Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/21/2024

Le Tour de France concluded this week with a dominant victory by a two-time, now three-time General Classification (e.g. Yellow Jersey) Champion.  But our Blog noted another amazing performance in the Points Classification (e.g. Green Jersey).  Biniam Girmay made his initial statement that he was the Sprinter to beat in the Third Stage of the 2024 Tour de France and never looked back.  With bursts of speed that clearly eclipsed major rival Jasper Philipsen in many an intermediate and stage win, Girmay surprised by winning his first Points Championship.  The Eritrean shocked the world with that Stage 3 win, then went on to win two more stages, all are the first and only for an African Cyclist in Le Tour.  In addition to flat our speed, strategy frequently helped hold off his Belgian rival by a mere 33 points, very close for the Points.  Staying in breakaways or at least close enough to Philipsen to nullify any intermediate point awards.  Then staying safe down the stretch (he did crash once) to either win or come close to winning.  Girmay at age 24 is likely to be a story for years, but for this week, is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/14/2024

An amazing week of international sports culminated with the Copa America Final of Argentina versus Colombia and an epic matchup of superstars of Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez (both former Sportsmen of the Week).  But it was another budding superstar, Argentinian Lautaro Martinez, who stole the glory.  In the 112' of Extra Time, when penalty kicks seemed to be a certainty, Lautaro took it upon himself to decide the practical Golden Goal.  After Colombia stumbled for an entire sequence to get a good set together, Giovani Lo Celso struck a perfect pass to Martinez who beat the Colombian keeper Camilo Vargas hands were too late.  Martinez had five goals in the tournament to lead as well.  As Messi fades into the sunset, Martinez is likely the heir apparent to keep Argentina in the top.  And is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/7/2024

The first week of the Tour de France produced early fireworks from General Classification (e.g. G.C.) contenders on the first few rough, long, hot stages as well as thrilling springs as those going for the Points (Green) Jersey had chances to stack up points and win stages going into the week.  One of the major storylines entering the 2024 Tour de France was whether or not Mark Cavendish would win a record breaking 35th Stage to become the all-time leader.  In short.  He did it.  The 39-year-old riding in his 15th Tour surged ahead of other top sprinters to win the fifth stage of the 2024 Tour in Saint-Vulbas, France. In his prime, many of the flattest stages were practically a foregone conclusion, as Cavendish had a lead out train designed the throw him to the front with ease.  But in later years, as father time caught up with him, it's become more on him and more by chance.  After preliminarily announcing his retirement after the 2023 tour, he decided to give it one more chance and the Team Astana Qazaqstan gave him the shot.  They'll never be disappointed as history will show Cavendish getting the tie-breaking win from Eddy Merckx in their colours.  An amazing career and feat, for the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/30/2024

On this Blog golf has always had a special place because it sets individuals up for unique success that's harder on a team sport.  Even better when you can find accomplishment in a unique place like the United States Senior Open.  And holes in one.  Two of them.  In a row.  Completely unfathomable.  But Frank Bensel Jr. did it.  The 56-year-old holed the 184 par three fourth, then 203 par three fifth.  In two shots.  That's like mini golf style (except I could not even do that).  He was not in contention for the championship but still.  It's 6-million-to-one two aces in a round.  Of course having two Par 3's in a row isn't normal but to ace them is just as rare.  And they guy is a Club Pro, not like Steve Stricker or Vijay Singh, who has played in fewer than ten tournaments.  All the elements of what we love about being the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/23/2024

Early summer means crowning champions of winter sports one of the highest profile being the NBA.  After a dominant regular season, the Boston Celtics hit their stride and finally fulfilled their destiny as NBA Champions.  After reaching at least the Eastern Conference Finals in six of the last eight years, and the Finals two years ago, the Celtics finished the job in a dominant exhibition in the NBA Finals and throughout the Playoffs.  They were led by Jayson Tatum in Game 7, who poured in a game high 31 points, with 11 assists and 8 rebounds in a decisive 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks that wasn't even as close as the score indicated.  With partner in crime (and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brown), Tatum was able to find space and hit from the line in an effort that could have won the MVP himself.  He'll have to settle for the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

This is Jayson Tatum's second Sportsman of the Week.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/16/2024

The late Spring sports engine chugs on with big moments across multiple sports and tough to pick, but we're going for one of the best golfers in the world that won the United States Open.  Bryson DeChambeau was a steady force in a shaky field to outlast his opponents and the Pinehurst #2 course to win his second Open in five years.  Not many win two.  DeChambeau was among the leaders all weekend, as some surged and some faded.  Relying on length and somewhat surprising, approach play including saves he was able to beat Rory McIlroy by one stroke after the Northern Irelander couldn't knock down putts when it counted.  But take nothing away from DeChambeau, who consistently would hit long and wayward and would need to find ways around the green to get up and down.  Including the 18th (72nd hole) where he hit a shot left, saved into a bunker, then up and down where nobody could.  Exemplary of great golf and Bryson DeChambeau is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 6/9/2024

So many amazing sports in late Spring style, but the French Open was center square (in advance of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris) and new faces are taking control.  On the Ladies side of the bracket, Iga Swiatek won her third straight French Open and the fourth in five years.  The World's Number One lady dominated at Rolland Garros through 15 sets in seven rounds, only losing one and having one tiebreak (against the formidable resurgent Naomi Osaka in the second round).  Outside of that Sviatek lost a total of 20 games in six matches.  That's 72-20 games never a lost set.  She's so good and may be cementing herself as an all-time great but is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

This is Ms. Swiatek  second Sportswoman of the Week, she previously won in the COVID year which was her first Grand Slam Major.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/2/2024

A thrilling week of Stanley Cup Playoff action ended with two unexpected teams reaching the Finals.  It's not that they weren't great teams it was just that they were less traditional markets who probably played on a national broadcast once combined.  But good they were, especially Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers. With his team down 2-1 after three games, both losses in OT, Bobrovsky shut it down allowing only four goals in the last three games (two on desperation goalie pulls with a two goal lead).  Three straight wins for the Panthers.  With all the focus on Igor Shesterkin of the Rangers, it was his Russian countryman Bobrovsky that shut it down. The Panthers are balanced and not the least of which is their goaltending and the Edmonton Oilers will have their hands full as we go to the Stanley Cup Finals.  Sergie Bobrovsky is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

This is Sergei Bobrovsky's second Sportsman of the Week.

This is the third Sportsman of the Week for the Florida Panthers.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/26/2024

Memorial Day Weekend in the United States of America is known as one of the best weekends in motorsports, with the Indianapolis 500 and Coca Cola 600 events in Indy Car and NASCAR respectively.  But the hardcore racing fan gets up early on Sunday and watches the Monte Carlo Grand Prix.  While admittedly, the race is rarely full of drama, it at last captures the essence of glamour, glitz, opulence, and fun.  Even more fun when a driver from Monaco wins like Charles Leclerc.  Who did just that.  Leclerc took the pole position with his Ferrari, then the lead after the start, then a restart after a red flag on Lap 1.  And never looked back.  A balance between keeping distance and preserving tires enabled the Monacan to make it look easy (in a sport dominated by a two-time defending champion).  Leclerc won the biggest race of his life and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/19/2024

Winning your first Major Tournament in Golf is always exhilarating but probably more so when you've been close on multiple occasions.  Xander Schauffele went wire to wire, opening the tournament with a sizzling 62 and finishing with a must have birdie to hit the clubhouse at 21 under par, a record for a major.  And the tournament wasn't without course challenges, with a lot of rain over the early rounds causing the course to play uneven.  But steady as Valhalla played, Schauffele tamed her, and held off hard charging and fan pumped Bryson DeChambeau who was warming up for a playoff before Xander knocked down a 6+ footer for birdie to render BDC at second place at 20 under.  After 12 Top 10, and five Top 5 Majors finishes, Xander Schauffele is finally a major champion and the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!