In San Francisco Giants news, the baseball team had a flurry of activity both good and bad, since we last checked in. First the good: Giants signed third baseman Matt Chapman to a 3-year, 54 million dollar contract, which reunites him with his former manager, Bob Melvin, who Chapman played very well under Melvin's leadership. Chapman is a four-time Gold Glove winner, and when fully healthy is a very solid hitter with home run power. Personally, I'm very excited about this. Bad news: Giants RHP Tristian Beck will have surgery this week to remove an aneurysm from his upper right throwing arm. No timetable has been set on his return, but considering the life-threatening implications if this had not been discovered by the Giants medical staff, Beck is grateful the aneurysm was caught when it was, and not later. UPDATE: Beck had successful surgery, and is in no-throwing mode for two months. Update #2: Pitcher Sean Hjelle has elbow tightness and willl not be throwing for the next 2 weeks. I'll finally say/write it out loud: Blake Snell, please sign with the SF Giants! We need solid pitching behind Logan Webb! Iowa star Caitlin Clark has decided to enter the WNBA draft after this current women's NCAA season ends. After that announcement, the very next game, Clark became the highest scoring basketball athlete in both the men's and women's NCAA , surpassing Pete Maravich. Bright future for this young lady. Week one of Formula One (F1) just could not have a race without off-track drama. After the FIA cleared Christian Horner of any misconduct, and then Red Bull scored 1st and 2nd place with drivers Max Vertappen and Evan Perez, a few hours later, Max's father Jos Verstappen went public with his thoughts on the Horner controversy, that i referenced in previous posts. Read what Max's dad said below to the media:
Christian Horner and Max Verstappen
Jos Verstappen, speaking to the Daily Mail, declared publicly for the first time he believed Horner should go. “There is tension here while he remains in position,” he said. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
This drama is NOT over, as F1 heads onto Jannah, Saudi Arabia next weekend.
Tennis Dream match up!
Netflix presented a star-studded exhibition tennis match at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas between legend Rafa Nadal and new sensation Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. Both players are from Spain, as 21 year old Carlos idolized 37 year old Rafa growing up, so it is a dream match for Carlos and for Spain.
It's an artificial court at the MGM, and it is both players first time playing in Vegas so both players will have to adjust to that.
First set, Nadal quickly went up, 3-1, and while Alcaraz fought to hang in there, but eventually Nadal closed out the first set, 6-3 in 38 minutes. The second set had Carlos play a more solid game, with his serve, and defense, going up 3-0, Nadal fights off four break points to bring the set to 4-2, Alcaraz favor. After a give and take and the next two games, Alcaraz seals up the second set, 6-4. Now onto the third set tie-breaker. Both players gave the 10 thousand in house fans and Netflix viewers around the world a real back and forth, to get to ten by advantage of 2. In a thrilling finish, after letting five match points get away from him, Alcaraz finally closed out the match, 14-12 to win this exhibition in this two hour tussle that was a delight for tennis fans! Breaking News: Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from the Indian Wells (near Palm Springs) ATP tourney, saying that he feels his game is not up to the competitive level he expects from himself. In San Francisco 49er news, the team has chosen from within the organization who will be their new defensive coordinator (DC), Nick Sorensen, the team's defensive pass game specialist and nickel cornerbacks coach, to defensive coordinator, a role that was open after the dismissal of Steve Wilks on Feb. 14. The team also announced that they have hired Brandon Staley, formerly the Chargers head coach, to be coach Kyle Shanahan's assistant head coach. Those who have read this column, or follow the NFL, will understand the slight side-eye I am throwing on the Staley hiring. We will see more of this as the NFL Free Agency starts on March 15th, but it's still a shocker to see a team like the Denver Broncos bite the 85 million dollar bullet and released quarterback Russell Wilson on Monday. It had been rumored, but now it's official that the Broncos will be paying Wilson the remaining 85 million NOT to play for them.
Locker Room Buzz: See, Horner, Christian in the above grab bag item! I do have (and have seen the pictures) of Verstappen's dad chatting up Mercedes principal Toto Wolff in the Mercedes paddock. Wolff said later to reporters about Max joining Mercedes, "Anything can happen". For Red Bull, these days, it's just not the wheels on the cars that are going round and round. Oh, Did i mention that Mercedes has an open seat in 2025? Co-Owner Helmut Marko SAYS he would not stand in Max's way to leave Red Bull. Oh, and from multiple reports on Monday, Ford is looking for a way to dissolve their contract with Red Bull, as they want nothing to do wit the drama. Also, Alpine has had a major shakeup in the top of their organization, who two key members "resigning" after the Bahrain race. The cars are just not ready for prime time this season, so it could be a rough ride for Alpine and their two drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
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