Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/18/2026

In a weekend that some consider the "greatest of the NFL Playoffs" the elite teams separated themselves from the pack.  The "greatest" as you get all eight teams playing in four full games.  In a year full of surprises, many of the standard recent winners did not make it to the round, further adding intrigue.  One of the teams nobody was sure of was the New England Patriots.  Many broadcast professionals picked a Houston Texans upset, however the New England Patriots defense more than answered the bell.  They forced four first half interceptions from maligned Texans QB C.J. Stroud who did not bounce back from a shaky Wild Card performance.  Two of the interceptions were by Carlton Davis III.  Not known as a ball hawk, at least this year, Davis III had no regular season INTs this year.  Throw in four tackles, including 1 for loss, and Davis III was the leader of the defense that has a reasonable path to the Super Bowl through Denver.  The Patriots are for real, and Carlton Davis III is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame Vote

In an LHD on Sports Blog tradition, I am once again conveying my thoughts on who I would vote for if I had a BBWAA ballot for the 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The BBWAA vote will be revealed on Major League Baseball (MLB) Network on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.  The Hall of Fame vote reveal remains one of the most anticipated moments on the baseball calendar and certainly of the offseason.  Here is the 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame Candidates Eligible for vote (via Baseball Reference with prior year percentage total for returning candidates).  75% of all ballots cast must include the players name for induction.

Induction Ceremony 2025

As most readers probably know, the actual voting committee is the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA).  Prior to 2016, once a member, always a vote.  In 2016, several changes to the voting process were made (see my related Blog here) culling the list of voters to those who had covered the game in the prior 10 years.  This played out to remove a number of small vote ballots and increase percentages for those on the bubble.

There are a few overarching factors to cover before we get to the specifics.

1) A major, controversial specter over the Hall will continue to be how to handle candidates associated with Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) use in baseball primarily in the 1990s and early 2000s, an era for which many players accused are now on the Hall of Fame ballot although the number is dwindling with Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte and Manny Ramirez running out of eligibility.  There are players whose on-field performance likely merits election, however because of their associated with substances that enhanced their performance, some members (a minority) of the BBWAA have been hesitant to cast votes their way.  At least in the 75% needed for induction.  Because the official voting rules include the words "integrity, sportsmanship, and character," their reluctance is justified in my mind.  For my selection, I will not presume guilt, but if there are legal findings, firsthand accounts (including Mitchell Report) or strong anecdotal evidence of PED use, I will strongly weigh against voting for the candidate.  You can count me in the "The PED STJ" type here in a blog I wrote.  A constant I hear is "how can it be a Hall of Fame without Bonds, Clemens, Pete Rose, etc."  Their accomplishments, records, videos, etc. are more than prominent in the museum portion of the Hall of Fame and museum, but down by the plaques, you won't find them there.  Did the crime, do the time.

2) A change in consideration for me is how to assess pitchers.  Whereas the 300-win plateau with a low ERA reflective of the dead ball, or pitcher dominated, eras prior to 1970 used to be a norm, it's become increasingly more difficult to get wins in the era of specialty relievers with starters leaving the game before the end of the sixth inning many times in close games.  Conversely, however, one would think this would benefit starting pitchers ERA by seldom going through a lineup more than twice in some cases, rarely more than three times.  Also, after many years of closers not being strongly considered, Mariano Rivera became the first and only to date unanimous inductee to the Hall, along with high save count Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner, and Lee Smith in recent years.  The doors have opened a bit in that regard.  In the end, for pitchers, I strongly weigh dominance over a reasonable period of time, along with Cy Young Awards, All-Star games, win titles, career saves, and ERA.

3) There is also first and last ballot bias.  First ballot candidates some BBWAA voters seem reticent to vote in to protect some sort of integrity of being a "first ballot hall of famer".  Evidence, three voters who did not include Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016 or the one guy who didn't vote for Ichiro Suzuki in 2025.  Likewise, when a player is on his last ballot (as Tim Raines was in 2017, Edgar Martinez in 2019, Larry Walker in 2020 and Billy Wagner in 2025) voters who previously withheld a vote tend to pay a bit more attention to their candidacy considering it's a final shot and vote favorably.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/11/2026

The college football and NFL playoffs are firing on all cylinders with five straight days of playoff action this week (through Monday).  This week, the NFL delivered last minute drama, including three final scores beyond the 2-minute warning and another game in which a pass break up stopped the potential winning score inside the red zone.  One of the surprise offensive stars was San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who went from an afterthought on game plans to superstar.  Robinson torched the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles defense for 111 yards on 6 grabs, including a 61-yard catch on the second play of the game, then a TD catch to cap the first drive.  His playmaking was especially needed, as the Niners lost All Pro Tight End George Kittle to injury and were depleted down the field.  Fear not, Robinson to the rescue.  Despite a season of only 22 catches for under 300 total yards (and never a game over 50 yards) with just one TD, he led the way to the upset 23-19 victory over the Eagles and have many picking the 49ers as short odds for the NFC Championship.  Demarcus Robinson is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/4/2026

The Sportsman of the Week took a week off for the holidays but is back with an edge.  The College Football Playoff has been the most controversial and most watched in (well) it's two-year history, but the games are certainly drawing attention.  The best quarterfinal game by far was the Allstate Sugar Bowl, featuring two (traditional) SEC teams and big play after big play.  Most of the time delivered by Mississippi quarter back Trinidad Chambliss.  Chambliss finished the Sugar Bowl with a season high 362 passing yards on a season high 30 completions.  He led three fourth quarter drives facing a deficit to take the lead.  The last a FG on a 45-yard drive with under a minute to go to give the Rebels a 37-34 lead against the SEC Conference Champion Georgia Bulldogs.  One mistake, and the Ole Miss Rebels aren't playing in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.  Instead. Chambliss has them on to the next.  He is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!