Naturally, NFL owners want to expand the playoff field — and their TV revenues — by including two more teams. This will make the league richer while further diluting one of its most attractive qualities — a regular season that should mean something.
Fallout: Because satisfaction is never the default position for fans and media, commissioner Rob Manfred would be pilloried no matter how he handled the Astros’ situation. Don’t blame him, though, for failing to appease the angry crowd with player suspensions. Any attempt would be challenged by the players’ union, which would have U.S. labor laws on its side. So this story is not unlike almost everything else in life that comes to an unsatisfying, messy conclusion. We move on.
Reality check: As frustrating as it might be for people to swallow, baseball can’t strip the Astros of its 2017 World Series championship. We saw Houston win. Baseball can’t make believe it never happened.
Subtle rebuttal: I suppose you can do whatever you want with statistics. But when bitter Cody Bellinger and others say Jose Altuve “stole” the 2017 MVP, perhaps it should be noted that the Astros’ second baseman hit 70 points higher on the road than he did at home.
Add Astros: On the overwrought reaction from fans, media and players to the Houston caper, new Angels manager Joe Maddon says, “At some point, we have to stop talking about it (and) allow the healing process.” That should start very soon, before the self-righteousness emanating from opposing MLB clubhouses gets any worse.
What’s to come: Pity the poor umpires who will have to arbitrate the chaos created by opposing teams throwing at Astros hitters, only to have Houston pitchers retaliate. In any case, regardless of the excuse, throwing at hitters is no less cowardly now than it has ever been.
The domino effect: So some Little League teams in California and Pennsylvania are being barred from using the Astros’ name. The anger here is a little misplaced, but if this protects the kids from razzing, then fine. But will Little Leaguers refrain from calling teams the Red Sox after the results of that investigation are released? And what if we find out, which I think we will, that other teams have used technology to steal signs? You get the drift.
Numbers game: Cleveland is a place where coaches go to be fired. With John Beilein out after 54 games, the NBA Cavaliers have had seven head coaches over the last 10 years. Ditto for the Browns.
Rich get richer: If, as proposed, the NCAA changes the waiver process to allow athletes to transfer one time without sitting out a season, it will create a pipeline from mid-major and weaker Power Five football and basketball teams to marquee programs. Naturally, the talent-rich schools will exploit a system that makes it easier to recruit (in some cases, re-recruit) kids from other campuses. Is this really what college sports need?
Odd, but true: Constantly baiting opponents into ticky-tack fouls is one reason NBA leading scorer James Harden isn’t as popular as other stars. His style is reflected in the stats — the Rockets gunner has made more free throws than field goals this season.
Aimless: I don’t know how anyone could be surprised that when the NCAA moved the men’s 3-point arc back nearly two feet that shooting percentages would go down. Division I teams are at a record-low 33.3% for 3-point attempts. From a casual viewing of games, it seems like it should be even lower. There are a lot of shooters; not many makers.
Hoop du jour: Duke’s 22-point loss at N.C. State Wednesday night isn’t as shocking as it might be in another season. Even among the top teams, this has been a year of ambiguous quality. Mike Krzyzewski, who understands his team’s vulnerabilities, seemed to take this dismal effort in stride. “Sometimes,” he said, “when you’ve eaten a lot, you’re not as hungry.”
Uncanny: En route to a dismal basketball season, North Carolina’s not-so-blue-bloods have lost six games when opponents made last-second game-tying or winning shots. Over the years, it’s always been the Tar Heels who hit the clutch shots. Feeling sorry for Carolina? Don’t. Next year, Roy Williams brings in one of his top recruiting classes in years.
Deep slide: At 3-12 in ACC play, Carolina will have to up its game to avoid finishing in sole possession of last place for the first time in school history. So the talent level at Chapel Hill isn’t what it usually is — maybe only three future NBA players instead of the usual six or seven. But that’s where coaching comes in, doesn’t it?
Bob Molinaro is a former Virginian-Pilot sports columnist. His Weekly Briefing runs Fridays in The Pilot and Daily Press. He can be reached at bob5molinaro@gmail.com and via Twitter@BobMolinaro.
