The 2010s: Then and Now

Before we dive head first into the 2020s, let's all look back on the decade that was.  We're going to compare and contrast the sports and personalities from the beginning of the decade to the end.  This should be familiar to those of you who have already seen the Bludog Chronicle's take on this (and if you did, we thank you), except that now you're reading the sports version.  So here goes.

LeBron James
Then:  Won two NBA titles with the Miami Heat after ditching Cleveland on live TV.
Now:  Plays for the Los Angeles Lakers after winning a league title for the Cavaliers,

Colin Kaepernick
Then:  San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Now:  Political activist/shoe salesman.

Tiger Woods
Then:  Golf career ruined due to injuries, marital problems, and no major title since 2008.
Now:  2019 Masters champion.

Alex Rodriguez
Then:  Suspended for one season by Major League Baseball for steroid use.
Now:  Entrepreneur, TV baseball analyst, and Jennifer Lopez' fiance.

Lance Armstrong
Then: Tour de France champion several times over.
Now:  Banned from cycling for drug use.

Men's and Women's Tennis
Then and Now:  Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Drake
Then:  Million-selling Canadian hip hop star.
Now:  Celebrity hanger-on for the Toronto Raptors.

Women's World Cup
Then:  Japan
Now:  United States (twice)

Men's World Cup
Then:  Spain
Now:  France

Major League Baseball
Then:  San Francisco Giants
In-Between:  Chicago Cubs
Now:  Washington Nationals

National Football League
Then:  New Orleans Saints
Now:  New England Patriots

National Basketball Association
Then:  Miami Heat
In-Between:  Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors
Now:  Toronto Raptors

WNBA
Then:  Seattle Storm
In-Between:  Minnesota Lynx
Now:  Washington Mystics

National Hockey League
Then:  Chicago Blackhawks
Now:  St. Louis Blues

College Football
Then:  Bowl Championship Series
Now:  College Football Playoff

Passed in 2019
Harry Howell, Julie Ruth Stevens, Dan Jenkins, King Kong Bundy, Ted Lindsay, Don Newcombe, Gene Littler, Frank Robinson, Bob Friend, Mel Stottlemyer, Al Bianchi, Zeke Bratkowski, Charles Rogers, Ron Fairly, Willie Brown, Hopalong Cassady, Jack Whitaker, Cliff Branch, Rosie Ruiz, Nick Buoniconti, Pumpsie Green, Pernell Whitaker, Walt Michaels, Hayden Fry, Jim Bouton, Pat Bowlen, Bill Buckner, Bart Starr, Niki Lauda, Red Kelly, Gino Marchetti, John Havlicek, Forrest Gregg.

The 2019-20 Owljock Bowl Board

Welcome to this year's edition of the Owljock Bowl Board.

There are 40 scheduled NCAA-sanctioned this season, with almost as many title sponsors representing everything from financial services to breakfast food.

Clemson, the defending national football champion, will be going for its third title in the last four years.  The Tigers will join Louisiana State (ranked #1 this year), THE Ohio State University and Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff.  Atlanta and Glendale, AZ will host the semifinals on December 28.  The finals will be in New Orleans January 13.

Without further stalling, here's our schedule.  They include the name of the bowl, who's in it, where is it, when is it, who televises it (mostly ESPN's Family of Networks), and--most importantly for our purposes--a brief description of what the title sponsor is known for.  Here goes . . .

Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl:  Buffalo vs. Charlotte (Nassau, Bahamas 12/20)  ESPN
An industrial park in Elk Grove Village, IL.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl:  Utah State vs. Kent State (Frisco, TX 12/20) ESPN2
Restaurant chain.  Formerly DXL Bowl.

Celebration Bowl:  Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T (Atlanta, GA 12/21) ABC

New Mexico Bowl:  Central Michigan vs. San Diego State (Albuquerque, NM 12/21) ESPN

FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl:  Liberty vs. Georgia Southern (Orlando, FL 12/21) CBS Sports Network
Mortgage lender.

Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl:  Southern Methodist vs. Florida Atlantic (Boca Raton, FL 12/21) ABC
Energy drink.

Camellia Bowl:  Florida International vs. Arkansas State (Montgomery, AL 12/21) ESPN

Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl:  Boise State vs. Washington (Las Vegas, NV 12/21) ABC
Auto manufacturer.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl:  Appalachian State vs. Alabama-Birmingham  (New Orleans, LA 12/21)  ESPN
Shipping firm.

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl:  Central Florida vs. Marshall (Tampa, FL 12/23) ESPN
Lawn mowers.

SoFi Hawaii Bowl:  Hawaii vs. Brigham Young (Honolulu, HW 12/24) ESPN
Financial services.

Walk-On's Independence Bowl:  Louisiana Tech vs. Miami (Shreveport, LA 12/26) ESPN
Sports-themed restaurant chain.

Quick Lane Bowl:  Pittsburgh vs. Eastern Michigan (Detroit, MI 12/26)  ESPN
Auto care shops.

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman:  North Carolina vs. Temple (Annapolis, MD 12/27) ESPN
Defense contractor.

New Era Pinstripe Bowl:  Michigan State vs. Wake Forest (New York, NY 12/27) ESPN
Sports apparel.

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl:  Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M (Houston, TX 12/27) ESPN
Sporting goods retail chain.

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl:  USC vs. Iowa (San Diego, CA 12/27) FS1
San Diego-area financial services.

Cheez-It Bowl:  Air Force vs. Washington State (Phoenix, AZ 12/27)  ESPN
Snack crackers.

Camping World Bowl:  Notre Dame vs. Iowa State (Orlando, FL 12/28) ABC
Camping and RV supplies.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic:  Penn State vs. Memphis (Arlington, TX 12/28) ESPN
Car and truck tires, blimps.

Playstation Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal):  Ohio State vs. Clemson (Glendale, AZ 12/28) ESPN
Videogames and consoles.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal):  LSU vs. Oklahoma (Atlanta, GA 12/28) ESPN
Chicken restaurant chain.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl:  Western Kentucky vs. Western Michigan (Dallas, TX 12/30) ESPN
Disaster cleanup service.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl:  Mississippi State vs. Louisville (Nashville, TN 12/30) ESPN
Financial services.

Redbox Bowl:  California vs. Illinois (Santa Clara, CA 12/30) Fox 
Movies and game rentals.

Capital One Orange Bowl:  Florida vs. Virginia (Miami Gardens, FL 12/30) ESPN
Financial services.

Belk Bowl:  Virginia Tech vs. Kentucky (Charlotte, NC 12/31) ESPN
Regional department store chain.

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl:  Florida State vs. Arizona State (El Paso, TX 12/31) CBS
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes mascot.

Auto Zone Liberty Bowl:  Navy vs. Kansas State (Memphis, TN 12/31) ESPN
Auto parts and supplies.

NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl:  Wyoming vs. Georgia State (Tuscon, AZ 12/31) CBS Sports Network
Mortgage lender.

Valero Alamo Bowl:  Utah vs. Texas (San Antonio, TX 12/31) ESPN
Energy company.

Vrbo Citrus Bowl:  Michigan vs. Alabama (Orlando, FL 1/1/20)  ABC
Vacation rental and travel website.

Outback Bowl:  Minnesota vs. Auburn (Tampa, FL 1/1/20) ESPN
Steak and seafood restaurant chain.

Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual:  Oregon vs. Wisconsin (Pasadena, CA 1/1/20) ESPN
Financial services.

Allstate Sugar Bowl:  Georgia vs. Baylor (New Orleans, LA 1/1/20) ESPN
Insurance and financial services.

TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl:  Boston College vs. Cincinnati (Birmingham, AL 1/2) ESPN
Online ticket exchange.

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl:  Indiana vs. Tennessee (Jacksonville, FL 1/2) ESPN
Online tax preparation.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:  Ohio vs. Nevada (Boise, ID 1/3) ESPN

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl:  Southern Mississippi vs. Tulane (Fort Worth, TX 1/4) ESPN
Defense contractor.

LendingTree Bowl:  Louisiana vs. Miami of Ohio (Mobile, AL 1/6) ESPN
Online lending marketplace.  Formerly Dollar General Bowl.

College Football Playoff National Championship (New Orleans, LA 1/13) ESPN

Sour Cherry Talks Way Off "Hockey Night".

"Hockey Night in Canada" has been on CBC television since 1952, ruling Saturday nights as the premier showplace for the National Hockey League north of the border.  Its most popular segment between periods was "Coach's Corner", where for nearly four decades co-hosts Don Cherry and Ron MacLean pontificated on hockey highlights, what Cherry thought was the "right" way to play the sport, and whatever else was on his mind.

It's that last part that's gotten Cherry, a former NHL player and coach, in trouble with network bosses and many Canadians over the years.  While extolling the virtues of his country's hockey players, he's also exuded contempt for those who hailed from Quebec, Europe and the United States.  He's advocated violence on the ice at a time when the NHL is trying to cut back on fighting and concussions.  Cherry's maple-leaf-on-his-sleeve approach served him well when saluting Canada's armed forces, sick kids who happen to be hockey players, and other topics that make him sound like a Republican politician from the States.

What finally got Cherry fired was his comment during a November 9 "Coach's Corner" broadcast about Canadian immigrants who couldn't be bothered to buy poppies as a tribute to dead soldiers on Remembrance Day (known as Veterans Day in the U.S.), then wondered why they couldn't appreciate how good they had it in Canada.

Rogers Sportsnet, which owns the Canadian TV rights to NHL hockey (but still shows "Hockey Night" on CBC), chose Remembrance Day to show Cherry the door.  They, along with MacLean and "Coach's Corner" sponsor Budweiser have apologized.  But Cherry has not.

Don Cherry, until recently, has been a beloved figure in Canada with the loud wardrobes he usually wore on TV and in public.  But he's also 85 and has to realize that the world--and Canada-- has changed on and off the ice.  It's hard to know what he'll do with the rest of his life at this point, but maybe it'll be something other than yelling at ice clouds.

World Series: Champions On The Potomac

The last time a Washington, D.C.-based baseball team won a World Series was in 1924, when Walter Johnson pitched the Senators to the title.  Almost a century later, after two different Senators teams left town (one to Minnesota in 1961, another to Texas in 1972), a 33-year gap of no baseball, and the arrival of the Montreal Expos to the nation's Capital in 2005, the Washington Nationals are the new champions of baseball.

The Nationals defeated the Astros 6-2 in Game 7 at Houston, in a series where the road team won every game--something that has never happened in pro sports championships.  Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon hit home runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and never looked back.  Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg were the pitching aces that brought the Nationals back from a 3-2 deficit in games.

This was an eventful series all right, and sometimes for the wrong reasons:

• The Astros fired their assistant general manager Brandon Taubman for being a little too exuberant in his praise of closer Roberto Osuna toward a group of female reporters following the team winning the American League Championship Series.  Osuna, you see, had been suspended by Major League Baseball for 75 games for violating its domestic abuse policy.

• President Donald Trump attended Game 5 at Nationals Park in Washington, only to find that the reception he got when his face was shown on the Jumbotron was anything but the kind he usually gets at his rallies.  In fact, he was booed unmercifully.  Under normal circumstances, a President should be greeted with respectful applause by friend and foe alike.  This President, however, hasn't done much to earn the respect of his constituents outside of his loyal base.  As for those who exercised their First Amendment right to make a sound associated at this time of year with ghosts, we're reminded of something Trump's predecessor Barack Obama once said:  Don't boo. Vote.

In the two decades since the 21st century began, the Chicago White Sox, Cubs and Boston Red Sox were baseball teams that have had long histories of being lovable losers before finally winning the Big One.  Now it's the city named for George Washington's turn.  First in war.  First in peace.  First in Major League Baseball. 

The NBA in China: Air Ball

American corporations have kowtowed to them.  President Donald Trump started a trade war against them.  Now it's the National Basketball Association's turn to deal with the most lucrative and sensitive country on the planet, which happens to be China.

Before we get to that. a little background.  Chins has had a Communist dictatorship  for the past 70 years, longer than the Soviet Union was in existence. Since 1997, when China acquired the city and region of Hong Kong from Great Britain, they have somehow kept their hands off of the Western-style economy and democracy that made it run for well over a century. 

Recently, protesters have been turning Hong Kong into a referendum of sorts over the future of China, opposing plans to permit local law enforcement to arrest those who have been accused of committing crimes in China.   The Beijing government considers the demonstrators to be dangerous enough to warrant placing tanks outside town, inviting comparisons to what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Where the NBA comes in is a tweet from Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, in support of the protesters. (Which is more than what the Trump administration was willing to do.) After China voiced its objections, NBA commissioner Adam Silver voiced his support for Morey as an act of free speech.   It became apparent he didn't know who he was dealing with. 

As it happened, the league sent two of its teams--the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets--on a goodwill tour of mainland China. It must have been real uncomfortable for players and team officials to step into a situation where they have to answer for their league's international spat with a country they're just visiting.  A country where some of these players have business connections (sneakers or otherwise) that force them to toe the line. And how awkward players like Lebron James appear when they try to explain themselves while wearing a businessman's hat. 

So where are we now?  While there isn't a real rift between the NBA and Beijing at this point, China has blacked out TV broadcasts of games and told Silver to fire Morey--which he can't legally do.  But they need each other.  The NBA can't turn it's back on the marketing opportunities afforded by the huge Chinese market, and the government can't afford to alienate its basketball followers. 

In other words, if you want to make nice with a dictatorship started by revolutionaries who disliked capitalism and who now dabbles in it, it's best not to bring up politics. 

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Meanwhile back in North America, the NBA season has already begun.   Our Top Eight teams that we think will make the playoffs are like this:

Western Conference:  Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs. 

Eastern Conference:  Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers. 

Twins 2019: Still Not Ready for Prime Time

The Minnesota Twins won the American League Central division championship with 101 wins, the most since 1965.  They set several home run records in a season where just about half of all Major League Baseball teams set their own long ball records.  They also benefited from playing in a division where two of the four other teams (Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers) lost at least 100 games.  Which is where the Twins were a few years ago.

TV ratings on Fox Sports North (sold during the season from Disney to Sinclair, best known for using local news to spread right wing propaganda) went up 65%.  But most of America never got to see this team except for a couple of appearances on ESPN (against either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox) and once on You Tube.

Now we know why network executives were reluctant to schedule the Twins, because once again they were swept by the Yankees in the American League Division Series.  The Yankees dominated with their own bats (they don't call them the Bronx Bombers for nothing), and had better pitching than the Twins could ever afford.  It was Minnesota's 16th consecutive playoff loss, an MLB record, tying them with the NHL Chicago Blackhawks of the 1970s for the pro sports mark.  Thirteen of those losses were to the Yankees  The Twins have not won a playoff game since 2004.

The Twins will probably get more network TV appearances in 2020, but by then they'll be back in the mediocrity from whence they came as MLB comes up with ways to deaden the ball a little.  Another reason why 2019 will always remain one for the record books.

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Our World Series match up:  New York Yankees vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Wild 2019-20: On Thin Ice

The Minnesota Wild failed to make the National Hockey League playoffs last spring for the first time since 2012, and general manager Paul Fenton took the fall for it.  In one season, he either made bad trades involving popular players such as Nico Niederriter and Charlie Coyle to playoff-bound teams, or none at all.  Jason Zucker remains in Minnesota in spite of Fenton's best efforts to trade him.

It took until after the NHL Draft and free agency (for which the Wild were non-factors) for team owner Craig Leipold to realize his mistake and fired Fenton after one season.  He was replaced by Bill Guerin, a former player who had been assistant general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager for the Penguins' minor league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA.

Guerin inherits a team that has had no real roster changes since Fenton left.  Matt Dumba and Mikko Koivu are both back from injuries that kept them from playing much of last season..  Jared Spurgeon (who just signed a seven-year contract extension), Ryan Donato and Mats Zuccarello are ready to contribute.  But the goaltending is a question mark with Devan Dubnyk and Alex Stalock trying to do what Minnesota's defense can't.

Coach Bruce Boudreau is in the last year of his contract, and on his third general manager.  What he has to do is clear:  Get the Wild in the playoffs, and maybe go past the first round.  Or else Guerin can start housecleaning.  That process might take years.  The NHL's Central Division is so tough that they might have a difficult time staying out of mediocrity.  Look for a second year of an early spring exit.
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Our Top 8 teams from each conference:

WEST:  Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators.

EAST:  Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins. Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning.