Joe Torosian's Outsiders Sports

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

I think it’s so groovy, now the Knicks are finally gettin’ it together…I think it’s wonderful how Jalen Brunson is pulling ’em all together.

Note to the Knicks: Yes, you won, and we’re two games closer to the Cavs going away…but you are the fricken New York Knicks, why on earth are you wearing those trash unis in The Garden?

Game Three tonight between the Thunder and Spurs should be fantastic. I know people are dumping on the series and losing interest because of all the injuries, but to me, the grit each team is showing is amazing.

I’m hooked, but I don’t have the 290-zops to lay out for a seat in Section 226 at Frost Back Center in San Antonio. However, they say parking is cheaper in Plano, where Section 226 is located.

First Add Rams: As long as Matthew Stafford is throwing the ball the way he did last season (and the season before that, and the season before that), he’s going to be the Rams’ starting quarterback.

Ty Simpson is the just-in-case option, and if being the just-in-case option means he doesn’t see the field until 2028 or 2029, I’m good with it. Because it would mean Stafford is still performing at a high level, and that, in turn, means the Rams are competing at a high level.

…And it still means the Rams saw something in Simpson—even if the rest of us didn’t—and given the track record of the McSnead Era, we should trust them.

As Jerry Dandridge said (slight paraphrase) to Peter Vincent: “You have to have faith for this to work.”

Only Add Lakers: I am very excited to see what the Dodgers’ plans are for the Lakers this offseason.

To maintain the integrity of my sarcasm, I watched two WNBA games last night (speeding through commercials and halftime nonsense).

In the search for reasons to watch, apart from Caitlin Clark, two players stood out to me. In a loss, the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart was good. In the other game, the Minnesota Lynx’s Olivia Miles was electric. And while Azzi Fudd (#1 overall 2026 WNBA Draft) looks okay in Dallas, Miles (#2 overall) is by far the superior talent and would have been a fantastic complement to Paige Bueckers.

Last Add Rams: The idea that the Rams will fall apart if John McKay gets the Minnesota Vikings GM job is completely jejune.

If McKay goes to The Land of a Thousand Lakes & Home of Four Super Bowl losses–just like Brad Holmes (to Detroit) and James Gladstone (to Jacksonville)–the Rams have demonstrated they will continue to thrive.

When Les Snead steps away–thanks to the Kroenke Climate from LA to Denver to England—the Rams will have their choice of replacements.

If they want to reach out to someone who grew up in their building, left the building, and gained experience in another building, they (Holmes, Gladstone, McKay) may want to return to the Kroenke building.

It’s all good, but it would be better if McKay could find some minority blood in him so the Rams can get two third-rounders in compensation.

Final Note Holmes: The Rams drafted Ernest Jones IV with the 2021 third-round pick gained when Holmes went to Detroit.

Is it safe to assume that Orange Lutheran is ELCA, not Missouri Synod?

Last Add Stafford: The 55-Rocks the Rams will be paying Stafford next year is an unbelievable bargain. Looking at the landscape of NFL quarterbacks and the money they’re currently making, if Stafford wanted 75-Rocks, he’d still be a bargain.

Last Note WNBA: Toronto’s Brittney Sykes & Marina Mabrey, who combined earlier this week for over 60 points in a win at Phoenix, combined for only 9 points on 3-of-16 shooting in a 100-72 loss to Minnesota.

Finally, every time I think I’m out…The NHL playoffs pull me back in. So tonight it’s Viva Las Vegas!

The Dude abides…

1,297
John 15:18-19
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By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

For the guys who can sky on a basketball court, is there ever a time when you think you’ve jumped too high?

Last night, I was about to write, “Who is like Wembanyama? Who is able to make war with him?”….and then I saw what Isaiah Hartenstein and fatigue did to him.

Oklahoma City played like it was Game 7 last night, and they won. I asked friends what they thought, and they said they didn’t bother.

Walking away from the NBA is completely understandable. I know, because I did for a long time, but watching the Thunder-Spurs go at it so hard does restore one’s basketball soul.

The bumerski about this series is watching key players go down. The winner of a seven-game battle of attrition will be…(Drum roll please!)…The New York Knicks.

I was surprised to see Harrison Barnes still in an NBA uniform, and who-what-when-where-how did USC’s Jordan McLaughlin show up?

Last time I saw McLaughlin play was eight years ago for the Trojans…then nothing…and then, after a couple of injuries, presto-chango-zippity-zam and he’s on the court last night.

It was amazing. Who’s next? Don Carfino?

Game Two tonight in Madison Square Garden between the Cavs & Knicks will cost you $690, but bring your binoculars. You’ll be watching it from the International Space Station.

I was ready to watch the Indiana Fever last night, then it was announced that Caitlin Clark was out with a back injury.

I’m trying, but nope!

I decided to watch the highlights as I continue the search for that one WNBA player, other than Clark, who’s more intriguing than a Seinfeld rerun.

Does anyone watch the Indy 500 anymore? What’s Tom Sneva up to these days?

After getting a strong dose of Shohei Ohtani last night, how disappointed are the Padres and their fans?

I’ve never been a Padres fan. I’ve rooted for them when they play the Dodgers, but based on the way I feel about them and San Diego in general–I wouldn’t root for the Padres if they played the Russians.

In the end, when it counts, it’s always the Dodgers applying the “Thank you, Sir. May I have another?” beat down on San Diego.

#50—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

Oh, I’ve always been a Las Vegas Golden Knights fan, even when they were playing in La Canada-Flintridge.

The Dude abides…

1,296
Galatians 4:4-5
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By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

Just call me Knick…

The Cavaliers—with a 22-point fourth quarter lead last night and losing in OT—are the poster boys for what it means to swallow the jalapeño.

I expected the Knicks to get off to a slow start, but I didn’t expect them to sleepwalk for 3.5 quarters.

Who do Dallas Mavericks fans lament over more, Luka Doncic or Jalen Brunson?

Regarding the Knicks lefty—all hail the power of Brunson’s game. Let Cav defenders fall.

How bad did Brunson torch James Harden? The Cleveland guard is going to need—as we said back in the day—a tub of Noxzema to show his face in public again.

I have not been emotionally invested in any NBA team since I left the Lakers (as a fan) at the end of the 20th Century…but I need to see San Antonio-Oklahoma City tonight.

It feels like one of those situations I faced growing up. Do I go to church, or do I stay home and watch the Lakers-Celtics game at the Boston Garden? (Even after Magic & Bird arrived, not every game was prime time.)

I’m not saying the series is over, but the Thunder need to play Game 2 against the Spurs as if it were Game 7.

To see tonight’s game in OKC, 205-zops will get you a seat at the Paycom Center.

Dallas gave Jason Kidd the heave-ho. He’s had stops in Brooklyn and Milwaukee as well, which makes me ask, will he get another gig?

The Knicks Mike Brown has had HC gigs with the Cavaliers, Lakers, and Kings.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure Kidd will get another job if he wants it.

When college football decides to go to a 24-team playoff, wake me up when the regular season ends. Until they have a central body to develop a balanced schedule, things will remain easily manipulated.

Remember when the college basketball season used to be important?

Outside of the Cardinals, there are no real chumps on the Rams’ schedule. I think they can go 13-4, but 11-6 should surprise nobody.

I saw Toronto beat Phoenix last night. The Tempo’s Brittney Sykes (31 points) and Marina Mabrey (30 points) are very good and worth another watch.

And it was cool to see UCLA’s Kiki Rice chip in 15.

Last Add Ticket Prices: On this day in 1988, I took my future wife to see the Mets-Dodgers. Two tickets, costing $8.00 total, got us into the left field pavilion to see Hojo take Don Sutton deep in the Mets, 5-2, victory.

Four dollars to sit in the left field pavilion? Why was I always sneaking into games back in those days?

Wow, the Dodgers beat Mason “The Most Unhittable Pitcher Who Has Ever Lived” Miller?

Of course, I’m only going off what I was told–no one really saw it. I take that back…I didn’t see it.

Like there’s never enough guacamole, you can never have enough platforms to see the games you want to see.

A three-game series between the Dodgers and Padres, and not one of those games is nationally broadcast?

#49—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

With Los Angeles hosting the World Cup, I expected a whole lot more hype.

Go Argentina!

The Dude abides…

1,295
Romans 12:2
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
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By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

In five years, everyone will be watching the WNBA.

I said it.

We will all be watching the Wemby National Basketball Association. (WNBA)

What can you add to Victor Wembanyama’s 41-point, 24-rebound performance while playing 49 minutes?

Nothing.

Last Add Wemby: He’s got the size, he’s got the talent, but it all works because he has a Jordan-like spite to his game. The dude didn’t grow into a basketball career. Instead, he was a basketball player who grew.

OKC plays great defense, that’s a great team, and the Spurs were exhausted in the fourth…but San Antonio found what it needed in double-OT.

Best way to watch a great basketball game? Have no emotional investment in either team.

And now I’m looking for a plausible exit off the Knicks bandwagon.

Watched the Washington Mystics & Dallas Wings play. Paige Bueckers is probably the most efficient player in the WNBA, and she absolutely shut down Sonia Citron.

With that said, as good as Bueckers is, she’s not a must-see.

Since I’ve got, legitimately, more Native American blood in me than Liz “I’m Gonna Have A Beer” Warren, I’m highly offended by the state of California forcing all public schools to drop mascots they deem offensive.

Like (language warning) the Arcadia Apaches, and Baldwin Park Braves.

I know, right? Just hearing those titles puts us all on the verge of a crying selfie in our car. (Blank that Trump!)

If you want a terrifying team name, make your mascot the “White Liberals”….truly an unstoppable force. The girls’ teams can be called the “Karens.”

Last Add Knicks: For a mere $632, you can attend the Cavaliers-Knicks opener at Madison Square Garden. Of course, you’ll be sitting in the Hoboken Section, but you’ll be at the game.

Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Tucker, Smith, Muncy, and Pages combined for five hits and zero runs in the Dodgers’ 1-0 loss to the Padres last night.

#48—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

Last Add WNBA: This will sound silly, but one thing that really drags this league down—the current league, not the future Wembanyama National Basketball Association—is a lack of hands.

Turnovers are bad, but they become toxic to the eyes when they occur after a great pass.

If it could be improved by 50%, it could change many opinions about the women’s game.

Note to Netflix: I don’t need to see Gina Carano versus Ronda Rousey…I don’t need to see Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao duke it out from the wheelchairs…But what would be an interesting fight?

Chet Holmgren versus Victor Wembanyama.

The Dude abides…

1,294
Luke 7:41-43
jtbank1964@yahoo.com
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Follow Joe on X: @joet13b