By JOSH HELLER
Sports Editor
1. Griffey and Piazza to Join Hall of Fame In a class filled with stars like Mike Mussina, Barry Bonds, and Tim Raines, only two players were voted as inductees, Mariners’ legend Ken Griffey Jr., and Mets’ legend Mike Piazza. This class included some big newcomers to voting, like Piazza, Griffey, and Trevor Hoffman, as well as guys like Mark McGwire and Alan Trammell, who were in their 10th and 15th years of eligibility. Keeping in mind that you need 75 percent of the votes to be elected into the Hall, what Griffey accomplished is that much more incredible. Griffey broke two records with his induction: the first being the highest percentage of votes, tallying 99.3 percent of the votes, or 437 of a possible 440 votes. The other feat Griffey accomplished was becoming the first ever first-overall pick to be elected to the Hall. A truly remarkable accomplishment, considering how long baseball has been in existence. Now, we wait to see whether Griffey’s cap will feature him wearing a backwards hat. Piazza earned 83 percent of the votes, or 365 of the possible 440 in his fourth year of eligibility. Piazza also set a record, one similar to Griffey: Piazza became the lowest drafted player to be elected to the Hall. Piazza was a 62ndround pick back in 1988 to the Dodgers, drafted because he was a family friend of Tommy Lasorda. Piazza grew from an absolute lottery ticket to a Hall of Famer who will be known as one of the best slugging catchers to ever pick up a bat. There were several close calls in this year’s voting. Jeff Bagwell received 71.6 percent of the votes in his sixth year of eligibility, Tim Raines received 69.8 percent in his ninth year, and Hoffman received 67.3 percent in his first year. For Trammell and McGwire (12.3 percent), their eligibility now ends, but players like Hoffman and Curt Schilling (52.3 percent) have plenty of upcoming years to get in, but it will be difficult if voters continue on with their “small Hall” voting method.
2. NFL Coaching Carousel Continues One of the darkest days of the NFL offseason passed over a week ago, Black Monday, and the coach carousel just keeps on spinning. Arguably the biggest change came from the New York Giants, whose head coach, Tom Coughlin, resigned after serving as the Giants’ coach since 2004. Coughlin, who spent time coaching in both the NCAA and the NFL, will leave the position with the Giants with two Super Bowl rings on his fingers. Following Coughlin’s resignation, GM Jerry Reese promoted offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to the head coach position. Coughlin was rumored to have been interviewed for the opening in Philadelphia, but Coughlin dropped out of the race. Another big change came with Chip Kelly. Kelly was fired from his position with the Eagles, and shortly after being let go, the 49ers (who fired their coach, Jim Tomsula) hired him as head coach. It will definitely be interesting to see if Kelly is able to revive quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who looked to be on his way out of town. Strangely enough, the other four hirings all involved offensive coaches. Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was hired as the Buccaneers’ head coach, after Lovie Smith was inexplicably let go. Elsewhere, Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Doug Pederson was brought in to coach the Eagles, Bengals’ offensive coordinator Hue Jackson was hired by the Browns, Bears’ offensive coordinator was brought in by the Dolphins, and Mike Mularkey, former interim coach, will remain head coach for the Titans. Many scrutinized coaches will remain in their positions, such as Sean Payton, Jim Caldwell, and Chuck Pagano (who was actually signed to an extension). The offseason for many teams has just begun, and we still have some football left to be played this season.
3. NHL All-Star Controversy: John Scott Traded Following a fan vote that got him into the All-Star Game, Arizona Coyotes’ goon John Scott was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Scott has not been effective for the Coyotes, tallying one assist in 11 games. But, that’s not what Scott is known for. Scott has been an enforcer ever since entering the league, and has only five goals in his 285-game NHL career. Scott has always been a target for criticism in the new age of the NHL, where enforcers are a dying breed. However, Scott is a great guy off the ice, with a nice sense of humor, a wonderful family, and some charitable work. Seeing that he could take the criticism, the hockey community voted him into the All-Star Game, as Pacific Division captain. Scott was sent to the AHL multiple times in his time in Arizona, including once following his vote into the game. On Friday, the Coyotes pulled off a three-team trade with the Canadiens and the Predators. In the end, the Predators sent Stefan Elliott to the Coyotes for Victor Bartley, while the Coyotes sent Scott and Bartley to Montreal for Jarred Tinordi and Stefan Fournier. Reports have surfaced that prior to the trade, both the NHL and the Coyotes approached Scott, asking him to decline the All-Star Game invite, but he would not. So, the Coyotes took the step of trading him to a team in another division, which will reportedly knock him out of the All-Star Game. Friday was not a good P.R. day for the NHL, as fans everywhere were outraged with this snub. While the NHL has offered Scott and his family free travel to Nashville for All-Star Weekend, the NHLPA has approached the NHL in regards to the matter. It truly is a shame that the NHL would give the fans the right to vote anyone they wanted into the All-Star Game, and then approach that player and ask him not to go. The NHL was ridiculed for a similar incident back in 2006-07, when fans voted in Rory Fitzpatrick (who had one assist in that season at the time), but the NHL dumped thousands of Fitzpatrick’s votes, following an investigation. If the NHL wants fans to take its AllStar Game seriously (ratings have been in the tank since its inception), they need to straighten their ship, before they hit an iceberg.
4. Alabama Tops Clemson for National Title Following a very entertaining playoff, Alabama upset unbeaten Clemson in the national championship game. In an offense-heavy game, Alabama beat Clemson 45-40, following a 24-point fourth quarter. Crimson Tide quarterback had a solid game, with 335 yards and two touchdowns, but he was nothing compared to what Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson brought to the game. Watson accounted for 473 of Clemson’s 550 total yards and four touchdowns. Even if Coker was outmatched, Alabama got help from their Heisman running back, Derrick Henry. Henry racked up 158 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns, and following the championship, he declared for the draft. Henry scored a touchdown late in the fourth to put the Crimson Tide ahead. Watson was able to get a touchdown in the final minute for the Tigers, but Clemson was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick, leading to Alabama’s victory. For head coach Nick Saban, this is his fifth national title (one with LSU), and Alabama’s fourth title since 2009. This game against Dabo Swinney’s Tigers was arguably the toughest Saban has had to deal with in a championship game, but two onside kick recoveries (one in the fourth kicked by Clemson, and one from Alabama early in the fourth, which surprised everyone) would prove to be the biggest difference makers in this game. Saban has developed a dynasty down in Tuscaloosa, and it’s difficult to see that slowing down any time soon.
5. Bradley, Not Crawford or Khan for Pacquiao In a strange turn of events, Manny Pacquiao chose Timothy Bradley as his next fight in April. This fight will be Pacquiao’s first since falling to Floyd Mayweather back in May, and it just seems like a pointless rematch. Bradley and Pacquiao have fought two times previously: once in 2012, where Bradley won in controversial fashion, and a rematch in 2014, won by Pacquiao. The decision comes as a surprise, as Bradley was the choice over other contenders like 2014 Fighter of the Year Terence Crawford, or Amir Khan, who attempted to fight Mayweather, but he retired in September. Khan wasn’t very active in 2015, fighting just once, so that part didn’t come as a huge surprise. What was surprising, however, was the decision of taking a third fight with Bradley, than fight an up-and-coming guy in Crawford. Many are skeptical of the decision, as many project that Bradley-Pacquiao won’t do very well, ratings-wise. Reports are also going around that this fight against Bradley could be Pacquiao’s final, as he is contemplating retirement, but this report could not be confirmed. If this is in fact Pacquiao’s final fight, many think he could have done better in choosing an opponent, but Pacquiao said, “what I can assure everybody is we made that decision having the interest of the boxing public in mind.”
