ODELL BECKHAM JR. SHOULD THANK DOUG WHALEY
New York Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. this week signed the richest shoe endorsement deal ever for an NFL wide receiver – around $5 million per year with Nike.
Beckham should send former Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley a thank-you note for passing on him in the 2014 NFL college draft.
The Bills traded up to select wide receiver Sammy Watkins No. 4 overall in that draft. The Giants selected Beckham No. 12 overall.
Instead of going to Buffalo, Beckham wound up in the NFL’s largest market and with Eli Manning as his quarterback.
Beckham’s electric talent made him an instant sensation on and off the field. He has 8.3 Instagram followers, 2.3 Twitter followers and 1.3 Facebook followers. That popularity is one reason Nike is paying him so much money.
Would it have happened in Buffalo? Probably not.
For the record, here is how Beckham and Watkins measure up in their three NFL seasons:
Watkins – 37 games...153 catches for 2,459 yards and 17 TDs...16.1 yards per catch.
Beckham – 43 games...288 catches for 4,122 yards and 35 TDs...14.3 yards per catch.
Of course, Beckham has been healthier. Buffalo fans are wondering what sort of numbers Watkins might log in a full 16-game season.
TWINS COUILD BE RULING THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL SOON
The Minnesota Twins beat the Orioles 4-3 Wednesday afternoon to complete their first three-game sweep in Baltimore since 1996.
The Twins will enter Friday leading the American League Central with a 25-18 record, including 14-5 on the road (best in Major League Baseball).
Minnesota overachieved in 2015 (83-79 record and in the race for a wild-card playoff berth in mid-September) and grossly underachieved in 2016 (MLB-worst 59-103 record, eight games worse than any other team; outscored by 167 runs).
Are these Twins for real?
I don’t believe Minnesota is quite ready to win the AL Central, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re the team to beat as soon as 2018 and for several seasons beyond.
The Twins are loaded with young talent – Miguel Sano (deserves to start in the All-Star Game but probably won’t), Max Kepler (he’s going to be very good for a long time), Byron Buxton (he’s starting to play like he belongs up there), Jorge Polanco, Kennys Vargas, Eddie Rosario (if only he could improve his plate discipline and draw more walks) and Jose Berrios. That’s an impressive nucleus.
Veterans Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer complement the young players.
What’s wrong with the Twins? Ervin Santana might be the AL’s best pitcher this season, Phil Hughes is adequate and Berrios has exceptional raw ability, but the rest of the starting rotation is suspect. The bullpen probably is overachieving.
TWINS SET THE STAGE IN ROCHESTER
Many of the current Twins played for Rochester in recent seasons. Minnesota’s current success and bright future suggest that it is no fluke that the Red Wings were the only team in the 14-team International League with winning records each of the past four years (number of winning seasons in parentheses):
Rochester (4) – 77-67...77-67...77-67...81-63: 312-264 total record (+48 above .500)
Columbus (3) – 71-73...79-65...83-61...82-62: 315-261 (+54)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (2) – 68-76...68-76...81-63...91-52: 308-267 (+41)
Indianapolis (3) – 80-64...73-71...83-61...70-74: 306-270 (+36)
Durham (3) – 87-57...75-69...74-70...64-80: 300-276 (+24)
Pawtucket (3) – 80-63...79-65...59-85...74-68: 292-281 (+11)
Lehigh Valley (1) – 72-72...66-78...63-81...85-58: 286-289 (-3)
Buffalo (2) – 74-70...77-66...68-76...66-78: 285-290 (-5)
Norfolk (2) – 77-67...65-79...78-66...62-82: 282-294 (-12)
Syracuse (1) – 66-78...81-62...66-78...61-82: 274-300 (-26)
Louisville (0) – 69-75...68-75...64-80...71-73: 272-303 (-31)
Charlotte (1) – 65-78...63-81...74-70...65-79: 267-308 (-41)
Gwinnett (1) – 60-84...65-77...77-67...65-78: 267-316 (-49)
Toledo (0) – 61-83...69-74...61-83...68-76: 259-316 (-57).
NASHVILLE LOOKS LIKE A LIVE UNDERDOG
The Stanley Cup Finals begin Monday. The Pittsburgh Penguins were significantly better than Nashville during this NHL regular season but the Tale of the Tape for the playoffs suggests that the Predators are no pushovers.
Regular season – Pittsburgh 50-21-11 record; 111 points; outscored opponents 282-234 (+48)...Nashville 41-29-12; 94 points; outscored opponents 240-224 (+16).
Playoffs Tale of the Tape:
Records – Nashville 12-4...Pittsburgh 12-7
Goals per game – Pittsburgh 3.05...Nashville 2.94
Goals allowed per game – Nashville 1.81...Pittsburgh 0.74
Goal differential per game – Nashville +1.8...Pittsburgh +1.4
Shots per game – Pittsburgh 30.2...Nashville 29.9
Shots allowed per game – Nashville .29.9...Pittsburgh 30.2
Save percentage – Nashville .939...Pittsburgh .929
Power play percentage – Pittsburgh 25.0 (14-for-56)...Nashville 14.9 (7-for-47)
Penalty killing percentage – Nashville 88.1 (37-for-42)...Pittsburgh 85.5 (47-for-55).
I’M AGREEING WITH OSCAR DE LA HOYA, BUT...
Cheers to Oscar De La Hoya for warning boxing fans to ignore the proposed “fight” between Floyd Mayweather is a “farce”, a “circus” and “a money grab.”
I also agree with De La Hoya’s opinion that Mayweather would “dismantle” McGregor in a boxing match.
But I’m pretty sure De La Hoya would not be saying stuff like this if he were promoting the event.
A FEW REASONS TO LIKE NEW BILLS’ LINEBACKER GERALD HODGES
The Bills on Thursday signed former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Gerald Hodges to a one-year contract.
In high school, he was captain of the wrestling team (40-1 record as a junior and track and field teams).
Last season with the 49ers, he had 83 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
In his junior season at Penn State, he led the team in tackles. When the Nittany Lions were hit hard by NCAA sanctions, many of his teammate jumped to play for other schools. He re turned to Penn State fir his senior season. That shows character.
CINCINNATI IS THE NEW AFFILIATE OF THE SABRES AND THE AMERKS
The Cincinnati Cyclones are the new ECHL affiliate for the Buffalo Bills and the Rochester Americans, replacing the defunct Elmira Jackals. The Cyclones were affiliated the NFL Nashville Predators for 10 years.
When the NHL expansion Buffalo Sabres needed an American Hockey League affiliate in 1971, they introduced, owned and operated the Cincinnati Swords for three seasons. The 1972-73 Swords were one the all-time great AHL teams. They outscored opponents 351-206 and won the Calder Cup.
When Cincinnati was awarded a WHA expansion team for the 1975-76 season, the Sabres folded the Swords rather than compete against them for fan support. Cincinnati returned to the AHL as the Mighty Ducks from 1997 through 2005.
The Cyclones play in the 17,556-seat U.S. Bank Arena in downtown Cincinnati. The team’s average attendance was 4,214 last season. The arena was built in 1975 (20 years after Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena) and there is a movement afoot in Cincinnati to build a new arena.
The metro population of Cincinnati is 2.1 million. The drive from Buffalo to Cincinnati is 427 miles.
I’m sure the Pegulas would prefer to keep Rochester instead of Cincinnati as the AHL affiliate of the Sabres.
I also wonder if Cincinnati might be an option down the road if the arena and/or lease situation in Rochester deteriorates.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Friday, May 26
Jimmy Vesey (24)...Damian Williams (29)...Ben Zobrist (36)...Scott Humphries (41)...Ricky Jordan (52)...Kevin Kennedy (53)...Bill Wennington (55)...Wesley Walker (62)...Dan Pastorini (68)...Darrell Evans (70)...Brent Musburger (78). Lenny Kravitz (53), Pam Grier 68, Stevie Nicks (69) and Hank Williams Jr. (68) are invited to the birthday party.
Saturday, May 27
Jose Berrios (23)...Vontae Davis (29)...Garrett Richards (29)...Darnell Dockett (36)...Danny Wuerffel (43)...Antonio Freeman (45)...Jeff Bagwell (49)...Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas (49)...jockey Chin Yang (50)...Ray Sheppard (51)...Nicki Lowery (61)...Jackie Slater (63)...Terry Collins (68).
Sunday, May 28
Navorro Bowman (29)...Percy Harvin (29)...Craig Kimbrel (29)... Justin Bour (29)...T.J. Yates (30)...Michael Oher (31)..WWE’s Seth Rollins (31)....Jhonny Peralta (35)...Glen Rice (50)...Kirk Gibson (60)...Ben Howland (60)...Mark Howe (62)...Jerry West (79). Marco Rubio (46) and Gladys Knight (73) are invited to the birthday party.
HAVE A NICE HOLIDAY (particularly you veterans). My next WHAM1180.com column will be posted Wednesday, May 31. Thank you for reading my stuff and for listening. Much appreciated.