Notes from the Sports Desk: Super Stinker

Did they get it right?

The brackets are set for the state high school basketball tournaments. Did the NMAA “process” get it right, as far as Valencia County teams are concerned? Yes.

Los Lunas girls probably could have been a slot higher, but Albuquerque High put a wrench into that over the past two weeks.

Valencia’s boys were the last team out in 4A, and didn’t do quite enough to get in. Belen was on the bubble, but a couple of solid late season victories carried the day.

State wrestling tournament

The state high school wrestling tournament may be overlooked as a real spectacle, and I mean that in a positive way. It has pageantry, athleticism, drama, tears of joy, tears of despair, passion and sportsmanship among the combatants. It can be difficult to cover as a journalist because of everything going on, but the state meet has it all.

R.I.P. Popeye Doyle

Two great giants of their craft chitchatted and chuckled as a small crowd moved closer to catch a word or two. This was in 1993, at the opening of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Las Campanas golf course near Santa Fe. The Golden Bear seemed surprised as Gene Hackman strolled up to say hi.

I was covering the event for an Albuquerque television station and got to witness Nicklaus, in my mind the greatest golfer ever, and Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, share a moment together. What a treat.

This encounter once again came to mind last week after hearing the news of the death of Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their home in Santa Fe. Godspeed to both.

The Stinker Bowl

The Kansas City Chiefs performance in Super Bowl LIX brought back memories of my Minnesota Vikings’ four dud appearances in the big game about 50 years ago.

How could a team that was so good during the regular season suddenly be so bad, so flat? What happened to Patrick “Miracle” Mahomes? Did Andy “Fumblerooski” Reid make any impactful adjustments?

It was all very befuddling. Still, give credit to the Eagles for outplaying and outcoaching the Chiefs.

Brady, Brady, Brady

A lot has been made of Tom Brady as the FOX Sports color analyst. To me, he is OK, just not Super Bowl caliber at this point in his broadcasting career. Brady is a decent talker, but not particularly perceptive when it comes to analyzing the nuts and bolts of a game. Fans want more insight.

It wasn’t his fault, but did we need the repeated reminders, both verbally and graphically, that Brady is the GOAT? It was eye-rolling.

Bronco Redux

Athlon Sports ranked the hires of all 27 new major college football coaches, placing Utah State’s Bronco Mendenhall second overall with an A+ grade, ahead of some guy named Bill Belichick.

No surprise, although it was interesting that Athlon called Mendenhall’s 2024 season “a successful one-year stop at New Mexico.” I guess a 5-7 season at UNM qualifies as “successful.”

The magazine graded the hiring of New Mexico’s Jason Eck from Idaho as a B+, 14th on their list. That’s hopeful.

Logo etiquette

Is it tacky, not cool, to wear shirts or jackets that carry the logo of a former employer? Just asking for a friend.

Richard Pitino

The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team is in the midst of a really good season. Much credit goes to coach Richard Pitino, who makes quality adjustments, knows when to call time out and remains calm, even when things appear to be falling apart.

The one time things did fall apart was the loss to New Mexico State. The Aggies start the week with a 16-13 record, which is pretty good considering the turmoil the program has gone through.

NBA All-Star game

Would anyone really care if the NBA All-Star game and surrounding festivities went away? Obviously, many of the players don’t seem to care.

How about we scrap the whole thing, give the players a few days off and shorten the season by about a week?

Live from New York!

One can’t overestimate the significance that “Saturday Night Live” had on my generation. Right, Boomer?

While it could be hit or miss, SNL was just so different, so impactful, so irreverent.

In honor of the show’s 50th anniversary, I present my SNL Mount Rushmore: Dan Akroyd and Gilda Radner from the early days, Chris Farley, who was living in a van down by the river, and Will Ferrell, who needed more cowbell.

A long list of runners-up includes Eddie Murphy, Kate McKinnon, Dana Carvey, Kristen Wig, Tina Fey and John Belushi. Who’s on your SNL Mount Rushmore?