Caitlin Clark: College Basketball's New Scoring Queen

Hats off to the amazing Caitlin Clark of Iowa, nailing a "logo three" to become the new top scorer in college women's basketball history this past week.

The West Des Moines start scored Iowa's first eight points in the game to pass Kelsey Plum'sNCAA-recognized total of 3,527 points.

Clark is just 80 points shy of the career mark of Lynette Woodward (3,646) set in 1981, which pre-dates the NCAA women's era.

On top of that, she's 98 points away from "Pistol" Pete Maravich's men's college basketball record of 3,667 points, a record Maravich will retain.

Let's put that whole Maravich thing in a little more perspective.

• Clark has played four years (and has the option for a fifth COVID season, but we'll circle back around to that) while Maravich (like Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) played in an era that prevented freshmen from varsity competition. On the freshmen team, which had larger-crowds than the varsity (like Alcindor at UCLA), Maravich averaged 43.6 points.
• Once on the varsity, Maravich averaged 43.8, 44.2 and 44.5 points per season.
• Unlike Clark, Maravich didn't benefit from a three-point line.

Not taking anything away from Clark, mind you. This lady is a real talent with range, ability and crowd appeal.

But let's talk about that extra season. You can bet the WNBA is just drooling, waiting to get Clark on their courts -- increasing television viewship and game attendance. She's a drawing card, for sure. The question is, for her, a financial one. Can she make MORE money from college NIL (Name-Image-Likeness) or from the WNBA? If I was in charge of the pro league, I'd be working on a financial package that would include incentives from attendance and the like. Anything to get her to turn pro.

And if she comes back for a fifth college season, the NCAA needs to put an asterisk by her scoring mark. Odds are pretty good no other player will ever get that five-year bump. And, frankly, her totals won't need it.

Sloppy Super Bowl Still Satisfying

 If you were hoping for a pristine, high-scoring game in the 58th version of the Super Bowl, you were sadly disappointed.

Seven fumbles, three lost (including a punt off a San Francisco return team member's foot that Kansas City turned into a touchdown), plus an interception and untimely penalties led to a low-scoring affair.

However, if you like a Super Bowl with drama, then Kansas City's 25-22 overtime win against those San Francisco 49ers had to be satisfying. You just can't bet against quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who won the game with his feet, his arm and his heart. Mahomes is 9-2 in postseason games when trailing by seven points. NEVER bet against Patrick!

Not a good look for KC tight end Travis Kelce, though. His outburst on the sideline, bumping Head Coach Andy Reid and bitchin' about not being in the game at a crucial time? Disappointing. I understand the frustration from alpha males and all, but really, Travis? Is this the image you want to project to all those Swifties who tuned in to see their hero watch you play football?

In case YOU weren't keeping score, I was. Those CBS cameras found Taylor Swift a baker's dozen during the game telecast. Yes, that much. Was thinking that, with the cool $1 million paid for the stadium suite (allegedly), came a TV contract as well.

The priceless look on Taylor's face, though, while Kelce was belting out his version of "Viva Las Vegas"? That look said "Don't. Ever.  EVER. Sing. Around. Me. Again. I. Mean. It."

Speaking of Kelce, in 13 playoff games he's caught about 130 passes for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns. Definitely has been the security blanket for Mahomes.

And if the Kansas City Chiefs can now be considered a dynasty, having won three of the last five Super Bowls (and played in four of them), I have less of an issue with them as opposed to the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick led New England Patriots. Brady was just annoying, while Mahomes seems like a good dude you could root for. And comparing Andy Reid with grumpy ol' Belichick? No contest. I'll hang with Andy, once a Green Bay Packer coach, every time.

Seems that over 123 MILLION people watched Super Bowl LVIII. Wonder how many "Swifties" tuned in.

Happy to see Jimmy Leonard is headed to an NFL coaching staff, as he takes over defensive backs in Denver. Leonard spent a season as a player towards the end of his career with Denver. Think this is a good stepping stone to a Defensive Coordinator spot down the road.

A GREAT Weekend Ahead -- Baseball Comes Back

Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training this coming week, making Super Bowl LVIII (58 for those not inclined to memorize Roman Numerals) weekend just that much sweeter. And speaking of that Super Bowl, am picking the Kansas City Chiefs to win this one -- and hoping that my pool numbers pay off!

But back to baseball. I Consider players gathering for Spring Training to be more a harbinger of spring than seeing that first robin. Means Opening Day is on the near horizon.

Some Milwaukee Brewer fans, meanwhile, need to silence their "THE SKY IS FALLING!!!" cries in light of the recent trade that sent pitcher Corbin Burns to the Baltimore Orioles for a pair of MLB-ready prospects and a draft pick.

Let's consider this trade. Here's Burns, the ace of the Brewer staff and a Cy Young winner, in the last year of his contract. At the end of the season, some big market team is going to back up a Brinks truck to Corbin's house and unload a LOT of money. That's money a small market team like Milwaukee just can't compete with. And if you think they can, I have swamp property or a bridge in New York City to sell you.

Milwaukee's options? It's sorta like the stock market with three factors. 1) Trade Burns now, while market value is high. 2) Wait until closer to the trade deadline to see if the team is in contention, but this means potential trade partners, knowing the clock is ticking, will low-ball on the offer. 3) Keep Burns through the season, then get NOTHING but a compensatory draft pick when he leaves.

Teams like Milwaukee need young pieces to compete, so getting a pair of 25-year-olds they can control for six years: left-handed pitcher DL Hall and Joey Ortiz, who can play multiple infield positions. A trade like this makes the most sense.

Don't think the Brewers are done making moves, either. They signed a starting pitcher earlier this week and word has it have agreed with 32-year-old catcher Gary Sanchez. Could be a good backup for William Contreras, who had a solid first season with the club. Brewers had signed Eric Haase to compete as well, and there's a top-rated prospect in Jeferson Quero on deck. 

Got an email from Doctor Bob, a good friend and golfing companion in Eagle River. To sum up, the good Doctor went off on the hiring of Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. "Who the hell is this guy?! Are the Packers going on the cheap to save money? I don't get it..."

Suggested to the good Doc that he chill out. To me, the hiring is just like drafting a player or signing a free agent -- it needs time to determine if it is good or not. Hafley comes to Green Bay with solid credentials and experience of working with some pretty good D-Coordinators in his time (Tarek Salah comes to mind, though he's struggled as head coach of the New York Jets).

Packer Nation is right to wonder about the hiring, though. Had thought they might go with more experience, but in the end was happy the Packers didn't recycle somebody else's castoff. Thought they did that when Joe Barry was hired, a guy with poor-to-mediocre results on his coaching resume.

As noted, let's give it some time.