on to a 13-4 record, winning not only the NFC East but also winning home field advantage for the playoffs and winning it all, and that is how the old man sees it.

Time To Knock The Cover Off The Ball

By Mark Halpern

What do Shohei Ohtani, Pete “the Polar Bear” Alonso, Trevor Story, Trey Mancini, Salvador Perez, Matt Olsen, and Juan Soto have in common? They are the participants in this year’s All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Coors Field in Colorado. The participants have a huge advantage compared to other parks. Coors field is the one park where a simple fly ball is a Homerun due to thin air.

Pete Alonso will be defending his title, and like last year, he will have some great competition. Shohei Ohtani is currently leading the majors in home runs and has massive power. Juan Soto has excellent vision and sports a powerful pop. Colorado Rockies own Trevor Story will be a challenger as he is a constant threat to go yard. Salvador Perez is an excellent addition; he currently has 20 Home Runs on the season and a big bat. Matt Olsen is an exciting addition and can hit the ball to either side of the park, and Trey Mancini, who missed the entire 2020 season for treatment for Colon Cancer, is an uplifting addition and will be fun to watch.

This Homerun derby isn’t like the early days of the home run derby when 2-4 select players enter like Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Kiner, and Jackson. The prizes were never like they are today, and to me back then, it was more of a pride issue than I want that trophy.

This year’s group of players isn’t like Mcgwire, Griffey, Sosa years when the rules were different (10 swings compared to 3:00min), and all of the participants were the top leaders in Home Runs at the all-star break. I want the rules back to 10 swings this way, so you’re not tired out after the first round. In three minutes, you can have 20-25 swings and times that by three rounds, injuries come to mind. David Wright wasn’t the same after he entered years back, and there were a few others who suffered nerve damage.

In this park, I expect most of these players to knock the cover off the ball literally. I would not be surprised if we see a few 500ft home runs. Once that ball hits the bat and is in the air at Coors Field, anything is possible. There is no short porch here like Yankee or Fenway Stadiums. This Feild is wide-open: of the participants, I expect the finals to be between Alonso and Ohtani with Alonso defending his crown, and that is how the old man sees it.

Sports Cards The New Business

By Mark Halpern

Most of you don’t know I have been a Sports Card and Collectible dealer for the past 33 years. When the first baseball cards came out, Cards were more of an incentive to buy certain things like Cigarettes, Alcohol, and even food products such as bread and cereal. The first real trading cards came out in the early ’50s, and they were fun to collect your favorite player; kids put cards in the spokes of the bikes, even flipping cards (a way of gambling your cards) were popular. Cards were not put into holders or sold in big shows like they are now. They were basically like a toy for kids. Now there were plenty of people who put cards away and protected them but, if the People who collect today ever watched a 1952 Mantle rookie thrown up against a wall or put in the spokes of a bike, they would rip their hair out.

Card collecting has changed so much in the last 70 years. Nowadays, it’s not about getting a primary rookie card. People are chasing the Autographed cards, Patch/Jersey cards, and Low numbered serial cards. Most people today do not buy packs, boxes, or cases even to get their favorite card. They are in it for the reselling to make a profit which most Card Dealers today will tell you is highly competitive and hard to do. The average price for a pack between 1950-1998 was roughly $3.00 at its highest point. With the addition of these chase cards, some packs can run you $500 even $1500 to get a few of these cards. Cards are not being made for what they were intended. Cards are now geared to the people who can shell out big money and even get lousy cards in a pack and do not make their money back.

I do online breaks. I belong to a few groups that give you an option of buying into cases either by random spot (get a radon team from a case) or by Pick Your Team and the top teams in most of these cases, from football to hockey can run you as high as $2500 (Chargers in a case of National Treasures) The owners of the groups DO NOT overprice to cheat people in any way. They price it according to what people will be paying, and cards sell to try and get that rare $1000 rookie auto or veteran piece. I have seen people blow $$$$$ to get Skunked (When you get nothing from a break), and it’s more of a GAMBLE than a hobby.

I still do it but not on the level I used to. I do more appraisals for people and explain what their collection is worth and what cards should be graded to give it a little more value. When buying Autograph memorabilia, I tell people to only buy stuff from JSA, PSA, Beckett, Tristar, Fanatics, and Steiner. They are the most reputable companies out there. Unfountunitaley tons of counterfeit autographs get sold to people, so Caveat Emptor.

In conclusion, sports are a game, and games are meant to be fun. Not having to spend your kid’s college tuition to buy a case of cards and hoping those cards make you rich. The companies need to bring back more affordable packs for kids to buy and collect, and that is how the old man sees it.

Rodger Rodger Where is Big-Ben?

By Lawrence Lang

This Summer, there is a mystery upon us what is the status of Ben Roethlisberger, and has the clock finally reached midnight for Roethlisberger? After a Wildcard loss to the Cleveland Browns back on January 10th, 2021, we saw Roethlisberger go 47/68 501 yds passing, four touchdowns, and four interceptions. Roethlisberger was shown on the team’s bench by himself, helmet on. A close-up photo emerged of a tear running down his face, maybe signifying maybe the end is finally here for him. With training camp on the Horizon we, haven’t heard much news about whether or not he will return for a 17th season.

For Roethlisberger is career is by far no joke. He was drafted #11 in the first round of the 2004 draft and was the offensive rookie of the year that same year. In just his second year in the league, he would win his first Super Bowl at SB 40, beating the Seattle Seahawks, and would add his second ring three years after that, winning SB 43 beating the Arizona Cardinals. His last appearance in the SB would be two years later at SB 45 is where he also suffered his first and only loss in the Super Bowl, losing to the Green Bay Packers.

Big Ben is also one of six quarterbacks in NFL history to have beaten at least 31 of the current NFL teams. As a quarterback, he has a 396-201 TD-INT ratio with 60,348 passing yards and a 94.0 passer rating.

With injuries hurting him the last few years, it just might be time at 38 years old Roethlisberger is up there in age as a quarterback in the NFL, and there should be no shame in retiring before the age of 40. A future Hall of Famer, he is one of five quarterbacks left from the 2000’s era of the NFL, the others being Philip Rivers, who has since announced his retirement and was drafted fourth overall in the 2004 NFL draft class. Tom Brady who was drafted in the 2000 NFL draft in the 6th round with the 199th pick. Drew Brees, who also retired at the end of the season, was drafted in 2001 in the second round at pick number 32, and Aaron Rodgers was drafted the year after Roethlisberger and Rivers in the 2005 NFL draft with the 24th pick in the first round.

We are witnessing what is left of the old generation of quarterbacks left of the 2000s as the new generation takes over who can throw the ball and run the ball. For Roethlisberger, if he chooses to ride off into the sunset, don’t be ashamed that it ended in a loss know that you made your mark in the NFL and will one day join the head mounts in Canton, Ohio, with the rest of the NFL greats along with your Steelers breathings.

How The Old Man Sees It

By Mark Halpern

This Thursday begins the John Deere Classic PGA event. John Deere has hosted this event since 2000, except for last year due to Covid-19 Pandemic. TPC Deere Run is a challenging course to play. The black tees are roughly 7100 yards with a challenging 2nd hole at 551 par five and 17th 550yrd par five, and those aren’t even the most challenging holes on the course. Hole 9 is a 485yrd par 4 is a tree-covered maze.. The course is very well kept and has many challenges from its placement of bunkers, water hazards, and of course, tons of wooded areas. In reality, you might want to rent some John Deere equipment and rip out some of the wooded areas to give you a clear shot.

I looked at the field of play and was so surprised to see such a weak field. Only a handful of the top fifty players will be in this, so this opens the doors for younger players to gain some points and maybe a shot at some purse money. The one thing I noticed the addition of two very young players added to the field. First being Alex Smalley, a Duke University Grad in 2019 and joined the tour in 2020. This is Smalley’s first major where he has a chance to make the cut. He has a good vision of the course and has a real chance of making a name for himself. He is deadly when his short game is on point.

Next, Luke Gannon, a real amateur who is making his professional debut on a very changeling course. This morning (07/06/21), he led the qualifiers for this event, saying something about this young player. His drives have been impressive, and his short game has been imposing as well. This event could put him on the fast track if he keeps his play up.

I have played courses all over the United States but have never played here. With a course like this that can eat up the best of professionals and to see a young group of players making their debut is a nice change for once. As I look at the field, I expect Daniel Berger and Brian Harman to challenge each other for the win, but I would not be surprised to see Smalley and Gannon be in the top 50, and that is how the old man sees it.

Give The Fans A Sho

By Mike Rifkin

Next Tuesday is the MLB All-Star Game in Colorado. A game we didn’t have last year because of the pandemic and a game we may not get next year depending on MLB’S CBA set to expire after this season. They bill the game as a game for the fans to see the players you normally don’t normally watch. If this is a game for the fans I have one request.

For the first time in history a player was selected to the game as a player and a pitcher, his name is Shohei Ohtani of the Angels who leads baseball with 31 home runs and has been the Angels best starting pitcher with a record of 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. Joe Maddon the manager of the Angels said on Monday prior to his team’s game that he has spoken with Rays manager Kevin Cash who will manage the All Star Game by virtue of the Rays going to the World Series last season said they plan on having Ohtani pitch and serve as the Designated Hitter to start based on fan voting.

Ohtani should be the starting pitcher and DH if the game is for the fans and has no meaning other than an exhibition. There is not a pitcher dominating the American League like Jacob DeGrom of the Mets is doing in the National League. In the bottom of the first inning we can witness something special in matchups featuring Ohtani vs Fernando Tatis Jr, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Freddie Freeman that would be special and an All Star memory for sure.

Starting Ohtani is not just special for the fans but it would be great for the game of baseball. Let the fans witness something that has never happened in the history of baseball. By showcasing his unique skill set Ohtani can breathe some new life into the game and get people to watch the game. Ohtani also will hit in Monday’s Home Run Derby so imagine if he won the Derby and the next day was the starting pitcher for the American League in the All Star Game. So hopefully next week everybody can enjoy the Sho baseball puts on.

Rob Manfred Is Putting Baseball In a Sticky Situation

By Mike Rifkin

The offense is down across the board in MLB. One thing that everybody knows is that before the season, baseball altered the ball. On Monday, June 21st, MLB announced pitchers who put a substance on the baseball would be immediately ejected from the game and suspended for ten games. Is cheating wrong?

Cheating is wrong, but Commissioner Manfred is playing a dangerous game. Last Monday, Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow left his start, which came to be known as a partial tear of his UCL and a flexor tendon strain. Glasnow admitted on

Tuesday that the only thing he used was sunscreen. He stopped two starts ago and felt pain in his arm afterward. In one of those starts, he struck out 11 players. Glasnow also said he had to change the way he gripped his pitches. He said he was digging pitches deeper into his hand for the grip. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said after his last start that it was difficult to grip the ball as well. Cole also wanted MLB to work with the PA. Cole said, “we are aligned with the commissioner’s office on this. Please, talk to us, please work with us. But we’ve been living in a gray area for so long.

I would hate to see players getting hurt. I would hate to see balls flying at people’s heads.” We have seen guys get in the head too often recently; guys like Bryce Harper and Kevin Pillar were hit in the face by pitches.There is an old baseball saying that good pitching will beat good hitting, and I believe that to be true. I think the offense is down for numerous reasons, but the biggest is that teams today live and die via the home run. Met’s first baseman Pete Alonso thinks baseball manipulates the ball depending on who is a free agent that offseason. He went on to say that in the on-deck circle, they have pine tar rags, pine tar sticks, etc.… and if pitchers need help gripping the ball, he wouldn’t care. Rob Manfred is putting baseball in a tough spot.

Yes, players shouldn’t cheat but now, because he waited until June to do something about it is even worse. The pitchers are getting hurt because they have to ramp up their innings after last season’s 60 games condensed schedule coming into an entire 162 game season. But the worst part is that Baseball’s CBA (collective bargaining agreement) is up after this season. And after the issues of negotiating the 60 game schedule last season, the Player’s Association is not going to be happy with these new rules.

Players want to know what is going on, and Manfred is just sending memos to teams. Instead of saying that the ball’s changing might have some responsibility as to why offensive numbers are down, Manfred is blaming something players have done for generations. A strike would be bad for all involved, the players, owners, and especially the fans. The CBA negotiations will be interesting, but if baseball goes on strike and there is no next season, the only person to blame is Rob Manfred.

It’s Time to Pack It Up

By Mike Rifkin

The NFL draft is usually met with so much optimism, teams drafting young players to fill a need. The 2021 NFL draft was met with negativity for one NFL franchise. Hours before the first round began it was reported that reigning MVP Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants a trade out of Green Bay Rodgers last season for the second time in three seasons led the Packers to the NFC title game, yet Green Bay’s thought process in the 2020 draft was to trade up a couple of spots and take the guy who will eventually replace Rodgers in Jordan Love

The Packers did the same thing when they took Rodgers when Brett Favre was still playing at a high level, but Favre had discussed retirement at specific points. But Rodgers sat on the bench and waited four years. He won a Super Bowl, but it could have been more. Rodgers never lost those games; the defense did by giving up so many big plays. Rodgers did all he could come to no avail.Rodgers did not show up with mandatory minicamps this week and had been saying he wants a trade. Recently in an interview on SportsCenter, Rodgers said he likes Love, his teammates, and coaches, which is strictly an issue with the front office.

This led to Packers President Mark Murphy saying the whole situation with Rodgers has “divided the fanbase.” On June 12th, at an event at Lambeau Field, Murphy called Rodgers a complicated man. Here is the thing, Mr. Murphy, without Aaron Rodgers, what are the Green Bay Packers? They don’t get all the primetime games they currently do. Are they a playoff team? Probably not. Aaron Rodgers is the reason this team has been in the NFC Championship game twice in three seasons.

The Packers are looking ahead to the future when they should be happy with where they are now. Rodgers saw what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did this offseason after winning the Super Bowl after defeating the Packers in the NFC title game. They kept all of their free agents because they wanted to play with Tom Brady and took a pay cut. Meanwhile, in Green Bay, the organization’s president is taking shots at his quarterback, who is already unhappy.
Rodgers should want out, and if the Packers genuinely are looking to the future, they should trade him.

But Mark Murphy, remember your team needs Rodgers a lot more than Rodgers needs the Packers. If the team chooses not to trade Rodgers and sits out, he can either retire or go host Jeopardy. There is an old saying that you don’t know what you got until it’s gone. Get ready, Green Bay, because Aaron’s exit is on you, not Aaron Rodgers.