The Sports Insanity Network

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.

How to Tell who is Running the New York Rangers This Summer

By: Mike Rifkin

Three weeks ago, the New York Rangers fired General Manager Jeff Gorton and President of Hockey Operations John Davidson. They just got hired to do the same job for the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he left to take over the Rangers. Owner James Dolan cited that this season was a disappointment because the Rangers missed the playoffs. Assistant General Manager and former Rangers captain Chris Drury has assumed the role of General Manager and President with input from former President Glen Sather.

After some time to think, Drury and company decided to fire coach David Quinn, who in his three seasons behind the bench went 96-87-25. This season the Rangers finished in 5th place in the MassMutual East Division, arguably the hardest in the NHL.
In February of 2018, the Rangers brass put out a letter signaling to fans that times were going to change and they were going to rebuild the team, telling fans to have patience. The fans embraced this because the Rangers were making smart hockey and business decisions.

The most challenging part of this whole rebuild was this past offseason when the Rangers had to buy out future Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who once retires will see his number 30 hang in the Rafters of Madison Square Garden. Gorton and Davidson had them on the right track faster than most people believed. Out were guys like Rick Nash, Ryan Mcdonagh, Derek Stepan, etc.… In coming Norris finalist Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Artemi Panarin (who took less money to be a Ranger), Ryan Strome. Two years ago, the franchise was aided, got the number 2 pick in the draft lottery, and selected Kappo Kakko, and last year won the lottery and selected Alexis Lafreniere. Two players who saw their game grow a lot in a year with no training camp or preseason.
There are two things to see if Chris Drury is running the show or if he is just a puppet for Dolan and Sather.

The first is the coach, so Quinn came with no NHL coaching experience, so I expect them to hire a guy with experience. To me, the name that makes the most sense would be Gerard Gallant, who they already interviewed. Another that makes sense would be Rick Tocchet, formerly of the Coyotes. The name that if they were to hire that would make you question Drury would be bringing back John Tortorella because he was already the coach, and it wouldn’t make as much sense. The other thing is to see if the Rangers add a star like Sabres Center Jack Eichel, who has expressed displeasure with his current team but has not been asked to be traded yet. Yes, Eichel is a young star, but at what point do you say that is too much and will not be giving that up. The Rangers have a lot of good young talent either at the NHL level, or that is playing junior or in the minor league, but is it worth it to subside everything Gorton and Davidson did to add one player when the Rangers aren’t one player away from winning the Stanley Cup?

As we run through the Spring and get to the Summer, every Ranger fan will watch what Chris Drury does very closely to see if he is running the show. Either way, Ranger fans should thank Gorton and Davidson for what they did for this organization.

How Rob Manfred is Ruining Baseball

By Mike Rifkin

Baseball’s popularity has dropped a considerable amount over the years. To get the 2020 baseball season in during the COVID-19 pandemic, baseball had to change specific rules. The pace of play was big in this endeavor. Baseball needs to figure out how to expand its popularity, which is the job of one person Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Seven inning doubleheaders were brought back this season after debuting last season. Madison Bumgarner threw a no-hitter on April 26th for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves, except it might not count.

It might not count because it was the second game of a doubleheader, only seven-inning games under new rules. So there is a discussion within MLB whether seven innings can constitute a No-Hitter. If the game is official, then the no-hitter is official as well. The no-hitter is something that Bumgarner can add to his hall of fame resume. If Manfred knew how hard it is to throw a no-hitter, especially in today’s game, there would be no argument that seven innings no-hitters should count.

Another rule that has been kept from last season is that the team at bat will start the inning with a runner at second base at the beginning of extra innings. I understand that we don’t want games lasting forever, but you are ruining the integrity of the game. Teams should have to earn their baserunners and the runs they score. By putting a guy at second base to start the inning gives the away team an advantage. So a pitcher will get a loss, and their ERA will rise when a runner they didn’t put on base scores? Here is an idea: instead of doing extra innings, let’s do a home run derby to decide who wins the game.

After this season, MLB’S CBA is up, and if I were a rep in the Player’s union, I would say if you want to keep the seven-inning doubleheaders, then the no-hitters should count the extra-inning rule has to go. If a deal cannot get done, there will be one person to blame, and his name is Rob Manfred. If you want people to fall back in love with the game, don’t try to change it: Embrace what makes the game remarkable and do a better job showcasing some of the stars people don’t get to see as often. Let them see more Mike Trout, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Mookie Betts for people on the east coast. Let people on the west coast see more Francisco Lindor, Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuna.

Best way to grow the game.

Drew Brees What a Saint.

By Mike Rifkin

Earlier this week, Drew Brees announced his retirement from the NFL. Brees has one most remarkable NFL career of all time, Brees completed 67.7% of his passes in his career, 80,358 yards, 571 touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 98.7. He ranks first in yards but second in touchdowns and completion percentage. The weirdest thing in all of this is that Brees had never won an MVP award for as great of a career but finished second a record four times. But Brees faced some adversity on his way to his illustrious career. In 2006 Brees had surgery for a torn labrum and injured his rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder.

That offseason, Brees was a free agent and decided to go to the New Orleans Saints. When he first arrived in New Orleans, Brees said, “I just felt that energy in New Orleans,” Brees said Tuesday night. “From the very beginning, there was a genuine feeling that they wanted me there. They believe I can come back from this shoulder injury and lead them to a championship.

They were as confident as I am, and that meant a lot.” That comfortability with the Saints turned into 15 years of greatness and watching something special. Notable for the man, and the city Brees turned around a franchise that, for the most part, was not very good. In 2009 Brees and the Saints defeated Peyton Manning and the Colts to win Brees only Super Bowl of his career. Drew’s character on the field was tremendous, but so was his character off the field. When Brees first arrived in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, he partnered with an organization to help rebuild parks, playgrounds, and athletic centers.

Fans always want to debate who the GOAT is, but you have to appreciate greatness when you see it. Drew Brees is an all-time great quarterback who battled adversity. Drew Brees gave back to the team and city that took a chance on him and succeeded beautifully.

Why the Dak Prescott deal is good news and bad news for the Dallas Cowboys.

By Noah Trombley

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys agreed to a four-year/160 million dollar deal on the first day of free agency this year(2021). The deal also includes 126 million of that contract fully guaranteed to the upcoming sixth-year QB from Mississippi State. This deal has been a long time coming as the situation in Dallas became more and more of a circus the last two off seasons, and the Cowboys having to franchise Prescott both of those years to keep him the offensive leader of the team. However, the deal is done, and here’s the good news and bad news for Cowboys fans. The good news is that Prescott has more than earned his spot as the Dallas Cowboys leader over the last five seasons, including multiple trips to the postseason, one win in the postseason, and many moments where he was a vocal and calm leader steading the ship.

Who can forget the playoff game in 2018 vs. the Seahawks Prescott converted a 3rd and 14 by scrambling for the first down, giving his body to lunge for the yards to seal the win for America’s team. I could list many more moments from Prescott’s career so far, but nothing encapsulates what he means to this team more than that moment. Prescott has always been a consistent playmaker, thrower, and general on the field. Every year Prescott’s been a top 15 quarterback in terms of every stat, excluding his 2020 injury-shortened season. Still, even in that season, if he had continued at the rate he was at, he would’ve eclipsed 5000 passing yards;

Prescott as a quarterback was also shown during that aforementioned injury-shortened 2020 season where he suffered a dislocation of his right ankle. The Cowboys fell apart after their leader went down with the horrible ankle injury. The Cowboys went from scoring almost 40 points a game in the five games that Prescott played. To a drastic average of 10 points a game over the next four. The impact was felt immediately, and it took the Cowboys 4 weeks to get the team together to put together an excellent offensive effort in a win vs. the Vikings. Prescott embodies everything the Cowboys are, and he leads them in every facet of the game and more than proved his worth as the Cowboys quarterback. Now the bad news is that while Prescott more than proved his worth of this massive contract, I would argue the Cowboys did overpay the QB. The reason I say that is that Prescott and the Cowboys have been in contract talks since 2018.

The Cowboys had many chances to sign Prescott to a longer-term contract but got held upon the number of years the organization wanted him to sign for and how much Prescott wanted to sign. Prescott wanted four while the organization wanted 5. So the Cowboys continually betted against Prescott, and guess what? They lost out horribly. The Cowboys had to pay Prescott After QB’s like Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz, and Jared Goff reset the market value for that position. The Cowboys could’ve had Prescott on a much cheaper deal and wouldn’t have had to cave in after Prescott called their bluffs. This also leads to more bad news for the Cowboys, and that is that no high-paid QB wins much in this league. Look at Tom Brady; he takes pay cuts at every chance he gets for the teams he’s on for them to retain good players that increase the team’s chances to win in the playoffs and even SuperBowls. There’s a reason Brady has appeared in half of the Super Bowls since he took over as a starting QB and has won 8 of them.

As I said, Prescott has earned every cent of this contract, and I am not blaming him for demanding this much from the Cowboys. I blame the Cowboys organization themselves because they could’ve avoided this overpayment if given the contract earlier, as mentioned before. They had a unique opportunity, and they chose to bet against their star QB to the point where his value just went up and up. Look, this signing is enormous and had to happen between Prescott and the Cowboys, however coming from a Cowboys fan, I hope that the Cowboys don’t fall into the same pit other teams have when they are forced to overpay their QB.

Why Baseball Needs the Universal Designated Hitter

By Mike Rifkin

The end of February signifies the beginning of a new baseball season. One of the biggest takeaways from a shortened 2020 season was the designated hitter’s addition to the National League. As we approach the 2021 season, we don’t know if the DH will be retained. On February 9th MLB and the MLBPA reached a deal on health and safety protocols for the 2021 season.Two rules that are being retained from the 2020 season are seven-inning doubleheaders and starting extra innings with a runner on second base. There has been no mention yet of having the universal DH. There are baseball purists who like tradition and having pitchers hit in the National League.

Others do not believe in having designated hitters for teams, old school souls who remember that everyone got a chance in the lineup after playing the field.

In 2008 Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang sprained his foot and tore a tendon running the bases against the Houston Astros then of the National League.And In 2015, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright tore his Achilles s running the bases against the Milwaukee Brewers. While those are two examples of pitchers over-exerting themselves hitting, there are more supporting the need for the universal designated hitter.

Not every pitcher in baseball is Madison Bumgarner or Michael Lorenzen and are a threat at the plate. The pitchers should not be getting hurt running the bases. In 2015 Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals said, “If you look at it from the macro side, who’d people rather see hit Big Papi or me? Who would people rather see a real hitter hitting home runs or a pitcher swinging a wet newspaper? Both leagues need to be on the same set of rules.”

Scherzer is correct because, as fans, we encourage more offense and a level playing field. But the universal designated hitter would benefit players in the National League because it allows them to give a player half a day off. They can keep them in the lineup without having them be in the field. Having designated hitters in both the American and National League level the playing field and allows for new and different guys to step up to the plate. It is time for baseball and commissioner Rob Manfred to make the universal designated hitter and bring it into reality.

The New King of Swing on Top?

By Lawrence Lang

After a promo for the ages, this past Friday on WWE’s Friday Night Talking Smack, the WWE Universe might finally be getting what they want a Cesaro push. For years Cesaro has been stuck in the mid-card in the WWE. Yes, he has had success in the mid-card, winning the WWE tag team championships once with Tyson Kidd.The Bar ( him and Sheamus) would win WWE Raw tag team championships four times and the Smackdown Championships twice. Then win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships again with Shinsuke Nakamura.

But some forget he is also a former United States Champion, which he held for 239 days, which was the 10th longest reign at one point in WWE. He also won the Inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which we saw shades of (Hogan And Andre )Cesaro would pick the Big Show with ease and dump him over the top rope to win the match.

But the past is now behind us, and the present is here, and this might finally be time to give Cesaro what he ultimately desires a world title shot. He can do this if he wins the Elimination Chamber match at the Elimination Chamber PPV on February 21st. But if he does win, how battered and bruised will he be? Cause if he does win, his title match will happen right after against the WWE Champion Roman Reigns. Now, this can playoff a few ways. One (he’s in the match and is eliminated, and nothing happens after).

Two ( he steals the match as Kofi Kingston did a few years ago while still losing and the Cesaro section and the WWE Universe get behind him, and we see a repeat like Kingston). Or three ( he wins the Chamber and comes up short against Reigns, and we build up to Wresltmaina where we see Cesaro vs. Reigns for the WWE Title.

Looking at the big picture here, we most likely see Cesaro have his moments during the chamber match, probably hitting his trademark uppercuts and Ceasro Swing while probably coming up short in the match. But once again, if The Ceasro Section and WWE Universe can blow up his performance inside the Chamber on social media, there might be a case of deja vu for us cause after Kofi Kingston’s performance a few years ago, he got pushed to the moon. It capped off at WrestleMania, where he won the WWE Championship.

If this can Happen for Cesaro, WWE might have to change their plans cause they knew if they didn’t give Kingston the title at Mania a few years ago that there would have been a riot. Let’s hope the internet can get behind Cesaro at Chamber because Cesaro has had the pieces to be a world champion for years, and if people behind the scenes can’t see it now, they wasted yet another person who has the factor to be the guy.

Ps: The Dude could be one of the best Heel Champions ever; the man can speak in five different languages in English, French, German, Italian, and Swiss. Just imagine the crowd in the United States giving him heat, and mid promo starts speaking in a different language now that’s away to get even more heat; take note of that.