Super Bowl LVI: LA Rams vs. Cincinnati

 National Football League

A couple of well played conference title games today -- one a real surprise to many as Cincinnati upsets Kansas City 27-24 in overtime in Kansas City, while the LA Rams edge San Francisco 20-17 in Los Angeles inside SoFi Stadium -- the site of Super Bowl LVI in two weeks.

Another quarterback named "Joe" will head for the 56th Super Bowl -- this time it's not Joe Namath or Joe  Montana, but instead a young and talented Joe Burrow, 25,  as the Bengals will take on the Rams and their veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, 33.

Stafford went 31 for 45 for 337 yards and two touchdowns today, while Burrow led the Bengals back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years, connecting on 23 of 38 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. 

Slow them Wildcats down!

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

The word is a out on how to beat the Arizona Wildcats.

Slow them down and hope they can't make a shot from downtown.

Well, Bobby Hurley caught wind of that strategy and for the entire first half and a few minutes into the second half it worked. It was ugly to watch as No. 3 Arizona had to battle to a 32-32 tie against Hurley and his Arizona State Sun Devils during the first 20 minutes at McKale Center today and then faltered for close to eight minutes in the second half before Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 14 points, canned a jumper to put the Wildcats up 45-44 with 11:52 remaining in regulation.

The Wildcats still couldn't breathe comfortably on their home court until Pelle Larsson banked in a three-point shot with six minutes remaining for a 57-48 lead. Christian Koloko, who finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and five blocks, followed with a dunk at the 3:20 mark to give Arizona a 62-49 advantage.

Bottom line: Not pretty, but Arizona wins it 67-56 over its in-state-rival, ASU, as Oumar Ballo, played just 19 minutes off the bench for the Wildcats, scored 14 points and was a force, at times, underneath the bucket.

Arizona shot 32 percent from the field and made 3 of 23 from long range-- a dismal 13 percent. Point guard Kerr Kriisa continues to struggle from the field, but did hit two key three-pointers down the stretch to finish with six points.

Arizona, 17-2 and 7-1 in the Pac-12, await the UCLA Bruins at McKale on Thursday. 

  

Wildcats had plenty of fight...but lacked a punch at Pauley

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

The Arizona Wildcats (16-2, 6-1) had plenty of fight in them, but lacked a punch at Pauley Pavilion tonight, losing 75-59 to the 7th-ranked UCLA Bruins (14-2, 6-1).

It was an ugly night for the 3rd-ranked Wildcats as they sputtered on all cylinders -- shooting just 29.7 percent from the field, hitting only 23 of 75 shots. Yes 23 of 75!

Kerr Kriisa may want to change his name for a few days. Bless his heart he tried...and he tried...and he tried to sizzle the ball through the nets. Instead, Kriisa was a miserable 0 for 12 and 0 for 9 from long range. 

Bennedict Mathurin led the Wildcats with 16 points, but made just five field goals in 22 attempts. He was the fighter on the court who threw the most punches.

The Arizona players looked exhausted. I know I am.

There will be payback. McKale awaits the Bruins!

Photo: A diehard Arizona fan. This is what I look like as I head for bed. It's almost midnight!

The good news: No acne!

 From the desk of a medical wonder

Or, should I say wanderer?

After six months of hospital visits, a couple of ambulance rides, a CT scan or two, I find myself nearing February of 2022 with no clear answers.

Except for the fact I know for sure I do not have acne.

Yes! Of all the medications I have been on since August of 2021, it's been discovered I do not have Covid, nor do I have acne. I was pretty sure I hadn't had a pimple for 60 years, way back when I was sixteen, but I was given a pill last week that, among other things, is supposed to clear up acne.

I now have a pretty face, but the rest of my body is falling off!

Before I go on, I must enlighten my readers that I admire all the hard working people in the medical field. I know I couldn't do the work. I have a hard enough time being a patient.

My latest story (and there have been many) is a foot ailment. Turns out my Achilles is intact, only a bit irritated with my way of life and my obsession with senior baseball. Turns out I have a bunion that is trying to escape the right side of my right foot, but can only be removed with a chainsaw. My toes are also glued together. Too bad I don't swim.

My latest visit to a specialist and the first question asked of me: How much pain can you take?

In the old days, the doctor would ask: On a scale of 1 to 10, what is your pain level?

And now here we are at the beginning of 2022 and bottom line, the Doc says: "Get back out there and enjoy as much pain as you can bear. Trust me, you do not want another operation on that foot!"

I wasn't in the office more than five minutes, but I was shown, on the computer screen, all the contraptions available as an aid to recovery. I felt like I was in a Tin Cup movie and Kevin Costner's character was looking for answers regarding the yips in his golf swing.

My doctor's assistant did shake her head when I told her I was diagnosed with gout, six weeks ago. Well, it is not gout and my Achilles will live for another day and my bunion is looking for a tailor -- like in Tailor's Bunion.

As for the Doc's bedside manner: I read between the lines of our short visit and pretty much figured out: "Don't come back until you are ready for the knife.

So, back to Tin Cup.

I bought a new pair of running shoes, a clown-like pair of sneakers like Joaquin Phoenix wore in the 2019 movie, Joker. I mean these clodhoppers are long and wide -- a 4e, with inserts that cost as much as the shoe, slap on the ointment I obtained in Colorado (if you know what I mean) and live happily ever after.

But, for now, don't do anything more risky than walk to, and from, the refrigerator.

Photo: The Medical Wanderer (Where are you, Dion?)

And another photo...you don't have to look, if you don't want to!

And trust me. This is not my foot. This is a beautiful foot compared to mine.

The thrill is not gone...not in the NFL

 The National Football League

Four playoff games...four thrillers.

What a weekend of NFL football!

Where do I begin?

Bengals beat the Titans, 19-16!

San Francisco upsets Green Bay, 13-10!

LA Rams edge Tampa Bay, 30-27!

And maybe the thriller of all thrillers: Kansas City 42, Buffalo Bills 36... in overtime!

No need for this old-time blogger to go into the details. I would need a nap after any explanation. Besides the highlights continue to flow in on ESPN and all the sports networks.

Next Sunday: Cincinnati at Kansas City and San Francisco at LA Rams.

Fasten you seat belts!

Wildcats 1 win away from waking up the basketball world

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Does anybody east of the Rio Grande know how good the Arizona Wildcats are?

What channel are they on? Do they come out at midnight or what?

Does Covid have a firm grip on things and does the virus have a hand in keeping the Wildcats from being in the spotlight?

For the few masked men and woman in the know, they'll pass it on to the college basketball world. The Cats are for real!

Arizona is 16-1, ranked No. 3 in the country and they haven't lost a Pac-12 Conference game since March 1, 2021!

Last night they obliterated another Pac-12 foe, California,  beating the Golden Bears, 96-71, as five Wildcats hit in double figures. Big men Christian Koloko and Oumar Ballo led the way -- Christian with 19 and Oumar with 14.

Yes!

They need a third straight road victory when they take on UCLA on Tuesday at the Pauley Pavillon.

An overall record of 17-1 and a Pac-12 Conference record of 7-0 should lift a few eyebrows, even at ESPN! It'll be midnight on the West Coast, but every normal person on the East Coast will be fast asleep and dreaming of basketballs, one by one, filtering through the fluffy clouds above and heading for a destination called: basketball heaven.

They will all be thinking of the Duke Blue Devils or maybe the Villanova Wildcats or the Auburn Tigers!

The Arizona Wildcats are winning and winning...and winning. And it still seems like another lost season.

Sleep tight, you Eastern Seaboard fans and don't let the basketball hit you in the head!

Arizona improves to 15-1, 5-0 Pac-12

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Arizona lost Azuolas Tubelis in the first half with an ankle injury and Christian Koloko ended up on the bench for 12 of the first 20 minutes, but it didn't bother the No. 3 Wildcats as the trio off the bench of Oumar Ballo, Pelle Larsson and Justin Kier contributed 45 points en route to a 85-57 win last night at Stanford.

The Wildcats improved to 15-1 and 5-0 in the Pac-12 as Ballo was a force under the bucket with 21 points, Larsson added 13 and Kier chipped in 11. Arizona had five players score in double figures with starters Bennedict Mathurin adding 13 points and Dalen Terry continued his steady play with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Arizona continues its road trip on Sunday at California.

Photo: Ballo

NFL countdown -- The final 8

National Football League

Playoffs/2021

The Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans have waited long enough.

The "Big Six" have finally arrived to join the party as the Road to the Super Bowl continues.

Moving on up are the Bengals with a 26-19 win over the Raiders, while the Bills walloped the Patriots 47-17 on Saturday. On Sunday, Tampa Bay and Tom Brady took down the Eagles 31-15, while San Francisco disposed of the Cowboys 23-17 and Kansas City manhandled the Steelers, 42-21.

That left the game on Monday night as the Arizona Cardinals fell apart in a 34-11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

The divisional matchups next weekend are set as the Bengals head for Tennessee and Green Bay awaits San Francisco on Saturday. Next Sunday, the Rams visit Tampa Bay and the Chiefs entertain the Buffalo Bills.

The Super Bowl is slated for February 13, 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Englewood, California.

 

Photo above: SoFi Stadium, home for the 56th Super Bowl.

No. 6 Arizona wins by 18 without Kerr Kriisa

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

How do you win a college basketball game without your starting point guard?

The No. 6 Arizona Wildcats found a way. It took a while -- some 15 frustrating minutes-- before Arizona turned the brand of ball played by Utah into a runaway 82-64 win last night at McKale.

Where was Kerr Kriisa?

It'll be weeks before the Arizona fans obtain the info on why Kriisa was absent. Of course, this is my blog and I'm free to speculate. So, I'll call it a late injury report that might have been handed to Coach Tommy Lloyd -- possible complications from a wrist or a thumb injury left over from the Wildcats' previous win over Washington when Kriisa dished out a career-high 10 assists, but scored just two points.

Something tells me there's more to the story, but let's move on.

A little adversity for the Wildcats? Yes! So, give the ball to the big fellas and play on. Azuolas Tubelis tosses in a career-high 32 points and eight rebounds, while Christian Koloko adds 16 points and five boards as Arizona turns an ugly 34-31 halftime lead into a runaway win with 48 points in the final 20 minutes of play.

Justin Kier filled in for Kriisa and filled up the stat sheet with six points (both three-pointers), eight assists and six rebounds in 33 minutes. Bennedict Mathurin had an off night, but finished with 11 points.

Bottom line: Arizona deals with a little adversity, moves to 14-1 on the season, sits atop the Pac-12 at 4-0 and will probably find themselves No. 3 in the country by Monday afternoon when the AP Poll comes out.

Photo: Azuolas Tubelis

The Home Run Kings

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

They are known as the TOTS -- an amateur baseball club that swings for the fences every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park.

It takes a good poke by a 60-something ball player to knock the ball over the fence -- 300 feet away from home plate to left, to center and to right field. The TOTS have been around since 1968 and last week the current players on the club opened the organization's 55th season.

Thunder Tim Tolson, who turns 70 in August of 2022,  has been a member of the TOTS since 2011, and was the organization's home run king for six years (2011-16).

Not any longer!

Tolson has hit 69 home runs and coupled with his father, Brad, who played for the organization for over 20 years (1991-2011), the "awesome twosome" have combined for 92 home runs -- a father-son TOTS' record unlikely to ever be broken.

"My father (shown below) hit 23 homers between 1992 and 1999," says the younger Tolson, who is in his 12th season with the TOTS.

Surprisingly,  there is a current TOT that has passed both Tolson boys!

Reed Palmer, 65, burst on to the scene at Udall Park in 2016 and quietly hit five home runs. Palmer -- a lefty like the "Tolson Boys" -- then hit 21 in 2017, 30 in 2018, 17 in 2019, 10 in 2020 and another 11 in 2021 for a grand total of 94 home runs.

Palmer (left photo) is the tallest of the current TOTS. At 6-6, the tall lefty has been chipping the bark off the old trees that sit beyond the right field fence for six years now and chances are he has set his sights on surpassing the 100-career homer mark by the summer.

The records show the TOTS' trio of home run hitters collected all their homers when they were, or are, in their "prime" with the organization. Brad Tolson hit his 23 bangers between the age of 62 to 68, Tim hit his 69 homers while in his 60s (the age of 70 is just months away!) and Palmer is still banging away and will not reach 70 until 2026!

What a young whippersnapper! 

As for the TOTS' members over the age of 70, the Udall fence seems more like 500 feet away.

 

Arizona back on the court with 76-55 win over Colorado

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Justin Kier (photo left) came off the bench to score 14 points --including 3 for 4 from long range, and starter Azuolas Tubelis turned in a solid performance with eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and 14 points to lead No. 6 Arizona (13-1, 3-0) to a 76-55 win over Colorado last night at McKale.

Four Wildcats hit in double figures with Bennedict Mathurin adding 13 points and Pelle Larsson chipped in 12 points. Kerr Kriisa took care of matters at the point guard position with 10 assists as Arizona poured it on in the second half, after sputtering a bit in the first half with a 32-28 lead over the Buffaloes.

Arizona awaits Utah on Saturday. A win over the Utes should move the Wildcats into the top-4 in the AP College Basketball poll.

Way to go, Wildcats!

FYI: Bookemdano is back in town!

 

Will my Wildcats return to the court?

 Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Will the Arizona Wildcats (12-1), ranked No. 6 in the country, find themselves back on the basketball court soon?

Let's hope so!

As of this morning, January 10, Colorado is coming to town and will take on the Wildcats on Thursday, January 13.

So, for all you lucky fans at McKale: mask up, bring a noisemaker and take in a few deep breathes.

Go, Wildcats!

Playoff time in the NFL -- The fun begins

 The National Football League

The Playoffs Begin

The fun begins...

AFC -- Tennessee, a first round bye, Wild Card Games -- Pittsburgh at Kansas City; New England at Buffalo; Las Vegas at Cincinnati.

NFC -- Green Bay, a first round bye, Wild Card Games -- Philadelphia at Tampa Bay; San Francisco at Dallas; Arizona at LA Rams.

Senior Living --- The elusive golden years

 Bookemdano's Senior Moments In Time...

Where have the golden years gone?

Is the senior citizen lost in the shuffle of the current times? A time of unrest. It seemed like it was just the other day when the golden years were a destination for the elderly — a light at the end of the road where old-timers go to live out their final years… comfortable in their surroundings.

Yes, there are a select few out there that made all the right moves — the ones who invested and created a nest egg allowing them to be comfortable and spend their final hours, days, months, and, if they have their health intact, maybe years and are lucky enough to wake up every morning and contemplate their day in the sun — a day filled with a trip to the golf course or the tennis courts…or better yet a cruise on their yacht around the bay.

But that is not the majority. Most seniors find life, in this current ongoing turmoil of unrest full of obstacles: the coronavirus; the prices at the grocery store; the cost of gas just to get across town to visit the grandchildren…well you name it, the hurdles are endless and the “old legs” fail to reach the first hurdle much less clear the obstacles ahead as they try to maneuver around every turn.

In fact, for most seniors, there is no track. Instead, they live in senior housing…their rent is calculated by how much social security they receive every month — the amount set long ago by the powers-to-be who handle the job without thinking about what year it is. It could be the 60s, the 70s the 80s, the 90s…or 2022 when an increase to their monthly income has suddenly risen sixty dollars, which allows them to buy an extra loaf of bread, maybe some extra butter, or maybe five gallons of gas that will get them that special visit to see their grandchildren.

Take it a step further. There is no ride across town. Chances are the majority of seniors are living in a box consisting of 600 square feet with a bathroom, a small kitchen and a refrigerator filled with “enough stuff” to get by until the next check comes — a check that is 30 days away, but to them that second Wednesday of the month never comes.

Take it a step further. They may be living on the streets. Or worse? The mask didn’t help them either. They now have found themselves in the hospital trying to breathe. How could that happen? For two years, they have remained in their small domicile. Maybe they have been lucky enough to have their groceries delivered. Maybe they haven’t seen their family for a year…maybe two. After all, the coronavirus has been with us since March 2020!

The “Golden Years” is no longer golden.

TOTS' Dawson top hitter, pitcher in 2021

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Tucson Old Timers

Baseball Club

1968-2021

The 2022 season gets underway

January 5, 2022.

Go, TOTS!

Mike Dawson led the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball club in hitting and pitching in 2021.

Dawson, 66, collected 161 hits and played in 84 of the 90 games as the club staggered through another season with the corona virus playing havoc with the TOTS' schedule, which normally runs between 150 to 160 games every year.

During those 84 games, Dawson (top photo) batted 281 times, scored 74 runs, led the club in doubles with 36 and finished second in RBI with 91 -- all while maintaining a .573 batting average. He also was the club's top pitcher with a 22-14 record.

Reed Palmer, 65, was the top RBI man for the year with 103 runs-batted-in and led the club in home runs with 11 in only 66 games. Palmer (middle photo) went 135 for 226, while maintaining a healthy .597 batting average.

Thunder Tim Tolson, 69, continued his yearly assault on the baseball, finishing second in hits on the club with 143 bangers in 255 at bats, while playing in 71 games. Tolson (bottom photo) batted .561 and his 77 RBI was second on the club.

Other notables with over 100 hits on the season included Ken Nebesny (129 for 258, tied for most runs-scored with 74), John Mathews (119 for 217, 3rd RBI with 67), Pete Peters (117 for 257), Joe Opocensky (112 for 230) and David Byars (105 for 268).

Forty two players saw action in 2021 and 10 pitchers took the mound during the year. Opocensky finished second on the club with 14 pitching victories, while Palmer picked up 12 wins and Pete Maldonado won 10 games.

Way to go, TOTS!

 

The players and their at bats, hits and averages...and games played for 2021:

Arnie White    10 for 46, a .217 average for 14 games; Bill Mishler  29 for 69, a .420 average for 30 games; Billy Heiny    1 for 7, a .143 average for 7 games; Bob Daliege   80 for 229, a .349 average for 64 games; Bobby Long   90 for 182, a .495 average for 52 games; Bobby Stofft   1 for 3, a .333 average for 1 game; Brack Whitaker   47 for 236, a .199 average for 78 games; Brad Vermeer   38 for 157, a .242 average for 52 games; Chuck Sabalos   2 for 12, a .167 average for 6 games; Curt Gustafson   0 for 6, a .000 average for 3 games; Dan Boxberger   21 for 61, a .344 average for 16 games; Danny Price   29 for 124, a .234 average for 44 games; David Byars   105 for 268, a .392 average for 75 games; Dave Hurley   60 for 146, a .411 average for 43 games; Dennis Crowley   76 for 146, a .521 average for 44 games; Dick Ducklow   18 for 92, a .196 average for 28 games; Ernesto Escala   26 for 56, a .464 average for 16 games; Greg Seader   10 for 26, a .385 average for 8 games; Jesse Ochoa   79 for 221, a .357 average for 70 games; Jimmy Kinion   95 for 210, a .452 average for 65 games; Joe Opocensky   112 for 230, a .487 average for 64 games; John Jarboe   9 for 16, .563 average for 4 games; John Mathews   119 for 217, a .548 average for 62 games; John Misiaszek   28 for 61, a .459 average for 19 games; Ken Nebesny   129 for 258, a .500 average for 69 games; Mark Rupert   8 for 37, a .216 average for 12 games; Mike Dawson   161 for 281, a .573 average for 84 games; Mike Steele   80 for 154, a .519 average for 48 games; Pete Maldonado   46 for 176, a .261 average for 66 games; Pete Peters   117 for 257, a .455 average for 70 games; Randy Livingston   23 for 41, a .561 average for 11 games; Ray Garcia   75 for 127, a .591 average for 33 games; Reed Palmer   135 for 226, a .597 average for 66 games; Rick Bitzer   29 for 84, a .345 for 27 games; Rob Morse   23 for 162, a .142 average for 52 games; Roger Beebe   28 for 69, a .406 average for 21 games; Ron Carlson   3 for 20, a .150 average for 10 games; Ron Ryan   13 for 39, a .333 average for 12 games; Sam Dean   18 for 55, a .327 average for 17 games; Steve Foster   4 for 39, a .103 average for 12 games; Ted Davis   33 for 93, a .355 average for 31 games and Tim Tolson   143 for 255, a .561 average for 71 games.