Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/12/2026

Another amazing week of the World Cup as the field winnowed down to four teams.  The four teams aren't necessarily a surprise, but one of the heroes is.  Spain midfielder Mikel Merino has been the death knell for two teams this week.  Coming off the bench in a tie game, he's scored the eventual winning goal twice.  In the final moments.  After subbing in the 85th minute, Merino broke open a scoreless tie in the first minute of injury time (90+1) to score the only goal in a 1-0 goal against Cristiano Ronaldo and rival Portugal.  Then he doubled the achievement in even less time, subbing in the 86th minute, and dealing a 1-1 tiebreaker against Belgium for Spain to advance to the Semifinals in the 88th minute.  In about the 80th minute, watch for Merino to step in and see if he has the same luck against Spain.  Our Sportsman of the Week cannot be doubted!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/5/2026

Another week of exciting World Cup action as the knockout round begins to take shape.  A strong team that has not made a run this deep in recent, and even not-so-recent memory is Norway.  Placed in a bracket with Cup champion favorites France, Norway battled their way to a second place Group finish, poised to run at the Cup starting with Ivory Coast.  Ivory Coast battled to a tie in the waning moments before Norwegian soccer god Erling Haaland scored the deciding goal in the 86th minute to send Norway to their first knockout round victory in the history of the squad.  Then facing Brazil, the formidable foe who won the last World Cup held in North America, Haaland got even better.  Tied the game in the 79th minute, Haaland struck twice in eleven minutes to put Norway up 2-0, ultimately resulting in a 2-1 win sending Brazil home early.  Norway is through to the round of eight, and Erling Haaland has etched his name in the pantheon of great Norwegian athletes.  He is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 6/28/2026

Crazy time for sports indeed.  Certainly, one of the most passionate among fans is the WNBA, the single basketball league going during the summer months.  And a surprise star has emerged.  Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo scorched the Los Angeles Sparks for an WNBA single game record 53 points in 32 minutes.  Mabrey gathered points from all spots on the court, 17-28 from the field, including 9-18 from beyond the arc.  Which leaves 8-10 from inside.  Also 10-12 FG with six boards and a couple of assists in a dominant 125-97 Tempo victory.  She's not the first name you think of from what the media is feeding you about the WNBA, but the 6'1", 29-year-old is a star and her star is shining.  Marina Mabrey is third in the league in scoring and is the Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/21/2026

The World Cup has taken the entire planet by storm, and especially in North America where they are hosting it for the first time in 32 years.  A South American player is etching his name amongst all greatest soccer legends not to exclude his fellow continental star Pele.  Lionel Messi is the all-time leader in World Cup Goals.  Period.  Messi scored a hat trick, the only in the 2026 World Cup so far, in easing to a victory in Argentina's opening match.  Then followed up with two more goals against Austria.  The 38-year-old gets better with age.  And has a World Cup title for his proud nation defending this year.  Will he repeat?  No reason to doubt him.  Lionel Messi is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

This is Messi's third Sportsman of the Week becoming the 20th athlete to do so.  

December 2022

March 2012

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/14/2026

Both the NBA and NHL finished amazing and dramatic Finals.  While neither went the full seven games, each game within was dramatic to say the least.  One of the most exciting games in Stanley Cup Finals history was Game 3, where the Las Vegas Golden Knights seemingly were putting a beat down of the Carolina Hurricanes both in the game, and maybe in the series, as they scored 4 second period goals to take a commanding 4-0 lead, looking to go up 2 games to 1.  This after torching the Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen for 5 goals in Game 1.  Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'amour had seen enough.  He pulled his goalie for a journeyman first-year player who had never played in the playoffs, let alone in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Brandon Bussi put up 45 straight minutes of scoreless hockey as the Canes came roaring back to force double overtime.  It was into second overtime before his Canes fell.  They would not fall again.  Bussi ran off three straight wins, the Cup winner a shutout of the high-flying offensive Knights in Game 6.  Bussi came from nothing to win it all.  And is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportspersons of the Week Ending 6/7/2026

This Blog has seen dueling winners for Sportsman of the Week, but never a Sportsman AND Sportswoman of the Week in the same week.  Until now.  Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev both surged through fields to win their first Grand Slam tournament at Rolland Garros, the French Open.  In Andreeva's case, it may be the sign of the next superstar of ladies' tennis.  She's 19 and this was her first Grand Slam Final.  The Russian teen cruised to victory over qualifier Maja Chwalinska, who shocked the whole tournament just by getting this far.  In fact, Chwalinska earned more money at the 2026 French Open than she had in her pro career to date starting in 2019 before the COVID disruption.  Meanwhile the talented German Zverev hasn't been able to break through the best players in any tournament, being denied titles in Grand Slams in 2020, 2024, and 2025. But at the French Open, he surged past Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller for his title.  2026 was the year for this pair, winning their first Grand Slams and, especially in Andreeva's case, one of more to come.  Congrats to Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev, the Longhorndave Sportspersons of the week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/31/2026

There's a new star pitcher emerging in baseball and his name isn't Paul Skenes.  It's Jacob Misiorowski.  Okay, they're both stars, but Misiorowski continues to emerge as the superstar he seems destined to become.  The tall, lanky right hander had two amazing games this week and seems as if he's just getting started.  The 24-year-old shut down both the Cardinals (5-1) and Astros (2-0) as the Brewers once again seem poised for another, quiet, division title.  If they make the playoffs, this time they'll have an ace that can nail down two games for them.  Over the week, Misiorowski had 14 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 20 K.  His ERA is entering Bob Gibson level at 1.65.  Will the Brewers finally make and win a World Series?  If so, the Miz will need to lead, he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/24/2026

Memorial Day weekend remains synonymous with the Indianapolis 500 and the 110th edition delivered.  Featuring the most lead changes and closest finish in the century plus history, it had it all.  Including a surprise winner.  Felix Rosenqvist was assumed by none to be drinking milk and kissing the bricks.  He had all of one previous win on the Indy Car Circuit.  He started second row behind favorites like defending series champion Alex Palou and Alexander Rossi.  Then he was trailing David Malukas who seemingly was cruising to victory on the last green flag lap.  But it was Rosenqvist who maneuvered his car to stay ahead of those behind and win by 0.02s, the closest finish ever.  Only his second win, the last coming during COVID which seems like a lifetime ago.  A great victory for a career racing man, the Swede is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/17/2026

An amazing weekend of sports action from the college level (softball and baseball), NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, WNBA. EPL soccer, Preakness Stakes, and yes, the PGA Championship.  And for the golf major, we have a new winner.  The humble and grounded Aaron Rai surged through a crowded Sunday field that started Sunday with nine golfers within 3 shots of leader Alex Smalley.  But it was Rai who played flawless Sunday over the last ten holes.  Through the first eight holes he sputtered to a one over par before hitting an Eagle on the 9th that launched him to a six under par over those ten holes.  With a comfortable, but not yet insurmountable, lead he made the tournament academic with an amazing 68' birdie putt on the Par 3 17.  Tournament over.  While his rivals sputtered in the rough off the tee and off the green on the approach.  Rai was a machine.  The 31-year-old Englishman son of immigrants is now, a Major Champion.  And Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/10/2026

The late spring sports season continues with elite golf, horse racing, along with playoff basketball and hockey.  On the basketball side, the Oklahoma City Thunder seem poised for a back-to-back title.  Young and loaded.  While reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is consistent, it's been his big man so far to lead the Thunder to a 3-0 lead against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.  7'1" Chet Holmgren is an unstoppable force that the Lakers can't answer.  In the first three games of the Western Conference semifinals, Holgren has averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, to go with 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals per game.  While shooting 60% from the field, 45% from 3-point land, and over 80% from the line.  Efficient.  Difference maker.  The Lakers can't finish a game within 15 points of the best team in the NBA.  Thanks to our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!