Month: August 2024

Panther Football, Sports

Knights win 6-4, Ascent FC takes inaugural game 1-0, Panthers 15-12 game vs. Jets was satisfying Sports Saturday in Charlotte

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Knights win 6-4, Ascent FC takes inaugural game 1-0, Panthers 15-12 game vs. Jets was satisfying Sports Saturday in Charlotte

Panthers scored TD at end of regulation, not getting to kick extra point (or playing many first teamers) wasn’t a problem. Vicky Bruce’s goal in 27th minute at refurbished ($41M) American Legion Memorial stadium was seen by 10,553 enthused spectators, and Knights hung a 5 spot in 4th inning fireworks, none after matinee game. On a 90 degree day, cold beer and well-played games were all you could ask for.

Forget about naysaying for just a little while Charlotte, although winning their inaugural game guarantees nothing for the first women’s pro sports team here since WNBA Sting folded in 2007. Saturday’s triple header sure beats the ‘Loserville’ tag our teams have earned while being blasted regularly the last couple years. Hornets only won 21 NBA games last season, Carolina Panthers were an often described as a dumpster fire while going 2-15 in 2023, and Triple AAA Knights, now 54-62, were a dismal 54-96 last year. Take the upswing on Knights being more competitive.

Panthers still not playing first teamers

For the fans who continue to sweat (sorry! its legit about Sat.) Head Coach Dave Canales still not putting starters (37 held out vs. Jets) on field in pre-season games, there is an expectation that changes against Buffalo Bills this Saturday. Cutdowns to 53-man roster are next Tues. (27th) and HC Canales has *got* to want to see Bryce Young and the offense working for real before season opener vs. Saints two weeks later.

Given the barrage of injuries throughout NFL camps, ie. Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (torn meniscus) that will sideline the rookie from Michigan for 2024 season, Canales caution with expected starters is still outside usual NFL best practices.

The joint practices against Jets last week provided helpful indicators on progress. Jets QB Aaron Rodgers started slow with a pair of INTs, got back on track late with a TD pass during two-minute drill. Panthers QB Bryce Young was 14/22 on Thursday, 5/7 to five different receivers on his chance at two-minute drill, resulting in a FG. Eddie Pinero is the only kicker in camp now, so apparently he’s not getting any more than the $2.5M for year two of his contract like he desired.

Terrence Marshall, Jr. and second year receiver Jonathan Mingo seem to be assured of making the 53-man team off the intrasquad practices. Marshall’s TD in Jets practice left him giddy enough to drop the ball on his defender, a major reason for the teams dust-up during week. That $100M free agent Robert Hunt went down early in one practice was cause for concern, but he came back later, so whew! for offensive line and yes, points to Canales for holding starters out in another game. Panthers are better, but losing first line players (they had 15 people at guard positions in 2023) would be a killer.

RB Chuba Hubbard (238 carries, 902 yds, 5 TDs in 2023) went down awkwardly in practice but is judged okay, and Jonathan Brooks isn’t ready yet, but Dillon Johnson (18 carries, 89 yds., last second TD) looked fine. Panthers Jack Plummer was 11/18 for 42 yards, but HC Canales is truly pushing the running game aspect.

DB Demani Richardson’s late INT on Saturday capped a terrific week, with two others in practices. Despite DC Ejiro Eviro’s Panthers defense putting up somewhat gaudy numbers – 3rd in passing yardage, 4th in overall yardage, and 5th in third down efficiency in 2023 – they only had NINE TOs last year. Some ball-hawking in secondary, and increased respect for rookie Trevin Wallace’s banging people as MLB, Panthers looked more like an NFL team.

Knights played to few, Ascent FC before many

It was difficult to determine how close to their average attendance (6,000) the Knights were, because almost everyone took shelter in shade, but the Ascent fared much better with that enthused 10,553. Renee Guion’s free kick was headed by Annika Creel to a well-positioned Vicky Bruce, who tucked it away in the 27th minute against DC Power FC.

The Ascent will have 14 games in Aug.-Dec. part of season, then 14 more from Feb.-May, playing in USL Super League. That they drew such a crowd at other end of Charlotte from Panthers game is a hopeful sign. Sorry, didn’t see that game, can’t say a ton about it.

Political, Sports

Panthers, Politics, Olympics – to Love or Appreciate mid-August?

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on Panthers, Politics, Olympics – to Love or Appreciate mid-August?
Okay, the All Blacks weren’t represented in Paris, but USA’s Ilona Maher’s bludgeoning of would-be tacklers , unreal speed, and 5’10”, 200 lb. presence in the Rugby 7s was awesome enough.

From start to finale, it would take a superior supply of imagination to outshine the most dynamic Olympic experience this sportswriter can remember (I went to ’76 Olympics in Montreal). Hyperbole? Naah, massive joy at continuous athletic achievement worked out great.

Damn fine crowds have flocked to Harris-Walz campaign stops in battleground states, for anyone parsing the truthfulness of my going to ’76 Olympics, I meant as a tourist. If nobody seems to be sweating HC Dave Canales holding Bryce Young and about 30 players out of 17-3 pre-season loss against Patriots, that wasn’t loveable.

While bulleting is rarely the writing methodology I choose, like USA Basketball Head Coach Steve Kerr, the decision is made, let the chips fall where they may, and goodness, there’s a ton of chips to consider.

Paris Olympics were peaceful, satisfying

  • Tri-athletes had a lot more to complain about than the accommodations in Olympic village. Despite whatever ‘cleaning up’ might have been done, the water quality sucked, so the prospect of diving in the Seine must have been a daunting choice. Every athlete recognizes the Olympics is an every four years event vs. any year’s NCAA or world championships, so opting out of swimming aspect – like air quality concerns of marathoners in Beijing Olympics, or the politics of US boycotting in1980 after Russian tanks rolled into Afghanistan, and Russians doing same for 1984 LA Olympics – becomes a life experience gone.

Winners: Alex Yee (mens, Great Britian) https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-paris-triathlon-1cf86375ad666e7c5d222279f33ca31e and Cassandre Beaugrand (womens, France) took the plunge, and biking on rainy roads was doubling down on an extremely stressful event.

  • If USWNT and new coach Emma Hayes having reinstituted US dominance is still not a lock, their taking the gold with 1-0 win over Brazil just hours before the men’s https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5692015/2024/08/10/uswnt-brazil-olympic-gold-medal-takeaways/ basketball 98-87 victory against host nation France – was an epic afternoon. USA hoops team rode Stef (the Chef) Curry’s zeroed in 3-point shooting – 17 treys between 95-91 semi-final win over Serbia and finale vs. France. Team USA’s Women also beat the host nation for gold, 67-66, after France’s Gabby Williams toe was on 3-point line for final basket vs. extending game to OT.
  • Beyond the men’s 4x100m relay going down in DQ flames (again), Cole Hocker was huge https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/cole-hockers-epic-final-stretch-seals-olympic-gold in 1500m win; Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis going Olympic record-world record (6.25m) in last two pole vault attempts was superb. Gabby Thomas, with her neurobiology-global health degree while running track at Harvard University and three golds (200m, two relays) in Paris, and Ilona Maher (7s rugby, bronze) putting her 5’10”, 200 lb. physique out there in a teeny red bikini for social media, awed many with her bruising play, were all super memorable.
  • Katie Ledecky in the pool is a national treasure, the Chinese national team raked in as much gold as better chemistry is capable of, and Dutch track star Femke Bol was outstanding at ripping the souls out of competitors with super just-before-the-line finishes. The French pole vaulter whose ‘package’ got rapped on cross bar will only hear about it daily for a long, long time. https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/a8232f165ebea14b0b3de76b267b07d0

Overall medal count was 40 gold (tie with China), 44 silver, 42 bronze, and stating the women’s share of that haul is easily recognized, is Truth. That several nations with small contingents pulled in first ever medals, not a problem. Sorry, I didn’t catch any wrestling or rhythmic gymnastics.

Panthers-Jets tomorrow moves regular season another day closer

  • Nobody is really going to know how much Panthers have improved from 2-15 team of 2023 until we see how long it takes to win two this year, but sure, finding out if DC Ejiro Evero’s defense can slow down Aaron Rodgers will produce a quantity of information that can’t be gained any other way. If Rodgers slays the secondary in the few series after sitting out all but the first few ticks of last season, Charlotte fans will probably feel like the Democrats did *before* Pres. Biden ended his presidential campaign – oh man! There’s no lusted-for Stephon Gilmore in coverage, but he hasn’t signed anywhere else either.
  • How Derrick Brown and the crew of free agents (Clowney!) the Panthers brought in to replace losing most of their linebacking crew (Yo, Shaq! Glad you’re still around) will be watched closely.
  • The same is true for Bryce Young’s offensive line, #1 draft pick Xavier Leggette (lee-gett) from USC (East), and TE Ja’Tavian Sanders. Panthers spent the big bucks on guards after a 62 sack campaign was the Heisman winner’s first year experience. Yes, Ikem Ekwonu better strap it on tight, HC Canales and OC Brad Idzik plan to run the ball lots. #2 pick (Texas) RB Jonathan Brooks is still almost two months from actually contributing as he recovers from November ACL surgery. XL is being handled *very* carefully, second year man Jonathan Mingo can’t afford to let down on the good vibes so many have gotten from watching this training camp. (Thanks in advance, Steven Smith, Sr.)

POLITICS

  • Refugee Team breaker Manizha Talash was disqualified from the first ever Olympic breaking competition for wearing a cape that said “Free Afghan Women.” Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) staring over at two competitors while blowing past-anchoring the 4×100 relay was personal, not political.
  • Frequent use of phrase, ‘The worst three weeks of trump’s life’ has been bandied regularly on air and headlines, with a direct contrast to the enthusiastic crowds who have greeted Harris-Walz rallies in a tour of battleground states. The Democratic Convention is next week, and Dems aren’t paying much attention to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s mantra – “When they go low, we go high.”
  • trump’s VP candidate JD Vance is on bigly wrong side of favorability surveys, and Dems Walz has been consistently beating the drum about his ‘couch ethics’ from his literary contribution to the world, Hillbilly Elegy. Its not a straight up biography, but its played well every time so far…
  • Although its still a close election scenario, fact the Harris campaign brought in $300M+ almost immediately, along with 130,000 (so they say) volunteers, a raft of Hollywood types, and support from groups like ‘Republicans for Harris’ et al puts even more positive spin on the political future than #MrTeppers$ staying quiet has about Charlotte Panthers football operations. Just sayin.’
  • Eighty-two days to elections! Like many who have been inspired (or fearful) about another Must Win election against trump, doing any small part to keep it real is legitimate for me. The training for Precinct Judge (D) in September will be a first time in almost 40 years I’m going deeper than simply voting. Last exposure was doing PR for a mayoral race in upstate NY, working for the Republican candidate because he was willing to pay for the help, against the Democrat I’m done similar work for the previous time around.

LOVE vs. APPRECIATION

Some use those terms interchangeably, with my proof regarding Olympics watching consisting of three extra pounds on scale and an ugh! number of Fosters cans for recycling. Yes, more than appreciated it, plunking myself in front of a big screen for, uhhhh, hours, was not a source of heavy guilt as much as loving the constant, often razor thin difference, between medals and nothing more substantial than knowing you’ve done the best you can.

Yes, as an ex-rugger, I ‘loved’ seeing Maher whack potential tacklers with a stiff arm in the neck, then being soooo cool (a vision in black, spaghetti strap dress) on late night TV, https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/2024/08/13/ilona-maher-guest-nbcs-late-night-with-seth-meyers-paris-olympics-bronze-jason-kelce/74779533007/ letting Myers know she told everyone at Final Ceremonies, “It’s my birthday, so cheer your asses off” attitude.

Could ‘appreciation’ actually be gratitude for an undeniably safe and peaceful two weeks for a world that had every reason to think Paris could become another Munich (1972) disaster, with death and destruction blowing away all ancient, cherished Olympic standards of peace? Yep.

Would I appreciate the local Panthers being better (and bettable) in 2024? Hell yes.

Would I love to have a ‘Good Person’ continue to lead this country as a *democracy* vs. the specter of Project 2025 becoming part of my American lifestyle at 67? That would be a golden ideal, especially if we don’t wind up litigating the ever lovin’ snot out of any dispute like 2020 elections that gets a gnarlier as the back-forth on a bronze medal in floor exercise between a Romanian and USA’s Jordan Chiles over .1 in scoring, and four seconds of timing.

Business, Panther Football

For what its worth, Panthers pre-season is here, Young being held out

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on For what its worth, Panthers pre-season is here, Young being held out
What’s in the cards for 2024 Carolina Panthers? Not all answers will be made clear after a pre-season game, but count on them being more watch- and bettable. Willing to reinvest more of my NY casino winnings, what’s over-under on TE Sanders for TDs?

Enormous rain in Charlotte from Debby is no problem, game in New England will be closely watched by all. (Well, depending on Olympic schedule; US-Brazil women’s VB figures to be killer.) Holding out Young so maybe he doesn’t get broken ‘for nothing’ doesn’t sound right; give HC Canales extra rope on who-what-when at this point. Start the season clock, big Nexts will be 53-man roster (Aug. 27th) and opener vs. Saints (Sept. 8).

When assessing the Panthers brain trust during free agency and draft, the poker axiom ‘You can’t win everything in first couple pots, but you CAN lose it that quick,’ is still legitimate now that first preseason game is here. Head Coach Dave Canales knows as well as anyone that proving definite operational changes are as positive as his outlook is constantly described, will count. Nothing could say Tah-dah! better than Young going vertical and tagging one, or several, of those new receivers. But not this week.

Can Panthers run the ball?

While Young’s development will always be front and center consideration, Canales stated offensive plans revolve around running the ball effectively. “Every team I’ve been on, we used all of our running backs at different points because it’s such a violent position,” states the case, and he’ll have full tight end (9) and WR rooms (9) with 90 bodies in camp.

#2 pick Brooks isn’t expected to be available for another two months (post-Achilles surgery). Yes, surgery was reason the Texas product was available. Leave CMC out of any discussions on injury front, when Brooks is ready, we’ll know about it.

The new guard tandem of Robert Hunt-Damian Lewis and center Austin Corbett can’t be one-dimensional QB protectors, seeing Ikem Ekwonu put 3-4 people on their keesters would be uplifting, nothing better than Chuba Hubbard getting thirty-five yards on a half-dozen carries (2023 avg. 3.9/carry) out of the gate tonight. If Sanders put four good carries together, people would be less inclined to point at his $25.4M contract (in Year 2 of 4).

Playing many of the lesser names (Canales eventually held out about 30 players) is 99% the rationale for pre-season, and ‘Lets see what we’ve got’ has to include those here for last year’s 2-15. A lot of personnel is being re-evaluated, Legette (foot concern) and Brooks, like Young, are being handled carefully. GM Morgan has a plethora of Others to dial up immediately, but there will be now be film to watch and names to forget-replace at a steady clip.

RBs – Hubbard (4), Brooks, Sanders (6), Blackshear (3), D. Johnson, Jaden Shirden, Mike Boone (7)

TEs – Franks (4), Hodges, Hollister (7), Horsted (5), Matthews (8), Sanders, Sullivan (3), Thomas (7!), Tremble (4)

WRs – Diontae Johnson (6), Legette, Marshall (4), Mingo (2), Moore (6), Smith-Marsette (4), M. Strachan (4), Thielen (11), Thompkins (3)

Defense will have opportunities

Patriots were a decently strong defense up front last year, and they’ve given safety Jabril Peppers a 3 yr./$24M contract based on last years strong work. Panthers should be motivated to physically move people every chance they get, pre-season doesn’t earn a participation trophy. ‘Coach wants ground game, we do ground game!’ is order of the day. HC Canales has made it clear the lack of pre-snap discipline at FanFest at Clemson last week can’t/better not be best he gets.

Both offenses will be looking to prove they can run against the other, and Panther fans will be looking for Jadeveon Clowney to become enough of the ‘generational talent’ he was drafted as out of South Carolina. Its Year 11 on his physical clock, and he’s always been more of a beast against the run than truly overwhelming pass rusher. None of that changes with a pre-season game appearance (or not).

We’ll see how DC Evero uses his very different personnel in 2024, but Derrick Brown HAS to duplicate his feats of last year (57 solo tackles, 103 overall, 2 sacks) to move the Panthers defense up the overall rankings – they got scored on a lot without giving up sustained drives for a #3 rating.

Nobody can predict whether betting on Jaycee Horn will become a consistent terror in coverage or guy (still) walking the bench area during games is good idea. Just sayin’.

America is set to bet

Would I bet on this game (+5)? Sure, and a lot sooner than I would have bet that Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis (via LSU, Mom’s heritage) https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10130873-swedens-mondo-duplantis-sets-pole-vaulting-world-record-at-2024-olympics-wows-fans would go Olympic record (6.1m), world record (6.25m) with last two tries, after already nailing his second gold medal (Tokyo, 2021).

Even Canales would be hard pressed to out-positive that.

Results $$ during March Madness were good on FanDuel, I’d invested a lot of time on Big East watching (beyond UConn). I’m going to be an expert on understanding-writing Panthers season, and hugely talented Olympic athletes aside, football, including college, is where the meat is for sports books. Yes, I’ve got early $50 on Panthers (+800 consensus over several sites) for the NFC South.

#leadership thought, Panther Football

This ex-Yankee sharpens 2024 production – Panthers, politics, Red Silk Boxers

by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment on This ex-Yankee sharpens 2024 production – Panthers, politics, Red Silk Boxers
Talk about a classic shot: December game at Clemson, 1995. Sam Mills is going to try and stop Steve Young sneaking in from the one. 31-10 was final.

I bought tickets for Knights game on 17th, expect to ride bike downtown and see how close to Panthers practice fields I can get this week. The names of those who won’t be playing football in Charlotte long will be, well, long, starting soon. Lots of people to not learn about.

My red silk boxers picture, from just before moving to Charlotte in 1995, was about elementary personal positivity I’d like to revisit in 2024. That feeling a rising tide lifts all boats, the sunshine-y promise over four days that April for folks anniversary, became Go! action 38 days later. I was never a Giants or Jets fan.

I attended my first Panthers game, against the Steve Young-Jerry Rice 49ers, at Clemson. Panthers made it to NFC championship in Year 2, lost 32-29 to Patriots in their first win (2004) of Super Bowl run, and Broncos in 2016.

The franchises overall record is 223-260-1, 31-68 since #MrTeppers$ bought the team. Its not all his fault, but…Without 15-1 record in Super Bowl season, Rivera wouldn’t be nearly their winningest coach. I lucked into Panthers-Cowboys playoff tickets on Christmas Eve.

I’ve seen the depths three times, but just about every righteous button has been pressed by Panthers GM Dan Morgan in 2024, starting with extending stud defensive tackle Derrick Brown. https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-dt-derrick-brown-agrees-to-four-year-96m-contract-extension While extensive coverage went to Brian Burns struggles with getting paid, Brown’s stats became a profound statement of his value to this organization – any upgrading of talent or regard for its #3 yardage defense ranking last year is based on his effectiveness.

The free agent elements brought in to mitigate the wiping out of Panthers linebacking corps, the newbies, and names in/out/remaining in the pot, they know THE PADS ARE ON NOW.

–8/1/24, GShork – Yes, Carolina, the Panthers will be bettable this year – points will be scored. No, its not just Canales positive smoke, its a brighter operational day. #MrTeppers$ should just ride the wave, maybe talk about stadium $$$ after they beat 5.5 win projection.

Not Cam Newton’s RPO

Its not necessary to visit any Panthers practices to know run-pass options won’t be in Head Coach Dave Canales playbook, even though he speaks regularly about running the ball offensively. Defensive coordinators figured out long ago that whacking the QBs *on*every*play* was a definite way to slow an RPO offense down, and yes, ‘6’5″, 250 and runs like a deer’ description of early Newton’s physicality is 180 degrees different from Bryce Young’s much slighter frame.

Otherwise, yes, there will be a real quantity of head banging for Panthers O-line in 2024.

If even TWO of the reports that Young is throwing it accurately to Everyone, Everywhere, All the time is true, *that* is still what most sports pundits consider a major criteria for Good Quarterback. The only time Cam hit a receiver on ‘up’ throw in red zone, Devin Funchess reached OVER a Redskin defender from behind to pluck what would have been an easy INT free. https://www.panthers.com/news/devin-funchess-becomes-first-nfl-player-to-sign-professional-basketball-contract (Who knew he was this good an athlete?)

Chuba Hubbard is the stalking horse for Panthers running game – at least right now. He’s been a grinder (3.9/carry) and scored 12 TDs for Panthers, five in ’21 when McCaffrey was the lead back and got traded, five last year (238 carries/902 yds) when there was NOT a great O-line in big picture. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4241416/chuba-hubbard

If only thing that’s come out of camp about Miles Sanders is he’s lost some weight, Canales still likes crowds in RB and TE rooms.

Sizeable IFs

Austin Corbett’s move to center (post-knee surgery) and early addition of free agent guards Hunt, Lewis to run with the extremely solid Taylor Moton at right tackle, and betting on a better, remotivated Ikem Ekwonu on the left, is highly anticipated. Corbett has never played center as a professional, Ekwonu’s rep took a righteous dinging in a sophomore season full of penalties and shredding by blitzers that ruined Young’s first season.

Brady Christiansen will be backing up most line positions, but people will be leaving camp sooner vs. later if results are lacking. Morgan replaced Rashaad Penny’s retirement in less than a day. There’s already position competition gents… Cade Mays (3 yrs.)? Stephenson, excuse me, Steven Sullivan?

Solid Credit for upgrades to receiving corps

Best news for WR room is (seriously) that Jonathan Mingo spent time with Panthers great Steven Smith, Sr. during off-season. Mingo has all the physical tools, as does Terrance Marshall, and by all accounts, Ian Thomas has shown something under Canales early coaching. Keep the standard of ‘Whatever improves the competitive outlook of team’ in mind. Football Operations is getting great PR for consistent moves, and yes, it still seems #MrTeppers$ is being invested appropriately and without any hoo-ha.

When talking best moves on upgrading front, getting All Pro who runs great patterns Diontae Johnson as WR1 for CB Donte Jackson, who was about to become an economic cut ($14.5M), tops the trade list. A close #2, because Charlotte has gotten some quality personnel on the roster vs. shunned as ungood place to be, is Xavier Leggette (lee-get), the first round pick Panthers didn’t have going into draft. He’s a rookie most likely to earn a nickname and too modest to accept it. An inch shorter and a ripped 221 lbs., he’s Mushin Muhammad size with serious giddyap, and he’ll be a party to watch happen.

Canales-OC Brad Idzik won’t take as long to get production from him at WR2 as Panthers waited for Ohio St. blur Curtis Samuel to succeed (and then go free agent).

Canales-OC Brad Idzik won’t take as long to get production from him at WR2 as Panthers waited for Ohio St. blur Curtis Samuel to succeed (and then go free agent). Mushin is a franchise great, will be inducted into Ring of Honor with Julius Peppers during Week 8 game vs. Houston Texans.

Ja’Tavian Sanders out of Texas has got to be a prayer answered at tight end. My credo is use that weapon until a defense proves they can stop him, don’t sweat his blocking. Pavoratti didn’t sing the praises of Buicks or Golden Corral, right? Has it only been since 2020 that Olsen has been gone? 15.3yds./catch at Texas and almost elite speed, check, so maybe, please, show us how touches can (always?) equal catches.

Because I like the prospect of calling an obvious event early, mark Sanders down for a red zone TD catch early in season; he’ll filter outside on a goal line defense, be an unstoppable 1-1 cover. You might call it ‘best practices.’

–GShork says, 8/1/24

No pressure on Brooks cutting things up too soon, adding catch-run yardage out of backfield? Noooo, zero expectations…

Hey, WR room still has Adam Thielen, won’t get 1,000 again as primary, but he keeps getting open, so Young has the safety blanket tosses. He’ll earn his check and be a great teammate too. If part of what’s being rebuilt in Panthers organization is culture, with dawgs and foxhole guys in the mix, Thielen deserves to run some routes with daylight between catches and getting thumped by OLBs on a bad team at ending of solid career.