November’s Here Already
When you read this there will be 56 days left in 2015, meaning 309 days have gone by in the year. A wagon-load of sporting events have occurred already and there are still plenty left to go before the end of the year. There is never a time that there isn’t something happening in the world of sports So what is my point? Well it’s that with so much happening all the time, it should be easy for me to find something to write about, correct? Well not always — sometimes it’s pretty doggone hard. However, on this occasion I shall endeavor to uncover something that is fit to print.
American Pharoah Wins His Farewell Race
American Pharoah won the 5 million dollar Breeders Cup Classic on Halloween at Keenland in Lexington Kentucky, becoming the first horse to win the Grand Slam of American horse racing. After being eliminated from Dancing With the Stars, jockey Victor Espinoza was back on board Pharoah to guide him to his final win in a very impressive manner. In 11 career races, Pharoah won nine. He is being called by racing experts a once-in-a-generation horse who will be counted among the greatest horses of all time. On August 29, he finished second to Keen Ice in the Travers Stakes — his only loss not counting his first race at Del Mar, California on August 9, 2014 in which he finished fifth. He is already back at Ashford Stud in Woodford County Kentucky. While retired from racing he is now in the business of siring little horses. After resting for the winter, he will begin his new career next spring. Those who follow such things say that his fee for his particular services could got as high as $2,000,000 a pop…so to speak, and that ain’t just horsin’ around. As I have said before, American Pharoah gets my vote as the 2015 Athlete of the Year. He is truly “A Horse of the Ages.”
Royals as MLB Champions
The Boys of October have finished for another year and the American League Kansas City Royals have prevailed. After winning the American League crown in to 2014, they met the San Francisco Giants in last year’s last game and took it to seven games before finally falling to the Giants. This is their second crown since being founded in 1969. They won the championship in 1985. From 2004 to 2012 the Royals posted losing records. In 2006 the Royals were 56-106 which is their worst seasonal record. In 2015 they entered the playoffs as a wildcard but played steady and consistent and took the National League Champion New York Mets in five games. Congratulations to the Royals for bringing the Major League Baseball Crown back to the Heartland.
Luck Takes a Ribbing
The Indianapolis Colts front office has finally acknowledged that Andrew Luck has more physical troubles than just an injured shoulder. General Manager Ryan Grigson finally admitted that Number 12 has been playing with fractured ribs since the third game of the season. It’s been obvious to anyone watching that the 2015 version of Andrew is a totally different player then the Andrew Luck of the previous three seasons. While this doesn’t explain the total collapse of the team or some of Luck’s errors in judgment, it does go a long way in explaining his physical regression this season. He is currently playing at a lower level than he did during his rookie season. In watching the team play against Carolina, nobody seemed to be playing with any enthusiasm or energy. It was a bad night to be sure. But too many of the Colts players seemed to be playing just to get the game over with. Coach Pagano also seems to have lost his passion for the game and that may be a major part of the Colts’ problem. I don’t think Coach Pagano plans on being back with the team next season and I believe his attitude has rubbed off on a number of the players. That’s just my opinion, however. The Horseshoe plays Peyton and the Broncos this coming Sunday at Lucas Oil. Mr. Manning is experiencing his least effective statistical season in 2015. However, Denver is undefeated coming off a big win in Green Bay Sunday because the Broncos defense has become a holy terror. The Colts offense will have their hands full trying to move against the Denver defense.
After Sunday, the Big Blue will have their bye week. It’s hoped that the boys in blue and white will be able to sort out their various problems and find a cure for what ails them during the break. Then they can come into the second half of the season with a fresh start.
snicewanger@yahoo.com