Sportswoman of the Week Ending 8/9/2026

The "in-between" summer sports season (post basketball/hockey, pre football) continues, and the WNBA is capitalizing with headline after headline.  Some not so good.  But some good.  This is a blog celebrating sports, so let's look at a WNBA record set for three pointers in a game.  Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride broke the WNBA single-game record with ten (10) 3-pointers in a win vs. the Dallas Wings.  Overall 43 points in an eye popping 16-21 field goal effort.  The 5'11" Guard has had a working-woman's career now in her 13th season at age 34.  A decent scorer, good for 15 PPG scorer is enjoying a late career boom up at 18.4 PPG, good for 10th in the WNBA in scoring (no player higher than her is older) and 9th in 3PT FG% (42.4%).  For pop culture reference, Caitlin Clark is at a pedestrian 35.5% 3PT FG%.  The WNBA needs to celebrate those who are setting records and Kayla McBride is that player.  the Longhorndave Sportswoman 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!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 4/5/2026

The NCAA tournament on the men's AND women's side have been amazing theater.  The big teams are winning when it counts, and UCLA has fit the bill on the women's side.  At 31-1 entering the tournament, the Bruins seemed to be about the fourth choice by betting favorites behind fellow number one seeds Connecticut, South Carolina, and Texas.  They made no match for two of three.  The Bruins played absolute clamp down defense and scored consistently to win by an average of 17 points, culminating in a 28 point beatdown of South Carolina in the Finals .  Led by our Sportswoman of the Week Lauren Betts.  In relative low scoring games, The 6'7" senior Betts scored 30 points in the Final Four, on efficient 13-20 from the field, perfect 4-4 from the line, 22 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 assists, all of what it takes to win.  It was their first NCAA Championship for a program of proud sports tradition.  Betts and her team finished the season 37-1, and a worthy Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/29/2026

The shot of the tournament.  Maybe the shot of the tournament in this century.  Heavyweight number one overall seed goes down on a miracle sequence.  This is why we love March Madness.  Connecticut and Duke went toe to toe in the East Regional Finals, two teams with a healthy number of NCAA Championship banners hanging from their rafters.  Despite what some say, NCAA tournament upsets are fun in the short term, but heavy weights going at it at the back end of the tournament is fun too.  Duke was comfortable leading by as many as 19 points as the top seed seemed to be in position to go to their third Final Four in six years.  They led 40-21 three quarters of the way through the first half.  Ten-point lead with 6 minutes left.  Four points and the ball with 90s left.  Two points and the ball with 10s left.  Then it all imploded.  The final sequence will never be forgotten.  Duke just needing to dribble it out throws a pass over a double team, tipped by Braylon Mullins.  Mullins recovers the ball, quick pass, pass back to Mullins, 35-footer.  Good!  It didn't even touch the rim.  Connecticut advances and Duke cries. May not have seen a final sequence like that since the Laettner win over Kentucky.  It's in March Madness Lore and Braylon Mullins is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/22/2026

March Madness is in full effect!  With fewer upsets than some wanted (I'm good with it, I want to see big boy heavyweight games downstream), one individual set an all-time NCAA record that is decades old.  Purdue guard Braden Smith hit 1077 career assists passing the sentimental Duke guard Bobby Hurley for most in NCAA history.  Hurley had the record for over 30 years.  One of only four players to have more than 1000 (Chris Corchiani and Ed Cota the other two).  He's an All-Big 10 first team selection for the third straight year.  Epitome of older school college basketball where your best players played through their eligibility and consistently go deep in the tournament.  Purdue is queued up for a Sweet 16 matchup against Texas, and should they play that they'll look for their second Final Four berth since 1980, the last of which was two years ago when they lost to Connecticut in the finals.  Experienced guard play is always key to deep tournament runs and Smith has that for Purdue.  He is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!  

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/15/2026

An incredible sports week commenced with NCAA Basketball ramping up March Madness, and the World Baseball Classic entering knock out round, and NBA and NHL in the playoff push.  For the NBA, the most improbable, neigh impossible happened as Bam Adebayo reach the penultimate scoring game with 83 points in a regulation NBA game.  Yes, 83 points.  By math, that's 1.7 points per minute.  Rounds up to 2 points per minute he played.  Figuring each team gets a possession, maybe two per minute, incredible.  He got his shots, taking 43 and knocking down 20 in a high scoring win for his Miami Heat over the hapless Washington Wizards in a 150-129 win.  Seven of those made shots were from 3-point land for eh, a quarter of his points. But the main damage he did was from the free throw line getting 36 points in 43 attempts.  If you can't stop him, foul him.  He didn't tip toe around other statistics as well, getting 9 boards and actually passing 3 times for assists.  He also had a game high 2 blocks on the defensive end.  Few expect Adebayo to compete for an MVP or scoring title, but he only looks up to Wilt Chamberlain in terms of a single game total.  And his was on tape.  Adebayo is a worthy, Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

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 6/22/2025

The NBA Finals were a boon of excitement, intrigue, and uncertainty.  While the latter reigned, a particular player was a certainty.  The NBA MVP.  Shai Gilgeous Alexander showed no doubt that he was the best player in the NBA and on the best team as his Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA Championship against the Indiana Pacers.  The Thunder were the best team in the regular season yet tried in the playoffs against resilient teams like the Pacers and the Denver Nuggets.  But in Shai they trusted.  The reigning MVP poured in 80 points over the last three games, including 11 rebounds and 24 assists.  The totals were somewhat muted in a Game 6 blowout to the Pacers in which key players took rest.  Gilgeous-Alexander is starting the comparisons to other champion greats like MJ, Kobe, and LBJ.  Will the Thunder win more titles like those did?  Signs point to yet.  But for now, Gilgeous-Alexander is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 6/1/2025

The NBA Playoffs have featured lots of seed upsets and new teams advancing to the final rounds.  The Indiana Pacers check both boxes.  Entering the playoffs, the fourth seeded Pacers faced an uphill challenge and have not flinched.  They've marched through the 5th seeded Milwaukee Bucks, top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, and 3rd seeded New York Knicks not even facing elimination.  12-4 so far with eight games on the road.  This week they were led but Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam, who relentlessly pushed the Knicks in their two decisive wins in Games 4 and 6.  Siakam netted 76 points (including 30+ in the wins) with 16 boards and ten assists.  He added three blocks in decisive Game 6.  The ten-year Cameroon native is a relentless best supporting player as he also won a title with the Raptors in 2019.  He's the guy you want on your side and epitomizes the Pacers team play and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/11/2025

The NBA Playoffs first round was somewhat predictable, but the second round has been pure chaos of upsets.  The Minnesota Timberwolves got a tough draw with the 3x World Champion Golden State Warriors having disposed of the second seed Houston Rockets and out for more blood.  But our Sportsman of the Week has taken control.  Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is exerting his teams will and looks to point the Wolves to the Conference Finals.  After stumbling in Game 1, Edwards helped Minnesota recover, Stephan Curry injury withstanding, push his team to a 2-1 lead after 3 with home court in hand.  Edwards 36 points in Game 3 in a close win, to go with an average of 27 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds.  And team leadership.  The Timberwolves seem to be poised to win their first title and if they do, it will be because of Anthony Edwards, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/30/2025

March Madness swings into the second weekend and the top seed just keep winning.  All four Number 1 seeds made the NCAA Men's Tournament Final Four, and Auburn was a part of it.  Led by Johni Broome.  Broome torched the state of Michigan, with two performances of 22+ points and 14+ rebounds.  And in an efficient 30 minutes per game.  The Auburn Tigers reached their first Final Four since 2019 (and only their second in history) with a thrilling comeback victory against the Michigan Wolverines (78-65) and Michigan State Spartans (79-64).  The former was more of a challenge with Auburn trailing by 8 points midway through the second half.  Johni to the rescue.  Auburn looks to continue its run behind the broad shoulders and strong play of Johne Broome, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/23/2025

For some the greatest annual weekend in basketball if not sports is the opening two rounds of the NCAA tournament.  Between Men's and Women's, you get 96 of the eventual 126 games played (even excluding the play in games).  And there will be close games and buzzer beaters.  The University of Maryland had both in a thrilling victory over the Colorado State Rams.  Freshman Derik Queen capped off a team-leading 17-point performance with the shot of his life, with 3.6 seconds to play, taking the inbound step and some monster steps for the banker on the win.  Game over.  You just can't do it better than that.  Queen was a constant force for the favored and 4 seeded Terps over the season averaging 16.2 points and 9 boards per game while shooting over 50% from the field.  The future NBA big man hopes to carry his teams hopes to a deeper tournament run and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/16/2025

It's March, and Madness is in the air as the major conference championships wound down in both men's and women's college basketball with top programs taking trophies and the high seeds to go with them.  A number one seed was taken by Florida, who dominated the SEC Championship Tournament to take the title.  In a landscape of one and done's and transfers, it was a senior that paced the Gators to the title.  Walter Clayton Jr. In his second year for Florida, Clayton Jr. provides the leadership needed as well as the points.  Averaging 21 points per game, to go with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals per game all against ranked opponents because that's how the SEC is.  With a record 14 teams in the NCAA tournament, Clayton Jr. netted tournament MVP honors and will be heard from over the next two, maybe three weeks.  Walter Clayton Jr. is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/9/2025

In advance of the NCAA March Madness, the NBA has a week of epic games and performances.  One stood out as a stat line never been done before.  Two-time prior Sportsman of the Week winner Nikola Jokic doubled down on a triple double, or a 30-20-20.  Technically a 31-21-22 in a 140-127 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns.  Incredible involvement across the board (or scoring on, passing to, and clearing the boards).  While the game included overtime, the numbers are unreal for 45 minutes of action.  So that's 2 points every 3 minutes.  And a rebound AND assist 4x every 9 minutes.  Scoring.  And passing.  And rebounding.  Suddenly Jokic and the Nuggets are right there as a team of concern for frontrunners like Oklahoma City and Los Angeles as they seek their second title in 3 years.  If they do it, you know the Serbian Assassin will be the one to make it happen.  The Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week.

Editors Note: With his third Sportsman of the Week, Jokic ties fifteen others for most recognized in this Blog history.  He's the sixteenth in the club (nobody has won four).

First Recognition (2/9/20)

Second recognition (6/18/23)

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/2/2025

In a bit of a lull between early year NFL action and Australian Open, but before March Madness, Golf majors we get a few ordinary time candidates for Sportsman of the Week.  The NBA is in full swing just past the All-Star Break and hitting a long stretch of great playoff jockeying.  Our Sportsman of the Week is from a team that is surging toward a playoff berth in a major market.  Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is stepping up as the leader to take them to a title for the first time since 1973.  And their first Eastern Conference Title since 1999.  Brunson averaged over 29 PPG, with 5 RPG and 6+ APG. Leader.  Three wins against two strong playoff contenders, the Knicks may peak at the right time and if they do, they'll need our Sportsman of the Week to lead them to a title!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 2/16/2025

Spring sports are in full swing and the surging interest in women's basketball is palpable.  After a banner Spring 2024 with Caitlin Clark (2x Sportswoman of the Week) and Angel Reese bringing the most exciting college basketball season in history, followed by an amazing Women's Olympics Gold Medal performance by Team USA, a new star has emerged on the college scene.  Vanderbilt true freshman Mikayla Blakes is rewriting the record books.  The guard is a scoring machine, tallying 55 points in a big overtime victory against Auburn (erasing a double-digit deficit).  This broke her own 53-point record earlier in the season.  Both are SEC single game records regardless of class, and we're talking about a conference with superstars from Tennessee and South Carolina over the years.  Only 19 and still growing into her body, the future is bright.  And she continues to excite young female athletes (and sports fans in general) about where the sport is going.  Mikayla Blakes is the Longhorndave Sportswoman 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 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! 

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 3/17/2024

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!