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!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/5/2024

The NBA Playoffs first round entered its climax with a big Game 7 for the Cleveland Cavaliers trying to make it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since a 33-year-old LeBron James was their leading scorer six years ago.  Enter a new leader.  Donovan Mitchell.  He took over the series with an amazing 39 points in the last three games, throw in 19 rebounds and 11 assists in those games and everything went through him.  When they needed him in Games 5 and 7 to edge the Orlando Magic in seven games.  He was 33-63 from the field in Games 6 and 7, 27-33 from the line.  Just points one way or another.  The Cavs get the NBAs best regular season team the Boston Celtics in the second round, and Mitchell may just will them to victory.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 4/28/2024

The NBA and NHL (a.k.a. Stanley Cup) Playoffs are in full swing and, as usual, heroes are emerging. The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the teams that people are watching whether they can emerge and make a run at an elusive NBA Championship.  They entered what some thought would be a precarious series against a veteran, talented Phoenix Suns team but took no time to establish dominance.  And 22-year-old Anthony Edwards is showing why he was a great selection in the top spot of the 2022 draft.  Edwards torched the Suns, with Games 3 and 4 with 36 and 40 points respectively.  He also filled the stat sheet with 9 rebounds each game, 5.5 assists a game and a couple of blocked shots.  8 of 18 from deep, 18 of 21 from the line, he did it all.  Edwards is a big reason that we may see a Finals team not named the Nuggets and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 4/21/2024

Last week we recognized the most dominant gentleman golfer on the PGA circuit, this week we recognize the most dominant lady.  Nelly Korda can't stop won't stop on the LPGA tour and dominated again in the Chevron Championship, the first Major on the Tour.  Most impressively it was Korda's fifth straight tournament win, tying a record among Ladies golf legends Nancy Lopez and Annika Sorenstam.  Korda was lurking around the top but not dominating but consistent play netter her her second Major Championship.  Consistent like 68-69-69-69, 3 under par every round at the Woodlands, Texas.  At 25, greatness stands in front of the American Korda as there may be nothing standing in her way to her own Hall of Fame Career.  Nelly Korda is the Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 4/14/2024

He's a machine.  Best player in the world and proves it.  Again and again.  And for the second time in 730 days he's wearing the Green Jacket of The Masters.  Scott Scheffler has the amazing consistency we haven't seen since Tiger Woods and reminiscent of Jack Nicklaus and his peers and before.  He doesn't have to play his best round on any given day.  He just needs to do what he's capable of and not make mistakes.  At The Masters this week, Scheffler took a crowded field into Sunday and made it academic on the last four or five holes.  No mistakes.  Making putts.  His four under par was the best round by anyone in the Top 29.  We're watching greatness and appreciate.  Scott Scheffler is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 4/7/2024

Major League Baseball has kicked off into full gear with 30 teams optimistic for a pennant.  One of those teams has won four of the last 7 in the American League and, although off to a rocky start, has had a new superstar arm emerge.  Ronel Blanco may be the most unassuming "next man up" pitcher in the Astros golden era.  The 30-year-old third year pitcher became the first one to throw a no-hitter in 2024 by blanking a powerful Toronto Blue Jays lineup with just two walks and maybe one ball that might have flirted with a hit.  It was the earliest no hitter in history.  To follow that up, on national television Sunday Night Baseball, Blanco flummoxed the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers for 5 2/3 no hit innings, left after 6 with just one hit.  He left leading the AL with 2 wins and a 0.00 ERA (and accounted for two of the Astros three wins on the year yikes).  Blanco is the next Astros arm to watch and is a worthy Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/31/2024

The Road to the Final Four "March" -ed on with a number of top seeds holding serve, but it was a double-digit seed that stole the headlines of the Sweet 16 round.  The North Carolina State Wolfpack are partying like it's 1983 with huge upset after huge upset sending them to their first Final Four in 40 years.  Senior guard DJ Horne has been the consistent energy propelling the Pack and he led by example over the weekend.  Horne netted a consistent 19, then 20 points in wins against 2-seed Marquette, and 4-seed Duke.  Add 9 total rebounds and 4 assists.  All of this coming off a miracle ACC Tournament run (in which Horne had 29 points in the final) to seal their NCAA bid which was in doubt.  Will this Wolfpack mimic the Jim Valvano miracle run of 1983?  Tune in, with Horne at the helm, I would not bet against them!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/24/2024

It's the time of year.  March Madness!  Circled on the calendar for many as a highlight of the Sports calendar (so robbed in 2020 for the pandemic) but this year it's in full swing.  One of the short list favorites to crash the Final Four in Glendale are the top seeded Purdue Boilermakers.  Led by senior Zach Edey who dominates on both sides of the floor.  Through the first weekend, Edey showed why he will make Purdue a tough if not impossible out.  In two textbook wins, national scoring title holder Edey scored 26.5 PPG and 17.5 RPG.  In limited minutes of blowouts over outclassed Grambling State and Utah State (averaged 29 minutes).  That's a point per minute and three rebounds every 5 minutes of play (rounded).  The Canadian hit 19-28 from the field with 12 offensive boards and 23 defensive wipes.  Throw in 5 assists, 2 steals, and 6 blocks and he was a one-man wrecking crew.  Purdue is looking for their first basketball title after two Final Four appearances and this may be the year thanks to the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/17/2024

The college basketball season is entering its pinnacle with conference tournament championships and top teams emerging.  One of the big conference winners from the Big 10 is a favorite to crash Glendale in the Final Four was the Illinois Fighting Illini.  Senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. was a big reason why.  There's always something about senior guards and the leadership they provide in tournament style play.  And Shannon Jr. answered in leadership and play.  In the three games in the Big 10 tournament, he averaged 34 points in 35 minutes per game, 27-57 from the field (10-22 beyond the arc) field and 38-44 from the line.  Scoring.  Machine.  The Illini have a 3 seed in the East and poised to push on a week or two.  Terrence Shannon Jr. is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/10/2024

It's March.  It's time for Madness.  As conference basketball tournaments dominate the week, it was an historic rivalry that took center stage on Saturday with an ACC regular season title on the line.  And the North Carolina Tarheels went into Duke's house and took their lunch money.  Led by an unsung senior no less.  Cormac Ryan leveraged his experience at Cameron Indoor Stadium to quiet the Crazies and deliver.  Cormac the Magnificent (you know I couldn't resist) was cold blooded with his scoring touch, missing just five times in 22 shots from the field, with two of those being behind the three-point line.  And he did it in the clutch, with ten of his teams last 12 points in the final 3:54, including 7 in the last 108 seconds.  No answers did Duke have.  Ryan sealed the Heels Conference Championship and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/3/2024

The NBA is hitting the home stretch with teams emerging as Championship favorites while others vie for playoff seeding and positioning.  One of the spots that seems locked up is the first seed in the Eastern Conference.  The Boston Celtics continue to turn up championship quality eras and this team is poised.  Having made at least the Eastern Conference Finals 5 of the last 7 years, and the NBA Finals just two years ago, the Celtics look to win their first title in 16 years and currently have the best record in the NBA.  At 48-12, Boston has lapped the field with a ballooning 8 game lead thanks in large part to Jaylen Brown.  Brown averaged over 28 points a game as his Celtics blew out three opponents by 18 or more points, including a 52-point drubbing of the Golden State Warriors, the fading dynasty of the last 10 seasons that beat them in the summer of 2022.  Brown also cleaned up 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game, proving a second punch behind team scoring leader Jayson Tatum.  A force that the Eastern Conference may not have an answer for now, or in the years to come.  Jaylen Brown is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 2/25/2024

One of the great stories of the hockey season has been the emergence of Canadian Hockey Teams with a chance to win their first Stanley Cup in over 30 years.  The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of the discussion, and they are led by a Captain that is pushing goal records.  On Thursday, Auston Matthews scored his 52nd goal in 55 games, imagine a player that gets one you netter per game pretty much.  A 70 goal season, very much in play, puts him in elite company of Gretzky, Lemieux, Brett Hull, and more.  But most important the Leafs have won seven straight and may be peaking at the right time.  Matthews is one of the best NHL stories this year and is a worthy Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 2/18/2024

We enter the inter-regnum (used loosely) portion of the Sports Calendar when there are no playoffs going on, March Madness isn't queued up yet (neither is The Masters), but many sports are going and lots of action to watch every night.  Perhaps there is no more action captivating the country than Caitlin mania.  Caitlin Clark that is, who has captivated not only the women's basketball sports landscape, but the sports landscape in general.  The Iowa Hawkeye scoring machine became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women's basketball history this week, passing Washington Huskies Guard Kelsey Plum (former Sportswoman of the Week) with her 3,528th career point and she's not slowing down.  So much so, she likely will pass men's basketball hoops legend Pete Maravich in points before the conference tournament season. Worth the ticket of admission (as evidenced by the full houses she plays to) Caitlin Clark is the Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week (repeat winner).

Sportsman of the Week Ending 2/11/2024

One of the highlights of the American Sports Calendar is the Super Bowl, that cannot be disputed.  And the Kansas City Chiefs are becoming synonymous with the big game, at least the last 5 years, in which they've been a participant four times, and winners now three.  Super Bowl LVIII did not disappoint as two evenly matched teams, the aforementioned Chiefs and the NFC Champion (and top seed) San Francisco 49ers squared off for the second time in five years in the Big Game.  The Niners were slight favorites.  But the Chiefs had Patrick Mahomes II.  After a stumble start with just 123 yards going into half and his team trailing 10-3, compounded with an interception coming out of halftime, the next generation dynasty QB got lit.  Hit for 201 yards and 2 TDs over the last 24 minutes of regulation and an overtime period.  The overtime period in which he stamped his third title in five years and second straight championship.  Mahomes II was also the Chiefs leading rusher with 66 yards on 9 carries including several back breaking scrambles.  The greats win and the greats get recognized as the Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/28/2024

The NFL season entered its penultimate weekend card with the AFC and NFC Championship games and a veteran superstar stole the stage for his team trying to win their fourth conference championship in five years.  Mission accomplished.  Kansas City Chiefs All Pro Tight End Travis Kelce reminded fans of how dominant he's been in the postseason with a much needed performance in carving up the favored and home-standing Baltimore Ravens for 11 catches and 111 yards and a TD, doing most of his damage in the first half when the Chiefs ran up 14 points on their first two possessions (6 of his catches including his TD) en route to a 17-10 win.  In the meantime, Kelce passes Jerry Rice for the most postseason catches in the history of the NFL.  History.  Of.  The.  NFL.  Travis Kelce was an unstoppable force and the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/21/2024

An amazing sports weekend with Australian Open tennis, NFL Playoffs, NBA and NHL action had perhaps the most shocking result in the third PGA tournament of the year.  For the first time in over 33 years, an amateur won a PGA tour event.  20-year-old (barely) Nick Dunlap shocked a pretty deep PGA field to win the American Express in La Quinta, CA.  Dunlap torched the courses for a -29 total, including a 60 on moving day Saturday.  He held on a shaky tee shot on the 72nd hole to par out for the win.  And this was no watered-down field.  Justin Thomas.  Xander Schauffele.  Scottie Scheffler.  Jason Day.  Patrick Cantlay.  All the big names were distanced by the sophomore from Alabama.  A name to remember as only the third amateur victor in a PGA event since 1957.  Dunlap is a worthy Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/14/2024

In one of the most anticipated College Football Playoff Championship games in recent memory, two 14-0 teams geared up to battle in Houston.  Intrigue skyrocketed as two conflicting styles of play... Michigan's running and defense versus Washington's weapon-laden, diverse offense and points would be settled on the field.  The former proved superior.  The tone was set early on two early breakout runs by Donovan Edwards, who had been relegated to more of a change-of-pace back through the year behind workhorse Blake Corum.  But it was Edwards who burst through the Huskies defensive line twice in the first 13 minutes of the game to stake the Wolverines to a 14-3 lead, after which Washington never got closer than a TD.  Both Edwards runs were 40+ yards and hit paydirt for the first two touchdowns of the game.  He totaled 104 yards on just 6 carries, but his strong start is worthy of the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/7/2024

A thrilling opening semifinal of the College Football Playoffs commenced with both games going down to the last play and both undefeated teams moving onto their first Playoff Finals.  Despite being undefeated, the Washington Huskies were slight underdogs to the brand name Texas Longhorns but for most of the 60 minutes, had control of the game thanks to their Heisman runner-up quarterback Michael Penix Jr.  Penix Jr. was familiar with the Longhorns from the 2022 Alamo Bowl but took his game to a new level in near perfection in defeat of the Longhorns in the 2024 Sugar Bowl.  Penix Jr. was 29/38, with 2 TDs and 430 yards as the Longhorns had no answer for him.  He took no sacks and also scrambled for another 30 yards.  Penix Jr. takes his act to the Championship game where he'll face Michigan, his toughest defensive test of the year, but for now, is the worthy Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

*Editors note* the Sportsman of the Week goes through Sunday, therefore any result of the College Football Playoff finals will not be rendered until January 14. 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 12/31/2023

It's a Longhorndave on Sports tradition that Bowl Season the big players in Bowl games get the nod for Sportsman of the Week honors and this week is no different.  While some complain that the Bowl Season was watered down with too many, now watered down with opt outs, the Chick-Fil-a Peach Bowl brought two heavyweight conference contenders who were within a game or two of the College Football Playoff in Ole Miss and Penn State.  Two great coaches and loads of talent in a hotbed of college football, Atlanta, GA.  And Ole Miss was all gas and no brakes in running up the score on a strong Penn State defense.  Rebels Quarterback Jaxson Dart shredded the Nittany Lions defense for 379 yards and 3 TD.  While the other 15 yards of passing for Ole Miss was caught by the junior while running for 14 yards and a fourth TD.  Ole Miss looks to be a force in the SEC for years to come, including next year when Dart has professed to come back and will be on the Heisman short list.  It was a big win led by our Sportsman of the Week!