Sportsman of the Week Ending 10/26/2025

We enter the time of the sports calendar that I call syzygy.  That is, all four major men's sports (and MLS) are in full swing at once, with NHL and NBA starting up, MLB in the final throws of the World Series, and the NFL in midseason form.  All.  Aligned.  It's the latter we focus on as one of the marquee matchups of the NFL was future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers (and two-time Sportsman of the Week [9/2013, 11/2014)] leading the Pittsburgh Steelers against his former Packers team.  However it was the current Packers QB who stole the show.  Jordan Love stared down a 9-point deficit at halftime, and 5 points going into the fourth before he took control of the game.  Just like an elite QB does.  Love was efficient, hitting 27 passes, missing only 8, no interceptions and 3 TD to go with 365 yards.  Also took no sacks in a decisive 35-25 victory in Prime Time.  Looked all the part of the Packers QB legacy and is poised to take them to the Super Bowl.  Jordan Love is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 10/19/2025

The game everyone is still buzzing about and it may not ever stop.  Shohei Ohtani went all Little League best player on the field but it wasn't Little League, but the National League Championship Series.  As the Los Angeles Dodgers storm through their playoff bracket (now 9-1 so far in these playoffs). Shohei keeps doing it all.  Of course by all, we mean hitting and pitching.  In NLCS Game 4, Shohei took the mound and went 6 innings, just 2 hits and 10 strikeouts over 100 pitches.  But to quote the telemarketing campaign "but wait, there's more".  Batting leadoff he staked his starting pitcher (in this case, himself) to a 1-0 lead (which ballooned to a 3 run lead by the end) with a leadoff home run.  But wait, there's more.  He hit two more solo home runs and drew a walk for a perfect day at the plate as the Dodgers eased to a 5-1 win and their fifth pennant in 9 years.  Tying a playoff home run record with 3 home runs in a game (joining Reggie Jackson, Babe Ruth, Jose Altuve, and many more).  What can't he do?  Time will tell.  But Shohei Ohtani is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

This is Shohei Ohtani's third Sportsman of the Week in three years

July 30, 2023

September 22, 2024

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 10/12/2025

The Las Vegas Aces ran roughshod through the WNBA finals in big part to who may become the best player in League History.  Superstar front court player A'ja Wilson capped her record fourth WNBA MVP with a Final MVP, her second, while leading the Aces to their third title in four years with a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury.  Wilson scored 65 points with 23 rebounds over the two games this week, with 8 assists.  The decisive moment was her nailing a game winning shot with under a second left in Game 3, effectively ending any hopes for Phoenix.  Overall averaging 28.5 points in 36 minutes with over 12 boards a game.  Dominant.  Speaking of dominant, the Aces were just too much and moved to 10-1 in the Finals over their three titles in four years.  The 29-year-old is a great of the game, and great of this Blog with her Second Sportswoman of the Week!

A'ja Wilson first won Sportswoman of the Week in 2017.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 10/5/2025

The Major League Baseball postseason when flying through the Wild Card round and into the Division Series.  One of the more intriguing matchups were traditional American League East powers the Boston Red Sox visiting the New York Yankees for a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.  After both teams landed punches to split the first two games, the stage was set for a rookie to emerge as the hero.  Cam Schlittler didn't have his major league debut until July 9th but by October 2nd, he was carrying his team. In a postseason performance not seen for years, Schlittler notched a career high 8 innings, fanning a career high 14 Red Sox, while walking none in 107 efficient pitches.  And the crowd went wild.  The 4-0 win got the Yankees to the Division Series round, but our Sportsman of the Week was a surprising reason why.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/28/2025

The first major conference matchup week in college football unfolded in the last weekend in September and it did not disappoint.  In the New Conference Order, suddenly a matchup between Illinois and Southern California is (1) a conference matchup and (2) one between ranked teams.  And on national TV, the Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer took over.  Altmyer struck early, was efficient, and finished the game.  He ended 20-26 with 328 yards on such limited attempts.  And two TDs in a thrilling 34-32 victory.  And no interceptions.  And he was efficient with his legs on five carries and tack on another touchdown.  Oh and, he caught a TD pass.  Talk about doing it all.  Altmyer answered the critics after a tough loss and has positioned Illinois with their conference title fate in front of them.  Luke Altmyer is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/21/2025

In a busy time in the sports world, the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan, featured incredible athletes on a big stage a year after the Paris Olympics. Perhaps the biggest star is the Swedish Pole Vaulter who has quickly demonstrated he's the best in history.  Mondo Duplantis set a World Record with a 6.3m vault, beating his previous record of 6.16m by a good margin.  He's set a World Record now 14 times.  The Swede has won the last two Olympics and doesn't seem to be slowing down.  Certain to be one of the greatest field athletes in history, he's the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/14/2025

Despite criticism of scheduling, the first three weeks of the NCAA College Football Season has had a number of big games with ranked teams coming down to the end.  The Texas A&M Aggies took a step up in the national landscape with a huge win on the road against a Top Ten team.  In what many consider the most hallowed college football grounds in South Bend, Indiana.  Marcel Reed, who emerged midway through the 2024 season with a big win against LSU, did it again against the Fighting Irish.  This time accounting for nearly 400 yards on his own (360 passing, 37 running) and two TDs.  His most clutch play was the deciding fourth down and 11 yards do or die.  Reed did.  Notre Dame died.  Big win for the Aggies as they try and show they're contenders for the SEC.  Marcel Reed is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/7/2025

What an NFL Opening Weekend with thrilling games and new story lines emerging.  The biggest game of the weekend was on Sunday Night Football as in a huge playoff matchup the Baltimore Ravens traveled to the Buffalo Bills in the last season opener in the venerable Bills stadium.  The game did not disappoint.  As the two best players in football navigated their teams up and down the field for 81 points.  The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen fed off the moment for an amazing fourth quarter scoring three touchdowns and a field goal, including 16 unanswered in the last four minutes for a thrilling victory before a sellout, yet not all seats full crowd for fans who left.  Allen had 394 yards passing, 2 TD throwing, 2 TD running in the 41-40 victory.  Will this be the Bills year?  Allen will be the one to take them there, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

This is Josh Allen's second Sportsman of the Week.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/31/2025

College Football kicked off a huge Labor Day Weekend and the United States Open (of Tennis) is in full swing but we're back to baseball for our honors this week.  For the third time this season, a four home run game has been achieved.  Most ever.  This time, by home run machine Kyle Schwarber.  Schwarber is one of the great power hitters in the current era and did not disappoint against the rival Atlanta Braves.  The Wearing the classic powder blue uniforms, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger hit a HR in the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 7th inning against the Atlanta Braves collecting 9 RBI along the way, which is a good month for many players.  Wherever he plays he produces and his teams make postseason runs.  He is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/24/2025

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.  No more.  The best player to never win a PGA event has won one and it was the literal Tour Championship.  Tommy Fleetwood had too many runners up to count, including Majors.  Including recent events.  Playing the best golf on the tour by a duffer not named Scottie.  This week.  He did it.  Finished three shots clear of the field and an elite field at that only the 30 best that qualified.  Nobody nailed an impossible putt against him.  He didn't get the shanks on the last couple of holes.  Closed.  With ease.  By all counts one of the best gentlemen and sportsmen on the tour, and now the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!