Carl Dukes - PutEmUp Episodes

Carl Dukes is a current CBS Sports Radio Host who I stumbled across on an early Sunday morning and couldn't get enough of.  His input on sports issues and events are takes a fan can relate to. His national weekend radio show is one worth tuning into either on your local CBS radio station or online (Audacity)

Da Dukes touched on so much during this morning's show:

-The Chris Paul/Gordon Poole Trade

-Sports Systems vs Great Coaching

-The Titan Sub Disaster

-Dak Prescott QB Rating

Da Dukes, and that's my own nicknaming, has a very insightful and balanced breakdown of whatever topic he takes up. His radio presentation is both professional and entertaining. When he touched on former Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs and his transition from great NFL coach to great Nascar racing organization, I perked up in agreement. 

Da Dukes take on the Chris Paul/Jordan Poole trade hit home for me. As a Warriors fan, I said immediately after the Draymond Punch what Da Dukes was saying on his radio show: "Somebody's got to go, and it ain't gone be Draymond."  We fans knew things couldn't be alright with the team after that punch, but we glazed over it with hopes for another championship. Now we're looking at a shift in the Warriors personnel, one that could result in a positive transition to their system of play.

Da Dukes also laid down an interesting take on New York Mets baseball organization and their majority owner Steve Cohen. He says Cohen has no clue about how to make the expensive players he's doled out millions too, play as a cohesive, winning unit. He breaks it all down and his analysis sounds very spot on. And for the record, I'm a fan of "Sanford and Son" with Redd Foxx saying, "Ya Big Dummy!"

Bottom line, I feel I've discovered a newly entertaining sports radio host who can be trusted to deliver takes based on solid sports analysis, or just plain life experiences and common sense. Carl Dukes speaks my sports language and shares sports and life lessons not easily found on other radio shows. Keep it going Dukes. . . Duke'em Up!

92.9 The Game PD: I Feel Bad For Dukes & Bell, But Audience Wants 5 Hours | Barrett Media (barrettsportsmedia.com)

“He does a good job listening to the audience, being out and about and listening to the fans,” Conti said. “He gets what people in this market are passionate about. He’ll tell fans what they need to hear, even if it’s not what they want to hear. It’s like a sixth sense. I don’t know how he does it.”

My Sports Tidbits

Just for the record, I see the Warriors trading Jordan Poole for "rocking chair" Chis Paul as an exit strategy from Poole's 4-year $128M contract. Why and What Strategy, is for the experts to debate. But expect the Warriors to trade Chris Paul, if they can.

Jordan Poole                                       Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Dealt for Chris Paul mere hours before the draft, Jordan Poole heads to the Washington Wizards with everything working in his favor. His $128 million extension kicks in for the 2023-24 season, and he's about to take over as the undisputed top option on a Wizards team in the earliest stages of a rebuild.
Numbers will come in bunches for the 24-year-old guard, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him average upward of 28.0 points per game next year. Wins won't be nearly as easy to come by with Washington as they were in Golden State, but Poole already has a ring. Now, he can set out to prove himself individually.
Most importantly, Poole is now free of what seemed like an unsalvageable situation with the Warriors, where his receipt of a preseason punch from Draymond Green upended the team's interpersonal dynamics, cast a pall over the entire season and scuttled a title defense. Poole may become a true star with Washington, something that was never going to happen, post-punch, with the Dubs.
—Hughes

2023 NBA Draft: Warriors select Brandin Podziemski with No. 19 overall pick - CBSSports.com

Why Trayce Jackson-Davis could be a perfect fit for Warriors (mercurynews.com)

No SF Giants advance to second phase of All-Star voting - Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More

NBA fans lost it over Warriors trading Jordan Poole for Chris Paul (usatoday.com)

Darren Waller gets brutally honest about Las Vegas Raiders trade (msn.com)

Philadelphia Phillies Complete Trade, Send Outfielder to San Francisco Giants - Sports Illustrated Inside The Phillies

SF Giants swing trade for versatile utility player (aroundthefoghorn.com)

Three takeaways from the SF Giants series win over the San Diego Padres (aroundthefoghorn.com)

Oakland A's, S.F. Giants Fans Coming Together to "Unite the Bay" Amidst Relocation Advances - Sports Illustrated Oakland Athletics News, Analysis and More

Raiders training camp preview: Zamir White is among under the radar - Silver And Black Pride

Las Vegas Raiders: Options if star RB Josh Jacobs is traded away (justblogbaby.com)

Raiders training camp preview: Zamir White is among under the radar - Silver And Black Pride

Saints Star Wants to Send Derek Carr Back to Las Vegas (msn.com)

Its A Wrap - Giants SWEEP dodgers

 

Giants Sweep Dodgers

While putting up 29 runs to their rival's 8, the San Francisco Giants swept through a 3-game series in Los Angeles, taking over second place in the NL West. It's not only a rare sweep in Los Angeles for the Giants, but it's how they won them all that makes it so jaw-dropping. The Giants out hit, out pitched, out fielded and out hustled the Dodgers, making the games seem almost unfair toward the favored home team in gray-n-blue. 

But Giants fans aren't pitying their rival's ineptitude and shortcomings. They're simply basking in the glory of watching a squad full of rookies step up and deliver time after time. And although the injury bug stung them more times than seemed normal, they just kept on hitting, pitching, fielding, and hustling their way toward victories. 

For outsiders looking in, this sweep is just an early season Giants squad catching a struggling Dodgers team at the right time. But to Giants and Dodgers fans we know the significance of this three-game sweep. We understand the implications it has on our division, and it is truly a thrill for the victors and agony for the defeated. 

If you love baseball and love seeing your team outduel a rival the way the Giants outdueled the Dodgers these past three games, then you know the ecstasy of San Francisco baseball fans on this Father's Day. The sweep is truly the best Father's Day gift any of us fathers could possibly hope for. Keep the TIE kids, we'll take the WIN!

Giants Beat Dodgers in L.A. in 11innings

former Dodger Joc Pederson

We are back to Torture Baseball for the SF Giants. And that's a good thing! Friday night in Los Angeles the Giants went six innings without a hit as the Dodgers took a 4-0 lead. The Giants then took a 5-4 lead in the 8th inning. Then the Dodgers tied it in the bottom of the 9th at 5-5 as Giants star closer Camilo Doval (18 saves) blew only his second save of the season. Then came the 11th inning, Giants batting with runner on second. 

• 

  GiantsTop 11th

  • A. VESIA PITCHING FOR LAD

    SF

    LAD
  • Martinez in left field.

    5

    5
  • 2 RUNS, 2 HITS, 0 ERRORS

In the bottom of the 11th with the Giants holding a 7-5 lead, tortuous errors ensue.

• 

  DodgersBottom 11th

  • J. JUNIS PITCHING FOR SF

    SF

    LAD
  • 0 RUNS, 0 HITS, 2 ERRORS

And that is how the San Francisco Giants BEAT L.A. in game 1 of this 3-game series. With one of the wackiest infield popup outs that wasn't, the Giants overcame two errors on the play to force an out at third and prevent a Dodgers run. Then pitcher Jakob Junis, with two outs and a man on third, struck out Freddie Freeman (.325 3rd) to retire the Dodgers and end the game. Junis got his first career save.

These Giants, with a healthy mix of rookies and veterans, are scrappy and entertaining. They have a never say quit attitude and consistently pick each other up in tight situations. They can play with the best and are not intimidated by any opponent nor any moment. Bring on game 2, Saturday.

Finals Score

Giants 7

Dodgers 5

Jefferson Memorial - Wash. D.C.

Southeast Portico:

"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as a civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

-Excerpted from a letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1816.

Quotations - Thomas Jefferson Memorial (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Denver Nuggets "No Joke" Championship Victory

Congratulations Denver Nuggets for reaching the mountaintop of the NBA with their first ever Championship. Led by their ever-invaluable center, Nokala 'The Joker' Jokic, the Nuggets took down the cinderfella #8 seed Miami Heat in five games. They proved to the basketball world their #1 seed was no fluke. 

The playoffs saw them dispatch the following teams in order:

Minnesota T'Wolves (5 games)

Phoenix Suns (6 games)

L.A. Lakers (5 games)

Miami Heat (5 games)

For as well as Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and others played, it was 'The Joker' who put his stamp on The Nuggets championship run and deservedly voted NBA Most-Valuable Player of the Finals. 

The Denver Nuggets were the best team throughout the 2022-23 NBA season, and now they wear the crown of champions to prove it. Hats off to head coach Michael Malone for a job well done. 

Final Score (Gm 5)

Heat 89

Nuggets 94

Giants Squeeze Out Winning Run

KNBR Postgame Wrap

The San Francisco Giants won a baseball game at Coors Field after going 5 1/3 innings without a hit and trailing 4-0. For six excruciating innings nothing seemed to go the Giants way. The strike zone was inconsistent, starting pitcher Logan Webb wasn't quite as crisp as usual, and a few Giants long balls hit well to the wall somehow found the outstretched gloves of Rockies outfielders. 

Coming off a blow-out 10-run, 14-hit win yesterday, Giants hitters were stymied by Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Connor Seabold through six innings.

But these Giants are proving to be a scrappy baseball club.  In the top of the 7th, down 4-0, they got their second hit of the game and chased Seabold from the mound with two men on and nobody out. Rockies reliever Brent Suter came in and gave up three consecutive singles putting the Giants back in the game with three runs.

With the Giants now down only 4-3, Giants' relief pitcher Taylor Rogers faced five Rockies hitters in the bottom of the 7th inning, getting three outs without allowing a run. 

By the top of the 8th inning things were definitely going the Giants way as Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence had trouble with his location. He walked the first batter, struck out the second, and hit the third before giving up a single to Austin Slater to tie the game. Then came the big Giants roll-of-the-dice play.

With men on first and third with one out, the count 2 balls, 1 strike, Giants rookie Patrick Bailey laid down a surprise bunt that rolled and died between the first base line and pitcher's mound. At the same time, Giants runner Mitch Haniger came racing home from third base as Lawrence dove for the dead ball and desperately attempted flipping it barehanded to the Rockies catcher covering home plate. 

"The Flip, The Slide, Safe at Home," was the call. And that's how the San Francisco Giants squeezed their way to a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.

Yes, the Giants dialed up the old Squeeze Play and executed it to perfection. Planning, Patience, Timing, and Teamwork!

Taylor Roger's twin bro' Tyler would come out and pitch a 1-2-3 8th inning for the Giants and clutch closer Camilo Doval would do the same in the 9th inning to earn his 15th save of the season, tied for third best in the league.

Taylor and Tyler are only the fourth set of twins to ever play on the same MLB team. They're identical twins and many will say the only way to tell them apart is when either is pitching on the mound; Taylor pitches left-handed and Tyler is a righty. The twins grew up in Colorado not far from Denver and spent last night together with visiting family as stated in their interview.

KNBR podcast interview Part I

KNBR podcast interview part II

Final Score

Giants 5

Rockies 4

note: In the top of the 7th my buddy Rey, desperate for a Giants comeback, turned his SF Giants baseball cap inside out (Rally Cap Style) and the rest is history. I now believe!

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Update: Rinse! Spin! Repeat!

San Francisco Giants Come-From-Behind Victory 2.0!

Less than 24hrs after their winning squeeze play the SF Giants battle back again from an early deficit. This time they began by squeezing out two runs in the sixth inning, shrinking the Rockies lead to 4-3. 

Still trailing in the top of the ninth inning, the visitors put together two walks, a double, a sacrifice fly and a single to take a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. And again, Giants clutch closer Camilo Doval delivered, slamming the door shut by retiring the side with a strikeout, pop-out and ground-out. Doval squeezed in hitting a batter (HBP) to put one man on base, but it didn't stop him from earning his 16th save. 

The San Francisco Giants leave the mile-high city with a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies. More important is how they swept the Rockies by clawing back from deficits in two games and showcasing a hit-parade in the other.

This Giants team is definitely reigniting memories of that "Don't Stop Believing" baseball season Journey!

Final Score

Giants 6

Rockies 4

Father & Son Inspiration!

 

Not only is the song inspirational, but the communion of a father and son sharing in the gift of song moves one's spirit. This video is truly a blessing to behold. I've shared it with family members and friends. Here, on this old, probably outdated blog, I share it with you.

I once heard a story of a seeker of truth asking a Sufi monk how he too could see God. The monk replied to the seeker how he himself had just the opposite dilemma, "how not to see God." For the monk see's God and the Grace of God in almost everything.  ("seek and you shall find" - Matt. 7:7-8)

    Sufi Practice